What Are Friends For? [Veralia/Sabriel]

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

Wisps of fire ignited outside the palace door of Sabriel's kingdom. In seconds, a blazing vortex ripping through from Hueco Mundo to Earth soon followed. Veralia stepped out of the rip in space as her sandals touched the warm sand of the hollow realm. Looking around, her blood eyes reflected a quiet reflection as she wondered what state she'd find her friend in.

For a fleeting second, the thought crossed her mind: was she putting herself in the line of fire just by being here? By associating with Sabriel during such a turbulent time? The idea made her yawn softly, not out of boredom but as a defense against the unease creeping in. Shaking her head, she cast the lingering doubts aside. Sabriel was her friend, and improvising had always been her way.

If anything, perhaps her negative thoughts were wrong and Sabriel would just be happy to see her, right?

Steeling herself, she took a step forward, letting the quiet resolve settle into her movements. At least by giving Sabriel a heads-up before arriving, Veralia had allowed her time to prepare. Now, all that was left was to see what would unfold beyond those doors.

It had been a turbulent time for the dark haired Arrancar to say the least and Sabriel supposed that she was in the process of rehab of some sort. She did not quite feel at her best but the purpled eyed woman believed that the worst was behind her. Her time with Arianda had changed things somewhat and their burgeoning relationship had helped drag Sabriel out of the gloom. Still, there was so much left to do and the Arrancar of Lust still found herself staring off into the distance from time to time, as though she was somewhere else, to the unhappiness of her Lirael, who was worried sick every time.

Today was an average day, she supposed, neither too pleased nor too miserable and as she lay on one of her exquisite couches, reading one of her many novels, a small smile would cross her face as she felt a familiar presence. Right now, any friend was one that she cherished and putting aside her book and heading towards the doors to her palace. There was some trepidation, knowing how close the petite woman was to Stella, a woman who had of course been close to Sabriel too at one time. It hurt to think about the redhead to be honest and the Arrancar still mourned the loss of their friendship.

Once she opened the doors to find her guest waiting, Sabriel would simply say before drawing the Arrancar into an embrace. “Veralia.”

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

"In the flesh~"

Veralia gently laughed as her voice remained low and amused, going in to return the gesture and embracing Sabriel in a hug. As her bloody eyes turned back to the woman, she tilted her head to the side and smirked.

"Hopefully, you've been taking care of yourself. I've heard everything that has happened."

Her words hung in the air momentarily, her gaze thoughtful. There were many ways to approach the conversation, but Veralia chose the direct route, trusting that honesty would resonate most.

"How are you holding up despite all that shit?"

She was straightforward, even in times like this, and she kept her voice soft despite the bluntness of the question.

"I can’t imagine it’s been easy for you."

Her smirk faded into something gentler as she waited, giving Sabriel the space to respond, her presence unwavering and her concern clear.

“It has taken me quite a while to feel like myself again and even now there are moments where I seem to find myself just staring into nothingness.” Sabriel replied with equal honesty, inviting her friend inside and heading back towards her lavish couch. “I was an idiot for getting involved in the attack and if I had actually used my brain rather than my aspect as my guide, I probably would not have found myself in this mess. I keep asking myself what I was thinking when I already know that the answer is that I simply was not. It is so frustrating.”

Taking a seat, she would muse to herself briefly before sighing. “I am glad that you came to visit as I find myself with a few less friends now thanks to my own stupidity. It has been difficult to come to terms with that more than anything else in truth, as reliant as I am on forming bonds with others.”

Of course, it was the severing of one such bond that caused her more pain. A woman that Veralia knew just as well or better than Sabriel did herself.

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

Veralia remained quiet, smiling softly as she let her friend vent her frustrations. It was a messy situation all around as it left a sore spot in her heart to see both Sabriel and Stella unable to keep their friendship among one another. Still, with the lengthy lives they led, Veralia doubted this would be the last time an incident like this would happen.

Taking a seat on Sabriel’s couch, Veralia exhaled gently, reaching over to pat her friend’s head.

"You might be an idiot for getting caught up in all this,"

As she began, her tone was teasing but affectionate, and she looked Sabriel in the eye as she spoke.

"But you’re not alone in making idiotic decisions. We’re hollows, after all. The darkest aspects of humanity anchor our existence, and with the kind of power we wield? Shit like this is bound to happen again."

A gentle, well-meaning laugh escaped her lips as she tried to piece together the right words to say.

"And who knows? Maybe one day you and Stella will patch things up. Maybe even with the others. I can’t promise that, but time… time has a way of shifting things, for better or worse."

Leaning back, Veralia rested her head on Sabriel’s lap, her blood-red eyes gazing up at her with an intensity that seemed to cut through to the arrancar’s very soul. The gesture wasn’t just one of closeness; it was a reminder of Veralia’s presence, of her loyalty.

"If nothing else, you still got me here if you ever need someone as I know it's a pain in the ass to find people worth bonding with. Our instinct is to kill, not to nurture."

Her words hung in the air, an open invitation for Sabriel to let her guard down, to trust in the bond they shared, even amid the chaos.

Listening as Veralia spoke, Sabriel would ponder over her words, a look of understanding crossing her face after a brief period of time. Her petite friend was always direct, regardless of the situation but at that moment, it was appreciated. The lavender eyed woman did not need riddles or half truths, she simply needed someone who she could be completely open with, the woman that lay beneath the lustful wench that many viewed her as. There were not many that she truly felt she could be honest with, not now, not now after what had occurred.

As Veralia rested her head in her lap, Sabriel would reply with her favourite way of showing affection to her beloved friend, one hand gently toying with the horns upon the red eyed woman’s head. Her touch was gentle, somewhat giving away as to just how much her fellow Arrancar meant to her. Sabriel had many friends out there but how many would she consider true? She could probably count them on one hand.

“I hope that one day I can patch things up with Stella, as her breaking off our friendship was the most painful of all for me. I understand why she had to take such a drastic step, yet it was quite a shock nonetheless. She has truly matured.” Sabriel replied with perhaps a ghost of a smile, despite the unhappiness of the situation for herself. “You will take care of her, yes?” A stupid question perhaps but it was the thought that counted and even with their friendship broken, Sabriel did still care.

After some further thought, she would add. “Just having you here with me means more than you know. In this world of darkness and solitude, I truly appreciate the bond that we have developed with one another. It is so rare for our kind to become so close and who would have thought that envy and lust would make such an effective match?”

Not exactly the most stable aspects to combine though.

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

"You can be an experienced fighter, but getting punched in the kidney still puts you on the ground gasping for air,"

As Verlaia spoke, her tone was laced with a mix of bluntness and understanding. With a gentle smile, she leaned in and lightly tapped Sabriel’s side with a soft punch, teasing but pointed.

"So even if you understand Stella's reasoning, it doesn’t mean it won’t sting like a bitch when she’s gone. It’s natural to feel that way."

Her blood-red eyes flicked upward, meeting Sabriel’s gaze as she allowed herself to relax under the gentle rubs against her horns. A soft exhale escaped her, her body subtly leaning into the comforting gesture as she prepared to speak again, her words carrying a firm resolve.

"And yeah, it's in my instinct to ensure she is alright. Everything else besides you guys suck in this world, so I'll burn whatever gets in the way of me enjoying that."

Then, with a snap of her fingers, a small ember emerald flame erupted out of her fingers before fading.

"Fire helps you build community and warmth, so yeah, it makes sense you'd cling to me if the world was dark. It's why I love it: where there is fire, there is usually safety."

Pausing momentarily, she'd look at her hand, going on to have a soft sphere of fire forge in it.

"But that’s also why I hate Hueco Mundo sometimes,"

With that admission out, her voice grew quieter before she continued.=

"Infinite darkness doesn’t suit me one bit. There’s no spark, no warmth. It feels empty."

The sphere of fire dissipated, and Veralia’s gaze turned back to Sabriel, her expression softened but still carrying that unmistakable fire of determination.

Even though the topic was rather unpleasant, Sabriel had to smile slightly at Veralia’s metaphor regarding getting punched in the kidney. She had expected that kind of answer from her dark haired friend and the refreshing nature of the Arrancar was such a blessing. It was difficult to argue with the meaning at all and all the lavender eyed woman did was simply answer. “You have always had such a way with words, Veralia. I simply hope that perhaps one day, the three of us will be able to meet up together and do something. Perhaps when the situation changes, if it ever does.”

As Veralia confirmed that she would protect Stella, Sabriel would gently move her hand that was caressing her friend’s horns, to stroke her hair instead. “Considering how close the two of you have become, it was probably silly of me to ask that but I appreciate the fact that you will be there nonetheless. Stella does have a habit of running chest first into trouble, does she not?” Her choice of words were deliberate, gently teasing the redhead but knowing that Veralia would be alright with it.

Sabriel would then give Veralia’s last few ponderings further thought, musing them over as she considered her response. Again, there was nothing untrue about what her friend was saying and with a sigh, the Arrancar of Lust would eventually answer. “I share the same hatred for this place as you do and that is why I surround myself with the Hollows who live in my little slice of paradise. Even though they are merely intoxicated by my energy, they are at least one way of easing my loneliness. Compared to the friends I have made recently though, they are simply no comparison though.”

Thinking a moment longer, she would then add. “I am just glad that at least when we are here, we can help each other fight the cold and loneliness of this land away.”

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

"If you look up trouble in the dictionary, you'll see Stella's soul next to it. So yeah, I get what you mean."

Veralia chuckled half-heartedly before closing her eyes and thinking for a moment. Darkness, loneliness, all these things make sin fester and boil. It made her ponder the mortality of all their actions. So, when her eyes opened again, she raised her eyebrow.

"We’re hollows,"

She began, her voice steady but reflective.

"We gotta do what’s right for ourselves. Can’t say if I’m a good or bad person. A lot of what I do is self-serving—even protecting you two. You numb my envy when it’s burning hot, so yeah, I’ve gotta keep you both around, y’know?"

There was no malice in her words, just a blunt honesty that Veralia didn’t shy away from. She nodded slightly as if reaffirming the truth before letting her gaze linger on Sabriel.

"So even creatures like us need relationships. We're in for a long, long existence if we don't get stabbed in the back. So it's good to have company to fight the cold and loneliness, yeah."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, her blood-red eyes flickering with a mix of contemplation and a faint vulnerability she rarely showed.

"But it worries me if I indulge in my instincts if the same will happen to me. I'm unsure if Stella deeply grasped the nature of knowing hollows."