#weavingroses

           it seemed like the rest of the town had recovered particularly quickly after the ordeal with the runes, most not even knowing just how long they had been in that weakened state. still, it had been quite difficult for scarlett to bounce back like the rest of them, having known what it felt like to lose her willpower that she had been known for. maybe that was common for someone like ryker who could fall asleep anywhere, but she had always been as driven as could be.

            she had spotted alice sitting at the desks and felt a surge of... something rushing over her. emotions weren’t her strong suit, but she forced herself to breathe, moving to set her tea down at her own desk. ‘ hello, alice. i just... wanted to thank you. i know no one else has said that, what with everything that’s gone on since, and... you should know. ‘

Mary  Jane  waits,  finger  raised  in  Peter’s  direction,  eyes  shouting  him  down  with  a  threat  until  Aunt  May  is  safely  into  another  part  of  the  house.  “  Tiger,  care  to  explain?  ”  Wagging  her  finger  in  his  direction,  stalking  towards  him  until  he  is  against  the  wall,  she  tilts  her  head,  curls  bouncing  around  her  face.  “  Because  I  remember,  very  well  I  might  add,  the  two  of  us  getting  back  together.  Mind  telling  me  why  she  is  trying  to  set  me  up  with  a  nice  jewish  boy  from  down  the  block?  ”

they’re sharing a fire between the two of them in silence and that, nayan thinks, is progress.   there’s been a palpable tension in the air since they first met, and that’s not exactly surprising given the double bookings and shady patrons hiring them for the same job after they’ve already stolen from each other, but he thinks running from assassins together should account for some sort of bonding experience.  sure enough, the silence between them isn’t as heavy anymore, but it’s definitely still a little awkward.

 ❝  you’d think whatever it is we have on our hands must be worth a lot if they had actual assassins guarding them,  ❞     nayan breaks the silence.  he flicks a piece of dust from his sleeve while looking at ineth slowly going through the documents they stole,  and then resumes mixing the steaming broth he agreed to make for the the distrust of someone else’s cooking.    ❝  did you find anything?  anything  interesting?  ❞

“ siana, ” affection is rolled into that one word in infinite ways, it falls from his lips as a prayer and a request; he wants to keep her here, how could he not? but he feels... responsible. it had been her ship, her home, before he ever walked in there and now it was gone. “ you don’t need to stay. ” with me.

The trip from Mirabelle’s to Chelsea’s wasn’t a long one, but Vaughn had taken care in laying down the bedding and making sure the ducks were comfortable for the short jaunt over. He lifted their cages, one in each hand, and started over. Even in this spring weather he was dressed head-to-toe in his customary dark clothes with his wide brim, black hat. If he was hot under the collar, it didn’t show.