no vacancy

You're so cold

but you feel alive

She remembered what he had told her before. Of his fathers beatings, his rebellion, the price his mother had paid for his disobediance. Thought of it, and consdiered the man that lay beside her, his arms around her, fingers trailing her neck while he watched her with sword-steel eyes. Oh, he was strong enough, powerful enough, but by some grace of gods he was not cold. Not hard, or cruel... only to himself.

"Thank you, for not being like him," she said, flattening her palm to cup his face. Shifted, raising herself up so she half lay over him, and could take his head between both of her hands. Her thumbs stroked his cheeks gently, wanting to soothe the bad memories away. "I like this version very much."

But as she said that, Maea came to think of the secret. The terrible little piece of a puzzle she held, that could either help or break him. She hesitated, not sure if this was a good moment, if there ever would be one for such a discussion... In the end, she decided that it was for him to decide. She was supposed to keep secrets for him, not from him, too.

"Sunjata... there is something you should know. About your presence here. On Caido, I mean. But.." she bit her lip, "I don't know if this is the right time? I'm not sure you're going to like it."

lay your hands on me

one last time

MAEA