WHO: Araceli and Dorian WHEN: April 8th (day after the Ajax spectacle) WHERE: Their home. WHAT: Discussing things. Decompressing. Figuring things out.
Ara had barely slept. In fact, she felt like she'd gotten out of bed at least 10 times since she'd finally laid herself down a couple hours ago. She knew Dorian needed rest just as much as she did so she'd gone into the living quarters of their suite so as not to disturb him. Her mind kept replaying the scene with Ajax and his Damned, though most of the time she'd been fixated on her daughter up on that stage rather than anything else. Selfish, sure, but Ara looked after her own first and foremost. She had never been one who thought it necessary to fight for "the greater good" or whatever those with a hero complex told themselves to sleep better at night. Of course, there were things that required everyone to work together to vanquish, and things that should not be tolerated at all, but with this kind of enemy she wasn't about to go charging in with guns blazing.
Thankfully, Noelia had been mostly unharmed. She was not free and clear by any means, but she wasn't as bad off as Rhapsody. That small bit of relief had faded almost instantly as the queen noticed her daughter's demeanor. She seemed shaky, fearful, which were both things to be expected. However, rather than let her sit with her and try to soothe her or talk about what had happened, Noelia wanted to be alone. As hard as it was for Ara to wrap her mind around, she didn't want to push her after something so traumatizing. Which of course only added to the worry and whirl of thoughts that kept her up.
After awhile, she'd somehow fallen asleep on the couch, the fire crackling and popping as it died in the fireplace the only noise in the suite. Ara shivered, her body positioned awkwardly thanks to her stomach. She hadn't thought to pull the blanket up from where she'd tucked it around her cold feet before she'd slipped into fitful sleep finally and her body was now regretting it.