Look so pretty but your heart got teeth

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

Given her diminutive size, perhaps even a fae garment or two might fit decently. It would be a lucky find however, so she was grateful to have Liam's suggestions to fall back on. With him as a guide they found the way to the Bodega without getting lost, and as stillness fell away with the growing number of fae around - calling and talking, singing and arguing about ordinary things - Maea roused herself from her silence. Tried to, anyway; she remained self conscious of her uncombed hair and the mud splattered over her dress, especially after catching sight of herself in a mirror. The dark hollows like bruises beneath her eyes did nothing to soften the impression of having lived through a rough night. 

"Comfortable is more important anyway," she agreed, making an effort to follow up his attempt at levity. "Maybe I'll try for some color, though... Aside from black, what do you think I should pick?"
They reached a stall catering to outsiders. Pausing to flip through a rack of trousers, she found the cuts and fabrics a lot different from what the was used to. High in the waist, loose and flowy in the leg, often patterned in vibrant - occasionally garish - colors. Any shirts she found were backless in the way of the fae; apparently it was a popular style, particularly for visitors of warmer climes.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

Ah, yes, shopping. Liam’s greatest pleasure and undoubtedly his most abundant skill.

He remembered a time when his wife would drag him along to the market, where he would watch her try on shirts and pants and dresses, and how they all started to blur together after a while, but he never minded because it was worth seeing the smile on her face when she found something she loved. He remembered her holding up clothing from rack after rack, and the way she’d roll her eyes lovingly at his blank expression as he’d try - and fail - to imagine what it would look like on. She’d take bundles into changing rooms, model endless cycles of clothing for him, and he’d always tell her she was gorgeous in anything she tried on. And he always meant it.

It had been years since he’d shopped for anything other than the barest of essentials for himself, and he couldn’t help the sudden nostalgia as he ran his fingers over a crimson shirt, the silk so fine that he dropped his hand lest his rough calluses snag on the fabric. He realized belatedly that Maea had asked his opinion, and he cleared his throat, embarrassed to have been caught in his own reverie. ”Depends on what you like,” he said. ”Bold colors? Pastels? Patterns?” He rather thought she’d look stunning in lilac, but given that purple wasn’t a popular color just now thanks to the Void, he kept that observation to himself.

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

Her lips quirked at the way he dragged on the reply, suspecting either a lack of interest or indeed a lack of experience in the fashion department. Unlike Ronin who had seemed as comfortable in a boutique as he was on a training field, Liam didn't strike her as the effortlessly suave type. It didn't bother Maea in the least. She was just as lost on these matters, which meant she'd just have to go with what seemed nice - no need to make it complicated.

"Usually I go for black and extreme practicality," she informed her blond companion, with a gesture towards the gown. Well, it was black at least; the practicality of the long skirt, plunging neckline and red silk peeking through a high slit over one leg was debatable. "Lace and pristine white seemed the height of luxury when I was younger, but it doesn't tempt the same way anymore." More comfortable hiding her pale complexion these days, she had tired herself of standing out in a crowd. "Maybe... red, or blue? Plain, dark hues, and nothing too patterned or revealing."

Needing a shirt or two, trousers and some warmer sweater, it would take a while to gather up all she needed. At least the bottoms were easy enough; deciding not to mess with perfection she selected a pair of black woolen pants of a flowing cut, and found a sturdy pair of dark leather pants more suited to training and bushwhacking. That left the tops, and whether he liked to or not, Liam would have to help her out here.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

This, at least, was somewhat familiar territory for Liam, who had often been given instructions for specific things to look for in the past. Though he lacked the imagination to visualize what something would look like off the rack and on one's person, he could dutifully sort through hangers of clothes with the best of them.

Seeing Maea pick out a few pairs of pants, Liam turned his attention to the shirts. They came in a variety of colors, cuts, and fabrics, and for a moment, the soldier considered all of the options with a look of bemusement on his features. Hesitantly, he began to sort through one rack of reds, opting to focus on darker, deeper hues rather than bright cherries or pastel roses. There was a crimson option he rather liked, and a darker burgundy that had promise. Both were in cuts that seemed practical for living in the field. If Maea was determined not to accept shelter from him (and with no way of knowing whether the inn would be to her liking), then he'd better make sure that she'd be warm and comfortable.

Folding the clothes over one arm, he searched for a rack of blues and found it, flipping through silks and laces until he got to more pragmatic options. He personally was drawn to sapphire, but thought that might be too bold; instead, he ended up with a midnight blue shirt that he thought might be too similar to black and a slightly lighter navy option.

With four shirts to choose from, he wandered back over to Maea and held them up for her inspection. "What about any of these?" he asked, his voice a quiet rumble.

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

Was she actually having fun? At the very least it was soothing to let her hands glide over fabric and leather, to worry about nothing beyond colors and cuts and whether she could afford that pretty, completely impractical knitted dress of a deep midnight dye or not. After walking past it three times Maea decided that she could; and when Liam returned with his finds, she was doubly glad to find it matching well with one of his picks.

"Mmh, I like these!" Picking out the midnight blue shirt and the burgundy top to hold them up together, the effect was subdued yet interesting enough. Comfortable, without looking like the vagabond she was. Maea smiled at Liam, briefly extending a hand to squeeze his arm. "Thank you, they're perfect. Will you wait while I try them on? It won't be long."

Though what she would do once they were done with the shopping and done with finding the inn, she wasn't sure. Maea had nowhere to put her new clothes, no base to return to, nothing to mend or maintain - and it would be another day before there was a point in returning to the forest given all the water still pooling on paths and clinging to shrubs, trees, reeds, just waiting to drench the unwary passerby. The offer of a room shimmered before her like a mirage, tempting with comfort and company alike... As she gazed at herself in the changingroom mirror however, Maea wasn't sure the person staring back at her was brave enough to risk that kind of danger.

Relying on others was a risk. Growing too comfortable with people was risky too. With nothing to offer in return, she felt like accepting would be taking advantage of the earnest, kind person she'd come to meet... and she didn't want to do that. Not when she might leave soon. Not when he didn't know what kind of person he was accepting into his space.

Somehow, the Ancient didn't think he'd be as forgiving of some of her past crimes as others had been.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

Liam was surprised when Maea reached out to squeeze his arm and offered a small, shy smile in return. He nodded that he'd wait, turning to continue browsing as he did so. He wasn't really in need of anything, but it was a way to pass the time. He'd learned long ago that trying on clothes could be a lengthy process, and he'd never been particularly good at sitting and twiddling his thumbs.

Struck by a sudden idea, Liam meandered over to a different section, outside of the many clothes. He searched for a few moments before finding what he was looking for; then he deliberated: brown or black? Seeing as Maea had picked out some black pants for herself, he finally decided on that, and by the time she emerged from trying on her clothes, he was waiting with a black satchel in hand. The bag was well-priced and practical, with waterproofing and sturdy straps. He thought it might work for her, given her current lifestyle.

If he'd thought she'd accept it from him, he'd have bought it for her, but at the risk of her refusal (after all, she wouldn't even accept a roof over her head for a few days), he simply held it up for her inspection. "There are other options, if you don't like this one," he said. "Or, if you'd prefer a chest, there's a carpenter down the road who might have some in stock."

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

In the middle of the day, she had the changing rooms all to herself. Once Maea was satisfied with sizes and fits and emerged with her final selections, it was to find her friend waiting with a surprise in hand. Looking between Liam and the satchel, she turned it over, growing more impressed with every find of practical pockets, clasps, and the sheer size of it. "No, it's perfect, thank you!" she assured him, brightening at the thoughtful suggestion. It solved the problem of storage very nicely - though the soldier might regret his gesture if he'd known how close she had come to taking him up on his offer after all, for the sheer practicality of it.

Alas, now she had no reason to stop being stubborn. Encouraged enough to hum as she sauntered off to pay for her wares, the Ancient returned with her tail swaying amiably behind her heels, satchel filled with the purchases dangling off a slender shoulder.

"That was the easy part. Shall we make a bet on the inn being booked to the rafters? I suspect it's full, but there really might be a chance..." There was a grim undertone in her voice, something dubious to the lopsided grin that suggested her lack of optimism. But since she was determined to figure this out on her own, there was nothing for it but to ask around.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

Oblivious to the inner machinations of Maea’s mind - and probably for the better, lest his own stubborn streak come out in full force, Liam waited patiently for Maea to make her purchases before leading the way towards the inn. ”You’re probably right,” he said ruefully. ”If it was even a few weeks ago, you might be in luck, but with everyone flocking here…” Liam trailed off with a shrug. The likelihood of a room being available was low but not zero, and for Maea’s sake, he truly hoped that they were wrong.

The inn, like so many other buildings in the Greatwood, was built into a large tree. It towered over its neighbors, its trunk wider than most. It wasn’t so large that Liam thought the rooms would be particularly large - and seeing as they were built for Fae inhabitants, they probably weren’t, anyway - but Maea was small enough that she might fit comfortably. It would be better than a tent in the woods, anyway.

Gesturing towards the tree-inn, Liam grimaced. ”Good luck,” he said, and sincerely meant it despite his skepticism.

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

They were not wrong.
A stressed out fae informed Maea within moments of her entering the building that No, there were no vacancies, and No, they didn't expect any within a fortnight at the least. Finding herself eyed up and down, a not so courteous suggestion did come for a room at another establishment in case she would consider doing some, hm, side jobs...? No? But when Maea declined she was met with a shrug and was left standing in the foyer to stew in her own thoughts, as the bustle and din of lunchguests battered her ears. 

It was a subdued woman that returned outside to the waiting dragoon. The result was written all over her face, so she didn't bother to inform him. Falling in beside Liam, she leaned back against a slender tree and watched as fae and humans alike spilled in and out of the inn, many dressed for hikes with packs and gear and all the accoutrement of an expedition. For a time, she said nothing.

"... it's not that I doubt you," she tried eventually. Liam hadn't asked for any reasons why she kept turning him down, but that only made it worse. " And I know I'm being silly for declining your offer... It's just..." Even now when she stood without any other options, she still didn't feel comfortable with occupying his space. Maybe it was just a room for a night or two.

But maybe it was far, far more than just a room, too. And she had no idea how to explain that without making a complete fool of herself.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

Rather than brave the hustle and bustle of the inn, Liam waited outside to see if Maea would be lucky enough to score a room. When she returned, the results were clear on her pale face. Liam winced at her subdued silence as she came to lean against a nearby tree. For a time, they stood there like that, watching Fae and human alike traverse in and out of the inn. They were fortunate, Liam thought, to be so well-equipped, to be able to treat their search like a vacation. Perhaps, for many of them, it was just that. But for Maea, it was a test to prove herself worthy of a home, and that she didn’t have the freedom to just move on saddened him - even as some small, selfish part of him was relieved that she wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon.

When she finally spoke, Liam turned to gaze at her steadily. ”You don’t owe me an explanation, Maea,” he said. Perhaps his imaginings were wrong, but he could think of dozens of reasons not to accept a room in a man’s house for a woman traveling alone. Without knowing any more of her history than he did, he couldn’t hazard a guess as to why she refused his help, but if he had to guess, he would certainly think it was about more than just obstinacy. There was something else at play, even if she didn’t wish to share it with him.

”The offer stands, if you change your mind. In the meantime… what do you plan to do? I’d offer you another tent, but the next storm that comes through…” His brow creased with concern. No, a tent wasn’t a good option. She needed somewhere safer. More permanent. Unfortunately, save for a guest room or an inn room, Liam was all out of ideas.

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

Meeting that honest gaze, she found herself saved yet again by this man. Was that the core of it? That he kept coming to her rescue, despite being unasked? First he saved her from her solitude, then he saved her life, now he was saving her from difficult conversations she wasn't ready to have. Over and over again, in small, almost insignificant ways, Liam kept showing up and that she had nothing to offer in return left her so deep in debt that she felt like drowning. If asked how she might compensate, he'd probably wave that off too, claiming she didn't owe anything. But that kind of unequal relation where one only gave and the other only received... Maea didn't think she could stand it for very long.

Turning back to the peoplewatching, his question was a good one, and she had no answer. None that were good, leastways.
"Well... I can sleep in a shift or other," she replied slowly, all dry practicality. "Done that before, it won't kill me. Should be safe enough in a tree. Until night falls... I'll do some searching around the village, get some dinner, maybe visit the Undercroft. Tomorrow... is a problem for tomorrow."

Not a good longterm solution by any means, but at least it sounded like a plan, like she was thinking of solutions, like she wasn't so tired that her brain seemed to be in fire. It might save her from more offers of aid she'd had to decline. Maea was running out of excuses, and running low on desire to protect herself - and him - from poor decisions.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

Maea was right; if she asked, Liam would only wave her off, staunchly determined that this was just what friends did - and that if she was so concerned about being indebted to him, what were her other friends like that they expected reciprocation for even the smallest of kindnesses? It was in Liam’s nature to be giving. It always had been, and it probably always would be. Maea would have to get used to that, or theirs would be a short friendship indeed.

Liam listened to her plan, such as it was, with a healthy dose of skepticism. He believed her when she said it wouldn’t kill her - after seeing her shifts, he was convinced that it would take something extraordinary indeed to do so - but that didn’t mean that she’d be comfortable. But she’d already said no to his offer twice, and he wasn’t the type to pressure her. He’d just have to trust that she knew what she was doing, whether he liked it or not.

”Just let me know where to meet you in the mornings,” he said. If he couldn’t protect her while she slept, he could at least accompany her while she searched. That much, at least, could stay the same.

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Maea

Blood on my shirt, rose in my hand

No objections. She could practically feel scepticism rolling off him, but to his credit Liam didn't actually say anything. Relieved, and glad that her misfortunes wouldn't disrupt the partnership that had evolved around her search for the roses, she considered where to meet up. It didn't really matter, in the end.
"Here, perhaps? Or I can meet you outside your place, it's all the same to me."

With all the errands taken care of, she wasn't sure what to do next. Even though they could be comfortable in silence, up until now there had still always been an element of work to their meetings. To search, or eat, or clean up. Ruled largely by her wants and needs, the sudden lack of an immediate goal had her fidgeting quietly where she stood.
"What are you going to do now?" she wondered after a while, glancing up at Liam.

You're looking at me like you don't know who I am

Liam

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

With the immediate tasks completed, Liam didn’t really have a plan. He’d arrived home this morning, and the small bag of supplies he’d taken with him to Stormbreak still lay on the kitchen table where he’d left it. He could go take care of that, he supposed. Or he could go for a run, keeping an eye out for more roses. Or he could train with his sword, or go hunting, or any other task that might pass the time.

But he wasn’t quite ready to jump back into everything yet, perhaps feeling a bit nostalgic still over their impromptu shopping trip. He wasn’t quite ready to leave Maea to her own devices just yet. Perhaps it was selfish, but after having been gone for a few days, he’d found that he missed their quiet, easy camaraderie. ”I think I’ll get lunch,” he announced after a moment’s thought. ”Would you care to join me?”

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now