An Engraved But Clean Slate

Audra took a moment to think about Minerva's question as the heater kicked in with a hum.

Just how was she liking The Bygone? And did she actually like it?

"…It's nice," she replied, saying the first thing that came to her mind. "There's a surprising amount of greenery here. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd think we were somewhere on the mainland instead of an island made of trash."

"It is a good thing… to have greenery. It helps make the place… look nice. I like it too."

Minerva stared at her for a moment longer as Audra palmed her cup.

"Apologies, but do you mind me… asking something else? What brings you to our little… corner of the world, Audra?"

Zephyr interjected. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to."

However, despite his words, Audra could tell he was just as curious as Minerva. He was being much more tactful and subtle about it, but his eyes gave it away.

"…" Perhaps it was fine if they knew just a little more about her. After all, it was only fair, right?

She deflated slightly.

"I guess I'm just here to start a new life."

That was the best answer she could come up with. It was vague enough to not give away too much but still be somewhat accurate.

Minerva lightly chuckled.

"W-what's so funny?" Audra asked, feeling self-conscious.

"Nothing. It is just… that is the same reason why I… and Zephyr are here. To have a clean slate."

"Clean slate…? I thought you said you weren't a criminal, Zeph?" Audra quipped.

Various emotions flashed in his eyes before finally settling in resignation.

"Honestly? I wish I had been. Then at least I would have been punished properly. But no. I was just a fool of a husband and a man."

He smiled sadly.

"I made the biggest mistake of my life back on the mainland, and now I'm trying to make up for it. Minerva, on the other hand, came to The Bygone to get a new lease on life, away from everyone who judged or discriminated against her. Both clean slates but for different reasons."

"…" Audra didn't know what to say to that.

She nervously took a sip of her tea as she tried thinking of a reply. The warm liquid calmed her nerves in the now somewhat tense atmosphere and the chamomile's scent helped clear her mind.

She glanced over at Minerva and noticed she was doing the same thing. Her eyes were closed, and her face was serene, as if she were lost in thought.

"So…" Audra began, finally remembering something that could steer things away from the topic. "The storm shutters, huh? Are you still doing that, Zeph?"

"Oh. Yes, the shutters." Zeph cleared his throat and stood up. "If you ladies will excuse me, I'll head on outside to check them out."

Minerva started to stand as well. "Zephyr, I can help—"

"No, it's fine. You stay here and relax. I'll let you know when I'm done. Aside from the little gifts, this is the least I can do to make it up to you."

She hesitated but slowly sat back down when he smiled at her.

"Alright… Zeph."

Audra watched as he walked off and out the front door. A gust of wind blew in and rustled their hair before the door shut behind him, leaving her and Minerva alone together.

For a few minutes the two of them sat in silence sipping their respective drinks. Neither one of them seemed to want to be the first to break the ice, and so they continued to sit there, awkwardly staring at each other every so often.

Audra thought to herself as she eyed the Amazonian-like woman.

If Zeph was close with her, then Minerva probably wasn't a bad person. If anything, after learning a bit about what she had gone through, Audra felt some respect for her.

She also didn't seem to be bothered by her bionics. If anything, the way that Minerva was looking at her now was like she was just staring at a normal—albeit curious looking—girl.

"…"

Ugh, the silence was too much for her now. She needed to say something.

"So… you and Zeph. What's the deal with you two? You're just friends, right?" Audra asked, remembering what he'd said on the car ride over.

"Yes, that is… correct," Minerva replied after a moment, the slightest bit of red appearing on her face.

"We are friends. Just… friends. That is all, nothing more."

Audra's eyes twinkled at the woman's blush. She hadn't expected her to respond like that.

"…" She might be able to have some fun here~

"Just friends? Are you sure about that?"

The tint on Minerva's cheeks deepened, and she averted her gaze. "Yes. I am sure."

A teasing smirk crept onto Audra's face as she finally found a more comfortable rhythm. It almost reminded her of romcom she'd once watched with her father.

"That sounds convincing," she quipped sarcastically.

"Really. We are just… good friends. Do not read too much… into it."

The way the tall woman squirmed was honestly entertaining, and any tension from before quickly melted away. Minerva really was just a big softie.

"Do you wish you were more than that?"

The older woman froze at the question, and her head figuratively steamed.

Audra couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the sight, though she started to feel bad. She should probably let up.

"Sorry, Minerva, I was just—"

"Yes."

"—messing around. Wait, what?" Audra's eyes widened in surprise as she finished her sentence.

She actually liked Zeph?!

The older woman sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping as she'd just opened a can of worms.

"It is complicated. I do… have feelings for him, I will not lie… but he is, well, him." She gestured towards the door where Zephyr had gone through earlier. "Besides, he is probably not… interested in me, at the moment."

"How can you tell?" Audra asked, leaning forward. She was invested now. "Have you asked him?"

Minerva shook her head. "No, I feel like he still has… some things to work through. I do not think he is ready to start a relationship… even all of these years later. Perhaps after he has… dealt with whatever it is that has been bothering him, then I will ask him. Until then, we are merely… good friends."

Audra thought back to the conversation they had before. If what he had alluded to was true, then hadn't Zeph been on the island for over forty years or something?

"You serious? What if he's never ready?"

Minerva's eyes stared ahead blanky, but eventually they twinkled with a hint of mischievousness.

"Then it will be his loss. I know… that I am a catch."

"!" Audra couldn't help but snort at that. She hadn't expected her to be funny too.

"Why don't you just tell him now?" she countered. "You might be surprised. Perhaps you can even help him get through whatever he's going through."

Minerva shook her head at the proposal though.

"If I were more selfish… perhaps, but no. I do not want to… intrude too deeply… not when his love is still in the past. I support him… as much as possible, but what he is going through… I have a feeling that it must be fixed by someone else first."

The well-built woman motioned over to her. "Maybe you might help him?"

"Wait. What do you mean, 'maybe me?'"

"Well… you seem like a good influence on him… in a way I cannot be. You have only… been with him for a few days, and yet… he seems happier already. That is a rare sight to see."

"Really?" Audra hadn't thought she'd made that big of an impact on him so far, though she didn't exactly have a frame of reference.

"Yes," the older woman said firmly. "He has always been… kind, helpful, and friendly… but he has also always been sad in some way. Yet… today, he seemed happier."

Audra pondered the meaning behind those words as she finished her tea and learned forward to grab one of the cookies off the table.

"!" She took a bite and immediately found herself going for more. They were buttery and sweet with a hint of vanilla and a slight crunchiness. The taste was heavenly, and she could feel the stress melting away with every chew.

"I see that you like the cookies." Minerva smiled, but soon enough, her expression turned serious once more.

"Audra. I have… one last thing I would like to say before we move to a… lighter topic."

"Alright, hit me with it," she responded through a mouthful of food.

"Zephyr… has a very strong heart, but that can sometimes be his… downfall."

Audra paused her chewing.

"You probably have seen it… he helps others… even if it means sacrificing himself in the process. Do not let him throw himself away… because he will. He does it all the time."

Her words hung in the air as Audra swallowed.

She didn't even know how long she would be staying with Zeph, but for some reason she felt like she should agree.

"I can try to."

Minerva's lips quirked up as she leaned forward in her seat.

"Thank you. You really are… a good girl."

"!" Audra's heart jumped when the woman patted her head, nearly melting as old memories started to stir.

"Now, then, shall we find… a less depressing subject to discuss?" Minerva asked once Audra's auburn hair was thoroughly disheveled.

"S-sure, I wouldn't mind that," she murmured. "Like what, though?"

"Like… is current fashion what you are wearing? It is… not very appealing, to put it lightly," Minerva teased.

Audra looked down at her clothes, surprised. Even though she had since washed it, she was still wearing the same oversized coat and clothes that she had been wearing at the scrapyard.

"Don't diss my style! It's comfortable enough, and it's cold outside."

"That is an excuse," the older woman replied. "You can be both warm and fashionable. And… I have seen you shiver. Your outfit is not working that well… is it?"

She crossed her arms now that the teasing tables had been turned.

"I-I was just cold for a moment."

"Uh-huh," Minerva smirked. "I am sure."

"Whatever. At least I don't dress like I'm from the twenty-first century."

Minerva's brow raised.

"Says the one who dresses… like they're from the twentieth."

"Hey!"