Jess & Joie: Catching Up

[Joie de Mornay]

As I returned home from Quinns, I made my way with a light foot to my room to change, slipping from my fete finery and into a light cotton dress, stained blue; something that gave wonderful freedom.

I needed to bath, but I wanted to see my sister more, and as I made my way to her room I came across one of the maids who told me she was in the garden out back. I grinned and headed down a back stairwell, hopping off the last step and pushing the door open infront of me.

"A pixie sitting in a tree - Oh! What a priceless picture," I said with a tease as I made my way over to where she was. "Poets shall tell stories of it for years to come."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Oh, hush you," I told her with a grin as I swung my feet from the branch I was sitting on. "Or I'll drop on you and ruin your so-pretty but artfully mussed gown. Have a good night?"

[Joie de Mornay]

I grinned up at her; it'd be strange to have to look up to see Jess save for the fact that her sitting in a tree was natural to me. Taking hold of a low branch, I picked my way up before answering her, sitting on an adjacent branch not too far from her. It were almost like it was when we were young, though I hadn't been up in a tree in ages.

Settling back against the trunk, I kept my balance and stretched one leg out over the expanse of the branch I was sitting on, then let the second join the first, crossing over. "My night began rather boring, but by the end it had taken a rather pleasant turn." My grin came back, and I looked at her. "How did yours go?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Very well, thank you," I replied, sticking out my tongue at her and watching her balance. "You still move like a gangly stork. Alain ended up coming back here with me, which was of course very pleasant, to use your terms."

[Joie de Mornay]

"Oh hush," I said, grinning at her. "It's not my fault that I actually have legs instead of just a torso and a few stumps."

"Alain came back with you?" I asked curiously. I didn't know him, but if he made Jess happy then he had to be alright with me. "If your pleasant was near as good as mine, then you'll be going to bed early tonight," I said, my voice reflecting innocence. "How did you meet him, anyway?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Actually I feel very well rested," I told her loftily. "Almost renewed. Thus why I am in a tree."

For a moment I thought, swinging my legs and smiling abstractedly. "At the Cockerel, one day when I was out simply exploring and decided to go in for a drink. So, are you tired, my poor, long-bodied and shapeless sister? No talking over sweets?"

[Joie de Mornay]

"How lucky of you," I said with a tease. "Into the Cockeral for a drink and out with a man to spend your time with." I grinned, holding back a question as to whether he was drunk or not. My sister was beautiful in mind and body, and I didn't doubt he was sober.

"Fairly tired, but not so much that I can't join you up here." My smile widened, becoming softer around the edges than the teasing one I'd given her. "The entire night was amazing, nice, lovely."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Oh, you sap," I jested, tossing a handful of leaves in her direction. "I'd rather passion and fun than sap and poetry. It suits my freedom better, don't you think?"

In the end I knew I'd probably be as susceptible to softness as she was, but I declined to mention that as I didn't know, for a fact, that it could be true. "Besides, this way I can send Mama and Dad to you when they start bugging me for grandchildren."

[Joie de Mornay]

"Who says there was no fun or passion?" I laughed as she tossed leaves at me, one hand reaching out to grab a nearby limb and keep myself from falling as I instinctively tried blocking the falling leaves. "There's a good deal of both, but that doesn't mean we're anywhere near kids. I adore him, but he can be hard to read."

I scooped up a handful of dead moss and tossed it back at her, smiling devilishly. "You're going to have to put up with Mama and Dad yourself, pixie. You only have a few years left before they really start cracking down on you."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Oh, but I'll be traveling still and have an excellent excuse in that regard," I reminded her with a wink. "They aren't that desperate, especially when you'll still be closer by far." Our parents would never press us into marriage or children- it was simply a far-off wish and a great deal of teasing.

[Joie de Mornay]

"You know they'd love a grandchild to bounce on their knee," I said, giving her a grin. "And who better to do that than my curly headed big sister? If she'd have been closer I'd have pinched her cheeks, but as it was I merely kept my grin. "Besides, I'd love a neice or nephew to spoil..."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Me too, which is why you're having the obligatory grandchildren," I told her sweetly. "I don't intend to light a candle until I'm done travelling, if ever. Besides, I'd scandalize the family by not settling down with one man first and then everyone would be cranky."

[Joie de Mornay]

"Oh no, sister dear," I said with a grin. "It's way too early in the game - or any game - to even begin about thinking about children for me. Give our sisters a few more years to grow and then begin nagging them."

I looked across to her in utter amusement, picking leaves out of my lap. "Is there any man in particular that you're thinking you might be able to settle down with? Alain, mayhap?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"I said I'm not settling down," I reminded her, sticking out my tongue at her. "And if I'm any judge of character, Alain's not going to either. You remain a romantic, I'll continue to be practical."

[Joie de Mornay]

"I'd rather be a romantic than an old maid," I said teasingly, sticking my tongue back out at her. Jess was the only one I'd act like this with, but there was something about her carefree self that made me relax all the more. "When are you planning on leaving? A few days after the wedding?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Smiling, I nodded. "I still have to get to the main departure point in Kusheth, so probably the day after," I told her. "Are you going to be fine here, having so much fun and throwing your parties?"

[Joie de Mornay]

"Of course!" I said, smiling innocently. "Parties galore, renting your bedroom out to lonely travelers, dinners..."

Plucking a dead stick off of a neighboring branch, I broke off a piece under a few inches long and tossed it at her lap. "I'm going to miss you though, you short-legged pixie."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Easily I picked up the twig and twirled it between my fingers. "And I'll miss you, you red-haired stork," I teased back but with sincere affection at the heart of the words. We'd always been open with one another and I knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself. "If there is a party at least save me a souvenir."

[Joie de Mornay]

"What," I said with a smile, glancing up from watching her twirl the stick. "You mean like a broken vase?"

I smiled broadly at her, though in truth I already missed her fiesty self. Still, it would be good for her to run away and travel while she could; my life wasn't hers. I wouldn't be tied down with a title like she would be. Swinging the foot of mine that dangled down, I leaned my head back against the trees trunk, closing my eyes.

"It's so peaceful out here," I said, listening to the sounds of the birds. "I can almost imagine we're back home, and you were getting ready to travel to the City by yourself."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Instead, I'm travelling to what Granny calls the old country," I replied, smiling and good-natured but understanding. I'd miss her too. "And if a broken vase is all there is left, then yes, I want that. I'll bring you back some Eiran temper of your own, if you'd like."

[Joie de Mornay]

I laughed - I couldn't help it. I could be in tears with a broken heart and Jess would still find a way to make me laugh. "Alright," I promised. "I'll save you a broken vase, then, or some other trinket that managed to meet its doom during all of the rowdy fun.

"And who said I didn't have any temper?" I asked, tossing her a grin. "It's no fault of my own that I choose not to let it out as much as most of our relatives."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"See, if you don't let it out it means you don't have one," I replied, swinging my feet. "Everyone gets angry, but letting it out in surprising ways is what makes it a temper and not simply your personality. I'd love to see you stomping about and making a fuss for once."

[Joie de Mornay]

My grin grew at her words, though I stuffed it away, making my face purse, my brows draw down and a loud, rough grunt come from my throat before growling out at her. "...How was that?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Raising a brow I shook my head in a jesting mix of scorn and dismay. "Not unless you're a caveman, Joie. And you're not, last I checked. I doubt you could beat anyone over the head with a club."

[Joie de Mornay]

I made a face at her, then tried again, adopting a look I'd seen our father use many times in the past, though I tried to affect more anger in it and less sternness. "That?" I asked, making my voice gruffy.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Better," I told her, grinning. "Though you look a bit like a madwoman, I suppose that's part of the goal. I personally tend toward the expression of stubborn determination with flashing eyes, firm chin and hands on hips."

[Joie de Mornay]

"Maybe I'll just have to take lessons," I said, letting it all dissolve into amused humor. "Come to think of it though, you have been known to use that stance with me. You remind me of Mama, actually. She did that after we snuck into the kitchens and ate half of the dinners dessert ourselves... before dinner was served."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Yes, I remember," I teased. "I also remember you were the one who was ill afterward. Evidently I got some of Mama's Azzallese pride to go with the Eiran temper. Makes a very interesting effect when I toss my head."

[Joie de Mornay]

"Pride has nothing to do with a stomach sore from eating too much sugar," I said, grinning at her. "First I have no temper, now I have no pride. What am I? A pushover?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Mostly," I replied, looking haughty. "You were born after me and I got all of the good traits, which hadn't refreshed themselves before you were born."