Chapter Text
It turns out that a conversation with Laios was near impossible. A few days after the incident in the courtyard Marcille finds herself frustrated, leaning against a wall outside the “war room”. A room that was never actually used for its purpose as the monsters surrounding the outskirts of the kingdom protected them from nefarious forces. Laios, however, has several upcoming visits with other kingdoms so Yaad has taken it upon himself to make sure the king was prepared for these visits. He'd locked himself and Laios away in the poorly named “war room” for this reason. Meaning until these visits were over, Marcille would have no chance to speak to her tall-man friend.
“Is something bothering you?”
Marcille jumped at the sound of Kabru’s voice. She had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts she hadn't even heard him approaching.
“Not necessarily…” The mage mumbles, chewing the inside of her cheek in thought.
Kabru was smart, but he was a people person. And Falin, as much as Marcille hates to admit, was the furthest thing from a “normal” person. She had hoped to speak to Laios as the two Toudens were similar in many ways. Even if Marcille hated to admit it aloud. He would probably have insight to her strange behaviors. Perhaps they were always there and Marcille had just never noticed. Either way she knew she wouldn't be getting any answers until she could speak to the elder brother of her best friend.
But… talking to Kabru could help relieve some of the stress…
“Alright.” Marcille ignores how Kabru perks up, interested in learning something new. Ever the gossip monger he was (not that Marcille had room to talk). “Falin has been acting… strange since her return to the castle.”
“Strange? How?”
So Kabru hadn't noticed. Maybe Marcille was overthinking it? The mage scratches her head in thought, wondering how to word her concerns. She worried if she voiced the wrong things Karbru would have Falin quarantined out of fear of some new disease.
She wonders for a second if that is what was wrong with her friend. But she waves the thought away, Falin had shown no signs of being sick.
“Well …” Marcille shouldn't mention the nest, or the jumping from a second story window, or the growling, so… “She's been giving me a lot of gifts. Like soaps, snacks, and tea. Practically every day if not every other day.”
Kabru nodded, humming in thought “She's your friend, is she not? She's most likely just thankful for all the hardships you went through to bring her back.” he shifted to lean against the wall with Marcille. “You performed black- I’m sorry, I mean ancient magic, to bring her back after all. If it wasn't for Laios you'd be imprisoned. Well, more imprisoned seeing as you can’t really leave the castle without an escort. Falin probably blames herself and wishes to make it up to you.”
Logically, this made sense as Kabru didn’t know about Falin’s other strange quirks. Marcille left out the stable boy fighting and nest building. The elf knew that by not mentioning said quirks she would not get an accurate answer. Kabru’s words only made sense because Marcille left out details. So, rationally, she should take it at face value. Unless she chose to divulge more information. Which she wouldn’t, not until she got to talk to the eldest Touden.
“That does make sense.” If you ignore everything else. Which, even though she shouldn’t, Marcille chose to do.
Marcille decided Kabru was right. Falin was most likely just showing her thanks for saving her in her own strange Falin way. The cleric had always struggled with expressing herself. The best example being when Shuro had proposed to her. And there was no guarantee that there was no damage done to her mentally after spending such a long time as a chimera. Obviously, since it made such a physical change with the girl. The nest building, protectiveness, and gift giving could just be her new way of saying thanks.
Or, this is what Marcille chose to believe until she got the chance to speak with Laios.
“Thanks Kabru, that actually helped a lot.”
“No problem Marcille, I'm always here to lend an ear if you need me.”
Marcille’s talk with Kabru had lifted her mood. Her worries about Falin were almost forgotten as she returned to her study. She had some time before she was supposed to meet her friend for their daily hair care routine they had started. A routine she found herself excited for no matter how many times they’d done it. Since she still had time to waste she planned to use it to go through a few more of her books on ancient magic. The time they spent in the dungeon and her short stint as the Lord of the Dungeon gave her so much more to study.
What she hadn’t expected to find in her study was the very friend she was supposed to meet up with later.
Falin stood in her study in her casual clothes, feathers slightly ruffled and a look of nervousness on her face. She fidgeted as Marcille entered the study with a look of confusion. She glanced out the window to confirm she hadn’t over estimated how much time she had before their friendly activity. The sun was still pretty high in the sky so she hadn’t lost track of time so why was Falin here so early? And why did the poor girl look like she was about to be ill?
“Falin! Are you okay? You look like you’re about to puke!” Marcille rushed forward but stopped when Falin lifted a single hand.
“I’m fine! Just, uh…” Falin’s voice tapered off as she muttered to herself.
Marcille couldn’t catch everything that the girl was saying to herself but it seemed as if she was having an internal argument. Just as she was about to ask Falin if everything was alright again, the girl suddenly moved. The cleric struck a pose with feathered fans held in both hands. Marcille jumped, startled by her friend's sudden movement.
“Falin?” Marcille’s voice was laced with worry. She started to think Falin might be sick, but the tall-man showed no signs of a fever or fatigue.
Falin kept her pose for a moment longer before taking a deep breath and moving in practiced motions, feathers puffed up as she started to dance about. Marcille watched in confusion as her friend moved around (almost) smoothly about the room. The mage wanted to stop whatever was going on but… she was completely stunned by Falin’s actions. She watched as the taller girl waved the fans around, reminding her of the wings of a bird. Falin’s golden eyes were focused and fierce, only moving when she glanced at Marcille to make sure she was paying attention. Marcille noticed that her friend's movements almost felt… off. Like she was missing part of her own body. Then it clicked, this dance was meant for Falin’s “old” body. The way her legs moved, the way she shifted her hips, it was like when she was a chimera. Marcille could almost picture the draconic body attached to Falin again, tail swaying and wings moving with the cleric's motions.
The grand dance finished with a pirouette that ended with Falin down on one knee, both fans held up high as she gave them a light shake. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath and her face was flushed with a deep blush. Though if it was from embarrassment or something else, Marcille couldn’t tell. The silence in the room was almost suffocating, only broken by Falin’s deep breaths.
“Uh…” Marcille said eloquently.
Silence.
“Did… did you like it?” Falin asked breathlessly, voice wavering with concern.
A beat, then
“Uh.”
Marcille looked anywhere but Falin as she tried to come up with what to say. The dance was… something. It was obvious that Falin had worked hard on it though, wanting to show it to her friend. Marcille didn’t want to tell her she didn’t like it, cause she did like it. Even if it was strange. And a little… spontaneous.
Crap, she needs to say something. Falin’s giving her that look again. The younger girl's confidence slips the longer Marcille takes to answer.
“It was lovely, Falin. How long were you planning that?” Marcille grabs a strand of her hair and starts to play with it. Anything to distract herself from the look of pure joy that flashed across Falin’s face, replacing the worry that had been there not even seconds ago.
“You liked it?” The cleric ignores Marcille's question, annoying the elf slightly.
“It was beautiful.” Because everything she did was beautiful. Even if it was a bit strange. But Marcille would never say that out loud.
Falin stands and wraps her arms around Marcille, pulling her into a tight hug. Marcille squeaks in surprise as she gets a face full of feathers. The half-elf barely gets a chance to return the hug before Falin pushes her back slightly to place a tender kiss on her forehead.
“I’ll be back to do your hair in a little bit!” Falin waves, already out the door before Marcille can register what the hell just happened.
The mage places a hand on her forehead. She could still feel the warmth of Falin’s lips pressed against her skin. Her face lights up in a deep blush that reaches her ears as her brain finally catches up with the events that just happened.
Falin had kissed her! Falin. Kissed. Her. FALIN KISSED HER.
(on the forehead, but it was still more then what the elf was used to)
“WHAT DOES IT MEAN?” Marcille shouts to no one, mind falling into a whirlwind of thoughts and questions that she plans to ask.
Once Falin returns. She’ll get her answers then. For sure.