[o] [SE] One good turn

Ravenna

Dear miss Hale, 
I am very pleased to inform you that your application to apprentice with the Weaver's association has been approved. Your family has long been honored in our community and I cannot express how delighted I am for this opportunity. 
I suggest beginning your apprenticeship after Long Night. Please come to the mill at the hour of.... 

Parchment rustled as Ravenna flipped the note over. It was signed and sealed with the prominent imprint of a winged spindle, the mark of one of the larger textile producers in Halo. Sucking in a breath, the couldn't contain her excitement and let out a cheerful whoop, jumping up and down where she stood. Amused looks were cast her way from all over the marketplace, and she laughed back at them, waving the letter at a curious old lady shuffling by. 
"Good news, weary? the elderly asked, beady eyes twinkling. 
"The best! I got a job," Venna grinned. 
"Oh, that is lovely, sweetheart! A cause for celebation indeed." 

It truly was. Leaning down to pick up the basket she had dropped as the courier found her with the letter, the young girl regarded the marketplace around her with new eyes. A job meant income, it meant she didn't have to keep bother her foster family for funds, it meant she could afford a bit of luxury today. 

Finding a stall filled with 'exotic' fruits and snacks, she came away with a paper cone filled with fruits; raisins, dried plums, and even some blueberries that seemed fresh rather than frozen or dried, and humming contentedly to herself she plunked herself down on a bench to enjoy herself. The sun didn't warm - it never did in Halo - but the light raised her spirits. Smiling at passersby while munching on purple delights, for the moment her life felt entirely perfect.

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame Given the way Flowerbirth was already going for him, snacks and amusements were far from the Sword’s agenda. Instead, his occupation had gnarled its way down his shoulders until he could feel every burdening aspect across them – but still, his spine was an unyielding thing, and walked down the street with purpose, intentions clear and forthright on the multitudes he needed to see and visit today. Erebos walked alongside though, teetering and tottering, so Deimos slowed his pace until it was an eventual crawl as the youth giggled and clattered occasionally into his long legs, trying to find direction and balance. He likely smelled the aroma of fresh fruits though, and with giant baby hands, squealed and wiggled, one finger pointing nearby, to a girl on a bench. “No, you cannot have hers,” the Warden rumbled, snorting, picking up the boy so he was in his arms as they made their way to the stall. master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

Ravenna

The kid was adorable, with the way he pointed and gurgled. Grinning at the little boy and waving her hand at him, Venna assessed the contents of her bag and shrugged easily at the presumed father. "I wouldn't mind sharing. Can babies eat any of this though?" The dried stuff was chewy and sticky, while the berries seemed a bit unmanageable. Wasn't it supposed to be a choking risk..? She wasn't sure.

Somewhat more interesting than the food was this close encounter with the warden. She'd seen him before, of course, but never had a reason to meet. Or talk.
While trying to figure out something intelligent to say, a gust of wind took hold of the letter, ripping it from her grasp. It tumbled off towards the stalls, skidding across the snowy path.
"No! Catch it, I need that!" Leaping up she bounded after the piece of paper.

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame Erebos, ever the social butterfly at the one years old, was utterly delighted when anyone waved. So he did so in return, with a goofy, toothy grin for his trouble, squealing his hellos, as Deimos snorted and shook his head. “The offer is appreciated, thank you, but I can get some for him. He can handle some of the smaller pieces.” And so he turned to begin an exchange with the kiosk owner, handing over a few coins as the infant stared back at the girl in return, trying to decide his next course of action. Perhaps that was for the best, for in the next instance the Sword had acquired several small plums, and had begun slicing off a very tiny section for the boy. Though he tilted his head in return, clearly trying to parse through which citizen this was. She was familiar – but only just so. “Are you Ravenna? From Noah’s -,” but before he could fully in part the inquiry, her highly valued piece of paper seemed to be taken by the wind; and his brow arched. With a simple volley of incantations, he released his Air magic, snagging at the parchment until it coasted and ghosted back into the periphery, then right before her. “There you go.” master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

Ravenna

Breathing a sigh of relief the girl accepted the letter back. "Thanks! That was neat." This time she deposited the parchment safely in a pocket, before registering there had been a question directed at her. "Yeah, I'm Ravenna. Hale. Which apparently means something to people around here." The gushing tone of the note was only one of many such interactions she's had. Given that she'd never met any of the Hales, it was a bit weird. "And yeah, I was staying with Noah. Got my own place now though. And a job!"
Her grin returned, excitement overshadowing the pall any thought of her adopted family cast. Noah har been gone for a while by now, his kids staying with their transparents... It had seemed better to take care of herself at this point. And Venna felt like the was doing a good job of it.
Wiggling her fingers at the boy to try and make him laugh, she craned her neck to glance at the parent. "You're Deimos, right? The warden? What's this little guy's name?"

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame With the letter secured, he granted Erebos a section of the plum. The youth grabbed it wholeheartedly, and without much preamble, stuck it in his mouth. The turn of expressions was amusing, but when it was eaten successfully, he let out of an eager squeal, hand extended for more. Snorting again, he ate a bite for himself, before granting another tiny sanction for the child. He listened to her brief introductions, nodding along. “Jobs are important.” Necessary, really, for Halo to continue running amidst its small citizenship and culture. Self-sufficient and hardy, this world had secured itself as a placeholder for the determined – especially lately, with so many portions going awry. “What will you be doing?” After munching down on his next section of fruit, Erebos tilted his head as well, easily discernable as a trait of his father’s passed along. But far more sociable, he wiggled his fingers in return, giggling all the while. In confirmation of her own estimation, he nodded again. “Yes. This is Erebos.” master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

Ravenna

Venna couldn't agree more. Rightfully proud that she was doing well for herself, she offered the warden a smug little smile. "Weaver. I got a really good apprenticeship - wasn't sure they'd accept me, but they did!" Doing a little shimmy of a victory dance, she chuckled as the baby giggled; he was adorable. "Erebos, huh! That's a serious name for such a little one. It'll take some growing into, I bet."

Shuffling back to the bench to retrieve her treats, the munched on a few berries, then turned towards Deimos again. "Can I ask you something? About that voice that's talking in our heads... did you hear it too?"

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame Weaver gave him many sparks of memories, of yesteryears and even years apart here, of friends granted the same namesake, of spiraled creations contorted worlds away. Instead of offering any of that to the youth though, he nodded his head again, gave an arch to his brow. “Congratulations. You must have impressed them.” Erebos was winning over another stranger, and Deimos sighed, though it was with a proud distinction; perhaps content that his lack of social graces wasn’t a heritable trait. Or the boy simply took more after Evie in those abilities. “We will see.” He wasn't about to put weights or burdens or anything upon his infant son - and would try to never instill those overbearing shackles and gnarled, knotted ties. While he peeled away more smaller portions of fruit for the boy, and then larger bites for himself, he didn’t expect the inquiry. His eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, the irritation of the Family in general becoming more of an obvious abhorrence, and a long breath extended from his lungs. “Unfortunately. I presume you are mean Vox’s broadcasts?” master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

Ravenna

"Thanks! It really seems like it." Venna looked forward to learning the trade, even though it would take years before she grew skilled enough to earn any real money. That was fine; it was interesting, and she didn't really need to rush anything.

Biting back a laugh at the way Deimos sighed, Ravenna sobered with the reply to her question. "Yeah, that one. Vox. It said it wanted poems... Can I ignore that, or do you think it's better to... like... play nicely?" It was scary to hear voices in her head. She didn't really want to do anything to draw its attention - but did that mean she should respond? Or just stay quiet, hoping it didn't notice her lack of participation?

Gazing hopefully up at her leader for guidance, she popped a final piece of fruit in her mouth, then started folding up the paper cone, saving the rest for later.

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame Perhaps Ravenna would simply learn creation magic, and have to worry much less about the art of perfection – she’d be able to conjure it with ease. Regardless, the thought passed through him swiftly, far more inclined to inwardly sneer at the mention of any Family member. Outwardly though, his nose gave a very juvenile and boyish wrinkle, another brief snort. “Ordinarily, I would encourage anyone to ignore it.” He’d like to. It’d be one more seditious swing towards the pernicious and parasitic thresholds. “Nowadays though, we have to tread lightly.” He didn’t take her for a fool; she’d be akin to the disasters settling around them lately. Subversion and rebellion was soon going to take another form anyway. Erebos squealed and giggled, and Deimos offered one more small bite of the plum to the boy before finishing off the rest. “Perhaps it does not have to be too nice,” he implied, giving the young Hale an arch of his brow. He certainly didn’t intend to make anything complimentary. master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

Ravenna

Diplomatically unfriendly, eh? Ravenna wasn't sure she possessed the skills to compose something so delicate but she was willing to give it a try. "I'll do what I can," she replied, "thanks for the advice. It was nice meeting you - both of you - though I gotta get going... see you around!" When that would happen she had no idea of course. Her ties to the leadership of the region was circumstantial only and she couldn't expect to run into the Warden every time she went to the market. Still. It was a small city; who even knew.

Waving her goodbyes to Erebos and his father, the girl shoved her snack into a pocket and went to retrieve her basket. There was shopping left to do, a poem to compose, and some fretting to be had over what to wear to work in a few days. Her lack of options did not equal a lack of care, so it seemed prudent to get started so she could take her time with the angst. Venna was nothing if not practical. 


[FIN]

Don't talk like you know me
when I don't even know myself

Code by Skylark