Chapter Text
Liliana walked to the upstairs garden, slow steps making soft taps until she broke the barrier into the unnatural placement of a natural setting. She knew the elf would be here; Nissa was always here except for when her presence was mandatory.
Sure enough, Liliana spotted her target spread eagle in the dirt and moss. Liliana wasn't afraid to get dirty, but she saw no need to ruin the hem of her dress for nothing. Lifting it just off the ground, she made way until she was near Nissa, only making her presence known with a soft clearing of her throat, or so she thought.
Nissa didn't move at all, only commenting softly," You don't disturb the ground as much when you walk."
"Oh?"
"Most people here walk loudly."
Liliana brushed a clearing off on a nearby ledge and sat, now conscious of how gently she moved. She'd taken to gracefulness as a way of showcasing her power, and she certainly relied on it when avoiding detection, but sometimes she forgot just how ingrained it was into her natural gait.
She didn't know much about Nissa, in fact, she would say she knew the least about her out of the whole team. Nissa was also very different from everyone else, and would take some investigation to understand how her mind worked. Liliana could play Jace like a fiddle, and to be honest, most could play Gideon with just a little motivation. Chandra was easy to control, like any fire, all it took was adding kindling or diminishing fuel. Nissa was a brand new challenge.
"I hope my presence doesn't bother you?"
"No." That wasn't exactly true. She still distrusted the veil and its holder, but with the Eldrazi defeated and only due to her help, Nissa fought with herself that Liliana deserved the benefit of doubt. Her eyes fell to Liliana's hip before she could she could stop herself; the benefit of doubt was surely small.
Liliana had to lean in to hear, though she knew the answer before it came. The little she did know of the elf was that without the passion of her world behind her, she was unobtrusive and evasive. She probably wouldn't protest if Liliana sat right next to her, despite clearly abhoring such proximity when Jace and Gideon obliviously stood right next to her.
"What are you doing, exactly?"
Nissa took a deep breath, then another, and slowly sat up. Opening her eyes, she looked to Liliana and said," I was a tree."
"I see."
Nissa dropped her gaze, hearing the dubiousness and lack of understanding. The people she talked to these days couldn't grasp the experiences she lived. She was used to feeling like an outsider, having spent a substantial amount of time with various tribes and on other planes, but it was isolating to know she was the only one with such a connection to the life around her.
Liliana noted her misstep, but continued like nothing went wrong. Learn for the future, don't dwell on the failures. Most people looked for confirmation that they should feel how they did. If one simply kept the conversation moving, small slights could usually be remedied. "It is a lovely night, as a tree or no."
Nissa sat quietly, waiting for Liliana to say more. The others always had much to say. She looked to the necromancer uncertainly as she said no more. "I'm sorry, is there something I can help you with?"
"I came to see how you're doing."
Nissa's ears drooped slightly. "Excuse me?"
"This place is so different than your home, and I know it's been hard to adjust, to the rooms if nothing else." She took in how Nissa sat, back proud and tall, but legs pulled to her chest and arms curled around, taking up as little space as possible.
Nissa nodded. Knitting her words together carefully, she said," It can be difficult to talk with everyone. I am very different than they are."
"You don't seem to have a lot to say," Liliana commented. Nissa always waited for the other to speak first unless she had urgent business, and rarely spoke up in groups.
Nissa shook her head, practically whispering as she said," I have much to say, but no one who understands it." It was uncomfortable to be contrary to the other speaking.
"I may not understand, but I'm a good listener," Liliana promised.
Nissa regarded the other planeswalker with a little hesitation. She didn't know how to feel about her. She saw how Jace looked at her when he thought no one was looking, with a heavy heart and bitter distrust. Gideon gave her wide berth and rarely treated her with the same attention he paid Jace and Chandra, and unfortunately, Nissa. Chandra was the only one to seem to think of her neutrally, and Nissa didn't think she knew Liliana as well as the others did form how they spoke. Then there was her taste in arcane arts and the tools she used to boost her power...
Seeing this wasn't going anywhere, Liliana got to her feet and said," Well, I won't bother you any longer. Do you want a tent? It's supposed to rain tonight."
"I will be fine. Thank you for your concern." Nissa was surprised anyone noticed she'd been sleeping up here. No one seemed to pay her much mind despite how hard they tried to talk to her. They all seemed more focused on conversing with her than seeing how she was. Liliana seemed to pay a little more interest though, Nissa thought. Still, she sought to learn only through spoken questions when one could learn so much just from observing.
"I'll see you around, darling."
Nissa raised an eyebrow at the affectionate pet name, but said nothing.