|
|
Post by Lucca on Sept 16, 2009 21:58:18 GMT -5
Eldy's eyebrow rose a little higher, and was then joined by her other one. Well, at least she didn't have to feel bad about not having the best social skills, since apparently neither did Dania. Well, she didn't fault the Rat for it, of course, it was just something that must come with living here. She couldn't imagine her fellow Torques being a very friendly lot in general. It just wasn't in their nature? Or something. "Thank you," she said neutrally, more than pleased to drop the subject. Depressing AND awkward? No thank you.
"Good, I'd hate to be a bother," Eldy said, and even as she said it, she couldn't help but worry that she would be, but the rat's family would be too polite to say and...no. No, why was she thinking like that, still? She hoped that the air inside the rat's actual home would be a bit more cheery! She snorted at the comment about staying in shape, and barely stopped herself from answering. After all, saying 'they go at it like Rabbits' would hardly be an appropriate remark in any sort of context.
"Well, it looks rather cozy, actually," Eldy said, ear and tail actually perking a bit at the sight. It actually looked inviting, especially compared to the dismal landscape surrounding it, and it gave her hope of a better evening than the rest of the day spent here had been.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Sept 18, 2009 1:30:04 GMT -5
Dania's pointed ears drooped. She was so awkward sometimes. Of course, it didn't help that Eldy was probably used to Cards with much more refined social graces than were generally taught in small Torque villages. Not that her parents were deficient in manners, but with Dania, such lessons never quite overcame her natural tendency toward awkwardness.
"No bother at all!" The rat did her best to be cheerful and put her discomfort behind her. "Hmm, mom does her best!" Dania opened the front door easily, since it was fit with a handle, rather than a knob more suited to biped hands. "Mum, I've company for dinner!" She called, leading Eldy into the warmer, cinnamon-and-firewood scented interior of the house.
Inside, the home was cheery, meticulously neat and decorated in a "farmhouse" style with an excess of pointless ruffly bits and aging needlepoint pillows. It had a warm, homey sort of shabbiness, and bookshelves lined many walls. Around the perimeter of the main room, small candles burned at intervals, as if specifically placed to ward out the gathering gloom of evening.
A slightly grizzled looking canine looked up from his reading in a deep armchair and nodded at Eldy with passable courtesy, remarking with little enthusiasm, "Nice to meet you, young lady. Mother'll be out in a minute."
It was less than a minute, actually, before a rat came breezing out of the kitchen pushing a heavily laden serving tray. "Dania, just in time for dinner!" She exclaimed, embracing her daughter effusively, "You brought a friend-- How lovely! Hello, dear." The lady, far younger in appearance than her husband, seemed positively cheerful, and quite normal but for an odd dullness in her violet eyes.
"This is Eldy." The younger rat explained, docily following as her mother quite forcefully 'offered' her a seat around the dining table. Strangely enough, there was no need to get an additional plate for the unexpected guest: the table was already set with enough heavy redware and drinking bowls to feed five.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lucca on Sept 18, 2009 18:56:59 GMT -5
Eldy nodded, not sure what to say, but her ear perked in interest as she was led into the...could she call it a cottage? That was what it reminded her of. It seemed...cozy, and the candles helped to mellow her mood a bit, with their familiar light. (How many times had she read by candlelight, hiding in one of the forgotten passages at the Palace? That was when she was far younger...more...innocent. If she had ever been such a thing, what with her parents being who they were.)
"Nice to meet you," she said politely to the canine, who she assumed to be the girl's father from her earlier discussion. He seemed...pleasant enough, if a little apathetic. Eldy found herself very glad she hadn't grown up here, knowing it would be all too easy for her to have slipped into the Torque mindset. Her tail and ear went up in surprise as the mom came out, her being a lot more...cheerful than the cat would have expected.
"Hello. I hope I'm not intruding," Eldy said, though wasn't sure what to add, letting herself be ushered to a chair at the table, and wondering why it seemed to have extra seats. Did they have guests for dinner often, then? Rather than ask (she felt strangely awkward and out of place with this... surprisingly normal familial homey setting), she instead shot a questioning look at Dania, pointing at the other extra seat with a paw, while her parents weren't looking.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Sept 18, 2009 21:16:54 GMT -5
Dania's parents joined her at the table, and food was passed-- rich, warming stew, fresh bread, and a large wedge of cheese. The Canine ate heartily, too busy transferring food into his mouth for any conversation beyond grunts of appreciation to be possible.
"No, no, not at all!" Dania's mother assured her guest, offering Eldy a jar of homemade berry jam. "I love having visitors. I don't get out of the house much, you see." A subtle eyeroll from her daughter indicated that this was a profound understatment - and went unnoticed by the bubbly mother. "We're all delighted, dear. Did you grow up nearby?"
Dania didn't miss Eldy's unspoken question, and replied with a shrug and a smile that was actually more like a grimace. She wasn't sure how she could easily explain that her mother sometimes 'forgot' that she had only one child. In addition to the extra place settings, there had been Christmases when lovingly wrapped gifts appeared under the tree, addressed to little ones that never survived infancy, and three brown-bagged lunches lined up in the icebox some mornings when Dania left for school. She had learned not to mention these 'slips'-- a little wasted food or an extra trip to the store later to return unopened toys was better than seeing mother dissolve into an inconsolable, weeping mess.
She privately hoped that this was some sort of wierd coping strategy her mother had developed over the years, and not, as she sometimes feared, a sign of her dear mother's slow decent into madness. Sanity, after all, was a state of mind. A very fragile state of mind.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lucca on Sept 18, 2009 22:06:24 GMT -5
Eldy's eyes widened slightly...somehow the sight of the home cooked meal was actually surprising. Was this what...normal families ate? Still with an odd, lingering sense of being out of place here, the cat took some food and began eating, a low, rumbling purr coming from her, though whether it was because of the warm stew or because she was trying to feel more at ease, she wouldn't have been able to say.
"Ah, well...thank you for having me," Eldryia said, accepting the jam clumsily with her paws and spreading some on the bread. It was surprisingly good for being made of fruit. Very sweet. "Oh, actually, I didn't. This is my first time in Torquehelm," she explained, tail twitching uncomfortably. She didn't want to bring up her past, not again. She'd rather not think about it. She met Dania's shrug with a confused look, but knew well enough not to press the issue with the others in the room. Instead, she turned to smile at Dania's mother. "So have you been here, uh, your whole life?" She thought she knew the answer to that one, somehow, but it was polite to ask anyhow.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Sept 18, 2009 22:47:23 GMT -5
The older rat seemed to have no interest in delving into her guest's past. "That's nice. I hope you're enjoying your stay here." She nodded contentedly as she sipped stew. "Not exactly a vacation destination for most, but it's worth a visit. Everyone needs to see the land of their heritage at least once in a lifetime, I think."
"Hmm, yes. Daniel and I both grew up in the region." She gave her mate an adoring smile. Surprisingly, his gruff expression softened for a moment, and he returned her smile, although his muzzle rapidly vanished back into his bowl of stew a moment later. "He lived in this very house with his parents, I gave from a larger town." She sounded proud of her heritage in this dismal place, vibrantly alive in comparison with her apathetic mate and quietly gloomy Dania.
Aware of the silent weight of pain wrapped up in the thoughts of Eldy's past, Dania decided a change of subject was in order. "Do you like books, Eldy? I can show you dad's store in the morning before you leave. If you're interested, that is." She smiled a little as her father's tail wagged slowly, thumping softly against the wooden chair.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lucca on Sept 18, 2009 22:57:47 GMT -5
"It's...different. From any other place I've ever been," Eldy said honestly, though she nodded quickly at the next statement. "Oh, yes! I very much agree. It's important to know your heritage." She smiled a bit. Even if it was a gloomy place, the cat was glad to have come here. Now, she understood so much better. About the curse, about binding, about...everything.
Well, everything to do with Torquehelm. She still needed to learn more about herself...
"How nice. It's good to keep things like that in the family," Eldy said mildly, nibbling on some more bread. A quiet, broken purr began again. This time, she knew it was an attempt to lighten the mood, but that was all right. She turned to Dania, rusty purr still echoing a bit as she spoke. "That would be lovely! Books can be very useful." She didn't do a lot of reading, but when she got the chance, she could appreciate a good book as much as the next Card. Besides, the subject seemed to perk up her father a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Sept 18, 2009 23:52:42 GMT -5
"Different, well, it is that. All the realms are so very unique. I hope one day my Dania might do a little traveling, see a bit of the world before you settle down, dear. Like I did." She nodded fondly at her daughter. Dania's expression was stuck at an uncomfortable half-way point between pleased and terrified. The idea of traveling, meeting people, being out in the big, strange world was both alluring and frightening. "Now, girls." Daniel broke in gruffy, "You know how I feel about--" Dania interupted him quickly. "Yes, dad." She smiled uncomfortably at Eldy. "Dad says it's too dangerous for a girl alone." She explained, clearly glossing over a repeated family arguement. "We'll talk about it later, dad. Yeah?" Her father nodded and returned to his food with a "Hrrumph"... and a moment later caught his wife's eye with a loving smile. "You were so independant. Just one thing I loved about you." "Daaa-ad." Dania covered her face with her paws, mortified but laughing. She sighed in mock exasperation. The young rat was glad when the subject was changed. She was also pleased to hear Eldy's soft purr. Purring was so cute, it almost made her wish she was a feline. "Great, then. I'll show you in the morning. Will you be wanting to get an early start traveling?" |
|
|
|
Post by Lucca on Sept 19, 2009 10:17:20 GMT -5
"That's...sort of what I'm doing now," Eldy mumbled quietly, smiling ruefully. It was good to know your own Realm, but it was also good to see a little variety. She raised an eyebrow at Dania's father and the quick interjection to cut off what appeared to be a common discussion. She thought about saying something about how she hadn't run into any trouble and she'd been travelling alone, before she abruptly realized that would be a stupid thing to say. For one thing, she had skills that helped her to avoid trouble, and for another...well. Her missing ear was not proof of safety. "I'd avoid Yarrow, if you do go," she said instead, with a wrinkled nose. "Lovely place, but not really worth it for the weeks of misery that follow." Stupid poisonous flowers. She did tilt her head though, considering, not ready to let the subject drop -quite- yet. "Well, maybe Dania could find someone to travel with, then...uh. Just my suggestion." She shrugged, and let the subject drop. Personally, having a constant travel companion would grate on her nerves a bit, but then she was used to some measure of solitude.
Her ear flicked back in a show of slight embarrassment as the parents seemed to get lovey. She'd...never seen her own two parents really lovey. But that might have been because of how insane Pravus was...also, not that she'd want to see such a thing, either. Heh.
"Great! And...well, it doesn't really matter, I'm not on a schedule or anything, really," Eldy said, lapping up the rest of her stew. "But I suppose an early start wouldn't hurt."
((ooc: Pffft I love the facepalm poster. XD))
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Sept 19, 2009 22:25:29 GMT -5
"How wonderful!" Dania's mother carried on as if her husband had never objected, although she did respond to his compliment with a girlish giggle that send Dania deeper into a despondancy of embarassment. "Yes, I had the same trouble with the Gardens, myself. I was ever so ill, I could hardly enjoy the flowers. The bog is the same in that respect-- terrible air."
"Heyyy," Dania said, "That's an idea. Maybe I can find someone to travel with. That does seem... safer... I think." She smiled at Eldy, hesitantly, unsure if she should consider her words an invitation. A moment later she decided against it. Could she really go traveling all over the world with a near-stranger? Probably not a good idea. Even though Eldy seemed nice and rather cute, that didn't mean it was wise to drop everything and follow her to points unknown. Both out of habit and as a way to avoid the conversation (which seemed primed to go in an awkward direction yet again), she began clearing the now-empty dishes.
"Do you like apple pie, Eldy?" The cheery rat was already serving her husband a sizable piece.
|
|
