On a clear day, you can see forever

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

Tuesday , October 20th, morning
Main street, just into town

It's very dark here.

She opens her eyes, but she cannot see.  I try to lead where I can, through the thin, fall-pruned trees, and she follows as she can.  It's slow going, with the brambles clutching at our ankles and blood drying on our cheeks.  Tears well in her eyes at that, threatening to mingle with the dark splatters, and I wipe them away.  It's what I am here to do.

There is a light in the distance, so bright it hurts our eyes.  She takes a step forward and I reach out to pull her back, but I'm not there and she walks ahead alone.

~~~~~

Everybody is gone now.  I call daddy's name but he doesn't answer and the light is very bright in my eyes.  It makes the whole world hard to see, even when I squint and put my hand at my eyes.  There are great shadows here too, tall and big over my head, and I think they are buildings.  If I could see, if I could sit and make my brain think, then I would know.  But I don't and I can't.  It was dark and now it's light and it won't go away.

It makes my head hurt and I want to cry again.  Big girls don't cry, Mama Susan says so.  Big girls don't cry, even when they want to and their eyes sting with fat tears.  They make a breath and go down the street, two legs that walk because they have a purpose in it.  The shadows against the light are buildings, yes, not monsters, and big girls know that too.  I want to be a big girl.

[Open to anyone on Main Street]

Comments

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

After a couple of careful sips, the girl quickly swallows the rest of the water in the glass. She drinks so fast that she coughs, and I take the glass and put it to one side.

Zann offers her a handkerchief to wipe her face, and she takes it with an eager-to-please look that makes my heart ache a little.

She stutters out a few words.

N-no. Gone. Sorry!"

She has an anxious expression, like a dog that is used to being kicked.

"That's alright, dear," I say. "You don't have to talk about it now, if you don't want to." I smile. "I am Valmont. Do you remember what you're called? It's alright if you don't," I say. "It's easy to forget things, sometimes."

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

She scrubs her face all anxious, and she's got one hand on her throat, and god, how long has she been out in that miserable weather? I mean, it's nice enough for fall, but not when you've only got a dress and no shoes. But she hasn't lost her voice, just doesn't seem to know what to do with it...

Apologizing, oh my god. What the hell does she have to apologize for? --right, I am absolutely ripping a strip off her folks. You don't treat a kid so that they have that bone-deep cringe when they're found ragged and tired, you just don't. (Oh, god, why can't I fix more than machines?)

"That's alright, dear," Valmont says. "You don't have to talk about it now, if you don't want to." and he smiles and introduces himself and adds "Do you remember what you're called? It's alright if you don't. It's easy to forget things, sometimes."

Alright, I think I love this guy, I really really do. "He's right," I add, and I'm upset at whatever was done to her, but at least I can smile at her. "It's gonna be okay, hon, it really really is." I take the handkerchief back, make it disappear. "Do you remember how long you were on the road?"

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

He is smiling, Valmont, and I like his name. It is a word that plays in my mind like music, all nice notes, so I know it'll be okay. He means no harm, not him or Zann, and I can feel myself relax a bit into the couch, eyelids heavy as they bounce around questions.

"Do you remember what you're called? It's alright if you don't. It's easy to forget things, sometimes."

I nod, slower now because my head is tired and the blanket is warm. "Alice," I try and it comes out, which is good! "Call-Called Alice." More glass in my throat, more coughing.

"Do you remember how long you were on the road?"

Try to think back, that hurts like my throat, and I shake my head. "Long time?" Glance between them. "Saw the light."

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

The girl manages to say her name, and I smile.

"Alice," I say. "That's a pretty name. I'm pleased to meet you, Alice."

Zann asks her about how long she was on the road, but Alice doesn't remember. Then she says something I don't understand:

"Saw the light."

"What light's that, dear?" I say. "Do you mean the lights of the town?" I glance at Zann. Has this poor girl been walking in the wilderness, then? Thank whatever god guards roads that she got here relatively unscathed, then. I touch a hand to her forehead, and her temperature is quite good. I think she has warmed up a little. "Do you want anything to eat, Alice? I have some nice fresh bread and cheese, or maybe you would like a little cake." What little girl doesn't like cake?

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

She's starting to close her eyes, not all the way, but oh god, poor kid, she must have been exhausted. She knows her name, at least, and that's good. I don't really like that cough, though, even if she isn't looking sick exactly. Murmur nice to meet you after Valmont does, and let her continue.

She hesitates for a minute, and she... kind of flinches, kind of frowns. "Long time? Saw the light."

"What light's that, dear? Do you mean the lights of the town?" Valmont looks at me, and I shrug and shake my head a bit, 'cause I don't know. Excolo's not a huge town, but you can see lights pretty damn well at night with nothing to drown them out. 'course, I don't know how well she could have seen them if she was coming through the woods...

Sit back on my heels on the floor, and rake one hand back through my hair. "I'm glad you're okay hon--Alice, I mean," I say. "C'mon, have something to eat and tell us what you can, and then," dammit, I don't wanna offer his place--but doesn't he rent them out? "you can crash in one of the rooms here until we figure out where you're gonna stay, okay? You have got to be wiped." I look up at Valmont. "I can cover it, honest." I can.

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

Valmont doesn't see the light and sometimes people don't see things they should and that makes them angry, so I don't say anything. All the people here are nice, I don't want them sore with me.

"Do you want anything to eat, Alice? I have some nice fresh bread and cheese, or maybe you would like a little cake."

There's cake? I perk up as much as I can, my eyes still want to fight and the couch is so soft I never, ever want to move, but I do manage a nod. "P-Please?" My throat still hurts and my lips and everything. "An... Water?" He already gave me water, I know, but maybe he will again because his name is so soft, I don't think he'll get mad.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

you can crash in one of the rooms here until we figure out where you're gonna stay, okay? You have got to be wiped. I can cover it, honest."

I wave my hand.

"There's no need for that, Zann. I'm pretty sure that I have a room free, and I'd be happy to let Alice stay here." I don't believe there is anyone staying in the twin room (http://community.livejournal.com/excolo_ooc/520497.html#cutid1), which is quite a nice cosy room; the master suite is also free, but I think that might be a little intimidating for a young girl with its big bed and more glamorous furnishings.

Alice's eyes light up at the idea of cake, although she seems almost afraid to ask. I smile at her.

"Of course, dear," I say. I refill her glass, and I take out a little cake with pink icing. I had bought some to take to Fiona, since it has been a while since I've seen her, but I think that may have to wait until tomorrow now.

I put the cake on a plate and bring it back out along with the water and set them down.

"You eat those, my dear," I say. I draw Zann to one side.

"I don't think she's in immediate need of a doctor - I think she's more exhausted than hurt," I say. "Though I will get Lucien to come and see her soon." I run a hand through my hair. "I'm not sure what to do, otherwise. Speak to Mab, I suppose..." I glance over at Alice. "If you could sit with her for a while, I could pop out later to see if I can find the sheriff, and leave word for Lucien."

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

So he's figuring on getting the Doc to come see her, and he runs his hand through his hair, and I swear that's the first sign I've seen of him not being completely together about this, not being asked to a dance he already knew so well. "I'm not sure what to do, otherwise," and I feel a kind of huge guilty relief at that, that I'm not the only one who's kind of lost here.

"Speak to Mab, I suppose... If you could sit with her for a while, I could pop out later to see if I can find the sheriff, and leave word for Lucien."

"I can, but--you sure?" I say, raising my eyebrows and glancing around the room. But he doesn't quite get that dear-god-not-a-carnie edge in his eyes, and I relax a bit. "Yeah, I can sit with her," I say, glancing back at Alice and smiling. "If I stay as late as dinner, I've gotta send word to my folks, but that's no issue, right?" The cake seems to be making her happy, at least. "--c'mon, hon, slow down a bit," I add gently to her.

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

Valmont brings me a whole other glass of water and a whole piece of cake too, sweets and it's not my birthday or anything! I still feel so bad, tired feet and face and all the places in between, but then happy too. The water goes down all at once, dripping from the sides of my mouth, and I wipe away the spill with the back of my hand before it can mess my dress front.

The cake... Pink icing and pretty swirls around the edge, all for me. I look up again, glancing between them, before pulling the saucer close and diving in. They speak over my head and I don't listen, because it's rude to pry in adult business. It's only when Zann tells me to slow down that I take notice again, stopping as quick and as fast as I can, fork still in my hand.

A lot of the cake is gone, maybe I wasn't supposed to eat it all, and I push the plate away with eyes on the blanket at my lap. "Sorry..."

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

"I can, but--you sure?" Zann seems surprised I'm trusting her, and I nod.

"It makes sense," I say, low-voiced. "And if the child is to be left alone, it might be best it's with a woman... Men can intimidate children, and this one has been through a great deal, I think."

Zann tells Alice to slow down with her cake, and at once the child stops, lowering her eyes.

"It's alright, Alice," I say gently. "We just don't want you to eat too quickly or you will feel sick," I say. "Come now, finish your cake, and then maybe you can have a nap."

I straighten up.

"I'll be back in a little while," I say to Zann. "If you're hungry, do help yourself - there's bread in the bread bin." I smile at Alice and step out through the French doors and start walking along the street.

I get up to Main Street and find that the sheriff is out on her rounds. I leave a note for Mab, and then I walk along to Lucien's office. He is also out. Everyone is busy today, it seems. I leave him another note explaining what's happened and ask him to pop round at his convenience, and then I start walking back to the inn. What a strange day it has been, and it's not even time for lunch.

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

Nod to Valmont as he leaves and then look back to Alice, and go and sit on the floor next to the couch. "He's a nice guy, isn't he?" I say cheerfully. "He really is... I hadn't met him before now, you know. Kinda glad I did." I smile at her. "Don't worry about the cake, honest. You can always get more later."

She isn't falling asleep just yet, even if I think she's going to in just a bit, and she's acting like it hurts her to talk. I hesitate a second, then pull a piece of string out of my jacket pocket, tie it into a loop and hold it up. I don't want to ignore her or just stare at her, both seem cold and I think the poor kid's had enough of that.

"Hey, hon--Alice, I'm sorry--you know how to play cat's cradle? Look, let me show you..."

She decently good at it, we find out before she goes to sleep.