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[It's Yelena, here with a quick question. She has a somewhat harried look about her, and she doesn't look like she's slept well with the bags under her eyes, but it doesn't make her any less alert.

That might be because of the coffee-like drink she's enjoying at one of the cafes in the Wood sector, but it's not what she's here to talk about.]

Just to be sure, no one has noticed any ghosts of people who aren't from Keeliai, right? That is, spirits of people who are definitely from their worlds instead of here, for instance?

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[Annabeth is really bad at physical affection with people who are not Percy. Hugs are hard. Despite that, she wants to hug Yelena now, and she starts moving to do just that, but she's not sure how the other girl would take the physical contact at the moment. Or ever, really. So she pauses, one hand slightly raised, and decides to gently rest it on her friend's lower arm.]

I don't blame you. For killing him. [And she can say it because she means it. She's never killed a person - only monsters and the stuff of myths. But with Yelena's story, she absolutely cannot disagree or think it was the wrong choice to make. She considers that she'd probably do the same. The harsh punishments remind her of some of the things she's learned about antiquity, when the gods were young.]

[But she listens to it all, carefully and attentively, taking everything in. Poison tasting. Annabeth's memory pulls up all the images of Yelena eating her food, things that she noted but never really addressed before, and it fits right in, makes more sense.]

I remember that. I'm glad you got it cured.

[An apology? For what? Saying "I'm sorry" doesn't seem fitting right now. Annabeth's pretty sure the best thing she can do right now is just be an ear. Support Yelena. And that she can do.]

Edited 2012-11-21 03:58 (UTC)

[Yelena doesn't flinch at the touch to her arm. Rather, she almost leans into it. She'd take a hug if offered but she and Annabeth are not particularly physically affectionate in general.

As it is, it means so much more to hear Annabeth say she doesn't blame her for killing Reyad. No judgment, no persecution. With a deep breath, she reaches her free hand over and sets it over her friend's.]

Me too. The effects of Butterfly's Dust are supposed to be...excruciating.

[She takes a deep breath and offers Annabeth a wry smile.]

And now you know most everything I've been keeping to myself.

[There's still the magic thing to bring up, life as a poison taster, the First Magician Irys...Rand and Margg, but they don't affect her directly here.]

Enough that if you have questions you've been holding back [like Yelena does for her sometimes] you can ask them now.

[Annabeth's glad the gesture isn't unwelcome, glad Yelena didn't flinch away. She rests her other hand atop Yelena's lightly.]

[She has several questions, she always does, but she doesn't want to bombard her friend with them, not right now. Not when she's still angered herself by the story, that all of this happened to Yelena.]

I always have questions. [Though true, it's said a little lightly, a callback to the fact that she really does, in hopes of not letting Yelena simmer forever in the dark emotional place she undoubtedly is in.]

How long were you a poison tester? [It's an easy start, she hopes.]

[It's an easier thing to talk about. Yelena can manage some level of detachment when thinking about her work with Valek.]

Months? Nearly a year but not quite.

[She smiles a bit.]

I spent some weeks training before Valek had me taste any of the Commander's meals, but once I did I was there to check everything before he ate.

[She draws in a deep breath, silently.]

A few months is still a bit of time. [Especially in a dangerous job like poison testing. Especially since Yelena didn't deserve that, didn't deserve any of it.]

Though I guess the job fits in with the Commander's paranoia. [From all Annabeth has heard about said Commander before.]

It does indeed. Valek was the Commander's head poisoner, so it stands to reason they'd be worried about someone turning the same tool against him.

[She sighs, rubs a hand over her eyes.]

So now you know. More or less the whole of everything.

[There's an implied "Why I am the way I am" to her tone.]

[The more she hears about Yelena's world, the more she hears about Yelena's past, the more it really does explain how Yelena came to be the person she is. Environment always has an impact.]

I'm glad you were able to tell me. [Because she knows how hard it must have been for her friend to reveal all that she had. Beyond just having a secretive nature. And she could say "gee thanks for sharing!" but it feels cheap, somehow. Annabeth just wants Yelena to know she'll be there if she needs her.]

[Yelena just nods and takes a deep breath.]

At least, now that you know, I don't have to hide anything more and...well, if you want I can teach you some of what I know. We've been teaching each other our different fighting techniques and...poison tasting is dangerous but I can teach you as much as you might want, with as much or little risk as you're willing to take.

I... I would like that. [Because it's Annabeth, and if she can learn something, she will. She's been poisoned before, admittedly via stab wound rather than edible substances, and though she's ill likely to die from ingesting something compared to in battle, it's still potentially... useful.] But only if you're definitely willing.

[Yelena manages a smile at Annabeth, the first real one, the first warm one all day.]

You're my friend, and it's better you know than not. I can't teach you about the poisons native to Ixia, but I can gather the poisons here and the antidotes. I can teach you how to detect them and...make sure you don't inadvertently kill yourself.

[She wouldn't take the risks with Annabeth that they sometimes had with Yelena. Hopefully they didn't have anything as awful as My Love in Keeliai, however.]

[Yelena's smile makes Annabeth crack a tiny one of her own. She's glad to see it on her friend's face.]

Accidentally killing myself is something I'd definitely rather avoid, ability to come back here or otherwise. I'd appreciate all that, really.

[Her smile widens a bit more, even if it's a tired, weary thing.]

Don't worry, I've got your back with this. Plus there's the bonus that the training really improves your sensitivity to taste and smell. Food tastes better that way.

[It's something she hadn't thought about, but it makes sense. And she can't help but think of Percy, and maybe a little diversion will be good for Yelena.]

That's a bonus I'm pretty sure Percy would enjoy more than any other bit.

[Because really, that boy with food. But Annabeth smiles a little wider herself.]

Though I guess it would be the same in reverse, too? With foods you don't like tasting worse?

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SORRY THIS IS SO LATE KSHDSDKJH ;;

NO WORRIES BB <333

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