Dolphus’s lack of response to her jab confirmed Ari’s suspicions that the rapidly approaching stern-looking woman was, in fact, the fabled Alexis and that the kid saw her in a completely different light from everyone else.
Is she his mother or something? They do look quite alike…
The woman was now in arm’s reach from her and carefully examining Dolphus.
Ari was barely able to hold herself from laughing out loud at the awkward attempt at a hug that unfolded before her eyes. She let out a chuckle, despite her best efforts.
These people clearly don’t know what a real hug is.
After this display, Alexis didn’t seem nearly as threatening anymore. Ari was able to relax once again.
Ari curiosity watched the boy’s deathly pale face turn an almost healthy pinkish colour, which was presumably his equivalent of a blush, after hearing Alexis’s reassuring words. She mentally patted herself on the back for getting a good read on his character. She’d already seen what she assumed was his true face before, and getting the confirmation that it was not a fluke, in the form of this display of genuine emotion, definitely felt rewarding. She couldn’t help but warm up to him just a little bit more, seeing again that the cold, uncaring facade wasn’t everything he was about. After all, he was just a kid, who got dealt a very bad hand in life.
The painfully obvious comparison once again creeped its way into Ari’s thoughts, but she shoved it into the farthest corner of her mind. It was not the time to get sentimental. She had a job to do.
“I’m Ari W-” She caught herself. She still didn’t trust these people enough to disclose something like this. “Just Ari. I am a shipwright and I will repair your vessel for the small price of you getting me off this island and as far away from the Armada as possible.” She threw an uncharacteristically calculated glance at the ship, as if confirming her assessment of its current condition. “It desperately needs it, you know, and I bet that you all want to leave this place just as much.” A big genuine smile appeared on her face.
This time she couldn’t help but notice the figure of a sailor listening in on their conversation. A figure that didn’t look quite alive. (@Winterstorm345)
OOC: man does it feel good to be real again 