An approaching storm

[Ciarán Ringe]

“There is always light,” I said with a chuckle. “The trick is being able to see it.”

I fingered a rose colored necklace, watching the faceted glass sway. “My mother would love this. Perhaps I should send her a gift.”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I thought it was sweet of him, to think of his mother so, and I smiled as I watched the light refract through the glass. “I am certain she would appreciate it.” I thought of my own mother and sister, back in Khebbel-im-Akkad, or so I supposed; I had not written to them at all during the two years since I’d left. I wasn’t sure why, but perhaps it was just that any thought of Khebel-im-Akkad was so tied to my Uncle that I could not bear it.

Still, I missed them suddenly. “Perhaps I should do the same, and one for my sister as well.”

[Ciarán Ringe]

She obviously didn’t know my mother and how she was far more likely to be repulsed by any gift from me, giving it to a maid or servant as quickly as possible. It would linger in her mind though, and that thought pleased me.

I slipped the rose colored necklace off its hook. “There certainly seems to be something for everyone here,” I said, looking at the array of colors.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I agreed, looking here and there at all the different designs. "Oh, my mother would love this one. Green is her favorite color..." I plucked it from its hook and then found a violet one that I thought Zayn might like, so I took that one too. It matched her eyes, and mine, a perfect L'Envers violet. Now I would just have to find out where the two of them were. "I bet this vendor makes a fortune on a sunny day, with the light shining through the crystals," I commented with a smile.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Unless all the colors are too dazzling and blind customers,” I said with a laugh.

I reached around her, my body coming closer to hers, as I pointed out one in which the beads had been carved into white roses. “Isn’t that lovely?”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I had to laugh at that, imagining people screening their eyes as they tried to look at the crystals. I shivered a bit as he leaned in, though I put my attention toward the crystal he pointed out. "Oh, it's beautiful," I said, reaching up to let my fingertips linger on it. "What amazing talent!"

[Ciarán Ringe]

“This would look perfect on you,” I said, plucking the necklace from its hook. “It shall be my gift to you for continuing to brave the storm and indulge me.”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

"Oh, I couldn't..." I said, though I looked longingly at the necklace. It was beautiful, but no man had bought me gifts since Max and I wasn't sure if it was all right for me to accept. "Your company is gift enough," I said, blushing slightly as I was not generally so forward.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Then this is just because I want to, for it truly will look lovely on you,” I said, smiling wider.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

"Well, in that case, I cannot refuse," I said, smiling and blushing at the same time. "It is very kind of you, and it truly is beautiful. I shall wear it often, and remember the day I began to lose my fear of storms."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Excellent,” I said, still smiling and motioning to the vendor that we were ready to pay. “Ladies first.”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

"Thank you," I said, the flush still on my cheeks as I paid for Mama and Zayn's gifts. The vendor seemed extremely pleased to have customers in this weather, for which I did not blame him, and he placed the necklaces into a little bag for me with care. Once he handed the purchase back to me, I stepped out of the way so that Ciaran could make his own purchase, closing my eyes for a moment at a particularly forceful gust of wind.

[Ciarán Ringe]

I paid for my purchases, having him bag the one for my mother, but the other one I kept out.

Putting the wrapped necklace away, I went to where Yvaine waited. “Shall I put this on you now?” I asked with a smile.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

"Oh, please do," I said, smiling again, a genuine pleasure in it as I let my cloak down and pulled my long, dark hair back and to the side, lifting my neck slightly so that he could have better access.

[Ciarán Ringe]

Reaching around, I draped the strand around her neck and fastened it into place. I let my fingers caress along the sides of her neck as I drew them back, feeling the beat of her pulse beneath her skin.

“Let me see,” I said, smiling and stepping back. in my mind, I was imagining how her neck would feel as my hands tightened around her throat, the throb of her pulse as fear overwhelmed her, her face growing red, and then finally the light dimming from her eyes. I didn’t let that show though, my face nothing but open and friendly.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I shivered slightly as his fingertips brushed my neck, my heart beating faster. It had been too long ... I thought of Max and tried not to sigh at the memory. For all that his sweetness had never been able to satisfy, I still missed having someone there.

He stepped away and Max's memory was rinsed out by the rain as I smiled, dropping my hair and lifting my neck. "What do you think?" I asked, resisting the urge to touch it.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“It’s perfect,” I said, smiling. “As if it was made for you.”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I blushed again - it seemed as if that was destined to be a perpetual condition - and smiled. "Thank you, it's lovely, and I do appreciate the gift." I made a note to return the favor, perhaps that would be something I would see that suited him as well, though I did not think I knew him well enough to decide quite yet.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“It is my pleasure, truly,” I said, smiling. I offered her my arm. “Shall we continue shopping or have you reached your limit and a nice warm tavern sounds the thing?”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I considered, taking his arm as I did so, then turned to him and smiled, the wind whipping my hair all the while. "I could do with a nice, warm tavern, if you don't mind? I feel like I shall never be warm again!"

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I’m certain I can find ways to get you warm,” I said, smiling and letting all the meaning of that little statement flicker in my eyes before I looked around. “Anywhere in particular you’d like to get in out of the storm?”

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I felt the flush on my cheeks again, betraying my upbringing in Khebbel-im-Akkad. I had forgotten, again, how forward people in Terre d'Ange could be. And now that I had seen that something in his eyes, it was hard not to think about it, my restless yearning for something, something Max had not been able to satisfy, reasserting itself.

"No, I'm unfamiliar with the area, anywhere is fine with me." I smiled, trying not to seem timid, for I found that I sometimes wished to be less introverted, more normal, if that was even still a possibility.

[Ciarán Ringe]

I tilted my head, considering. “The Prince and Pony is nearby. It should be warm and the offerings are not bad,” I suggested.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

"It sounds wonderful," I said, and it did - anywhere that was indoors sounded wonderful at this point! "Allow me to buy you a drink, for escorting me in the storm," I said, as we walked along toward the place he spoke of.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“That would be appreciated, thank you,” I said, smiling to her as we walked.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

"It's the least I can do," I said, touching the necklace I wore slightly as we continued on our way. "And thank you, for being such good company and giving me a new insight into storms. I shall never look at them the same way again."

[Ciarán Ringe]

"It was my pleasure," I said, smiling at her again. "Anytime I can convert some to a fan of storms, it is a day well spent." I leaned in a little closer, my voice dropping. "Or if not a fan, at least a distant admirer, as I get the feeling you might never be a true fan." I chuckled low, letting my breath wash over her neck before straightening again.

[Yvaine L'Envers-Shahrizai]

I suppressed a shiver as I felt the warmth of his breath against my neck, a startling contrast to the cold air around us. "Distant admirer sounds about right," I laughed, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach. Something about him was almost disconcerting, which was odd, as he had been a perfect gentleman thus far. It was likely my own introverted nature; I had never spent much time with other people. "But perhaps over time they shall grow on me."