|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 19, 2006 17:57:08 GMT -5
It was hard, the City was still in shock from the news of the deaths, but I was filled with so much happiness it was hard not to skip as I went up the walk to Jess's house.
I knocked on the door and a servant answered almost immediately. I gave my name and said that I was here to see Jess if she was free.
The servant showed me to a sitting room to wait. I settled onto comfortable looking couch, trying to keep from grinning too much. I couldn't wait to see Jess's reaction.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 19, 2006 18:01:32 GMT -5
Someone had come to visit me- for a moment I had wondered if Cendrillon had actually stopped being a recluse, but then I heard it was Caraf and laughed, thanking the girl and then rushing down the stairs and into the sitting room. She was on the couch and almost glowing from within. Quietly I slunk into the room, and then when I was at the opposite arm of the couch from her, I said, "Vacations seem to agree with you as much as Elliot does."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 19, 2006 18:04:26 GMT -5
"Yes, they do," I said, laughing in surprise at her quiet entrance. "I highly recommend a good vacation whenever you get the chance."
I stood and gave her a hug before pulling her down next to me on the couch.
"So, anything good happen with you while I was away?" I asked.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 19, 2006 21:47:04 GMT -5
Plopping down next to her- so unrefined, but so much reminding me of being back home- I grinned and replied, "Well, I get my vacation in the spring when I go to Eire- let me hope it does as well by me as yours did by you. I did not much at all- finished my book, visited Douleur, had some fun..all of the things that make me happy and busy so I didn't wonder what sort of fun YOU were having. Are you going to tell me about it, or do I have to guess?' I was almost bouncing with exuberance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 19, 2006 21:57:09 GMT -5
I didn't say anything, just kept smiling wide as I raised my left hand and showed her engagement ring Elliot had given me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 19, 2006 22:03:52 GMT -5
My grin widened. "Very nice- that must be an engagement ring, it's the only jewelry a man spends more money on that a horse, as my Granny used to say," I said with a wink. "I knew something big was going to happen on your little trip. I'm very happy for the two of you, so many congratulations. We should get rollicking drunk and you tell me all about it to celebrate. Well, maybe not drunk, but at least do something small to celebrate for you. I think I have some wine spirited away- how about it? Besides, if I loosen your tongue, you may give me all the juicy details."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 19, 2006 22:22:43 GMT -5
"Yes it's and engagement ring, and no thank you to the spirits. I am having enough trouble keeping a clear head without anything added," I said, grinning. "I will tell you details anyway, what would you like to know?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 19, 2006 22:28:38 GMT -5
Biting my lower lip in thought, I finally settled on a group of questions. "When did he propose? Was it in the beginning or the end? Where did you go? have you decided when the wedding will be?" Stopping for a moment, I connected some coincidences in my head. "Do you know how ironic this is? At least Evangeline won't be able to say anything to you about it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 19, 2006 23:01:33 GMT -5
Blinking, I tried to line up the answers to her questions. "He proposed on the second night, so in the middle. We went to two places, both properties his family owns in L'Angce. The second was this tiny little cabin in the woods, that's where he proposed. No decisions on where the wedding will be, except not in the Palace - that idea gave me fits. And what do you mean about Evangeline?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 6:36:37 GMT -5
"He suggested the Palace? Oh, the horror! Think of how many people it would take to fill that space and make it cozy," I said with a slight shudder. "What's next, a gown made of gold and ivory shoes? I'm sorry, I shouldn't talk about your fiance like that, but that just seems like a silly idea."
Her question about Evangeline reminded me that I was supposed to be keeping some things quiet and I was stuck between two opposing forces- the need to tell the truth and my belief in honesty and the need to stay quiet and preserve friendship. "Jaynx would skin me alive," I finally managed. "But I think he and Evangeline like each other more than they let on. She has to be nice to you, or else she's a hypocrite and we know it. Also, if she gives you problems, I'll punch her in the mouth. Alright, maybe not, but I will tell her to bugger off."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 10:56:01 GMT -5
"If I asked for a dress of gold and shoes of ivory I think Elliot would arrange for them," I said, laughing softly. "He wants so much for me to be happy and have everything I want, and yet I think he's also enjoying the fact that I get a little panicked over ideas like the royal family will be at the wedding. Not that he likes to see me upset, I think he just enjoys shocking me some."
I thought about what she had said about Janyx and Evangeline.
"It has been my experience that just because an action might make someone a hypocrite, doesn't mean they won't do it necessarily. I don't know Evangeline well enough to have an idea which way she'll go. I hope that she and I can find some common ground and at least be civil. I think that if what you say about her and Janyx is true then it may add to her dislike of me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 11:03:27 GMT -5
Rolling my eyes at human nature, I sighed and replied, "I guess you're right- it doesn't make much sense, but you probably know more about people that I do. If they're not a character in one of my stories I'm only guessing anyway. Things would be so much simpler if people were just open and honest with each other."
Letting my smile crease my face again, I asked, "So, what about your marque, or is it finished? Will he be leaving you at Heliotrope until the wedding, or will you be staying with him? I bet that will make a few people spit nails. I don't think it's very nice for Elliot to like making you nervous though- one of these days you'll just start crying because it's too much and then he'll learn, I think. Good luck with the Royal Family though- I imagine they're much different than most people, what with all of the power and money at their disposal."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 11:08:40 GMT -5
Chuckling again I told her, "He's paying for me to finish my marque, in fact I have to go arrange for it when I leave here. He's also brining me to live with him, in the townhouse. I don't think Elliot does it to be mean, he's not mean to me in any way, I think it's more… it's almost that he likes that it shocks me because I am not expecting it, sort of as proof that I want him for more than his money and the title I will get."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 11:13:00 GMT -5
"I should hope he's not doing it to be mean, I just hear these things are stressful," I said soothingly. "Also, you may have convinced him that you're not after his money or title, but there may be others you have to convince- or who will want you to convince them before I chase them off with a stick. And I will too...once you leave to finish your marque I'm going to go on a hunt for a very long, very big stick that you can hold onto and use to chase away the snobby people."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 11:18:00 GMT -5
Laughing, I reached out and squeezed her hand. "Perhaps I shall have to try out my powers when I become Sovereign Duccess ad make you my champion," I said, smiling. It surprised me that I was able to joke about things like that now without going into a complete freak out. This was good.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 11:24:46 GMT -5
"A champion? That would be interesting, though I can't promise I'd be any good at it," I teased as I leaned closer. Dropping my voice to a whisper I looked around conspiratorally and said, "Don't tell anyone, but you can use the stick on Elliot too. It'll tenderize his head some some of your ideas actually reach his brain."
Grinning, I sat up again and laughed in merriment. "You will be able to order some people around too; just don't always expect people like me to listen, because we always want reasons to do thing. I can't wait to see you and Elliot together, that will be so interesting! I bet the pair of you look lovely. Are you still going to Midwinter?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 11:30:45 GMT -5
"I rather like the shape of Elliot's head as it is, so I don't know if I could bring myself to beat him with anything. I don't think I'll be any good at ordering anyone around either, people will look at me funny because I'm saying please and thank you to all the servants… well, they will just have to look at me funny because that's how it will be," I told her, grinning. "I hope he wants to go to Midwinter, we haven't actually talked about it yet. I am going, I would hate to miss it. Are you going? Are you going with someone? What are you going as?" I grinned mischievously as I pelted her with questions as she had done me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 11:35:26 GMT -5
Quickly I stuck my tongue out at her in response to her mimickry, then grinned and answered in her usual tone of voice, "Yes, I'm going, alone as of this moment, and I think I'm going to be a pixie, dressed in a nice green and with dragonfly's wings. At least, that's my plan for today- tomorrow I may decide to be something else entirely. What are you going as, or do you have to keep it a secret?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 11:39:18 GMT -5
"I don't know what I'm going as. Since I won't be at Heliotrope when Midwinter arrives I shall have to go as something besides what they are going as. Elliot might have already had something planned and I can find something to match," I said, then made a bit of a face and laughed. "Though honestly, I bet he hasn't even thought about it. He was probably not planning on attending. I like your pixie idea, it suits you very well."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 11:42:03 GMT -5
Nodding in response to her answer, I said, "Thank you- I've always wanted to be a pixie. Now if only I could arrange a way to fly... Well, if Elliot hasn't picked out a costume, how are the pair of you going to dress? Do you have any ideas? Something absolutely fantastic, I bet."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 11:45:21 GMT -5
"I really don't have any ideas, I am so used to going with the House theme that I don't know where to start. What would you suggest?" I asked her. "You are obviously good at coming up with wonderful costume ideas."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 11:51:28 GMT -5
"There are so many ideas though," I protested. "You have to help me narrow then down somehow. I mean, stories, cultures, myths, animals, plants, ideas...the list is endless."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 11:55:41 GMT -5
Chuckling I told her, "Exactly, that's why I was asking for ideas. I don't know where to start either. Except nothing too outrageous or silly, I don't want Elliot to be uncomfortable if I can get him to come with me. Something lovely but sort of understated."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 12:00:47 GMT -5
An idea flashed into my head. "Magpies? Light and dark, black and white, the meeting of seeming opposites in a seamless fashion."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 16:08:22 GMT -5
I smiled and nodded at her suggestion. "That could work, I will keep that in mind, thank you. I do hope Elliot wants to come too, I may have to resort to bribery if he puts up a fight," I said, chuckling.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 16:11:48 GMT -5
Laughing, I said sweetly, "See why you need a stick? It makes all of those problems so much easier to solve, at least in theory. Then again, I think I'll avoid the situation by just never marrying."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 16:16:00 GMT -5
"I'm going have trouble telling people to wax the floors, I really don't know that I could beat someone with a stick. I think I'll stay with charm and temptation, it's worked very well on him so far," I told her, winking.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 16:20:15 GMT -5
With the grimace of sisters everywhere when they hear about something they consider 'no fun', I teasingly scoffed and said, "Well, that's your choice, I guess I'll leave you to it. Still, if things get too difficult, just let me know and you champion will wield said stick in your defense. Besides, I can't be writing all of the time, just like you can't be ordering or not-ordering people all of the time. Personally, I've never had to order anyone- I think they all know I don't mind going out and finding the brain-adjustment tool of my choice. Plus the Eiran-red hair, that probably helps."
|
|
|
|
Post by Caraf Tewar on Jun 20, 2006 16:24:34 GMT -5
I reached over and lightly fingered a lock of her hair. "It does make you easy to spot at a distance and hide from," I said, grinning.
"Now, I've told you about my fun time for you to tell me about this fun you had while I was away."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessamine de Mornay on Jun 20, 2006 16:29:53 GMT -5
"Nothing terribly noteworthy, though I did have fun," I said with a grin. "I finished my book and dropped it off with Cendrillon- a friend of mine- so he could look over it for me, took care of some work, had some fun with an Orchis I met and visited Douleur." I wracked my brain for a moment, then shook my head. "Nope, nothing else is coming to me at the moment, but I'm sure it'll pop into my head once I'm not thinking about it."
|
|
