sun in the sky, you know how I feel

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Sunday afternoon, outside the general store

It's not as nice a day as we've had lately, but it's too humid to sit cooped up in the apartment. So I'm sitting on the porch with a basket of sewing, and if it starts raining I'll stay dry. I've got a pitcher of ginger ale, and I'm hemming one of Tess's skirts. It's a comfortable sort of way to pass the afternoon.

I'm quite content at the moment. Glass has started working at the store a couple of days a week, and I'm glad to be able to help her out - and it's good to have her around. I can't help worrying about her and Iago, but I know she's strong. Whatever happens, I think she will manage. It won't be too long before I should start knitting baby things, I think, and smile to myself.

I went to the abbey this morning for services. I need to speak to Damien and find out if he had any luck finding Nanshe. I spoke to Nanse-kam, and he said no one has had any dream visions of Nanshe since the mass dreaming we all shared - but that that in itself isn't worrying, because Nanshe rarely shows herself directly. Still, I wish we knew for sure she was alright...

I realise I've misstitched, thinking about this, and I sigh and unpick the last couple of stitches. Fussing won't help anyone.

[open]

Comments

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

"I'm helping with the house and tonight I'm gonna make a cake," I tell Glass, proud as can be. I told Mr Adam where I was going, in case anybody gets to worrying after me, but it'll still be a real good surprise for Valmont and Hermia, me doing errands by myself and making dessert for the night besides!

I nod along when Ms O'Hara explains how everything works, because maybe that'll be one of my chores later if I do it right this first time, and mostly because I don't want to mess it up too bad, besides.

I bet Hermia knows how to do all the shopping.

Most of the things on the list are right there on the shelves, just like Ms O'Hara said, and I pile it all in the basket and double (triple!) check with the list, mouthing all the words real slow just to be sure.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I suppose they'll have enough people, but I know they're always glad of help," Kate says, and then speaks of going along. Well enough, though it yet feels strange to think of going myself. "'ll see you there, then."

"I'm helping with the house and tonight I'm gonna make a cake," Alice announces, and I nod. Glad she's coming into herself, from being rattled as I remember, and mild relived that she's not sulking over household chores. Never quite know how to take those as do, really.

"My best to you in that, then," I say as Kate sets it out and sends her down the aisle, and I'm smiling faint, look over to my friend. "I ever tell you the time Fiona came into the Apothecary, setting out to make satchets for Wanda and Valmont?"

"Are things with you and Iago the same?"

Well, then.

"He minds what I'd care for," I say quietly. And I think he does, matter of finishing the crib, and cooking, and words spelt out in leaf and stem and bloom. I know he's trying, and that he's setting himself to these things himself, that rather weighs with me. And am sure he loves me, yes.

And against that Jarmyn, and Verdandi, and a gift of oranges from Verdandi's tavern, and I cannot see how he'd've thought I'd take such a thing. "But no mind to what I mislike," I finish. "It's... I think sometimes he does not mind what I'd not do, what ought not be done."

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"I'm helping with the house and tonight I'm gonna make a cake," says Alice, and I smile.

"Well, that is excellent," I say. "Have you baked a cake before? What kind are you making?"

She goes off to look for things, and I return Glass's smile.

"I ever tell you the time Fiona came into the Apothecary, setting out to make satchets for Wanda and Valmont?"

I laugh.

"I remember, back when it seemed so strange that Fiona and Valmont should be such fast friends. But look at him now - married man and, I suppose, almost a father," I say, glancing down the aisle at Alice. And then we turn to the matter of Iago, and Glass's smile melts away and I wish I could do something.

"It's... I think sometimes he does not mind what I'd not do, what ought not be done."

I sigh.

"I think Iago seems like he has more experience doing things to please people, rather than knowing how not to displease them," I say. "The knack of marriage is different from that of courtship." It's all very well bringing gifts, and those things are nice, but it takes time to learn what your partner needs. I wonder if Iago is too - careless, maybe, to learn. "I'm sorry things are still hard. I wish I had more advice to give."

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

Smiling a moment over Fiona and Valmont, and counting out the changes. "Things changed, rather, the twelvemonth last," I say, and then because it's not all matter of me, dammit, "'re you and Tess doing well?"

"I think Iago seems like he has more experience doing things to please people, rather than knowing how not to displease them," she says, and it seems an odd distinction... not a wrong one, but not aught I'd ever thought of. "The knack of marriage is different from that of courtship."

"Knack," I echo thoughtfully, then shake my head. "He pleases. He's trying to help, as well, I know. It's only..." I think of the things he doesn't mind, piecing them out. "Not used to minding what he doesn't understand, may be. Hoping he's learning."

"I'm sorry things are still hard. I wish I had more advice to give."

"'m glad you--it helps to set it out," I say. Think about it a minute, arms light 'round myself, and add "We argued, last summer, day after you'n'I found Julian Parson. And he stayed with Dorian a night and a day, temper cooling," all fine, that, and I shake my head, brush fine details away. "Don't think he had the right of it but he was angry, fine, and we argued it out. I'm doubting, now, he'd do the same. I don't know if he's afraid of me being angry, but'm wishing he'd..." I trail off and sniff in disdain.

"'member how Wanda was over Lugh, seen excuses she makes over what she's wed to now," I say. "I'd not find myself wed to her. --she's well enough. I visited her and her child," I add, for sake of making mention of it.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"'re you and Tess doing well?"

"Very well," I say, my smile lifting up. It's a steady sort of happiness we have. I suppose some people wouldn't find it very exciting, but that's their loss.

"He pleases. He's trying to help, as well, I know. It's only... Not used to minding what he doesn't understand, may be. Hoping he's learning."

I snort a little.

"Sometimes when you talk about Iago it sounds like you're talking about a child," I say. "His whims, his lack of attention..." I shake my head. "I hope he's learning too."

"Don't think he had the right of it but he was angry, fine, and we argued it out. I'm doubting, now, he'd do the same. I don't know if he's afraid of me being angry, but'm wishing he'd..."

I nod along with that.

"Some people are afraid of argument, even when it's better than staying quiet," I say, and then Glass is saying she visited Wanda and Rose, and I blink.

"You did?" I say. "You went to the house?" That surprises me. "I saw you speak to her at Hermia and Valmont's wedding, but I didn't think you'd want to cross her threshold again."