"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

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

I nod once to Valmont and bow slightly. If I have anything to say about it, he will not be killed. I guess I'll have to explain to Mab how I know Valmont won't be seriously hurt.
With a gentle tug, I draw Wanda away from the knot of people so Valmont can work on getting her calm again. Walk us over to where Miao is and meet her halfway.
"Ask me again why I hate parties in Excolo." I joke softly, taking one of her hands and squeezing it.

[lei-miao-shan.livejournal.com]

Luke and I have risen and are approaching the group when Lucien and Wanda break off and meet us. Lucien smiles for me, but I can see the tension in his face, and feel it in his grip when he takes my hand. "Ask me again why I hate parties in Excolo."

I squeeze his hand in return. "Lucien, what happened? Who was that man? Is Valmont truly going to duel him?"

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

"Lucien, what happened? Who was that man? Is Valmont truly going to duel him?"
Wanda is still staring at the gate, like she could shoot daggers into the man's back and make him bleed with just her eyes. "I am not sure. The man apparently thinks Hermia should be with him, and although she obviously does not feel the same way, he wants her irregardless. And yes, Valmont is mindied to meet his challenge."
Squeeze Miao's hand and Wanda's side. "No worries. I will be present for the duel, as will Mab to observe. Everything should go smoothly and without too much bloodshed." Especially if I have any say in it......

[a-cheval.livejournal.com]

"Ah, poor Hermia," says Miss Miao, "We should make sure that she is alright..." and I nod, cause I feel real bad for Miss Hermia too, but I reckon she's got enough people all crowded round her and prob'ly they'd do a better job of it than me, cause I've only met her a few times and if it was me I wouldn't want a load of folks fussing. Plus, I dunno, I ain't much of one for this stuff all in public, folks arguing and fighting and talking 'bout who's with who. Makes me sorta antsy, I ain't used to it. Still I know Miss Miao's friends with her and she usually knows 'bout this stuff, so I offer her my arm and we go over - least, part of the way, cause Lucien and Wanda're there then.

Bloody Lucien. Only met him once but he called me a fool and I ain't a fool, and he don't even know me, so I dunno that he's the best judge of character, frankly. "I am not sure. The man apparently thinks Hermia should be with him, and although she obviously does not feel the same way, he wants her irregardless. And yes, Valmont is mindied to meet his challenge."

"Why don't she stop 'em?" I say, trying not to look at Miss Hermia too obviously. Hated it when I folks fighting over me, hated it. But he carries on. "No worries. I will be present for the duel, as will Mab to observe. Everything should go smoothly and without too much bloodshed."

Don't like to contradict him, cause he is a doctor and what do I know? Still, though. "I reckon the whole point of it's bloodshed, ain't it? You'd reckon the Sheriff wouldn't put up with it neither." I dunno 'bout this. 's all very well being all civilised and smooth and stuff like Valmont, but fighting over a woman's fighting over a woman. Ain't right.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

I'm still seriously considering following the bastard and teaching him some proper manners as Lucien explains what happened to Miao and Luke.
"I reckon the whole point of it's bloodshed, ain't it? You'd reckon the Sheriff wouldn't put up with it neither."

Manage a small, wry smile. "I don't think the gentleman, if he can be called that, cares much for the idea of a female sheriff." Smile turns sharp, still looking towards the gate, picturing him screaming his apologies for making Hermia upset... "I doubt very much he cares what any woman thinks."
Shake my head to clear it. "I'm sorry, Luke. From what little I heard, this will not be easily resolved." Give a small, apologetic shrug.

"Pardon me, I am going to get a drink, does anyone else care for something?" My head is pounding suddenly, between the concern and worry for Hermia and Valmont, and the sharp urge to hurt the person upsetting my friends.

[lei-miao-shan.livejournal.com]

Lucien explains to me what has happened, and I feel ill. I have seen such things happen before, particularly in my profession...there are men who believe that paying for our services means that they own us, and they can take it very poorly when we say otherwise. Sometimes there is violence. Sometimes folk are killed or hurt. Ah, poor Hermia. But Lucien assures me that he will be there and will make sure no one is hurt, and that reassures me some.

"Why don't she stop 'em?" Luke asks, looking both confused and unhappy. And then, "I reckon the whole point of it's bloodshed, ain't it? You'd reckon the Sheriff wouldn't put up with it neither."

"I do not know," I say, sorely puzzled as well. It is not as though any of us would allow Hermia to be taken away against her will. Surely there is some way to resolve this that does not involve fighting. Still... "There must be factors that we are not aware of. Perhaps he is holding something over her, or Valmont is insisting, or they believe that this is the only way that he will leave them be...I am sure that there is a reason.

"And as to Mab...she has a...less traditional approach, I think." I sigh. Perhaps she feels she can control it better by being there than by forbidding it and causing them to simply hide somewhere in the woods. I do not know.

Wanda seems to agree. "I don't think the gentleman, if he can be called that, cares much for the idea of a female sheriff. I doubt very much he cares what any woman thinks. I'm sorry, Luke. From what little I heard, this will not be easily resolved." she sighs, and offers to fetch drinks.

"No thank you, Wanda," I murmur, looking towards Hermia. She is with Valmont and a large white cat. I am reluctant to interrupt them, yet I wish to make sure that she is well.

[a-cheval.livejournal.com]

"I don't think the gentleman, if he can be called that, cares much for the idea of a female sheriff. I doubt very much he cares what any woman thinks." Now there I reckon Miss Wanda's right. Only I can't help thinking, well, let him care or not care, don't make much difference what he thinks 'bout women if he's in a cell, only I don't say it. "I'm sorry, Luke. From what little I heard, this will not be easily resolved."

Nod a bit. "Reckon you're right there. Stuff like this ain't never easily resolved once it gets to fighting." And I wonder if Miss Hermia'll be happy no matter the result. Imagine knowing someone got killed for you. Miss Miao sighs. "I am sure that there is a reason."

Knew Miss Miao'd understand. "Must be," I say, and anyway, not like I'd see the reason if there was one, cause it ain't none of my business. Shake my head at Wanda's offer. She seems a bit different tonight, like she's got a load going on in her head she ain't letting no one in on, and I hope she's alright. Ain't seen much of her, but it was real nice of her to invite me to her party that time.

But Miss Hermia looks to have calmed down some now, so I don't mind going over so much. Even if it'll sound sorta wrong wishing her a happy birthday. "Reckon I'll go say hello. Looks like she don't mind being distracted away from that sorta thought, anyway."

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"Pardon me, I am going to get a drink, does anyone else care for something?"

"I'll join you," I say quietly, falling into step behind her. Think I maybe ought step aside from the whole matter for a moment, afore my tongue runs away with me. Suppose I'll have t'speak with Valmont, and find out when the time's settled. Suppose I'll have the body to lay out fair quick this time, whoever's he is.

...bloody hell, if Valmont goes and gets himself killed, I am going to be saying some very pointed things while I'm laying him out. Already misliking seeing Hermia as upset as she is.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

As I head for the libations table, Glass falls into step besides me.
Oh well, at least we're not racing for it like that night at the Follow Me Boy.
A quick glance of the table shows me a bottle of whiskey towards the back, and I grab that and pour us both a healthy measure.

Rub a hand over my eyes and try to clear my head of the jumble of thoughts.
The elixir Lucien gave me helps, but I still don't sleep right, and the nights he's not home I tend not to sleep at all.

"How've you been Glass?" I ask quietly, contemplating my alcohol. "Here's to hoping you really won't have any work from this fiasco." I say sullenly, touching my glass to her's before taking a long drink.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"How've you been Glass?"

"Well enough." Suppose it's true, at least since Tuesday. "I left off playing shop clerk for Bluebeard, did I tell you?" I add, taking the glass from her.

"Here's to hoping you really won't have any work from this fiasco."

Take a sip in acknowledgement, and consider Wanda thoughtfully. She's not looking at me, only at the glass, and grant the whiskey's a lovely colour in the evening light I'd not take it for so pretty. "And yourself? How've you been? Besides engaged."

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

(con't below)