PrincessFlorimelSocietySisters1Gillian0It was a Sunday—no school—and this particular Sunday was a particularly fine spring day, complete with blooming flowers, warm breezes, and fluffy white clouds. Ginger delicately washed her shoulder on the sunny windowsill of Gillian's bedroom. "Go shopping today, kitten." Gillian looked up from the books she was stuffing into her satchel, planning to spend the day downstairs in the likely deserted library. She would have the place all to herself and she could hardly contain her glee. "What?" "Go. Shopping. Today." "Why?" Ginger rolled her eyes—not an easy feat for a cat, but a feat demonstrated often in their relationship. "Look at you—skin and bones. Pale complexion, but not the flattering sort of pale. Dark circles. How will you ever get laid looking like that?" It was Gillian's turn to roll her eyes. She continued stuffing. "Notice I didn't specify gender," Ginger continued slyly. "I know some women who like the lost waif look, but you're a little too far in that direction even for them." Gillian stopped and faced off her familiar. "Why is it so damn important to you that I lose my virginity?" she growled. "Sweetie, because I can live vicariously through you through our link and I haven't gotten any for awhile. Unusual, I know, but I blame the current conjunction of the planets. Besides, a little sex would be good for you. Put some color in your cheeks. Top and bottom." Ginger smiled like a Cheshire and licked her whiskers. "You're disgusting." "I mean it. If you don't go into town and enjoy the day, I will hound you and not stop making frank, embarrassing remarks. You can tell the depths of my despair over this by the fact that I resorted to a canine metaphor." Gillian lowered her chin and glowered. "I'm serious, kitten. You look like death warmed over. Go into town." Ginger started washing her front paw. "Fine. I will go into town. But only if you stay here." Gillian managed to stuff one more book into the satchel. "Fine." Ginger shrugged. "Watching is a bigger turn-on, but I can still feel through the link. Look for one that's tall, broad-shouldered, blond hair...like that Cole guy. You picking up his laundry again anytime soon?" Gillian didn't deign to answer. She shouldered her satchel, glowered at her familiar again for good measure, and slammed the door on her way out. Ginger chuckled and started washing her ears. Gillian continued glowering on her way into town. She meant to keep her dark mood as long as possible to annoy Ginger on the receiving end of it, but the beautiful spring day eventually wore down her resolve. It had been awhile since she'd been out like this. She found herself immensely enjoying the experience, except for the satchel she carried on her shoulder. Filled as full as it could be with books, it weighed her down and threw her walk off-balance. Her intent had been to study her books at a sidewalk cafe in town—getting back at her familiar—but now she regretted bringing them. Time to find said sidewalk cafe, order something, and sit down to study for awhile. Gillian spied a likely candidate halfway down the block and started making her way toward the sign when the bottom of her satchel split, spilling her books onto the sidewalk. Dismayed, she collected books and papers and pens, wondering how she was going to get all of this back to the university. A peal of high, ugly laughter met her misfortune, as three half-familiar girls seated at a sidewalk table noted the breaking of her bag. Gillian looked up when she heard the laughter. Qilinda Vane, Lady Rose of the Princess Florimel Society Sisters, hid her own smile behind her hand as her companion, a plump blonde girl with unfortunate acne said a little too loudly, "Must get her bags from the rubbish heap." "Charity," Qilinda said shortly. "Not charitable enough. Perhaps it was a joke. I wish I'd thought of it." The blonde laughed again, and it was even more obnoxious this time. Gillian felt her face flush. She looked back down and resolutely ignored them as she continued to gather her books. The third girl, taller and more athletic than the others, with a cloud of cotton-candy-colored hair, glared at the blonde and got up, hurrying to meet Gillian. She knelt and began to help gather pens and papers together. "Sorry about them. I know a better place to eat just a few blocks down, without the... company." Gillian paused, startled. "You're...helping me?" The other girl looked confused. "Why not? Do you think your satchel will hold until we can get somewhere that has takeout bags?" "Rusalka, come away," Qilinda said imperiously. Rusalka ignored her. "Unless you don't want company," she said. "I...have to admit to a certain amount of skepticism born of past experience," Gillian replied cautiously, "but if you want to help, then I welcome it. I don't think I can carry all these books myself without my satchel intact." Rusalka shrugged and smiled again, picking up an armful of books. "I don't blame you or anything. They can be pretty poisonous." She checked to make sure Gillian had the rest under control before walking. "I'm Rusalka Cardovan." "I'm Gillian Talbot. Um, please to meet you—and thank you for your help." "I'm just sorry it's so unusual for people to help you," Rusalka said. Her pretty face clouded over, but she quickly smiled. "Is it your first year at the University?" Gillian gave Rusalka a fleeting smile in return. "Yes...yes it is. And you?" "It's my second," Rusalka admitted. They turned a corner down a slightly narrower, but still sunny street, mostly marked by trees with white flowers. "I was hopeless as a first year, really. I kept getting lost trying to find the buildings. It's weird because I rarely get lost in the city. What are you studying, Gillian?" "Magic. I'm pretty sure I can complete two circles this year, if I work hard enough." A book started to slip from her grasp and she wobbled a bit as she caught and returned it to the heap in her arms. "What are you studying, if I may ask?" Rusalka turned to see if she needed help and her expression was fascinated, and slightly flushed. "Well, nothing that exciting. Liberal Studies - basically my mother made up a major that included all the things a young noblewoman is supposed to know and I proposed it. My parents may still consider this a top-grade finishing school where there's a chance of meeting eligible bachelors - I don't know. But magic! What's that like? And what's a circle?" Gillian raised her eyebrows. "A circle is a level of achievement. They teach up to six circles here at university. I suppose there are more, but only attained through private or independent study. "Magic is like...um...have you ever made something? Like knitted a sweater, or sewn a dress?" Rusalka shook her head helplessly. "Um... no... I've cooked a little, but I'm not really good at it. Making magic is like knitting?" Gillian smiles. "Sorta. There's the accomplishment of creating something, just like with knitting, but it's more—a rush, or giddiness, as the magic flows through you. Oh, hell, I'm not explaining this well at all." "Sure you are. It's a lot better than telling me a bird can't teach a fish to fly—and I got that one a few times, believe me. So it's like... the adrenaline rush after a performance, then?" they approached a small cafe almost completed covered over in rosebushes, and Rusalka turned down the path toward some outdoor seating that was shaded from view by more arbors of flowers. "Yes, that sounds likely, though I've never exper— Oh! How beautiful!" Gillian exclaimed as she suddenly noticed the flowers. "I love roses. Lord Feldane grows them in his garden and as a small child I'd gather the fallen petals and make sachets from them. Roses remind me of all the good, beautiful things in life. "Rusalka, how did you find this place?" She buried her nose in a nearby flower and inhaled. Rusalka laughed, enjoying the fact that Gillian liked the place. "It's sort of what I do on days off. I like to explore the city. It's really an amazing place, and you gotta take advantage of not being cooped up. I hoped you would like it. Mama Henny is a really nice lady, too, I think you'll like her. Do you want to find a table while I go get her?" Gillian smiled shyly and nodded. She looked over the patio and headed for an empty table in the corner. Rusalka returned quite quickly with a tall plump woman whose wispy dyed red hair was trying desperately to escape from under its cheery lace cap. "So you're Rusalka's friend. And a lovely thing you are too, even if you are skinny. You're welcome any time, dear. I'm Henrietta Fisher, but you can call me Mama. What can I get you to eat?" Rusalka giggled. "I just want tea, Mama H." Gillian smiled self-consciously. "Tea is fine, thank you." "You girls today and your figures," Mama grumbled as she bustled off. Rusalka slid into the chair opposite Gillian. "She's so sweet. So... do you um... want me to let you study?" Gillian eyed the pile of her books ambivalently. "That was my original plan when I left the university. I really didn't even want to go, but Ginger forced me to. But now...well...it's so pretty here. And you've been so nice to me. I'd really like to hear more about you. You said your last name is Cardovan. Is that from House Cardovan?" Rusalka grinned, very pleased with that reply. "Mmmhmm," she replied. "Youngest daughter. My brother and sister already graduated from University and are off hobnobbing with the elite and making Papa alternately proud and very irritated. I'm enjoying taking a few years to find my place. Do you have brothers and sisters, Gillian?" Her smile faltered briefly. "An older brother and a younger. Jonathan, the elder, has fallen ill with the Apathy Syndrome. The younger, Eustace, is still at home with my parents." "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about Jonathan," Rusalka said. She didn't really know much about Apathy Syndrome, but it sounded like it wasn't a first meeting conversation, so she didn't press it. "I hope he gets better soon. And your parents - where do they live?" "They are...um...servants, for Lord Feldane. Of House Feldane." Gillian surreptitiously glanced at Rusalka to gauge her reaction. "He was a hero of the Patternfall War," she added. "Oh, I know who Lord Feldane is," Rusalka said quickly. She added some sugar to her tea and added, "My brother speaks very highly of him. Do you like him?" "Of course," Gillian replied brightly. "He's...um...reserved, but he's also the one footing the bill to send me to school. I'm very grateful to him for providing me with this opportunity." And wondering what the strings will be once I graduate, she thought, but didn't voice. "How does your brother know Lord Feldane?" Rusalka shrugged. "I don't know. Teddy knows everybody. I think it's because they both like to know things... and people... but I'm not really sure." She toyed with her plate. "So it was Lord Feldane who sponsored you? That must mean he has a lot of faith in your abilities." Gillian looked at Rusalka guardedly. "Yes, I suppose he does." Are you going to tell me now that a mere servant has no right to attend such a prestigious school? She didn't voice the thought, but the sentiment was plain on her face. Rusalka just looked confused. "Did I say something wrong? I try to be tactful but Mama says sometimes I could be a hippo in the porcelain factory. I just thought it maybe meant he had expectations of you. You know—I wondered what that was like." Gillian's guarded look at Rusalka turned into an askance one. "It's like something always pressing urgently against me, and no matter how hard I work, how good my grades, it never relents. I've sometimes wondered what it would be like to be free to learn here what I wanted, in the manner that I wanted, merely for the sake of learning. Is that what you have?" The pink-haired girl shook her head. "Not really. There just aren't expectations - besides make myself prime marrying material—learn to keep a house, etiquette, get a harmless degree, mingle, do the Society thing. My grades aren't important to anyone as long as I make good enough to continue on, but they limit my extracurricular choices. I don't let it get to me, though. They've got Fantina, after all, so I can be a bit of a disappointment if I want to be. What would you want to learn, if you could learn anything at all?" Gillian smiled self-consciously. "I don't know. I haven't really given it much thought. Ummm...what would you want to do if you could do anything?" Rusalka flipped her hair and replied immediately, without even thinking, "Go on adventures. Travel the world and see things and do things." Then she suddenly laughed. "Isn't that stupid? Me, a hero? I couldn't tie my own shoes until I was seven. But I don't think we ought to change what we want to be reasonable." Gillian smiled again, this one genuine. "I can see you traveling and having adventures. You have the right force of personality for it." "I'd have to have someone come with me whose brain works in direct sunlight or the presence of handsome men," Rusalka joked, "but thank you." She stretched her shoulders and looked up at the sky, where it was outlined in roses. "Maybe we'll go on one together someday. Stranger things have happened." "That...would be strange, would it not?" Gillian replied neutrally, then gave Rusakla a brief smile. "I would be terrible at adventures. They make one late for breakfast." She took a sip of her tea, now rather cold. "Are you hungry? I can have Mama come back. Or... let you go on with your day. But... maybe we can meet up again sometime? I mean... I enjoy girl's time, particularly with people who have things to say." Rusalka uncrossed her legs, smoothing her skirt over her thighs. "Certainly. That would be delightful," Gillian replied politely. She paused and dropped the formality. "Thank you for your help earlier. I think I'd like to just stay here and study for awhile, if Mama doesn't mind." "She won't," Rusalka said quickly. "I'll let you work, then, but I hope we do meet again sooner rather than later. I'll send Mama by with some more tea as I go out - not trying to rush off, or anything, I just don't want to be a distraction - and I can't study when it's light outside." She rose, flouncing out the back of her uniform skirt. "It was really nice to meet you, Gillian," she said, extending her hand. Gillian took the hand and shook it lightly. "It was nice meeting you as well. Take care." She thoughtfully watched Rusalka leave the cafe before turning her attention back to her cold tea and her ever-waiting books. |
