((This is a thread where I'll collect various moments and memories from Marzanna's life, things that happen in private or in backstory/off screen that I still wanted to write up about!!))

Enter Selene

Marzanna stood in her bedroom - though, one might call it a hovel, to her this cave was a home. Infront of her stood three mirrors, carefully dug into the wall of this cave the area served as a bit of a vanity, somewhere she could prepare for the day each morning. On this morning, she spent her time examining herself. Running a finger across the scar on her chest, still bulging from the wound it suffered that night in the swamp; she was reminded of what had transpired to bring her to this point. Though she had gained power, she knew her limitations - there was little that could be done to prevent a mob from coming and burning her at the stake if they knew what she was.

As she contemplated her circumstance, her eyes gazed around the mirror at herself - critiquing what she found there. Her eyes, a brilliant emerald green - shifted to a crimson red, much like Oliver's. She shook her head, shifting them back. She grew taller, a few inches here, a few there - but didn't quite like how sinewy her limbs started to look.  Her eyes became a pale red, not quite as crimson as his but instead a more pastel color. Yes, that was good. She raised the dark skin of her hand, watching as the color drained from it leaving a pale white behind. Now the skin - that required focus. Her eyes shifted like water flowing from a jug, but her skin seemed to cling to the dark shades it was born with. She gritted her teeth, like pushing a boulder up hill she - though she managed. She marveled at her skin, holding her hand up and examining it through the mirror. She looked so much like Marzanna, and yet - different. She could easily believe this was her sister, or cousin.

This Marzanna was quite different, she didn't have to worry about the baggage that held the original Marzanna. Anything she did was her own doing, a new story for her to write herself. She turned around to a bag laid up against one of the walls, bending over and digging through it. She pulled out a number of garments, robes, dresses, casting them aside - all things for Marzanna. Eventually, she revealed an old pointed hat, and a silken black dress. This - this could work. She adored this dress, but she never could quite pull it off before. She slipped into the new outfit, and stood for a while longer examining herself in the mirror. This woman could work, though - she'd have to sell the part. No conversations about bones, or some macabre story about her ancestors. This woman would be proper - educated, and sophisticated. Selene would be her name, a travelling Magi from Rulan - come to explore our new land.

including the save and quit is crazy work.

Selene's Day

      Selene woke, as she did every day lately - in her own skin, in her own bed, in her own cave. She stretched her arms wide, a smile on her face - as she began to stand and begin her day. She started this morning like she did most mornings, a look in the mirror to fix her hair, a rummage around the trunk to find the right dress for the day, and a few moments to heat up some stew - just a bit, not too much. She took her bowl of stew, and her glass of wine - of course, up the ladder and out to the lake nearby. If she caught the sun in just the right position - she could see it rise above the trees before she headed into work. She was having a wonderful day, as every day was lately. As each new day passed, the latent screaming in the corners of her mind were less and less noticeable. 

     Life was so much more beautiful than she could have imagined, she found it hard to believe that all this time - everyone around her lived like this. Experiencing each moment, even the dull ones - from the moment you awoke to the moment you fell into a slumber. A latent guilt at the corners of her mind still remained - but the wine made it more tolerable. She spent her time in the mornings doing typical things - deciding what she wanted her background to be. Sure, she was meant to be from Rulan - but wouldn’t that be a bit boring? Besides, that was something that she decided for her; not one she decided herself. The library had a lot of books on the Walljack culture - and they seemed so.. Fun. The swamps were where she was born, after all. Perhaps Selene would be a Jack - an old witch from a cabin deep in the woods. Yes, that was fitting, wasn’t it?

     Selene made her way down to the hospital, beginning her day. Patients came and went, stitches were sewn, and gauze was wrapped - all things that she was quite good at. Where did she learn that? Why is Selene even a Doctor at all? Does she really enjoy helping people, or was that just the only thing she knew? Her mind was plagued by these thoughts throughout the work day - with little else to think about in the hustle and bustle of the hospital, it was hard to avoid. She did - in fact, enjoy helping people. There was a good deal of satisfaction in seeing someone come in hurt, and leave with a new lease on life. Though, the fact still remained. This was the job that she was made for, the profession that her creator couldn’t be asked to do herself…. - Regardless, the day was over, and the cask was calling to her.

     She made her way to the tavern, and ran into Oliver - oh, Oliver! How she adored him. The pair made their way off from the crowd quickly, and she spent a lovely evening by his side. More wine helped, though - she couldn’t help but think… When did they meet? Selene did adore him, of course - every moment together was like a gift - but… she didn’t remember their first date. She didn’t remember falling in love, though - she knew that she was in fact in love. She knew that to keep up this illusion - she would have to wear her skin. The thought made her shiver - to warp her body like that seemed… unnatural - and it felt so wrong to steal someone else’s skin. More wine, and more fun brushed those thoughts aside. The screaming at the edges of her mind was fully gone - the questions ceased for the time being; all that mattered was the moment, their moment - together.

     Selene’s night ended as it always did, quietly falling asleep among the sounds of frogs croaking and stoats scurrying. She found it all so novel, her eyes drifting closed on their own as she grew tired - the candles slowly putting themselves out as they signaled her time to rest for the day.