It never ceased to unnerve him how wrong it seemed to meet another meyr in these circunstancies. Almost as if they announced to the world how wrong Blairâs very presence there was too. And yet, he couldnât help the feeling of recognition, understanding. Something you can only share with an equal of sorts. But was she, though? An equal of any level? Yes, she was a meyr. And sure, one of great interest to him at the moment. The question to be answered here, then, was whether she could offer more than just the same species. More than the feeling of recognition when, in reality, they hardly seemed to be alike in any other way.Â
âAnd here we are, indeed,â Blair let a half smile raise his lips, eyes going from her own to the people surrounding them. Half of him questioned the choice of place and time to have this conversation, and the other half wondered if there was, at all, a right answer to the previous question. Maybe they would be heard. Or maybe their conversation wouldnât be worth their own time, so who would want to hear it anyway? He only knew his curiosity to be far too sharpened by her presence. The coincidence of so many meyrs in the surface frankly too much for him to swallow. Kam did seem to be around because Kam. And Nimiane⌠well, there was no figuring her out. In the end, Talia was the most reasonable choice of subject. The one he didnât know, wasnât involved with in any way, and could potentially have information he would want to have.Â
âItâs a pleasure to meet you,â he took a deep breath, eyes now fixed on her. There were no cracks, no small places to poke, no wounds visible. He couldnât bargain with pain, nor could he see violence as being adequate in the situation. The one thing left to explore was pleasure. A possibility as remote as any when she was the goal. It had been some years since he was this clueless around someone. It both unsettled and amused him. To be challenged. To want more than he probably would get. âSurprise me, Talia. You look like the kind of woman who can figure out otherâs choice of poison. At least, the ones we drink, anywayâŚâ because, in the end, Blair had to know if she could see more of him than he could of her. Was he the only one playing with a puzzle or was she too?Â
Talia couldnât help but offer an amused half-smile, though her eyes gleamed with the rest of what she didnât offer fully. She didnât intend to present herself as an enigma, and certainly didnât enthuse herself or others with the notion of being something to figure out. She had her layers and depths, as she was sure most beings had some semblance of. Her role as Regent, as a future Matriarch, had come with the burden of curating herself for public consumption. She had never belonged to herself and had settled with that knowledge, but coming to the surface had offered her a chance to breathe.Â
She was hiding in plain sight if one only knew what to look for. There was enough cloaked precautions to provide a vague layer of safety. Aethalia Nirem became Talia Wells -- a panicked stab in the dark at a proper surname. She herself ran deep, though she was more of a bottomless abyss and it took considerable effort to draw from.Â
âWhat brings you here?â It was a loaded question, and one she would certainly be asked in return. Talia knew why she had been called to the surface, as had the others of her sort. She had been asked, but otherwise, it was a dangerous game to play. Too long out of the water? You simply couldnât return or risk life and limb. It had been a pleasant happenstance to stumble upon her exbetrothed, but would Vik have chosen South Dakota if not by circumstance? Had the Society plucked the meyr before her from the depths, as well? Kam had chosen this, and cordial kingdoms had landed her a cordial residence. Talia contented herself with Kamâs company. Such a spitfire matched Taliaâs own intensity and spark, though Talia tended to maintain an aloof exterior. She could burn cold to the touch.Â
Talia pushed off of the bar and took pointed steps backward. If he was going to look, she might as well provide a clear picture. âA virgin. Got it.â Her tone was light, jovial, though a jaw clenched against despite a smile. She rarely let herself indulge in being tested, and testing in return. If they were going to play, so be it. Talia let a discerning eye rake over Blairâs form. She seemed to be well-matched. Talia fetched a champagne flute and made quick work of acquainting the golden liquid with absinthe. âA Death in the Afternoon. Upscale with an edge,â Talia presented it. âHow did I do?â