Oil and Water | Arcane | Silco | Sevika

You

     The rhythmic sound of the water lapping against the creaking boardwalk nearly puts Mayve into a hypnosis. She stares out at the dark sea, her mind thinking of her daughters. They are young, impressionable. Mayve must protect them at all costs.

She thinks of Ekko next. He always knows where the good jobs are despite only being in the single digits of his age. He's attentive and intelligent. Something Zaun needs. Mayve has a feeling he will do good for this city one day.

     The docks are peaceful around this time of the evening. The firelights flutter above the water, their green glow illuminating a tiny fraction of the surface. Everyone else is home, ready for sleep. Others are at the bar. Mayve is here, enjoying these small moments of peace. It helps her to forget the painful memories of what she witnessed that day on the bridge.

     The crisp, earthy smell of tobacco pulls Mayve out of her mind. It reminds her of someone close to her heart. The scent is aromatic and woody with a hint of vanilla, yet spicy at the same time. She looks around in an attempt to pinpoint the source. It appears to be only her on the dock. No one else. She turns back around to face the water. A cool breeze blows to her, being carried by the waves to shore. It loosens a few strands of hair from her long braid.

Vander is currently at The Last Drop. He decided to have his sister go alone to meet with Silco due to unknown reasons he will probably never tell her. At the time, Mayve didn't want to press him for answers. He looked to be in a sour mood.

The sparkle of the firelights nears her as the waves push and pull at faster rates. They flutter over her head, a few coming to land briefly on her arms before taking off again.

"Beautiful, aren't they?"

A deep, proper-sounding accent speaks from behind her. It startles her, causing the firelights to put space between her and them. She stands to face the voice. A tall, thin man wearing all black from head to toe. He lifts a cigar to his lips, taking a long drag before putting it out on the railing. Silco.

With long, slow strides he stands before Mayve in a heartbeat. He brings a gloved hand up to a piece of her hair hanging freely from her braid, tucking it behind her ear.

"Red has always been your color." Silco moves to stand next to her, his presence becoming an overwhelming addiction. "It brings out the best of your eyes."

Mayve cannot bring herself to respond to his compliment. Her heart beats fast enough to ache. She gazes into his eyes with relief. He's here. He is really here. She hasn't seen him since the bridge and now he's here. Where has he been?

"Silco." His name escapes from Mayve's lips in a breathy whisper. Her body misses him, she can tell. Her heart yearns to feel his arms wrapped around her again, to feel his lips on hers.

A small smile wrinkles his fair skin. His heart is happy to see her again, alive and well.

"I need you to trust that everything will be okay."

This statement immediately pulls Mayve from her stupor. The longing in her heart replaces with worry. What is he talking about? Why wouldn't everything be okay?

"I will always trust you." Mayve holds his cheeks with both hands. "Please, tell me what's going on."

"I'm assembling another force to storm the bridge." Silco takes another step closer, now chest to chest with Mayve. "Vander has made some kind of... deal with Enforcer Grayson."

Silco takes a brief pause, looking up to the firelights fluttering over their heads towards the mainland. His eyes move to focus on the black water, knowing precisely what lurks beneath the choppy waves.