Serene, Tranquil. Violent, Hurtful.

"Queen Mara wants to have a meeting with you," Crow began. Yetta looked up from her project, raising a brow. 

"With…*me*?" Yetta turned back to her project, sliding her stool over to Crow's side with a loud scrape. She leaned her back on his, turning the screw to keep the part she was on in place. "You think she meant Carman?"

"Not likely." He reached up, patting her head, then reached for a new scrap. "She says what she means, usually."

"Fun." Yetta sighed softly, tightening the screw until it wouldn't budge. "What'd I do now?"

"Why do you think you did anything?" he asked, confused. "It's not, like, a trial. It's just a meeting."

Yetta hummed in acknowledgement, laying her head back on his shoulder. "Comforting," she sassed. His elbow lightly dug into her side. "Ow."

"She probably just wants to know why you're going to the Dreaming City so much."

"…" Yetta thought for a second, humming softly as she paused in her tinkering. "I'll go if you come with me," she bartered.

Crow set his screw driver down, humming in thought. "I could probably take some paperwork with me, that way I keep working while we're there. Everybody is still disorganized a bit."

"So you'll come with me?"

. . .

Yetta sat in the Accipiter, humming softly to herself as she waited for Crow. Jason was settled on her lap, and Cherry was at her side, happily gnawing on a Hive leg. Crow had, at first, found her collection of body parts a little disturbing, but at least they were all Hive. He couldn't really judge her too hard. Cherry needed stimulation, and he loved chewing on Hive, living or not. The warbeast didn't care. 

A hand on her head made her start, turning around quickly. "Just me," Crow told her, an easy smile playing on his face. She relaxed, sighing softly. Jason flew up, and flew out of the cockpit with Glint, giving the two of them, plus a warbeast that really wasn't moving, space. He typed in the coordinates, and the ship took off, Yetta's seat belt clicking in place. Cherry slid back as they accelerated, a confused groan leaving him. 

Once they straightened out, the stars passing them, he clambered back to his spot, picking the leg up as he walked by. She reached down, patting his scaly head. "So…" she began, looking for some kind of topic to pass the time. Crow slowed down a bit, sitting back. 

"So?" he asked, looking at her. "What's up?"

"Don't know," she explained. "It's just quiet." The beeping from their ghosts was barely audible from the back, the small AIs communicating with each other. Most likely talking about their guardians. Crow hummed, taking another look at her. Yetta had done her nails today, using a black polish. The paint never lasted long in the field, so she never did her nails unless it was a special occasions. Which, with her, was almost never. Her leg bounced, shaking her in her seat.

"Nervous?" he asked. "You wore some of your nicer armor, did your nails, and wore makeup. You didn't have to dress up, you know."

"She's a queen," Yetta pointed out.

"And my sister. Well, Uldren's sister. Still kind of my sister." Crow shrugged as he talked.

"Uldren?" Yetta was curious now. "Who's he?"

"Past life," he explained. "Not a good person."

Yetta grew curious. "Well, you have my attention, do explain." She leaned to his side, propping her chin on her hand.

"Don't judge?"

"I can't judge. Who knows what bullshit I got up to in my previous life."

So, he explained. Everything. From the killing of his own people, to the stealing, to letting them be invaded, and finally to killing Cayde-6, his predecessor. Uldren really wasn't a good guy. Yetta listened raptly, her attention caught by the tale he was weaving. It was obvious that explaining weighed him down, admitting what he had done. When he was done, Yetta smiled.

"Damn, my boyfriend used to be a war criminal. *Cool*." She whispered the last part in awe, gently tapping his arm. "I mean, the stuff Uldren did isn't cool, not at all. But still!" She sat back. "At least you got some spice." Her gold eyes flicked over to him, watching him. A small frown threatened to appear, but turned into a smile.

"That's…probably the most refreshing thing somebody has said to me," he admitted. "It feels good to just…admit it and tell the story to somebody who's never heard it before." He seemed lighter for it, too. Yetta took his hand, the dusty mists of the Dreaming City showing up in the window before them.

"Sometimes, that's all you need to do. Is just stop get your chance to explain your story. It sucks when everybody knows what happened already," she said, comfortingly. "Guessing that didn't fly well in the City?"

He laughed, awkwardly. "No. No, it didn't."

. . .

Voices drifted out of the throne room, quiet and urgent. Yetta put her helmet on, hiding her face. Crow tapped its side. *Take it off*. Confused, Yetta took it off again, holding it under her arm. Petra waited for them by the throne room doors, placing a hand out to stop Crow. "Just Yetta," she ordered. "The queen wants just her in that room."

The huntress looked at Crow, worried. His mouth settled into a thin line, and he nodded, stepping back. He squeezed her hand. "I'll be waiting out here," he said. "If you need to go home, at any time, we're leaving."

She nodded, uncertain, and Petra pushed the doors open, escorting her in. "…do you know how long we were looking for her?! Only to hear that she was dead?!"

Queen Mara sat on her throne, looking a little bored. The man in front of her, yelling, was tall, with white hair. His hand was settled on his gun, nonthreatening. He didn't mean to draw it. He meant it as a comfort. "And *don't* even get me started on Uldren."

"You mean Crow," Mara yawned. "We've been over this, Jolyon."

"That was *one* time. And I've corrected myself since. You know I have. But to hear my lover's body was *missing*? I didn't even get to say goodbye!"

"*Ex*-lover. And you refused to come see him," Mara corrected, straightening as she saw Yetta approach. "Yetta! Fortuitous timing, do come in." She waved to the other person in the room. "Jol, may I introduce you to your cousin?" The man, Jolyon, turned to her. Yetta waved, awkwardly. She didn't know what exactly was happening, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Joylon narrowed his eyes at her, inspecting her. 

His eyes softened a little, before hardening again as he turned back to Mara. "And you kept her existence a secret for how long?" he demanded.

"I didn't know for sure. The resemblance is there, certainly. But I had to be sure. I can't go around giving my people false hope."

"What's going on?" Yetta looked from queen to the tall guy, tilting her head a little. "Who's he?"

Mara took a deep breath, looking at the man again, before standing. "He's the reason I called you here, guardian. Family matters." She walked down the steps, patting him on the shoulder. "I'll let him explain. In the meantime, I will go discuss with my brother." She stepped around Cherry, gracefully, eyeing the warbeast. 

Yetta watched her leave, chewing on her lip. When she turned back around, she saw the man staring her down, inspecting her again. "Can…I help you, or…?"

"You're really her," he said softly. "Do you know how long-," he cut himself off, growing sad. "You're not her. Not anymore."

"I'm sorry, who's this 'her'?" Yetta held her hands up in a T, trying to pause the conversation for some context. "Am I supposed to know you?"

"You…might want to sit down for this."