"What a shame she's fucked in the head," they said.
The song came to an end and Maeve reached up, wiping the tears from her cheeks, drawing in a shaky breath as she offered him a wane smile of her own. The newfound clarity in his eyes wasn't lost on her, seaglass meeting blue pearl, chest expanding with her breath. His own smile loosened a tightness in her chest and despite the fact that this man was close in age to her, an urge to soothe and protect rose in her chest, fierce and strong. The Madame didn't move or dare to reach for him, knowing better than to try and pet a stray, lest she wanted to scare him off.
"It was beautiful." Maeve murmured, voice just loud enough to be heard, matching the quiet nature of disuse that had settled over over it. She watched silently as he stood, selecting a lute from the wall to pluck and play, folding himself into one of the plush armchairs that wasn't big enough to really hold his lanky frame. He didn't seem to mind all that much. Maeve lingered by the piano, letting the music wash over her, drawing a shiver down her spine. The Madame wasn't even aware she stood, toeing off her shoes by the piano, leaving them to be retrieved later. Her feet began to glide across the wooden floor, carrying her from one place to the next in a dance as old as time, something that was carved into her bones, drawing her around the room as easily as Safrin draws the stars in the sky as she wayed and twirled almost lazily through the space.
"It was beautiful." Maeve murmured, voice just loud enough to be heard, matching the quiet nature of disuse that had settled over over it. She watched silently as he stood, selecting a lute from the wall to pluck and play, folding himself into one of the plush armchairs that wasn't big enough to really hold his lanky frame. He didn't seem to mind all that much. Maeve lingered by the piano, letting the music wash over her, drawing a shiver down her spine. The Madame wasn't even aware she stood, toeing off her shoes by the piano, leaving them to be retrieved later. Her feet began to glide across the wooden floor, carrying her from one place to the next in a dance as old as time, something that was carved into her bones, drawing her around the room as easily as Safrin draws the stars in the sky as she wayed and twirled almost lazily through the space.
Maeve
