#the_ice_cave

"Yes?" another look up, uncertain but curious.

"Breathe," He says with a smile, "In through the nose, gently, then out through the mouth, slowly," Emmit assures her, "In , and out. "

A raspy noise, a short puff of air - a laugh?

He does laugh, softly, deeply, then nods, "Breathing lets you realize that you are in the here, the now, the future can be prepared for, sure, but you're in the 'now now' so don't panic yet. Don't invite the worst. Just remember to breathe, that's all you have to do in the now. And that is in your power. At this stage, you have the power. Don't give it up to what might be, and certainly don't yield it up to what might never be. The present has enough to be scared off without importing too much worry from the future. "

A sigh and she nods - her expression falling for a moment, betraying lines of strain.

"Oh, I see you have plenty already on your shoulders," Emmit says not blind to the lines, "Need an ear to vent on?"

"You say it's a matter of doing it anyway? I can't.. I can't complain, I just need to do better."

"Well, you can always complain, there's just a limit to the productiveness," Emmit says, "And young lady, it is possible to do your best, to do nothing wrong, to make no mistakes... and still fall short and even fail. that is not a flaw in you, or a reflection of your worth or lack of it: It's just life. Fall, dust off, stand, learn, start up again. Wash, rinse,repeat... truths are like vegetables. Mix them with whatever it takes to make swallowing them easier for you. I like anecdotes myself...fair warning."

"It.. may be, though."

"Maybe?" He raises a brow. "Maybe a flaw in you or reflection? You sure? I find that sort of thing to be a pretty easy out."

"You think it is easy to realize that.. what the common denominator is?"

"I think it's a very tempting thing, to tell yourself "it's me, I'm not good enough." It means you don't have to keep trying. You can stop now. Let others do it. It's... a load off. It's the easy way to avoid what scares you, what others rely on you for. what you FEEL they might rely on you for. Success is scarier than failure sometimes."

Another bite on her lower lip, dark eyes studying the troll. She does not have any rejoinder for him.

He doesn't seem to expect one, "Breathe again if you need to." Emmit rises, "And young lady. What I've heard of you, and what you tell me of? Someone, I suspect, is exaggerating on both sides.... I doubt you walk on water OR spread plague." A pause, "I think I'll judge for myself."

"Earl..." a sigh. "I am sorry. I wish he wouldn't. I'm... I'm just me."

"And that strikes me as a very okay person to be," He says with a nod, "Maybe he's too light on you, and you're too hard on you. Not for me to say, we just met. but we'll find out."

"He... " her cheeks go pink again, and she ducks her head. A little smile tugs at her grey lips, not taking full flight - but there's no denying her sentiments. "He is unfailingly kind. "

"Probably kinder than many of his cousins deserved. They grew out of it, but he was always...different and I'm afraid we were scared of different. I should have caught it. Old and wise don't always go together, my seeming's just better at putting on that face than young folk."

"He's a wonderful artist. I think he... he has a way to take what he feels, and turn it into images. To capture it. It's.. fascinating., truth... and.. ah.. " she stammers and blushes. "P-pardon."

"For what? it's all true, and I say that with a bit of pride, but you and ..what's her name? Bunny? You saw it, realized it before his own family did, well, except for Clem and Teesha." He nods, "You believed in him, both of you. Wish we had."

"Still time, nu? He loves you. It's... it's family. The place you always have. Are supposed to, at least. Hope to."

"mm our indifference burned bridges, made him think we didn't respect him or consider him a part of us..." A sigh "It's a hard fix. " The man seems geniunely sad at that. "Hard to make someone feel wanted after ignoring them."

"S-so... so important to fix it, yes? "

"Yes, you're right," Emmit admits, "Hope he can forgive us. Sometimes it's difficult to say how we feel ...for trolls anyway. Don't know about others so much but I imagine it's not unique to us. well, maybe not for Earl. That boy shines , his light is a bit moth heavy, but it's there."

"But it is easier, now. Before it... festers. There are changes happening, nu? Clem's work? So.. so it's one more little thing, one more bit of diplomatic outreach. I think.. I think the gesture would be noticed."

"well, that's another reason i should be glad I'm in town then," He nods, "Pardon . young lady, I should probably tend to that. Remember, One Dragon Scale for your first task. "

"I understand. Shalom, sir."

"Peace unto you as well," The man recasts his veil and steps out ...gone.

Zara sinks down onto the bed, left alone with her thoughts.