Happiness had always been Ava’s drug of choice. For a long time she had forgotten her old self – that tiny, perfect bubble of joy who always brightened others’ days – but she had taken the time to remember, and she had begun to reclaim the old Ava, the real Ava. It felt good to be happy again. She titled her pretty golden head curiously as she listened to ªahin’s words thoughtfully. Her big, emerald eyes narrowed slightly as she tried to fit the pieces of the puzzle together in her mind. After a few moments she thought that she must have solved it, although the supposed answer concerned her slightly. Ava had always thought of the territories on Atlantis and all the other islands as constants; she remembered feeling a sense of change when she would cross the borders to visit friends, to attend parties with the whole of Atlantis in ªahin’s Paradise even. Their apparent liquidity reminded her that their homes weren’t permanent – but then nothing was. Inevitable, Kanji, El Barroco and all the rest – were their legacies erased as easily as that? She supposed not, but still the absence of their lands – those patches of earth they had spilt blood for – seemed to take something away from them. ªahin’s question pulled Ava out of her muddled thoughts for a moment, and she shook her head at his question. She was determined not to dwell on the past, and to find only comfort in it. Returning to the Harbor had been a decision led by her heart, and she had indulged it, but she would not allow herself to go back to her old way of life when she had been here last. “You don’t have to do that,” she replied quietly, resuming her soft smile. “I guess the borders have changed some since I was here last – but no matter, I just came to visit my old home.” She paused, and cast her gaze back out to the beautiful beach around them for a moment before returning her attention back to ªahin. “Do you mind if I take a look around?” she asked politely. |