Welcome to Gaia! ::

Anne tapped her chin, leaning back in her seat. The old wooden chair squeaked. Her eyes looked up and left, scanning the room as she fished through her memories.

Pots and pans moved around the kitchen as Maribelle's voice was heard along with a gruffer, sandier old mans voices. Soon there were some sizzles in the air, and the rap-tap-tap of eggs being stirred.

We've been around about as long as I can remember.

She said, with a sly old ladies grin, showing a mouth full of pearly whites. Anne was on top of her teeth, hated dentures from childhood.

My family...

A phone rang. Yes, they had phones, but only in the harbor district. Maribelle popped out from the kitchen, a flour covered hand picked up the phone and her sweet kind voice responded.

Maribelle's, what can I do for ya?

...were some of the first. Elders s'what the first families are...

Yep. We're just sitting her down for breakfast, Anne's talkin' her ear off.

...just the older folks that help organize the town. Y'know. Mining and fishing...

Oh? Comin' here? Bacon, I know Charles loves his fried stuffs more than his body does.

Maribelle chuckled. Ann continued.

Village festivals, dances, races, you know?

Alright Maggie, give the kids a smooch for me and I'll have it ready when he gets here.

And she hung up, and ducked back in the kitchen. Though she'd come out a minute or two later with a tray, four milks and a tall glass of OJ on it.

Errything alright here ladies?

Remember that, Kana has a third eye stare? There it was again, Maribelle looked right at her, kinda shocked. She even shook her head. Anne just broke out in laughter, which Carrie continued, and Jamie followed along with.

Truth be told Jamie didnt get it. Maribelle, stunned said.

Is she....?

And then Anne said proudly.

Yeah, must be my awesome history lesson.

Maribelle smirked.

Thats an honest smile! First we've seen all morning!

Anne opened her mouth to speak, but Maribelle jumped in first.

Pffft, s'free pie and breakfast. That'd make anyone smile. You wait till its all done we might even get a laugh!

Carrie took the joke, and made a gasp. Like a laugh was akin to a blue moon. Maribelle laughed and made her way back to the kitchen.

You see, your fitting in already!

Aww, we'll get you warmed up.

Maribelle said, with a pat to Kana's shoulder.

Pah, history is borin' all that matters is today, and pie! Speak of whic--

Thats our Anne, she'd have the whole village run on pie if she could.

Came a new voice. A male. He had managed to stealthily slip into the door. Stealthy likely because he wasnt moving fast enough to make a stir. At the ar end of the room, stood a man of average hieght, a balding white head, fair pale skin, and a tad bit overweight. He wore a brown jacket, a blue dress shirt, and green pants. It was all very formal, and he walked with a cane. Not for show, but he was clearly leaning on it.

Charles!

Maribelle called out, and rushed over to him giving him a big husky hug. The man laughed. Anne simply stuck our her tongue like a little girl and her daughter and grand daughter waved.

'Young lady, who's name we have yet to get...

Charles hobbled his way over to the table, and reached out his hand in cue with the introduction. Handshake.

This is Charles, Charles Bluesummer the Elder of sorts around her. He's oldest of us after all.

Charles perked up.

I'm only as old as I feel Maribelle.

Anne whistled and shook her head with a grin on her aged face.

That bad, huh? You must feel as old as dirt.

And there was laughter. Charles sat down at the table beside Kana, and Maribelle excused herself and ran back to the kitchen to finish up on breakfast. The old man smelled like sandlewood, or maybe pine, but either way he smelled like a tree or a forest. That was because he ran a lumber shop, but Kana didnt know that.

Charles did however turn to her with a large grin full of natural white teeth and say.

Now, I figure these ladies may have tried, but may I have the pleasure of your name?

Ms. Keen.

Charles said slowly, he was feeling out the word you see. He let it roll about his mouth, he wanted to pronounce it exactly the way it had been pronounced him.

Welcome to Lunea, Ms. Keen. You'll find us quiet different from the rest of the world.

He smiled from ear to ear, and took a deep breath which he slowly let slide out. He was proud, anyone could tell. Proud of Lunea, proud of its people, not braggardly so, but still.

'Still, we arent boring. We have our share of oddities.

He looked over to Anne, and her daughter, and grandaughter.

Did you ladies hear about Singing Mary? She found an old hat, and Nancy says she talks to it at night.

All three women shook there heads. The youngest speaking up.

Maybe its got magics!

She said shyly. Charles chuckled and returned.

Maybe, then lets hope it helps her get her voice back, eh? Ms. Keen, do you know anything about magi--

And before anyone could answer Maribelle and a gruff looking man in an apron were filling the table with breakfast and pie, lots of it! Would Kana catch the question before it was stolen away be tasty treats?

((Tell Akbar to shut up.))

Excellent!

Charles perked up over breakfast. And breakfast was something of a hub-ub. Everyone was eating, and talking "please pass this", "isnt this great" the normal type of talk you'd expect at breakfast table. Maribelle pulled a chair and joined the group, though she didnt eat, it was nice to hear her work complimented.

But above all that, Kana was heard, and Charles followed suit.

Thats absolutely wonderful! Perhaps you and Jenkins up the road could pour over it. Jenkin's is our own self styled wizards of sorts, he has a magic shop down the road. Trinkets and small spells really. But, he usually knows his stuff.

Maybe it was more holistic than real magic, or maybe they were just fun bobbles. It was impossible to tell until Kana met him. But that was for later. For now Charles took a deep breath, and set his fork down...that meant he was about to talk...alot.

You see, its not the magic that worries me. The world is full of magic, anyone thats watched the sun come up over the mountain and pour out onto the ocean knows that. Its that well....

He picked up a napkin and dabbed his face. He trusted Kana, whether or not he should. He did.

...Singing Mary hasnt been the same since Harry drowned a few years back. The folks there that day said she held him and screamed until her voice just tore right up.

He sighed, it showed on his face that this plagued him. And the table had suddenly become really quiet. There was no trap, just a general sadness. Harry's death with this utopia's first tragedy. It marked everyone, wether or not they knew the boy.

Harry Mar, lost his mom and dad at a young age. Mining accident. He lived near the town square by himself. It wasnt that no one in the village wanted him, it was that everyone did. So he was everyones son. I'm rambling, I just dont want to see anything bad happen to Mary, heavens knows she deserves a break. You know?

Oh god yes.

Anne said with the brightest of smiles, looking up from her plate. It was said in the space between a bite and a sip, and in a tone that poured the idea of fond memories.

She was absolutely beautiful.

Maribelle chimed in, leaving Charles to wrap up the image.

Some small towns have a rooster, to welcome the morning. We had Mary. She was like an angel, trotting from her house to the water and back again to wake up Harry.

He shook his head and played with a piece of bacon, stirring it around the plate with his fork. It was a bittersweet memory.

She was an angel Ms.Caoin, nothing short of it.

He finally took a bite, he knew it was bad for him, but it was his favorite! He chewed for a few seconds then followed up with a sip and continued.

Its not about how much you can do my dear, its about being willing to do. We'll all appreciate anything you can manage, even if its just showing you care.

Charles grinned, and then went back to his breakfast. Maribelles food was just plain amazing, and he wanted some more.

Now eat up lass, your all skin and bones, this'll fatten ya up good!

Anne chimed in, immediately following that with a elbow nudge to her daughter.

That sound old lady enough for ya?

She said with her dentured grin. She was way way too young at heart to mean that, but if the shoe fits.

There was a general pause across the entire table at that one. Caoin had asked one of the deeper, harder questions it seemed. It wasnt an awkward pause, rather everyone seemed to be intently thinking. Then Maribelle broke the silence.

Honey Tea.

To which Anne chimed in.

Veggie soup.

Which seemed to cause a chain reaction akin to a water balloon getting a small hole poked in it. The question was passed around the table.

Homemade throat lozenges.

Penicillin.

Gargling vinegar.

Gargling salt water.

Gargling both.

Lots of oatmeal.

Cookies and milk.

Veggie soup.

You said that already Anne.

The old woman crossed her arms across her chest and nodded.

There was alot of soup.

Charles chuckled a bit shook his head and then turned back to Caoin.

We dont have much in the way of doctors around here, not like the big cities. I dont think theres a person in town that didnt offer her something, Jenkins even tried a few charms and trinkets. But you would have to ask him about that.

A silence fell following that question, like everyone was searching for the answer, their eyes tracing the ceiling to the left of them before they came up empty. Anne didnt say anything. Maribelle said something about having a cake in the oven, which she did, the two younger girls seemed just as lost as everyone else. And finally Charles spoke up, putting words to what Caoin was likely seeing.

Vocal what?

He said, with a soft smile and a scratch of his white haired head.

I'm sorry Caoin we probably seem like very simple folk now, but I just dont know what those are.

Anne took the chance to speak up.

Maybe Kelly?

Charles gently slapped the edge of the table as a light clicked on in his head.

Yes! Yes Doctor Kelly! A proper Doctor should know!

But a second light popped on immediately following the first, and Charles got a wiry smile on his elderly pale face.

Your really interested in this arent you Miss Caoin. You've barely touched your food since we mentioned young Mary.

The smile grew even wider.

Its not so often a newcomer takes such an interest in our town. Would you like to go meet with Doctor Kelly or Jenkins now?