what friends are for {ember}

Masin was sure that her dear best friend could use a break from all that chancellor stuff. After all, Ember had this office all to herself and it was sure to get lonely. Masin made it a point to stop in at least once a day, but today she had managed to brings brownies as well. She didn't bake them herself, oh no, Masin didn't bake anything. But, she was sure that Ember could use the pick-me-up nonetheless.

She approached the office door, swinging it open gently with one her shoulder while knocking with her free hand, "anybody home?" she said in a sing songy voice as she peeked her head in the door, holding the plate of brownies out in front of her so that they would be the first thing Ember saw. After all, what good was just seeing Masins fabulous face? No, the brownies really were the star of the visit.

@emberlynn

It had been a long morning. Three shipments of Immigrants and a graduation into the workforce all in a span of three hours. Ember Lynn's face was sore from all the smiling and now she was leaning her forehead against the cool surface of her desk trying to hold back the scream that was sure to overtake her. It was like a constant struggle facing the new members of Concordia. How could she look at them every day and promise them that everything would be over soon when she really didn't know if it would be. Half the population thought she was too nice for not attacking the Egyptians yet and the other half thought she was really mean for even considering it. The only relief she had was her, now public, boyfriend and her best friend.

After a light tapping at the door, a familiar face pushed into her office offering sweets. Ember Lynn couldn't help but moan audibly, "Oh my gods, Masin, you're my hero." It hadn't even occurred to Ember that it was about lunch time and what better for lunch than a plate full of chocolaty goodness? She hopped up from her white office chair and met Masin half way across the room. She went to hug her but ended up just taking the brownies and sitting on the couch situated in a corner of her office, "Tell me something happy." Ember Lynn complained, knowing there was no way she could be this open with any of her other Magisters.

Masin gave a happy smile as she was pronounced a hero in that moment. "That's what I'm here for!" she exclaimed. With a faux-modest shrug, she handed the plate of brownies off to Ember and followed her toward the couch in the corner of the office. She sat down beside Ember on the edge of the seat, turned around in order to face her friend. It seemed as though her best friend sixth sense had been right and Ember was indeed in need of the brownies. This made Masin very happy indeed!

"Happy... hmmm...." Masin pretending that it was a hard thing to find as she searched the catacombs of her mind. Then a bright smile appeared on her face, "First of all-There's brownies! But you already knew that," she winked, "Second of all-I spoke with Accalia today and she said that the apple orchards are looking fantastic, they are harvesting a lot this week!" That was indeed good news.

Ember Lynn narrowed her eyes, carefully eating so she wouldn't look like a ravenous dog. It was important to keep up the appearance of a professional, even behind closed doors. You never knew if there was a demi-god with crazy good vision peering in through the huge windows that lined the wall facing the beach. Emmy nodded her head as Masin reported back from the fields. On the outside, she was trying to look like she was considering the news. On the inside, she was doing backflips. It certainly was the best news, "That's good to hear. I was concerned when we hadn't gotten rain in so long." Ember Lynn sighed and looked at her best friend, "Hey, I think I'll be getting off early today. Wanna grab dinner a little later?"

"They had a hard time for a while, but they said it's coming out okay-Thank Heavens," Masin replied, taking one of the brownies for herself. As her best friend sighed, Masin could tell that she had had a long day already! She reached over and gently placed a hand on her friends knee, "Dinner sounds fantastic, you deserve a break, Em!" she responded. It was more like a command then... well, than anything else. Masin knew that she could come off as a little pushy-ok very pushy-but she still liked to make her opinions known. "Just the two of us?" she cocked an eyebrow at her friends. Masin loved guys, this was no surprise, but she was very rare to give anyone a chance. However, if Ember suggested someone she might look into it. Granted, Em didn't really seem up for flirting at the moment.

Ember Lynn looked at her friend and bit her lip, "Not exactly..." She said, not sure how exactly to break the news to her best friend. What sort of person lies to their best friend for three years? A terrible one...

"I thought I could introduce you to my boyfriend..." She offered, hoping Masin wouldn't be too angry at her from never mentioning Dylan.

"Not exactly..." when Masin heard those words she let her jaw drop and turned to face Ember with a very, very curious face. At the next sentence, Masin audibly gasped, "Wait, what?" she said, placing a hand over her heart.

"When did you meet him? How? Who is he? Do I know him!?" the questions started pouring out as she faced Ember head on, wanting to know every single detail. Why hadn't she known about this!? A part of her was feeling a little irked, but she didn't say that. She'd wait and see what Ember said.

Ember Lynn took in a deep breathe and grabbed both of Masin's hands, mostly so Masin couldn't get up and walk away from her as she explained, "I met him a little over three years ago." She started, knowing this information on it's own was probably enough to make anyone furious, "He's an Instructor." She knew exactly all of the things she needed to say, "I swear I didn't mean to keep it a secret this long. Concordia was just so...new...when we started and I needed the people to know that they were my priority. But no one would have ever believed that if they knew I had a boyfriend." She felt tears stinging her eyes, "There was a poll and everything. I would never have kept my position as Chancellor and who would have taken my place? That crazy guy? He was the only other person interest in the job and he would have destroyed the city, you know it." Ember didn't realize that she was squeezing Masin's hands so hard.

As Ember grabbed her hands Masin clutched hers as well, overly nervous and excited about what her closest friend would say next. When the words 'three years ago' came out of Embers mouth, Masin felt her good mood decreasing. She didn't say anything yet, though, for she was sure that Ember would give an explanation. But, because Masin valued this friendship, she decided not to blow up. Not right away, anyway. Her muscles tensed though, trying to hold in the words she wanted to blurt out.

As the tears started to slip into Embers eyes, Masin felt some embracing her own. Hers were different though. So, she lied in order to stay the Chancellor? Well, it was a better alternative than the other candidate... the part of Masin that thought she would make a good chancellor pricked at her mind but she tried pushing it away. This wasn't about that. Plus, wasn't it better to be the right hand anyway? People couldn't take it out on you? Not that Masin minded angering people.

"I... I remember that poll," she said. Her hands were limp as Ember squeezed them tightly. She shook her head and tried to pull them away, but she didn't really try that hard. She was arguing with herself. "I can understand why you did it, but," her tone was shaky and a little harsh, "and I guess you technically didn't lie to me. You just didn't tell me the whole truth," but there was trouble in that too. Masin was known for being harsh, unforgiving and brutal when it came to people who had wronged her, even if it was only in a small fashion. She leaned forward, "I'm not happy about this, Em. But I'll give him a chance," this was a rare thing indeed, and Ember was the ONLY person Masin would show this kind of mercy to.

Ember Lynn could feel the anger radiating off of her friend. So when Masin said she would give Dylan a chance, Ember Lynn completely broke down and lean her head against Masin's shoulder. This was the only time Em could remember crying in front of someone. It was just so important to her that she didn't lose Masin. In fact, Ember Lynn probably wouldn't have been able to handle it at all.

Masin was a little taken aback when Ember leaned into her shoulder, obviously crying. Masin lifted her arms and they suspended in the air for a moment, before falling upon her friends back and embracing her. "Hey..." she said slowly. Masin stroked Embers back and pushed her away, gently, hands on both of her shoulders. "We'll get through this, okay? Nothings going to separate us," she said.

Emmy nodded and smiled into Masin’s shoulder before pulling away. She stood up and face the mirror that hug on the wall over her couch. Her face looked like someone had smacked her with an ugly stick. As if to make things worse, a sound buzzed from Ember’s desk alerting her in a cool voice that her three ’ o ’ clock had arrived. Without notice, Ember Lynn burst out into a fit of giggles, “Seriously?” she groaned between breaths, staring at her image in the mirror as she frantically removed the make-up smears from under her eyes, “What are the odds?” She said, making some last minute adjustments to her hair as she turned to look at Masin. Finally, she sat down at her desk and pressed the button, “Go ahead and send them back.” She said in a voice that almost sounded too excited. It would be difficult to explain that she had been crying so it was better just to ignore it.

Masin leaned back a little as Ember started to laugh like a completely crazy person. Oh, it looked like someone was supposed to be coming in. Masin stood, straightening out her shirt. She didn't really sport any emotion on her face at the moment. "Are you expecting someone?" she said, businesslike, as she crossed over to Embers desk to stand beside it on the left side. She folded her hands over each other in front of her and took a stance of support at the right hand of Embers desk.

Ember Lynn pushed one last strand of blonde hair out of her face as she nodded, "That dang Researcher Senator wants to discuss irrigation again. I keep telling his we need to bring Accalia in to the conversation but he doesn't think she is necessary." Ember Lynn disliked the stubborn nature of the current Senator of the Researchers. He was constantly telling her what she was doing wrong and how they could be better, but was unwilling to go through the proper channels. He thought he was above the system and that caused many issues in the long run.

Masin rolled her eyes at the explanation, "He really doesn't play well with others, does he? Well, I'll give him a piece of my mind. Trust me, I'll make sure that he doesn't slip past you. Or Accalia." Her arms were folded and her voice was cold and authoritative. Masin transformed when she was in Magister mode.



((should we end this soon?))