The Vale of the Demon (Bailey)

[Bailey Oleander]

It was far from what she expected. The wells she was used to were frequent and in use, well maintained. Anything this far out, she thought might be for an outpost for the patrols, but this one was faded and worn with time. Frayed, rotted, clinging to life with a fierce tenacity, refusing to be overrun by the natural world that wanted to take it back.

In other words, far from impressive. She wasn't sure why they were here at all.

Bailey stopped as she took in the area, expecting to see something else, something that woudl make this place significant, tied to the well or something else there. But there seemed to be nothing. Her gaze fell back to the well in question, then to Blake.

"You have memories here."

[Blake Oleander]

He'd point to one of the trees.

"I was shot there, right below my heart. An inch higher and I'd be dead."

He'd point to another tree.

"One of my brothers fell there to an ax."

And he'd point a bit to the left.

"And that is where I cut down six men with my first monster arm transformation before I was brought back to be exiled."

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey looked as directed, feeling a moment of horror as her heart twisted. An inch away from death. And one who did not have that fortune on their side. As he had mentioned before, Blake was hard to kill.

Her expression softened, saddened at the mention of his exiile and transformation. For him, it was when time had gone wrong. A part of him that she didn't get to see, and he didn't show. Those of his original village would e the only ones who knew.

"I'm sorry." She wasn't sure why he brought her here, but if he trusted her enough to show her this part of himself, she woudln't turn it away.

[Blake Oleander]

He'd walk over to the well and very gently tap it with his foot. Not looking at her.

"What a thing to kill and die for. Right?"

[Bailey Oleander]

She walked up beside him, though she did not tap her foot against the well wall. It was their home, no matter the hardships and pain. Some moved to find a new place, some stayed, and either way it stayed in your heart.

"Not at all." Bailey shook her head. His words brought to mind her mother's decision to stay in 249, while she had left. "It's your home, as much as your people are. Resources are rare." She gently laid a hand against the rotted stone near the top, her fingertips barely brushing it.

"It's part of your home.  You fought to protect it as much as you did to live."

[Blake Oleander]

"Without this well, we never would have met."

[Bailey Oleander]

She paused for a moment, the pieces visbly falling into place as she drew her hand away and straightened. Without the well, he woudln't have been shot. There woudln't have been a fatal situation that lead to his transformation. She would have been partnered with someone else at Cabal, because he wasn't there. The battles fought, the arguments, the moments of patience and insight...all of it would never be. They woudln't be here now, the village not built. It could have been wiped out, or left standing.

And she would have kept on, not here, doing who knows what and where. Never woudl have met Loki, or the experiments, her home would still be struggling.

"I see," she said softly, her hand brushing against his before her fingers sliding between his if he didn't protest. Her lips pulled in a soft smile, though she didn't quite look at him.

There may or may not be a hint of tears in her eyes.

"It's hard to imagine one well could lead to all of this."

[Blake Oleander]

He didn't say a damn word, and would just squeeze her hand.

[Bailey Oleander]

"I'm grateful, but I now that came at a cost, as well." She gave his hand a squeeze in return and shifted closer.

[Blake Oleander]

"Life comes with one."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Yeah." Change was painful, andd nothing came for free. Everything had a purpose, even if you couldn't see what it was while it was happening. On that, they could agree.

"Thank you for showing me this," she added as she looked up at him.

[Blake Oleander]

He looked down at her with a sad smile.

"Thank you for coming."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Of course." She noticed teh expression on his face, more open than the stoic wall she was used to seeing him present to the world, no anger or heat, just a moment of vulnerability and sadness. Another thing she'd not thought to see before.

"What's on your mind?"

[Blake Oleander]

"Just that life goes in unexpected directions."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Yeah." For a moment, her own smile saddened for a moment before she shook her head and chuckled, still holding his hand and giving it another small squeeze.

"If someone told me about where we are now, back when we first met, I'd never have believed them."