Lake Rodney and not a drop to drink

not at all!

the pale woman caught his attention, drifting along the shore to stop nearby, and he gave her a nod. hello, he mirrored her greeting, keeping his golden gaze trained on her. once, he would have been ebullient, affable, ever-willing to engage in conversation. whatever man that was had been beaten out of him over the moons, and aditya didn't know whether he would return.

for now, it might be up to her to open the floodgates.

do you need something from me? he asked, polite enough but guarded. he didn't recognize her, or at least he didn't think he did. and there didn't seem to be any familiarity in her voice, either.