Chapter Text
The Listener awoke the next morning with a burst of energy. She had spent much of the night packing in anything she deemed necessary before passing out on her bed. But when she awoke she was determined to spend the remaining time she had with her friends. Of course, she tried to remind herself this wouldn't be the last time she would see them.
Nazir and was certainly surprised to see her up before noon, his eyes widening. "Well look who's up!" He remarked, Carciniea immediately smiling in return, "I didn't think I would be seeing you so soon. "
"What can I say, I'm going to miss you guys," she laughed, sitting across from him. She kicked her feet onto the table. It was nice to find different ways to surprise or shock Nazir or leave Babette speechless, as their faces do more of the talking than their words.
Once she had calmed down from her laughing fit, Nazir had set down his drink and leaned forward, "Are you still sure you want to go through with this? I'm sure if we send in a couple initiates-" "I'll be fine," she persisted, giving a dull roll of the eyes, "What about this is making you so paranoid? You're never like this!"
Nazir only chucked in response, shaking his head. He didn't seem to take much of her serious demeanor into this, only responding with, "I'm not sure what I'm expecting from this. With all due respect, you don't really understand the position of being a parent. Or may I say parent-like, in this matter." He glanced back to the Listener, noticing a strange glimmer in her eyes he had not seen before; he dismissed this and simply reasoned this to be due to the lighting.
Babette came down to join the two, probably returning from her hunt just before sun rise. She took her seat beside Carciniea, hopping onto the wooden chair and shifted to get herself comfortable. “So you’ll be leaving the province and onto new soil. How does that make you feel?” She asked, her mature words contrasting her young face and voice as usual.
Carciniea only shrugged, leaning herself against the table, “I’m not sure how to feel, really. Excited? Maybe. Maybe more if there was more to this, I suppose. You two seem like this is a brand new thing and, frankly, this just seem like child’s play. We killed an emperor; we should have nothing to worry of!” Her words only fell ill upon her colleagues, the two not bothering to exchange glances or anything of the like. Babette just looked up to her with the most unimpressed look she could possibly conjure whilst Nazir just quietly finished his drink. The room seemed to tense.
The Listener’s shoulder let a slump in defeat of this, thinking to herself that there must be no way to convince them otherwise. She stood from her seat, her eyes to the floor. Her arms extended and stretched wide, arching her back as she began to walk back down to her room to grab her things. She could hear Lucien being summoned from the Void, his footsteps following close to her own. Instead of making some sort of remark to the prior conversation she held with her friends as she expected, Lucien had decided to open up conversation in a different way: “I believe I have always liked this particular sanctuary. It is truly fit for the Void.”
Her eyes quickly darted around the training room as she passed through, making sure to herself the coast was clear for conversation for the two. “Better than Cheydinhal?” she asked him. She heard him hum to himself as he mentally debated this question, before answering, “No, no. I may have spent some of my time here, but Cheydinhal had always held some of my fondest memories.”
She laughed to herself, momentarily looking back to him and responding, “That’s funny. I never thought of you as a sentimental type of person.” She noticed Lucien begin to smile back, the sight of the ends of his mouth curling made her heart begin to pick up pace. Carciniea quickly turned back ahead, focusing back onto her destination. “So,” the Listener breathed, “I take it you’re here to tell me something? Unless you are also the social type, then you are just full of surprises today.”
“I am hurt, Carciniea,” she heard him smoothly reply, the two entering her room and closing her door, “I enjoy our talks, too. Contrary to popular belief, I have emotions as well as any other sentient being. I may not recognize others’, whether I choose to or not, but that doesn’t make my own any less real.”
She curtly nodded. Though she didn’t say much in return, it was evident she had so much to say. She always did, which he learned from experience. But she busied herself with actions such as rechecking her items that were crammed together in her bag. She paused abruptly, glancing up to the ceiling as she began to ask, “And whose feelings do you choose not to recognize? I have a feeling that my name is somewhere on that particular list.”
She curtly nodded. Though she didn’t say much in return, it was evident she had so much to say. She always did, which he learned from experience. But she busied herself with actions such as rechecking her items that were crammed together in her bag. She paused abruptly, glancing up to the ceiling as she began to ask, “And whose feelings do you choose not to recognize? I have a feeling that my name is somewhere on that particular list.”
“You have no faith in my loyalty, Listener,” he shook his head, stepping to her side. He watched as she shifted through her things, before closing it once and for all. “Are you prepared yet? The earlier you arrive to Cyrodiil, the sooner you can finish this contract.” She sighed and nodded, her grip tightened around her bag. “I guess I’m so used to being cooped up here, I’m nervous in leaving,” she admitted.
Lucien was quiet for a moment, watching as her eyebrows scrunched and arched. He picked up and laid a ghostly hand on her shoulder. She finally looked over to him, their eyes meeting. “I’ll be there for yo-" “/Listener!/” shrieked a voice. Out from under her blankets sprang up Cicero, whom had probably hidden himself since she first left her room.
Carciniea’s eyebrows had hit the roof and her mouth the floor, wondering how long the jester had been listening. He kicked off the blankets and scooched closer to the end of the bed. He had a large smile on his face, his feet hanging off the bed and looked ready to start dancing. “Cicero! When did you-" "Oh Listener, it all makes sense now! You kept Cicero in the dark, kept poor Cicero guessing! But Cicero understands now!" He leaned forward, his voice now but an excited whisper, "The two of us- together- in Cyrodiil."
It took her a moment to register and understand what he was talking about. When it finally hit her, she gave him a sad smile, "Cicero, I don't think you understand. I have to go... Alone."
Cicero's face fell, his shoulders drooped at the news. He closed his mouth and remained silent for a moment, as if waiting for her to change her mind. "You promised," he reminded her of the day before, how she assured him the next time she would leave she would allow him to tag along.
"I did, didn't I?" She whispered, cursing herself in her mind. She had already broken one promise to him, the thought of leaving him behind made her heart cringe. She glanced over to Lucien who looked sternly to Cicero with his arms crossed. She looked back to her little jester, sighing, "Fine, I suppose. The only problem is Shadowmere and how we're going to fit on him with our stuff- Without breaking any legs."
Cicero had leapt onto her, letting out a screech of joy as he clutched onto his Listener. Carciniea grunted from the sudden weight thrusted onto her, patting his head. "There, there little one," she began to smile.
Cicero sprinted up, laughing and dancing off to probably pack his stuff. The Listener struggled to sit up, noticing that Lucien had already returned to the Void. Classic Luce she told herself, not at all surprised to see she was once again alone. If Cicero is really going to tag along, I might as well let the others know. I know they'll be relieved.
She grabbed her small bag, despite its size it still held some weight to it. She slung it over her shoulder, walking out of her room into the upper part of the sanctuary. She saw Nazir and Babette, never acknowledging her presence until she spoke up. "I suppose I'll be leaving now," she said.
Nazir looked over his shoulder, putting down his book and turned to her. "I see. Good luck to you, Listener. Be sure to come back with lots of gold," he simply told her.
"If she comes back," Babette added. Her voice echoed from upstairs, probably brushing up on her alchemy.
Carciniea rolled her eyes at this, ignoring any discouragement thrown her way. She pressed on, "Cicero will be coming with me. I thought maybe the two of you will be able to get more done without any distractions."
She watched as Nazir resumed his reading; she began to walk away, turning her head back to him. She pressed on, however, as once Babette came into her line of sight, she only gave the vampire a smirk as a farewell.
She exited the sanctuary, hopefully for not the last time. She was happy to see Cicero already ready and petting Shadowmere. "You don't need anything?" She asked him, noticing his lack of baggage.
Cicero turned his head toward, looking absolutely jubilant to have the chance to journey with his Listener. He pushed himself onto his feet, standing up. Carciniea mentally prepared herself for the trip as she climbed onto Shadowmere, helping the Imperial on as well. She was almost certain it had been a long time since he had ridden a horse.
The Listener could hear him giggle to himself, whispering, "Oh yes, Cicero and Listener, hehe, on the hunt! Hehe!"