Mai frowned slightly in confusion when Thaddeus moved the fabric but then she noticed that he was moving over the part that he had just worked on. Her hand touched the tiny knotted wisteria and she smiled, leaning forward to get a better 'look'. Mai's fingers traced the little lilac flowers and then moved over to the dove with its smooth stitches and name clearly sewn. Her name, clearly sewn.
Her head shot upwards quickly in an effort to regard Thaddeus. He put her name on his tapestry, as part of his family? Mai felt the tears well up in her eyes and she leaned back swiftly so that they didn't fall on the fabric.
Sliding her hand behind her head, she tilted her eyes up to him shyly.
"Dou ieba iin deshou ka? Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Thaddeus-san. I am honored. You wish me t be a part of your family?"Â?
The last was said as a statement but she was still uncertain. She had not been a part of a family in so many years. Her clan, she protected and watched, even loved in a distant way but a family was something personal and special to be cherished. Unlike many vampires, her family had died years before she became an immortal, the loss of them was not associated with being a vampire to her. Nor did it seem strange to her to be a part of a new family now, it was right. Thaddeus had been her family in her own heart for years but she had not expected to be asked to be a part of his new happiness with Alfarinn.
She smiled again and then looked back and him and Claire realizing they had been talking about something important.
"You have something else to do, ne?
On Pins and Needles
Thaddeus walked toward the cathedral with the bundle he had retrieved from his quarters under one arm, offering up a tense smile to the night air. He was making every effort to keep from going out of his mind with worry and was glad of something productive to do to keep his mind off Alfarinn's current mission.
Of course, he also wasn't entirely sure he should be thinking of anything else; it was a bit surreal to think of calmly going about one's business when any number of things could be happening to your lover. However, romantic as pining away and worrying about Alfarinn might be, it was entirely impractical.
He opened the door quietly and stepped inside the cathedral, taking a moment to let his eyes adjust to the light. There was a feeling of reverence here that went beyond the religious implications of the building; in some way he could not quite explain, he simply felt more...Anantya...when he stepped through those doors.
Mai
18 years ago
Claire
18 years ago
Claire smiled as Mai put her hand on the tapestry and followed Thaddeus's work. Seeing him done though and moving it for her to notice Claire stood and took a deep interest in the candles, reaching down to light one for her lost child. It had been a nightly ritual when she was home but being away for so long and traveling place to place had caused her to lose the habit.
What would it have been like to raise a child and grow old peacefully? If they had both survived the tragedy of the poison would she have been able to stay with her family? It would have been the home she would have dreamed of for her son. Growing up under the tutelage of her father, learning statecraft and hunting. It was painted in the history books as violent times but there had been more peace than not. When you distill life down to major events you miss the lazy days of summer, the cozy winter months of telling stories by the fire and all manner of domestic goodness.
Those were some of the things Claire missed the most about being the last of family. She could remember in exhausting detail how the sunlight slanted through the windows of her father's main room, changin direction slowly through out the day while she sat listening quietly to the voices around her, stealing the occasional glance up from her sewing to notice expressions and reactions. She remembered the long chats in her father's study over mulled wine, their laughter, his wisdom. Claire felt a longing for home and not just the small island and the sound of the ocean but her village and her family. They were long gone with little trace of them left in the busy French city that had taken its place.
She watched the flame of her candle flicker as Mai exclaimed something in Japanese. Blowing on the match in her hand to cool it, she then set it on the table and turned at the Elder's question and answered, looking at Thaddeus.
"If I could spare you but a moment. I do not believe that it will take long."Â?
The sword might be of some use to them and to her. It could be the very key that clears up the doubts she had about her sire and it might hold some clues to the mystery that Thaddeus and Alfarinn were trying to solve. If it had not been of such import then she would have left them to share each other's company in peace and privacy which long ingrained social graces told her to do. Picking up her book, Claire held it clasped in both hands in front of her and looked from one to the other.
"You are more than welcome to join us, Elder Asahi, if that is your wish."Â?
What would it have been like to raise a child and grow old peacefully? If they had both survived the tragedy of the poison would she have been able to stay with her family? It would have been the home she would have dreamed of for her son. Growing up under the tutelage of her father, learning statecraft and hunting. It was painted in the history books as violent times but there had been more peace than not. When you distill life down to major events you miss the lazy days of summer, the cozy winter months of telling stories by the fire and all manner of domestic goodness.
Those were some of the things Claire missed the most about being the last of family. She could remember in exhausting detail how the sunlight slanted through the windows of her father's main room, changin direction slowly through out the day while she sat listening quietly to the voices around her, stealing the occasional glance up from her sewing to notice expressions and reactions. She remembered the long chats in her father's study over mulled wine, their laughter, his wisdom. Claire felt a longing for home and not just the small island and the sound of the ocean but her village and her family. They were long gone with little trace of them left in the busy French city that had taken its place.
She watched the flame of her candle flicker as Mai exclaimed something in Japanese. Blowing on the match in her hand to cool it, she then set it on the table and turned at the Elder's question and answered, looking at Thaddeus.
"If I could spare you but a moment. I do not believe that it will take long."Â?
The sword might be of some use to them and to her. It could be the very key that clears up the doubts she had about her sire and it might hold some clues to the mystery that Thaddeus and Alfarinn were trying to solve. If it had not been of such import then she would have left them to share each other's company in peace and privacy which long ingrained social graces told her to do. Picking up her book, Claire held it clasped in both hands in front of her and looked from one to the other.
"You are more than welcome to join us, Elder Asahi, if that is your wish."Â?
Thaddeus Grey
18 years ago
Thaddeus wasn’t sure of how Mai might react to what some might consider an extremely presumptuous gesture. Not that being presumptuous had stopped him, but it was hard not to be a little nervous when one had to own up to such things. He certainly hadn’t intended to upset her and sincerely hoped he hadn’t done so when he saw her initial reaction, but her words erased those, in hindsight, rather silly worries. He grinned a little sheepishly with one corner of his mouth, looking down at the tapestry.
“I think you already are.”
While he had come into Mai’s life rather unexpectedly, he didn’t feel that mattered now; they were family, and in Thaddeus’s mind that was much more fact than a matter of perception.
Going quiet and realizing that if he couldn’t show Mai without getting choked up he’d be completely hopeless when he showed Alfarinn, but discovering he didn’t really mind, he reached over and gave Mai’s fingers a little squeeze before sitting back to fold up the tapestry, and spoke to Claire.
“Certainly, it’s no trouble.”
Once the tapestry was once again an indistinct square of fabric, tucked neatly under his arm, he slipped his gloves back on and picked up the book. He gave a last look around to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything before turning back to Claire, ready to follow her lead. He didn’t know if Mai would take an interest in joining them but grinned down at her just the same, glad for any time spent in her company.
/ooc Thaddeus out
“I think you already are.”
While he had come into Mai’s life rather unexpectedly, he didn’t feel that mattered now; they were family, and in Thaddeus’s mind that was much more fact than a matter of perception.
Going quiet and realizing that if he couldn’t show Mai without getting choked up he’d be completely hopeless when he showed Alfarinn, but discovering he didn’t really mind, he reached over and gave Mai’s fingers a little squeeze before sitting back to fold up the tapestry, and spoke to Claire.
“Certainly, it’s no trouble.”
Once the tapestry was once again an indistinct square of fabric, tucked neatly under his arm, he slipped his gloves back on and picked up the book. He gave a last look around to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything before turning back to Claire, ready to follow her lead. He didn’t know if Mai would take an interest in joining them but grinned down at her just the same, glad for any time spent in her company.
/ooc Thaddeus out
Mai
18 years ago
Mai gave Thaddeus a happy grin and nodded in agreement.
"Hai, Ba-di-kun."Â?
Claire had stood up and wandered a short distance away and Mai thought that was kind of her. The woman always had more manners than her creator and it was a good thing his attitude never seemed to rub off on the French woman.
Watching Thaddeus fold the tapestry and put it away, She looked up at Claire when the woman asked about him joining her. They had their duty and she would probably be in the way. So when she was asked to join them, Mai decided that it was best not to. Standing, she shook her head.
"Iie, Claire-chan. It is Haiiro Mai."Â?
Smiling at Thaddeus as she said so. Mai then told them her plans, of which she did not have many other than to find something to occupy her time. Perhaps she would pick some flowers for Thaddeus to take back to his apartment.
"I will come by later. You both will be busy."Â?
((OOC: Mai out. Haiiro means grey or ash, though the imported Gurei from the English word might make more sense Haiiro sounds better as a name and with Mai. Plus as old as she is and without many new people speaking current Japanese she probably hasn't heard gurei.))
"Hai, Ba-di-kun."Â?
Claire had stood up and wandered a short distance away and Mai thought that was kind of her. The woman always had more manners than her creator and it was a good thing his attitude never seemed to rub off on the French woman.
Watching Thaddeus fold the tapestry and put it away, She looked up at Claire when the woman asked about him joining her. They had their duty and she would probably be in the way. So when she was asked to join them, Mai decided that it was best not to. Standing, she shook her head.
"Iie, Claire-chan. It is Haiiro Mai."Â?
Smiling at Thaddeus as she said so. Mai then told them her plans, of which she did not have many other than to find something to occupy her time. Perhaps she would pick some flowers for Thaddeus to take back to his apartment.
"I will come by later. You both will be busy."Â?
((OOC: Mai out. Haiiro means grey or ash, though the imported Gurei from the English word might make more sense Haiiro sounds better as a name and with Mai. Plus as old as she is and without many new people speaking current Japanese she probably hasn't heard gurei.))
Claire
18 years ago
Claire smiled at them both, a bit embarrassed by being the center of the attention and for taking them away from a private moment. Toying with her book, she looked up when Mai said no.
Pardon? It took a moment to register the new surname positioned differently than the European custom . She nodded and smiled, testing it out though she was not one to forget.
"My apologies, Elder Haiiro."Â?
Making a little bow to Mai and nodded to Thaddeus, Claire said.
"Thank you for your time."Â?
Turning to lead the way, she headed towards the exit of the Cathedral.
"It really should not take very long."Â?
/ooc out
Pardon? It took a moment to register the new surname positioned differently than the European custom . She nodded and smiled, testing it out though she was not one to forget.
"My apologies, Elder Haiiro."Â?
Making a little bow to Mai and nodded to Thaddeus, Claire said.
"Thank you for your time."Â?
Turning to lead the way, she headed towards the exit of the Cathedral.
"It really should not take very long."Â?
/ooc out