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!
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
His clear detestation for her is truly mind boggling. Even if he had surmised she was teasing last they’d met somehow, was he childish enough to not even respond to her verbal agreement and compliment? Throwing a baffled look towards Deimos, the Evergreen shrugs - and refuses to give in to the petty urge to snicker when she hears the tell-tale thump of a body hitting the floor behind her. Cruel as a younger Evie may have been, she won’t entertain his animosity. Deimos could handle his errant sheep.
Perhaps she would have helped, but he clearly wouldn’t want it from the likes of her, so she stifles her instinctive desire to assist and goes to closing up the rooms. Already mentally moving on, throwing open doors with gusto to try and feel some manner of excitement over the drudgery of work and ensuing leadership.
Each room is a different size and with an array of furniture types, but linens are plentiful and easy enough to drape. From there it’s a matter of ensuring all windows are firmly shut, keys to any locked doors accounted for, and any items that look any degree of important are not forgotten inside.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
The Sword didn’t understand the courier’s disgruntlement towards Evie – sending his own measured look of confusion with a narrowed gaze and furrowed brow. Even though it wasn’t his business, the chaotic imbalance and palpable, bizarre, tangible tension left him reeling along the outskirts like a predator – pondering when and where to pick over the merits and bones. He shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes as the notes of some other pandemonium took over, leaving it, for now, to take care of the adjourning offices.
Much like the Evergreen, he began with settling linens on furniture, but when he moved to shutting the windows, perhaps there was too much force behind it – one of those ‘not knowing one’s own strength’ moments. Or it was a weakened proportion of glass. Regardless, it immediately shattered – not upon him due to air enchantment reflexes, but everywhere else. It would need to be repaired, replaced, and cleaned up as well. With a long-suffering sigh, and the chill rampaging through, Deimos set back to work.
Talyson managed much better this time, and the dust, debris, and refuse could finally be firmly collected into a future burning pile. He’d be able to make his way over rugs, carpets, and the like with no issue – and could make a choice – assisting either Warden with the adjoining rooms.
As for Evie, she was the most successful out of the group – sheets left to look like ghosts over their wares tucked and hidden beneath, windows shut (without smashing into pieces), and keys accounted for. However, she’d soon find a tiny piece of parchment stuck along one of the desks. What could it be?
--
Deimos accidentally broke a window and has to repair it.
Talyson has managed to sweep without a problem and can go help either Deimos or Evie.
Evie has secured an adjoining room and found a piece of paper! What’s on it? What will she do with it? :D
No post order!
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
Nothing good ever happened in the Palace. This was the foremost thought in Tal's mind and body language as he swept up the dust again, this time careful to keep his attention on the task and on his feet. With the dirt safely deposited in the bin and the broken furniture set neatly out into the hall for carrying out when they were done, Tal had just set aside the broom with a look of doleful satisfaction when the crackle of breaking glass drew his attention sharply to the room Deimos had gone into.
"Go see if she needs help," he called to his former assistants, sending them to aid Evie before he trotted to check on his friend and offer what assistance he could. "Everything okay?" he called to the General, seeing the broken window. Thanks to his Cuff he didn't notice the cold, but a grimace tugged at the corners of his mouth as he saw the glass everywhere, just waiting to cause injury to insult. "Just, uh... don't move."
Snagging his trusty dustpan and broom once again, Tal gave them a look as if daring the implements to make a comment and then started cleaning up the glass off the floor and surfaces. "I didn't even know those could be opened," he mused in surprise.
Tal sends his NPCs to help Evie and checks on Deimos, then starts sweeping up the broken glass!
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
Evie startles at the sound of breaking glass, and hurries out of the room she’s in to find the source. When she sees only Deimos looking disgruntled, she laughs fondly to herself and ducks back away, leaving him to the aftermath of his own ridiculous strength. Though she’s surprised to see a few helpers follow her in her wake, pleased to see as she looks over their shoulders that Tal hadn’t left the Sword the way she had. Shame, the pout was cute.
The task is easier with more hands, and it allows Evie to pay more attention to the details. Like the paper stuck on the side of the desk. She plucks it from the wooden surface, thinking nothing of it as she opens the fold to peruse the contents; assuming it is merely another scrap of information to be sorted into the piles in the main room, and wanting to know which one so she can deposit it.
- - -
The helpers finish draping furniture and Evie opens the paper to read it, assuming it needs to be sorted.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
“It is all right,” Deimos echoed in response to Talyson’s appearance, surveying the damage. Within a moment he’d snagged at his Air enchantments again, pulling at small and large proportions so neither had to risk being lacerated on sharpened edges. Together they managed to grab the pieces, leaving the Sword to simply replace the window. Whether or not the last response by the courier was an implication towards him or anything else, the monolith could only shrug his shoulders. He’d be more careful next time.
And with that, Creation enchantments upheld, and the fibers and veneer were replaced.
Evie’s curiosity and assistance with other workers gave her the opportunity to discover the paper – something outlined in quick writing, as if jotted down rapidly and without a usual distinction of proper print. Perhaps the author had been in a hurry, marking down something seen, noticed, or heard while it was fresh in the mind, or in some hasty pattern, but regardless, some of the words could be measured out in the slants and curlicues (beware the white ones – not worth the risk).
In between all their work, notations, the moving of sheets, furniture, and other arrangements, the trio and their assembled helpers would find their work completed.
--
Deimos and Talyson have cleaned up the glass and replaced the window.
Evie and her workers have finished up and Evie has found a mysterious piece of advice!
It’s a wrap! Feel free to put in some final posts and I’ll close this up! Thank you!
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
Working with Deimos seemed to pull the courier a little out of his gloomy mood. As oppressive as he found the Palace, it was easy to feel safe with the General at hand. With steadier hands the glass was soon dealt with and Tal flashed his friend a brief grin at the shrug. Whether the window had been designed to open or whether Deimos's great strength had opened it regardless didn't really matter in the end. The result was the same either way, and now it was safely replaced.
Looking around the main room and seeing that it was as ready for new occupants as they could make it, Tal chewed his lip. It was a bittersweet thing, and he was worried for Delia...
"Hey, good luck," he offered to Deimos sincerely. "I know you'll do great... again!" He flashed his friend another grin, then shot an unreadable glance over to Evie. In the Grounder woman's presence the Palace walls seem to lean back in, looming and leering with subtle threat in spite of Deimos's protection and Tal shook his head hard, frowning at the floor as he made an inelegantly awkward exit at a quick trot.
And it's my whole heart While tried and tested, it's mine
Evie frowns contemplatively at the words, folding it back up and walking it back to the main room. It earns a spot in the stack of important documents, though she isn’t sure why she labels it that way. As she turns, casting her eyes over all their work, her gaze settles on Tal and Deimos through the open door to the side room, and she watches them finish in tandem.
They’ve done it. The Council Hall has been renewed, and they stand as the Wardens of it.
It’s still strange.
Tal might see a darkening, but Evie only feels the wood beneath her feet and the grit of determination to do what all they can before war is upon them. She waves slightly as he goes, but doesn’t anticipate a response. Then she shuffles out the remaining helpers, shaking hands and murmuring gratitudes, until only she and Deimos remain. Turning, she hauls herself onto a desk to sit and look about the room, and she gives the Sword a tentative smile. “Well…shall we get to work?” Work of another kind, one with a far more pressing deadline.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
Perhaps the dread and consternation grew as the finishing touches were put into place, and he couldn’t help that gnarled knot beginning to forge down the length of his spine again. But he mustered gratitude and acknowledgments to everyone that helped, swallowing down a multitude of misgivings. “Thank you,” extended to Talyson for a variety of reasons – other things could disperse and be figured out later.
The present loomed, maybe even larger than the incoming future.
His eyes flickered back over their work, before sliding towards Evie; the tentative eaves of a smile mustered along his mouth too, but never quite reaching his gaze. “We shall.”
{FIN}
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
