Echoes From The Past

Varvara's attention was indeed diverted when Lei Ling mentioned a dragon in her family. In her curious manner Varvara stepped a bit closer and looked Lei Ling over in a new light.
"Are you perhaps a dragon? You don't look like a dragon. Oh, but dragons aren't all the same, naturally. Might I ask what you are, Lei Ling?"

Varvara, after the beginning excitement, did however return to a bit more somber mood again when she registered the rest of Lei Ling's words. But she kept on smiling a little, because thinking of dancing always cheered Varvara up.
"As for why I don't think I could dance professionally again, well... I want to learn how to live again before I enter the stage. But I do know someday I will. I have an eternity, after all."
Varvara smiled genuinely. Before that eternity had scared her, it had felt overwhelming without a base, roots. Now Varvara had them, and she had Tristan. The eternity before her wasn't empty anymore. It was full of opportunities.
"Your family sounds wonderful. It's always good to have people to back you up."

Varvara gasped a bit and she looked at Lei Ling like she had suddenly grown an extra head(not in a bad way, Varvara was thrilled). Chinese zodiac? Varvara had never heard of such a thing. She stepped closer and her face was uncomfortably close to Lei Ling's.
"Chinese zodiac? Truly? That is simply marvelous! How lovely! And you are the horse? Enchanting!"

Varvara actually started feeling a little better when Lei Ling offered her heartfelt, although slightly clumsy advice. Varvara smiled genuinely and chuckled a little. She tilted her head and hummed a little.
"Your words offer me much courage, thank you Lei Ling. And I think you are right. I have lived, truly lived, for almost 18 years now. I think it's maybe time to start dancing again, little by little. I remember it all from my past life, all the performances. I remember the adoring faces that looked at me, I know I was the one that filled those faces with wonder. But I did not care for that then. But the me now..."
Varvara looked away briefly, and frowned a bit.
"Maybe the me now won't be swallowed by the attention."
Varvara looked at Lei Ling apologetically and bowed slightly.
"Forgive me for sharing my personal problems with a stranger such as yourself. I have been under...a lot of stress lately."