[Astraea Olath'barra]

Ah, the smile. The smile could mean so many different things, generally speaking. An expression of happiness, of arrogance or pride, of contentment, of sarcasm, of excitement, of cold, bitter anger and mild hostility quite possibly at oneself veiled in passive-aggressive social niceties...

Out of that interesting list of possibilities, Strae had to go with the last one in the list. Oh sure, it would seem the most obvious because of the comparative detail, but sometimes predictability could be fun.

"Everyone's eyes betray them. Some are just more difficult to read is all. Some people are masters at hiding themselves in their eyes...but that doesn't mean they're not there to be found." A slight smirk curled at the corner of her full, dark lips.

"However, one such as yourself...people like you who haven't found it--I was one such, once--they are all easier to read...yet another reason to find it." The gaze was held, neither looking away, but both of them practical and mature enough to blink--a staring contest would have probably put them on par with most of the surface races...a grievous sin--and when the woman answered her comment, she broke it by letting out a hearty laugh, full of a strange, cynical mirth.

"Never doubt the pettiness of some people's ambitions. The adage of 'no matter how good you are there is always someone better' is true, but so is the reverse. No matter how poor, weak, or worthless you are, there is always someone worse. And if that someone finds their 'it' before you, you just might become their stepping stone to better things." Why was she bothering with this creature? What did she hope to gain from this dark-skinned elf? Why was she offering advice?

To make her more worthy, her inner voice spoke hungrily, To make her rise and become worth using to become greater yourself. Sometimes the challenge we learn the most from and rise the farthest from is the challenge we make for ourselves.

Strae shook her head and walked past the dark-skinned elf, the move blatant in its sense of superiority.

"But you have one thing right. At least for me, you aren't worth it. You're lower than what matters to me." She wasn't even looking at her racial sister anymore. "If you ever want to gain any worth in this world, if you ever want to accomplish anything other then sitting on your hands and bemoaning your lack of ability, then create your own opportunities. Rise, and become greater. Become greater then me. Make yourself worth my notice rather then not even fit to clean my boots."

Strae, finding no value in idle chatter with the girl, decided to move forward past her. That was the real test...would this young babe find the desire to move forward too, or would she remain where she was and not advance? And even if she did move forward, would it be for the sake of moving forward, or for the sake of chasing the back of someone already moving? It mattered little to the Vysstichi woman...she was just curious what the Dark-skinned elfling would do.