city_limits Belonging
Wishing aloud for a giant pool of never-ending ice cream, all for herself would have been a fine and noble thing to do in the world of Sonya Ramius. Much to her chagrin, however, that was not what her subconscious mind had yearned for, the moment the offer had been made.

She frowned, of course. Asked why she could not have the other thing, too, because she had good and, frankly, felt that she deserved it. Got puzzled, as all young souls did. Was warmly reminded to think back a few moments and told her time was now up. With a spiritual shuffle of feet, the half-demoness looked down, then back up and, after a moment's contemplation, thanked them.

Not for the wish. For the realisation of what this truly meant. It was a good place. A place where harmony and empathic understanding could be felt, all around.

And a place where she was accepted, not prevented from entering.

It was reflecting upon that, more than anything else, which changed the Russian's life, from then on. Something she dwelled on, fondly. A time and place she could think back upon, somehow know was real and comprehend, as proof, that she was worthy of good things. That her darker side was just that; a side. That those underlying, subconscious fears, that maybe, just maybe, certain peers were right and she might truly be damned, were not true.

She could be loved.

There was something waiting, somewhere out there, for her to return, one day, which would embrace her with loving assurance.

On Earth, she was a twenty-something, winged half-demoness. Someone who had known plenty of adventures, most of which she had no real idea about the part she played. When she got back, the girl had been in something of a daze, drunk the last of her beverage, twisted mouth this way and that, then headed on home. The first moment she saw her room-mates, she would thoughtfully go over to and give a grateful, if silent, hug of friendliness. Nothing was wrong. Her quiet smile showed as much. She just... Had direction. Her usual, almost outrageously chaotic nature now calm and thoughtful.

Sonya Ramius got her act together. She obtained duel citizenship. Got a job. Even, eventually, a partner.

At some point, a few extra English lessons, too.

But that was not her wish. That was all her. A Sonya with positive inspiration. Someone for whom fear and paranoia might still exist, but not in quite the excessive doses of before. Not now, at any rate.

Sonya's wish was to be tested upon her return to Russia. An invitation was made to both mother and father, to meet her at a restaurant, without telling either of them that she had decided to arrange things that way.

Was her wish for them to fall in love? No. It could have been, but that would have gone against free will. What she could arrange for, was to alter something about herself. Something which had dogged her, from even before being born.

For her parents to finally understand and show sympathy, when it came to the girl's own life. To not pull her in one direction, at the expense of the other. To not bat her about, like a veritable mouse between paws of big cats.

That both threatened to walk out, the moment each caught sight of the other, went without saying. Sonya, however, was the key; before, they might have strode out on principle. Now, they were at least willing to sit down, for the sake of their daughter's request to do so.

And without the usual arguments and verbal fighting about her, it was a strangely... Agreeable evening. Sonya could not remember the last time when they had sat down together, as an actual family, albeit a largely estranged one. Quarrelling about Sonya had so often led to other spiteful things being said, that, without that component, they could... Talk.

More than that, they could even talk pleasantly.

Sonya had no idea what to think, when one made a joke and the other laughed at it. It was such an incredibly alien concept to her, that the redhead looked on in bemused fixation, wondering if this was not some sort of prank to be played out on television. They, of course, not seeing the problem, turned towards their daughter and gently asked if she felt OK.

Yes, Sonya replied. Yes, she did. Feeling as though, any second, she would somehow burst into laughter.

She felt... Felt like she belonged.

And, that night in bed, could not hold back her tears, for weeping in joy.