▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 12, 2021 13:36:31 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 12, 2021 13:36:31 GMT -5
Mars attempted to do what Charlie was telling him, but well, having one hand to milk a cow wasn't exactly easy, but well, it was sort of a teamwork thing, right? At least Charlie seemed to enjoy this. Frankly, it just made the man realize he enjoyed his own life away from doing things like milking cows. Yep, he was definitely a sea over land kind of person, that was for sure.
"Well soon you'll be old enough to go to school, right?" he offered, "you'll probably meet a lot of cool friends at school? I know I did back when I was a kid...but school in Maline is probably different from here."
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Feb 12, 2021 14:00:35 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 12, 2021 14:00:35 GMT -5
"Yeah, Ma says I can go next year," he said, moving aside the bucket as they finished the milking. "It's a small school, though, since it's a tiny village. It's a one room schoolhouse, so I'll have to be with all the older kids."
Charlie seemed pretty rehearsed at his chores, lugging the milk bucket back into the kitchen and straining in into glass bottles. Elise had gotten the fire started again, as the sun was setting and it was still cold at night. She was sitting at the table, knitting what looked like a scarf, as the two returned.
Dinner that night was quiet, Elise preoccupied in thought and Charlie preoccupied with shoveling his food into his mouth. After they had cleaned up, they relocated to the living room, where Charlie played with his wooden train toys while Elise cleaned and re-bandaged Mars's wound with a gentle touch, her features cast into pleasant hues by the firelight.
"So Mars- where's the most memorable place you've traveled to?" She asked as they sat on the couch, picking up her knitting again.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 13, 2021 12:50:45 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 13, 2021 12:50:45 GMT -5
He laughed. "That sounds great," he ruffled the boy's hair, as they headed back inside. The rest of the day was uneventful, and it was nice to have a break. It seemed like he was healing well despite the severity of the injury; the wound didn't look nearly as red and swollen as it did a couple of days ago, and as much as it still ached to laugh or to sit up, it was slowly becoming less of a pain to do so.
He was watching Elise work when she asked the question. Oh how he loved to talk about his adventures.
"To be honest, it's hard to choose," he mused, "if you go up the Maline coast up to Guivre, there are nights when the sun never leaves the sky, and they have what they call the eternal storm in the winters...but when the skies are clear, some days you can see magic in the sky. Like...real visible magic....they glow in green and purples across the sky."
His expression was wistful as he spoke, and he turned back to Elise. "There's also Kama. I've never been inland, but I've seen their coast from afar. It's nearly impossible to sail past some of their small islands, but it's like a forest that never ends. I hear the locals say that the forest isn't really a forest, it's just one giant tree that grows wide instead of tall. I don't know if that's true, but it certainly does seem magical. I'd love to explore the inlands one day."
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Feb 13, 2021 14:25:03 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 13, 2021 14:25:03 GMT -5
"They both sound lovely- though I'd rather visit Guivre. Kama sounds so... wild. More so than snowy storms." Elise had lived a life where she knew what to expect, where things were more clearly defined. Kama sounded beautiful, but dangerous, and entirely alien to her.
Still, she would go anywhere at the moment. Ten years in the same spot after her happy and prosperous time as a teenager took its toll. She set aside her knitting as Charlie clambered up onto the couch, wiggling into her arms and settling with his black curls on her shoulder. At least she had him, and at least he was at an age where he was not ashamed of cuddling.
"I would go to Kama," Charlie told Mars in a voice heavy with drowsiness. "I'd be a forest man... and fight all the big snakes... and ride a jaguar," he finished, eyes fluttering shut. "And be a famous jungle man." It didn't take long for the gentle snoring to start. Elise smiled, kissing the smooth skin of his forehead.
"You mentioned your father died fighting the kraken when you told the story to Charlie," she said, in a quieter voice as to not wake her son. "What about your mother? Did you know her?"
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 13, 2021 18:47:22 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 13, 2021 18:47:22 GMT -5
Mars grinned. "You'd make an excellent forest man I'm sure," he chuckled, "they say that the leader of them all is a mysterious forest man too. Maybe one day, you'll meet him!"
The child didn't take long to fall asleep, and then it was the two of them again.
He smiled softly at Elise. "She's still alive," he replied quietly, "she lives in a small town...not far from Mykos actually. I visit once in a while when I can but...being a sailor, you don't often get any breaks I'm afraid."
His expression turned serious. "I know you and your father....don't speak, but did you have any other family?"
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Feb 13, 2021 21:13:47 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 13, 2021 21:13:47 GMT -5
"My mother, but she's sick and doesn't get out to visit much these days- not that she came much before she was sick, but at least it was more often than my father. An uncle and a few cousins, but they were told I went off to college. I haven't been in contact with them since."
It was lonely out here, as isolated as she was by her conditions. As few people as possible from her old life knew about her pregnancy and Charlie, and those here in the village did not know her past. Elise often felt caught between the two worlds, outcast from either of them.
"What about your sailing crew? Do you have a lot of coworkers- or a partner? Romantic or strictly business?" She grinned as she spoke, absently stroking Charlie's hair. Elise had been an avid matchmaker and romantic in her teenage years, but that all seemed to distant for her now. If she were even permitted to date in the first plate, her partner had to accept a single woman with a child, and many middle and upper class men in Lacaille would not do that for fear of sullying their reputation.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 14, 2021 11:37:51 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 14, 2021 11:37:51 GMT -5
He nodded. It seemed as if they both grew up distanced from their family. It was definitely something he could empathise with.
Still, she asked another question and he almost laughed. "Mm, my crew isn't the biggest, but we have a couple of good guys, I've known a bunch of them since we were younger." He shrugged. "No romantic relationships at all, but we're like brothers I guess. A lot of them were the same crew we fought the Kraken with. Guess that's why we named our ship that."
He smiled at her, his next question was a bit intrusive he knew, but if she could ask him about this, he wanted to do the same. "Have you ever thought about finding someone else or have you ever liked anyone else? I know your situation hasn't allowed it much but...have you ever considered it?"
Mars wanted to know what her dreams really were outside of this situation, after all.
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Feb 14, 2021 13:26:23 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 14, 2021 13:26:23 GMT -5
Elise considered the question, a faint smile on her soft features from the Kraken quip. After a moment she cleared her throat, shifting Charlie in her arms as she spoke. "I've considered it, briefly. It just... it's all more complicated now. I dated around a bit in high school and shortly after, but those were casual relationships. I was young, and wanted to have fun. And then with Lord Wharton, he was richer and older than my boyfriends, and he thought I was youthful and pretty and entertaining."
Her eyes closed, remembering the fling of years past. "It was flattering, to travel on the arm of a powerful man. Still, there was little substance to our relationship. And I haven't dated since the pregnancy- and now I'm a mother. I can't exactly have the same fun, casual relationships. I don't want to bring anyone into Charlie's life who might up and leave him, and me."
"Sorry, I know I'm rambling a bit," Elise said with a smile. "The long and short of it is that I'm open to it, but my first and foremost responsibility is to my son. It's a lot to ask a man to step into a father role for a child who isn't his, and most men in Lacaille wouldn't do it. So unless I take you up on your offer and relocate somewhere more open-minded, I don't really expect it. I don't mind- if it happens, it happens."
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 14, 2021 15:55:11 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 14, 2021 15:55:11 GMT -5
His expression softened. "I see," he nodded, "I can understand that; it's just a shame how the rich and powerful always have such...power to decide what's out there and what needs to be hidden." It truly didn't seem fair how much her life seemed dictated by a man she barely knew. He wanted to persuade her to leave–anywhere else seemed better than here–but he knew his ideas would not persuade her any further than it already had. She'd need time for all of this.
"Well I'll have you know there are definitely places out there that are more open and free than Lacaille is," he chuckled, "I might be biased since I'm not from here but there are always places that'll accept you. Trust me on that."
He chuckled, leaning back. "What's your favourite food?" he asked with a smile, trying to lighten the mood a little, "considering how great of a cook you are, there must be something you love to eat."
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Feb 14, 2021 17:44:20 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 14, 2021 17:44:20 GMT -5
Elise smiled in return, appreciating the attempt to restore the conversation to a less heavy topic. "I'll tell you the answer when I get back from putting him to bed." She stood, shifting to hold Charlie more securely, and starting off upstairs.
When she returned, she sank back onto the couch, picking up her knitting once more. "Probably chicken pot pie- it's a hearty country dish, and the mix of veggies and chicken is delicious. What about you? I bet you've eaten a lot of interesting food."
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 14, 2021 18:52:11 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 14, 2021 18:52:11 GMT -5
He nodded, waiting for her to drop Charlie off into bed, before returning.
Chicken pot pie huh? He had tried it once or twice in the markets of Lacaille, and he could remember it being an excellent meal on a cold day–a steaming dish of crust and filling made any cold day a little less miserable, that was for sure. "I bet you have a secret recipe for that," he joked, "but I've only had the ones in the marketplaces. They were tasty, that's for sure."
He thought about his own favourite meal. "Seafood paella maybe," he grinned, "they make excellent paella back in Mesa, you'd love it I'm sure...that's if you like fish and shellfish. Honestly, when they're making it at the markets you can smell it a mile away. It's probably Maline's signature food if I'm honest, besides grilled fish and octopus."
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Feb 15, 2021 10:54:11 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 15, 2021 10:54:11 GMT -5
"I had some seafood in Vela, since it's on the shore," Elise said. "I've always liked it. I haven't had paella before though, so I'll have to try it someday."
They talked about other inconsequential topics- more sailing adventures, the judgmental attitudes of the farm wives in the area- by firelight for a while more, before Elise tapped out, giving Mars another grin before heading off to bed.
The next few days were much the same- fairly wholesome, with family meals, farm chores, trips to the market. Elise checked Mars's wound regularly, declaring it was healing well. Mars learned a few more things about Elise- her hatred for bugs, the fact that she was not a noble but merely came from a very rich merchant family, and her deep love for sunsets and the evening hours. Charlie had no end of stories and games he made Mars play.
It seemed that anyone hunting Mars down wasn't succeeding, until a few evenings later. Charlie was upstairs playing in his room while Elise and Mars were preparing dinner. She sent him out to the cellar around the side of the house to grab some extra potatoes, but it was no loner just Elise in the kitchen.
"There you are," said one of the two hired thugs, grinning through yellow and broken teeth. His arm was draped over Elise's shoulders, and she stood stiffly by the counter, fear making her body taut. "We finally found out where you were hiding- and we learned what a pretty accomplice you have. I'm sure we'll be paid extra for bringing you both in."
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 15, 2021 11:34:47 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 15, 2021 11:34:47 GMT -5
How the men had found him, Mars had no idea, but they would regret doing just that. Dropping the potatoes slowly on the kitchen table, he held his hand up as if to surrender, but his eyes turned to the boiling pot of water behind them, and immediately, the pot tipped, hot water splashing against the man's back as he snarled in pain, letting go of Elise.
Fuck. He needed to get out of here. "Go get Charlie," he shouted to the woman, "I'll distract them."
Immediately, the water drew forward, and he moved, using both the water and his leg aimed at the man's knee to put him off balance, drawing the rest of the heated water into what seemed like a limb–more octopus than human really–wincing at the heat before using the said water to pin the men's clothes to the ground. As they were distracted, he raced to the sink. He'd need fill up some before he left, or they'd be powerless on their journey to the docks.
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Feb 15, 2021 11:45:35 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 15, 2021 11:45:35 GMT -5
There was no need to grab Charlie- he flew down the stairs, drawn by the commotion and the unfamiliar voices. Elise moved to run to him, but one of the men pinned by the water reached out to grab her ankle, and she tripped, slamming into the edge of the table. She cried out as she fell, more from shock than any real pain, but it was enough to set Charlie off.
"Don't touch my Ma!" He yelled, clenching his fists. He lunged at the man, making contact with his shoulder, and several black shadows extended from his small forearm, wrapping themselves around the man's throat. Elise stared for a moment, taken aback by the power emanating from her son. Elise herself had never manifested any powers, and had expected the same from Charlie. But he seemed... strong, too strong for such a young boy.
The man screamed, straining against the water and the shadows. His hand reached for a knife that had fallen on the floor, and suddenly Elise was livid. He would not lay a finger on her boy. She sprang forward, grabbing the knife and slamming it into the man's palm, pinning it to the floor as he screamed again.
"Charlie, we have to go," she said, wrenching him away. The fury in his eyes died, replaced by the normal fear and confusion of a startled child. Elise gathered him in her arms, kissing his cheeks, before turning to Mars. "We have to go. They said there were more of them heading this way. The horse and buggy are in the barn."
She grabbed the small bag of coins she had dropped on the counter after her visit to the market. There was no time to take anything else- not even clothes, or Charlie's toys. She pulled a subdued Charlie along by the hand, out to the barn where the horses waited.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 15, 2021 12:03:30 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 15, 2021 12:03:30 GMT -5
Frey, the boy was a dark fairy, wasn't he? Mars blinked in surprise at the way the child's power seemed to hold the men down, as if they were nothing. Shit. He reminded himself not to mess with the kid. He rarely saw a dark fairy actually work, but that just seemed little bit terrifying. Quickly capping the water bag of his, he splattered water onto the men before freezing them to the ground. Even if they could get out, it'd buy them a little bit of time.
Slinging the bag across his shoulder and grabbing a cloak hanging from the door, he ran after the two. Immediately sitting at the front of the buggy, fastening the cloak over himself in order to hide his missing arm, a dead giveaway for his identity.
"You good?" he asked Elise, concern written all over his face as the horses began to move. He turned to the road. "We need to get through the forest and instead of turning left towards the dock, go down the other road on the right. It's a dead end but as long as we go down that road, we'll be fine."
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Feb 15, 2021 12:24:19 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 15, 2021 12:24:19 GMT -5
"I'm okay," Elise said quietly, turning to watch the lights of her home fade behind her as they drove away. She too had donned a cloak- a dirty traveling one from the barn, but better than nothing. Charlie was tucked against her side, apparently drained from the experience and mute from fright.
This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. She was supposed to have more time to decide, and to pack up their things, to plan. She wasn't supposed to flee from her house in the cover of darkness, with nothing but the clothes on their back and a small sum of money in her pocket.
And why? Why had those men hunted down Mars? If he had just been jumped like he'd told her, it didn't make sense for them to track him down. "Who are you?" She asked, bewildered, as she turned away from the receding farmhouse. "Why are they after you?"
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 15, 2021 12:41:20 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 15, 2021 12:41:20 GMT -5
Fucking Bradley. He knew that guy was a piece of shit, but somehow, he was certain it was that guy's fault. After the last little...argument, he knew the man had it out for him, and well, the asshole had been working for Lord Wharton. Why was it the dark fairies that had a reputation for being sneaky when Light Fairies seemed worse?
"I told you who I am, but let's just say I pissed a couple of powerful people off," he replied, trying to keep it as simple as he could, "certain...merchants around the bay profit a lot off our people in Maline and drive the prices up and well, let's just say I like balancing things out and if I can earn a bit of money doing it, I don't mind stealing from the rich."
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Feb 15, 2021 12:53:07 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 15, 2021 12:53:07 GMT -5
"Excellent," Elise said sourly, trying to control her anger. "So you got caught stealing, came to my house, neglected to tell me about the men pursuing you, put myself and my son in danger, and then forced us to flee the only home Charlie's ever known with nothing to eat and not even a change of clothes. That's wonderful."
She wanted to smack Mars upside the head, but Charlie was upset enough as it is, so she reined her fury into a fierce kind of sarcasm. Elise didn't really care that Mars upset rich people, but the fact that it drew her and Charlie into it was unacceptable.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Feb 15, 2021 13:14:45 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Feb 15, 2021 13:14:45 GMT -5
"To be fair, this time it wasn't because I stole something as much as...I humiliated a guy who now has a grudge against me," he grumbled, "and to be completely fair, he was a disgusting little man who was harassing another girl so..."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I didn't think they'd actually chase after me like this, all right?" he sighed, "and I doubt they'll come looking for you after I'm gone. All you need to really do is lay low for a bit and once everything's calm, you can go back. Just say you and Charlie went on a vacation or something."
He turned to Elise. "–and if you're worried about food and clothing, we'll stop by Maline as soon as we can and I'll get you what you need, all on me, okay?" He wasn't exactly rich per se, but he was certainly comfortable.
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Feb 15, 2021 13:53:58 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Feb 15, 2021 13:53:58 GMT -5
"Alright," Elise said, lapsing into a silence. As annoyed as she was, she was also tired and confused and frightened, and she didn't have the energy to fight right now.
After a while, Charlie stirred. "Where are we going, Ma?" He asked in a quiet voice, looking out from under her cloak.
"We're on an adventure, love," she said, forcing herself to smile down at him. "Just like the books we read. We got away from the bad guys and we're going to go sailing on Mars's ship! Doesn't that sound fun?"
Charlie's thumb popped into his mouth, an old habit he hadn't quite outgrown. "A little. Are we almost there?" He asked Mars, turning to look at the man with curious eyes. Elise was thankful children were so adaptable, and that they had escaped unscathed, otherwise Charlie would not have taken this so lightly.
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