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 Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 10:09 pm
Livy's smile made Paoma quite glad that others appreciated the bond between herself and the mischievous grimalkin. Little Brother was as close to family as she had, and the girl had no doubts that he would be there to ward off unwanted visitors and to keep their cozy home safe from harm if ever there came a day that warranted it. He was a big cat, after all, and possessed of less sense than he ought to be, and it didn't seem to be in him to be afraid.
"Oh, well, yes," Paoma said with a bright smile, though it was now her turn to be at a loss for words when it came to explaining what she had meant. How did one explain magic, really? There was simply something quite inexplicable about it that even Paoma didn't quite understand. "I don't know how to say, exactly, but I grow lots of plants in my garden, and... well, he just makes them grow better, I guess. I'm not really sure how."
He enhanced her skills with the flowers, would have been the closest way of putting things, but the girl took her own abilities quite for granted too, rarely even noticing them. Even without the grimalkin, her flowers would have grown up strong and healthy. But with Little Brother's help, they looked even better and smelled even sweeter and fetched more buyers than most other florists seen wandering through the streets of Palisade. Over the years, Paoma had even acquired a few regular customers, who either looked for her regularly at the start of each month or who had arranged to have their homes become regular stops on her route through the city.
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 1:36 pm
The girl stared at the grimalkin for a moment before saying. "Well, aren't you just the cleverest boy."
Having never much thought about her own magic, Livy did not think to put the pieces together and apply that to Paoma. If she did not even actively acknowledge her own hedge witchery, how was she to even begin to imagine that there could be other kinds, as well? Perhaps in time it would come to her, but for now it only reinforced the idea that she was supposed to meet Little Brother, and Paoma was simply there because she was connected to him.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:52 am
Little Brother agreed wholeheartedly. He shut his eyes and purred contentedly, looking utterly pleased with himself for having come into Paoma's life and making such a positive impact after her parents had died. Of course, there were those who insisted that he was bad luck and that no good could come of having him around. But it wasn't his fault that he had appeared the day her parents had been found dead. And it certainly wasn't his fault they had died.
"I don't suppose you have any companions?" Paoma ventured. "Pet" would not have been the right word; Little Brother was much more than a silly pet cat. He was an integral part of her home, as important to her as the memories she held of her parents.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:14 pm
"No," Livvy said with a shake of the head. She loved animals, to be sure, and she had always envied those who had them, but she had never had any of her own. She could only hope that one day that would change. For now, she would simply have to spoil everyone else's companions. Like Little Brother, who was in for a thorough ear-rub.
"Where are you going with your flowers? Maybe I can help." She looked at them with renewed interest. She had never peddled flowers before. It could be fun.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:54 am
"Well, you're welcome to play with Little Brother anytime," Paoma said with a laugh, watching as the grimalkin leaned into the ear-rub. "He doesn't get too much attention from anyone else. Our neighbors learned that he's a bit of a devil, and visitors learn quickly enough. He's not the most popular with adults, I'm afraid." But it wasn't his fault adults lacked imagination and tolerance.
The girl looked back at the two baskets. There was still a fair number of flowers in each, but they would be gone soon enough. Her visits to the city rarely lasted three hours past midday. "Farther into town," she answered. "I stop by several houses on the way, and I spend an hour or so at a few stops through the center of town."
Help was always a welcome offer, though, and Paoma reached to pick up the baskets, offering one to Livy. "If you don't mind helping me carry one."
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Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 7:38 pm
"They just don't appreciate a bit of fun," she said, wrinkling her nose. Most adults didn't, but her friends the certainly urchins did, and they had spent many a day having it.
The girl beamed when Paoma offered her the basket and gladly accepted it. "Of course! You can show me how to sell them and we shall have your flowers sold in no time at all." Naturally, she took it completely for granted that the other girl would even want her assistance in speaking to the customers, or be interested in teaching a curious merchant's daughter the details of flower peddling. But really, how different could it be from candles and other such things, anyway?
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:36 am
Paoma's smile back was just as wide. She kept to herself for the most part, and company was rare to come by, especially company of children her age. "If we finish early, we can bring Little Brother to a park," she said enthusiastically. "He likes to chase other cats, but he's not fast enough for them." Apparently, though, cats were a lot more fun to chase than birds. Paoma had decided that it was because birds were much more catchable and much less challenging.
"You'll catch on with selling flowers in no time," she promised, turning down the road again and preparing to set off. Little Brother's pale eyes popped open and he hopped to his feet, twining once around Livy in typical cat fashion and twining once around Paoma for good measure, purring his contentment.
Good day? Paoma thought, seeing the light in the grimalkin's eyes. Yes. Good day, indeed.
/fin?
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