[ Lantaa gently pushes the door open of Manor Borel and steps inside. Her footsteps are light and quiet, almost as if she isn't present at all. What gives away her entry is the way the old door creaks as it shuts and part of her cannot help but wince. Some habits do not leave simply because what is her home has changed. She slowly looks over her shoulder past the blue ribbons in her hair. Behind her is the family steward with a warm smile. He bows to welcome her home, and Lantaa immediately feels her cheeks burn hot. ]
Welcome home, Mistress Alkaid. [ The steward uses her moniker--as she has yet to share her true name with them,but half turns to escort her further into the home. ] Shall I see to a warm bath before dinner?
Where--[ Lantaa pauses to swallow the lingering nervousness she always feels in public. ]--where is Ser Aymeric?
[ At that, the steward pauses. He frowns for a moment before shaking his head ever so slightly. ] He has retired to the bedroom for the last few hours. Shall I go and fetch him?
N-no! No. Please, let me. [ Lantaa steps up beside the steward, twisting her fingers as her hands shake. She is aware that "dinner" is not truly the same when one of them does not need to eat the same way as the other. But, it is time in which she hopes Aymeric might feel even something skin to normal. ] I-I'll see to the bath and ready for dinner...
[ Once more the steward pauses. ] I am not certain he would approve of it. However, it might be for the best. See to him for now, Mistress Alkaid.
[ Before Lantaa can ask what he means, the steward raises a hand and gently pushes her in the direction of the room they share. She looks over her shoulder in worry once more before quietly making her way. Her footsteps barely make a sound and she bites her lip as she can feel the familiar clawing of fear in the back of her mind.
Why wouldn't he approve of... is he angry with me?
Lantaa pauses at the door to their bedroom, her hand shaking as it hovers over the handle. It had only taken a few nights of her being in the manor before both seemed to come to the conclusion it was best to share a room. His room--not his parents. She had thought that perhaps he enjoyed the room feeling as one again, instead of a place he curled and hid in. Her hand shakes further at the possible ideas as to why her beloved may not approve of her presence. Perhaps Aymeric had changed his mind? Perhaps he no longer needed her to share the space with?
She shuts her eyes for a moment and curls her hand around the handle. The shaking continues up her arm and into her whole person until even as she opens the door enough to look inside. His form hunched over while sitting on the bed is not hard to see even if the curtains have been mostly drawn to cast a shadow inside. Lantaa once more swallows the emotions in her throat and steps inside.
Then, she realizes what it is that she has walked in on.
Her eyes first move to the rat in his hands, then up to his face. Her ears are pressed to her head, but she is not afraid, disgusted, or even disappointed in what she sees. He had mentioned he fed off rats, but, seeing it for herself is something else entirely. She knew, without even asking, that he would not wish for anyone to see when he fed off her. Yet, now, there is a sense of full understanding that settles into her. Not of how animalistic he can be as a voidsent, but of how much he must truly despise what he is if he hides away as such.
Even from her.
Lantaa looks at the rat in his hands once more before she quietly closes the door behind her. She wordlessly moves to the bathroom to fetch a few items: the small wastebin and a towel that she dampens. A moment later she returns and just as quietly stands in front of him. She raises the bin by only a few inches to indicate he can place his "meal" inside once he has finished. Her other hand curls around the damp cloth as another wave of realization strikes her.
He would rather hide in the dark and feed away from her rather than allow her to help him.
She naively thought that he might one day accept that particular form of help from her. That she may not need to play off his instincts and desire for her to have him feed. That she might be able to care for him as not only a knight, but as the voidsent he was turned into. Such a thing is clearly not the case as reality strikes down a dream of sorts. The realization feels more akin to a dull blade pushed into her heart than a cold splash of water to her face. She would much prefer the later sensation, as all she can feel is a numb pain inside her as her hands still shake slightly.
Lantaa drops her gaze from him to give him some sort of privacy, as leaving the room would not undo her intrusion. The bin remains raised for him.
...have I ever been able to help you in any life at all? ]
hidden in the dark. }
Welcome home, Mistress Alkaid. [ The steward uses her moniker--as she has yet to share her true name with them,but half turns to escort her further into the home. ] Shall I see to a warm bath before dinner?
Where--[ Lantaa pauses to swallow the lingering nervousness she always feels in public. ]--where is Ser Aymeric?
[ At that, the steward pauses. He frowns for a moment before shaking his head ever so slightly. ] He has retired to the bedroom for the last few hours. Shall I go and fetch him?
N-no! No. Please, let me. [ Lantaa steps up beside the steward, twisting her fingers as her hands shake. She is aware that "dinner" is not truly the same when one of them does not need to eat the same way as the other. But, it is time in which she hopes Aymeric might feel even something skin to normal. ] I-I'll see to the bath and ready for dinner...
[ Once more the steward pauses. ] I am not certain he would approve of it. However, it might be for the best. See to him for now, Mistress Alkaid.
[ Before Lantaa can ask what he means, the steward raises a hand and gently pushes her in the direction of the room they share. She looks over her shoulder in worry once more before quietly making her way. Her footsteps barely make a sound and she bites her lip as she can feel the familiar clawing of fear in the back of her mind.
Why wouldn't he approve of... is he angry with me?
Lantaa pauses at the door to their bedroom, her hand shaking as it hovers over the handle. It had only taken a few nights of her being in the manor before both seemed to come to the conclusion it was best to share a room. His room--not his parents. She had thought that perhaps he enjoyed the room feeling as one again, instead of a place he curled and hid in. Her hand shakes further at the possible ideas as to why her beloved may not approve of her presence. Perhaps Aymeric had changed his mind? Perhaps he no longer needed her to share the space with?
She shuts her eyes for a moment and curls her hand around the handle. The shaking continues up her arm and into her whole person until even as she opens the door enough to look inside. His form hunched over while sitting on the bed is not hard to see even if the curtains have been mostly drawn to cast a shadow inside. Lantaa once more swallows the emotions in her throat and steps inside.
Then, she realizes what it is that she has walked in on.
Her eyes first move to the rat in his hands, then up to his face. Her ears are pressed to her head, but she is not afraid, disgusted, or even disappointed in what she sees. He had mentioned he fed off rats, but, seeing it for herself is something else entirely. She knew, without even asking, that he would not wish for anyone to see when he fed off her. Yet, now, there is a sense of full understanding that settles into her. Not of how animalistic he can be as a voidsent, but of how much he must truly despise what he is if he hides away as such.
Even from her.
Lantaa looks at the rat in his hands once more before she quietly closes the door behind her. She wordlessly moves to the bathroom to fetch a few items: the small wastebin and a towel that she dampens. A moment later she returns and just as quietly stands in front of him. She raises the bin by only a few inches to indicate he can place his "meal" inside once he has finished. Her other hand curls around the damp cloth as another wave of realization strikes her.
He would rather hide in the dark and feed away from her rather than allow her to help him.
She naively thought that he might one day accept that particular form of help from her. That she may not need to play off his instincts and desire for her to have him feed. That she might be able to care for him as not only a knight, but as the voidsent he was turned into. Such a thing is clearly not the case as reality strikes down a dream of sorts. The realization feels more akin to a dull blade pushed into her heart than a cold splash of water to her face. She would much prefer the later sensation, as all she can feel is a numb pain inside her as her hands still shake slightly.
Lantaa drops her gaze from him to give him some sort of privacy, as leaving the room would not undo her intrusion. The bin remains raised for him.
...have I ever been able to help you in any life at all? ]