[RA] what if all i need is you

Alys

And it's like snow at the beach

The House of Midnight had been a pillar of King's End long before Alys had arrived, and yet it was not a place she visited very often. As she entered now, she kept her eyes firmly ahead, never daring to look about at the plush entrance and the courtesans lingering about. Places like this had always made her vaguely uncomfortable. But she hadn't seen Sunjata in a while, and it seemed like this was the best place to start looking for him.

It was her fault, really. She'd neglected her duties last season, particularly during LongNight, which had brought up painful memories. She couldn't shake the worry that something was going to burst through the windows of her home again, threatening all that she held dear. And when LongNight came and went with her home - and her loved ones - none the worse for wear? Well, then she decided that it was time to stop hiding away.

So here she was, pausing to ask a worker for Sunjata's whereabouts. And then she waited, shifting her weight from one side to the other, arms crossed over her chest, and hoping very much that the Archon appeared sooner rather than later.

Weird, but fuckin' beautiful

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

It has been a while since he’d seen Alys – but with Talyson’s return and the void no longer infecting those of them on Caido, Sujata simply assumes she’s making up for lost time with her partner. He can’t judge her, he’d do the same if Ru wasn’t so enveloped in her plans. So he’d started spending more time in the House of Midnight, between bookings and paperwork.

Such that when he receives the mention that Alys has dropped by and was looking for him, Sunjata wastes little time in putting a pause in what he was doing to seek her out. Taking the shift of the macaw in his blood, the large blue bird zooms through the halls of the brothel until he reaches the counter top, landing beside Alys gracefully with a tilt of his head.

Shifting back into himself – sitting on the bartop, he flashes her an easy smile, lopsided thanks to the scar on his face. “Hey Alys. We can go somewhere quieter if you want?” He doesn’t need to be a mind reader to see her discomfort, but there was a room they could use that they could make whatever they wanted for the conversation and provide a good amount of quiet compared to the rest of the brothel, still busy even after LongNight was over.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Alys

And it's like snow at the beach

A macaw appeared before her, and Alys might have furrowed her brow in confusion if the emotions emanating from the creature hadn't given Sunjata away. Instead, she offered a pleasant smile as the bird shifted into the man, who lounged easily upon the bartop. For a moment, she envied him - so self-assured, so comfortable despite their surroundings - but it passed quickly enough, the emotion stuffed down deep where she could worry about it some other time.

"Quieter would be appreciated," she agreed aloud. She studiously ignored a couple nearby who seemed to be rather intent on sucking each others' faces off. Weren't there rooms for that kind of thing? A kiss in public was one thing, but this was something entirely different. And even if the seer had to admit to a vague sense of curiosity (specifically regarding herself and her partner, to be clear), she wasn't that intrigued.

As she followed Sunjata to wherever it was that he deemed quieter, she spoke again. "I'm sorry it's been a while," she said. "Time got away from me."

Weird, but fuckin' beautiful

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

“Quieter it is.” Sunjata says, flashing her a softer smile. He hops down from the bartop toward the hall that she’d arrived in. Leading her up the stairs to the second floor, this hallway is quiet as he picks a room at the far end on the right. Upon entering it, the room warps and shifts to a sunny, vibrant day, warm and comfortable with a kind of picnic table and comfortable chairs for them to sit.

Shaking his head at her apology, he settles in the chair and looks over at his Seer with that same warm and easy smile. “It’s okay. I get it.” He pauses. “The Starfall war took a lot out of everyone. We all deserved some time to relax.” And what better time to start anew than with the beginning of the year?

“I’m glad you came by, though, because I reached out to Danta about the bottled lightning for unicorn horn shards. He’s willing to make the trade. And we’ve been working on cleaning up the mud around here because I thought this Flowerbirth we could use a little fair to showcase King’s End a little more. What do you think?” It’s a lot of information all at once, so he sits back to let her take it in and offer her thoughts.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Hey, what's that? Out of the corner of your eye, you see a colourful, hand-painted egg. Perhaps it's sitting amidst some flowers, on a tree branch, next to a river, or in a merchant's shop, but wherever it is, it doesn't seem to be accidentally placed there. On one side you see a painted hot air balloon. Maybe it has something to do with the upcoming festival!

Go ahead and pick it up!

---

You've found a painted egg!. Whoever is next to post in this thread will be the first one to see the egg, but if they wish to give it to someone else, they're more than welcome! No need to post in account updates, just keep track of this thread and pick up your egg IC!

Alys

And it's like snow at the beach

Alys followed the Archon down the hall and up a flight of stairs. It was rare that she came to the House, and its magic still surprised her as they entered a room to find a sunlit - and blessedly mudless - day. "I always forget how remarkable the rooms are," she commented idly, running a finger across the back of one chair. It was as real as she was, for all that it was conjured out of thin air.

The seer settled into the chair, but not before a strange sight caught her eye - a painted egg, sitting right there on the makeshift picnic table. On one side, there was a hot air balloon. Alys eyed it curiously, reaching out to pick it up. "Does the House always bestow gifts?" she asked, grinning at Sunjata before offering the egg to him. "Or are we just special?"

And then they were down to business, which was probably for the best, given that they'd not had a chance to speak like this for some time. "Oh, good - I'm glad about the trade. We're still wanting to use it for Colt's ranch, right?" Then, thinking of something else: "What are our relationships like with the other regions? If the Grounds are willing to agree to a trade, then I can only assume that we're on good terms. Are there any regions we could use stronger ties with?" Maybe that was something she could help with - although it sounded like there was plenty coming up closer to home, as well.

"Oh, a fair!" she exclaimed. "I haven't been to a fair in... gods, it's been years." She'd always liked them, though. Something about fair games and booths had always held a certain allure for the seer. "I think that's a great idea. How can I help?"

---

Alys picks up the egg and offers it to Sunjata.

Weird, but fuckin' beautiful

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

“They’re pretty amazing.” Sunjata agrees as he sits, settling and stretching out his long legs to look over at her – pausing as she mentions gifts. Confusion flares until she produces the egg as if in an offering for him and he shakes his head with a soft little laugh. “I think we might be special if they got all the way in here. You want it?” He asks, flashing her his lopsided smile as he sits back to explain the whole fair idea and the fact he’d reached out to Danta about the lightning.

Nodding at the question for Colt’s ranch, when the subject shifts to relations with every other region, he straightens up a little. “We’re on good terms with the Grounds. Torchline, too, since Flora’s family.” He pauses, a little apprehension leaving him when he continues. “Deimos is not the biggest fan of me, but, with all the Starfall work I think we’re on good terms. And I hear Stormbreak has a new leader who asked me for advice, so I’d say we’re pretty good all around.” And maybe if he needed the added boon for Halo, Alys could be the best middle-woman for it.

At her excitement about the fair, Sunjata’s smile widens in agreement. “Welllllllll, we’ve gotta do a lot of cleaning. But I was figuring we’d have a whole host of the best parts of King’s End. Some flower barrels and shops, the apothecary work, the House, Colt’s Ranch.” He gestures up to the building they’re in. “Figured it’d go down the main road of New Haven but maybe we can come up with where everything’ll lay out?”

---

Sunjata offers it back to Alys!

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Alys

And it's like snow at the beach

Pocketing the egg, Alys sat back and made herself comfortable. She listened to the explanation of their relations with the other regions, nodding almost to herself. "I'm on good terms with Deimos," she murmured. "So I don't think there's any issue there - especially after everything with the Family and Starfall." News of Stormbreak's new leader had Alys nodding. She'd heard as much in her travels. "Right, I heard about that. It's good that they have someone in charge. I haven't been back since... hmm. I think it was right after Abandoned were allowed in, when Sohalia was leading. But I suspect that after the Family set up shop there, they'll need some help to get things back on track." Just a guess, but it seemed logical.

In any case, Alys turned her attention back to King's End. "So, trading this season, then?" she asked, just to confirm. "I think that's great. We're at peace, so we should take advantage."

Which the fair was likely to do. Her excitement was clear as she reached into a satchel that she kept on her belt and pulled out a small notebook. Flipping to a new page, she smoothed the paper flat and uncapped a pen, drawing a loose layout of New Haven's main drag. "Maybe we group up stalls based on type of vendor?" she mused aloud. Tapping her pen against the paper, she indicated a courtyard area. "Somewhere larger for any livestock, so they have room to spread out. Then maybe along here, merchants selling non-perishable goods, and then maybe down here, food? Or should we spread out food vendors throughout?"

Weird, but fuckin' beautiful

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

Nodding – and finding a small amount of relief in knowing that he’d assumed right – Sunjata’s smile is bright as he looks across to Alys with her mention of being on good terms with Deimos. As for Stormbreak, he sighs a touch in agreement. “Yeah… The Tower fell again, so I’m sure it’s been a lot of work.” He’s glad it isn’t his region, at least. And for that, he’s grateful to have this little sit down chat with his Seer about making sure that King’s End remained a viable place without threats and could focus on actually doing things.

“Agreed.” He says, before he’s leaning forward in his seat and drawing his legs under him, ankles crossed as he looks to see the loose layout of New Haven’s main drag that she draws in the notebook. “Livestock toward the courtyard, maybe? It’s wider there.” As he thinks about the following questions, his head tilts slightly as he considers the option of food. “Maybe we can organize the food vendors throughout and kind of theme them? Like.. Maybe the apothecary vendors get to have a fruit and vegetable stall?” His brows pinch as he thinks about it, pausing to lift his steel gaze to his Seer’s face to see what her thoughts were.

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //

Alys

And it's like snow at the beach

As glad as Alys was that it wasn't them having to rebuild after the Family's departure, she was all too aware that it could have been. Sunjata had been infected, after all, long before the rest of them had even realized that that could happen. He could have become a puppet for the Family. They could have forced him aside, could have taken King's End, could have done so much damage here. So despite her relief, there was an unease that lingered in the back of her mind.

But she banished it quickly enough, focusing instead on the present. What had happened in the past - however vivid the memory - should stay there.

"Mm, courtyard it is," she said, sketching in a rough square and labeling it, 'livestock.' As for food items, she tapped her pen against her lower lip in thought. "That could work. I like that it's a straight stretch; less likely that vendors will get skipped over by accident. So if we put the apothecary here..." And she pointed out that spot, and then another, tossing ideas back and forth until they had a layout roughly in mind. At the end, there was a crude map of their fair.

Weird, but fuckin' beautiful

// now we are hanging out in the backyard //

He’d been healed at the perfect time, he thinks – and should the Family ever make a trek back from the stars and whatever horrors they’d vanished to, the Flood is confident that they wouldn’t be able to make it back into this portion of King’s End at the very least. So for now, they can take advantage of the calmness, the peace that’s descended across the world, before something else tries to take its place.

“Looks great.” Sunjata hums as she finally reveals the entirety of the map they’d made. Confident and content, the Flood nods his head and flashes her a bright smile, lopsided only because of the scar on his face. “Thanks for your help. Danta’ll be coming soon and I’ll trade the shavings for the lightning and we can go from there? In the meantime I guess we just keep cleaning up all the mud.” And hope that it finally goes away at some point.

- FIN

the flood

// looking at a new point of view //