The End is Where We Start From

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[It has been a year.

A year since her death. A year since she returned. A year since this place altered her is ways she is yet to fully comprehend. Times moves differently between the two, here and there. There and back. And yet she wears the year like a cloak about her body all the same.

She is wearing black. Not in mourning of what was lost, but in the understanding of what was gained. It is a long, simple sheath that shimmers even in her stillness. Nothing like what she is required to wear in France, it is cobbled and fashioned together from the thoughts and memories of those she has encountered here.

She still stands, her palm briefly passing over her abdomen.

It has been a year]

Comments

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[It is an odd picture and it draws him in. He wears red, grey, white, in all his usual costume.]

What a portrait of the lady this would make.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[There is a sharp, half smile. Her mouth is painted red]

That would imply that I am a lady.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[with a grand gesture]

'"Ah, my friend, you do not know, you do not know // What life is, you who hold it in your hands"; // (Slowly twisting the lilac stalks) // "You let it flow from you, you let it flow, // And youth is cruel, and has no remorse // And smiles at situations which it cannot see."

[a perfectly balanced smile spreads on his mouth]

'I smile, of course, // And go on drinking tea.'

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[she steps closer to him then, her movement brief and precise in contrast to his own. The air between them collapses]

There is a flaw in your words.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[He keeps his own ground even as she diminishes the space]

Reveal it to me.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[She expects nothing less. Or more]

Coffee is far superior.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

I'm forced to disagree.

[wontplaythesap.livejournal.com]

[tips back his fedora to take a good, long look at her, then lets out a low, approving whistle.]

Ain't the sort of place I'd expect a lady.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[she glances at him over her shoulder, not entirely interested]

And what sort of place is that?

[wontplaythesap.livejournal.com]

Well, place where men like me meet up.

[starts to circle her] I'm gonna take a wild leap out there and guess you're not from 1941, are you, Princess?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[something about him sets her teeth on edge, and her mouth compresses slightly]

1750. And how gratifying to find that in two centuries men still have not managed to learn the art of manners. Shall I spin for you?

[wontplaythesap.livejournal.com]

Oh, Princess, I learned 'em. Learned 'em and then learned better.

[pulls out his tabbacco pouch and rolls up a cigarette] And if you told me you'd do that before, I wouldn't have wasted my time walking.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[offensive habit]

If you found what you witnessed during your travels such a waste, I am hardly going to bother to entertain you now.

[firstmadeson.livejournal.com]

[Sorin is just walking past; lost in his own thoughts and dreams of how to cheer his father up and fix everything- his sire has been miserable again and... Well; it's worrying. But the sight of her jolts him slightly and he pauses- turning his head to frown at her contemplativly] ...My lady?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[there is an odd angle to her smile]

Everyone seems so convinced that I am one. Is it the gown?

[firstmadeson.livejournal.com]

[He notes that with faint interest; filing it away in case it is needed later.

But for now he just smiles slightly and bows his head] My apologies if I have offended you in any way; you just carry yourself in a way that suggests it [He pauses and then his smile grows just slightly] the gown does help a little however.

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[He is watching her, and yet she cannot entirely mind it. After all, she is inclined to study people herself. And so she thaws, by degrees]

In truth, it is not what I am accustomed to wearing.

[firstmadeson.livejournal.com]

[He notices that too but doesn't press it. Only reacting to her words]

Oh? A special occaision?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[her voice is clear, and precisely measured]

I died here one year ago.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[quiet for a minute or two, hands stuffed in pockets, and then finally almost as if he's worried about catching her by surprise]

Reinette?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[it would not be false to suggest she was just thinking of him]

It has been a year.

[by way of greeting, thoughtful]

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[he's surprised at this, surprised he's somehow lost track and it could've been both that long ago and still that recently all at the same time.]

I suppose it has, hasn't it?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[she indicates her gown with the merest of glances, set upon watching him instead]

It felt as if I should mark the occasion somehow.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Oh? [looks at her noncommittally, as if he thinks maybe he shouldn't be. He shuffles in place awkwardly, and then looks at her fully.] And how's that gone so far?

[ambitious-woman.livejournal.com]

[she moves she return comment, only to hesitate and settle on a strange thing -- the truth]

I am not entirely sure.