[SE] I am not the bigger person

MELITA

Melita wasn’t much a frequenter of libraries – and mostly for the fact that she rarely kept still long enough to stare at the spines or make her way through tomes. Stormbreak’s massive Archive was intriguing though, but maybe because of the company, rather than the stuffy, stony atmosphere.

Though, it just made her thoroughly more tempted to hold another chaotic event, if just to see the Karens weep and cry and whine.

Glancing at Sunjata instead as she pretended to study a section called “Monsters of the Deep”, she sighed, billowing a portion of crimson hair out of her face, hands carefully behind her back, as if she were far more innocent than she could ever possibly convey. “Soooooo…how are the wedding plans going?” It was peacetime after all. Void nonsense gone and done.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

the flood

snow glistens on the ledge, whiskey on the bed
shake it out and light a cigarette

Even when he was fine with coming to Stormbreak once Dahlia had him in his grips, he still hadn’t ventured to see the Archive. Perhaps it was because he was usually heading to the Tower and then back to King’s End that he hadn’t really taken any detours (aside from the Silk Houses when he’d had to help Talyson out with a quest once upon a time). So for now, it feels a bit awkward, coming to the region that had so much shit happen to it as of late, though he’s happy to see that the people have been rebuilding.

That’s distracted him more than the books within it. Partially because it reminds him of Korofi and the sprawling library he’d grown up with that had helped him realize there was something else out there aside from the shit his father tried to teach him. Either way, the Flood glances away from the people an aisle or two over and pulls his gaze back toward Melita with a shrug of his shoulder. “Ru’s got some stuff loose ends to solve when we were infected first, then I think I’ll know more.” He hasn’t pushed it and with peacetime upon them he hadn’t felt the need to. “How’ve things been with you?” He asks, snagging a book from the shelf titled The Climb Conundrum curiously before opening it to the middle of the book to see if anything is interesting.

miss me when you, you wish you weren't right
shake me all out if i'm wrong, for you, for you

MELITA

Her gaze meandered over more books and spines: ‘Battering Banshees’ and ‘Are the Alpina Really All Bad? – an essay by Henry Sheeplover’, before drawing her attention back to her uncle, brow arching at the statement. Loose ends could signify literally anything, and though she’d wanted to pry, she kept it back against her teeth. They’d certainly had to wait long enough to have all that happiness out of the myriad of plots, happenstances, circumstances, and upheavals; perhaps waiting a little longer wasn’t going to break the mold. “Ah, gotcha. Anything you guys think you’ll need?” She had her own concoction brewing in the back of her mind, already bent towards what she had contained in her bag, but it’d be nice for any future Honeybee ideas.

‘Things with her’ could be all over the place – especially in the Iskra department, but she wasn’t really certain how best to explain, and then, opted out of it entirely. Those notions might be best for someone like Ru. Or no one at all. Pretending her ears and cheeks didn’t turn the slightest shade of pink, and she’d blame it on the ridiculous lighting in here anyway, she hummed, patrolling the next row of tomes. “Oh, Ludo things. I got my invisibility upgraded, so now I’m considering asking about other magic. Gonna travel to Halo when they have their snowball fight nonsense.” The booping enterprise fresh in her mind, and chaos and taunting Iskra on the latter. “King’s End shit goin’ good?”

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

the flood

snow glistens on the ledge, whiskey on the bed
shake it out and light a cigarette

There’s very little that is interesting in this book, so Sunjata peruses a few more pages before he closes the book and slips it back onto the shelf. Turning his attention back to her, Sunjata offers a crooked smile as he shakes his head. “I think we’re good. She’s just… Taken it pretty hard everything that happened.” Gesturing with the lightning scarred hand, Sunjata’s shoulders rise and fall in a small shrug.

It was hers to figure out, he wasn’t going to try and force her to speed it up. They had plenty of time, after all.

He looks back toward the spines of books in time to miss the pink shade pouring over her cheeks initially, snagging another book that seems slightly curious. Sea Panthers of Torchline and their Mysteries. Before he has a chance to open it, though, his gaze shoots back to her with his brows lifted in surprise. Not that she’d done it, but trying to determine what other kinds of magic she’d want up her sleeves. “Oh nice. Got any in mind?” He asks briefly, before he chuckles a little. “Yeah. King’s End is good. Got through the fire season and Leafchange was mostly uneventful. Though... Jack's staying with us now.” He tacks on in case she hadn't heard.

miss me when you, you wish you weren't right
shake me all out if i'm wrong, for you, for you

MELITA

Nodding at the notions of Ru recovering from everything, and Melita not even knowing half of the shape of the debacle, she merely nodded at the shrug; figuring her gift would at least be utilized in whatever facet they wanted. Twisting her head to glance back at the books, she huffed a breath at ‘Merryweather’s Favorite Mushrooms’, but inclined her attention back to her uncle at the inquiry. “Oh yeah – I have one where if I see someone use an ability, I can boop ‘em and use it too. But I want it like, y’know, really potent.” It’d unlock quite a multitude of possibilities, from potentially channeling to unfurling incantations she never would’ve been able to utilize otherwise. She grinned at that, a little more mischief embedded into the smirk, as she tiptoed her way around another column of books, still not finding one gathering her interest.

Though the subject of King’s End and Jack had its way of meandering down her notions too. She’d heard minimal things – enough to keep the rumor mill going – from how he’d been outcast himself due to Flora’s antics (genuinely, the Honeybee wouldn’t have been surprised, and she’d probably cheer for the Doubletake if she’d known how everything had truly occurred), another about how he’d been banished entirely, and one remarked upon how the good Captain had simply been bored of it all. “I’d…heard, but like, none of what actually went down.” At which she glanced towards her uncle again, presuming he’d fill her in.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

the flood

snow glistens on the ledge, whiskey on the bed
shake it out and light a cigarette

Flicking the book about Sea Panthers open, he flips a few pages in to spot the diagram of the larger brethren that weren’t companion sized like Petronella was as his niece speaks. It captures his attention more than the book does right now, though, his grin wide and lopsided. “Really? That’s cool.” And it was also good to know if they ever got into a battle together – that she might be able to boop him and use his dome or his healing rain, or even the one that pulls another demigod to her side.

Either way, the Flood returns back to the book, mulling over the details of Jack’s arrival even if he didn’t know the details of it. “Don’t really know what all went down. He just… Showed up and we made a deal for him to stay. Ark was a mess, though.” He murmurs, flipping to the next page of sea panther myths. “Charred like it’d been burned.” Which he isn’t sure if it was Jack or not, nor had he asked. Some things were better left unanswered.

miss me when you, you wish you weren't right
shake me all out if i'm wrong, for you, for you

MELITA

The impending news kept her attention away from any of the other books – though very few were grasping her focus beforehand anyway. Her brow arched at the sentiments of not knowing everything, wondering if her uncle was protecting some portions or simply didn’t know. “The Ark was a mess?!” came her abrupt response at first, a little higher pitched, earning some glares their way (at which the Honeybee promptly gave them the finger and ignored the hissing sentiments that followed). “That ship is his baby. Who would’ve burnt it?” Not her – she knew better. The temptation hadn’t been there regardless.

But her mind whirled to the other possibilities. Flora? Any other enemies? The good Captain had quite a few of them, earned in the interim of his smuggling days and probably far more that Melita had no clue about. “Huh. Fucking weird.” Presuming Jack would find his own means of revenge, she leaned against one of the long columns, brows furrowed while her arms crossed over her chest. “So he’s just moving all his operations to King’s End?” And what would that mean for Torchline, or better yet, Sunjata's region?

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

the flood

snow glistens on the ledge, whiskey on the bed
shake it out and light a cigarette

Jack had specifically told him not to ask and Sunjata knew better than to poke and prod him anyway. So unfortunately, the Flood really doesn’t know, but he imagines as he fills Melita in with more information she’d understand. She’d worked with Jack more than he had, closer than he had when he’d ruled Torchline. “Yeah, the Ark.” He confirms with a wrinkle of his nose and a nod – because yeah, if someone had charred it up he’s sure they would have paid with everything for the problem it caused.

But Jack hadn’t seemed too torn up about it. Off, of course, enough that he was asking to move in to King’s End of all places. “He’s got fire magic now, so maybe he didn’t want to talk about it because he did it?” He shrugs, voice dropping like they’re whispering conspiracies amongst one another (which they kind of are anyway). And as for the following question of whether or not he was packing it all up and starting over to King’s End, well… Sunjata nods to that too. “Yup. It’ll be different, though. Not sure what all he’s intending to smuggle, but, sounds like he’s looking for it to be permanent. I’ve got an open tab for him and the crew at the House of Midnight.” As if that was indicator enough that it wasn’t just a short stint. It had an indefinite time frame on it. And Jack wouldn’t go through all the trouble of moving all of his operations just to have it happen for a week or two, or even a month.

miss me when you, you wish you weren't right
shake me all out if i'm wrong, for you, for you

MELITA

Wondering if now was a good time, especially before digging into the ridiculous fathoms of impending drama, she rummaged through her sack, producing a very large bottle of vintage wine. “Before I forget, here,” and she passed it over – figuring it was a good year and hoping he wouldn’t ask how she acquired it (not that he’d care, probably). “Thought you guys could use it as like a wedding…celebration drink thing. Or whatever. For y’know. Putting up with all my shit for so long.” Or just to enjoy themselves. They probably deserved far more than the alcohol, but it was a start.

Then, of course, came the story, or the framework, given that details still weren’t incredibly prevalent (no surprise there, given who Jack was). But the Captain setting fire to his own ship made her eyes widen – for it didn’t make much sense. “And he didn’t say…why?” She’d always known him to be a vengeful, spiteful creature, but could coolly handle his opponents and enemies with steadfast patience and cruelty. Not laying waste to his something he cherished.

And maybe she was a little hurt, somewhere in that well of her emotions, that she hadn’t been told anything at all. At least not from the Captain himself. Not that it mattered, she supposed, and she kept the little sulking pattern in the back of her mind. “And you’re good with all his nefarious shit being there?” It probably was nothing to him either – but King’s End hadn’t always been somewhere targeted for smuggling purposes; Frey demographics sure, but her eyes whipped upward, watching for her uncle’s reaction.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

the flood

snow glistens on the ledge, whiskey on the bed
shake it out and light a cigarette

Closing up the book when Melita starts rummaging through her pack, the Flood leans toward her a little (he’s nosy, okay?) only to watch as she produces the bottle of wine – aged and with a year that would likely taste incredible that gets handed to him. The book is immediately set aside to take it, looking at the label before a big smile blooms on his face, immediately reaching to wrap an arm around her shoulders to give her a small hug. “This’s really sweet, heuningby.” He murmurs softly, letting her go after a second. “Thank you. But you know putting up with your shit is like.. nothing in comparison to putting up with mine.” The soft laugh leaves him as he turns his attention back to the bottle in his hand, clearly excited about it.

It's a content appreciation that remains even as he informs her of the drama that’d occurred, and when she asks her follow up question, the Flood shakes his head. “Nah. He didn’t even say it was him. I’m just giving it my best guess.” He admits, nose wrinkling slightly, surrounded by freckles before he shakes his head. “He really doesn’t wanna talk about it.” Maybe that would help any silent feelings she might have over it.

As for whether or not Sunjata’s good with the nefarious shit being in his region? That’s the easiest answer to give her. “Jack and I had a good thing going when I ruled Torchline. I think it’ll be nice, actually.” And it’s absolutely no secret that Sunjata had his own nefarious dealings of his own in the past – with the Devil’s Advocates being a huge portion of his life for a while.

miss me when you, you wish you weren't right
shake me all out if i'm wrong, for you, for you

MELITA

She wasn’t entirely certain who was more irritating or obnoxious; she’d died before too, after all, and lately the Flood had been quiet when it came to his own dramatics. Other than fighting the void and the Family, she couldn’t say there’d been too many dastardly antics – unless she was simply ignorant of all of that too. Standing there as if she were the precipice of innocence though, she batted her eyelashes on many pretenses, gave a quick grin. “Mm. Probably the best judge of that would be Ru,” she winked, not bothering to ignore the presumption of bias. “But it should be pretty good.” If not, they could probably give it to someone else without her much the wiser.

The Captain’s preamble though left far more in the dark than in the open. “Ah.” Stone-cold Jack struck again – leaving out a multitude of details no one would likely be able to pry from him. Shame, really, the Honeybee would’ve appreciated the amplified ends of the gossip. What she would’ve done with the information though, really, didn’t much matter. Dead ends and all that.

Her brow arched over the implications of him and Jack having something ‘good’ going during his tenure in Torchline, recalling how that had ended up after treacherous dealings of other kinds. If he wanted to turn King’s End into its own bastion of underbelly notions, she’d have nothing to say on it – just wondering, really, if it would turn into those denizens Torchline had already occupied. If there’d be competition. If things would knot and gnarl and be ridiculous, or nothing at all. She wouldn’t be surprised if barrows suddenly became tunneling, specious, smuggling additions too – or if some of those channels had already found more than empty space. “Gotcha.”

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

the flood

snow glistens on the ledge, whiskey on the bed
shake it out and light a cigarette

“Yeah, that’s fair.” Sunjata says with a soft laugh, the lopsided smile remaining even as the conversation shifts – sure that Hotaru would love the wine, too. But if it was for their wedding as Mel has indicated, both of them would be waiting for some time in order to indulge in it. He’s sure it’ll be worth the wait.

As for the Captain and the Ark, though, she doesn’t have much to add to it. Not that Sunjata blames her, it was taking a huge risk in the region but at least it might bring some more to their little economy they’ve got going on. And as far as he knew, it wasn’t going to be fully smuggling items so much as it was information – which Sunjata’d always known to be vital. But he keeps that part quiet, only because he isn’t entirely sure on the surface level of what all Jack had planned.

He'd simply asked for a space to land and Sunjata had an open spot available and an eagerness to help. So he nods to her gotcha, waits a few moments as he glances around the library, before letting his steel gaze fall on her again with a flicker of mischief. “Wanna stop looking at books and go get some lunch?” He hadn’t realized he was starving as much as he was.

miss me when you, you wish you weren't right
shake me all out if i'm wrong, for you, for you

MELITA

“Gods, yes please,” she answered quickly, shutting whatever book she had just opened and placing it back on the shelf. Perhaps the Honeybee wasn’t much of a bookworm, or her mind was already lilting towards other thoughts and potentials – very much focused on the underlying secrets or the prospering unknown, going in many facets and directions. All of that speculation could mean nothing at all – of course – but she knew her uncle, and she knew Jack, and part of the latter was simply understanding anything was on the table; the capabilities vast. As for the other portions though…whether those ever came to life was more on the unlikely facets, despite the churning reasons melding through her head.

Shrugging, she was already headed towards the door, louder than before, and indifferent to patrons narrowing their eyes at her. “There’s a fantastic place that grills nearby,” and then her hands were moving while she talked, opening the door to embark through streets and routes.

[FIN]

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight