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 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:31 am
Palisade's streets were flooded with great throngs of people, eager to be outside in pleasant weather after a long and harsh winter. They went about their business intently, scarcely paying any attention to one another. Through them, a lone young girl slipped by unnoticed. If anyone had realized that she was on her own, there might be trouble, but despite her vivacious personality, she was good at keeping quiet when she wanted to. Besides, she wasn't really alone. Abel, rather too large to perch properly on her shoulder yet, followed along above her, ever the faithful familiar.
Today, Olivia did not have any particular destination. She had simply decided that it would not do to remain inside listening to her governess's lessons, and had thus slipped out of the house and taken to the streets. Faye was apparently doing something important today, so Livy couldn't bother her. She thought passingly about visiting the Grimm brothers or maybe Georgie, but the timing didn't feel right. So instead, she just wandered the streets, letting the scents and sounds of the city wash over her.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 2:30 pm
It was one of their first performances together, the entertainer and his faithful, spindly fawn companion. They were far from graceful, not for Prokhor's lack of skill with the carved down branches he used as juggling clubs, no, that was one of the few things he actually did well. On the contrary, it was Nikulin, bright-eyed and eager to please, but new to the gig and only partially trained, who just couldn't quite seem to figure out the timing for when he was supposed to add the extra assortment of odds and ends into the mix. He'd already tossed a book and a wooden spoon, both of which Prokhor had nearly fumbled due to the poor timing, and was waiting with a wooden bowl hanging from his mouth for the next moment he thought he spied his chosen's sign.
Still, despite the clumsy display, more onlookers had stopped to observe than the entertainer ever remembered seeing. It was pleasant, even if he didn't know the reason for it. In truth, it wasn't him they stopped to see, but the small deer they were sure was a guardian. Had he known, he wouldn't have complained. It was nice to feel as if someone was actually taking an interest in his work for once, falsely or otherwise, and the hustle and bustle of the city in recent days had put him in a particularly jovial mood besides. The smile had yet to leave his face.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:23 pm
Curious as ever, Livy was attracted by a growing throng of people. Despite how closely packed they were, it was not so difficult for her to ease her small body through the spaces between the larger adults until she was at the very front and could see everything clearly.
The little Guardian - for he could be nothing else - was an adorable creature, it was true. He looked so earnest holding that bowl, eager to please his human. Yet Prokhor might be pleased to know that it was not the Guardian that held her attention, or at least, not the Guardian alone. Young though she may be, Livy had met more than one or two spirit deer. No, what held her attention was the array of flying objects whirling in the air. It was a fascinating display and it brought a delighted smile to her lips.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:41 pm
The sign finally came, a quick double-click of the tongue, nothing more. On alert, the fawn assistant's ears shot forward. This was it, the time, the place, the- In less than a second the moment had passed and the guardian was left watching the mad spinning with widened eyes. That was his issue. He had yet to learn to simply throw as soon as the sign came, to do without thinking. Prokhor had learned from their previous mistakes, however, issuing the sign again, and even once more before Nikulin finally threw the bowl and it found itself up in the air as deftly as everything else.
A minute or two later and the show, for the time, was finished. Each object dropped down and was caught with dramatic flourish before the entertainer swooped into a bow. On somewhat awkward legs, the little fawn followed suit, nose dipping low to the ground. "You did well, my friend," Prokhor whispered, then lifted his head to observe the crowd. Almost directly in front of him, he caught sight of her, young and smiling, and it warmed him instantly. No one else, he thought, looked as happy to see the performance as she did. While he may have been blowing it out of proportion, a habit he often fell prey to, it didn't hurt to at least see what she had to say.
"Did you enjoy the show?" he asked, eyes lighting up.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:03 pm
The young girl giggled merrily when the fawn added the bowl to the flying dance, and was quite happy to remain where she stood until the show came to a close. Coins found their way into a waiting dish as the crowd dispersed, but Livy stayed put.
"Oh, yes," she said when the man asked his question. Perhaps some children would by shy of strangers, but that was never the case with young miss Olivia Chandler. Instead, she was quite happy to speak to this smiling man. "I enjoyed it very much."
She thought of other street performances she had seen and set them next to this one - not so much to compare their quality (for what measure of quality was there but the amount of enjoyment that was taken away) as to see the differences. "It was not very colorful," she mused. Wouldn't it be prettier if he were throwing colorful objects rather than brown ones? "But I like your tricks."
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:10 pm
The crowds had already begun to clear away as he rose fully from the bow, but he felt no dissatisfaction over it. This day had been fruitful, surprisingly so, and the money in his bowl would keep him in his worn down home a few nights longer, which was certainly preferable to ending up back on the streets. The group thinned to nearly nothing until soon only the young girl remained, quite obviously on her own save for the rook that still circled overhead. Prokhor paid the bird little mind, however, just as he all but ignored the girl's lone status. It wasn't unusual to him. Back home in Okraina, he'd run the streets day and night unsupervised. His father, of course, had thought ill of his ways, but the naive and irresponsible Prokhor of many years ago believed all children had such an opportunity. Still today he saw nothing strange in a child venturing solo, even a young miss such as this.
"I am glad to hear that." He was beaming as he set his props aside, clicking his tongue to draw Nikulin with him closer to their last remaining guest. "I would love to work with more colorful things." Casting a sidelong glance at his tools, he let out a short breath. "I admit I cannot afford much more than what I have laying around the house already." As his chosen spoke, Nikulin was stretching his neck to sniff at her dress without getting too close. "Perhaps when I am famous." Though it was meant as a joke, there was a hint of seriousness beneath it all.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:48 pm
Livy grinned at the little Guardian. Just because she had seen others did not mean she wanted to ignore any new ones she met. After all, she was still a girl and he was still an animal. It was quite inevitable that she was drawn to him. She offered the back of her hand for him to sniff instead and would pet him if he seemed amenable.
"We could paint them," she suggested. Perhaps not the bowl - because who painted bowls? - but the clubs, at least. "I have paint."
Seemingly out of the blue, she asked, "Would you teach me to juggle?" Wouldn't that be wonderful? The Grimm brothers had been kind enough to teach her a few things that mother probably would not approve of, but this looked like fun, too.
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:06 am
It appeared, when his curious but cautious advances were met with interest, Nikulin found all the impetus he needed to let his friendly nature shine through. With only one short inhale, he'd placed his nose directly against the back of her hand in true greeting, and was closer to her legs now when his chosen placed a hand against his back with a small laugh. A tiny, surprised bleat sounded in response.
"You know," he mulled, second hand at his chin for a moment. "I am sure you are right, more color would be better..." It was difficult to keep a contemplative sort of expression when he thought of the prospect. Not only painting his tools, but what she had asked just then, a question he never thought he'd hear from anyone, and it made him just a little proud.
"How about," he began, grin breaking through, "we paint them together. In return for your paint, I will pay you back with lessons. What do you think? " It was only then he thought to mention, "I am Prokhor. It is nice to meet you, Miss."
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 4:23 pm
Delighted, the girl scritched the fawn's ears. He really was an adorable little thing. Were it not for Abel, she might almost be jealous of those with Guardians. As it stood, she adored her rook and would have no one else in his stead.
"Olivia Chandler," she said, dipping in a polite curtsy. "How do you do."
Olivia wondered briefly if she was going to have any problems getting the paint out of the house, since strictly speaking she wasn't technically supposed to be out right now, but she quickly dismissed the concerns. Mother and father were both out today, and the governess was no match for Lady and Tramp...or they could just work in the garden. Surely that wouldn't be a problem. So the girl gave an infectious grin again and said, "I think that sounds brilliant."
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