#fanciful fae

(Note: This is for the wonderful @fanciful-fae! A little gifted snippet based on their two part rain comics with their courier Juno and Joshua Graham. Also wanna thank her for helping with Juno's dialogue and reactions. Can't wait to see your side of the trade and happy to have stuff to do as always!)

Faye, had sensed the rain coming for a while, and excitedly made preparations. She'd been out of it for a few days since their latest arrival, Juno, made her appearance in Zion. So she did hope to meet them now that she was finally energized enough to interact again. Firstly though, Faye had a ritual to complete for the hell of it but also due to minor nostalgia from her childhood. Her clothing for the day resembled those of the tribes in the area, only with a Nordic twist. Very much matching her identity as a witch. Once set up, she brought her rattle staff with her. Partly to protect herself in case anything did happen, but also to better suit the ritual. She then began to dance around in the rain after a time, singing out sounds that held no real meaning to anyone but herself. Following the pathing of the lower valley whilst her trusty canine companion Brun chose to come along.

Joshua heard her before too long whilst waiting with Juno. Glad though he was about her being well again, he couldn't help but be concerned about her deciding to run around in the rain. She may not have been sick before, simply drained of energy, but Faye would fall ill if she stayed out in that storm too long. Not to mention, Joshua knew she had a fear or particularly severe storms. Which this little storm was slowly becoming overtime. Whilst he didn't expect the rain to last the whole night, he wasn't going to voice that idea aloud. He learned the hard way a long time ago why nobody ever says things could be worse aloud.

Faye then danced her way in front of the small cave he'd held up in with Juno. Still enjoying herself whilst Brun came over into the cave with them. Giving Joshua and excited, heavy sounding bark and shaking off the rainwater clinging to her fur. Much to Joshua and Juno's amusement, neither could bring themselves to be even remotely annoyed.

Juno readily began petting the giant mutt. Not caring how wet they were, "Awww who's a big sweetheart? Big ol' baby?"

Brun then flopped onto her side, showing off her floofy belly eager for rubs. Whilst Juno happily obliged her, Joshua settled for scritching behind her ears, "Very spoiled big baby too.", he muttered jokingly.

"Don't be mean to the pupper.", Juno replied in much the same tone with exaggerated annoyance.

To which Joshua simply shook his head, "I never said I didn't contribute to the spoiling. Admittedly, I was among many boys way back when who badly wanted a puppy. If anything I've been living vicariously through this puppy brained goober."

"Goober?"

"Yes, a goober. A big and adorable, fluffy one but a goober nonetheless.", Joshua retorted with a cross of his arms whilst Brun suddenly hopped onto his back, "Gah! I rest my case."

Juno chuckled at the sight before glancing at Faye some more. Her dancing wasn't the most graceful, certainly playful though. Her clothing choice suggested a ritual, and she wondered if perhaps this was a normal thing out here. Dancing in the rain when it deigns to come. Once Joshua finally got Brun off of him, having gently wrestled her onto the ground next to him, he began watching as well. Seeing her dance was always a delight for him. Juno actually noticed Faye's eyes glowing golden in the overcast darkness outside after long enough and went to ask Joshua about it, only to see something she didn't expect. His eyes held a certain look she knew all too well by now. His body was also more relaxed than usual. Eventually, Faye then hurried over when the song ended.

"Hey there. First time I've seen you hiding from me.", she said in an accent Juno couldn't quite place. Midwestern and southern flipping back and forth seemingly with each word.

"Not hiding from you.", Joshua was quick to say, suddenly seeming the tiniest bit nervous, "Just trying to stay out of the rain."

"Hmm I can tell.", Faye replied a bit skeptical before looking to Juno, "This our latest friend I've been hearing about?"

To which Joshua nodded, "That she is Faye.", finally he could focus on business and not her teasing, "She's been quite helpful in just the past few days alone."

"Name's Juno Connolly.", The redheaded Courier said, rising from her place on the ground to offer a handshake to Faye, "I'd come here to do a job with the Happy Trails Caravan but we got ambushed. Not I've been roped into helping Daniel and Joshua."

Faye smiled warmly though her eyes held a dim sadness slightly. Even their golden glow in the cave's darkness couldn't hide that, "I am sorry for what happened to those people. I'd actually met Jed once some odd years ago, he was a good man. That said I'm glad we have extra hands around here."

Wait...I've never told anyone his name. Not even Joshua. Even if she does know Jed...how the fuck did she know he was even here at all? Did she...see his body or something? Wait no...she's been unwell lately. Joshua told me that much. And what's with her eyes glowing like that? She's not a ghoul or suffering from radiation is she? Agh this is giving me a headache, I'd better stop. And I thought wrapping my head around Joshua somehow knowing I'm a Courier was annoying. Anybody can wear what I do, scavenging is common.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a tender, surprisingly warm hand upon the bullet scar. Faye's expression had changed again, this time to something more readable, concern, "You alright there sugar? Bit too much rain perhaps? Done that before."

Joshua, who'd been mostly silent and for whatever reason actively avoiding looking at Faye directly, spoke up finally, "Juno has mentioned headaches occasionally. Which as someone with five recorded kill shots on my own head, sounds about right."

Faye nodded, "That it does darling.", the little woman then flashed him a grin Juno recognized readily. The kind a woman only gives a man she's interested in, or perhaps she was simply going to be messing with him, "Also you've seen me in this little get up before Graham, seen me drenched too. Hell you looking away like that for?"

Joshua jolted in response, suddenly rigid before practically stammering out, "D-d-d- I- Yes I-I have. Your point?", he still made a point to keep his eyes off her though.

Faye snickered at him, "Sugar you keep looking askance like that and folks'll get the wrong idea."

"Ngh.", was the only sound he could manage at first in momentary shock as Faye laughed harder. Which seemed to annoy the man a touch, "If anyone's getting the wrong idea it's you.", he even pointed at her in emphasis.

Faye snickered again, softening before grasping the hand pointing at her, "Darling, I've been alive longer than most anyone here. I don't think I'm missing anything, besides you know I'm just teasing you, right?"

"Yeah in front of other people!", Joshua retorted as his true amount of absolute embarrassment revealed itself, "You usually save it for...", then he trailed off and Juno could swear he somehow looked redder behind those bandages now, "...when we're alone."

He'd muttered that last part out, clearly not wanting to be heard. Not that it stopped either woman from noticing. Faye certainly did, "Aww, you want quality time that badly?"

"Would you stop it?", he suddenly said pulling his hand from hers, "Besides, if you're so worried for Juno why not stay focused on her for now?"

Hardest deflection I have ever seen a man give. From the Burned Man no less. Man, Jed you are missing out. Juno just couldn't help herself at this point, "So...this your wife? Lover?"

Faye snorted as Joshua gave Juno another look of shock before ultimately saying, "Neither. She is neither! Faye and I are just close is all.", he then looked at Faye almost pleadingly. There was definitely something going on here.

In response to the man's puppy eyes, Faye finally showed some mercy, some, "Alright alright, let's not break the poor man. Besides, how can a woman say no to eyes like that?"

Joshua groaned at her before asking Faye, "Just tell me how close your cave is Faye."

"That won't save you from me but sure. Just around the bend up that way over yonder and after the turn you keep going til you find Pine Creek Tunnel. Cave is over there.", Faye explained, her accent dipping into southern hard at certain spots though the midwestern still shone through.

Juno just had to ask at this point, "Don't often hear that accent out where I'm from. You from the east? South?"

"In my day people used to argue over whether we were midwestern or southern. No one could quite agree. Then again, that's what you get being smack dab in the middle of the U.S. I'd reckon.", Faye jokingly stated before Joshua gave her a gentle nudge and gestured for her to say more on the subject. To which Faye gave him a silent nod, "Though if you must know the full details, I'm from Oklahoma. The state where we butcher everything, including our accents. Hmhmhm."

U.S.? State? In my day? Just how old is this lady? And wait I almost forgot. "That dance by the way. Do you do that to summon the rain? Mind teaching me so I can do that back in the Mojave?"

Faye smiled before stepping outside with Joshua. The rains would harden very soon, so the sooner they reached her cave the better. Juno following close behind them in silent agreement to the unspoken plan before Faye answered, "That little bit there was more nostalgia than anything else. Used to do this as a youngin with my sister.", her tone held the slightest bit of sorrow to it, so Juno felt that subject was best left alone.

Friendliest people often have the saddest stories, and the happiest are often the most pained.

Faye's cave once they reached it, looked as cozy as cozy gets for what it was. Brun was already in there, napping on a makeshift bed. She was mostly dry, so Juno figured the big mutt somehow slipped out before anyone else did. Inside a much smaller cave to the side, was a sleipnir by the sound of it. The off sounding whinnies giving the animal away. Faye promised Juno that she'd introduce them once the rain had died down. In the meantime she made some tea from a personal blend for headaches. Juno insisted she was fine, but Faye did just the same. Stating how she needed some herself now anyway with the air pressure around them. She also tried to cook for them, but relented on letting Juno and Joshua help her. Joshua knew her recipes almost by heart now and Faye could readily recognize the look Juno was giving her during that exchange. Faye had given the same one to Joshua numerous times when wanting to help him to avoid coming off as a burden. Eventually, Juno fell asleep later after dinner. Belly full for once and warm under the covers Faye provided.

Only then did Joshua seem to get braver. Wrapping his arms around Faye's waist, "We're starting to press our luck Faye."

"I sense no ill intent from her, didn't catch anything too bad in her mind either.", Faye assured him, leaning backwards into his chest, "Do you consider her a friend?"

"I do, but my point stands. We both have enemies Faye, people who want us dead or possibly worse.", Joshua said firmly, pressing his face into her hair protectively, "I don't want to lose anyone else. I won't."

Juno did in fact hear his sudden growl, alongside bits and pieces of the rest. She kept her eyes closed despite being awake, listening intently to the two. Not everyday she was proven right about something softer in people. Usually she'd be right about worse things than this. So she'd listen in on the adorable soap opera. Always was a light sleeper anyway.

"I know.", Faye said softly before turning around to face him. Cupping his cheek gently she whispered, "I don't wanna lose you either."

Joshua leaned into her touch, eyelids fluttering in euphoria before asking, "That said, have you thought about what I proposed before?"

"I'm still uncertain Joshua.", she admitted quickly, "All the risks involved, who knows what'd happen. I've given my blood to older people, yes. However I have not seen the results."

"I've listened to Altermann's holotapes Faye, his research, unethical and cruel as it was, has only strengthened my resolve.", he replied passionately whilst cupping her face as well, "I have an inkling of what awaits me. Altermann believed that the genetics of the mutation would in fact reverse aging in older subjects. Even tested it on rats, bless the poor things."

"Those are theories at best Joshua. Rats aren't humans either.", Faye warned gently.

"Faye, you told me yourself of whay that monster once informed you of. How you and he both had separate prototypes running through your respective veins.", Joshua insisted, "I'm not a scientist, never claimed to be. But I can read between the lines of what people say most of the time. A man like Altermann is easier to read than you might think."

"Dangerous trap that sort of thinking.", Faye replied softly, unconvinced.

"Faye.", Joshua damn near begged out before sighing, "I know it's a theory, but it's better than nothing. With it, there's hope that things will go fine. I certainly have faith that they will. Not in the man himself, but in you. You have more strength and power than any psyker alive today. I trust you with my life and my heart."

Faye sighed herself as well, then hugged him tightly, "I love you, but I still-"

"I know. I just- Forgive me I wasn't meaning to pressure you. I only want you to know that I'm ready when you are."

"What about your family Joshua? They're waiting for you aren't they? I can't keep you from them."

Joshua held her tighter at that, "In my mind, you're already family. That's how much I love you. So no, you're not keeping me from anyone. Besides, I'm a psyker and medium as you are. Just not as capable."

Faye laughed softly, "That you proposing to me?"

To which Joshua chuckled whilst pressing his face to hers, "I'll say this much, once this is over. When the threat of the White Legs is finished, I'll propose properly. If anything, I'm giving you a promise."

"Guessing you want my answer to that later then?", Faye asked regaining a slight mischievousness to her tone.

Joshua simply lowered the bandages around his mouth, "Who says I don't already know?"