MAEA
She couldn't tell if he listened or not. If it meant anything. Likely not. Maea was singing as much to comfort herself, to remind herself that she had done this before. Loved and lost, and moved through the grief to come out again on the other side. She was a child of the Hollowed Ground, after all. Death and tragedy was fed them all by the spoonful, and only those who learned how to cope made it very far. Everyone had some way to push through. Some drowned in alcohol, others in love, while most did as she and lost themselves in work, to keep from feeling too deeply. Keep it hidden, keep it safe and leave the tears for a moment by a shrine, whispering fervent prayers to the gods. Then the mask was on again, back straight and head held high, because there was work to be done.
But when his skin was clean and the water dark with blood and gore, when she finally set the soap aside and could rinse the lather from his hair, there was nothing more left for her to do. No task to focus on, nothing for her hands to occupy themselves with. And Sunjata... was withdrawing again. For a moment she thought he was about to say something, speak, and she waited, listening to his breath. To the silence that settled when her song died and her throat could not stand to keep it up anymore.
She sighed, and wiped her tears away. Feeling drained. Reached for the collar and began to unbutton her dress. It was already soaked and stained, and clammy against her skin. Peeling it off in the crowded space of the tub was not an easy feat, but she did not want to get out. Couldn't stand to leave him there alone. One by one, drenched garments was dropped to the floor beside the shawl, and when there was nothing left on her to cause discomfort, Maea eased herself up against Sunjata again. Closed the distance he was trying to make, tried to steal her way into his arms. He didn't have to say anything else, if he couldn't bring himself to. She wouldn't either. What was there to say that could make a difference?
Maea just wanted to be close. Needed to feel him there under her hands, to prove that he was real. To remind him that she was real too, and not going anywhere.
She would keep the bathwater warm for as long as she was able. Let them sit there, soaking in the crimson bath until her magic drained and fingers and toes were crumpled and tender from too much water.
But when his skin was clean and the water dark with blood and gore, when she finally set the soap aside and could rinse the lather from his hair, there was nothing more left for her to do. No task to focus on, nothing for her hands to occupy themselves with. And Sunjata... was withdrawing again. For a moment she thought he was about to say something, speak, and she waited, listening to his breath. To the silence that settled when her song died and her throat could not stand to keep it up anymore.
She sighed, and wiped her tears away. Feeling drained. Reached for the collar and began to unbutton her dress. It was already soaked and stained, and clammy against her skin. Peeling it off in the crowded space of the tub was not an easy feat, but she did not want to get out. Couldn't stand to leave him there alone. One by one, drenched garments was dropped to the floor beside the shawl, and when there was nothing left on her to cause discomfort, Maea eased herself up against Sunjata again. Closed the distance he was trying to make, tried to steal her way into his arms. He didn't have to say anything else, if he couldn't bring himself to. She wouldn't either. What was there to say that could make a difference?
Maea just wanted to be close. Needed to feel him there under her hands, to prove that he was real. To remind him that she was real too, and not going anywhere.
She would keep the bathwater warm for as long as she was able. Let them sit there, soaking in the crimson bath until her magic drained and fingers and toes were crumpled and tender from too much water.
I'm bleeding out for you
BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3
