The day slowly sailed by, inch by inch, as the sun finally began its descent, and shadows began to grow. The Warlord, tired and suffering from the headache the long day of drinking had left him with, would finally finish his duties for the day. Grumpy as a bear woken in hibernation, red-eyed and limp tailed, the man would finally have a moment to check on his sister. He wasn’t sure if he hoped she fared worse, for starting it, or better, because he loved her. Maybe a little of both. He made his way to hre cottage, a large yawn splitting his muzzle and pushing past elongated fangs as he reached it. Lifting a paw almost lazily, the beast of a man ran it gently down her door, eliciting a faint scratching noise as fur scrapped against the material. “Io, you in there?” "Speech"

After she had rid herself of her nephews loving care, Iolaire really felt her misery. Upon coming back home, she instantly made herself a pain relieving concoction and drank loads of water. After that, there was nothing to do but sleep while Roan was out hunting. Sleep was good. Sleep was nice. When a voice rang out, pulling one gold-green eye open, Iolaire groaned. Was she in there? "No..." She really wasn't. Pulling back one thick fur, Iolaire peeked out of one of the two piles that acted as her front porch. She spied the blurry form of her brother and couldn't help but smirk. "Look who it is..." "Speech"

He knocked his head against the door as he waited for her response, groggy and out of it, but almost on the verge of laughing at himself, a self-deprecation feeling. Look at what he had gotten himself into, look at what the both of them had gotten into. ‘No’ was her home. Well, if she wasn’t home she couldn’t protest his intrusion, then. Her voice hadn’t come from inside, and when he slowly turned, he would find her bleary eyed peeking out from beneath thick coats. She nearly entirely covered but for that peeking eye. He laughed softly then, shaking his head, and then instantly regretting the motion. “Move over” he ordered, stumbling closer, and trying to crawl into the warm coat beside her. "Speech"

As her hungover brother caught sight of her, he snorted and moved in her direction, demanding that she move over. Iolaire gave her own snort and scooted to the side, holding the fur up so that her giant of a sibling could get as far beneath it as possible. "Oof... you big lug that's my tail." She pulled her tail out from beneath his hefty weight and positioned herself anew so that he wouldn't crush any of her extremities. Chuckling as the pair hid from the light of the sun beneath the furs, she spoke. "And how are you finding yourself today?" She didn't yet say how she had been found. She didn't tell him how his darling son had hounded her all morning. Oh, but she would when he asked. No doubt they would both have a hearty laugh over it. Although... laughing didn't sound too great right now. "Speech"

It took a bit of wiggling and effort to scout himself into the bedding. His sister’s coat was warm and soft, and with platonic gentleness, he leaned against her, most of his upper-body still out in the air. Only so much of the giant would fit. When she complained about his tail, he obligingly shifted his weight, freeing it. He knew he had to be gentle with his smaller family members. He dragged a second, loose blanket in range, and hooked it over his exposed head, tossing it at an angle so that it covered her head, as well. Nestled inside their blanket fort, the two of them hid from the last of the daylight. He grunted at her words, and got out one single response. “Regret” but it came with a soft laugh. “You?” "Speech"

With Sirius beneath the furs with her, she was much warmer than she had been before and she wasn't ashamed in the slightest to nestle up against him. Her brother's response brought an amused snort from her. "No regrets in the slightest. Even though we feel like garbage today, you have to admit we had a great night." There was nothing about that portion of the night that she regretted. They'd bonded so much the previous night, there was no way that she could regret. "How did things go with Zee?" Did he even remember talking to his wife? Could he even find her? Iolaire had gotten lost walking straight. How was she to know if Sirius even made it home? Io still had a bone to pick with those chickens. They were horrible listeners. "Speech"

[/quote]

He chuckled roughly, had had to admit, despite his dry throat and pounding head, it had been a fantastic night. He hadn’t let go in so long, he had almost forgotten what it was like to truly relax.
“You’ve got a point” he conceited. His sister often did.

“I did, I believe I pounded on the door yelling fit to wake the pack. She dragged me back inside and told me to sleep. I don’t remember much else, really. We still haven’t had a proper talk.” but at least now Zee knew he had some frustrations. That had to stand for something, right? He just wanted his Wife at his side, through everything. With a sigh, he plonked his head down on a dainty healer paw.

As Sirius spoke of yelling and banging on the door to his own house, Iolaire couldn't stop the laughter, though she wished she could have. Pain lanced through her skull in throbbing waves. Ahh.... there was the regret. Don't laugh anymore, you idiot. Her brother still seemed sad and didn't seem to have accomplished what he set out to do. When he placed his head on her paw, she placed her head on top of his, the furs flapping a little with the action. "I'm sorry. Maybe you two can talk today now that you're... more yourself?" Though she was definitely sober now, she was still quite upset with Zee for making Sirius feel this way. She hadn't seen the woman in quite some time and wondered where in the hell she was hiding and what she was doing. "Speech"

He leaned further against his sister, burying his face into the plush leg, taking in the scent of herbs and hearth. He imagined, for a moment, what it might have been like if they had been true siblings. If he hadn’t been born a slave, or her to a tyrant. What childhood memories might they have gathered together? He imagined they would have found the mead at an early age, and driven their parents crazy. The thought had a sour tinge to it. He had no memories of his parents at all.

“Yeah, I don’t think she wanted to talk to the raving, drunk version of me” he agreed, amused at just how much he had made her laugh. That laughter reminded him… “You didn’t say. Did you wake up at the bottom of a hill?” he asked. He vaguely remembered her beside him at one moment, and gone at the next.

He seemed to be lost in thought and Iolaire nuzzled into the back of one big ear in a comforting manner. She truly loved the big guy. They didn't spent nearly enough time together. She was certain that things would level out soon and they would be able to do so once again. "Aww, but the raving drunk version was so fun!" She snickered again, then grinned as he questioned her, though he wouldn't see it. Had she been at the bottom of a hill? "I'll do you one better. This morning I woke up in the hen house, covered in feathers and chickens." Not her finest moment. "Mort found me. The boy was thoroughly confused." The woman snorted softly, an amused grin on her face. "How anyone can be that chipper so early in the morning, I have no idea." He was a great kid though. Without his assistance, she probably would still be asleep in the hen house. "Speech"

It was almost strange now to be the one receiving the comfort, instead of delivering it. He leaned into her nuzzle, welcoming it. The trust between brother and sister was immense. Io had entered his world like a breeze, but had remained with the stability of an old oak. Reliable and strong.

He snorted at her assessment of his drunk version. He had certainly found drunk Io to be a riot. He didn’t think he had ever heard her sing so loudly, or off key. He would give away so many days of his life to hear that sound with frequency. It was to him the sound of delight.

When she corrected him on where she had woken, he burst out in surprise laughter, a bark of amusement before he stifled it. “Oh, Io” he said, voice still heavy with his amusement. “Did they at least sing better than you did?” he could just imagine Mort buzzing around her with a hundred questions. That would have been such an amusing sight.

Iolaire cleared her throat as Sirius burst out into laughter. She wasn't angry at all. She'd brought it on herself. Besides, talking about her own misery might make him feel better about his own. He asked if the chickens had better singing voices than she did and the small fae made a sound of protest. "The chickens weren't singing. I was trying to explain to them why people ate them." In her drunken state, she was intent on forming a little chicken militia.  Turn the chickens into warriors and they would never be eaten again. Now... she realized just how stupid that was. Chickens didn't even taste that good. "I eventually shook Mort off. That's why I'm under the furs. I'm incognito." She frowned. "Well, at least I was until you stuck your head under here. Kind of obvious now, eh?" She grinned and snuggled against Sirius once more. "Speech"

“Hah! I think if I let them get eaten, Odette and Zee will hang me by my beans. Strictly eggs only, i’ve been told” he shook his head at the sentimentality of the girls. So long as Odette cared for them, caught them, owned them, he didn’t care. Guarding them had provided entertainment for some of his children.

When she spoke again, he started laughing, and struggled to stop. Laughing, coughing, and groaning as it shook his body, he turned his head from his sister. Best not to cover her in all that. When at last he managed to stop, he shook his head. “That does explain the blanket fort. I’m impressed you managed to shake him. When he sets his mind to bothering someone...”

“And please, subtle is my middle name. He’ll never suspect this shaking pile of blankets”

As Sirius laughed at her former misery, Iolaire gave her brother a few playful kicks. She laughed along with him, however. Her own head thumped, though not as badly as his would be. She had drank her fill of water, had a bite to eat, and had taken a hefty dose of willow bark. "You didn't know where I was. How was he supposed to know where I was? He's probably off following Malalia around." She knew that the boy had taken a liking to the young wolf.

Again she prodded Sirius with her paws. "Does your head hurt? Want me to make you something?" She could whip him up a pain reliever cocktail. He'd also need to hydrate and eat a bit when he was able. At least his night hadn't been as... eventful as hers had. Iolaire didn't like chicken nor was she a fan of eggs, but she might eat one just to get even with them for using her as a roost.

The Warlord snorted softly, also having noticed how much time he spent in his Reapers company. “True enough, so long as they don’t distract each other from their duties, I see no harm in their friendship” he said, telling Io with his words that he had seen what she had. Luckily, Mortis was still too young for a relationship, so that wasn’t a can of worms he had to open any time soon.

He yawned, resting his head back down on Io’s neck ruff. The improtue expansion of her hideout made the whole thing much less subtle. But he had a feeling if Mortis really wanted to find her, he would have by now. “Mmmm, maybe something for the nausea” he agreed. He didn’t like to be anything less than his best.

Gods, she hoped Mort didn't find her again. Her brain couldn't handle any more questions today. Sirius claimed needed something for nausea and Io wiggled out from beneath his weight. She slid from the furs and headed into her cottage. It was still too damn bright outside and she squinted against the light. Once inside, she threw together a concoction of herbs that would help with both nausea and the throbbing that she knew he still felt in his head. She mixed it in a small dish of water and, grabbing a skin of water, she went back out to the furs.

Rather than crawling beneath, she lay atop the pile, but not on top of the fur that still draped over her silly sibling. Placing the dish before him as well as the skin of water, she gave instruction. "Drink all of that. Also drink the water. Hydration is key. Everything else will fall into place after." Io gave her brother a playful nudge. "Want to drink again tonight?" Green and gold eyes flashed mischievously, but she was far, far from serious.

He was reluctant to let her crawl past him. She was warm and comfortable and he was almost snug enough to sleep off the last of the lingering effects of the alcohol. But alas, io was in healer/sister mode and he knew there was no topping her. He shuffled over to give her room to pass, and let his head lay against the cool wood of her cottage deck as he waited for her to return.

He had half nodded off when she returned, laying on top of the piles, near him, as she delivered her medicine. He obligingly drank one, and then the other, downing them in short order. “Ha!” he snorted in surprise amused at her words, almost losing the last mouthful of water. “Maybe not tonight, I’m sure the Armada dosen’t want a drunk at its head” he teased. “We should sneak out, and go on a hunt, instead” he was too much enjoying his time with his sister to suggest heading their own ways for the night.

Sirius looked rather silly with the fur still draped over his head and neck and Iolaire couldn't help but giggle. He was such a goof, but he probably didn't even realize that he looked like a little old maid. That made the situation all the more funny and Io had to fight not to dissolve into a fit of giggling. She actually placed one paw over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut tight.

Her jumbo sized sibling suggested a hunt rather than more drinking. Had he accepted her offer of heavy drinking again, she would have internally screamed. "A hunt, eh?" Ears perked and she tamped down the giggles. "Anything particular in mind?" It had been quite some time since she'd hunted. Honestly, she didn't need to anymore and she was much too small and thin to bring down anything worthwhile. Others left her gifts of meat and Roan hunted for them. Might be good to get out of the den for a while, especially if it was with Sirius. Besides... she and Roan would be leaving soon. It would be good to spend some quality time with Sirius before that journey began.

Sirius raised a brow, and patiently watched as she reacted to the sight of him. Was she… still drunk? Surely not. He huffed slightly in laughter at the beautiful sight of her amusement. He shook his head, and gave her a moment to regain her composure, tossing around his old-lady shawl with the motion.

“I’m open to suggestions” he said, crawling free of the last of the coats with a sigh and a stretch of his muscles. He popped a few of his joints with the motion, and knew age and old wounds were slowly finding him.

He took a few short steps, and stopped in front of Io, blowing a soft gust of air over her nose. Some of the gift-food she received had been from Sirius himself. Less, since Roan had proposed to her.

Sirius' breath tickled her nose and the small woman wrinkled her dusty blue nares momentarily. He was up for suggestions, eh? "Hmm..." she began, head tilted in thought. "Deer are boring, but tasty and useful. Plus we wouldn't have to go terribly far. What do you think?" It wouldn't do to be away all hours of the night. They could have a quick hunt and be back before anyone knew they were gone.

Iolaire gave a little stretch as well, her slender frame elongating as she extended forelegs first, then back legs. Her fur bristled as she lowered her front half to the ground with her spine arched. The stretch felt so good that a yawn pulled from her as well. Once finished, she shook out her sleek pelt and fixed her brother with that green and gold gaze. Ultimately, she would make him choose what they hunted. She didn't really care that much. All that mattered was that they were spending time together.