"What did you do on your birthday?" "Got older."

[hermia-sophia.livejournal.com]

Evening 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]

Comments

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

At least the only shape he has is that of a cat. God help us if he had more, like Eris.

"That's good to know," I say with a bit of a nod. Then I wait for his answer to Kate's question. What can the Inn owner and the librarian have gotten themselves into?

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

Kate sounds a little doubtful even as she claims to understand my answer about bein' a cat shaped spirit, but she doesn't pursue the issue as Hermia would and did. in stead she moves on to another question. Are you friends with Hermia and Valmont?

and Laurence has a comment. That's good to know, he nods firmly as h says this. I'm guessing it's about my comment of only having one shape. People here seem quite worried about shapeshifters. I suppose that must be why Boku gave me the looks he did, musta bin worried I'd say somethin' an give him away.

Kate an Laurence both give me their attention, wating for my answer, i don;t make 'em wait long at all.

I sit up very straight tail tucked round my feet. "Yes, I'm friends with Hermia. Valmont...Well He an I are tolerating each other for Hermia's sake. I take you two are friends of both?"

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

I glance at Laurence. He's still worried about shape shifters. As am I... It seems a dangerous thing, the ability to change form on a whim.

Chester sits up straight, and I find myself a little amused to hear his disapproving tone regarding Valmont.

"I know Hermia best," I offer diplomatically. "Speaking of which, do you think we should go say hello to her? And oh look, is she holding a kitten?" I wonder if Chester will be jealous...

[cont here (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/205512.html?thread=5760456#t5760456)]