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All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-05-2025
Gradually the sound of the battle faded. Steering away from the panicked crowd that fled towards Haulani, Maea led them instead towards the Port. Every step was a fight with gravity, her feet sinking deep into the shifting sand like it was trying to hold her down, or drag her back into the skirmish. Clinging to Liam's hand as if he might disappear if she let go, she fought back tears while shock and worry raged within. Talyson was infected. Liam was too. Thalassa had been throwing daggers at Noah's serpentine coils last time she saw her, which meant the woman too had to be... and Sunjata had been fighting Pierce. Not alone, to be sure, but with his weakness against the Void and the overwhelming strength of the strongman and Vox together - she feared for him. Hated running away, despite the clear necessity of it. If she hadn't, Liam would have gotten wrapped up in the mayhem - and she couldn't stand the thought of losing him.
Curious glances and worried questions were cast their way by the time they slowed down. The news of the attack against Pierce had yet to reach this far, and Maea preferred to keep it that way. The less panic, the better - especially as she had yet to figure out what to do now.
[say]"Are you alright?"[/say] she asked as she turned to look up at Liam. Her lavender colored eyes were bright with adrenaline and concern as they glided over the soldier, searching for injuries and signs of anything being amiss. He looked so normal, it was hard to reconcile the handsome face and golden curls with the void monstrosities of Vox's ilk.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-05-2025
It felt strange to leave the battle while it was still raging, but here they were, making their way down the beach and into the port. A part of Liam longed to go back, to rage against those who fought the Family; another part of him pitied them, for they had not yet accepted the inevitable. It was better, really, as a friend of the Family. So much less stress. So much more strength. Maybe he could make Maea see - but that was never going to happen in the midst of the chaos at the pool party.
So here they were, slowing down and studiously ignoring the curiosity and concern tossed their way as they entered the port. Word would travel quickly, Liam was sure - it always did, with something this big - but for now, there was nothing but calm. When Maea finally paused to look up at him, his gaze raked over her in return, checking for any injuries. When he was satisfied that she seemed unharmed, he nodded. [say]"I'm fine,"[/say] he said. He was better than fine, actually - stronger than ever, it seemed, and calmer, too. [say]"Are you?"[/say]
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-06-2025
[say]"Yeah."[/say] Her mouth trembled, unable to form a smile as the enormity of the assault sank in. [say]"... no. Talyson... my friend was - "[/say] she bit her lip, catching herself before she could say infected, [say]"changed. Against his will. And Sunjata - I'm worried about my friends."[/say] About him, too, though the lack of visible injuries and his calm demeanor eased the initial fear for Liam's safety. He really didn't look any different, didn't act any differently... and that was the only thing that gave her the courage to ask what she had to.
Turning to face him and taking his hand in both of hers, Maea drew a deep breath to calm her breathing. His hand was so big compared to hers; warm and strong and beautifully golden against her pallor. [say]"Is it true?"[/say] she pressed out, forcing her tongue to form the words. [say]"That girl - Noe? She said you were... "[/say] Ah, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Like speaking the truth out loud might make it real, and take away something she hadn't realised the importance of until just now.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-07-2025
He didn't look any different because he wasn't any different - or, at least, he didn't think he was different, and wasn't that the most important thing? No, he was stronger and better than ever. And so was Talyson, in his opinion, now that Vox had gotten ahold of him. Sunjata, though, he didn't know. [say]"Talyson will be fine,"[/say] he said confidently, because he was fine, and he didn't see any reason for the courier not to be, too. [say]"But I'm sorry that you're worried for the rest. They shouldn't have attacked Pierce, though."[/say] Stupid, stupid people. If they'd only allow the Family a chance...
Maea took his hand in both of hers, and he let her - though he stiffened as she asked if what Noe had said was true. [say]"I'm not infected,"[/say] he said, as though it was a dirty word. [say]"Maea, we had it all wrong. The Family - they're not the evil monsters we thought they were."[/say] He reached up to brush his knuckles across her cheek, his gaze softening. [say]"Let me show you. We can go together."[/say]
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-08-2025
How was it possible to feel relieved and heartbroken at the same time? On one hand it was actually a relief to hear the confidence in Liam's assurance, because physically there really wasn't anything wrong with him, and that should apply to Tal as well. But on the other hand, it was jarring to hear him speak in defense of Pierce, to confirm that yes, actually, though he didn't approve of the term, Liam Dawson was very much a Friend of the Family now. [say]"Pierce is the one who killed Flora,"[/say] she murmured, in way of an explanation. [say]"That's not the kind of thing you just forget..."[/say]
Maea's fingers tightened around his hand, a thumb running along the folds of his palm as if to remind herself that he was still there, still alive and breathing - that curing him was infinitely easier than bringing him back to life - and tried to find the words to convey this without upsetting him. Then his knuckles brushed against her cheek, and all thought ground to a halt. It tickled slightly. Lingered, like a path of glitter dust was left behind that stole her breath away and left her a little light headed. Unconsciously she tipped her head into the touch and smiled, even as his words killed every single butterfly that had come alive in her belly from the gesture. [say]"Go...? Go where?"[/say] It shouldn't be this hard to follow what he was saying, but it was. Shouldn't be this wonderful to receive attention from Liam, either, yet... it was. Perhaps especially now, with her nerves so raw and her thoughts in turmoil after the attack. Looking up at Liam with wide eyes, she didn't want to believe what she was hearing, didn't want him to say what she feared he was about to say...
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-08-2025
Liam might have argued with her that maybe Pierce wouldn't have killed Flora if not for the war that everyone seemed to be intent on waging against the Family, but he didn't want to fight with her. Not when it would be easier to show her, if she would agree to come with him. If she'd join him as a Friend of the Family, she'd see. She'd understand. Then they could be - well, whatever they were before this invisible divide had cropped up between them.
When his knuckles brushed against her cheek, she seemed dazed, almost. He returned her smile, his heart fluttering in his chest, because surely that smile meant that she would come with him. Emboldened by this turn of events, he twined the fingers of his free hand with Maea's. [say]"To Stormbreak,"[/say] he said, in a tone that implied of course that was where they were going. [say]"To the Family."[/say]
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-19-2025
Her smile faltered as reality struck her like a slap in the face. Any question of his infection became void when he dropped the name of a city he'd been done with just this season, and the nomer of the enemy they had sworn to fight together. Like it didn't betray everything they had been striving for these past two seasons. Like they'd just made a silly mistake and should fix it as soon as possible.
For the first time, Maea thought she understood why victims of abuse stayed with their significant others. Even though she knew she didn't want to become a Friend of the Family, even though every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, when Liam smiled at her like that, when his fingers braided into hers like he had no intention of letting go, it became nearly impossible to say what she knew she must. It would disappoint him. Maybe even hurt him, the way he was now. And it would hurt her to cause him distress, to the point where she found herself contemplating ways to accept without actually going through with the infection, just so she wouldn't have to tell him no. The worst part was, when he touched her like this, like that caress of her cheek, she really did stop caring about anything else.
[say]"I... I don't know,"[/say] she got out, alarmed at how difficult it was to say anything at all. Even the half-lies she resorted to, just to avoid antagonising him. Gods, it was painful - she'd never felt this close to crying over doing what needed to be done. [say]"It's so sudden... It's not that I don't trust you, but... I need to think about it. Is that alright?"[/say]
Time. She needed time, to find a rose, to come up with a plan - yet every day she delayed curing Liam was a day she'd hate and regret, if it meant they would be apart.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-19-2025
Maea's hesitation was marked. Liam wasn't sure why he was surprised. After all, she'd rejected him that day on the skerry, after she'd almost drowned - gently, perhaps, but it had been a refusal all the same, of something that he had hesitated to put a name to at the time. Why should this be any different?
The soldier looked away, something akin to hurt flashing in his hazel eyes. A part of him understood, though, and it was that part that took a deep breath. After all, hadn't he been hesitant about the Family at first? Hadn't he failed to see how beneficial being their Friend could be? Maea just needed time, time to realize that he was right in this.
Time to decide, once and for all, to trust in him - even if she wouldn't trust in anything else.
So he looked back up at her after a moment, nodding solemnly. [say]"Of course. I understand."[/say] It was a decision that he would wait for her to make, confident that, after she had time to think, she would come to the right choice. His thumb brushed across the back of the hand he still held. [say]"I won't rush you. Take the time you need."[/say] But gods, he hoped that it didn't take her long.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-19-2025
She saw the shift in his expression, the way his eyes darted away, and hated herself for being the cause of it. Except, she wasn't really, right? This was the Family's doing, and she would never forgive them for subjecting Liam to this invasion of his mind.
[say]"Thank you,"[/say] she replied as he granted her the time she needed, relieved that he wasn't insisting on going now. [say]"Would you mind telling me how it happened? It must have been something major, to change your mind like this..."[/say] Sidestepping as a porter trundled past with a heavy sack slung over a burly shoulder, Maea realized they were still standing in the middle of the street. Looking around, there weren't many places to sit, so she simply nodded to an alley between two storage buildings where no one seemed inclined to pass through. [say]"Mind if we step into the shade..?"[/say] She didn't want to leave, not before she knew what had happened, and where they were going next.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-19-2025
The relief on Maea's face was something that both stung and calmed in equal measure. On the one hand, he was pleased that they weren't to part on bad terms - and he remained confident that she would come around. But on the other, an insidious voice in the back of Liam's mind insisted that she was buying time to run away from him. That he didn't mean to her what she meant to him, and that she'd prefer the company of others to his.
They stepped into the shade: an alley between two storage buildings, out of the way of passersby who seemed inclined to ignore its existence. Liam leaned against one wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he thought back to what had changed his mind. [say]"It's... fuzzy,"[/say] he admitted. [say]"I wish I could tell you that I had some grand epiphany, but honestly? I just woke up in Stormbreak with Thalassa and Dahlia, and it suddenly all made sense."[/say] He shrugged, as though there was nothing wrong with the fact that he couldn't really remember.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-19-2025
Even leaned against opposite walls, there wasn't much space to separate them. Maea regretted letting go of his hand, the urge to reach for him a distraction gnawing the back of her mind that made it difficult to focus. Of course, Thalassa's name was impossible to miss, especially given it was the second time he spoke of her. [say]"I.... I see. So she's also friendly with the Family..?"[/say] The storm of complicated emotions that dragged up was more than she could filter through right now. Concern for a former friend warred against outrage that the captain might have had something to do with Liam's infection, and more complicated still was the prick of black jealousy she felt whenever he spoke kindly of Thal. [say]"I didn't realise you knew each other,"[/say] she muttered, unable to entirely quell the sentiment no matter how unreasonable it was.
Picking restlessly at a thread in the light linen dress she'd chosen for the day, Maea realized that she hated whatever tension was brewing between them. It was a far cry from the easy calm they'd shared the other day, like everything they were had suddenly been flipped on its head. Was it all the Void's fault? Had she done something wrong? No matter how she searched his eyes for answers, they eluded her - and though she wanted to simply ask, right now she didn't trust whatever answers she might be given.
[say]"What... happens now?"[/say] she asked instead, fingers digging into her upper arms from the effort it took to remain composed.
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-19-2025
There was a distance that yawned between them despite their proximity. Maea was so close that he might reach out to touch her, and yet she’d never felt quite so far away. It was a far cry from their usual easy camaraderie, and it didn’t go unnoticed - but it would be fine, Liam was sure, if only he could convince Maea to join him as a Friend of the Family.
[say]”She is,”[/say] Liam confirmed. [say]”She brought me to Dahlia, I think.”[/say] Liam softened, remembering what Maea had told him of Thalassa. [say]”I know things are… complicated, between the two of you, but… she helped me, when she didn’t have to.”[/say] It didn’t mean that the soldier thought of her with any particular affection, but he could see her now as a friend.
As for what happened next… Liam watched Maea, his face uncharacteristic unreadable. [say]”I think that’s up to you, Maea,”[/say] he said softly. [say]”You need time to think, and I understand. I’ll wait for you.”[/say] He reached for her then, brushing his fingers against her arm. [say]”And when you’ve decided, I hope that we can move forward together.”[/say]
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Maea - 06-19-2025
The anger didn't register on her face, but seared her veins like allvyhe blood inbher body had suddenly caught fire. So it really had been Thalassa who did this... Unforgivable. Even knowing that she was brainwashed and not in control of herself, Maea didn't think she could ever forget this.
Shifting the weight from one foot to the other, she scowled down at the ground as Liam tried to soothe her. If that was supposed to be reassuring it didn't hit the way it ought, and she was too raw emotionally to take it well.
Thoroughly unhappy with the way this conversation was going, it wasn't until she felt his fingers brush along her arm that Maea looked back up. Despite everything, his words still made her blush. The way he phrased it, there seemed to be a hundred meanings to what 'move forward' could mean, and paired with the soft touch she could be forgiven for reading a lot into it. Softening, she let go the grip of herself and let her arm fall down into his grasp, unable to resist the chance to connect, no matter how briefly. [say]"You make it sound like I won't see you until I decide,"[/say] she said, with a weak laugh as though he couldn't possibly mean that. [say]"You're still coming home to the Greatwood, aren't you?"[/say]
RE: All the shards we keep stepping on - Liam - 06-19-2025
Maea scowled down at the ground, and Liam frowned, not liking that he'd caused her mood to shift so suddenly. Perhaps he should have kept Thalassa's involvement to himself - but he couldn't bring himself to lie to Maea, either, so what was he to do?
Despite all that had happened, despite how his loyalties had shifted, he couldn't help but be drawn to Maea - perhaps now more so than ever, now that his inhibitions seemed so very far away. His touch seemed to draw her out of her unhappiness, at least in part. With her arm in his grasp, he traced a light line down to take her hand. At her question, his brow creased, a marked hesitation creating new space between them. Still, he ran his thumb over her knuckles, grounding himself in the fact that she was still here.
[say]"I... do you want to see me?"[/say] he asked softly. Never mind that he wasn't sure what home meant anymore. It had been Stormbreak, and then the Greatwood, but now... now, he felt torn. He could be of the most use in Stormbreak, since the mass exodus from the city had left it without many soldiers. But, for better or worse, his heart lay amongst the trees. [say]"Or would you rather have space?"[/say]