Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It was with a particularly lazy movement that Lunise turned her head up and opened her eyes. "It is unbecoming of Hircine's champion to be indecisive," she said with a joking venom. She then buried her face in Meesei's fur and held her a little tighter. "Stay, you beautiful animal," her voice said beneath her tussled blonde hair.

Not a moment later, however, Lunise shoulders lifted and she sighed. "Listen to us. This island has overindulged us already..." She reluctantly rolled off Meesei's front and stood from the bed. A few faded lines down her back marked evidence of magically healed scratches, though there was no point at which Meesei remembered her expressing pain, specifically. She turned around as she stretched out each arm in the crook of her other arm's elbow. The older and much more noticeable scars on her leg came into full view, reassuring that whatever damage Meesei may have done, intentionally or unintentionally, was of no real consequence.

"Being true, I do not wish to put off letting mother know about your decision," Lunise said. "Though, she will try to persuade you otherwise. Perhaps, during a bath, we can discuss how to word it? The smell of your fur has grown on me, but I do not feel the need to imply any of our private activities."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Makes sense to me

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

We can move on from now if you like. You mentioned something about the Psijic Order council wanting to deal with Meesei for something? Should we go to that or something else?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise closed her eyes and felt herself relax in Meesei's hands until she was all but relying on her for support. That suddenly changed as soon as Meesei finished speaking. Meesei felt Lunise's hand press against the centre of her chest just hard enough to stop and see Lunise looking up at her with a determined expression. The vial remained held in her two smaller fingers.

She looked at Meesei without so much as blinking. Then, leisurely, she brought her tea cup up to her lips to sip it. She swallowed. "You are being crass," she then flatly stated. With a charge of telekinesis, her teacup floated off to a soft and spill-free landing on the nearby desk. With her other hand, she sent the metallic vial onto their breakfast tray. She was somehow able to manage it without taking her eyes off Meesei.

While Meesei had previously entertained the idea of what she suggested, Lunise had never agreed.

"I should tell you to control yourself," Lunise said. She launched another spell under Meesei's arm. It struck the door with a locking click. "And if we were anywhere else..." she let her lips stay parted. "...I probably would."

Lunise had never agreed until now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Of course," Lunise said. "It shall not be lost. I can promise that." She almost laughed. "It is about time you started speaking surely of yourself."

Lunise let out a satisfied hum as she remained close. It only became awkward to hold her tea in one hand and the vial in the other a short while into their contact, but it did not appear to be stopping any time soon.

Meesei's further intimacy caused Lunise to squirm her head around as if it was ticklish. She chuckled through her nose. "If you are that hungry for breakfast, you might at least turn back so I can kiss you in return."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise took up her own tea in a decidedly less energetic manner than Meesei, though anyone could see that it was decorum rather than any lack of mutual happiness slowing her down. She listened on as she sat up on the bed opposite Meesei. She mirrored Meesei's magic to heat up her own tea, even if she did not think the taste was ever the same when one did so.

The mention of a gift made Lunise curious. She was not sure what to make of whether it made any sense. Upon receiving the vial, she turned it in one hand with a lowered brow, trying to discern the mystery. At first, Lunise suspected it was either some cosmetic tool or an alchemical potion and was ready to softly chastise Meesei for taking a simple gift so seriously. Hearing it was Meesei's blood made her face drop into confusion.

Then it all became clear. Lunise sat paralysed on the bed, her lips slightly parted and her breathing halted. She turned her eyes down to the vial and sharply exhaled into a bewildered grin. "I have considered it on more than one occasion," she said. "Contracting lycanthropy, that is. I always knew it would mean the end of my career, or at least an eventual expiration to it. It would also mean leading my soul away from the Divines, though you know I have never been especially religious. I have too much housework in my world to step into yours, and that may be the case for some time to come." She held the vial against her chest and stood up from the bed. "But I know what this means to you. It means the same to me. I would love nothing more than to stay with you, Meesei."

Lunise shuffled up to Meesei and leaned against her, resting her head on her chest. "Survive, Meesei." Lunise's strained voice said. "I love you, too. Please survive."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise tried and failed to quite enjoy Meesei's kiss, but the sentiment was present enough to appreciate. She simply made a negative hum and returned to their close hug.

"Careful, you'll invite more with talk like that," Lunise warned with a broad smile. "At any rate, our futures are interesting. They can come later. I would like to stay in this present. With you. A few days will have to do."

Finally, Lunise pulled away. Meesei had hardly ever seen her so peacefully happy. "Come. Our tea is cold but you must try the nectarines."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise's smile returned when Meesei grinned. She gazed into Meesei's eyes the entire time, and a moment after the end of it, she blinked and found tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

"You know I will support whichever decision you make," Lunise whispered. She breathed in slowly enough not to make it obvious how close she was to sobbing. "But, speaking entirely selfishly, I was hoping you would say that."

Lunise stood up on her toes to put a kiss the tip of Meesei's nose and then stepped in to hug her tightly. She breathed in sharply against Meesei's chest, tears flowing freely. She stayed where she was for a while, unwilling to let Meesei go.

Perhaps a minute passed before Lunise's muffled voice sounded again. She still sounded teary, though had a joking tone. "I pray mother is not too disappointed. If she really has been studying lycanthropy as those monks said, I think she had a few of her own little reasons to have you on the island."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Initially, Lunise was not encouraged by Meesei's hesitation, though she could see she had some kind of answer. Even after waiting, getting hugged so suddenly came as a surprise. The surprise turned back into a grateful smile soon after Meesei stepped away and explained herself.

Lunise brought an arm up to readjust her hair. "While it is tempting to gloat, Meesei, even I have to point out that if intelligence was all that was required to see reason in despondency, there would be much more courage in the world. What is important is you see it now." She stepped forward and reached up to hold Meesei's face between her hands. "And I am so glad you do." Her smile faded again as she stared into Meesei's eyes. "I expect the next decision is whether you will be returning here after the invasion."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"On the contrary, my dearest champion, my point comes along with much greater strength when you are not left to rot in a small bedroom and crying into my lap," Lunise said, peering at Meesei with her head bowed and her eyes up. "Take it from my professional experience. Context is paramount to one's message. A sample of the greatest mages in Tamriel provides that context in droves."

Lunise reached out to hold Meesei's hand as they walked, though in Meesei's form, she was only barely able to weave her fingers between Meesei's thumb, index, and middle finger. She toned down her smugness as she continued. "But now that you have taken the point of this, are you at least feeling less uncertain? I cannot stress it enough; I truly believe you have a real chance, Meesei."