From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
The thanks is easily brushed off, the of course ringing through his mind – as if it’s not a problem, not a burden, and it’s a nice thought even though Sunjata feels as though he’s made off worse than Nate had with the attack. The roles were similar, and yet… And yet. Here Sunjata sits, unable to properly eat without trembling from pain, without the burns pulling and pulsing, pushing and glimmering with sharp throbs of pain.
It’s a relief when the mug is lifted and Sunjata takes a deeper drink from it this time, knowing now that he can keep it down now, so he indulges in it even more – letting the warmth of it spread through him like a welcome fire once again. And when Nate speaks, his steel gaze slips to meet Nate’s blue eye, the attempt to talk like everything is fine is incredibly helpful, and as he swallows down, sits back up a bit more fully, he focuses on Nate a bit more.
“Monsoon season, so I’ve heard.” He rumbles, as if they’re avoiding the elephant in the room. But he returns to his bowl, doing his best to swallow down a few more bites with Nate’s help hopefully. “I’d like that.” He says quietly, wanting nothing more than to curl up with his lover, kept still as he can, buried within the comfort of the Ascended’s arms. He still goes slow as he eats, trying not to overload his stomach, but managing to make a dent into the bowl before his body starts to really protest its discomfort.
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
"Monsoon season." Nate repeats while the attuned drinks, a low whistle leaving him. "Sounds intense. Don't think I've been in a monsoon before." He talking for the sake of it, talking to distract Sunjata from the pain of eating, from the help he's offering. "I imagine there's going to be some work to do for it. Covering windows and... I don't know. I'll figure it out." An assurance, though it feels like one more thing to worry about, the idea of simple work is actually a little appealing. Whenever he can make the time for it.
Babbling gets them through most of the bowl, more than enough for Nate to be satisfied with, as he sets the various bowls and mugs back on the side table, ready to be taken down whenever he rose next, and not a moment earlier. "Hoe voel jy nou?" The slip into korofi is deliberate, trying to add a sense of comfort to the question, no matter what the answer ended up being. Some variation of bad, Nate was sure. Didn't take a doctor to know when someone felt like shit.
Though, it did bring another thought to mind. One that actually made him pause, arm stretched out to search blindly for the pack of smokes and the lighter. "I've still got some weed left. It might help take some more of the edge off, if you want?" It's a gentle suggestion, the choice firmly in Sunjata's hands. Nate does his best to not let his own bias show on his face, though he's sure it would help.
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
The conversation is easy to talk about – something else to focus on. And he latches on for dear life, to try and distract from the trembling and the pain. There’s a small huff that leaves him at the idea that Nate’s never been in a monsoon. “A lot of flooding.” He grits out at first, using it as a distraction enough that he doesn’t need to clench his jaw as tight. “Constant rain, lots of thunder and storms.” He manages, lifting his gaze to focus on Nate with a soft smile. “I was born during one, actually. Korofi had a rather large monsoon season.” Indeed, Nate might recall the conversation of flood waters once upon a time, might be able to put two and two together.
It manages to work well, however, the food kept down, the coffee handed and drunk, handed back to Nate to set on the side of the table and Sunjata quietly fears moving too much that he remains in place – listening to the Korofi that slips from Nate’s tongue – admiring and loving even more. “Beter, is nog steeds seer. He rumbles in return, letting his gaze flicker along Nate’s face, offering a small weak smile.
But his eyes watch instead as Nate reaches for the smokes and the lighter, a panging in the back of his mind, a need for the cigarette pining further once the suggestion hits. And really? Why not. Last time had been good as awkward as it had been, and there was nobody he trusted more than the man beside him, the one he’s marrying. “Seker.”
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
"We shouldn't flood." Nate hums, picturing the area around their home, the cliff rising up. "Storms and rain though. That'll fuck us up." Thankfully, wind and rain were something he had a little experience proofing against. "Least we still have the cellar, right?" An amused huff, and the gentle brush of his lips against Sunjata's cheek accompanied the words, loaded with hope for an easy Flowerbirth, despite the storms that raged. And while he hadn't explicitly known the attuned was born during such a storm, it makes sense, stories about floods and trials coming to mind, and thankfully drifting away before they can settle. "You looking forward to the season then?" Nate voices the question delicately, hoping he's reading the smile right as nostalgia, and not just romance.
Nate starts to settle into the bed a little more, letting himself melt around Sunjata, wrapping him up with all the slight warmth his arms can muster. "Wel, ek is nie verbaas nie." He purrs, a little bit of an apology in his voice. A hand rises to stroke along the edge of the attuned's cheek, the smile returned with one of Nate's own. "Ten minste is dit nie erger nie, eh?"
The quiet approval is plagued by an immediate dilemma. Now Nate has to move. With the greatest reluctance, he extricates himself from their close tangle, leaning over to press a kiss to Sunjata's forehead before stepping back to rush downstairs, bowl and mugs coming with him. And just like the last time, he's gone for maybe a minute, returning with a pitcher of water in his hands, a pre-rolled joint tucked behind his ear, and not one, but two companions following after him, Pemota settling into her favoured napping spot, directly above the bed, and Haai stopping just at the edge of the bed, only her head resting on the mattress.
Just as carefully as he'd left, Nate slides himself into place beside Sunjata on the bed, lighter already in hand and joint shifted between his lips in a well practised motion. Once he was settled, and certain the attuned was as comfortable as he could possibly be, he lit the joint, inhaling deeply then leaning in to shotgun the smoke in a kiss. "So you don't cough, Sunny." Comes the mumbled explanation, just as Nate pulls away, the hand holding the joint reaching up to open the window, risking the rain for the sake of some ventilation.
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
There’s a small nod given to Nate at the mention of not flooding – high enough, with the fields around them sloped enough that the water should hopefully just slip off the edge of the cliffs back into the ocean. The storms and rain would absolutely get them though, some reinforcements needed here and there, windows and roofing, things he’s unable to help with for now. So he keeps those comments to himself, offering a small weak smile at the cellar, leaning slightly through a slightly dulling pain to the lips pressed to his cheek.
The mention of looking forward to it, though, has that small smile growing a bit more. “It’ll feel a bit closer to Korofi at least. The good and fun parts, that is.” He manages, wanting to shrug his shoulders as if it’s not a big deal, but incapable of doing so without aggravating the wounds further. He hopes Nate understands. At least he’s certainly understood the Korofi, that nostalgia pining further down at Nate’s slight apology – Sunjata’s eyes closing as he tilts his head into the hand at his cheek. “Dit kan.” He agrees quietly, opening his eyes again to try and spot where exactly Nate was reaching for the cigarettes – before that plan has shifted toward something that would alleviate the pain further.
He has no complaints, other than the fact Nate has to leave the bed.
So he leans back, settling into the blankets and pillows, trying his best to not apply too much pressure to the myriad of wounds spanning his skin as Nate presses a kiss to his forehead and disappears – just for a moment, of course – as the Ascended seemingly reappears. At this point, at least Sunjata’s quite comfortable within the blankets, the warmth spreading in his stomach dulling every other pain he has. He’s tired, though, evident by the steel eyes that slide toward Nate with the small smirk that curls around the corners of his lips when Nate begins to settle in closer now.
The joint is lit and before Sunjata has a moment to try and take it, Nate’s lips are there – the smoke filtering in as he gives into the kiss and inhales, finding it far more bearable (suddenly realizing that coughing in this state was the literal last thing he wants to do) and inhales it deeply, his right hand lifting to rest at Nate’s neck, keeping him close a fraction longer than otherwise, before he holds the smoke in and letting Nate open the window. His hand leaves Nate to pat on the bed, for Haai to hop up on it as delicately as she can with her wingspan, before she curls up like a footwarmer at the end of the bed and Sunjata turns a bit more toward Nate – hissing out the cloud that’s left as he presses against the burn.
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
The good and fun parts sounds almost like an oxymoron, but there's something about it Nate gets too. If you can't find joy somewhere, there really isn't any point in trying to make it out. He lets it lie for the moment though, figures he has the whole season to figure out what exactly the good and fun parts of Korofi were. Figures they'll probably find a few new things to forward to and back on, once Sunjata is a little more healed (sooner than Nate expects).
There is an almost single minded focus moving Nate, step after step after step, neatly executed, until finally, he settles completely, lips and body pressed against Sunjata wherever he can touch, smoke wafting lazily out the window, the warm weight of Haai at the foot of the bed. If not for the circumstances, it would be perfect. Even with the circumstances, it feels pretty damn good.
Nate shifts, slowly, trying to help Sunjata move to alleviate the pressure on his burns, pulling him closer and closer in the process, until they're nose to nose. "Gemaklik gesellig?" The words sing song out, not just asking about the position they're in. The joint is still lit in his hand, held back to keep from burning anything.
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
Oh, far more fun. With the huge puddles that will form and the rain that never seems to stop, little rivers here and there. He remembers being young with his sister, out in front of their mansionesque home, with little paper and plastic boats they’d send down a bit of the run off like a makeshift river until it reached the drains. He remembers how they’d do that over and over again until Saar typically grew tired of it and they’d move on to exploring their mother’s garden.
Nostalgia at its finest, really.
But he’s shifting, letting the smoke curl and waft through the air, through him, waiting for it to alleviate the pain as he moves with Nate until they’re nose to nose and Haai is laying comfortably along the foot of the bed. There’s a low hum that leaves him as he lets his steel gaze attempt to focus on Nate’s despite the closeness, nestled in close with an arm around his lover, close and comfortable as can be now that he’s not moving. “baie beter nou.” He murmurs, tilting his head that extra distance to snatch a kiss from Nate.
It’s relatively shorter than what Sunjata wants, but he pulls away to brush his nose along Nate’s, letting himself settle a bit more with heavy lidded eyes. “'n ander?” Another hit and he’s sure he won’t last much longer — hopefully in for a far more comfortable rest.
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
Somehow, Nate's managed to find the single perk of only having one eye: he has no trouble on focusing on Sunjata, regardless of the closeness. The realization brings an amused huff to his lips, preceding the rough, warm words. "Bly om dit te hoor." It's all he manages to get out before his lips are captured in a lazy kiss, single blue eye slipping closed with the short embrace.
Another soft laugh leaves him, as he leans in close to Sunjata. "Ek het jou lief." It leaves Nate instead of an actual answer, eye opening again as he tilts back to take a drag off the joint, and stub it out, leaving what was left of it on the end table. "I love you." Speaking without losing any smoke is less impressive when Nate doesn't need to breathe, but it does make the moment a little more dramatic, before he leans in to press another kiss against Sunjata, passing on another hit, to ease his pain that much more.
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
He can absolutely get used to hearing Nate speak in his native tongue, infinitely pleased with how well he’d picked it up, as well as it being a sort of secret language between their family. They could talk about anything in front of anyone else, without them being aware, and it was a comfort Sunjata didn’t realize he needed. So he gives into the kiss before pulling away, asking for another, the curl of his lip in the edge of a smirk.
He wants to tell Nate that he loves him too, in the common tongue or Korofi, over and over again until he tries to convey the feeling he has within, but he doesn’t have time to – not as Nate takes another inhale and Sunjata’s leaning into the closeness, leaning into the kiss that soon follows, into the shared smoke and dramatics of speaking with out the smoke dispersing. And it’s so much easier, far less of an option for him to cough this way, feeling the lightness settle through his bones and his body until he feels quite heavy and the world seems to shift a bit slow.
Sunjata pulls away a small amount angling his head so it rests between both the pillow and Nate’s shoulder, nose brushing lightly against Nate’s skin. “Ek is lief vir jou ook.” He murmurs once he’s held the smoke long enough, exhaling what’s left of it before nestling in closer and pressing a kiss wherever he can reach – the Ascended’s neck, jaw, cheek, anywhere he can.
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
What else is there to say, in any language they share? "Ek weet jy doen." There's a handful of thoughts that run through Nate's mind, a dozen things he wants to say, and isn't it ironic that even when he can't get fucked up, he's still not sharing the things he holds closest until someone else is? Realization doesn't stop the flood of words that rise in his throat though, clogging each other for a single moment, held back by teeth so Nate can cup the back of Sunjata's head, can offer his own shower of kisses instead.
He could do this forever. It's not the first time he's thought it, and it won't be the last, as long as they have the chance for easy, lazy mornings, as long as he can hold Sunjata in his arms, between the disasters they move through. Nate tries to put words to the feelings, to murmur them into the other mans hair, his skin, but what comes out is neutered, doesn't hold half of what he means. "I wish we didn't have to move."
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
He couldn’t be more comfortable, honestly. With his head, body, soul right where he wants it. Squeezed up against Nate and a bed of blankets and pillows, the drizzle of rain outside, and small cold gusts of wind from the window to blow the smoke around. He begins to relax more and more, body heavy as he settles and smiles into the showering of kisses, closes his eyes to remain close as he can.
Nate’s comment arises a small ‘mmm’ sound from the attuned, a quiet inhale of breath and the shifting of his hand to rise and rest along Nate’s shoulder, thumb stroking along the edge of the Ascended’s collarbone. “We don’t have to.” He murmurs, still pressed in close to Nate, eyes still closed. “I’m sure as fuck not going anywhere.” There’s a breathy laugh that leaves him, raking along his fiancé’s skin.
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
A rumbling purr of a laugh leaves Nate, the contrarian in him immediately wanting to argue, to pipe up with a well actually, a one of us has to eventually, but he can't bring himself to ruin the moment, the closeness they've settled into with thoughts of what had to come next. "I guess you're right." He concedes instead, enjoying the moment without letting his mind rush ahead. It's impossible to get in his own way if he focuses entirely on the moment.
It might be a waste, to spend the first day of light in bed, tangled together, but there's nothing else Nate would rather be doing. Nowhere else he'd rather be. And he doesn't think about how it's only momentary, how movement is an inevitability, choosing instead to tighten his arms around Sunjata, his lips brushing against the attuned's forehead. "You should try and get some more sleep, you know."
you killed a man there, and i cried but the rain masked the hurt behind your face
He’s half expecting the retort, but refuses to acknowledge it if it does show. As far as Sunjata’s concerned, he doesn’t have to ever move. He knows it’s a lie, but for the time being he’s unsure he could even if he wanted to. Which, he certainly doesn’t, not with how they’re wrapped up together. Instead, Nate mentions he’s right, and there’s a bit of a curl of his lip in a bit of amusement. A small victory, at least.
The mention of him going to sleep has some small part of protest despite the heaviness in his body, in his mind. Instead, nestling in closer to Nate, lifting his head among the pillows and what not to press a kiss to Nate’s jaw before letting his steel gaze focus on his lover. “I just woke up though.” It’s a weak protest, knowing that Nate’s right about needing sleep anyway, but still. It’s a moment he doesn’t want to go away so soon, not while the pain is minimal and there’s nothing else for them to do. He takes a slow inhale before sighing quietly and offering a small nod regardless, though. “You’ll stay, right?”
by the way, dear, we're alive and it hurts 'cause we survived it
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
The universe is expanding But I don't feel a damn thing
His head turns to meet the other mans, to steal a proper kiss, short as it may be, and meet the steel eyes focused on him. A soft smile clings to his lips, even as he speaks. "The more you sleep the faster you'll heal." It's not quite a lie, but that doesn't make it the full truth either. Any time spent sleeping is time speant healing, and more importantly, time where Sunjata isn't in pain.
"Of course I'm staying." It had only been shitty timing that had led to him not being right here when Sunjata woke up the first time, and it won't happen again. "There's no place I'd rather be, sonskyn." Nate's voice is a steady purr, gentle and comforting, as much as his arms and his closeness is. He's going to have to move eventually, but eventually can wait until he's good and ready, for once.
