Absolution

A frown creased Iolaire's brow. She felt like crap. This whole situation was stupid and unnecessary and she wished it would just be behind them already. It didn't seem like they were going to get anywhere. And then Deathbelle softened. Io could see the worry that had plagued the woman. With a sigh, the small woman's posture visibly sagged.

"Belle..." She started, her gaze drifting away from the speckled woman. "My entire life, I've had to fight for everything that I have. Nothing has ever been given to me." Despite Iolaire's fairly easy going demeanor, she'd honestly had a hard life so far. "My appearance has always been my most powerful weapon. The thought of losing my looks..." Iolaire gave a shake of her skull, eyes closing tightly for a moment. When she opened them again, she looked straight into Deathbelle's lavender pools. "Scars may not mean anything to you, but they would change me. They would take away the weapon that I've honed my entire life." Could she understand? That was why she had gone into shock. Suddenly being stripped of the shield that had always guarded you... It was too much for the small woman to bear at the time.

"I've put myself through horrible ordeals just to keep my looks in place. I can't... begin to explain." The woman's eyes widened and again, just a smidge of that panicked look was taking hold. She had indeed done some horrible things to attain protection for herself. She had killed. She had whored herself out in return for safety. She wasn't just making it up. Being with Sirius was the first time that she had been offered protection without so steep a price. How could she convey such thoughts and feelings to someone like Deathbelle?