unexpected visitors (closed)

[Caipra]

caipra noticed the reaction of the crew. but she didn't pay attention to them.
She came close to Bryn and touched her face.

"You don't remember who you are, Right? All I can say for now is that my husband, Master Dimdim, and I, we know you for years. And I'm really happy to see that you're fine."

She took off her hand from Bryn and smiled to her.
"You must have a lot of question to ask me, don't you? But...there are some things that I would like to know first. I'm curious to know how you met Sinbad and his crew and..."

Caipra looked at Dermott still perched on Bryn's arm. He didn't say anything since his arrival.
Then she turned around and looked at Rongar, Doubar, Firouz...and Sinbad, before saying...

"Where is Maeve?"

[Rongar]

Rongar's eyes widened in shock! He should have expected Caipra to ask that question.

He winced as he anticipated Sinbad's explosion.

He, himself, felt a wave of helplessness everytime he thought of their fiery sorcerer's apprentice.

He could only sympathize with the pain Sinbad has felt this past year.

[alex]

Bryn gulped when Caipra had said Maeve's name. Certainly Caipra appeared to know her well, and she had given a little smile when Caipra had touched her face. She looked at Sinbad, took a deep breathe, then decided to answer Caipra for him. Slowly and softly she spoke. "Sinbad had found me on an island where I was being used as a sacrifice not long after Maeve had disappeared. Sinbad saved me and I had joined the crew. Maeve is currently under Dim-Dim's care.

[Doubar]

Bryn's answer was short and yet it betrayed everything that Caipra needed to hear - this Doubar was sure of. His gaze trailed to his little brother, who was still standing at the window, before he felt a silent sigh escape his throat. The first mate knew well enough that all the crew's and Caipra's attention was now lying on him. He who had been the closest to the Lass, who was the captain - he who wished for nothing else on earth than that she finally would be there with him again.
Doubar really wished he could spare his little one this moment of pain he was sure the younger man lived though right now. But he couldn't and he knew that. Not daring to speak about things that were connected to this awful night then, he decided to stay silent and leave it up to Sinbad to elaborate or not.

[Sinbad]

The question he had dreaded, the one that had even dampened his anticipation of going to meet their old friend again, as it seemed was inevitable.
Sinbad had not lied about feeling better, but part of his behaviour was a mask. Not just the behaviour of the last year, but in particular the behaviour of the last days and today. In a different way from the last year, but still. Whereas for all this time he had tried to stow away Maeve in some remote part of his memory to keep himself away from the pain, he had admitted to feel it now. And that was almost worse. It made him want to scream at the top of his lungs, to punch something. But he was the captain. He could not let himself go like that. Not in front of he crew and he never would.

He caught his brother´s gaze and averted his eyes, forcing himself though, to fix his gaze on Bryn instead of avoiding this alltogether and just looking out of the window. The brunette sorceress probably had no idea, but he had hardly ever felt more grateful for something she had done. She was sparing him the burden of an answer. She made it possible for him to keep his composure, even though his posture had become more tense with the mention of Maeve´s name. But he did not elaborate. Not now. He knew it would have exposed more than he would allow himself to expose right now.

[Rongar]

Rongar sighed.

Sinbad wasn't going to elaborate on Bryn's words.

He didn't expect him to really.

But, sometimes, it seemed that the only way he could express himself was through fighting; especially this past year.

He wondered why his friend couldn't let himself go in their presence. Yes, he was the captain, and yes he had some airs and a reputation to hold, but they were his friends and family.

If he couldn't reveal himself to them, who could he?

Then he knew. It was the answer he had always known.

Maeve.

Maeve was the one who made Sinbad face everything in the form of teasing, arguing, and yes even flirting.

Even then he held his feelings within himself, but Maeve had a special ability that seemed to bring it out of him; and in certain things he had the same ability with her.

He turned his gaze to the old sorceress and wondered what words of wisdom would come from her heart and soul. He hoped she'd have some comfort to offer Sinbad. He needed it even if he wasn't easily accepting it right now.

[Caipra]

Caipra was waiting for Sinbad to answer her question. she thought that the sailor would have said that Maeve stayed on the ship or that she was somewhere in the streets and that she was going to join them later.
but Sinbad's reaction didn't reassured Caipra. He seemed to try to contain something inside him. Something like...anger.
He didn't say anything...and the crew stayed silent too. And then Bryn answered briefly her question.

Maeve had disapeared. She was with Master Dimdim. Did that mean they were safe? Over the last two years, the old sorceress was worried about her husband who was lost somewhere in another dimension. And now Maeve was with him. now Caipra understood Sinbad's reaction. She had felt the same thing when her beloved husband disappeared. Anger, Sadness...
The rest of the crew seemed embarassed by the situation.
Concerning Caipra, she didn't expected their reunion to be like this...

After a long moment of silence, Caipra came close to Sinbad and said.
"I'm sure that Maeve is safe, Sinbad. I know that it's not enough to comfort you. But you have to keep hope. I never lost hope. I know that one day I will find my husband, and this day, you will find Maeve too."

Caipra smiled to Sinbad. She didn't say anything else. Seeing that the sailor would not say anything about this, the sorceress planed to talk to Dermott later. He may be able to give her more details.
Caipra turned around and faced everyone.

"Well. You must be hungry. And I'm not going to let you eat on your ship. I can take you to a tavern. I know her owner and I'm sure she will be glad to meet you. Besides, you could sleep there if you plan to stay some days here."
Caipra looked at Bryn.
"And we can talk there if you want"

Caipra had to give some answers to Bryn. She knew it. She just hope that the young sorceress would not ask her too many question.
There are some things that she shouldn't know...for now.

[Sinbad]

The silence had become awkward a few moments ago already, giving Sinbad the feeling of being a caged beast that wanted to get out. Therefore, the suggestion to... what had Caipra just said?... to go to a tavern?.. he was almost sure she had... came as a sort of relief.

Caipra spoke on before he could reply and again he was glad for it. For a fleeting moment, it occured to him that Caipra, of all people could maybe understand his situation best, yet some stubborn, childish part that had always been there and still was, just gave a nervous inner chuckle at comparing him and Maeve to Caipra and Dim Dim. The elderly sorceress had looked right through him and that wasn´t a feeling Sinbad particularly liked as much as he liked Caipra.
At the same time while this went through his head, another thought popped up. She had seemed surprised. Did that mean she was not in contact with Dim Dim? He felt fear stir in his heart even though the hand he extended for her didn´t shake. "That... sounds like a good idea." he said with a well practised smile, planning to lag behind a bit to ask her something as soon as the attention of the entire company was no longer focussed on him and the awkwardness his behaviour caused.

[alex]

Bryn smiled at Caipra's reply and nodded. She could use a bit to eat.

[Doubar]

Doubar had been very well aware of the awkwardness the old sorceress' question had caused and he was pretty sure that Sinbad was trying hard to keep his composure right now.
As if the wise lady had known what was going on, she had proposed them to go to a tavern - something they had planned to do anyway. And seeing both, his little brother and brunette approving this idea, he joined them, speaking softly: "We would like that, Caipra. And ..." A grumble coming from his stomach broke into his words and made him look down on his belly, smiling slightly as he did so. "Just lead the way", he then cheerfully voiced and moved to open the door for Caipra to step through.

[Caipra]

Doubar waited for Caipra to step through the door.
The sorceress took a step and stopped.
She looked at Doubar.

"Hum...I just want to take some stuff before going to the tavern. Just go! I'll join you outside in a few minutes!"

She smiled and watched Doubar, Bryn, Firouz and Rongar leaving the house.
Then she turned around and faced Sinbad. He hadn't moved.

[Sinbad]

He didn´t know whether Caipra´s words had just been a trick to buy her some time. By Allah, he hoped that he wasn´t that much of an open book to her. Nonetheless, Sinbad was glad the sorceress lagged behind, whether on purpose or not. Just as if he was about to leave for the tavern as Caipra had suggested, he left his place by the window sill and uncrossed his arms, but didn´t hurry after them. Instead, he adressed Caipra.

"So...you and Dim-Dim know Bryn? Are you still in contact with him?" he asked. His voice sounded almost as if he was more interested in the answer to the first question, but of course he was just betraying himself there. They hadn´t seen Caipra for a year and for a moment he could feel a mix of hope and anger against himself flare up inside him. Why hadn´t they come here earlier. If anyone was in contact with Dim Dim, then it was probably Caipra and if she was....

[Caipra]

Caipra understood that his last question was actually hiding another one.
She felt sad for him. Sinbad must had thought that Caipra could tell him if Maeve was alright and if there was only one way he could contact her.
Unfortunately, Caipra had no idea where her husband and the young sorceress could be.

"The story between Bryn Dim-Dim and I is a long story. We know her for years. I didn't have any contact with my husband since he had disapeared. I...I don't know where he is. I tried everything I could to find a way to contact him. But even my magic is not stronger to put an end to this spell."
Caipra felt this emotion coming. She didn't used to show them to anyone. She took a breath.
"But I'm sure he is okay. And Maeve too. If they are together, I know that my husband will take care of her. And like I told you, I'll never loose hope to find them one day. I know... that they will be back one day."

Caipra took Sinbad's hand and smiled to him.
"Now let's join the others. They are waiting for us."

[alex]

Bryn had walked through the door, following Doubar, Firouz, and Rongar. Doubar had opened the door for Caipra, but after hearing Capria's response, decided not to object and walked through the door. Firouz had thanked Capria again for their stay. But she had looked at Caipra, gave another slight smile, and walked out the door. She had sensed Caipra's motives but said nothing.

[Sinbad]

For a moment Sinbad meant to tell her that he kept being told that all the time. Keep hoping, one day she´ll be back. For a moment, his composure threatened to slip. But it didn´t. Somehow he managed to swallow the brief anger that flared up inside him. He hadn´t been like that when Maeve had still been around. It was difficult to remind himself of that, especially when in this moment he felt the spark of hope that he had briefly seen being extinguished again. So there was no way then.

I´m sure Maeve is okay... He hoped so. A part of him really hoped so, hoped that not only was she safe but that she was fine, too. If she was still indeed with Dim-Dim, what was that like for her? He could only count in his own experiences of the last year. He had hardly ever been safe... and he had never been further from being okay. And as much as it hurt to think that, a very small part, one that was mad at his egoism that let him to shy away from that very thought, hoped that it had been easier for her to let go than it had been for him. And at the same moment he knew that he was kidding himself.

All of this went through his mind in just a matter of seconds. New thoughts and old and most of them painful. Then he nodded. "We shouldn´t let them wait" he agreed with a nod and a faint smile, then moved towards the door.