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.”
Lauma’s expression wavered, a slight frown finding its way onto her face. “Is that all I am to you now? An ordinary client?”
A low chuckle rumbled from the depths of Nefer’s throat. “Perhaps you are slightly more than an ordinary client. After all, you are the Lady Moonchanter, and I will treat you with the appropriate respect and care I give to all representatives of Nod-Krai’s factions. But in every other sense, yes. You may think I cave into your bizarre requests because you’re special, but surely you should know by now that I operate according to nothing more than my own interests. I am only involved with this because my dear Jahoda was so persistent to be a part of it. After all, it would be far too inconvenient to return to running the Curatorium without her, should she fall at Rerir’s hands.”
Lauma’s throat tightened, and before she could stop it, tears welled up in her eyes. The response was involuntary, a reaction to the emotional chaos that had gripped her ever since the fight at Silvermoon Hall. She had always known Nefer’s callousness, had grown used to it; it was foolish of her to react like this.
She shifted her position, moving from where she stood in front of Nefer to stand beside her, hoping to hide the sudden vulnerability that had overtaken her. Lauma's voice, barely audible, trembled when she spoke. “So, you repudiate that there was ever something between us?”
Nefer’s breath hitched momentarily. She did not – could not – refute that Lauma and her had history that went deeper than any other “client” relationship she had. But that did not mean she had to acknowledge it. It would be a foolish, reckless move to even recall that it had happened; it was an extremely poor business decision to have pursued a romantic entanglement with one of Nod-Krai’s most influential figures.
Nefer’s silence gave way for Lauma to continue. The Moonchanter turned her gaze to the wall in front of her, unable to meet Nefer’s eyes. “The last time I was here was over eight moons ago,” she murmured, her voice thick with unspoken memories. “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, or perhaps we were doomed from the beginning. But Nefer…” Her voice wavered, fragile. “Will you at least have the decency to tell me why you’ve come to harbour such hatred for me?”
Lauma’s entire body was taut, her heart racing with the anticipation of rejection. She half-expected Nefer to dismiss her outright, to end the conversation and carry on the ritual with Jahoda alone. Instead, the green-haired women reached out, her clawed fingers finding their way towards her chin, guiding her face so that their eyes met. For a moment, time seemed to still, both of their minds clouded with the many fond memories that had been formed in this very room.
But before Nefer could answer, a loud thud echoed from outside the door. Both women froze, the fragile closeness between them shattered in an instant. Nefer’s hand dropped, and they instinctively pulled away from each other, the weight of the moment slipping through their fingers.
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 laboured breathing, punctuated by protests for Jahoda to let her go. Nefer shook her head at the noise, clearly dismayed by Jahoda’s methodology and timing.
Lauma stood motionless for a beat, her heart still racing. She blinked, noticing that the tears had already dried up. She straightened her posture, regaining control over her emotions. With a deep, steadying breath, she eliinated the lingering tremor in her mind.
Nefer shot Lauma a glance, her traditional sly disposition replacing any softness that had briefly surfaced. “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.