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 Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:26 am
Elka 1 Rain. The perfect excuse to remain inside and relax. Set a nice fire in the fireplace, choose your favorite cozy chair, and pick up that book you had been slowly working your way through for the past month. Normally, this is exactly what Elka would have been doing. Not that she was a lazy person. Not at all. But the sound of rain was comforting and peaceful, it was hard to do any sort of work when it was hammering gently on the windows as it was now. What made today different? A very big difference made today different.
She stood alone in the middle of an empty room, one of many empty rooms in the manor she now shared with her family and brother. Too many rooms for her to furnish on her own. It would create too much work that would require more staff to clean than they already needed. Just pointless work for closed off rooms. A bedroom for each of them. A parlor to entertain guests in. A bedroom or two if a few guests wished to stay the night. And a playroom for the kids was all they really needed. Or had needed. This room was close to her own. Just behind the wall, in fact. It might not be the norm for an expectant mother to have her newborns so close, but Elka had already gotten too used to having her children as close to her as she could get. There had been no nanny at the small house by the sea to help her with Elenora and Elias. She need not hire one full-time here, either. She had been enough then and she would be enough now. Still, a proper nursery would be needed, furnished with everything a growing baby or two could ever need close at hand. Her heart fluttered at the thought and she couldn't keep the small giggle that escaped her lips. It sounded so loud in the quiet of the empty room.
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:28 am
Kayde 1 While Elka kept herself busy, busting about the manor and imagining what different styles of furniture she had seen in town would look in the future nursery, Kayde had been busy at his own usual work. Deric had a large shipment of boxes he had requested the help of moving into his restaurant's large warehouse. One of the workers who had been hired to help had a sudden family emergency and the Zenan man was in want of another pair of hands. Naturally, as with most things, his brother-in-law had been his first contact. Kayde rarely turned anyone down who needed him. It was still a common thing to find his own schedule packed full of different errands he had agreed to help with, ranging from moving stuff around to filling in for a hour or two at a shop in town. He'd even gone so far as to make deliveries all the way to Oba, something that tended to upset Elka when she would discover it. They had a career of their own to manage. If he wanted to continue taking on small jobs here or there, she wouldn't complain, she had told him. Much. But his dancing and children required his attention far more than an old Matori who needed a box of fabrics sent all the way to the desert country nearby. Giving it up completely was difficult. He liked the change of scenery. That old wanderlust had never fully disappeared, it would seem.
Today, however, was just a simple move. Once done, he found he still had half the day to dedicate to whatever he wished. Instead of going straight home, where Elka would naturally be waiting for him, he had stopped by at a local fabric store. He had noticed the Zenan gently caressing a certain silk bolt the last time they had been here to look for something for a new costume for an upcoming performance. Since he had a bit of extra money, Kayde thought he'd surprise her with it.
With bolt of blue silk tucked neatly underneath his arm, he made his way back home. It wasn't hard to find where his wife had gone to. A common haunt of hers lately was the empty nursery. He could hardly imagine the different decorations and furniture she was envisioning for it. She had done the same in their humble, tiny house by the sea with the spare bedroom.
"Mm, how well do you like this yellow wallpaper? Seems a bit dull to me."
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:30 am
Elka 2 The Zenan woman didn't turn around at the sound of his voice, but looked around her instead at the so-called offensive walls surrounding her. "I don't think it's that bad. A bit muted, perhaps, but with the right kinds of curtains or wall hangings, I think I can turn this around." She could already see it before her. There was much she could do with this space. Especially if she got the help of her current two children. If she could get them to help her make decorations to hang up. Elka thought having hand-made decorations would make the place look all the better. Elenora she was sure would be up to the task, but getting Elias to sit still long enough would be a job in itself. Perhaps if she bribed him with something, he'd make at least one thing for her. What, was the real question. He was very attached to that banged up toy sword he carried with him everywhere, he wouldn't give that up for a new one. Maybe a certain bag of sweets? She could use that for both children, as a reward for helping her. Yes, that's what she would do. The next time she was in town by herself, she would have a look around at the shops for something they both might like.
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:31 am
Kayde 2 The laugh that came out of his mouth seemed extra loud in the quiet room. "If anyone can, I'm sure it's you, Elka," he complimented, waiting patiently for her to turn around and see his gift. To him, it was just an empty, very yellow room. He had not the eye for design that some poeple did. When he was with the traveling troop, his cart had been littered with different things collected over his travels. Nothing had a place of its own and many a fellow entertainer had scolded him for the mess. Even today, he didn't see a problem with it. It was his space and he liked it that way. If he did any socializing, it was outside around the campfire. Your cart was your own personal space, not to be invaded by anyone at any time. "And I will be the first to take my words back and call this wallpaper lovely."
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:33 am
Elka 3 Had Elka known there was something else for her other than the sight of her husband if she turned around, she would have instantly done it. Just like anyone, she enjoyed receiving gifts. Instead, she walked forward, close enough to put out a blue hand to touch the wall that was opposite her. Seeing as the manor was still not even yet a full year old, if you counted when it was finished as its birthday, the walls were free from mold, dirt, or torn wallpaper. It would be a waste of the construction to change it. And there were so many other rooms she could pick if this one wasn't satisfying to her. Deric had ordered each room to be a different color, to better suit whatever tastes his Matori family would have.
"It's really not that bad," she argued, walking along its length. When she came to the corner, she spun on her heel, intended to continue surveying it from all corners. When her golden eyes roamed over to where Kayde was standing, noticing something tucked under his arm. Something she recognized and that made her smile. "And what is this you have?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:34 am
Kayde 3 It was only a matter of time before she turned around. He was completely patient, quietly shifting the bolt of silk between his hands, shifting his feet to ease their soreness from all the work of the day. He himself also remained quiet, watching her with interested eyes as she made her small round of the room. He had no idea what he would be thinking of doing with the space. Since their previous house had been so small, they had had to sell all their baby stuff when the kids had grown too old for it, to make room for full beds. An entire new set would be needed. At least this manor was large enough they could keep everything in case it would be needed in the future. Maybe not necessarily by them, but he was sure Elka wouldn't want to be rid of her nursery too quickly. Perhaps friends could use the stuff if they needed it.
Than she did turn around and the small smile that had been sitting on his lips widened. Kayde shifted his arms to behind him, pretending as if he were caught and was about to hide his gift. "Ah, nothing very important. Some drapes for the windows."
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:35 am
Elka 4 His response only made Elka's smile larger. She knew what it was. Had seen it clearly before he was able to hide it behind his back. She'd have known that silk anywhere, from any distance. The golden color of it shone brightly like the sun after a harsh day of rain.
She came towards him, holding out her hands with a desperation as if she really did fear he would turn them into simple drapes. "If you do, I will never forgive you."
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:36 am
Kayde 4 "I thought my lady had certain tastes," was the man's response, keeping his hands behind his back still. He got no answer back, just the tilting of her head and a flex of the fingers, urging him to hand over the goods that he so possessed. Instead, he walked forward and around her, switching his position to hold the silk bolt out in front of him. Holding it up, Kayde held it against the window, like he had seen Elka do once before when she was deciding on new curtains. "I think they would look lovely. They already match the walls."
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:37 am
Elka 5 With a sigh, Elka lowered her arms, turning her body to watch his movement. Of course, she never once thought he would refuse her the bolt and instead make it into something else much less deserving of its beauty. That would be to make her upset, the last thing he ever wanted to do. To Kayde, his wife and children mattered far more to him than even himself, a fact she tried still to this day to get him to relax on. He did them no good when he worked himself to the bone trying to please them. Her hands went onto her hips, making the small swell of her stomach seem all the larger for it. "You don't match the curtains to the walls. They should be a complimentary color, to better pop out on their own."
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 3:55 pm
Kayde 5 A laugh escaped Kayde's lips once more, the sound full of amusement and joy. She hadn't risen to his teasing at all. Not even once had she thought him serious. Her own smile hadn't left her face, her golden eyes danced with the fun of the exchange. Still, one could almost believe she had with a response like that. Like he was about to make some fashion abomination before her very eyes.
"Alright, alright. I appreciate the lesson." Laughing once more, the Leaf man lowered the bolt to chest height, offering it to her like a gift of peace. "I will leave all the decorating to you. I concede my inferiority to you." The sound of the rain was louder in his ears, this close to the window. He wondered how long it would let up. At least the children had a large playroom to enjoy when they couldn't get outside. Large enough to allow them their own space from each other. Which was especially good in their case, since Elias was likely to be swinging his wooden sword around at some make-shift enemy in the corner. "How are the two of you doing today?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 6:05 pm
Elka 6 With barely concealed girlish glee, Elka took the silk bolt from her husbands hands, holding it close to her body like the precious baby she carried. It was nice to finally be able to easily afford silk once more. Back in Zena, it would be a stable part of every dress she owned. Because of the cold, it wasn't a major part of her dress. Instead, she always made sure it improved on her outfit as accents. Silk sleeves. A silk bodice over a warm shirt. Silk ribbons down her skirt. But here, in Matori, where the sun shone so much it never knew what snow was, she could fashion a dress purely out of silk. It would keep her both fashionable and cool.
"Oh," she breathed, gently caressing it. "Thank you." So enraptured was she with her gift, Elka almost didn't hear what Kayde was even saying. "Mm? Oh, the..." She reserved some of that stroking for her own belly, feeling the slight bump hard to her touch. "I will be glad to put all this sickness behind me. It will be nice to take a walk without worrying about being sick in a bush."
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Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 7:12 pm
Kayde 6 His small burden now out of his hands, Kayde straightened his shirt over his shoulders, where the fabric was pulling tight on him. "You are welcome," he answered, tucking a strand of Elka's hair that had come loose from her bun behind her ear. "It always makes me happy to make you happy."
He gave a bit of a sigh as he listened to her talk more, wishing he could ease her troubles a little. It was impossible. A child always seemed to take so much out of the mother carrying it. She'd had a rough go of it the last time, too. Not only the sickness, but the weird cravings. The sore back and feet that prevented her from doing much at the later stages except sit around. Or when she did move, she'd complain about feeling out of breath, despite being so healthy. And no wonder, when she'd been carrying two. Could she be, again? Was every pregnancy different? He didn't have much experience in his own life to go off of, but Elka reassured him that each one was different and not to worry. How was he not supposed to worry?
"I am sorry."
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Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 7:39 pm
Elka 7 Elka had gone back to caressing the silk while holding it against her body with the other. Already she was dreaming up all the designs she could make with it. She did so love to make her own clothes. It was a skill she was very glad to have been practically forced to learn when she hadn't enough money to buy new dresses and had to resort to learning how to sew in order to mend them. It had simply taken off from there, with her altering them completely to make them feel fresh and new. It took her a few moments to realize Kayde had said something else.
At once, she looked up at him with her thick eyebrows knotted together. She'd have put her hands on her hips had she been able to. As it was, she could at least do that with one hand.
"No, no, no. You don't get to do that. You don't dance alone. This." she pointed to her tiny bump before returning her hand to her hip, "was a mutual decision."
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 5:19 pm
Kayde 7 The only thing Kayde could do was laugh, at the same time a peal of thunder sounded behind him. Seemed like the heavy rain was turning into a full blown storm. He hoped the newly planted flowers out in the garden would be okay. They had been brought very carefully all the way from Belrea in pots of soil from the native land. Elka had had them situated in the garden beside the house just a few days ago. The finishing touches. Seemed a bit extravagant for him. More like something you'd find in the homes of the rich in Oba. But who was he to tell his wife what she could do with her own home? She was always so happy when decorating it.
"Yes," he chuckled, moving away from the window. "It would be quite boring if I did. But I can still sympathize with what you are going through, can't I?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 5:44 pm
Elka 8 "Mm." Elka turned with him, having been startled by the sudden rage of the storm and not wishing to be anywhere near the glass windows right now. Her nervousness was heightened by her hormones. All she could picture was the glass shattering into thousands of pieces inward at them. The image brought another shudder to her shoulders. Why was her brain like this?
Pressing her back against the wall, the Zenan woman held the bolt of silk in front of her with two hands, completely shielding her stomach from view. "I suppose you could, if you really want. I'm sure I can suffer your attentions." A sly little gleam came into her golden eyes, than, and she smiled softly. "Does that mean I get something special?"
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