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+---- Thread: an art in seclusion (/showthread.php?tid=10846)
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-09-2025
For a moment, Liam thought she might be too far for him to reach, even as he stretched out as far as he could - but then, with her surging upward and him giving one last reach, their hands collided, and he gripped hers tightly before beginning to pull her up.
He was wildly glad, for a brief moment, that he'd kept up with his workouts during his self-imposed exile into the wilderness, for if he hadn't, he might not have had the strength to do this, and Maea might have fallen into the river below. There were enough dangers lurking in the water to want to spare her that fate, even without knowing of an Ancient's susceptibility to cold.
Hoisting her up with one hand was a challenge, even with his strength, and as soon as he had wriggled back far enough to balance without sending them both over the edge, he reached to strengthen his grip with a second hand. It wasn't long, thankfully, before her head cleared the edge, and a shorter time still until he'd pulled her over the side.
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-09-2025
Solid ground beneath her body had never felt so good. Breathing hard as much from shock as from the exertion, Maea sprawled next to her new best friend in the whole world, only belatedly realizing she still had Liam's hand in a death grip.
Hastily reliquishing his hand, she peered over at him through a shock of white hair, braid come undone and all composure lost along with her footing. [say]"Thank you,"[/say] she got out through chattering teeth; a quick glance at the edge just beyond her toes sent a shudder through her small frame. [say]"I thought... for a second..."[/say] Pushing herself up a bit she shimmied further in towards the trail and the trees, where strong roots would hold her world together a bit better. Maea didn't want to think about what her chances would have been if she'd been alone. He was right, it was dangerous. Dumb, even. But the options... What choice did she have?
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-09-2025
Liam was shaking.
He sprawled out beside Maea on his back, her hand still held in his, and stared up at the crystalline blue of the sky. It was such a beautiful day, with no danger lurking nearby, and yet it had almost ended in disaster anyway - a disaster that, if he'd been only a little further away, taken a little longer to get to Maea, could have ended her life. It wouldn't have been the first time he'd been too late.
It wasn't until Maea released his hand hastily that he pushed himself up onto his elbows, forcing a deep breath to calm his racing heart. [say]"Are you alright?"[/say] he asked, his voice remarkably steady given what had just happened, his eyes searching her disheveled figure for any sign of injury. He knew a bit of field medicine, though he was no healer. If she was hurt, hopefully he could get her back to the village quickly.
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-09-2025
[say]"Hm?"[/say] It took her a moment to process the question. Slowly sitting up, she went through body parts one by one, registering a twinge of pain in an ankle - the one the ground had divorced so abruptly - and a dull, insidious burn in her palms. Holding them up so both she and Liam could see, it was to find the skin partially flayed and ripped where it had skimmed along the tree, past branches, knots and buds. Blood had begun to rise like a crimson tide, filling in the gouged furrows like her flesh was a canyon begging for floods to fill it; grimacing, she shook her head gently.
[say]"I think... this is the worst of it. Mh. Maybe... maybe a sprain, too."[/say] A miracle, if you thought about it. Given the scale of the break, and the distance to the water, she was lucky to escape without broken bones. Or winding up a statue on the bottom of the river, lost out of reach for the waters to polish until nothing remained...
No. Don't think about it.
[say]"Do you have a knife?"[/say]
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-09-2025
Liam watched with concern as Maea paused, clearly taking inventory of what may or may not be injured. When she showed her hands, partially flayed from scrambling to keep from falling into the waters of the Stone Symphony, Liam hissed sympathetically. While Maea had asked for a knife, he wasn't sure that she was in any state to use it. Drawing a dagger that he kept on his belt - he'd learned early on never to leave home without a weapon - he reached not for Maea, but for his own arm, slicing through the fabric of his shirt to tear off a sleeve.
He sat the knife between them - she could use it if she wanted - and then held up the fabric, ripping it into a long, thin strip. He looked at her hands, then her face. [say]"May I?"[/say] he asked, gesturing towards her hands. If she agreed, he would take one of her small hands in his and gently begin to wrap the fabric of his sleeve around the wounds.
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-09-2025
The dagger was brought out, but before she could take it, the edge was turned on his shirt instead. About to object and tell him she could fix herself right up, his glance at her face stilled any objections. However briefly their eyes met, it quelled some obstinate part of her that so often demanded independence, and strength, and taking care of herself.
[say]"Mhm, go ahead,"[/say] she murmured instead. Quietly she watched Liam's expression while her hands were tended to, thinking that perhaps she wasn't the only one who'd been injured just now. It was subtle, but something in his eyes... No, she couldn't be sure. And it was hard to think about much else when her hand was turned over so carefully, like she was something breakable that should be handled with care.
[say]"What about you? Are you alright?"[/say] The knife lay there, perfectly useable and within reach. Yet it seemed somehow... inappropriate, to turn it on herself while he was being so sweet.
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-09-2025
Maea accepted his help, and his hands were gentle as they wrapped the strips of fabric around her palm. Once they were back in the village, she’d need to clean and dress them properly, but this would do for now. Liam himself was uninjured. One of the knees of his pants had ripped, the skin beneath barely scraped, but the blood coating his hands was Maea’s. But somehow he didn’t think that was what she was asking.
He opened his mouth to say that he was fine, but nothing came out. He swallowed hard, focusing for a moment on finishing the bandage and tying it off. Then he held out a hand for her other palm and started to work on wrapping that one. [say]”For a moment, I didn’t think I’d get to you in time,”[/say] he said finally, not quite meeting her eyes. That it was too similar to how he’d felt in the past - helpless, incapable - went unsaid.
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-09-2025
Wordlessly offering up her other hand for his ministrations, she absently rubbed her thumb against a spot of dirt on her cheek. She wished she didn't know what he meant. There was an impulse to brush it off, respond with a laugh and some tacky joke about it not being the same situation at all - what was a stranger compared to your whole family? - but the words never made it past her throat.
Her own head was too full of other scenes. Like that time she'd made someone go Cloud Manta hunting and they both returned bloody and bruised. Or when Jata had taken her swimming, only to nearly die in a shark attack. Or how about arranging a stupid ball so she could feel good about doing something useful, only to trap all the governors of Caido's regions - plus an infant - in a room with Dahlia? Maybe it wasn't the same, maybe she was just being dramatic, but here was yet another good man with fresh pain in his eyes because he'd gotten wrapped up in her business.
What if he'd been the one to go over the edge? Would she have been able to haul him back up? Maea swallowed, thinking she knew the answer.
[say]"You did, though,"[/say] she replied softly. Searching for his gaze, she held it a moment. [say]"You made it. I'm okay."[/say] Imagine if it were that easy to reassure herself.
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-10-2025
Maybe it was silly to be so upset over a stranger, but Maea didn’t feel like a stranger. Perhaps it was because she was the first person in years to see him, to understand him - or perhaps he was just accustomed to being the knight in shining armor, able and willing to swoop in to save the day. Regardless of the reason, he was more shaken than he cared to admit.
So he focused on wrapping Maea’s other hand, his fingers gentle but efficient. Her voice, when it came, was reassuring, but he waited until he’d finished tying off the makeshift bandage before looking up to meet her gaze. [say]”You’re okay,”[/say] he repeated softly, as though to reassure himself it was true. Then, shaking himself, he seemed to refocus, compartmentalizing his own feelings in favor of helping Maea. [say]”We should get you back to the village,”[/say] he said. [say]”Can you walk?”[/say]
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-10-2025
Perhaps there was merit in allowing some wounds to linger, if it would help another heal. It was not something she had considered before, but as Maea looked at her foundling dragoon and the way a simple act of tying cloth around her hands seemed to steady him, she was beginning to see the use. While she'd have healed herself by now if she was alone, she would wait a bit this time, at least until some of the wildness was gone from this man's eyes.
Gently picking up the dagger with fingers made clumsy by bandaged and pain, she returned it to him hilt first. [say]"It seems I didn't need it after all. I can try walking, and if it doesn't work I can shift..."[/say] she said, flexing her ankle cautiously. [say]"The bird should be easier to carry."[/say]
Giving him a sly glance like all of this really only was a ploy to get a free ride, Maea gingerly got to her feet. A bit shaky still, she took a few limping steps, then nodded at Liam. [say]"Alas, both feet still work..."[/say]
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-10-2025
Liam accepted his dagger, sheathing it before getting to his feet. Before he could hold out a hand to Maea, she was already clambering to her feet, and Liam chuckled softly at her statement. [say]”You can lean on me if one stops working,”[/say] he offered, a soft smile appearing on his face. Maea had been fortunate today to come away with no more than cuts on her palms and a sprained ankle. He was relieved he had been there to help - particularly as she was on this quest of hers alone.
They began to make their way back to the village, Liam slowing his pace to ensure that Maea could keep up on her injured leg. [say]”Where are you staying?”[/say] he asked, knowing there were limited lodgings in the Greatwood. [say]”You’re welcome to come back to my home to get cleaned up, if you’d like.”[/say] He’d understand, of course, if she’d prefer not to. They were, after all, near perfect strangers, and he could understand a certain level of wariness.
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-10-2025
She put on a brave face and limped along as best she could. Despite that, the pace slowed a lot compared to when they were headed out and the sun kept moving across the sky in leaps and bounds. The silence of the pale-skinned woman was as much a sign of her stubborn nature as it was an indicator of pain. But not laughing in Liam's face as he offered to take her home, now that would be alarming to anyone who knew her.
Throwing him an assessing look, considering the chivalrous nature he'd presented so far and her own levels of discomfort, he should be honored that she didn't dismiss his suggestion outright.
[say]"Depends on where you live,"[/say] Maea told him, smiling with a strained line around her mouth. [say]"I've a camp set up outside of the Sidhe Village, but if your place is closer...?"[/say] If he tried anything, the wasn't so badly hurt the couldn't shift; suddenly having a Molten Tiger in Ones lap ought to startle most people.
And the didn't seriously think Liam would do anything other than aid her as best he could. Stupid it may be, but she kind of trusted him.
RE: an art in seclusion - Liam - 03-10-2025
Fully aware that his offer was likely to be dismissed, Liam was not offended in the least by Maea’s response. In fact, he appreciated that she seemed to consider it without rejecting it outright. He knew that it was probably an uncomfortable offer - not many would want to go home with someone they’d just met - but she’d taken it in stride. He hoped she knew that he would never do anything to hurt her, or anyone else.
[say]”Your camp’s probably close then, but not by much,”[/say] he said as they made their way back towards the village. [say]”My home is close to the edge of the village.”[/say] It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her she was welcome any time, but that seemed like an overstep, somehow. Now that she knew where it was, though, he hoped she would be able to find him if he was needed.
RE: an art in seclusion - Maea - 03-10-2025
For a moment, Maea seriously considered following him. Between trust, the throbbing pain pulsing in her hands and the promise of four walls and a roof to trap the heat, it was a close thing. Then common sense and a healthy kind of suspicion won out, and she shook her head lightly to decline. [say]"Let's head for my camp, then. Your offer is very appreciated though. Perhaps I can come by another time?"[/say]
It was unfortunate, really. She had been looking forward to seeing more of the area around the Stonesong, and to really double down on the search for the elusive roses. But after the accident, even if she did heal herself Maea realized she would need to rest, and by the time she was back on her feet the sun would nearly have set...
[say]"I'm glad you offered to come along,"[/say] she murmured, when her thoughts threatened to spiral. [say]"Not to sound dramatic but... you probably saved my life back there."[/say] Glancing up at Liam, she could only make out his profile in the dappled light; it suddenly struck her fully how enormous that was. Here was a whole other human being, a mystery full of his own thoughts and dreams, decades worth of experiences and intentions she knew nothing about – and in a turn she had come to owe everything to him, who had simply reached her in time.
It truly left her shaken to think of, and humbled beyond words.