#nisee

Loss tread familiar paths through Aurelius. There was that initial wave of shock- tempered in some ways by the events preceding the attack on Brandyn and Thalia, but still sudden and unexpected in all the ways the sudden departure of people from one’s life always were- and then, the need to respond, to do something, anything. And so do things they did. The coven and its Elders tried to take what information they could from their loss and mold it into a defense, and they turned their attention to memorializing Thalia as she deserved. But the lingering loose ends of it all weighed heavy over the estate. Brandyn had been gone long enough now, undoubtably wracked with grief over the brutal loss of his mate, that the prospects of his continued survival were bleak. And they were no closer, really, to pinning down a culprit. It looked like a wolf, yes, but a wolf who could battle two powerful, mature vampires and win? A wolf apparently unconnected to the Crescents, who swore up and down it wasn’t one of theirs? There were more questions than answers. 

Auri was putting it down to the unanswered questions. But maybe he was deluding himself. Regardless, he found himself pushing through the doorway of Roseville’s local flower shop in pursuit of the oils and dried flowers he knew he could find there, aids that were precious in their ability to usher a peaceful restfulness into his sleep. He’d always had trouble sleeping, or trouble sleeping for any period of time without his dreams turning on him, but the severity and frequency of his fitful sleeping ebbed and flowed. It was hardly a surprise that he was having trouble again, now. He imagined Nisee wouldn’t be particularly caught off guard by seeing him in the shop now, either. 

Side-stepping the long leaves of a potted plant that reached away from its perch on a shelf and brushed his shoulder, Aurelius made his way further into the shop before spotting Nisee. “Your fern by the door seems to be doing nicely. It’s a Bird’s Nest, right? Or, no, maybe a Kangaroo- it’s been a while since I studied vascular plants.”