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 Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 9:20 pm
"Happy birth-day, dear Casia... Happy birthday to you."
Jane handed Casia one of the two cupcakes on the table, and Casia had to admit it was pretty. If there was one thing the guardian could do, it was bake. Plucking the strawberry off the top and licking the frosting off it before she ate it, the siren looked around the room once more. Coloured balloons floated about, lurking halfheartedly on the ceiling, and streamers limply dangled in the doorways. It had looked like Jane had forgotten what birthday parties were in all those years she was alone, the concept was there, but it was a pale shadow of anything actually festive.
Brown eyes darted to the two wrapped gifts on the table. large, flat, square, they looked like records and her fingers itched to open them, to tear off the paper and retreat to her room where it wouldn't be so awkward, where she could listen to her Beatles songs and take a moment to herself to celebrate, if nothing else, to celebrate making it this far. Two years old and doubly rehomed was better than some, it could be worse. She could have been pushed around as much as Merroth, or she could be paralyzed, or... Or something.
Sometimes it was hard to look on the bright side, but the part of Casia that wasn't full of Greystone thoughts was giving it her best shot.
"Did you make a wish?" Jane asked, looking for something to talk about. Casia shook her head vaguely. "I guess I forgot." she lied. She had been wishing that this party would be over since the moment she got out of the shower and had been surprised by it. She and Jane didn't really know each other yet, the whole thing felt like a weak excuse to try to bond and Casia didn't want to put up with it, not on her birthday of all days.
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 9:46 pm
Aunt Bella sat frigid in the driver's seat and Carlisle fiddled nervously with the jacket neatly folded in his lap. Upon his arrival at home last Friday his aunt had promptly shrieked an angry shriek, something about how he was unwell and to prove it, he'd stolen a girl's jacket, and he'd only managed to interrupt and tell her that the jacket was a friend's and she'd lost it in the moment just before she really started showing her singer's training.
He had been very relieved when she snatched it from him and stomped off to wash it. Just in case, she said, and he kind of wanted to know, just in case of what? He had been very very careful!
And now the car was idling outside a neat prim thin house which reminded him of a bit of home. Except not as much a home as otherwise. Maybe it was a business, too? He knew some people like that. Well, not knew-knew. But it could happen! Totally! And, with that thought in mind, he opened the door and walked to the door. He knocked, and glanced over his shoulder to the car. Tomorrow he was going back to school, but he figured it would be rude to make Casia wait much longer for her coat...
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:09 pm
Jane and Casia both jolted as the knock echoed through the house- Neither had what could be called a swinging social life, and it seemed especially loud in the midst of an awkward silence. Both leaped up to seize the distraction, but the siren was quicker. "I'll get it!" she shouted to drown out any possible claiming Jane might have been planning to make, and rushed to the door, opening it wide. "Greystone res-"
The siren's face paled as she saw Carlisle in the doorway. How had he found out where she had lived? No one was supposed to come here, not anyone she knew, anyway. Her cheeks burned as she stood in the doorway. Carlisle had seen Jane's grody little house, and worst of all, he now knew beyond a doubt that she lived in it. But how had he even got here? Paranoia creeped dangerously into her mind and flickered in her uncertain frown until she saw the jacket in his hands.
Oh. She had missed it when she got home that day, but she hadn't remembered where she left it. He must have found the stupid label and decided to bring it to her personally. Giving him a weak smile, she attempted to clear her suspicions from her mind. "Hey, Carlisle! Is that my jacket?"
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:24 pm
"I'll get it!"
Carlisle smiled a little at that. He'd found the right house after all; he was still fiddling with the tag on the jacket when the door was opened. He looked up to Casia and promptly became confused; almost he stepped back, since his presence seemed to be the thing troubling her since she'd looked eager according to the view from behind his bangs. Why would his presence make her nervous? "I-" and then she was talking again. He nodded, feeling a bit like a bobblehead.
"Yeah, I think so," he said, holding it out with his arms stretched to full extension. If he could avoid it, he didn't want her to be uncomfortable! That was not what you should do to girls. They were supposed to be protected, which was certainly not something he could do while making her all worried. "I would have brought it back sooner, only my aunt-" he flicked a glance to the car "-wanted to wash it first. Something about just in case, or something, pleasedon'thateme."
He decided that he should not look around. She seemed... He didn't know the word for it. The set of his shoulders and the slightly troubled look on his face gave off every sense of I'm really not a stalker and perhaps his own concern.
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:44 pm
Casia had to laugh, a nervous bubble of giggles that came from both his protesting defense and the relief she felt at hearing a friendly voice that had a reason to be at her house, even if she'd rather he hadn't found out where it was. "Okay, okay, you're innocent!" she assured him. "Thanks." She reached out for the jacket and said "I'll see you at school, then?" The siren had no intention of letting him stay, she didn't want him to meet Jane or see the house or anything. Witnesses made it more real and Jane's house was embarrassing enough to live in without visitors.
Unfortunately, Jane herself chose this moment to come to the doorway. "Casia, who is it?" Peering out, she quirked an eyebrow. "Friend of yours?" Casia nodded quickly. "Yeah, he brought my jacket, see?" The mail carrier looked at the jacket and back at him. "Found the label, then?" she asked and the siren turned crimson. "...I guess he did." She hated to admit it, the labels had been the cause of a brief argument between the two and though Jane didn't sound smug, it was embarrassing for Casia to have her see that one had worked. The guardian looked back down at Casia and over at Carlisle again. "Are you going to let him in, or are we just going to stand here while the balloons deflate?"
Casia bit her lip. He had already seen the house, and now he had already seen Jane. He might as well see the inside and at least give her some company, the damage was definitely done already. "Would you like to come in, Carlisle?" she asked faintly, opening the door up wider again.
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:03 pm
He smiled, relieved, and relinquished the jacket to its owner. Even the somewhat abrupt dismissal was welcome; he had to finish re-packing his backpack, lay out his clothes for tomorrow, and figure out how to use the light switch now that he couldn't actually touch it and Mama had gone home. Lame things, yeah, but they were kind of important! His smile took on a slightly sardonic cant at those thoughts, but the way his expression shifted (eyes lidding a little and gaze shunted off to a corner) made it clear he wasn't thinking anything bad about Casia.
"Of course," he said, "I'm going back tomorr-" And then there was a woman standing just behind Casia. She looked kind enough, and apparently was the winged girl's guardian. He smiled, a little nervous but perfectly polite anyway as he waited out the conversation.
...Wait. He looked over his shoulder to see why the sound of the car's engine had suddenly vanished. Right behind him was Aunt Bella, blond curls bouncing against her shoulders. "Hi, Aunt Bella," he said, just as faintly as Casia's invitation a moment before. "Um..."
Aunt Bella tilted her head a minuscule amount, then narrowed her eyes. "Of course. He would love to," she said, answering the question for him. "Were we interrupting something?" Carlisle gave Casia a helpless look and mouthed sorry. Picture-perfect Aunt Bella smiled at Ms. Greystone. "Introduce yourself."
He gave the lady a lukewarm, uncertain smile that didn't quite hide how confused he was. With another glance at Aunt Bella, he forced a more real smile and said, "Hello, Ms. Greystone. My name is Carlisle Mephisto, it's nice to meet you, I met Casia at school, are-we-interrupting?"
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 6:53 am
Casia's eyes widened as she took the jacket and she stared nervously at the woman behind Carlisle. Aunt Bella. Unless Carlisle had another aunt, this could very well be the Blue Meanie! True, she didn't look like one but you could never tell with them, and it meant that a Blue Meanie was coming to her birthday party. She clutched her head while the sharp little thoughts at the bottom of her mind let out a sarcastic 'Groovy.'
Her wings flapped nervously, and Jane saw, raising an eyebrow. Looking back at this Carlisle, she didn't see any reason for the siren to be afraid unless perhaps she hadn't known he was a boy up until now. The guardian had to admit the fact he was a 'he' disappointed her, between Joshua, Vest Boy, Long John Silver, and now Carlisle, she was beginning to think the siren was incapable of making female friends. However, her disappointment didn't show on her face, at least she knew this one's name. "Jane Greystone." she said by way of introduction. "A pleasure to meet you, Carlisle and...?"
"Well-" Casia began at the interrupting question, clearly having second thoughts now that the aunt was around, but Jane cut in. "Not at all! We were just having a small celebration for Casia's birthday. I'm sure we have two more cupcakes if you'd like to come in and have a bite "?" She shot Casia a 'What-is-up-with-you' look and the siren dragged her off to behind the door for a moment, whispering furiously in her ear.
A moment later, the guardian and the siren came back. Jane looked like she was trying hard not to laugh, whatever Casia had said had clearly amused her. "Yes, do come in if you want. The more, the merrier, correct?"
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 1:57 pm
"Casia?" Carlisle looked concerned. Did she know Aunt Bella or something? It was true that his aunt was scary sometimes, but he didn't think that Aunt Bella had done something to Casia. "This is my aunt, Bella Queshire," he said to Jane.
She nodded. "It is a pleasure." And after Casia and her mom had a conversation that he couldn't quite make out, he was ushered over the jamb though his aunt stayed on the other side of the doorway. She was very off about Why were there so many girls around, anyway, he thought for possibly the first time in his life. This was kind of more stressful with an authority figure around. "Ah, if we had known it was Casia's birthday, we would have brought a gift."
It was true, thought Carlisle. He would have. And what was Ms. Jane laughing about? "Happy birthday, Casia," he said.
Maybe he could invite her Maying. It was always fun... and it would be a sight better than showing up uninvited for something.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:32 pm
"Nice to meet you, Bella." Jane said amicably.
Casia shook her head. "No, it's copacetic!" she assured Carlisle quickly. "I didn't want anything anyway, and no way you could've known, yeah?" That was a new one, the siren had never been able to say she didn't want anything with a straight face before, but the things she wanted today were not the kind of things Carlisle could give her. Rather, she was just glad to have someone who wasn't Jane's company, even though the Blue Meanie aunt came with him. (Jane was obviously not going to believe the dangers and cunning of Blue Meanies, but the siren was keeping an eye on this 'Bella Queshire' just in case.) "Thanks." she said as Carlisle gave her birthday wishes, and more to distract him from looking around the house too much and to stop him from worrying about not having a gift as he came in than out of real interest, she attempted to engage him in conversation. "When's your birthday, then?"
It didn't take long to reach the living room in the small house, and there was barely enough room for four people to sit in it comfortably, but Jane went out and brought two cupcakes in from the kitchen anyway. "Still warm." she said, somewhat pleased. "Please, take a seat."
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:54 pm
Casia's trick worked and he stayed quite focused on her as he trailed behind his aunt. "Are you sure," he asked, but all right, she seemed to be fairly certain and he smiled with relief. He sat near his aunt, accepted a cupcake without comment, holding it gingerly. "Thank you, Ms. Greystone." To Casia, he said, "Um, mine's on the seventeenth. It's not that far off from yours-"
"Thank you," Bella said as she smiled at Jane, accepting her own cupcake, and then she said without an ounce of sarcasm or teasing tone to her voice, "You did not dye these, correct? Carlisle's skin is rather odd and stains when in contact with-"
"Aunt Bella," said Carlisle, gaping at her and turning a bright, effervescent red that would have looked horrible with his normal red shirt. He counted himself lucky he was bundled into a black turtleneck.
Implacable, the woman glanced down at her charge. "Your fingertips," she said. He set the cupcake on his knees and promptly sat on his hands, hiding the black stains from view. Casia hadn't noticed yet, or hadn't said as much! Come on! What was this, Embarrass Carlisle Day?
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:06 pm
Casia grinned. "Like tye-dye?" she asked eagerly, but winced as Jane prodded her arm discreetly. Skin conditions were apparently not allowed to be cool, but the siren flashed Carlisle a barely noticeable smile. Coloured skin was groovy, not grody!
"No dye." the mail carrier assured her smoothly, and looked over at Carlisle's fingertips when they were mentioned, barely catching sight of the, before they vanished from sight. "But if he has problems with stains, perhaps baking soda in warm water might help?" The organized guardian had lived on her own for years, and though her house wasn't exactly homey, she made sure it was clean.
It was Casia's turn to blush, what kind of birthday was this? She was sitting in the living room with Jane, a Blue Meanie woman, and her waltzing teacher, talking about his skin conditions and home remedies for them. This wasn't really cherry with her, so she made a stab at changing the subject. "So... How about those cupcakes?" she said weakly, taking a big bite out of hers that left frosting around her mouth. "Mmmm."
Could it be tomorrow yet?
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:15 pm
"Sort of like tye-dye," muttered Carlisle, slowly pulling his hands back into view so he could nibble on his cupcake. "They're very good," he agreed.
Aunt Bella wasn't done. "Ah, I didn't think of that," she said, sounding pleased and looking at Jane with a less disconnected eye. "Yes, perhaps that would work, since his skin does seem to be --"
"Casia," he said loudly, drowning out his incredibly embarrassing aunt. "Would you like to go maying with me? It's... it's like a party, except early and we collect flowers and then have a big breakfast and it's a lot of fun." He paused, realizing exactly how off-topic that had been but he actually couldn't get much redder so he didn't; "It could be something like a birthday present," he added weakly, trying to link it back to the situation at hand.
His blonde aunt paused, smiled, and said, "That's a wonderful idea, Carlisle."
He didn't exactly look pleased.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:31 pm
Casia seized upon his offer before the conversation drifted once again into the grownup domain of skin problems and what to do about them. "Yes!" she said without thinking, anything was better than this. "Yeah, that'd be golden, I've never been maying before, I like flowers!" The words came out in a babbling rush before she could check herself, and when she finally slowed down, she bit her lip and pulled on her skirt, embarrassed. "When would we do it?" She felt the urge to make a date, to do something that suggested something final so that everyone would have done their social duty and could leave. The sooner she got to her room, the sooner this day would become okay, all she wanted to do was listen to the Beatles and think about her birthdays at Anna's house, pretend she was celebrating somewhere nicer, somewhere more comfortable.
Jane butted in here. "I'm afraid I start work early in the mornings, so she would need a ride if it wasn't on Sunday." she said regretfully. "But any day that isn't a school day is fine by me." The siren blushed as the guardian spoke, parental permission, right. "Um, I'm fine with any time that's cherry for you." she said more gently to Carlisle and his aunt.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:41 pm
He looked at Jane and then to Bella and finally at Casia. Wow, that had worked really well- she liked flowers? Carlisle made a note of that as he messed with one of his long locks of hair. "It's a lot of fun," he said, earnest. "We went this morning." Except they hadn't actually let him do much other than sit beneath a tree and eat apple fritters, which was fun, but it wasn't maying.
"Sundays are a little crazy," said Bella thoughtfully. "Generally that's when all of the younger children come, you see."
Carlisle continued to explain to Casia. "You have to get up super early to go maying," he said, "because part of the point is to collect the dew, which is supposed to make you look younger, but I heard that it's just to keep people from picking all the flowers."
"If you'd like, we can pick Casia up. We take a rather unorthodox mode of transportation, since maying in Aekea is rather difficult, so that's probably the best way. Would the next Saturday work for you, Jane?"
"Don't worry," said Carlisle, valiantly ignoring his guardian. "The food's really good and it's really hard to get lost. And it's a lot of fun."
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:49 pm
Jane nodded, but she stopped at the word 'unorthodox'. After her experience with Thali and Josh, she was on red alert. "Sorry, what kind of transportation?" she asked hesitantly, and the siren looked over at Bella with some alarm too. Neither of them had forgotten their last brush with the occult and neither were eager to repeat it.
Casia's gaze was torn however, as Carlisle addressed her. His aunt didn't seem like she'd let anything like that happen, despite the fact she was a possible Blue Meanie, she seemed capable, much as the siren hated to admit it. She tore her attention away from Bella and focused on her other guest. "Oh, good." she said absentmindedly. "It sounds like a real happening time."
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