Hope Falls

“So much effort to change.”

"Less effort than Sarika, surely? I've seen her wardrobe... yoga outfits, the floaty red gowns, the sexy ones she has that cling onto her. Then the make-up too." Matilda scoffed, picking up the smaller, plainer stud when she found it and putting that in instead. "Though she'd just looked like she's rolled out of bed the past few days."

“Because she’s not been sleeping in a bed has she? She’s been in her office sorting out Izsak’s extraction.”

"She is going to make herself ill." Matilda mumbled with a shake of her head, moving to the bed and lifting up the covers to slip in beside him.

“Hopefully she’ll rest now he’s home. He always was a safe space for her.”

"I've never understood how the two of you do it. How you are so open to other people.. you know. I could never." Matilda grimaced, wrapping an arm across his waist as she placed her head on the pillow next to his.

“Open to sex with other people?” Draven chuckled. “Because other than Izsak, it’s not emotional. It’s nothing but a good time. Needs are met - if she’s away on a trip for weeks, or if one of us is busy, or tired, it’s not practical for either one of us to be frustrated.” He shrugged. “Sometimes we learn something about ourselves from a new partner that makes it even better when it’s just the two of us.”

"I could never do it. For me it is emotional; every time. If there isn't emotion behind it then I don't want it." Matilda hummed, quietly gazing at his face.

“You’re not one of us… you don’t understand how urgent the need can get. I know you humans - you may be a Seer but you are still human - value the intimacy of emotion but it is different for us… it’s almost impossible to be jealous of anyone she sleeps with because ultimately she’s mine, as I’m hers. It’s me she’s thinking of when I’m not there, and it’s me she’d rather be with.”

"Different for you and Sarika, perhaps. Søren was always happy with just having me."

“It works for us.” Draven nodded, closing his eyes fully then.

"That's all that matters, at the end of the day." Matilda agreed quietly, eventually letting her own eyes close.

“Søren didn’t sleep with anyone since he met you, soppy bastard. As soon as you were brought to the King he was struck. I don’t know if it’s because of how young he was or if you just sparked something in him but… he never even looked at anyone else.”

"Didn't even look? That's... surprising."

"Didn't even look? That's... surprising."

“Love at first sight or whatever. You were all he talked about - got boring after around five minutes.” Draven teased with a chuckle.

Matilda took in a deep breath then, sitting up as she opened her eyes; lifting a hand up to catch a tear before it could run too far down her cheek. Mumbling a quiet; "Shit."

“I also know he’d be utterly heartbroken over the fact you’ve not dated since him.”

"Please don't start that, no. We're not doing this conversation." Matilda answered thickly, wrapping her arms around her knees and pulling them up into her chest.

“Your happiness mattered to him.” Draven murmured, though left it then, remaining silent.

"I am so happy that Izsak is back, that it means the start of... healing for everyone but I - I don't know. It isn't fair that some people never get to come home again."

“The wrong man died that night.” Draven affirmed with a nod, slowly nodding off.

Matilda glanced off, waiting until she was sure he was asleep before slipping out of the bed. Opening up the wardrobe and reaching into the back, ripping the lid off of a storage container and pulling out one of Søren's jumper. Silently moving into the living room and curling up on the sofa with it, nuzzling her face into the fabric; silently crying into it until she too fell asleep.

(( Do you want directly a new day or a few days skip? ))

((I’m okay with either!))

The next morning Matilda was still flat out on the sofa. Dried tears staining her cheek - though the jumper was hanging down the side; balancing on her fingertip. As the hustle and bustle began outside of her Chambers, she groaned quietly - squinting her eyes open against the light.

---

Sarika was staring up the ceiling quietly, brushing her fingertips up and down Izsak's back thoughtfully.

---

"Sol," Aodhän spoke softly as he stepped into the bedroom, still shirtless though he had loose trousers on. In his hands was a tray full of breakfast items and fresh coffee; rare flowers - vibrant and loud sat contently in a vase. "Good morning, love."

---

"If you crash my car I will take your wings." Dmitri warned light-heartedly as he threw car keys towards Ada, moving his hand to light up a cigarette. "I fucking mean it too; this thing is my literal child."