Night falls. The sound of the symphony swells and fills the air in Gridania with brilliance. Tonight is their final performance of scores dedicated to the renewal of life that Spring brings every year. The amphitheatre is packed, happy faces glowing in the soft lamplight strung overhead inside lanterns of bright paper. Flowers bloom along the edges of the theatre, giving off a sweet scent. The audience waits and no one is disappointed when the spectacle begins.
Dancers dressed in elegant silks and flowing airy fabrics parade across the stage, the dance of the trees and newborn flowers alive in the graceful motion of their limbs. Clowns tumble down the aisles before the performance and during the intermission, entertaining the crowd with their sleight of hand tricks and astounding agility. At the end of the night, the performers take their bows, absorb the applause and hollers with pride in what they’ve done. A grand finale given and no one can argue that.
Tonight was the perfect night.
Seviere was alone. He packed his things, sent a message off on his tomestone and stuffed that in his bag too. There was no escort tonight. A rare thing to occur, but it filled Maverick’s heart. Tonight, he wasn’t going to lose anything. Louvel was.
The paths through Gridania proper are winding and filled with people. Maverick keeps his distance. They always walk the same way, use the same gate. This isn’t unusual in the least. No one pays them any mind.
“Sevi?” Maverick calls the bard’s name once outside the city proper and down the road a ways, well out of sight of the Wood Wailers guarding the gates. No one else was on the roadway here. Just him and Seviere. Maverick exhales a breath, Twelve, but he was lovely.
Black and white eyes flash in the light of the lamp illuminating the road. Eyebrows dip together curiously and Seviere slows his step to let Maverick catch up. The warm smile and nod of his head warms Maverick’s heart.
They walk and Maverick talks. Seviere smiles and nods his answers, but he utters not one word to the clown. This fact pricks at Maverick. They’ve known each other for a while, performed together in countless productions, and he wants to hear Seviere’s sweet tones directed at him, for him. Like Louvel gets. Maverick gets nothing.
They pass through Treespeak. Maverick buys them a drink from one of the vendors there. A bit of powder stored in his ornate ring is sprinkled into the drink, and he gives it a quick stir with the straw before handing it off to Seviere waiting a few steps away. A smile, a nod and the bard takes the drink. Maverick returns the smile and they continue walking home.
When the path splits, Maverick bids Seviere a good night, bowing his head to him. His route will take him north toward Hyrtsmill while the bard went further west through Fallgourd Float. Neither of them make their intended destinations.
Maverick finds Seviere collapsed on the road side next to a tree he likely clung to while the drug took effect. A quarter hour has passed since they parted ways, long enough for Maverick to collect the chocobo he hid in the woods nearby. He’s careful. Hoisting the taller man onto the back of the chocobo and then sweeping away any signs of them being there. No remnants of chocobo prints or Seviere or himself. The bard’s footprints simply end among the myriad of other footprints that scar up the roadway here.
The way through the forest is slow. Maverick constantly checks to ensure he’s left no path to follow. No prints, no bits of stray hair or clothing. No chocobo feathers or shit. The only thing he leaves behind is Seviere’s lute leaning against the tree where the bard had collapsed. Strategically placed with obvious purpose.
The bard’s tomestone goes off and Maverick digs it out of his satchel. He taps at it, then leans over to use Seviere’s thumbprint to unlock it. There we go. Very nice. Oh, my. He flips through the string of pictures on the tomestone. Good to know his bard has a naughty streak. He tips the stone, squinting at the next image. Slate skin, bright eyes, and a wicked smile. Alright, he can see why Seviere likes that. Half dressed like this, there’s no way he can deny Louvel’s good looks.
A sigh escapes him, and he flips through the tomestone to turn off certain features. Wouldn’t do to have Seviere’s piece of meat find them too soon. He alters the lock feature as well, making sure he could access the tomestone later without needing Seviere’s print.
The forest grows more sparse, snow falls around them, making his ability to erase the path a bit harder. Still he sweeps and trusts the endless snowfall of Coerthas to cover up what is left behind. Kind of the weather to oblige him in this way. The path continues, through the snow and soon back south into the rocky environment of Mor Dhona. He skirts the town and finds the little used pathway that leads to the house waiting for them. The Tangle does such a nice job of hiding this place.
Maverick settles Seviere into his new home, then sees to his chocobo. The bird’s earned a heaping helping of food and comfy bedding, along with a pair of apples for a treat. Once sure the chocobo was comfortable, Maverick returns to the house. The trip there takes a while. Night has passed, and most of the following day. There’s one thing he needs to do before he finds some rest for himself. The drugs in Seviere’s system would hold the bard under for a few more hours.
The tomestone lifts and the flash brightens the image before him, searing it into the memory of the aetherical tablet. A few clicks and fwoosh! Message sent with a lovely picture sure to put Louvel’s heart at ease. Maverick chuckles and tosses the tomestone on the table next to his bed.
Louvel’s tomestone finally goes off. A text message and image reply from Seviere that reads:
Sit, boy, stay. I’ve taken something of yours.
Don’t do anything stupid. I’d hate to see him hurt more by your choices. I’ll be in touch.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
