Enter the (Ex-)Imperator.

[eumenis]

There's a woman at the edge of the Parklands, knee-deep in grass. She looks like a soldier, one arm a metal prosthetic, a skull-shaped brand marking the nape of her neck, a machete in a sheath at her hip, and possibly other weapons hidden on her person. She's dirty, stained with dust and oil, and tension sings along the lines of her back and shoulders. Like she's waiting to be attacked.

At the same time, though, there's a distinctly misty look in her eyes as she stares out over the field before her. Flowers. Insects. Streams and lakes. Maybe she's hallucinating. Maybe she's dead.

She has one question, though, because beauty is so often a trap: "Is this water safe?"

Comments

[eumenis]

"Definitely a start. I can take it with me? Bring it back later?"

She seems to recall libraries working that way, once upon a time, but the owl at the front desk had a very sharp beak. She's not interested in picking a fight.

[onemorebounty]

*She nods.*

You'll have to stop by the desk, tell whoever's there that you're taking it, who you are, and broadly where you're from, but that's it.

[eumenis]

This strikes Furiosa as remarkably trusting. She stands, nodding in acknowledgement, and cradles the book to her chest like it's the key to healing the world. Which it might be, in some small way, or at least a key to repairing her little corner of it.

Now, of course, she'll have to figure a way home, but that will come sooner or later. She has a bit more exploring to do first. "I'll do that. Will I be seeing you again?"

This is her awkward way of both taking leave and offering friendship, in one breath.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus nods, offering a small smile. She knows that look in her new friend's eye.*

I'm around the Nexus on a fairly regular basis. I shouldn't be hard to find, if you'd like to talk again, sometime. And until then, good hunting.

[eumenis]

"And to you as well." There's a fleeting smile and a grateful nod, before she turns and departs.