“I don’t think it shall be possible for you to ever be just another face in the crowd,” Amani began, "You’ve always had a way of standing out, even from childhood. Sometimes I can’t decide if I loathe or love that about you "
A moment of thoughtful silence followed as Amani’s gaze lingered on Arya. It was Arya’s distinctiveness, her deeply unconventional personality, that had initially drawn Amani to her. It was her boldness, her ability to easily engage with Amani even when they were young, that had sparked Amani’s interest and led her to consider forming a friendship with Arya. But Arya’s complexity, her unpredictability, had also made her somewhat daunting. Yet, wasn’t that what made Sellenova intriguing? The unpredictability, the element of surprise?
Amani’s lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes alight with a mischievous glimmer as she absorbed Arya’s response. "let’s hope the journey is favorable upon us then,” Amani responded, her voice low and sultry, her words carrying a playful yet suggestive undertone. “With the roads leading us to, well…" She paused for effect, her smirk widening as she leaned in closer, “…to places where secrets are whispered and desires are unleashed,” Amani finally concluded, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Where every step is a dance of temptation, and every glance promises untold pleasures.” Amani leaned back into the chair, “Or the roads could also take us to a coffee shop, another one of the ‘just the right places’ wouldn’t you say?” Amani responded, picking up her latte and taking a sip out of it.
She listened to Arya’s musing, taking in all of her words with ‘hmms’ , raising an eyebrow or pretending to write with her pen. Amani had then began musings of her own, speaking as cryptically and playfully as ever as Arya listened. They had ventured into discussions- discussions about their dear headmaster, Adrian. Amani chuckled softly, the sound a gentle echo in the quiet room. “Ah, Sellenova, you do have a way with words,” she said, “Adrian may indeed see himself as the master of puppets, orchestrating events to his whims. Yet, as you so eloquently put it, the strings of fate are entangled, binding all players in its intricate weave. It’s a dance, isn’t it? One where every step, every pull of the string, affects the entire performance. And in this grand spectacle, we are all both puppeteers and puppets, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, and often, just part of the audience, watching how the story unfolds.” And if Amani could truly choose, she would choose simple to be part of the audience, just watching how the story unfolds. Whatever was happening in the school, Amani wanted no parts of it. She did not even want any part of what was happening in her home, the future that was already planned for her, but- Amani looked to the side, her eyes staring at the windows, she will manage.
"She may be his prized puppet, but even the most carefully crafted strings can be cut.”
Arya had said, turning Amani’s attention back to her. Could they? Amani had thought, what if the ropes were made impossible to cut? or what if cutting the ropes could shatter an illusion? She had wanted to ask, but instead, Amani had smiled, “Indeed,” Amani had agreed with a soft chuckle, "This days there are variety of scissors, sharp and precise, each with its own purpose,” Amani replied, using her fingers to make a pair of scissors, "Some are meant for delicate cuts, for unraveling the finest of threads, while others are forged for more… decisive actions.” She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with a playful glint. “The question, my dear Arya, is not whether the ropes can be cut, but rather, which pair of scissors we choose to wield. After all, in a world of illusions, the one who holds the scissors is the true puppeteer”
The one who is ready to cut off the strings of attachment when necessary, even when i
She knew all too well the pain of letting go, of severing ties that once seemed unbreakable and perhaps no matter how much she longs to deny it, those ties are indeed unbreakable or at least one or two, but it was necessary and the thing with Amani was that she was very aware of the meaning of ‘necessity’ and the pain that comes with it but… Amani eyes flickered to her phone, as time goes on-perhaps that phone will break and Amani gets a new one and she shall not care- just like with time the pain shall seize.
Amani’s eyes met Arya’s as they began to discuss the oh so lovely Icarus, a tale from the famous Ovid’s Metamorphoses in ancient Greece, Amani leaned back, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. “Well, Arya, if we were both the sun and Icarus, we’d be in quite the conundrum, wouldn’t we?” she mused. “Imagine the sun trying to fly too close to itself, only to realize it’s already where it needs to be. Quite the existential crisis, don’t you think?” She chuckled softly, her gaze playful.“No, let’s not mix metaphors. But I suppose the sun and Icarus are similar in a way that perhaps they were both dreamers, but their dreams differ. The sun, it dreams in fiery bursts of creation, nurturing life from afar, never faltering. Icarus, however, dreamed of freedom, of touching the sky he so loved , of emulating the sun. and yet his ambition was his undoing. The sun on the other hand, can dream with its fiery fire, can be ambitious and its ambition shall not be its undoing. " Amani had always said if she had to choose an element, she would choose fire, because sure water and air are indeed the most powerful elements- everyone is made of water and air, but fire- fire, ah fire, it holds a special allure. Fire to Amani was the element of passion, of transformation, It consumes, but it also purifies. It can destroy, but it also forges anew. Fire is the heart of stars, the core of our very Earth. It’s the spark of ideas, the warmth of love, the blaze of courage. Water may flow, and air may whisper secrets on the wind but fire is life itself, with fire- with passion one forges a clear path for themselves and though Amani path was long chosen, she had found another way to make her path her’s and her’s alone.
Amani raised her glass, a silent toast, her lips could not help but to tug into a wide smile as Arya had playful added no strings attached, “To spontaneity!” Amani had toasted, her face warm, taking a sip of her drink. She couldn’t help but to wonder, just how spontaneous shall this year be? 4th wall break, 4th wall break warning: yeah it’s going to be pretty spontaneous, very chaotic, you will probs wish you didn’t toast to that
Their conversation began to stir from the cryptic banter into a more light hearted conversation. Talks of honesty and even birds. “Nietzsche? quite the cipher of you I have to say,” Amani remarked, raising a brow as she finished her toast. “Is it really that interesting of a choice, when it is merely the obvious one?” she inquired, flipping through the pages of her notebook until she settled on a specific page. Bringing her pen close to the paper as if preparing to write, she continued, “Their allure lies in their mystery and intelligence, typically praised qualities.” Amani’s gaze remained fixed on her pen rather than Arya. “But if I were a true aficionado of birds, what would captivate me is their ability to navigate shadows with grace and poise,” she paused, a small smile etching across her face, “Much like someone I know,” she flirted, shifting her eyes away from her pen and up towards the brunette.
Curiosity had gotten the best of Amani, as she had began to ask questions targeted towards Arya’s life, interested to know what has been occurring. At Arya’s cryptic tone about her life, Amani had asked if a little birdie had told her to keep quiet, to which Arya had responded perhaps. “Birds this days, always chirping, never keeping quiet am I right?” she echoed, a playful smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she took a sip of her coffee. “Ah, but even the most secretive magicians have their trusted confidants,” she mused, her voice a soft purr of intrigue. “And sometimes, just a peek behind the curtain can make the show all the more thrilling. But ‘game is game’ and I respect the allure of mystery and games I suppose,” she conceded with a graceful nod, “and I’ll enjoy the performance, secrets and all. Just remember, every magician needs an audience, and I’m all eyes and ears, Sellenova.”
If their conversation before now had transitioned to one that was lighthearted, it has transitioned itself back again to a more peculiar conversation. “Really?” Amani had questioned with a small laugh, “Yet, meaning there’s still a possibility no?” Amani had teasingly asked, “You could swing by my room sometime, I got a lot of sweet flavor I could show you.” she brought her pen near her lips, as she paused, a glint of mischief in her eyes, “I’m talking about candy of course, unless you fancy yourself a different sweet flavor” Amani winked. As Arya continued, Amani had arched a brow, “Spice, you say?” she quipped, her eyes dancing with mirth. “Well, Arya, I’ve always been more of a cinnamon than sugar. A little sharp, perhaps, but always warming.” She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table, bringing them closer.
She had requested a sip from Arya’s drink, to which Arya with a smile, had granted the request, telling her it was dirty chai. Amani lifted the cup to her lips, the steam from the dirty chai teasing her senses. She took a tentative sip, the robust flavor of the tea laced with espresso washing over her palate. A moment passed, and she set the cup down with a delicate clink, her eyes locking with Arya’s in a playful challenge, "I seem to have forgotten just how potent a dirty chai can be,” she remarked, the corner of her mouth quirking up. " It’s quite… invigorating.”
Amani’s chuckle danced in harmony with Arya’s smirk, her own eyes gleaming with amusement and a hint of admiration for Arya’s playful banter . “Indeed, the thrill is in the challenge,” Amani replied, her voice tinged with a playful edge. “And I have no doubt you excel at rising to the occasion.” With a graceful movement, Amani rose from her seat, setting her empty cup aside with a flick of her wrist. “Well, as much as I’d love to linger in the thrill of our banter,” she remarked, her gaze sweeping over Arya as Amani packed her things inside her bag, “I find myself craving a change of scenery.”
“Care to join me for a stroll?” Amani asked, a coy smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Who knows what mysteries we might uncover along the way.”
@CerealKiller
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