Chapter Text
“Anyway, I know who you’re talking about. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back!” With that, Jahoda swiftly turned and dashed off, her footsteps echoing in the quiet room. Lauma watched as she disappeared from view, leaving her and Nefer alone in the room.
Nefer shook her head with a tangible sense of frustration. “Where would we even go? I just brought us here. It’s not like there’s anywhere else where we have the tools to access Rerir’s memories.” The statement was merely an expression of her thoughts – she did not seek out a response. Nonetheless, Lauma replied without a moment’s hesitation.
“You’ve got a superb employee there. She latches onto your every word like it is her ultimate source of vitality. Perhaps she is simply concerned we’d start the ceremony without her if she is untimely.”
Nefer scoffed, lifting her gaze slightly so her eyes met with Lauma’s. “She’ll take ten minutes at most. The shopkeeper she’s after operates within the vicinity. Besides, I need to cash in on that favour before we proceed.”
The response was brusque, its curtness making it clear that Nefer was not in the mood for idle conversation. Yet Lauma, ever the persistent one, lingered. For a moment, she hesitated, mentally weighing her options. Nefer was already on edge regarding the whole situation and her begrudging participation, not to mention the natural tension that had been lingering in their recent interactions. Pushing for conversation was, in every rational sense, a futile endeavour. The diplomatic choice would be to opt for silence, perhaps even step away and sit on a nearby chair or couch. Yet, despite the obvious indications that silence was safer, Lauma simply did not feel like maintaining this display.
The Moonchanter’s gaze settled on Nefer, a softness radiating from her eyes like a gentle light illuminating the path to a world unreached. There was something fragile in her expression, an almost ethereal quality, as though she were reaching out with more than just her eyes, hoping to connect in a way words couldn’t. Nefer made no attempt to reciprocate the eye contact, opting to continue peering down at the intricate design of Sumerian rug beneath her feet.
Lauma took a step closer, her presence quiet yet persistent, searching for any cracks in Nefer’s guarded façade. But Nefer remained as still as ever, her posture stiff. The air between them was thick with silence, heavy with the weight of that which was unspoken.
Lauma broke the stillness, her voice melodious as she spoke. “Nefer… it’s been quite some time since I’ve been in this room, hasn’t it?”
Nefer’s body tightened at the words, her eyes sharply diverting to Lauma for a brief moment. There was a flicker of reminiscence in her gaze, but it was masked as quickly as it was revealed.
“Hardly anyone enters this room. In fact, today was the first time Jahoda stepped foot in here, and she’s been my assistant for almost a year now. You know that I use this room primarily for my personal endeavours. It is unfit for me to welcome ordinary clients in here.”
A mischievous grin crept onto Lauma's face. “I was never here as an ordinary client. As you described it, our encounters here would have fallen very much under the category of 'personal endeavours.' Don't you agree, Miss Nefer?”
Nefer scowled, though Lauma could tell she was not genuinely upset at the mention of their past entanglement. Lauma had long since grown accustomed to Nefer's usual demeanour - callous and sly far more often than soft or kind. This was just how she reacted, a familiar defense.
Nefer’s piercing gaze met Lauma’s, her scowl slowly unfurling to her signature smirk. “I would have to agree with you on that, Lady Moonchanter. I can’t say that I’ve been so… intimately involved with other clients.”
Lauma shifted her position, stepping from directly in front of Nefer to stand beside her. It was impossible to bear the face-to-face contact in these quarters knowing that it would not develop in the manner it always had. The very presence of the room stirred something inside her, and how could it not? Every time she'd been here before, it had ended with her disrobed and lost in indulgence. Still, even, in her new position, she remained close to Nefer, the dorsum of her hand brushing against Nefer's own.
“The last time I was here was over eight moons ago,” Lauma spoke, her voice gentle and nostalgic. “You and I were on that sofa, bodies entwined just like we had been so many times before. And in each of those moments, I allowed myself to dream of a future where we would remain close. Perhaps I was naïve, but I wanted to believe we could work out. Despite my faith and your neutrality, I still wish to believe it could have worked.”
Nefer let out a long sigh, her shoulders rising and falling with the weight of it, “It was a poor business decision to pursue it, whatever it was. The Curatorium has to maintain its neutrality, and as its representative, I cannot let my impartiality interfere with my practice.” Her voice was flat, almost rehearsed, as though she’d expected this conversation and had prepared the words long before Lauma ever brought it up. Or, maybe it was just her way of justifying why everything had ended.
Had Lauma still been facing Nefer, she might have noticed the fleeting flicker of regret that passed across Nefer’s expression. But in this position, all Lauma could sense was the subtle shift of Nefer leaning closer, the warmth of their skin brushing lightly together as their legs and forearms made quiet contact.
For a moment, time seemed to still, both of them lost in the haze of shared memories that had once flourished in this very room. Lauma broke the silence, deciding there was no use in lingering on the somber mood, especially with the task of investigating Rerir ahead of them.
“Well, Lady Nefer, I would not be averse to recreating some of those encounters if you would be so amiable. Perhaps we could explore something new. After all, it’s good to learn new things - you were the one to teach me that. It isn’t like we can forget those truly ineffaceable experiences.”
Nefer laughed, one of her rare genuine ones. The sound was nothing short of majestic to Lauma’s ears, prompting a smile of her own in response. “Your boldness has finally begin to rival your beauty, Miss Lauma. But I don’t think we should be discussing such affairs when my employee is set to return at any moment. It would be unbecoming for her to hear of such discussions.”
Lauma wished to retort, but before she could answer, a loud thud echoed from outside the door. Both women grew alert, eyes darting towards the door. It wouldn’t have been the first time they had that response, but at least this time they were both fully clothed and engaged in nothing more than civil conversation.
The door slammed open, and Jahoda’s voice rang out, full of energy. “Boss Nef! I’m back!” Though neither Jahoda nor the shopkeeper were visible yet, Lauma could hear the shopkeeper’s labored breathing, punctuated by light-hearted protests for Jahoda to let her go. Nefer shook her head at the noise, clearly dismayed by Jahoda’s methodology and timing.
Lauma turned to smile at Nefer. “You really werequite accurate about her timing. I was fearful for a moment that it was one of your many customers.”
Nefer returned Lauma’s gaze. “Thankfully not. Nonetheless, this conversation is over,” she said, her tone final. Lauma nodded, her expression settling into one of quiet resolve, the moment’s emotional turbulence swiftly tucked away. Without another word the two women moved towards the door, their steps in sync as they headed out to meet Jahoda and their guest.