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estdeus_innobisEvening of Thursday, September 10, Day 102
Garden behind the Whitechapel Inn
My twenty-third birthday.
Dear Valmont, he is trying so very hard to make this a happy day for me! Waking with a kiss (even though I could hardly sleep last night), flowers on the breakfast table. And telling me that I should take the day off to luxuriate, which was wonderfully tempting, but I had to go back to the library. I did not want to feel that I was being kept away, for if I were, then Lysander would be winning. And I had to make sure that the library would still feel tranquil to me after yesterday - I don't want to lose that peaceful place I have found there.
When I walked in and saw the chaos that Lydia had made, I laughed until I cried. Or possibly the reverse - it was rather hard to tell at the time. And then we straightened the books up, and when I was done, I turned around to find a little book of poetry that had not been there before on the front desk, tied with a bow, and my smile came back.
And then Valmont came to walk me home, and we have kept happily busy and distracted with setting up the party. Through some unspoken pact, we have not mentioned Lysander all day. The thought of what happened yesterday still makes me feel as if I am falling...but I will not fall,and I will not let it ruin today, for today is about my new life and all of the people who belong to it. Valmont. My new friends. And...well, some of those coming are 'people' only in a rather loose sense of the term. But I would not want to risk bringing ill fortune down on myself by not inviting my people's gods! And there's Chester as well, who I suppose doesn't exactly count as a person either. Ah, Excolo guest lists. There's something comforting in that very oddness, though. People, creatures, gods - they are all part of Excolo and my new life. My new year.
The lanterns dance in the trees; the light of the setting sun glints off of the wine bottles and glasses, and I wait in the garden, feeling a little bit of peace. Let today be free of unhappiness, please! Let me be safe in the garden on my own day...
[Open to party guests]
Garden behind the Whitechapel Inn
My twenty-third birthday.
Dear Valmont, he is trying so very hard to make this a happy day for me! Waking with a kiss (even though I could hardly sleep last night), flowers on the breakfast table. And telling me that I should take the day off to luxuriate, which was wonderfully tempting, but I had to go back to the library. I did not want to feel that I was being kept away, for if I were, then Lysander would be winning. And I had to make sure that the library would still feel tranquil to me after yesterday - I don't want to lose that peaceful place I have found there.
When I walked in and saw the chaos that Lydia had made, I laughed until I cried. Or possibly the reverse - it was rather hard to tell at the time. And then we straightened the books up, and when I was done, I turned around to find a little book of poetry that had not been there before on the front desk, tied with a bow, and my smile came back.
And then Valmont came to walk me home, and we have kept happily busy and distracted with setting up the party. Through some unspoken pact, we have not mentioned Lysander all day. The thought of what happened yesterday still makes me feel as if I am falling...but I will not fall,and I will not let it ruin today, for today is about my new life and all of the people who belong to it. Valmont. My new friends. And...well, some of those coming are 'people' only in a rather loose sense of the term. But I would not want to risk bringing ill fortune down on myself by not inviting my people's gods! And there's Chester as well, who I suppose doesn't exactly count as a person either. Ah, Excolo guest lists. There's something comforting in that very oddness, though. People, creatures, gods - they are all part of Excolo and my new life. My new year.
The lanterns dance in the trees; the light of the setting sun glints off of the wine bottles and glasses, and I wait in the garden, feeling a little bit of peace. Let today be free of unhappiness, please! Let me be safe in the garden on my own day...
[Open to party guests]
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 04:20 pm (UTC)See turns as bright as her hair, stumbles over an excuse and flees to talk to, well, anyone else but me. I'd laugh if it weren't for the week I;ve been having.
Look at Valmont and arch an eyebrow. "Large, black dog I assume?" I ask a bit dryly. "Works been a bear this week..." All because of a stray dog...
"And if that dog was a stray, then I am the Queen of England."
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 04:24 pm (UTC)"And if that dog was a stray, then I am the Queen of England."
"Lovely as you'd look in a tiara," I say, matching his dry tone, "I believe we both know what - who - that dog was." I raise my eyebrows slightly. "I must say, Lucien, you cope very well with Wanda's more... unusual friends," I continue. "Sorry to hear work has been a pain. Nothing too horrid, I hope."
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Date: 2009-02-09 04:49 pm (UTC)"I must say, Lucien, you cope very well with Wanda's more... unusual friends," I raise an eyebrow and manage a grim smile at that. "Cope? That's a good term. Lets say I am between the rock and the hard place. I hate it, but what happens when I try to intervene? Or she refuses his advances?" Down the punch in one swallow. "Better I learn to cope than I try to reassemble the pieces." Christ, thats a morbid thought.
"Sorry, don't mean to rant. And work is...well... work." Manage to smile a bit more naturally now. "And now work is over, and I am not going to think on it anymore tonight. And how is life finding you Valmont?"
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 05:16 pm (UTC)Lucien's smile is a little grim when bringing up Gaueko.
"Lets say I am between the rock and the hard place. I hate it, but what happens when I try to intervene? Or she refuses his advances?"
I frown a little at that.
"Do you suppose Wanda feels she has to... spend time with him?" I ask. If Wanda dallies with Gaueko from choice, that is one thing, but if she feels forced... Well. That is not something we should tolerate.
"And now work is over, and I am not going to think on it anymore tonight. And how is life finding you Valmont?"
"Pretty well," I say, smiling. "There have been a few disturbances. Difficult customers." That is not the half of it, but I won't bring up Lysander. Hardly anyone knows that Hermia was married before; I doubt she wants him mentioned. "But I have Hermia," I say, glancing over my shoulder at her and then back at Lucien. I smile. "Speaking of love, I hear you need to be congratulated. I already told Wanda I'm delighted for you both."
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 05:55 pm (UTC)I see the thought makes Valmont as uncomfortable as it does me. Wanda described him once to me as quite the lothario, but I'm glad she has friends that worry for her so.
Now if only she would worry for herself a bit more, we'd be in business.
"Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. I don't think so, she doesn't complain or see afraid of him..." Shrug and try to push maudlin thoughts away.
Valmont continues, speaking of difficult customers, and I grin a bit. "Wonder which is worse, difficult customers or difficult patients? Did you at least have the priveldge of tossing them out on their ear? I don't get that job perk myself."
"But I have Hermia" Now that just makes it all worth it, doesn't it? The way he looks at her, I would bet Valmonts lothario days are over. And he seems none the worse for it. "Speaking of love, I hear you need to be congratulated. I already told Wanda I'm delighted for you both." Shake my head and smile. "Thank you, but really, it's something I should have done years ago. I just hope she doesn't go overboard with wedding plans." I'm almost laughing now, because asking a drama queen not to make a production out of her own wedding...
may as well ask the sun not to rise and set.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 06:06 pm (UTC)"Hm," I say thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose as long as she's happy... But I'm glad you're keeping an eye on things." Wanda and I get along very well, and she has really seemed much happier since Lucien came back into her life.
"Thank you, but really, it's something I should have done years ago. I just hope she doesn't go overboard with wedding plans."
I can't help laughing at that.
"Oh, Lucien, you know that is a lost cause. I think it will be the social event of the season," I grin. "I'm looking forward to it. But of course, if you need a break from wedding talk, feel free to come to the bar here. It's a little more... earthy than the Tavern, but you can drink in peace here, or have a game of cards."
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 07:07 pm (UTC)"But of course, if you need a break from wedding talk, feel free to come to the bar here. It's a little more... earthy than the Tavern, but you can drink in peace here, or have a game of cards."
"I will definately be taking you up on that offer." Especially since, at the moment, I am not comfortable going to the Tavern.
Nod to the girls laughing and examing Wanda's ring. "Shall we see what they're up to?"
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 07:17 pm (UTC)