[The Possible Future]
In the first place, Alice had told her not to do it. When he questioned her about it later, were she to be completely honest (and she had yet to learn a reason why she should not be,) Divinity would have to admit that might have been most of the reason she decided to do it at all.
He was a big man-thing, Alice. Wider than the lithe, black haired creature she remembered seeing first. Not as beautiful, and maybe not half as graceful, either. But unforgiving as she was, her impression of him was kind. In Divinity's small, perfect world the large, imperfect man was warmth and love. Hands that were not afraid, and quiet, hidden dignity.
The fact that the rest of the world regarded the ex-cop with all the dignity of a drunken, one legged monkey on a
unicycle neither occurred to the slender Raevan, nor would have mattered if you had told her. Reality, as the nudibranch saw it, began and ended with her opinion.
Currently her opinion was that she wanted to go outside, despite the fact that it looked as though God very much intended to
purge the wicked from the Earth a second time, and Noah would at any moment float by the store's front window with an array of farm animals. And if Alice really hadn't wanted her to leave the shop, he simply should not have told her not to. At least that was how she saw it.
But where to go?
Divinity squinted at the world outside, searching for a place of any visible interest. Nothing was presenting itself. A red, lopsided sign curved in the distance, bent long ago by an excitable car. Closer there were looming grey buildings, prettily carved but too boringly colored to matter. She huffed, trying another window.
The city stretched on, small independent shops beyond slightly more promising. Blue and green caught an errant eye. The girl shifted, squishing a plush penguin against her chest as she tried to get a better look. The placard swung lazily, its garish letters punctuated by a small, steaming mug to their left.
They read '
Java Joe's', but the Frei had no way of knowing that. What she did know was that it was bright in an oddly bland world, and that made it the place she currently needed to be. Besides, Alice had come out of that door more than once, and she wanted him to make the clouds and wet go away. It was too dusky for her taste when they were around, and she was confident that her guardian could invent a cure.
Expedition decided, Divinity pushed herself away from the window, trailing soft finger pads along aquarium glass as she made her way to the door. A bi-color followed, reaching delicate
yellow tendrils after her as though calling her back, or waving goodbye. The truth might have been that it was only
pheromones, remnants of a forgotten lifetime that even things like eyes and bones could not belie. Or maybe it would honestly miss her, the way it longed for bits of sponge when they were gone.
The Raevan propped her penguin hastily against a row of candied flowers, leaving him to guard the Sistine in her absence. Rigel was a staunch sort after all. He would protect Alice's work, no problem.
Outside the world was thin and pale, washed out with the endless pour of rain. Divinity pushed open the door to the faint tinkling of its bell, floating cautiously into the ashen afternoon-
-And was instantly drenched by a cascade of water from the gutters.
The girl shrieked wordlessly, flailing in the rhythmic still with an utter lack of composure, pushing sopping bangs from her face. Fists balled at her sides, trembling as she glared venomously into the
villainous storm. "NO!" She shouted in defiance, wishing desperately for a foot to stomp.
The rain, though, did not seem at all ashamed, and went right on rushing over rooftops and streaming down the streets.
Furious, she waved her arms at the clumps of clouds. "NO!" She demanded in the only word she knew, "NO! NO! NO!"
Nothing changed. The nudibranch scowled hatefully, screwing her eyes shut as she devised a way to make less impotent her impotent rage. That was when she felt it. Something in the air, silky like the water on her skin. Vengeance momentarily misplaced Divinity glanced towards the sky.
Light in colors arched above, bright as the shades of sugar Alice worked at so lovingly. Awestruck she stared, reaching towards the prismatic curve with slender fingers splayed.
It was beautiful.
Rain kissed at her as it fell, slicking endlessly down pale skin in miniature rivers, soaking deep patterns into her sleeves. The Frei twirled about with glee, a giggle on her lips as she caught the droplets in her hands, tipping them down to watch the beads of water collect. They glittered in the rainbow light; tiny, shimmering worlds all their own, encased in liquid
crystal. Perfect.
Divinity cooed up at the downpour. Alright, she told the storm clouds, I guess that you can stay.
Meet Murphy. A certain someone lef' me a rose, and the next thing I know, this fella shows up. Murphs seems to think he's somewhere between Don Juan and a well bred German shepherd. Never thought I'd have a watchduck, but he keeps the store in running order.
Down below there is Dox. He lives here, too. Although he's not nearly as protective of the property, and doesn't seem to care for anyone's company in particular. Pretty thing, though.
