[ and it’s a little too easy to take the bait and grasp at straws. the fleeting bits and pieces of a life she had once upon a time is something she desperately clings to, because, right now, it’s all she’s got. she should know better, but there’s an emptiness in her that, if she’s being honest, frightens her. ] Nyx it is. [ pepper smiles, reveling in the familiarity his name prompts. ] What are the odds… [ that they’d meet here of all places. there wasn’t anything special about wayward. ]

I’m glad, because I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. [ which may or may not be far from the truth. ] You look… [ studying him for a moment now that the shock’s worn off she notices the scar. ] Did something happen, Nyx? [ she has to forcibly refrain from reaching out to take a closer look, so she, instead, shakes her head. ] I take my eyes off of you and… please tell me you’re alright.