Elizabeth smiled back and started leading Farah back to the town. It was a fairly small town, which meant not a lot of tourists but she was glad for that. Of course, it also meant a fair about of talk but overall the people were respectful of her past and each other's property. “I… I also have a small garden I've been working on.” she added. “It's a recent hobby but… I think I like it.” she said with a shrug.
Farah perked up a bit at the mention of Elizabeth’s garden. “That sounds lovely,” she enthused. “My friend Ben works in the greenhouse at Alfea. He’s an earth fairy, and a very talented one at that. His main talents are alchemy and plant-based chemistry. He makes an elixir called Zanbaq, and it helps heal specific injuries. And he can create a steam that tracks magic use…”
She hardly even realized she was ranting about Ben until she finally trailed off her sentence.
Elizabeth hadn't been expecting Farah to get so excited over her garden but she listened, smiling as the fairy told her about her friend. “You don't have to stop.” she assured. “Obviously, I have no idea what Zan-backy is but it still sounds impressive. And a mist that tracks… Does it track people who have magic or who have used it recently?” she prompted, wanting to keep the conversation going.
Farah couldn’t hide the light flush that came to her face. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to having such attention,” she murmured, but she eagerly continued. “The steam tracks recently used magic. And Zanbaq (Zan-back) is used to temporarily treat wounds caused by… they’re called Burned Ones — creatures specific to the Otherworld.”
The fairy bit her lip quickly. She needed to stop, or she would reveal too much. If she knows what I did… if she somehow finds out…
Elizabeth chuckled a little and gave a small shrug. “It's ok but I'm sorry if I'm bothering you with all these questions. It's just so interesting to hear about your world.” she explained, though a part of her wondered if it was so interesting because she was learning about an actual other world and not having to think about her own. She nodded slightly at the correction, a little relieved that she hadn't been too far off, and continued to listen. “Just going off the name, I’m guessing that Burned Ones are something of a problem back there, huh?”
“You’re not,” Farah quickly assured Elizabeth. “It’s not you at all. I understand. When I initially discovered the First World, I pestered my mentor to know more until she was fed up with me.”
She suddenly winced before returning to her typical calm expression. It irritated her that she couldn’t get the woman out of her head, but she pressed on to distract herself as much as possible with Elizabeth’s questions. “Yes, they’re a problem. If you get scratched by a Burned One, it causes a severe infection that Zanbaq can keep at bay for a time, but the only true cure is if someone can kill the Burned One who scratched you.”
Elizabeth laughed at the comparison and nodded. “Good to know.” she almost teased.
She raised a brow at the flinch, tempted to ask but decided that they didn't know each other well enough to ask personal questions yet. Besides, I'm not ready to talk about my issues. I shouldn't try to find out hers.
“Yikes. That sounds more like a curse than an infection.” she commented in concern. “Is it… lethal?” the question slipped out hesitantly.
Farah dipped her head shyly. “Don’t go teasing me,” she quipped with a smile.
She laughed dryly at Elizabeth’s comments. “I suppose it is,” she replied. “It works quickly and causes a tremendous amount of pain… and yes, if the Burned One isn’t found and killed in time, the result is lethal.”
Elizabeth chuckled again and playfully bumped her side against Farah’s. Though the good mood faded at the new information. “I’m sorry.” she said sincerely.
Farah grinned and accepted the motion in stride. But her smile lost its luster as Elizabeth’s sincere apology reached her ears.
“Please don’t be,” she quickly countered. “It’s nothing you can control. And this is a pleasant moment. Let’s not ruin it with such morbid talk.”
Elizabeth nodded, completely understanding. “Sure. Uh, tell me more about your friend, Ben. Is he more than a friend or is there someone else?” she asked, trying to change the topic.
(Okay… I’m about to throw in a ship that I normally don’t like just for the sake of Farah being single for this rp 😅)
(Saul x Andreas is one of my least favorite ships (and not because it’s bxb, I’m a sucker for a good bxb) because I just don’t think they canonically work well together, but I’m putting it in here so Farah can be single because I normally ship her with Saul 😂)
The laugh that burst out of Farah was uncontrollable. She quickly covered her lips to collect herself before replying. “No, Ben is just a friend. He has a girlfriend too, Rose.” A warm smile lit her face as she thought of the earth fairy couple. “They’re wonderful together.”
“I know Ben from a small battalion we were a part of in the Otherworld. There were only four of us as soldiers in the group. The leader of our battalion was a fairy, and her strategy was to pair a fairy with a Specialist. Ben’s Specialist partner during missions was Andreas. Mine was Saul. And Saul finally told me a little while ago that he and Andreas were dating, and I couldn’t be happier for them. So no, to answer your question a bit more directly, there’s no one else. What about you?”
The part Farah failed to include was that the leader of the battalion and the mentor she’d mentioned earlier were one in the same — the reason she was here instead of home and why her life was in shambles.
(I’m aware of your preferred ship 😏 Don't worry. Liz is currently single too.)
Elizabeth raised a brow at the sudden laugh but joined in with a chuckle at the explanation. “Oh. I see.” she smiled, nodding a little.
She stiffened briefly when Farah mentioned being in a battalion, remembering her own larger squad. Though she couldn't remember the names of most of them… Just one really. “Kinda seems like we're not very different after all.” she muttered thoughtlessly. She shook her head and refocused on Farah. “That's really sweet. For your friends. But, umm, what’s a Specialist?” she asked, unsure if the meaning was the same between the two worlds. She blushed a little at the last question before shaking her head again. “No. Not at the moment… There was someone but… He umm, I-I haven't seen him in for a while.” she said, trying to push down the ache that flared up every time she thought of him.
(😂 calling me out like that omgggg)
Farah caught the woman’s words and considered them. “You’re right,” she murmured with a careful smile. “I suppose we’re not. We’ve both seen war, haven’t we? Both were soldiers, had to follow orders.” Orders that should have been questioned.
“Ah, my apologies. I keep forgetting First World terminology differs from the Otherworld. A Specialist is a trained combatant. They primarily work with swords, other blades, and hand-to-hand combat techniques. I was also trained in some Specialist arts before I was trained with my magic. The magic I learned came easier and helped assist the skill that was already there.”
Farah immediately felt the same ache Elizabeth felt, if not stronger than the other woman felt it herself. Damn her empathetic abilities. Was it longing that Elizabeth felt? Farah had no right to invade her mind, and she wouldn’t, but her empath nature never really “turned off.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I didn’t mean to pry.”
Liz gave a small soft smile at the comparison and nodded. “Yeah. More war than we probably would have liked. Of course, I didn't really know that until after the fact.” she admitted.
“It's ok. I’m learning.” she chuckled softly before perking up a little. “Ah. So in your words, I would qualify as a Specialist.” she smirked. “Though I'm not great with blades. I have used bows and arrows before and have rarely missed a shot.”
Her smile faded as she sighed at the somber mood. “No. It's ok. I asked about your love life, it's fair… But I don't really want to talk about it too much. It… It still…” she sighed as the words failed to come.
“Yes,” Farah agreed quietly. “Any amount of war is too much.” She tilted her head with a small smirk. “I suppose you would. I’d like to see a demonstration of your archery abilities in the near future.”
The fairy dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Yes, I understand.” She pressed her lips together. “And I’m sorry, but I feel it’s only fair you should know this… I have empathetic abilities that allow me to feel what the people around me feel. I try not to use them invasively, but… it’s not something that I can retract.”
Elizabeth chuckled softly at the idea and nodded. “Sure. I’ll just have to rent a bow somewhere and we can have a little contest out here.”
The former Marine stopped dead in her tracks when Farah apologized. “So… You can feel what I feel?” she asked, already knowing what empathic meant. Though right now, Liz wasn't sure what she was feeling. She was overwhelmed and shocked by the revelation, and maybe a little hurt but she didn't think she was angry. “Is that just part of being a… a mind fairy?”
“Yes,” Farah answered softly. “To both your questions.” She felt the shock and hurt, wincing as the registered in her mind. “I’m sorry… I should’ve told you sooner. I understand if you don’t want me in your house.”
Elizabeth took a shaky deep breath and let it out slowly. “No. No. You can still stay and I appreciate you telling me.” she admitted, shaking her head. “I just… Sometimes I don't even know what I’m feeling anymore. And I don't want to overwhelm you with my problems. But you can probably tell that I was in love with him. James.” she clarified. “And I think a part of me still is but… He was my ranking officer. I was a Lieutenant and he was my Commander.”
Farah nodded slowly. She hated being invasive and feeling what others felt without them knowing it.
Oh gods, Farah. Stop being so noble.
The sharp voice in her head unintentionally made the fairy stiffen. She wanted to cover her ears and scream “Leave me alone!” until her throat went raw every time she heard that damn voice reappear from her memories. It was a reminder of someone who made it impossible to forget.
“I’ve taken on a fair share of other peoples’ problems in my life,” Farah remarked quietly. “You’d hardly be my first.” Still, she listened intently and bit her lip. Falling for a superior? Farah was familiar with the story. “I understand,” she murmured. “Better than you may think.”
Elizabeth raised a brow at Farah’s comment. “Do you? Because that's not the whole story.” she informed. “I know falling for a superior officer is… kinda a cliche but I didn't mean to. We just started working together, one-on-one, and… there was chemistry. Not just adrenaline from whatever situation we were in. It was real.” she sighed, shaking her head as she remembered all the beautiful sweet moments between them.
“Hey, are you alright?” she asked in concern when she noticed the fairy freeze.
Farah listened. Dear gods… our lives are so similar despite living in two separate worlds… though I hope her story didn’t end the same way that mine did.
“I’m fine,” she answered quickly – too quickly to truly be fine – before pressing her lips tightly together.
You're too kind to people who don't deserve it. Your strength comes from your power, and people will take advantage of you.
Elizabeth frowned slightly. “No offense, but I'm not sure I believe that.” she stated honestly. “I don't know you but I've seen that look before. You’re a thousand miles away from here… and that doesn't look like a good thing in your case.”
Farah sighed, knowing she was caught. “As you shouldn’t,” she admitted quietly. “My story is actually very similar, almost identical to yours. In the beginning and middle at least. I hope they don’t share the same ending.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened as Farah shared that much of her history. “Wow… What are the odds of that?” she murmured, not really expecting an answer. “Well, did your commanding officer get paralyzed from the waist down, with no idea if it was temporary or permanent, and then just suddenly disappear on you after starting to make plans for a life together?” she asked, giving the short and simple, but still painful, ending of her relationship.
“No,” Farah replied softly. Though she maintained our relationship to keep me trapped under her thumb and used my blind loyalty to her to make me follow through on orders that should have been questioned.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “That isn’t right.”
Elizabeth sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “No… It's not. And the worst part is, I don't know if he's still alive or not. I know he was already questioning… a lot of things when he found out about his legs but. We had just volunteered to lead a mission together then nothing.” she closed her eyes, trying to get a grip on herself before looking back at Farah. “I’m sorry, though. For what happened between you and your…” she trailed off, unsure what to call the other person in Farah’s relationship. But she had the distinct impression that it had ended badly.
Farah sighed. This woman was telling her practically everything. Well, not everything, but enough. The fairy decided it would only be fair if she shared her heartache too. Maybe it would be easier than carrying it alone, as she did with everything else since she could remember.
“Mentor,” she finished Elizabeth’s sentence. “And battalion leader. She was one and the same. I looked up to her in every way. She was the one who brought me to Alfea. She was the one who practically raised me, the one who trained me, and in my last year at Alfea, she invited me to be her protégé for the coming year. I accepted, of course. It was an honor to me at the time. She turned me into a loyal soldier, and when she had my trust, I look back on it now, she began to manipulate me. She would give me just enough information to string me along, and I was stupid enough to fall for it."
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped open in complete shock as Farah told her all the ways that their stories differed. She didn't care about Farah’s preference, it was the way that she was treated that made the brunette’s stomach churn. “Sweet mother of… That's terrible!” she said for lack of a better choice of words at the moment. “She sounds like a… Hey, it's not your fault. It sounds like that witch knew what she was doing. You might not have even been the first that she used that way. You weren't stupid. You were young and she had laid out a trap you didn't know how to look for.” she pointed out. “But I swear if I ever see her, I'm gonna unload a whole clip into her.”
Farah was a bit shocked at Elizabeth’s response, though she did agree with her in not so many words. And some things she’d never even considered. What if there were others who had been manipulated the same way Farah had been? She desperately hoped not. She couldn't help but laugh at Elizabeth's last line.
"I would very much like to see that," the fairy remarked, but the moment of amusement vanished as quickly as it had come. She shook her head briefly before continuing. "The following year, as attacks from the Burned Ones attacks became steadily worst, Rosalind assembled a personal battalion, as I told you, to travel with her to end the Burned Ones' reign of terror. Being in her battalion and her protégé, Rosalind began to spend most of our time around each other, as you and James must have done.”
Farah offered a very fleeting smile. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. Maybe it was Elizabeth’s reactions or the fact that she had never told anyone the specific details of her falling out with Rosalind – not even Saul. Well, he knew what had caused the falling out, but he didn’t know the extent of her relationship with Rosalind. Specifically, the romantic side of it.
"Then, one night, we were in her office at Alfea. We'd just gotten back from a successful expedition, it was dark, and we were both working late. At one point, when the words on the pages started blurring together in my vision, Rosalind approached my desk with a bottle of liquor."
Farah closed her eyes briefly before forcing them open again. "I should've said no, but I doubt that alcohol was the only thing to influence me that night. Her magic filled the air, but I was too tired and soon too drunk to realize it. Eventually, we ended up sitting together on one of the couches in her office, and she put her arm around me. I was too delirious to tell her no even if I wanted to. I don't know how I remember every word she said to me that night. I was horribly exhausted and drunk out of my wits, but one thing led to another, and… we kissed.
"That kiss was… incredible," she admitted reluctantly. "But I wish with all my heart that evening could've gone very differently. If only I told her how tired I was so she would let me leave… If I had refused the alcohol… If we hadn't sat so close…"
(So… I have her backstory very fleshed out lmaooo. It's not even done yet… I'm so sorry XD)