[ AW ] sweet reunion

(set when her children return home after months of being gone)

when the party's over

Aurelia had become a shell of herself when two out of three of her children had gone missing.

She'd gotten leaner, frailer... emptier.

Where they'd gone off to, she did not know. She'd searched for them at home, the Howling Moon and throughout the town of Inverness. Their father had been searching for them as well beyond that. They were old enough to venture out on their own but they hadn't said a word and that was what had set the woman to worry. They had all been discussing the future and now they were... what, just gone?

The silver woman stood upon the stoop of her home, looking out into the shadows of darkness that surrounded her. Their scents were all but faded, it had been months since they'd been here. All that remained was Rayna, for whatever reason, and not even she knew where her siblings went. Aurelia sniffed and headed down the pathway that led away from their home and towards the Howling Moon, thinking that she might find her husband or daughter there, waiting for her. She didn't know what else to do but fall into this spiraling despair at the horrific loss of her children. Wherever they were.. she hoped they were okay. But more than that she hoped they returned.

...

"Mom?" A small voice called out and Aurelia lifted her head, silvery eyes widening. She stopped walking the short pathway to the Howling Moon and turned to face the voice she'd come to miss so dearly. "Mom, I'm sorry." Aesira said, her voice small and almost fearful. "Me too," piped up another voice, one deeper than the last. "My babies!" she whispered softly, hear heart pounding in her chest as if they might vanish before she reached them. She moved quickly to them, grabbing them both up in a big hug as she buried her face in whosever fur was closest. They were really here, they were okay! She would have some words for them later about maybe telling her where they were going next time but for now she was just happy they were back. "You both should head home, I'm sure your father and sister would love to know you're alright." she said softly before pulling away. They replied agreeably, leaving her standing there alone after a few moments.

A relieved sigh escaped her as she turned and headed up the pathway and into their family business. She didn't know what she was going to do today now, but the worry that had plagued her had evaporated. She'd find out where they'd gone and what they'd been doing once she got home but for now she would relax at the bar.

code by claerie , image by Tomoko Uji

She had slipped out for the night, feeling a bit suffocated being around her parent and her husband and just needed a drink away from it all where neither could judge her if she got a bit too tipsy. Sure, most of the places run by small families didn’t carry the product she grew most to love but once she was a little too drunk she wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway. She would come to realize she had ventured well out of Perth and into the heart of her old stomping grounds where she sold the majority of her stock to the less fortunate and it would only dawn on her when some old clients took notice of her, some coming toward her looking like the addicts a couple of them very much were. She never really made her potions to be used as something illegal, she had wanted them to help those with ailments that needed treatment beyond what the school deemed as safe. Unfortunately, there were a few too many that had just come for a high instead of a cure or escape. It bothered her more than she wanted to admit. Taking the first opportunity she could, she’d slip into the nearest pub before any of the wolves could catch her. It wasn’t like she had any supply directly on her anyway so they would be rather shit out of luck. Walking into the place, she would start to recognize the area of which she had hid away, having come here a couple times when she was young to flirt with a girl or two that worked behind the counter rather than any of the ladies of the night that actually offered services, feeling a little bad for them. She had never actually learned who the owners were during that time when she was so desperate for attention and getting hammered. Truthfully, all of it was a whirlwind. Some days she’d way up next to someone confused if they had done anything or both just blacked out. A nervous chuckle filled her lungs, knowing she couldn’t do that kind of partying as a married woman, having enough respect for Mithras not to go around trying to more or less cheat. Was it really cheating if they weren’t romantically an item? She didn’t feel like testing that water, knowing how big he was in public image. “Round for everyone ‘ere of your finest ail,” she cheered, brushing past a very small woman before she slapped a paw on the table to get the bartender’s attention, taking a seat right in front of the bar all too eager for her own shot. "Sorry for bumpin ya, lil suga," she'd call over her shoulder to the woman she had unintendedly touched.

when the party's over

Aurelia was not one for drinking but she got something and sipped on hit all the same. It was a good way to relax after the last few nerve-wracking months she'd had to deal with. But now that she knew her children were back, and safe, she felt like she wasn't unraveling.

Her attention was elsewhere when someone bumped into her, jostling her quite literally from her thoughts.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, though not too loudly. She turned her head towards the voice of the woman who'd bumped into her and smiled at her apology. "Oh, I'm alright." she said before leaning back in her seat a little.

She didn't think she'd heard her voice before and she wondered if she was new around here. She recognized many who visited their establishment regularly by now but not her. "I'm Aurelia, and you are...?" she asked curiously, a gentle smile on her face.

code by claerie , image by Tomoko Uji

Lounging in place, her attention would focus on the little lady not so far from her, tilting her head curiously as she noticed her head turn toward her to speak. The girl wasn’t the best at emphasizing what she was saying, that was for sure but at least it was good enough for her to get an idea of what was being said. She did take notice of a similar hollowness to her gaze as Mithras, though she wondered if that was just the girl's eyes and nothing actually clinically wrong with them. Some wolves just weren’t the best at staring if they were nervous and this pint-sized cutie might just be one of those shy patrons. They didn’t have anything wrong with them visually, it was only the focus that seemed off, so she decided to dismiss the notion this was another blind wolf. What were the chances she’d escape from one blind man for some leisure and run into a blind lady? Pretty dang low as far as she was concerned and horribly ironic. She probably just didn’t want to be impolite by avoiding looking in her direction while just being too shy to meet her gaze fully. The more she focused on it, the more she realized she was just being paranoid and waved it off mentally. But really, what if that was the case? Any which way she looked at it, the girl looked like a delicate rose, so easily broken it truly made her concerned she was just as fragile as a petal. “That’s good, tougher than ye look. I like et,” she grinned, though refrained from slapping a paw on the other’s back in case she was one of the workers here. She didn’t want them thinking she was trying to take up the service of a brothel girl. Though maybe the other wouldn’t think that at all. It was really hard to tell but she didn’t want to mess up and get bitched at for touching the merchandise for free like one dive of a brothel girl had done to her once before. Drawing in a breath, she was surprised by the swift introduction, amazed she didn’t have to work for it at all. Maybe this wasn’t a worker after all. As drinks were pushed over to her, she slid it toward the new company and grinned, offering it to her. “Why, I’m Bellatrix and it’s a dandy delight to meet cha. I’d say ya name but don’t wanna chance ta slander it up for a purdy dame like ya! Any who, drink up, it’s all on me! So long as no Fredrick or Hughie tries to take advantage of me hospitality,” she laughed, slogging down one of her own glasses merrily and relished the burn as it went down. "Nother round!" she said, slapping her paw down with her finished glass.

when the party's over

The woman's comment had her smile pulling tighter. She was tougher than she looked -- after everything she'd endured in her life, she was still here. Then the woman offered her name and got a round for everyone. Aurelia decided then that she liked this woman, she seemed like a friendly type and that was refreshing. Some clients and patrons could be a little rough around the edges here but not Bellatrix; she was friendly and generous... so far.

"It's nice to meet you Bellatrix. I'll have one drink, but no more. Not a big drinker, I'm quite the lightweight." she said with a light giggle accompanying her words. She was so small it didn't take much to get her drunk and that was not her goal today. She didn't actually have a goal in mind today except checking on things and returning home to her children but that was what she usually did most days. It was a routine she'd gotten used to before they'd vanished but now that they'd come back she could return to her comforting routine. She just hoped the next time they decided to leave they'd tell her where they were going first. They were nearly grown now and it wasn't necessary but as their mother they would always be her babies and she would worry over them.

"What brings you to our tavern? she asked the other woman. She turned her head towards Bellatrix, the warm smile still on her face. She didn't know if this woman had been here before or if she knew Danya but it was obvious she did not know Aurelia yet.

code by claerie , image by Tomoko Uji