She hadn’t made people aware of her plans, but knowing her watchful other half he would soon be informed by someone, if not come across them himself.
Nothing nefarious mind you, just a box full of edible treats that she’d make once acquiring all the ingredients. It was something she had used to do for the kids back in the early days of the C, alongside making various healing drafts and antidotes for when the boys got too excited with dabbling in poison. Luckily things had changed… at least she’d hoped so, ever since she’d put the wizard in his place when it came to Nairn’s flock of orphans things had been relatively quiet.
Besides the whole Haulean fall out.
It wasn’t the boy's fault, Meg reminded herself. His father just… struggled. Connecting with other people, strangers, especially people important to him, was difficult for him. Nairn was a man aware of many things, and blind all at once, but with patience one could find a chink in his armour. She herself had waited decades for three important words to be spoken, not tapped against her skin, but out loud.
Meg’s finger rubbed against the ring, turning it around as she stood at the vendor’s stall thinking. A small smile crawled across her face as she felt the flap of a pocket shift, her hand snatching out to wrap around the wrist of the pickpocket.
It’s a sweet thing you do, she offered, the bright green hues of her eyes soon shifting to find him. The candy? Gently she released him, dipping into the pocket to produce the said boiled candy sweet. It’s something I’d do too honestly.
Well word had definitely gotten around that Meg was out and about. And Haulean... well. He hadn't had a chance to actually see or talk to her, since everything had happened. Nairn had said things were all good, and he trusted Nairn, but. Well. It wasn't exactly the same as being told directly, now was it? And the boy had been too scared to seek her out, til he'd gotten his words together... and his nerve. But... like father, like son, Haulean had decided to follow her and keep an eye out for her... just in case. Yup.
Everything was going fine. Nobody'd tried to pick her pocket or otherwise be mean -else Haulean would likely have done something to intervene or... well... prank the heck outta them. But then they'd passed a candy stall, and Haulean hadn't been able to resist. He'd bought one that he thought she'd like best, and decided to try and slip it in her pocket. That way, when she eventually found it, maybe... maybe she'd know it was him -cos honestly, who the heck else pulled stunts like that?- and maybe she'd realize it was his way of saying 'hi' or... ya know. Wanting to talk. And showing affection.
But he got so dang nervous that he wasn't as careful as he could've been, and the next thing Haulean knew, his hand was caught! The boy squeaked and blushed as he turned those big eyes up at her, looking altogether bashful. "I... I just wanted... to give you a lil smile." he said bashfully. "I promise I didn't take anything... I'd never take from family. I mean! Um. Well. Yeah..." Goda above, he was blushing scarlet. He hadn't meant to blurt out the F word but... that's what she was, right? Always have been. Now it was just slightly... different.
Meg’s head tilted upwards, quickly realising he was taller, not quite his father’s height, but perhaps in time he’d maybe grow into it. Her smile came easy, widening further as she saw more and more of Nairn’s mannerisms bleed through. To calm him some, Meg reached to squeeze his shoulder. It’s okay, Haulean. Unlike your Da’ I’m not gonna be making you jump through some hoops.
Being brought in as an adult was different from being a child, the kids had to work, train and pass tests before they were sent out. Better they were prepared and suffered a little for it than be out on a job to only land up dead. Megara had already studied under her mentors for years before her abandonment; she'd already proved herself in the C’s eyes.
She caught the F-word, but neither drew attention to it, or acknowledged it yet. His reddening face though caused her to chuckle, his expression all too familiar. You get just as red as he does. Chuckling, Meg offer him the basket she was carrying, urging him to take it. Well, since you’ve decided people need a smile, you’re going to help me bake the cookies. Seem fair? She arched a brow, fully expecting him to take the goods while she finished paying the vendor.
The shoulder squeeze did help a bit. As well as the words. And boy oh boy did she have the right of it about the danged hoops! Nairn had put Haulean in such a state, thinking he was being sent away, then telling him he'd have to kill somebody to stay in the C... only for it to be an elaborate way of making Haulean stand up for himself and put his foot down. Ooh Haulean had been mad! But. Well. It hadn't lasted long when he'd gotten hugs.
Hugs! Oh... right... he was s'posed to... uh....
The color in the boy's cheeks deepened, when Meg said he got as red as Nairn, and he awkwardly accepted the basket. "Kay. Um. I... do..." Gods. The boy was trying to ask if it was okay to give her a hug, but he was finding words failing him at the moment. Why were things so weird now? He'd always been able to talk to her before...
Heck with it. Taking a breath and throwing caution to the wind, Haulean just stepped right up and scooped Meg into a snuggly, squeezy hug right then and there, not caring who saw. "M'glad you want me. And... I know things're gonna be a bit weird for a spell. But. I love you and Nairn all there is. And uh... maybe someday... I can call you mamae? Only when you're comfy with it. Or never. Now I made it weird. Sorry."
Heck... his face felt even more red. He shouldn't've just blurted all that out on the spot, but he couldn't seem to make the words stop, once they started. This was why he'd make a terrible spy. Couldn't lie to save is life.
Hoops were not how Meg operated. A gentle, but firm hand? Certainly. This new reality though was taking her a little to become accustomed to. Time, and not much, would eventually have the healer’s guard lowered completely. Frankly, when he hugged her in that moment, her hesitancy almost gave in to her inner turmoil completely. For too long the idea of a family had been buried beneath layers of grief over the “loss” of Nairn. Having a child of her own was never a possibility, one that Meg had long accepted, but still felt the sting of. Doubly so with Nairn’s son having spent so long under his care without acknowledgement.
Um… and then she’d laugh softly, her arms tucking around to pat his back, a soft squeeze returned. I’m… glad, Haulean. It’s not a question of want though.
Mamae? Creators above…
Megara was glad he couldn’t see her face, a mixture of emotion flickered openly and like his father he would probably interpret it wrongly. One… one day at a time, yeah? My heads still spinnin’ a bit. You… you might not like me as it. Ruth certainly doesn’t.
Chuckling, Meg wriggled out of his hold, ruffling his head as she straightened. His face had her hand attempting to stall anymore laughter at the lad's expense, rolling her eyes playfully. C’mon, those cookies aren’t going to make themselves. Let’s get back to the C’s kitchen and we’ll whip up the kids a treat, eh?
