[PRP] Home again, home again (Alva)

[Baneful]

Alva was tired of traveling, the horsemen had been in a state of upheaval constantly since their lands had been destroyed and he had found himself dragged willy-nilly across creation by a variety of different leaders, all of whom promised different things but delivered on little. Of their leadership his favourite had consistently remained Medea and this was in spite of the fact the woman was both power mad and a Death (who were traitors through and through, everyone knew it but no one would say it anymore.) There simply weren’t a huge number of options available to them and until someone rose to the occasion from one of the other clans, the priestess would suffice. At least now they had a place to stay, at least now they had a central focus, and there was no longer endless restrictions laid upon them by individuals who wanted humanity left alone.

They were free again at least for the time being and had a place to live that was at least befitting of their station and clans rather than the hopeless tents they had spent time in in the immediate aftermath of the destruction. He’d been indignant about it at the time, his pride dented by the living conditions and the treatment they’d endured at the hands of Halloween as second class refugees. It was not something he’d forget and though some of the inhabitants of Halloween had been entertaining in various ways, on the whole they simply seemed inferior and afraid.

It hadn’t taken long for him to unpack his every worldly possession, neatly folding the expensive silken attire he had stowed when they’d been cast into poverty and putting it away. His table had been set up with his crafting materials to while away the time and he’d hung a few of the ink paintings he’d done on the walls to make the place look inhabited.

It felt very good to be back in civilization.

 

[Saliru]

Lily normally held herself to her full height; full of pride and enthusiasm. Her voice was usually loud and delegating without question. Today, everything was different. She was scrunched down and unimposing, even hiding quietly behind her brother at every opportunity to do so. She felt lost and helpless, like a small child all over again just before they took him away.

They couldn’t make up their minds, could they? She almost wanted to stay behind. Medea was a madwoman – a powerful madwoman. She could be leading them into their dooms and once they accept her, they couldn’t defy her – right? She was just so strong and did not seem afraid to use everything at her disposal to meet her ends. She was certainly not someone who could be manipulated into becoming as harmless as a newborn kitten.

Lily looked up at Alva, from her pitiable posture far below his. He seemed to be assured and calm about this. It was almost as if their dynamic had shifted to compensate in these trying times. She needed this and she needed him to lead the way, for now. She still couldn’t help but distantly wonder what he was thinking about. Her hand sought to take his, a strong fear of becoming lost in the crowd sinking into her stomach.

Before long they had made it past the trials and into the heart of Conquest level. He moved onto his room and with that she had to release his hand. She knew sharing again was a bad idea, the tents had been suffocating. She turned from his door and stared at her own directly next door.

She took a deep breath and entered. It was so much bigger than the tent had been. Far more elegant as well and seemed pre-catered to her every need. Her heart skipped just a bit and she quietly longed for it to not be some horrible trick. A smile crept back into her features as she deftly opened her bags and pulled everything out in a flurry onto the floor.

In the end, she revealed a scrolled up ink painting, not painted by herself, and hung that on her wall. When she felt it was perfectly straight, she dashed across the room to the shared wall and thumped on it curiously.

She turned her head, careful of her horn and placed her ear to the wall.
 

[Baneful]

Alva turned his head instinctively to eye the wall at the thump, everything about his posture freezing in coiled hostility even splaying his claws warily ready to attack. All of this tension dropped however when he remembered who his next door neighbor actually was. his posture changed. He carefully shifted the panel aside - because he had taken some time to make sure it was possible - and waved his claws at the horsewoman.

"Knock knock, sister." he said with a cordial smile.  

[Saliru]

Lily leapt back at the sudden opening where she had thought was a wall. She was huffing softly to catch her breath before finally seeing who it was.

"Brother, you nearly frightened me to death." Her tone was scolding but easily receded into her usual sing-song. "So many surprises though~"

She looked around his side and then at him. "May I join you?"
 

[Baneful]

Alva grinned at her. "You are tougher than that and you know it." he said. "I assumed that it was important to create some means of visiting one another when necessary so took the liberties of doing so." He looked the wall-turned-sliding-door over critically and found it structurally sound.

He stepped aside to let her in. "And of course." he added. The room was impeccably tidy already, like everything about Alva, and his familiar which he had brought with him all the way from Halloween - an oversized crecopia moth in the same hues as his clothing - rested its wings on the wall.

 

[Saliru]

Lily smiled, big and with a returning pride in herself backing it. She did not confirm nor deny his remark, facts were already known. "I like it," she spoke of the wall-door. "It makes this place... homier."

She entered his room and was already investigating all of his knick-knacks and trinkets with utmost care. When she had finally found his work space she slowed her explorations to linger curiously. "You know brother..," her tone thoughtful and distant. "We never discussed what our plans were. I mean – now." Her bright green gaze slid from the tools to their master. The look on her face was calm and still smiling, but, it was a mask. She knew it and she knew he knew it. In reality, she struggled with her own fears and uncertainties in this situation. She was not sure if it was a trap or some grand game and they were merely pieces. There was also the possibility that this too was temporary. She did not know anymore whether it was safe to let any of her guard down, let alone all of it.