|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:14 pm
Voltaire smiled a little and nodded while Annjette looked slightly crestfallen that Rojiza hadn't come, but recovered quickly a hand reaching out to grasp Caroline's hand, "Please come in!" the swan-girl entreated the woman, "Papa has been sad a lot and it's kind of boring when he gets like that." She wrinkled her nose as she partly explained the lack of activity and almost chastising her father for being a lump awash in self-pity and sadness.
The man's expression changed to that of a man embarrassed in the light of his child's truthful words. He blushed but wordlessly opened the door a little more, "Please, do come on in," his eyes visibly darkened again and his smile gone from his face. "I'll make us some tea, I am not as good at it I am afraid."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:27 pm
"Adults can be verra dull," agrees Caroline in a conspiratorial tone, shooting a wink at Voltaire. "And why has yer Papa been sad, sweet?" she asks, allowing herself to be led inside. She sits on a sturdy trunk and nods a bit. "Tea would be lovely," she says. "I can help if ye like," she offers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:38 pm
Annjette sat at Caroline's feet after the woman had sat herself down staring up at the woman and explained, "Someone close to him had died. He had gotten news of it ... Weeks and weeks ago and he just doesn't seem move on." She continued almost unabashed. The swan girl sighed softly, "He says I don't understand because I didn't know them."
Voltaire shook his head, "No, no, you are a guest. The next time you come over you are family," he grinned lightly as he turned about getting things ready for tea. "And 'Jette you don't need to speak so cruelly about my sorrow." He chided the girl.
The girl simply shrugged her shoulders, "But you have been sad for what seems to be months people are getting worried and I don't want to leave you alone." The girl complained, "You might do something bad."
"I'm perfectly fine." He replied almost too snappishly as he took up the kettle and momentarily disappeared outside to set it on the flame.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:43 pm
"Ahh," says Caroline, comprehending. "Yer Papa's a strong man, sweet," she says. "Just let him be for a while and he'll be happy again, ye'll see. But for now just make sure you love him extra-lots, aye?" She tugs playfully on one of Annjette's curls.
Caroline smiles heartily at Voltaire. "Family, eh? I seem to be collectin' families wherever I go." She keeps the mood light for Voltaire. Death can be prickly, especially for those left behind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:53 pm
The girl sighed softly shifting her shoulders, "I guess," she said after a moment, "I do love him lots. Maybe he needs someone else to love him too! Like...Like..." The girl's dark purple eyes pointed upward thoughtfully for a long moment, "Like you!" she grinned unashamedly. For she said this in innocence and besides she liked Ms. Caroline as much as she liked Auntie Lorelei.
He responded to Caroline's comment as he returned from the outside, "Families are a wonderful thing to collect." His eyes once again were lightening showing that his mood was improving. Voltaire glanced at his daughter and his shoulder's shifted visibly at the comment a blush creeping yet again over his cheeks, "It is not that easy, Duckling." He said gently to the girl.
Soon, from under Annjette's cloak, peeked out a small narrow head. The ermine peered beady eyed up at Caroline. So this was what all the excitement was all about!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 4:57 pm
"Och, I don't doubt that you love your Papa lots and lots, sweet," says Caroline, leaning forward to tap Annjette's nose softly. "And he should also know to keep in touch with his friends, for we love him too." She smiles. "But he's right, love. Things like that arenae so easy as that." She glances at Voltaire and is privately amused to see that he's blushing. A flash of movement at Annjette's shoulder catches her eyes again and she looks away. "Well, lookie at what we've got here!" she exclaims, reaching forward slowly to let the little creature sniff at her. Hopefully it doesn't bite.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:07 pm
Conveniently for the slightly uncomfortable half-elf the kettle starts ringing for his attention and he again disappears outside (after attaining a thick cloth to grip the now hot handle). He returns shortly after kettle in hand steaming and slowly running out of 'whistle'. Voltaire moved to fill the cups, "What kind of tea would you like?" he asked graciously anxious to shift the topic.
Annjette giggled at the nose tap. The ermine wriggled a bit under her cloak momentarily disappearing beneath it, "It is Q!" she introduced the creature when attention was brought toward it. It almost seemed as if the ermine was being shy, but it was just the opposite as the ermine suddenly leapt onto the proffered hand and started sniffing with its small wet nose up along the woman's arm. Its tiny claws gaining purchase on its current perch by gripping gently onto the woman's flesh. "I think Q likes you." The child said cheerfully seeming to forget about the idea of Caroline and Voltaire coming together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:11 pm
Caroline laughs, grateful on Voltaire's behalf that the straightforward child had decided to forget her previous idea. "Q, eh?" asks Caroline, trying not to wince too much as the little thing claws its way up her arm. The sniffing tickles, though, and a small giggle slips through Caroline's lips. "I c'n see that," agrees Caroline, frowning slightly at it. "I didna know snakes came with fur," she tells it.
"Mint, if ye have it," she says to Voltaire, remembering that he'd asked her about tea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:21 pm
The half-elf nodded in affirmative as he went into a cupboard getting out a jar or two and starting to brew up the tea. Chamomile for himself and mint for Caroline, "I hope it tastes fine," he laughed lightly.
Q peered up at Caroline's face sniffing at the air toward her squinted his black eyes at the woman. His small black tipped tail swished gently over the woman's wrist. The ermine climbed onto her shoulder and took a bit of her hair between his paws and sniffed it a bit and then began pressing its tiny nose upon her cheek as he turned and bounced its way back to Annjette and disappearing into the cloak again.
"Q is nice." Annjette said sagely, "Hadn't bitten anyone yet."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:24 pm
"I'm sure it'll be....fine!" she says, the last word interrupted by giggles as the ermine sniffs at her cheek again, tickling. Caroline sounds more like a little girl than a grown woman when she laughs like this. She adjusts herself again as the creature hops back to its mistress. She sticks her tongue out at Q. "I'm sure 'e is," says Caroline to Annjette, trying to regain her dignity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:31 pm
Annjette giggled lightly at Caroline's reaction, "And he's an ermine not a snake. Though I guess he does kind of looks like a fuzzy snake..." The girl's eyes went upward in thought. Was her companion really a fuzzy snake with clawed limbs? She shrugged her shoulders after a moment's thought.
After a few moments Voltaire offered Caroline a cup of her ordered tea, "Here you go m'lady." He smiled at her, "If it needs anything more let me know." He went back to his own tea and took a sip and scrunched his nose with a small sigh, "I might as well be drinking boiled water."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:36 pm
Caroline smiles and nods her thanks as she takes her tea. It smells fine, at least. She takes a sip. Not as good as her own tea, to be sure, but it isn't bad at all. She smiles at Voltaire reassuringly and nods again. "It's fine," she says. "And I'm sure yours is as well. Dinnae be so hard on yerself."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:46 pm
Voltaire sighed a bit and shrugged, "Don't know. You make some of the best tea I ever had," he grinned, "Perhaps you spoil me too much." Voltaire said playfully as he moved to sit on a lone stool.
Annjette looked in between the two quietly, "I wanna go out and play. Can I go out and play?"
The half-elf raised an eyebrow looking out of a nearby window; "All alone?" he sounded skeptical.
"I'll be fine," the girl insisted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:48 pm
"Perhaps ye need more of my tea is all," counters Caroline playfully. "Let her play. She's got yon wee fuzzything as a companion, and the wagons are drawn into a circle."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:56 pm
Voltaire smirked a little at Caroline, "Maybe I should."
There was a moment of silence as he stared thoughtfully out of the window and then he dismissively waves a hand, "But come in when it gets dark. You know you ought to be in bed soon after."
At that Annjette jumped up and hugged Caroline and kissed her father on her cheek and was gone as quick as she could.
"Ah, children," Voltaire chuckled as his daughter left, "I think I'd love to have another."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
