It was like waking from a dream. One minute, she was playing with dead things and enjoying the mischievous behavior of her kin. The next, she was lost and dazed, unsure of where to go or what to do. Things were never going to be the same again. After the last century or so, she knew she had to stop living under that weight. Her family was dead, gone and lost. They disappeared when that world died, but that only meant they were finally safe from him.

No more mourning, let the grieving slip into the past. Nothing she could do would bring her precious son and husband back. Too many years were lost, first in search then to her own mind. No, she was done lashing out, it was time to finally become the woman who he had married once more. With her head held high, she made herself bigger. Tender memories were tucked away as she walked barefoot through the city, a little black wyvern resting on her shoulder.

Luna stood an average five foot six, her long silky white hair hung loose. The black strapless dress she wore was very form fitting barely covered her buttox, being too short for proper occasions such as this. But it was currently all she had, for everything her husband bought her was lost as well. When one flies around, only six inches tall, one does not need to worry about formal attire. Her skin seemed pale, despite her time outdoors. Lavender eyes seemed ducked, almost cautious about catching anyone's eye.

[OOC: Shar’s dress can be found here

Another year past another festival to join in, but, unlike last time, Sharifa was actually willing and happy to be here. Unlike before where Angela pretty much had to force the grumpy Wasp woman into a dress and then stay at the party, Shar had kind of been looking forward to this one. Perhaps she had been spending too much time around people who, in the past, would have annoyed her, or perhaps she had just seen this as a way to have some fun. Get away from all the secrets her job for Angela involved and just relax and maybe getting a little drunk.

Unable to find another gown that she liked Sharifa decided to wear the same one she had last year, since it had to have been specially fitted for her anyway. It was a stunning black and red affair, that went surprisingly well with Shar’s natural black and gold colouring. While wearing it it was nearly impossible for Shar to sit down anywhere, so while she ate and drank she stood, which was fine. With four arms it was easy to hold a plate of food and a drink and still have at least one hand free.

She was simply walking about to make sure that everything was going well, still on the job even if she wasn’t supposed to be, but that was the Wasp mindset after all. In her lower hands she held a plate of confections(Shar had a huge sweet tooth) in one hand and in the other a mug of mead, while using her top primary left hand to eat from the plate, leaving her upper right hand free. At six feet and five inches tall Sharifa stood out among the crowds of people, but she was known in Sularia now anyway so the locals knew her at least.

As Shar walked she spotted a shorter figure keeping their eyes down and the Wasp woman turned and walked towards Morticia. ”Hello there, is everything alright?” Shar asked. ”I’m sorry if I’m prying but it looked like something was wrong when I first saw you. Oh, and my name is Sharifa.”

”Oh?” The pixie’s footsteps faltered as someone approached her with a question of concern. She blinked as she took in the rather exquisite looking woman. Red and black and gold, the wasp-like face, which might have unsettled most when the sister continent made itself known, was given an almost shy and hesitant smile. Morticia was well accustomed to everything most people find small and annoying, such as bugs and insects, pixies included. ”Oh, no, I’m fine. It’s… nothing.” Her bell-like voice was unconvincing.

”Many in Revaliir know me as Morticia… However…” She paused as she thought about her next set of words. It was time to be completely honest with herself and the world, she was so very tired of running from her own heart. ”I’m Luna. Luna Nouhime. A pleasure. You seem to have quite the sweet tooth, Sharifa, did you say your name was?” This time, Luna gave a more genuine smile, if still a bit small.

”You don’t look to be from Canelux or Parvpora. Are you from that other continent? Onnen, was it? What’s it like there? Are there more insectoids such as yourself there, not just wasps but other insects I mean?” The questions were flowing easily off the tongue as if she had been waiting for someone to just break the ice. This was the first time in a long time she was big enough not to get squashed, so she was willing to throw herself out there in an effort to do what people normally do: get to know one another.

Shar nodded when the female said she was alright, Sharifa didn’t believe that for a moment, but didn’t press the issue either. Instead she listened as Luna introduced herself and the wasp grinned at her observation. ”Yes, I do enjoy my sweet treats.” She chuckled slightly before Luna went into a string questions. It hadn’t escaped the wasp that Luna had given two names now, but Sharifa would speak to her as Luna. Perhaps if she got Luna comfortable talking to her Shar could get Luna to open up and maybe talk about what was wrong.

”Yes, Onnen is correct.” Shar started with a small grin, she had no problem answering these questions. ”There are many other kinds of insect tribes in Onnen. There are ants, beetles, mantises, termites, butterflies and mosquitos. The last of those you really need to be careful about, they are rather… murder happy, blood suckers that they are.” She warned. ”But the rest aren’t that bad, territorial yes, but if you visit with good intentions in general they won’t bother you, only keep an eye.” Shar thought a moment. ”If you ever happen upon some butterflies, or Sidama as they are known in our native language, be kind, introduce yourself and act peacefully. If you can sing, play an instrument or draw all the better, they appreciate art in all forms. The Sidama was a beautiful race, you’ll know one when you see one.” Now that Sharifa knew that the Sidama were slowly making their way to Canelux, with some intent on heading to Parvpora, she wanted to spread the word about being kind to them as much as she could.

”The lands of Onnen are as varied as you have in Canelux and even in Parvpora. Deserts, grasslands, beaches, savannahs, even our own floating lands.” She took a sip of her mead before continuing. ”Are you at the party with someone, Luna? Is this your first time in Sularia?” Shar asked curiously.

Luna listened thoughtfully as the wasp spoke about the multitude of other insects from Onnen. Her nose wrinkled at termites, the pixie shuddered at mosquitos. Even at six inches tall, those things were not her favorite thing to run into. "Ya," she agreed before Sharifa continued to explain the behaviors of the clans. The pixie smiled with hope. "I'd like to meet one someday. They sound really… sweet." It had taken her a brief moment to come up with a proper description. She just hoped she didn't sound like she didn't mean what she had said.

Floating lands? Luna wondered about their magical properties which kept them afloat. Back in her homeland, she witnessed the construction of a floating fortress, participated in the process. "Maybe, I would be lucky enough to have a guide such as yourself when I go." But when the questions were turned back toward her, Luna shook her head. "No, I came alone. Um… I've decided to stop dwelling in the past… So, I came here… In an effort to find a way to move forward. If that makes any sense." A light blush blossomed on her cheeks.

"But this isn't the first time I've been to Sularia. I just don't visit this place all that often. To the north, there's a garden maze with a beautiful center. If you get to the other side of it, there are wide, open plains of grass with a beautiful lake with a clock tower. It's the Rose Courts that are the most curious though, each district having its own color." Luna realized she was rambling and lifted a hand to gently touch her lips as if to stifle the flow. "That's a lovely gown, Sharifa. Matches your natural beauty very well. Um.. What about you? Been away from home long?"

”They are very sweet, but can also be very flirty, so just expect that if they take an interest in you.” Shar chuckled slightly, a fair warning, though the Sidama, unless pressed into combat, were harmless. At Luna’s suggested a trip and wondered at a tour by Shar the Wasp shrugged. ”If I have the time, I have no problem with that idea, I do go back to Onnen now and then anyway.” Shar listened to Luan’s explanation of being here alone, to stop living in the past. ”It makes sense to me.” The wasp replied and there was more than a little hint of understanding in her voice.

Sharifa didn’t interrupt as Luna went on to explain the city of Sularia and the surrounding area, an area that Shar was all too familiar with now. The wasp smiled though when Luna turned the conversation back to her, praising Shar’s dress and asking a question. ”Thank you, Luna, it’s the same one I wore last year, but, I liked it enough to wear it again. I will say that your own dress is very complimenting as well.” Shar thought on a moment on how to answer the next question that had been posed. ”In truth I am an exile from the Wasp Hive, I haven’t been back there since the invasion ended, I was the leader of the forward scouts. Part of the blame for the failure of the invasion was placed on me and bad information.” She held up her free hand. ”But, things have worked out for the better. Instead of being executed like I was sentenced to be, Angela arrived and took, uh, custody of me instead, for the lack of a better term. I work for her now, helping out where I can. I do miss the Hive sometimes, but I’m busy enough that I don’t think about it often, and there aren’t really any other Wasps on Canelux anyway so I don’t run into any of kin unless I’m in Onnen.” She explained with a small shrug of all four shoulders.

After a moment’s pause she did manage a smile again. ”So, I to, am trying to not dwell in the past and I keep looking forward. The people of Sularia have come to know me and I them, and I get to travel all around the lands helping those that Angela wants me to help.” Or spying on them, or killing them, or bringing them to her, things that Sharifa didn’t want to go into any more detail than she had to.

Luna listened intently as the wasp explained her own history. Executed for bad information was an awful sounding sentence, but Angela was merciful as she stepped in. She nodded in understanding as she realized the wasp was coming to a close in her statement. "You know… I don't run into the pixies of this world often. They would be more likely to throw food and such at the dancers than anything else." The pixie wrinkled her nose at the thought of malicious acts her kind were known for. "I like the harmless stuff. Make you slip on ice, hide your favorite ring under the bed, move your perfume to the opposite side of the vanity kind of thing. Stuff to make you question and wonder."

Tenebrae, who was still on her shoulder, let loose a small puff of steam from his nostrils, almost startling Luna. Her lavender eyes gazed down at him as best as she could with a frown before sticking her tongue out at him. "I'm sorry, Sharifa. Tenebrae is getting irritable. It occurs to me that he hasn't been fed recently. I take great pleasure in the chance to meet you. However, if you'll excuse me, I should be going before the steam becomes flame." She gave the wasp a wide grin, much more genuine than any she had given her all night. With a wave, the pixie was off, walking towards the buffet tables before the wasp had much of a chance to say hardly anything else at all. Such is the way of the pixie, though. Always flitting from place to place with short attention spans.