Hello again! Sorry for the long wait, and a shorter chapter as a result. Finding time is just a hassle. But anyways, I hope this chapter is worth it! Mostly fluff this time, but we do get to see some different sides of Asilia and her relationship with her brother a little more (?). I apologize in advance for any mistakes, especially involving grammar. Not everyone is perfect :)
Anyways, I don't own this movie or the characters, AT ALL.
Also, I don't own the song. (But bonus points to whoever can guess where it is from)
Thanks!
Juliet
As the familiar building came into view, Asilia turned into the alley to reach the back entrance. It was dangerous for a woman who was not a prostitute to enter at night. Asilia entered from the kitchen door to find the kitchen full of people. Arthur was there, along with his close friends Back Lack and Wet Stick. Blue, Back Lack's son, was curled up by the stove sleeping.
"Good evening gentlemen," Asilia said. She hoped to make these pleasantries quick in order to avoid Arthur seeing her new bruise.
"Evening Lia," responded Back Lack followed by a greeting from Wet Stick.
"So what troubles did you all get into today?" inquired Asilia with a small smile on her face.
"Why Lia," said Wet Stick, "Us? Trouble? Now come on, that's absurd."
Asilia laughed, knowing all too well the mischief the men are far too capable of. She was curious, however, as to why Arthur had yet to speak or even look up from the papers he was reading, "Oi Arthur, no hellos for your favorite sister?"
Finally, Arthur looked up and gave a forced smile, "Well you are my only sister."
Confused by Arthur's short, lifeless response Asilia asked his comrades, "Eh, what's his issue?"
"I don't know," said Back Lack, "he's been this way all day."
"Aye," agreed Wet Stick, "been a bit of a pansy today,"
Arthur just grumbled something inaudible to the rest of them.
"What'd you say?" asked Asilia, hoping to poke her younger brother into giving some form of reaction, "Oh, I'd love to hear it."
Wet Stick quickly caught on, "Say it again, I ain't hear you."
"Look at him go, I think it was a lady," teased Asilia, "Is someone jealous? Oooo, or was someone told no?"
With over exaggerated dramatics Wet Stick continued, "Oh dear me, was our sweet princeling told no?" After, he burst into laughter.
"Just shut it already," growled Arthur.
"Oh look," said Asilia, "it speaks,"
"Enough," Arthur said sternly.
Wet Stick continued laughing, "It must have been a lady for him to give us a reaction like that!"
"Oh stop it would you!" Arthur yelled as he jumped to his feet, glowering at Asilia and Wet Stick. Back Lack just sat silently as he observed the others.
Asilia said monotone and sarcastically, "oh look. A reaction."
Arthur turned his glare to specifically target Asilia as he took a step closer to her, "What's your boss' name?"
"Excuse me?" Asilia said, unsure how to answer the out-of-the-blue question.
"You heard me," Arthur said daringly, "the man who you work for at the smithy."
"Jorgen," Asilia responded simply, and then hesitantly asked, "Why?"
Rather than responding, Arthur merely took a deep breath as though he was trying to control his temper.
"Oh no, you are not going to ask me a question and not provide a response. Why do you want to know?" Asilia tried to hide her confusion with sass.
"Nothing you need to know," Arthur said tightly.
At this, Asilia quickly became annoyed, "He is my boss Arthur, and that means this has something to do with my work. Now, once again, why do you ask Arthur?"
"I ask because of events that occurred today. Happy?" Arthur's response was quick, with a tone that Asilia did not appreciate.
"No," Asilia said sternly, "I am not happy. I am displeased with the content of your response and the tone of which it was given. Arthur, answer my question fully now. All I said when I walked in was a simple 'good evening' and you chose to be a prick about everything," Asilia could feel her temper rising, "and now you obviously are frustrated, then proceed to ask a vague question about my boss, and when I question why you give an even vaguer answer. If you still are a leech about the bruise of this morning, then that's your problem. Now if you excuse me, answer why you want to know. I have had a rather long day and don't want to deal with you if you're going to act like a child."
"Oi," said Back Lack, "take it easy Lia. You be letting your temper get the better of you."
"Oh now you wish to get in this Back Lack," Asilia retorted, "silent this entire time, and now you choose to get in it?"
"Lia," said Arthur, "Lay off!"
"No! Tell me what the hell is going on!"
"Goddamnit Lia, you really want to know!" Arthur stared down his sister, curling and uncurling his fists.
Asilia simply said, strangely calmly, "Yes,"
Arthur still would not answer Asilia. The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife, as the siblings stared each other down. Back Lack and Wet Stick watched in silence, as the siblings appeared to have a silent battle. Eventually, Arthur was the first to break the silence, grumbling something inaudible before storming out of the kitchen. After Arthur left, Asilia allowed herself to relax.
"What the hell was that Lia?" Wet Stick asked.
Asilia knew something was bothering her brother, but she didn't know what. Therefore she slowly answered Wet Stick with, "I… I don't know."
"Well I hope he snaps out of it," said Back Lack, "We have work to do in a few minutes."
"Do you need me to watch Blue?" asked Asilia, looking at the boy still sleeping by the stove.
Back Lack nodded, "Aye, that would be good."
"Ha, good luck," said Wet Stick, "that boy is a mountain of trouble. Back Lack had me watch him for ten minutes, and already the boy ran off."
"You lost Blue?" Asilia asked, trying to keep her teasing nature at bay.
"Ah," hesitantly began Wet Stick, "well, I ain't lose him, that's for sure. He just disappeared from my attention,"
Back Lack burst out laughing, "You lost him, you know you did."
"Awe, my poor Blue," Asilia said, walking to the stove and kneeling next to the somehow still sleeping boy.
"Besides Wet Stick," said Back Lack, "Lia has practically raised Blue. I ain't got any idea why you are worrying."
"Oof Lia," Wet Stick said with a smile, "No wonder that boy has some issues,"
The three of them laughed for a moment in response.
"Well," said Back Lack, "best we be going then. That brother of yours is probably far ahead by now. Thanks for watching Blue again,"
"Nah," said Asilia, "he's better company than you all anyways," she laughed a little.
Back Lack retorted with something about how Wet Stick was the worse company, but at that point, Asilia had stopped listening. She positioned the sleeping Blue so that his head was on her lap, and she was leaning against the wall. While the two men continued their jeering, Asilia stroked the boy's hair as he slept.
Asilia had raised Blue. Back Lack and Wet Stick had been best friends with her and her brother for as long as Arthur could remember. Back Lack's girlfriend, Muriel, had become part of the group too when she was still alive. After Muriel's family disowned her when she and Back Lack were expecting Blue out of wedlock, Muriel had come to live with them in the brothel. Her death during childbirth was hard on everyone, especially Back Lack who now had to raise a child on no money. Asilia had not yet begun fully working at the time, and while the men would go out to do their trade, Asilia would watch Blue. To the young boy, Asilia was the closest thing to mother he had ever had. To Asilia, her love for Blue was extremely strong. Nearly a decade later, Blue was growing to be a spitting image of Muriel. His big blue eyes, hence his name, were the exact same as Muriel's.
"Oi, Lia, we're going now," said Wet Stick, snapping Asilia out of her thoughts.
"Well then go on," said Asilia with a smile, "just don't bring any law enforcement home this time."
"Hey! That was only twice!" exclaimed Wet Stick, while Back Lack was leaving the kitchen.
"Eleven times actually," said Asilia a matter-of-factly, "you always forget about the fish story. Each individual person counts."
"Oh, yea, I did forget the fishy story."
"Exactly. Now go on! Back Lack has already left," laughed Asilia as she gave a genuine smile.
Wet Stick rushed out after Back Lack, leaving Asilia alone in the kitchen with Blue. It was silent, the only sound being the crackle of the dying fire in the small stove. Somehow, in all the silence, Blue began to stir.
"Lili, that you?" mumbled the barely awake child.
Asilia smiled and the nickname Blue had just for her. He was the only one allowed to call her something other than 'Lia'.
"Yes," softly responded Asilia, "it's me."
"It's cold down here," he sleepily complained.
Asilia softly laughed as she brushed the hair out of his eyes, "Then how about we go up, and get you under some covers?"
"Yeah, I'd like that very much Lili," Blue looked up at Asilia, obviously struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Well, come on then. You're too big for me to carry all the way up the stairs," Asilia slowly helped Blue stand up, before getting up herself and taking Blue's hand in her own. Together they made their way up the stairs, and down the hallway to Asilia's bedroom. She helped a sleepy Blue put on a set of nightclothes that she kept at the brothel because rather often Blue would spend the night.
Afterward, she helped Blue get into the bed, making sure the young boy was snug underneath the blankets before climbing in next to him. Once in bed, Blue took up his normal position of curling next to Asilia and burying his head in the crook of her elbow.
"Lili," murmured Blue.
"Yes Blue," Asilia whispered back.
"Can you sing me a song?"
Asilia smiled, and placed a kiss on Blue's head, "Of course,"
Asilia began to sing the only lullaby she knew, taught to her by her mother. She would sit next to her mother and listen to her mother sing it to Arthur when he was a baby. After her parent's death, she would often sing it to Arthur whenever he was scared. Asilia closed her eyes, and let the song flow out of her.
Hush now, my dear
Close your eyes and sleep
Waltzing the waves
Diving the deep
Stars are shining bright
The wind is on the rise
Whispering words of long-lost lullabies
Oh, won't you come with me?
Where the moon is made of gold
And in the morning sun
We'll be sailing
Oh, won't you come with me?
Where the ocean meets the sky
And as the clouds roll by
We'll sing the song of the sea
When she opened her eyes, Blue was once again sound asleep. She placed a kiss on his cheek and readjusted the covers. She stared at the ceiling and prayed. She didn't know to whom, or what, or how. Rather, she wished and gave gratitude, and hoped.
"Please, whatever is out there? Protect my family. I will do anything, just keep them safe,"