Love is in the air

[npc-excolo.livejournal.com]

Sunday, February 14th
Valentine's Day

I sit on my bed with my legs crossed, writing real careful in my notebook. MRS CLARA GRANGER I write, all tidy, then underneath I practice my signature. Clara Granger. That nice man at the market swore it wouldn't take too long for him to propose after he drank the potion. After I practice my signature a few times I write our names together. PETER AND CLARA, and I put them inside a nice big heart.

I hear Momma shouting for me and I sigh. I know she won't approve when Peter and I get together, cos he is a bunch older than me and she says seventeen is way too young to settle down. But I know she married Pop at nineteen, so she's just a hypocrite. And Peter's a real good catch - got his own job, his own place. There's that Maya of course to worry about, I think, and I push my pencil a bit too hard into the page and the point breaks. But once Peter's had the potion he won't remember that he likes her. I just need to work out how to get it to him.

Momma shouts again.

"Coming!" I shout. I know she wants me to go to that dumb Valentine's market and help her sell quilts. Ugh. But Peter might be around town, so I check my hair is nice before I go down.

***

This punch just don't look too appetising. I sigh and shout for Clara again. What is that girl doing? Probably dreaming about that barman. She thinks I don't know she's moony about him. I'm just glad he's got a sweetheart, or else he might go for my Clara - she's real pretty and men like adoring girls. He's much too old for her. I taste the punch and it's real nice, course it is, made from our fruits, but the colour just don't pop. Feeling a bit guilty, I get out some food colourant and drop it in, and it goes a nice reddish colour. That's about right for Valentine's, ain't it? I stopper up the barrel. Clara comes down.

"Get those quilts in the cart, will you?" I say, hustling her out and then getting the punch on the wagon. Roads are clear, so we get set up easy. Just a few stalls for this - jewellery, flowers, all kinds of novelties. I put out the prettiest quilts - maybe some guy'll think one'd make a nice present for his wife, and more practical than earbobs - and set up the punch.

"Free punch, sir?" I say, holding out a cup. After a bit of prodding I get Clara dishing up punch too. Hopefully it'll be a good day.

[OPEN]
[Closed]

Comments

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

She looks me over, but not disapprovingly, not like the hard stares carnies usually get. She's well dressed in a nicely tailored coat, obviously well-off. I wonder if she's really from Excolo. Then she smiles at me, her strange amber eyes as warm as her fingers. "For the moment." Her voice, too, is warm as she takes the...

"I intend to use it buy some pastries."

Use what? The coin. Ah! I'm still holding it. And I'm staring. I release it, shoving my hands hurriedly in my pockets. I give her a quick nod & turn to look at the muffins again when she adds, "Would you like one?"

I look at her over my shoulder, not sure what to make of her. Why offer me, a stranger, anything? Just cuz I picked up something? Do I look like I need it?
Heh, maybe. I've always been kinda scraggly, while this woman's obviously in perfect health. Then there's the issue of the strange resonance of her coin...

"Uhm, you don't have to," I start, instead of asking her why like I should have. Like I meant to. But strangely enough, I'm glad she asked. I'm curious about her.

"Ok, sure."

[danashee.livejournal.com]

Her eyes are dark pools of shadow, her fingers are warm as she lingers over the the bead, almost reluctant to let it go. I feel a burst of disappointment when she turns away and relief when I am able to get her to look back at me over her shoulder.

Uhm, you don't have to, She starts to say and I open my mouth to try to convince her to accept. But then she does, in the short, abrupt manner I have heard some mortals use. I give her another smile. and gesture to the tray in front of me.

"Which one would you like?" I lean over to point out my own choice to the attendant, and my new companion's scent rises pleasingly to me. Myrrh and various herbs, plus the warm scent of her skin. I wonder if her hair is as soft as it looks.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

She leans closer to me, smiling again. She seems honestly happy over something so simple as buying me a muffin. Her smile is... disarming. She chooses one of the pastries & asks which I'd like, so I look for a bit & point out one of the muffins. She turns to make the purchase & I'm again struck by the color of her hair as it catches the sunlight again. So very bright.

She turns back to me & I find I'm smiling, just a little. "Thanks. You wanna walk a bit?" Maybe I can find out more about her along the way, away from the crowds. Like why she seems to smell like honey & wheat, or why her coin made me think of summer winds, or-

"What do I call you?" I ask, realizing I have no clue what her name is.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

My dark companion considers the various goods on offer and finally selects a muffin. I pay for our goods and turn to back to fins her smiling. That pleases me, and looks well on her; softening the sharp lines just a touch.

Thanks. You wanna walk a bit? And I am reminded that she is mortal when she gives me her thanks. I think I suppressed the little shudder of my body at it. And give answer only to her other words. "Certainly, That would please me much." I turn us away from the stall of baked goods, holding out the muffin to her.

What do I call you?She asks and I can feel my smile returning at the more proper form she uses. "Dana," I tell her. "Call me Dana." My turn now. "And what shall I call you?"

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

She agrees to walk with me & I feel a small thrill as she hands me the muffin. Something about her makes me feel... good, just standing next to her. Fate is being kind to me today.

As we walk, she tells me to call her Dana. Such a simple name, yet it's meaning is old & echoes within me. Arbiter. Judge. But I feel there's something more there, something hidden. "And what shall I call you?" She's strangely polite in the way she speaks, with a tone that suggests education, or at least some sort of cultivated background & I find I want to know where she's from even more now.

"I'm called Silence," I answer, but it feels like... like I wish I could tell her more. And I want her to tell me more. What's with me today? I've not felt like this in ages. It's unsettling, & I'm unsure how to start. "Tell- tell me about yourself?"

We take a random path, letting Fate choose our direction, winding through the street. There are so many people out today, enjoying the break in the weather. One would never guess there'd been a riot recently, other than the odd boarded up window here & there, with how nice everyone's being to each other. There's even a woman leading a horse & I wonder if she was part of the horses in the riot I heard about from the others. All these people make me a bit nervous, & I can't help but scan the crowd, trying to feel the Pattern of it all. But I also can't help but be distracted by her; the way she moves so smoothly, the way she smiles when she speaks, the way her eyes seem to shine when she looks around... & at me.

I think I might be blushing.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

She calls herself Silence and It almost suits her. The colouring the softness of her tread, even her wary alertness as she scans the crowd. She reminds of some predatory animal, a large cat perhaps? No, not quite right. Something else.

Tell- tell me about yourself? And her words draw me back from chasing the thought. I don not mind as I wish to be present with her rather than merely thinking of her.

I smile again,it is a deceptively simple question and I find too many answer I could give. so i ask one more of my own with a teasing edge. "What sort of things do you wish to know? And will you tell me of yourself in return?"

The colour rises on her pale cheeks, like roses blooming. They increase her loveliness. I want to get us out of this crowd of mortals to go somewhere else that I may show her marvels.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

She takes a moment before responding to my question, then turns it back on me, her voice light with subtle teasing. "What sort of things do you wish to know?" Oh, so many things. "Uhm, only what you want me to know, I guess." I don't want her to think I'm prying. "And will you tell me of yourself in return?"

Ah. I'm suddenly very warm. And nervous. It's only fair, I suppose, & I'm oddly happy at the fact that she wants to know about me. I run my hand through my hair, trying to think of an appropriate response.

"I'll- I mean, sure. What I can." Man, that sounds stupid. But how do I tell her things I can't remember? The fact that I want to talk to her at all is- well, it's not like me. Why am I so drawn to her?

[danashee.livejournal.com]

Silence is hesitant at my question, Uhm, only what you want me to know, I guess. I flash her an amused smile, "Then I shan't overburden you with too much."

I watch her run her hand through the darkness of her hair, and a longing to touch it rises. How would it feel to run my fingers through that hair so much darker and shorter than my own.

I'll- I mean, sure. What I can. I consider her answer. She'll tell me what she can. Ah, a woman with secrets! I like her more for that, it would be less fun if she gave up her secrets too easily just for the asking. I shall enjoy the challenge of unraveling them and her.

"I'm sure that will suffice." I look around and then ask, "Would you like to go somewhere else? Somewhere with less people?"

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

Question after question runs through my mind, all the things I'd like to ask her, but she smiles at me again & I'm struck dumb. I find myself staring at her & her Pattern suddenly sparkles to me in a way I can't explain. It was- beautiful, but it's gone before I can focus on it. Did I actually see that? The other in me stirs, just a little, in response, & my breath catches in my throat.

Even though we are outside, it suddenly seems stifling with all these people around. Dana looks around & seems to read my mind, asking me if I'd like to go somewhere with less people. The thought of being alone with her is all I can think of... but my trailer is no place for her, whoever or whatever she may be. But I have to know. I want to know.

"Do you have a place in mind?"

[danashee.livejournal.com]

Do you have a place in mind? Silence asks and I nod in response. "Indeed I do." Moving closer to her and taking her arm in mine,feeling a little thrill as I do so. "Come and we shall go there directly. Or at least as much as this crowd permits us to."

I lead us towards the Whitechapel and my room there. That should give us space and privacy enough.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

She laces her arm through mine, weaving us through the crowd. I fight the urge in my gut to pull away, a little fearful of what I might have gotten myself into. Her touch is warm, even through my jacket. I suddenly remember the knife in my other pocket & am glad she is not on that side. I don't want to scare her. I pick at my muffin as I try to keep calm & focus myself. She's given me no real reason to trust her & yet I want to. Why?

She takes us towards the inn near the bridge, the Whitechapel. I've heard it's a rough place, as far as the bar goes, but I've never been inside. Just warned about it. And she stays there? I guess she's tougher than she looks.

I find I'm sweating a little as we go in. My senses are on edge, watching, waiting. I want nothing to happen to me- to us. Somehow, I feel- I know Dana is special, worth protecting. I hold her arm a little tighter as she leads us upstairs.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

We walk through the crowd and soon reach the inn, I can feel my companion tense as we cross the threshold and I smile at her reassuringly. There is nothing to fear here. The inn is one of the more gracious places in this town, all woods and contrasting colours either dark or light as fit the rooms.

I lead her upstairs towards my own already thinking of what glamour I shall cast on it before I open the door. The room is nice but I wish to show her something more impressive than that.

I let the glamour spin out from my fingers as I touch the doorknob. It will be a gorgeous leafy bower and not my little room when I open it. "Here we are." I say as I turn the knob.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

There. There it is again, that sparkle, only more direct, & it almost feels familiar, like-

And she opens the door. And the scent of green, growing things. And a leaf brushes my cheek as we enter.

I know my eyes are wide & my mouth open, but I can't hide my surprise. It's as if we've walked into a bit of forest, full & green though it's still winter outside. Not what I was expecting at all. "Magic?" I whisper, but it's not. At least, not quite. There's a wildness to it. My breath is quicker now & I feel a strange excitement come over me.

She did this, somehow, I can feel it's connection to her, though I can't focus, can't see the specifics, can't figure out quite how. But it is coming from her. Illusion or no, it's astounding. "How-?" I can't seem to finish the question as I look from our surroundings back to her. My amazement must be plain, but I don't care right now.

"What are you?"

[danashee.livejournal.com]

We enter my little bower and the look of surprise and wonder on her face is reward enough. Her lovely dark eyes are wide and her mouth is open in sheer wonder and surprise. She whispers, Magic? I laugh in pleasure as I hear her breathing speed up. I'm so glad she likes it. I let the door close behind us, closing off the last remnant of the brown and grey barrenness of the Iron World it is still there for whenever we choose to leave, but I will have nothing of it at the moment, right now all I wish for is right here.

Silence looks from me to the lush greenery surrounding us and back to me, How-? What are you? She asks. I smile at her and spread my arms, "How? I wished for it to be so and it became." I tell her. It was a bit more complex than that I but I do not feel like explaining how to weave glamours to her. Not at this moment. "As for what I am, if I answer you this will you answer that same question for me?" And what are you? My little Silence who is not so silent after all?

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

Dana laughs at my reaction, not mockingly, & tells me she 'wished for it', this greenery. I'm sure there's more to it, but that is the core of it. This level of creation, illusion, whatever, doesn't come easily. I start listing in my head the any number of things that could do this, none of them particularly friendly. That is, unless they want something.

"As for what I am, if I answer you this will you answer that same question for me?" Like that. "I said I would," I reply, sounding more nervous than I had intended. Whatever she is, we're in her sanctum, her domain, & I walked right into it, like a novice. This place is- it's fascinating, but probably more dangerous than it looks. As is Dana, probably. Most things are, especially the beautiful ones. Got to watch my step.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

She is becoming nervous as she answers meI said I would, I find myself wanting to soothe her, but I think that my touch would make her more nervous at moment so I settle for another smile.

"Then all is well. As for what I am-Have you heard of the Aes Sidhe?" I can't imagine that she hasn't...but I have been told that not so many mortals know of us as used to.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

"Have you heard of the Aes Sidhe?"

I stop & think for a moment. Gather myself & breath, rubbing the back of my neck. I know the term, but the details are fuzzy. I have a brief memory of Krystopher &... someone he knew, but- but it's lost. I remember enough to answer her question, though.

"Yes, I have. Long time ago." To think I could meet one of her kind, here of all places! The resonance on the coin makes sense now. Summer wind - she must be what was once called Seelie, if that term is even used anymore. I look her over, her bright hair & golden eyes & realize this must be a seeming, a disguise. Of course. "Glamour," I whisper, looking back to the leafy branches that surround us. That's why I couldn't pin it down, why the pattern eluded me. Did- did she enchant me? I look down to the muffin she bought me. It's possible, but- but it doesn't matter now. It will last until it wears off, not much I can do but stay aware.

I look back to her, trying to stay composed as I reach forward to touch one of the leaves near her hair. Such a compelling illusion. "How much of this is real?" I ask, but I think I know the answer.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

She considers, rubbing gently at the back of her neck just where I would rub if I thought she would let me. Finally she admits that she has though it was long ago.

She looks me over carefully and I straighten up, smoothing my coat and hair under her regard. She whispers under her breath as she turns her attention, equally careful as that she gave to me, to the branches and leaves nearby. She looks my way even as she reaches forward with one of her lovely long fingered hands to touch one leaf. So close and yet there is such distance between us.

How much of this is real? She asks, but there is something in her eyes, something new and wary, something I wish wasn't there. I shake my braids loose and shed my coat as I give her the answer. "As real as you wish it be, of course."

That is the trick behind all glamour really, the wanting for something other than what is before you to be real. And for a time it can be.

I watch her to see how she take it. I do not want her to be angry or fearful. I tilt my head a little to one side. "Do you not like it?"

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

"As real as you wish it be, of course." Of course. She shakes her hair loose from her braids, spilling down her back like sunlight, & I'm overcome with the urge to touch it. I swallow hard. "And this?" I ask, tentatively touching a stray lock of her hair. Warm, soft, & very real-feeling. I pull my hand away quickly, feeling something close to embarrassment. I run my hand through my own hair, absently noticing how coarse it feels in comparison.

She tilts her head as she watches me. "Do you not like it?" She almost seems... sad, & that's the last thing I want her to feel, I realize. I also realize something else, quite suddenly.

"This- is for- for me?" She made this room for me. Why should she try so hard to impress me? All at once I feel like an idiot; she's been nothing but nice to me & asked nothing in return... yet, & I haven't even complemented her or anything. I've never been very good at this kind of thing. Gods, I feel like a teenager dealing with a-

A crush. And now I can feel the heat in my cheeks.

"It's-" say something nice, dammit! "It's fantastic." And I do mean it, in every sense of the word.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

And this? She asks gently touching one lock of my hair. I very nearly hold my breath at that, such a light touch and yet I would swear I am more aware of it than of anything else.

"Quite real." I assure her. And it is. I have done nothing to it save loose the braids that held it in place.

I can see the moment she realizes that this room is a gift for her and she is overwhelmed, This- is for- for me? I nod.

The colour rises in her cheeks once more and Silence is nearly speechless. It's fantastic. She finally manages and I smile at her. Oh good! I was afraid she was going to say she didn't like it after all.

"It pleases me that you should like it. Will you have a seat?" I gesture to the lovely moss covered ground within the bower of leaves.

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

She tells me her appearance, or at least her hair, is quite real, the gestures towards some mossy ground, asking me to sit. I nod rather stiffly, shrugging out of my jacket. It's pleasantly warm in here, at least. I then sit, a bit quicker than I mean to, fairly plopping down on my ass like I would when normally sitting on the ground. I at least keep from slouching. I tug absently at the end of my sleeves, wishing I had worn something a little nicer than my old long-sleeved T. Pull it together, girl.

I wait for her to sit before speaking. After all, she told me what she is. I should keep my end. "My turn, I guess," I start, still fidgeting with my sleeve. "Ever heard of the term 'mage'?" More than likely, but I'll wait before saying more. I've not even told anyone in the carnivale what I am & yet with Dana- I gotta struggle to keep my head.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

She is somewhat stiff in her acceptance of my request but nonetheless accepts it. She sheds her coat and I find myself looking at her in wonder. The strange tunic she wears, the way the light dapples on her pale skin, the abruptness with which she moves.

I settle down by her side, my skirt gently spreading in a green pool by my feet, my loose hair a cloak about my shoulders listening as she finally speaks. My turn, I guess,Ever heard of the term 'mage'? I incline my head as I turn the word around in my mind. I think I have heard of it before, a term used for those mortals who are not so blind to the currents of Power as most are.

"Aye, that I have. "