(no subject)

[balletrat]

*Meg's sitting comfortably at a booth in the bar, engaged in sewing ribbons to two pairs of small ballet slippers.

If certain people - say, any students of hers - were to approach, these shoes would vanish LIKE THE WIND.

Meg is crafty like that.*

Comments

[agnes_nitt]

Agnes sees the ballerina from her seat at the bar and gives a small, unsure wave. Ballerinas and chorus girls never did have the best rapport when she was in the Opera House, but Meg was nice to her when they first met, so she hopes it's okay to acknowledge her existence.

[balletrat]

*More than all right, it seems, as Meg looks up and puts down her needle in order to wave back, eagerly.*

Salut, Agnes!

[agnes_nitt]

She smiles, relieved, and waves again, more firmly.

"Hello, Meg! How are you?"

[balletrat]

Pas mal, *Meg says, with a grin,* and thoroughly recovered from any, you know, Opera-napping-related stress. How 'bout you?

[agnes_nitt]

Agnes shrugs.

"Salzella's gone, for good this time. I've gotten over Jack and all the... unpleasantness associated with that. All in all, I'll call it positive."

[balletrat]

Salzella being gone is not only good but fantastique, I'd think, *Meg says, fervently.* If you're really sure he's gone for good, I mean -

*She pauses, then tilts her head, a little.* Jack? - not to bring it up again if it was a very unpleasant thing, so feel free to ignore the question if you want to.

[agnes_nitt]

"Oh, he's definitely gone. I saw Him -- Death, I mean -- take him away."

At the second question, she sighs and gives a slight smile.

"There was... a guy, here. Jack. Or Tim. Or Hell...something. When I first arrived. I was confused, a bit drunk, and he was really nice to me. We..." Another sigh. "We slept together. He was my first."

[balletrat]

*Looking rather relieved:* In that case, I believe it. Death doesn't kid around.

- well, I mean, she does sometimes, but not when she's taking people.

*She bites her lip, hearing the second part, her expression slowly turning to a scowl.*

. . . oh, merde, Tim - Dieu, I'm sorry, Agnes. He didn't - act as he should after that, I guess?

[agnes_nitt]

"That's a she? How can you tell under the robes? And with the bones? Actually, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that."

Agnes looks away.

"He... Afterwards, I found out that... Well, it's stupid."

[balletrat]

- different incarnation, *Meg says, hastily.* The one I know is less - you know, skeletal, and more - perky? She's sort of a relative, it's - er, complicated.

. . . and if anyone or anything is stupid, *she adds, more gently,* it's Tim. Not you. I mean, I've known him a long time, so trust me on this one.

[agnes_nitt]

"I just... he made me feel like I was special. I never fooled myself that I was his first, too. I just never thought there'd be so many."

[balletrat]

- if it helps, *Meg says, a little dryly,* part of the reason there's so many is that there's so many Tims.

I mean - we've had to kill evil versions of him twice. And I know there's two running around these days -

*Then, seriously:* But just 'cause he's occasionally a salaud who doesn't think about things he does, doesn't make you any less worthwhile, you know.

[agnes_nitt]

"Doesn't make me any more worthwhile, either."

She sniffs.

"I'm sorry. I thought I was over it."

[by-matchlight.livejournal.com]

There is another person sitting and sewing.
A little person. But she doesn't have ribbons.

So there may be some staring.

[balletrat]

*The ribbons are promptly whipped away and hidden behind Meg.

As of now they are SECRET, yo.

With a bright smile:* Salut, Laerke!

[by-matchlight.livejournal.com]

She smiles, intrigued by this game of hide and seek.

"Hello Miss Meg. Are you well today?"

She walks closer to Meg, still eyeing the general vicinity of her back.
What? She's a kid, she's curious.

[balletrat]

Oh, yes, very well, *Meg says, grinning, and leans back against the chair.

In order get comfortable. Yes.*

You looked pretty busy over there, *she adds, glancing towards Laerke's own sewing.*

[by-matchlight.livejournal.com]

Lærke beams.

"Miss Khemrys has been teaching me to sew. She is very good at it. She says if I learn well, she will make me pretty things."

Sometimes it doesn't take much to divert a child's attention.
Sometimes...

[balletrat]

*Meg is going to try her best, in any case!*

I don't think I know Miss Khemrys, *she says, tilting her head.* What sort of things does she sew?

[by-matchlight.livejournal.com]

Lærke shrugs.

"All sorts of things. Pillows, shirts, aprons...anything. And guess what?! She has a special room, with flowers and plants! And she makes things with them and said she will show me how to do that as well!"

It isn't hard to guess that learning is a rare treat for Lærke; any skill she can bring home will give her family that much better a chance at surviving.

[balletrat]

She sounds very knowledgeable, *Meg agrees, seriously.*

Sounds as if there's some things I could use to learn as well - I mean, I know hardly anything about flowers and plants - though I have a friend who grows beautiful roses.

[by-matchlight.livejournal.com]

"Roses are very pretty, I have seen them before! But Miss Khmerys crushes up most of her pretty flowers. It is very sad. But she says it is to help people."

She perks up. "What about Miss Mary, Miss Meg? She says she has her very own garden!"

[balletrat]

To make medicines, you mean, *Meg agrees.*

Dieu only knows the herbal ones are better than leeches, at least - though I guess, *she adds, with a grin at the girl,* it depends on how bad they taste.

I've seen Miss Mary's garden, though I don't know her myself - I mean, I used to be in the greenhouse a lot this winter. It was kind of nice with all the snow around - have you not seen it yet?

[by-matchlight.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head.

"No Miss. There has been much to do for Ah-Chee and Miss Svava's getting married party. But I would like to see it someday."

She makes a face at the thought of leeches. Doctors were never called unless it was very serious as they were quite expensive, but they always had those slimey things with them.

[balletrat]

- well, tell you what, *Meg says, with a quick smile.*

Flowers are good things to have for a wedding, aren't they? I mean, as decorations? So maybe you could talk to your friend Mary and see if she'd let you have some.