Court of the Fallen
the wolves are watching - Printable Version

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the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

Thank the gods for babysitters, truth be told. If it weren’t for the help with Kamaria, he isn’t sure he’d be able to get anything done. But the babysitter has arrived and Sunjata’s finally gathered all the things he’d wished to give Maeve for her help the other night – much of it from Kamaria herself given the fact that she was overly enthralled with the starwhale plush, among the bracelets left within the box.

The storms have arrived but Sunjata’s sure that Kamaria and his helpers will be fine in the home when he departs – first for business, to check in on the clinic and the slagveld and ensure that things were running smoothly. He doesn’t get too close, however, imagining that he can brave the storms as a dragon made it all that much easier to careen through the skies.

So it’s a dragon that lands before the Halenani when he finally does check in on his spaces, landing amongst puddles and debris, shifting into himself with the waterproof bag tucked tight in his arm as the winds and water prod his skin. He’s only been here once before, and the trek to Maeve’s room is certainly a familiar one – a distant reminder of an argument with his ex-wife in this very room, shortly after he’d electrocuted himself fighting the sea panther.

But he takes a deep breath, shakes out his hair from a bit of the water, thanks the escort that had brought him here, before he leans against her doorframe and knocks on the door, unsure what exactly he’ll find, but hoping that he isn’t interrupting.


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

He isn't interrupting anything. Had he taken the time to look around on his way in, he would have noticed that the main floor was fairly empty besides some of the workers and a few children who presumably belong to the workers present with them. The brothel isn't exactly running as it would normally and that's intentional upon Maeve's part. She hadn't wanted her workers to have to be overly concerned with work when they had other things to take care of. So when he approaches Maeve's quarters there isn't any sounds of pleasure coming from inside. It's rather quiet save for the rain against the roof.

His knock doesn't go unanswered. Faintly through the wood of the door Maeve calls out, [say]"Just a minute!"[/say] The sound of foot steps across wooden floors and a faint clatter followed by a curse is heard. Then the door is opening and a slightly breathless Madame is waiting for him on the other side. She blinks at his chest before her eyes slip up to his face, a breath pushing past her lips before a smile spreads there instead, [say]"Jata! I wasn't expecting you so soon."[/say] It had only been a few days she'd gone to see him at his home and given their current track record she was sure it would be at least a week before she saw the governor. Maeve takes a step back, opening the door wider and motioning for him to come in. [say]"Please come in."[/say]

She waits for him to move past her before closing the door behind him and breezing past to find a towel so he can dry himself off a bit. The inside of the room is kept much differently than Phoebe had it. While the prior Madame had been fond of whites and soft blues; Maeve's room is draped in rich dark woods, reds, and purples. There are plants scattered about. Some clearly thriving and others having been dried to hang in bundles or placed in vases. Books are stacked in various places, most notably on the end table in the sitting area that's situated in front of a crackling fireplace. [say]"Would you like something to drink?"[/say] Maeve asks, coming to a stop near a silk screen that separates another portion of the room, glancing back at him. Her eyes finally alight on the package and a brow raises before her gaze flicks back to his. Her smile shifts into something more playful as she points at the package, [say]"Is that for me?"[/say]


RE: the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

He hears her call back to him as well as something falling to the floor, but he pays it no mind as he waits for her to answer the door. And when she does, his gaze is immediately scanning her face, meeting hers when she looks up from his chest. “[say]I had to check on the Slagveld, anyway.[/say]” He says easily with a small shrug, ducking slightly as she allows him in so that he doesn’t walk into the door frame. “[say]Thank you.[/say]”

He takes in the changes from the room, the swaths of rich and bold colors, before he realizes she’s grabbed him a towel, to which he uses to wipe the water away from his face and out of his hair. The jacket is shrugged off and hung up, and when he finally regards her again she’s offering a drink. “[say]Something warm, perhaps?[/say]” Tea or something to warm up his bones. As for the rest of it, he turns the package slightly in his hands before he’s stepping over toward her to hand it to her.

“[say]Kamaria insisted on a thank you.[/say]” He offers, handing the box to her so she might open it. Inside she’d find a variety of beautiful shells, a few navy feathers, and a black pearl necklace that Kamaria had insisted on giving to Maeve. “[say]She loves the starwhale the most.[/say]” He informs Maeve with a crooked smile, sitting back on his heels a bit to watch her open it.


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

With his inspection he'll notice that she seems more tired than when he last saw her. Dark smudges lay under her eyes, sticking out starkly against her already pale skin. Nothing else seems amiss besides the exhaustion clear on her face. Even still, her eyes light up with her smile as she looks up at him before breezing behind the silk screen to put on the kettle before she reappears to take the package from him. [say]"I was just about to make some tea."[/say] Maeve informs him before moving to settle on the nearby couch in front of the fire. Her fingers deftly unwrap the package, a smile spreading on her lips as he shares Kamaria's thoughts on the little gift basket Maeve brought over.

[say]"Oh I'm so glad to hear that. I personally loved that little plush. I almost was hesitant to give it away."[/say] She jokes, glancing up at him and motioning to the spot beside her. [say]"But I'm glad I did since it's made her so happy. Please sit. Make yourself comfortable."[/say] Maeve hums before turning her full attention onto the package. A soft gasp pushes past her lips and her eyes widen as she scans the contents of the box. The shells are in fact lovely. They'll sit nicely on her shelf. Not to mention the large feathers he included after he teased her for taking the smaller ones with her. However it is the necklace that truly captures her attention.

Delicately she lifts it from the package, holding it in her palm as her fingers trace over the pearls, [say]"Oh Jata... This is beautiful and way too much. I can't possibly accept this."[/say] Her eyes lift back to his and there is a light flush on her cheeks as she continues to hold the necklace with a reverence.


RE: the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

Tea would be lovely, and it’s with her direction that he moves to take a seat once he has handed her the package. He tucks one long leg under him, his arm resting on the back of the couch as he waits for her to open it. “[say]It reminds her of Pemota, Nate’s companion.[/say]” He informs her easily, shrugging lightly, and watching her curiously as she begins to open the box and unravel the contents.

The shells and feathers are pulled out easily, Sunjata moving to grab one of the feathers. “[say]These ones are the kind that can be made easily into quils if you have need of those. Or I can give you more for a fan if you would prefer that.[/say]” It really wasn’t a problem, Sunjata tended to shed them like a dog sheds hair. But as for the necklace she pulls out, he sets the feather back down and scans her face with a playful smile.

“[say]I have a tendency of collecting pearls.[/say]” He explains with a shrug, thinking back to the mother of pearl inlays for the weapons he’s gifted people, the pearl lining on Melita’s sword he’d made her. “[say]It really isn’t a problem, I can assure you I have more. And likely plenty more once Longheat arrives and Kamaria wants to go swimming.[/say]” Here his smile turns a bit easier, more playful as he reaches up to collect the necklace. “[say]Just take it. I have no use of it.[/say]” A gift was a gift, of course. And she had said that she liked jewelry, so what was the harm?

He unlocks the clasp before leaning in toward her. “[say]Let me put it on you.[/say]”


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

It warms her heart to know that the gift was so well received. That Kamaria has something to remind her of Nate even if that relationship is rocky at the moment. [say]"Did she name it? I used to name my stuffed animals when I was a girl."[/say] Maeve shares that little tidbit of information, remembering fondly her stuffed bear that she kept with her through out the years. She still had him too. [say]"I'll definitely be turning these into quills and I wouldn't say no to a fan made out of them either. Imagine what everyone would think."[/say] Maeve laugh softly, casting her eyes over to him a playful glint shines in her verdant gaze.

[say]"Leave it to our governor to have a hobby such as collecting pearls."[/say] She teases, rolling her eyes at him even as she returns his smile. [say]"Perhaps you'll have to take me sometime. Once I get better at swimming, of course."[/say] He still owes her more lessons, but with the storms that won't be happening anytime soon. Sunjata insists that she takes the necklace, plucking it from her hand before she even has a chance to argue. [say]"It really is too much. A gift or not. I'm not sure I've done anything to deserve something this lovely."[/say]

Maeve only hesitates for a moment longer before she scoots closer to him, shifting to give him her back as she lifts her hair from the nape of her neck. The marks he left are still fading from her skin, a few darker than the others, but they seem to be healing fine. Her heart picks up in her chest, beating a little faster as he feels the heat radiating off of him press in against her back.


RE: the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

The question of whether Kamaria has named the starwhale plush has him shaking his head in uncertainty. “[say]Not yet but I’m sure given time.[/say]” She’d probably pick something to call it, he just doesn’t know what that is just yet. As for turning them into quills and more for a fan, Sunjata can’t help the huff of a laugh that leaves him. “[say]Let them think what they want to. Never stopped them before.[/say]” With the mobs that covered the streets of Torchline calling for his head. He finds he could care a bit less about it.

She rolls her eyes to him and he shakes his head with a snort. “[say]Hey, in all fairness, pearls were my mother’s favorite.[/say]” He adds his own little tidbit of information there, before he’s plucking the pearls from her hand and offering her an easy nod. “[say]They are quite abundant here.[/say]” He offers her with a small half smile, letting the weight loosen on his shoulders in easy acceptance of taking her to find pearls.

But she’s angled a bit more toward him, moving her hair so he might place the necklace on her neck, and he sets it right along her collarbone where faded marks he’d left remain behind. “[say]I did nothing to deserve the basket you brought, so consider us even.[/say]” He offers her, fingers brushing against her neck as he moves to clasp the necklace together, before he’s pulling away. “[say]There, lovely as ever.[/say]” His arm returns to the back of the couch and Sunjata scans her over as he nestles in a bit more on the couch — still close, but no longer hovering.

“[say]How have you been, though?[/say]” He asks her, recalling the dark smudges beneath her eyes and the general exhaustion that seemed to weigh heavily on her shoulders.


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

[say]"I'm sure they think all sorts of things. Only the second time you've ever stepped foot into this place and it was to see the new Madame in her private quarters. Goodness Jata, they're going to go wild with it."[/say] Maeve teases, a soft laugh bubbling up in her chest as she lifts her hair for him to slip the necklace around her slender throat. It rests just at her collarbones, the dark pearls standing out from her skin and she reaches up to delicately touch the cool surface of them that's slowly warming from her skin. His fingers brush across the column of her throat as he secures them into place and a shiver travels through her despite herself. [say]"My mother loved pearls too. I have a mirror and brush that was inlaid with it. One of the few nice things my father every gave her."[/say]

He has her with his comment about the basket and she cannot argue back against it. Instead she turns back to him with a gracious smile, a slight flush raising on her cheeks, [say]"Thank you. They're wonderful. I will be sure to cherish them always."[/say] Maeve murmurs, not bothering to move away from him as he makes himself comfortable. She stays close enough that they're still touching at various points. That they could reach for each other if they wished to. It isn't even a conscious decision. Instead it is simply how they've settled. Her smile falters as he asks after her and she sighs, shoulders dropping as she leans heavily against the back of the couch.

[say]"Admittedly not that well. Monsoon season is always rough for me. It has been since I was small."[/say] Maeve murmurs, lips pressing into a thin line as she tucks her legs beneath her, arms wrapping around herself. She looks up at him from beneath her lashes, a faint smile tugging on her lips as she attempts a joke, [say]"Guess you aren't the only one here who has trouble sleeping."[/say] Then there was everything with Locke and Aurelia too. Two people who had left her. Although, one was on better terms than the other. Her brows pinch together as she recalls her last conversation with the smuggler. 'This was a mistake.' Maeve draws in a shaky breath, [say]"I'm not working as much right now and I guess that's given me more time to dwell on things than I wish to."[/say]


RE: the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

“[say]Well, given the fact I haven’t been allowed here in years, I’m sure that’s quite a conversation in and of itself.[/say]” He informs her with an amused smirk. But it fades as she runs her fingers along the pearls and settles in with her back against the couch, slumping slightly as his question is aired and he notices the brightness of her diminishing ever so slightly. There’s a slight hum of understanding there, before he’s reaching over to place his hand gently on her shoulder, giving her a support as well as a tether.

“[say]Admittedly, monsoon season reminds me more of Korofi, where I’m from.[/say]” With all the rain and flooding, the dreary darkness that cascaded over the world. He, himself, had been born during one of the rainstorms, and perhaps that is part of the reason why his nickname had become the Flood as well when he’d joined the rebellion. But he listens to her, his thumb swiping gently along her shoulder, offering a sympathetic smile at her joke.

“[say]Not too many callers this time of year? I find that surprising.[/say]” He hums thoughtfully. “[say]Though I do suppose most people hunker down in their homes, leaving more time to think about their own situations.[/say]” This ends in a bit of a grimace, before he’s pushing past it with a huff of a sigh and scans her face again. “[say]It seems dark and dreary now, but it’ll get better. It has to, right?[/say]” It’s what he keeps trying to tell himself, at least. Perhaps she’d find comfort in it too.


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

[say]"It most definitely is. I have no doubt I'll get plenty of questions about what exactly you were doing here."[/say] Maeve murmurs, a smirk curling on her lips as she meets his familiar steel gaze. He doesn't seem as tired as he did the night she came to see him. It makes her feel better even if she seems to be the one who has adopted it instead. Perhaps she really had helped. That's the hope at least.

He mentions his homeland and how the monsoons are similar to the storms he grew up with. It's another peek into his life and she tucks that information away too. Each little piece he gives her another part of the puzzle that makes up who he is. [say]"I don't mind the rain so much. It's everything else that comes with it."[/say] She still vividly remembers her first monsoon season after leaving her home. The little cave she stayed in with water that went past her ankles from the rain. How the thunder seemed to echo so loudly inside. His hand comes up to rest on her shoulder, pulling her from the memory and she reaches up to hold it, slender fingers covering his as she finds herself shifting closer to him.

His presence was comforting. It had been since the night they met. It was easy to gravitate towards him. To trust the things he was saying as he gazes upon her with kind eyes. [Say]"A lot of the sailors leave before the storms come in. We still get them, but not as many. I don't make my girls work if they don't wish to. Some have children to keep an eye on. It just wouldn't be right."[/say] Maeve glances up at him, shrugging her shoulders with a sigh. Her lips twitch at his encouragement and she tilts her head towards him, arching a brow, [say]"That sounds like something I would say to you. I guess you really have been listening."[/say] She teases, a huff of a laugh pushing past her lips as she leans closer.

Before she can get comfortable, the kettle begins to whistle and Maeve sighs, pushing herself up from the couch to arrange the tea set. It's only a moment before she's back with a tray set for tea. A steaming tea pot, cream, sugar, honey, lemon, and even a small plate of biscuits to go along with it. She pours them both a cup, [say]"This is my own blend. It has a hint of lavender. I find it good for the nerves."[/say]


RE: the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

He’s sure she’ll have plenty of questions once he leaves, as well, but all he can do is offer a nod, a snort in response to her, before he’s moving on and speaking of Korofi. He offers a nod of sympathy to that as well, as she reaches up to grasp his hand gently, his hand giving hers and her shoulder a light squeeze. “[say]We had a lot of flooding, back home. Which is why we had to learn to swim at such a young age.[/say]” For survival, of course. Or so they said.

Really it was just another test of sorts, as all things were for the Governor.

Her gaze meets his and she talks of the sailors taking the time to get out of the storm wherever possible, and Sunjata nods his understanding with that as well. A time for rest and preparation for fixing the damages come Longheat. But a smirk of amusement crosses his face soon after, Sunjata’s head shaking lightly. “[say]Like I said, I’m trying to be better.[/say]” It was difficult, of course, but there wasn’t any harm in trying, was there?

She departs swiftly to grab the tea as it whistles, and he remains settled exactly as he had been, one leg tucked up, half turned toward her, his tattooed arm spread across the back of the couch. He leans forward though to grab a cup, to pour a few sweet things into it, before he’s letting it warm his hands as it starts to cool. “[say]If memory serves, lavender is good for relaxing, is it not?[/say]” His gaze lifts back to her face, a dark brow raising as his question is aired.

“[say]I think we both could use a bit of that, yeah?[/say]” He huffs a quiet laugh with that, lifting the cup to his lips to see just how hot it is.


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

He is trying. She knows it and she's glad to possibly have some part in it. Maeve tosses him a smile over her shoulder, [say]"I know you are and I'm proud of you for it."[/say] She tells him honestly before she's disappearing to get the tea and returning to him to serve them both a cup. Maeve lowers herself to sit next to him again, not bothering to settle on the other end of the couch. Not when they've already established that being close is okay. She adds a few sugar cubes and a dash of cream to her tea, giving it a good stir before she leans back against the cushions, his arm draped across where her shoulders come to rest.

[say]"Oh it is. Helps relieve stress, insomnia, and anxiety. It has a variety of uses."[/say] Maeve takes a slow sip of her tea, humming as the light and sweet floral flavor washes over her tongue. A mischievous glint finds its way to her eyes as her gaze settles on him from over the rim of her teacup. [say]"You know, I've been told that I taste of lavender. Perhaps you should give that a go sometime."[/say] It's a bold joke. A rather bold one, but there isn't many other lines left to cross at the point they're at. They're capable of saying yes or no to each other. They have proven as much already. So she lets the words slip past the practically wicked smirk that curls on her lips as she brings to tea up to take another sip.

[say]"I would have to agree. Perhaps a bit of relaxing is in order."[/say] Maeve hums, leaning forward to pluck a biscuit from the tray, dipping it into her tea before biting into it lightly. The shortbread melts in her mouth and her eyes flutter close as the flavors alight over her tongue. [say]"How are you doing? How are things with Kamaria going?"[/say] She asks after her eyes open and she turns herself more towards him, legs tucking up beneath her once more.


RE: the wolves are watching - Sunjata - 04-04-2021

He softens a fraction as she disappears, the mention of pride finding its way somewhere within him that he might be able to reflect on later. For now, though, Sunjata easily settles as she returns, picking up a cup of the tea and adding in his own mix, giving it a stir and waits for it to cool. He hums his agreement on being correct about his assumptions of lavender, until her flirtatious tone returns and he huffs a quiet laugh.

“[say]Perhaps it’s worth testing that theory. Though I wonder if it could be the fact you’ve been consuming it for so long.[/say]” A playful, challenging gleam crosses his gaze with that as he regards her, finally taking a sip of the tea and allows it to warm him up from the inside, despite some of his clothes still being damp and the curls that were still attempting to dry despite having toweled himself off.

She reaches for a biscuit and Sunjata remains leaned against the couch, watching her idly, before he’s taking another sip of the tea with a nod of agreement. How is he doing, though? He pauses to chew on the inside of his scarred cheek. “[say]Not bad, all things considered. Kamaria is a tiny tornado, though. We’re learning how to cook things.[/say]” A brighter, easier laugh leaves him as he shakes his head and dives into his own biscuit he’s snatched up suddenly. “[say]Making quite a mess in the process but I am certainly learning a decent amount. Most notably, how not to burn down the house and make something at least passable for food.[/say]” A crooked grin spreads across his face with that.


RE: the wolves are watching - Maeve - 04-04-2021

He plays right back with her and it warms her chest. This isn't just beneficial for him. It is for her too. She has just as much need for distraction as he does. Thankfully he's willing to indulge her. Perhaps because he likes to indulge himself. Either way, she's not going to question it. Not when it looks so good on him. The way his eyes shine with a spark of electricity. The smirk that curls on his lips. Oh yes, it definitely agrees with him. [say]"A fair point, but I suppose there is really only one way to test it. If we truly cared to rule out whether or not my consumption of it really plays a role then we would have to try at least once now and again another time when I've not had any for some time."[/say] She speaks nonchalantly. As if they aren't potentially setting up times to indulge in each other.

He speaks of the whirlwind that is his daughter and her lips quirk into a smile, [say]"She takes after you in that regard. That much I can say for certain."[/say] She teases, taking another bite of her biscuit before chasing it with a sip of tea. The warm drink already working wonders in soothing the tightness in her chest. Maeve relaxes beside him, listening as he shares tales of their cooking endeavors. [say]"I would offer to help, but I am a terrible cook. I never really learned. I could potentially ask my friend for some simple recipes for you. He had a lot of siblings growing up and had to feed them himself. I'm sure he probably has something that would be easy enough for a beginner."[/say]

Another smile finds its way to her lips as her gaze settles onto him once more. [say]"I'm happy to know that you two are settling into a pattern of sorts. That's good."[/say] Maeve murmurs, finishing off her biscuit and brushing away the crumbs.