Water Wings [Goblin]

[Juno]

Idris frowned as he watched her little tantrum, the stubbornness of her crossed arms causing his brows to pull together as he studied her and tried to make sense of what she was asking. "Stephen isn't here," he tried to explain. "He isn't coming with us. Let's go, Vanora." He beckoned her with his hand, fully expecting her to follow this time. "I don't have all day, you know."

[GoblinFae]

She was just about to protest further when an unmistakeable voice called out from further in the house demanding to know what all the commotion was about. Vanora momentarily froze in panic at the human woman's voice before immediately darting out the open door and behind Idris where she promptly attempted to press against his back and hide herself.

[Juno]

"Nothing! We were just leaving!" Idris called in answer, rolling his eyes as he watched Vanora finally joining him. Curiously, he wondered if she was afraid of their mother with the way she seemed to be hiding behind him. "Come, Vanora," he beckoned her, reaching to take her arm to lead her towards their stables. "Are you going to keep being stubborn? Or are you going to tell me where you're from?" he tried again.

[GoblinFae]

Vanora was easily coaxed by Idris into following him with his hand on her arm. She was far too focused on casting furtive glances behind them back towards the house where the woman's voice had sounded from. The Selkie did not even notice that Idris was speaking to her as his words washed over her like lazy waves upon the shore.

[Juno]

He was not angry, but Idris watched her with wary eyes for her continued lack of communication with him. It seemed odd she had not tried to reach out with anything other than names and what apparently seemed to be her native tongue.

"Stay here," he commanded, removing his hold on her arm for a few moments to prepare a horse for their travels. He was perfectly fine and relaxed until his brother decided to turn up, his attention drawn from their mother's squawking.

"Leaving so soon, Vanora? Without a goodbye? I'm hurt," Stephen teased, Idris grunting his displeasure as he fiddled with saddle straps.

"Yes, we were just leaving," he answered for her, peeking over his horse's shoulder with a glower.

"Momma is hurt you haven't said hello. And I promised Vanora breakfast. Have you eaten?" Stephen was quite used to his brother drifting in and out of their lives with his work. The lack of formalities didn't personally bother him.

"Mother is always hurt... And no, we haven't. I thought it was very important I get this poor girl home," Idris explained, already assuming the reason for her stay at their home.

"Well she just can't leave without it! I won't have you breaking my promises to her," Stephen protested. "Are you hungry, Vanora? I'm sorry he's rushing you out so soon."

[GoblinFae]

She made to follow, not understanding the command to remain, until she became distracted by the main strange instruments and pieces of equipment she found about the stable. It was Stephen's voice soon after that kept her from getting into any trouble though as she called back his name and rushed over to his side like an excited child.

The males spoke quickly to each other, Vanora's head following back and forth but unable to understand until once again she was being addressed. "Stephen féidir liom a bheith ar mo chóta do thoil?" she begged moving her arms about her person as if pulling her precious coat on then wrapping her arms about herself as if she as cold. Surely now he would give it back to her if he had it. What could he possibly want with her or it if all he had seemed intent on doing was clothe her and offer her a nest for the night?

[Juno]

The elder brother stared at her making her gestures with open-mouthed confusion, unsure what she was asking of him. "Hmm? Cold?" he guessed. "We'll be sure to get you a coat before you head out, but I insist you stay to eat at least."

"Fine," Idris finally conceded, tying off his horse once he was finished. "Breakfast, coat, and not a minute of chatter from Mother."

"That's for her to agree to," Stephen pointed out with a chuckle. Then, offering a hand to Vanora, beckoned her again as he moved to exit the stables and return to the house, "Come along, dear." Idris eyed his brother warily, unsure why he was treating the girl as some honored guest when it was already certain in his mind they'd had a falling out after an evening romp. There was no other explanation to him as to why she'd been in his bed in the first place.

[GoblinFae]

Vanora eagerly accepted Stephen's arm, hurrying to his side like an excited puppy to its master's side. She smiled at him broadly, hoping to convey her gratefulness despite all the misunderstandings and lack of proper communication between them all. Stephen certainly seemed to be a better human than the other scarier version of himself that insisted on gruffness and bossiness to confuse her.

[Juno]

Idris scowled as he watched the way she rushed off to his brother's side. It shouldn't have bothered him, but he felt he'd been more than accommodating to her and yet she still seemed to prefer the company of a man who he was certain had broken her heart in some way or another.

He followed them back to the house and was grumpy as before while he settled at his seat at the table.

"I'm so sorry about him," his elder brother apologized, offering the girl a sympathetic smile as he tried to spark conversation with her once more. "I had no idea he was planning on coming home, but... I suppose he's here now. Are you well? How did you sleep?"

[GoblinFae]

The young Selkie only smiled up at Stephen, unable to understand a word of what he was saying but nevertheless comforted by his gentle tone. "Stephen cuidich Vanora?" she voiced, hoping he would make assist her with finding her missing coat. As an extra effort she mimed pulling it close around her shoulders as if warding herself against the cold. Her eyes were wide and hopeful as she looked at first one brother then the other in deep concern. Already one day from the sea and Vanora felt homesick and downtrodden. She wanted her family, her nest, her waters, her coat. She wanted to go home and she knew she never would be able to as long as she was separated from her skin that kept her forever chained to the shore.

[Juno]

"She doesn't speak our language," Idris pointed out grumpily, a bit peeved his brother was trying to talk with her after all the trouble he'd been through that morning to try and coax it out of her.

Stephen looked back at him but only shrugged, completely missing her gestures. Idris raised a brow, recognizing it again but not understanding why she would be cold. "She needs a coat," the younger brother decided, not realizing the kind of coat the girl sought was much different than what he had in mind.

"Well I'll get her settled at the table and you can go fetch her one," Stephen snickered, unwilling to give up his spot at the little lady's side. It earned him a glare from Idris but he didn't quite care so long as their temporary guest was comfortable.

"I'll get you a coat, Vanora," he told her before veering off towards the living quarters once they were inside.

[GoblinFae]

Vanora followed along with Stephen, hoping that his direction meant he was taking her to the one thing she wanted more than anything. When the other man parted company with them though, she instantly took notice and looked after him feeling completely confused. A moment later she addressed this confusion by tugging on Stephen's sleeve before pointing at his brother's disappearing back. "Idris?" she asked, hoping to understand where the man she had spent the night with was off to.

[Juno]

Stephen looked down for the gentle tugging on his sleeve with wide, questioning eyes. He blinked stupidly for a few moments, not understanding if she was entirely ignorant to their conversation or if she had another question about his brother. "He's getting you a coat," he reminded her gently, reaching with his free arm to mimic the gesture she'd made before that had caused him to go retrieve one. "For the cold."

He led her to the dining room without stopping, though, pulling out a chair for her near the already set out food. It took more than a few stern hand motions for him to shoo his mother from the room and leave them in peace.

Idris returned quickly enough, hurrying through the same door the pair had come through to present her with a coat already open and outstretched. "Here's a coat," Idris explained. "So you aren't cold anymore."

[GoblinFae]

She took to her seat quickly, although Vanora cast many wary glances towards the men's mother after all the scares the woman had given her. She still did not trust the human woman and even feared her for all her screeching. It was a massive relief to have the woman gone and peace for her and Stephen both.

Idris' return brought both hope and confusion. When she saw him without her precious coat though her spirits faltered once more. Vanora tilted her head in question, looking first from the strange garment to the man and then to his brother as if seeking an answer that no one seemed able to provide.

[Juno]

Idris just stood there staring at her expectantly. She'd been cold, right? So why wasn't she taking it? He twitched slightly in irritation but Stephen put out a staying hand to his shoulder to keep his younger brother from just dropping the thing on her.

"Vanora," Idris grumbled, patience running thin but willing to try again. "Here. Is. A. Coat. Wear it, please."

[GoblinFae]

Vanora recognized her name and instantly straightened, hoping that the single world alone would somehow unlock the barriers of communication for them and she would suddenly know where they were keeping her precious coat.

Sadly though this was far from the truth. Idris's stern tone caused her more confusion as she looked from the garment to the man again. Slowly, as if approaching an injured and wild creature, she shuffled her way over to him and reached a hand out to take the cloth from him, without understanding it's purpose or his intentions.

[Juno]

His eyes brightened hopefully as she took the garment. Idris stared at the Selkie expectantly, an encouraging smile reaching his lips.

"Go on," he found himself whispering, a gentle voice directly contradicting how tense he was and seemingly about to explode. His brother's hand fell away as he also turned to watch, though he was careful not to stare as his brother was.

[GoblinFae]

She accepted the cloth but did not put it on as was Idris's intention. Instead she began to pull at it and thoroughly inspect it inside and out in hopes of finding her precious coat tucked away within it's strange confines. Coming up empty only made her slump further in defeat. With a deep, resigned sigh she offered the clothing back with a tearful shake of her head.

[Juno]

Idris watched her expectantly but his features quickly became twisted in confusion as she thoroughly inspected the offered coat. Was it a material she hated? He frowned as it was held back out to him and he shook his head, holding up his hand to refuse it and gesture at her.

"No, no, it's for you," he insisted gently, not understanding the sadness in her eyes now. "To wear," he explained slowly, bringing his hands up towards his shoulders to gesture like he was shrugging into a coat.

[GoblinFae]

Vanora tilted her head in confusion. Was the strange human suggesting that if she moved her hands in the required ritualistic pattern that her coat would suddenly appear? It was certainly worth an attempt. Resolutely, the Selkie woman swung the fabric behind her back and across her shoulders. Every line of her body spoke of her tense waiting for something to happen. When nothing did though, Vanora made the gesture twice more with a pause in between with no avail. Defeated, she shook her head and again tried to hand the cloth back to the one who called himself Idris.

"Tá sé ar aon úsáid," she murmured sadly. The cloth was of no use to her.