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!
Phoebe was making a real effort to get things settled in the house as quickly as possible. Already she had moved Jude once from Torchline to the Greatwood, and now again to the refuge to protect him from the war. Meanwhile his father and step-mother stayed outside to fight. Nothing would be familiar or normal for awhile - perhaps ever again - and all she could do was her best to make things comfortable.
Plus keeping herself busy kept her own nerves at bay.
For the time being though she was working on making supper. Subconsciously she made the stew she had always made for Harper, hearty and comforting, pouring over the stove while Jude unpacked his things.
Phoebe
bloom with grace
Code blatantly stolen from the fantastical, wonderful Odd
Jude has had it explained to him insufficiently four times over; from Maeve, Harper, Phoebe, and Edmund. None of the answers and explanations stood a chance of convincing him that this was necessary. War is a vague, if terrifying concept, yes. But he has already moved so much, already had so much of his life change, and the idea of not being able to see half his family is terrifying in a way Jude has never experienced before.
He doesn't like it, this feeling of fear, formless as it is. Being scared of shadows and monsters and strange noises are all familiar, but there was always a root to that fear; something seen from the corner of his eye, or heard in the middle of the night. War is not something he can point a finger at.
He is unpacking dutifully, but even that does not last forever, and eventually he quietly exits his new - again - room and uncertainly moves towards his mother. Everything is changed, and now he doesn't even know how to act. "All done mom," he says quietly at her elbow, listless.
Phoebe hears his quiet footsteps as he leaves his room, hears them as he approaches and then stops. He was not himself, this she knew deep down. But there was nothing she could do to help assuage his fears and hurts this time. No monster spray, no night light, nothing could touch the sort of vacuous fear that war and instability gave.
But she turned as he spoke and she smiled at him warmly. "You're so quick!" she praised, ruffling his hair. The world might be different, but the least she could do was be the same, something familiar he can cling to in this temporary home. "Are you hungry, sweetheart? Supper will be done soon."
Phoebe
bloom with grace
Code blatantly stolen from the fantastical, wonderful Odd
His smile is wan and unenthusiastic, but at least it is present, and he leans his head into his mother's hand as it ruffles his hair. The curls always spring back regardless of how heavy a hand is used. "It's a nice room," he says, trying to find a bright spot in this dark time. It's not, really, and it's the closest thing to a lie Jude has ever spoken. It's nice in terms of construction and size, so it's not a full lie, but it's not nice to him.
Making a noncommittal hum at her question, he shrugs his shoulders a little. "Not really, but I can eat. What is it?" He peers upward at the pot, unable to see inside. Maeve usually has him help chop and prepare the meals, but it's clear it's already nearly done.
It breaks her heart to see him so unlike his usual, joyful self. His smile makes her own falter ever so slightly, and his noncommital response only makes it worse. Her baby was hurting, but there was nothing she could do about it. "I know it isn't home. But this is only temporary." she said softly, bending at the waist to kiss his head.
That he wasn't hungry was also worrisome. He was a growing boy. They were always hungry. She stepped away from the stove and grabbed a chair, pulling it over so he could stand on it. "I'm making stew. It was your father's favorite thing that I would make." Phoebe said with a small smile. She couldn't bring his father to him, but she could do this.
Phoebe
bloom with grace
Code blatantly stolen from the fantastical, wonderful Odd
Jude tries to summon a smile for her, old enough already to know she’s worried for him and to tru and rectify it however he can. “I know,” he murmurs, “I just miss daddy and maman. And it’s weird to not have Edmund here.” But despite how gracefully Phoebe and Harper have handled their separation, Jude knows this is a fraught topic, so he shrugs his shoulders awkwardly and tries to move on soon after. “But there’s a lot of kids here, maybe I can play with them?” He’s not much in the mood to play, but he will do whatever he can to make his mother less worried for him. Even pretending to have fun. He’s a sensitive person, and it’s more apparent now than ever before.
Brightening just a little as she pulls over the chair, Jude climbs onto it with far more grace than a child his age should; Harper has been teaching him gymnastics since he aged, and it has been majorly helpful in cultivating his sense of balance. “What’s in it? Can I help or is it done?” It’s too late to go out and play now, but Jude is restless with anxiety; he’s not looking forward to going to bed not long after eating this.
It hurt her heart that her son was missing his second family. And though it might not have been his maman's preference, she could think of something that might help. "Why don't you invite Edmund to stay here? Would you like that?" she said, more than willing to open her own to another child, even if she didn't get along with his mother. If it would make Jude happy, then she was happy.
"There's beef and lots of vegetables." she said. He would see the chunks of meat, potatoes, and carrots in the brown liquid, and even a few peas and kernels of corn. "It still needs to thicken up, but we don't want the bottom to burn. Why don't you take a turn at stirring it?" she said, offering him the wooden spoon. The Nightingale wasn't used to men cooking and hadn't thought to pull Jude into the process. But she would keep in mind going forward that he had an interest in it now.
Phoebe
bloom with grace
Code blatantly stolen from the fantastical, wonderful Odd
