Meeting the Family

[Asha Mataya]

The last few days had been hectic for Asha, to say the least. She and her closest friend were being hunt down and the result was that Jace, the friend in question, had been murdered. She herself had been left for dead and was teetering on the brink before Amelia, first of House Syrush, found her by pure chance and did the only thing that had even the slightest chance of preserving her life- the white-haired woman had been granted what she had referred to as a gift, something she didn't take to lightly. She was still not used to the changes in her system however, simple things such as her sleep cycle were flipped on its head due to the new blood she carried. Her wounds had been healing in a spectacularly quick fashion, which was slightly jarring to her. Only a few days after being so close to death she was walking around the Syrush residence on her own, despite her midsection still being bandaged up. They were covered by a fresh change of clothes provided by Amelia and Asha was on her way to meet another member of the family, the family she was now a part of.

It was a strange thing, being accepted into a family in the way she was. The woman's biological family had fallen apart after her father's death and the falling-out she had with her mother, leaving her to roam the galaxy for quite some time. She had met Jace, and he was like a brother to her, but she had accepted the fact she wouldn't be part of anything that resembled the household of her and her parents again. Yet, here she was, part of something she didn't even know existed a few days ago, and it felt right somehow. In short, her world had been turned upside down.

"Asha Mataya-Syrush," she mumbled to herself while she looked around if nobody was around to hear it, "it does have a nice ring to it." The person she was about the meet was the biological daughter of Amelia, who went by the name of Natalia. The house was grandiose, something she had never seen before. It was yet another thing she had to adjust to. She approached a door and gently knocked. "Natalia? It's Asha. Have you been told about me? I have not introduced myself yet, and I would like to do so."

[member="Natalia Sorenn-Syrush"]

 

[Natalya Syrush]

Natalia still does not finish getting used to the comfortable life and the luxuries of the house of her mother. Those large halls, wide corridors and huge rooms are still unknown to her. It's not that during all her centuries of life she has not seen something like that, it's just not the lifestyle she's been accustomed to.

Sitting on a couch with her legs crossed on a table she hears the steps of who few seconds later knocks on her door. Looking away from her datapad to look in the direction of the door, not sure who it may be since she still feels like a guest. Even in the almost complete darkness of her room she can see perfectly the white-haired girl who has entered without invitation.

With a cold but casual tone, she responds:


"Asha... It seems that I am not the only one to whom my mother has to teach fancy manners. Come in, do not stand in the doorway."


She pulls her legs off the table agilely leaving them on the floor while holding the datapad on her lap. With an indifferent gesture, she looks at a free chair in front of the couch where she sits.


"I want to meet you, I suppose we're sisters... now."


Natalia carefully analyzes every gesture and every expression of Asha while she is in her room.


[member="Asha Mataya-Syrush"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

Asha let out what seemed to be a mix of a sigh and chuckle at Natalia's remark. "I grew up on a backwater planet where everyone knew everyone and afterwards I travelled the galaxy where the fanciest thing I came across was a clean inn. I've got a lot to learn about the etiquette around here." Her lips curled up in a smile as the brunette as she watched her pull her legs off the table in front of her, something that amused the woman. "But, ditto. I'm definitely not the only one." Although the room was dark she was still able to see everything clearly. She still wasn't entirely used to the fact she could see so clearly in the dark, yet another thing she had to adjust to. She calmly entered the room and closed the door, taking in the layout and decorations. Natalia herself seemed to be a bit stoic and cold, but perhaps that was simply because they didn't know each other that well yet.

The white-haired woman looked at the chair and made her way over to it and calmly sat down. A "Hmm..." escaped her lips as she thought about what Natalia said. "It's still kind of odd for me to think about. My biological father died and I had a falling-out with the woman I used to call my mother that destroyed our relationship." There was a tinge of sadness and regret in her tone. "I thought I would never have anyone I could consider family again and now, well, that's exactly what I have. Your mother... Well, our mother? It's still a bit confusing to me, I'm sorry. Amelia, she didn't just save my life. She gave me a place to call home. I could never repay her."

Asha sat up straight on the chair, giving the woman in front of her an inquisitive look. "But enough about me, I don't want to just flood you with things about myself without letting you introduce yourself. I want to get to know you to. I... Want to be a good sister, you know?"

[member="Natalia Sorenn-Syrush"]

 

[Natalya Syrush]

Natalia carefully observes every move and gesture of her guest, she smirks at the commentary on manners because it is obviously that she is not used to the etiquette either. Crossing her arms as she listens to Asha's words about her father, she spends a couple of seconds on her own thoughts.

Placing the hair behind her left ear as one of her characteristic gestures she responds with a less cold tone.

"It is obvious that we both have had difficult lives, but for several centuries we have left our problems of maturity behind. What if we stop pretending that all this is new as if we were traumatized teenagers and we get to work together with Amelia?"


After such a direct sentence she hopes that Asha will be thoughtful so she breaks the silence and continues to speak.


"I am Natalia, the missing daughter. However I have accepted the fact that I must leave my tragic and depressing past behind and look to the future."


She pauses for a couple of seconds.


"Amelia needs us and will need us 100% physically and mentally for what she has planned."


She unfolds her arms and places one on the arm of the couch.


"The best we can do is start working together and be useful. About being a good sister... you cover my back and I'll cover yours. If what concerns you is to have an affective relationship... I suppose romanticism will come alone. I admit I'm not too good with feelings."


She leans back on the couch and puts her legs back on the table crossing them.


[member="Asha Mataya-Syrush"]

 

[Asha Mataya]

Direct was the keyword when it came to Natalia, so found Asha. She wasn't sure if it was meant to be condescending or not but no matter what it was, in her mind she placed several question marks around the remark. 'Pretend'... In reality there was no pretending for the white-haired woman. Still, she realized she was truly nothing but a child compared to the others here. They had lived for centuries while she had only seen twenty years. She wasn't going to bring in anything against the comment and made sure to make a mental note to keep the pain she had gone through in the past to herself towards her now-sister.

Natalia had a point, however. Asha had to look towards the future, the thing she could still shape. What was behind her could be learned from after it had been given its place, which was where its usefulness would end. The brunette's focus on 'helping Amelia' and 'what she had planned' was something she would keep in mind. It seemed Natalia was all business, which was exemplified by her admitting she wasn't very good with feelings. A simple nod was sent her way to show she understood what she said. "There is no need to worry about me not pulling my weight. Yes, there are things for me to process but I will not let my personal issues get in the way of anything else."

There was a slight grin on Asha's face as she watched Natalia's feet kick back onto the table. She questioned if she was really willing to get accustomed to the life here, but she didn't mind it. "Amelia saved my life, nothing she asks of me is too much. I will do whatever is necessary." Her voice was devoid of doubt or sadness and determination was what drove her tone. "I am not pushing our relationship any further than you are comfortable with. If you need me, you can count on me. I promise I'll have your back."

[member="Natalia Sorenn-Syrush"]