((Question! Do we want to toss in the attempted murder rn, or after a few towns?))
Elara returned her gaze to the window, fingers trailing the blade of the dagger. It caught the fading light, etched letters in the blade stood out, letters or words in a flowing script and unrecognizable language. At least, to Kieran. Elara knew exactly what they meant, knew that this dagger was a purposeful gift left behind, was a goodbye. Why? Screw where. Why the fuck did you leave, mom? Why?
(it's up to you, I'm good with whatever you want!)
Kieran glanced at the blade for a moment, then returned his attention to the window, watching the scenery go by. Arriving soon? I hope so. The sun was beginning to go down, it's rays brushing against the horizon as it dipped lower and lower, painting the sky shades of orange, purple, and pink.
((Aaaaaa I’m the worst at deciding. Coin flip? That’s what I usually use))
Elara, against her better judgement and despite her best attempts, had once again slipped into the same black hole that followed thinking too much about her mother. The whys and what ifs and ‘it’s your fault’s, the same ones she’d gone over a thousand, no, a million times. A black hole was what her mind had become, since her mother’s disappearance. And not even the light she’d inherited could dispel the shadows.
(lol. Want me to flip the coin, or are you going to?)
Kieran sighed softly, running a hand over his horns. What would my parents think of me? He thought of his parents for the first time in years. He hadn't seen them since he was five years old, when he was first sold off to a new owner. He had only just had his emotions removed, and all he had done was stand and stare at his parents as the wagon he was put in drove away.
((Lmao could you? I don’t have the energy to traverse the house in search of a coin, and I’m watching Scream. Heads now tails later?))
Elara’s inner turmoil didn’t quite show on her face, but the way she was gripping the handle of the dagger made it obvious. Why and where and when. Questions and questions and they’re never going to be answered. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t just accept it. Couldn’t accept that her mother was gone. Because that didn’t match up with the woman who’d raised her, who’d taught her to fight and steal, how to mend her clothes after a fight and make hot chocolate. How to climb the clock tower and how to read, how to fall right and how to tie her boots. She wouldn’t just leave, not without warning or not without a really, really good reason. And she wouldn’t leave her dagger, the only item she wouldn’t sell, when she did. Not without reason. What was your reason, mom?
(lol yup XD it was tails, so later)
Kieran saw how tight she was gripping the dagger, and raised an eyebrow. "Your highness, if you continue gripping that so tightly, someone or something is going to get hurt." He told her quietly. Why is she even holding it so tight? He wondered. Is something wrong? What could be wrong? He was getting a bit more antsy and nervous as it got darker, although that wasn't obvious in any way.
Elara took in a shaky breath, Kieran’s voice drawing her out of the black hole of her mind. “I-“ She looked down at the dagger, forcing her grip to relax just a bit. “I’d hafta be tryna use it t’ hurt anyone.” She said, shaking her head and cursing her voice for wavering just slightly.
He tipped his head slightly, horn grazing across the ceiling. "Your highness, are you alright?" He asked. A voice shake was typically from fear or sadness. He knew that, though he hadn't felt those in a long time. Well, not sadness. Fear was one he felt still.
“Yeah. ‘M fine.” Elara said, shaking her head roughly to dispel her thoughts. Now wasn’t the time for memories and worries. There never was a time, but she would rather find herself trapped in her own mind at night, alone, than in a carriage with a Thari who didn’t get it. With anyone. Nobody got it. Nobody even knew, except for Johnson and Mack on some level, and Roman partly.
Kieran nodded, looking out the window again. His left foot started to bounce slightly to try and dispel the nervous energy that came up inside him as the sun went down. -so dark so dark so dark so dark so small so small so small- he cut the memory off, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
Elara shook herself again, resheathing the dagger and pulling her bag into her lap. It was getting dark, which was fine by her, but it was getting harder and harder to see. With a huff, she held her hand up, drawing on her light and using her own hand like a flashlight as she searched. I have a water bottle in here somewhere, I know it.
Kieran flinched slightly at the sudden light, glancing over at Elara. He closed his eyes for a moment. "How much longer do you think we have until we arrive?" He asked softly, left foot still bouncing a bit.
“Ten clicks? Maybe twenty, if the horses’re tired.” Elara answered without looking up, still riffling around. The light from her hand didn’t illuminate the whole carriage, but the soft silver glow illuminated quite a bit of it. Her freckles glowed too, making the shadows under her eyes deeper, but giving her an almost ethereal appearance.
Kieran nodded, looking out the window again as the last rays of the sun peeked above the horizon. -Dark dark dark dark oh my God how long this time- he took a deep breath and tried to relax. Small spaces and the dark. God.
“Where the fuck is it?” Elara grumbled, squinting slightly. Grumbling to herself, she reached for more light, lighting up the entire carriage by accident as she overcorrected. “Fuck. Damn this thing. Ah ha!” She pulled out the water bottle she had been searching for, holding it up triumphantly.
Kieran squinted slightly against the light, and shifted. "Was it really necessary to blind both yourself and me in your search for a water bottle?" He asked, looking at her. He reached back and redid his bun, yet again.
“Okay, rude.” Elara pointed her glowing hand at him, drawing attention to the lines of light beginning to trail down her arm. They looked almost like fractures, spilling light out into the carriage. “It’s not…the easiest thing t’ control.” And mom disappeared before she could teach me more.
Kieran shrugged slightly. "Less is more." He replied, looking back out the window. It's getting so dark… He shook his thoughts off. I can do this. I'll be okay. I'll be okay. This isn't a punishment. He sighed softly.
Elara blinked, looking at her hand. She tilted her head, thinking. Less is more. That made some sense, in a way he probably hadn’t meant it to. Little bits, instead of pulling as much at once. Gradually increasing the light. “Whatever.” She shrugged, using the still glowing hand to open the water bottle and chug half of it.
Kieran was silent, closing his eyes as he leaned his head against the window. We have to be almost there… right? Right? No…she said earlier it could be anyway from half an hour to an hour, and it's been…i don't even know.
“Matthias!” Elara called, recapping the water bottle. “Can ya see the city from here?”
“As a matter of fact, I can.” Matthias answered, tapping on the carriage door to let her know he was right outside of it. “Five minutes at most.”
Kieran let out a soft sigh of relief. Oh, good. He thought. Not much longer. See? Told you it would be fine. He told himself, biting his lower lip slightly.
“Thanks man!”
“Any time, Magpie. Hey Thari, she’s going to bolt as soon as she can for that tavern. Stick by her.”
“He has a name, Matthias.” Elara rolled her eyes, slouching back in her seat and crossing her glowing arm over the other. “I can handle myself.” She grumbled to herself, leaning against the carriage door once more.
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "You cannot handle yourself." He replied. "So far, you have thrown yourself off buildings, overworked a damaged ankle, and tried to fight a Thari after being warned you could not win." He told her calmly.
“Day in the life.” Elara shot back, making a face at him. “An’ I’m still alive, ain’ I? ‘S gonna take more than a fall, a fucked ankle or some ass with horns t’ make me kick the bucket.”