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⊿♚ ℱɪᴇʀ and Giulia
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message 51:
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Giulia
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Aug 09, 2015 01:33AM
Bess pursed her lips and looked around them before going back to work. "I don't know what brought it on...well, maybe it was because I was organising the bookshelves yesterday and came across our old children's books. We were so convinced back then..." Willow said, uncharacteristically whimsical. She then grounded herself and pressed against the fabric once again, rubbing until her hands throbbed too much to continue. The cycle of scraping then resting was repeated until it was deemed clean enough.
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(( Yeah, I am. Sorry for dissapearing!! D: Things got crazy schedule-wise for a while there. I'm assuming you've already started school? What university did you end up going to?))
“We did love those stories,” Rowan mused. “I still remember how I convinced one of our neighbors that their garden was infested with gnomes. I can’t believe she actually listened to me.” She chuckled at the memory, then let silence drift between them. Contenting herself with the sound of rubbing fabric and the sloshing of water running against the rocks they perched on. They were distractions her sleep deprived mind met with appeasing blankness. Her thoughts wondering as she went on autopilot. In tree line that’d kept her attention just moments before, there was a flicker of movement that she missed entirely. When at last she did look up, the thicket was perfectly still.
“We did love those stories,” Rowan mused. “I still remember how I convinced one of our neighbors that their garden was infested with gnomes. I can’t believe she actually listened to me.” She chuckled at the memory, then let silence drift between them. Contenting herself with the sound of rubbing fabric and the sloshing of water running against the rocks they perched on. They were distractions her sleep deprived mind met with appeasing blankness. Her thoughts wondering as she went on autopilot. In tree line that’d kept her attention just moments before, there was a flicker of movement that she missed entirely. When at last she did look up, the thicket was perfectly still.
((I actually haven't started yet! I'm flying out this coming Friday. I'm going to the north of England, this traditional university (: I'm waaay to free now but soon, I'll have too much to do.))"Mistresses, I think that's all. Shall we go back into the house?" Bessie finally asked, looking into the dirty basket and finding it was finally empty. "We shall, and we shall also have something warm to drink to congratulate ourselves," Willow agreed, putting the last of her washing into the clean basket and drying her hands by flicking them behind her. "Will your father be wanting something? I may as well make a good tea for the whole family," Bessie offered, beginning to lift the baskets.
((Sorry, right now I'm swamped with homework/etc.. so I haven't had a chance to log-on. I can't write a response tonight, but I'm hoping to be able to post tomorrow. I wanted to let you know, so you don't think I abandoned you. :3 Anyways, how's university treating you?))
((Good to hear! It's pretty tough work wise but I'm trying to do it as methodically as I can, so I don't leave anything out! Everyone is busy these days, which doesn't make me feel as bad about not being on as often as I like!))
((Besides your workload, how're you liking it there? ))
Rowan gave a small groan and stood with an arching stretch. Her feet made a tiny splash as she crossed the shallow stretch of rocks and onto the bank. "I second that suggestion." She moved to grab one of the baskets full of laundered clothing and then, before the maid could protest, she set off into the overgrown grass that acted as a partition between the creek and their home. "I'm sure he'd appreciate it. You have a magic touch when it comes to anything having to do with a kitchen.” She complimented over her shoulder. “Although, I'm not sure he'll be back to enjoy it before it cools."
Rowan gave a small groan and stood with an arching stretch. Her feet made a tiny splash as she crossed the shallow stretch of rocks and onto the bank. "I second that suggestion." She moved to grab one of the baskets full of laundered clothing and then, before the maid could protest, she set off into the overgrown grass that acted as a partition between the creek and their home. "I'm sure he'd appreciate it. You have a magic touch when it comes to anything having to do with a kitchen.” She complimented over her shoulder. “Although, I'm not sure he'll be back to enjoy it before it cools."
((I really love it! The city, my room, the people and the course are all amazing. I know I'm in the early stages, but I'm very happy here (: ))"Then he'll learn his lesson," Willa concluded uncharacteristically of her, taking the other end of the basket and helping Bessie up the gradual slope back to their home. The sun was rising higher still as the morning neared noontime; Willow would expect their father to be back for the shipment at least, then there was her meeting with Westin. What could that be about, she wondered. She glanced back at Ro who was walking just ahead of them. She wish she could articulate what she felt more sincerely to her sister. Even if she was the older and more outwardly mature one, she thought Rowan to be more wise.
(( That’s good to hear! (; ))
Rowan hefted the basket a little higher, shifting her hands to get a better hold on its wicker handles. The tops of the overgrown grass scratched at the woven bottom of the basket, adding yet another whispering noise to the scene about them. “While you prepare the tea, I’ll go ahead and look for that scale in storage.” She glanced over her shoulder and gaze skimming across the tree line they were retreating from. With the distinct feeling of being watched she glanced at the other two women and caught Willow’s expression. That look was never good. Her older sister was always so prone to worrying and there she was again overthinking things. “If you don’t need help Bess, then I'd certainly appreciate some company.”
Rowan hefted the basket a little higher, shifting her hands to get a better hold on its wicker handles. The tops of the overgrown grass scratched at the woven bottom of the basket, adding yet another whispering noise to the scene about them. “While you prepare the tea, I’ll go ahead and look for that scale in storage.” She glanced over her shoulder and gaze skimming across the tree line they were retreating from. With the distinct feeling of being watched she glanced at the other two women and caught Willow’s expression. That look was never good. Her older sister was always so prone to worrying and there she was again overthinking things. “If you don’t need help Bess, then I'd certainly appreciate some company.”
((How have you been?))"I will be happy to oblige mistress. I only have some mending to tend to but I may do that wherever you are," Bess replied as she hauled their load, considerably heavier with the water, back to the house. Willow opened the door for them and set her basket on the kitchen table, glancing about at the lunch that was being prepared. It was a warm pie, along with buttered root vegetables and bread rolls - easily appreciated by the entire family. She then heard a noise upstairs - was it their father? Had he returned from his morning excursion so quickly?
((I’m doing well. I’ve been busier than I’d like, but besides that life’s been good. Thanks for asking. (: ))
Rowan followed her sister into the house setting her basket down next to the others. It took a moment for her to take in the small feast laid out before them. Surely it was too soon for their father to be back from his trip into town. She glanced at her sister curiously and made a move to climb the staircase in search of whoever else was in the house. “That’s odd. I wasn’t aware that anyone was around to cook a meal,” she commented, taking note of the creaking coming from the upper floors of their home.
Rowan followed her sister into the house setting her basket down next to the others. It took a moment for her to take in the small feast laid out before them. Surely it was too soon for their father to be back from his trip into town. She glanced at her sister curiously and made a move to climb the staircase in search of whoever else was in the house. “That’s odd. I wasn’t aware that anyone was around to cook a meal,” she commented, taking note of the creaking coming from the upper floors of their home.
((Glad to hear you're doing well! In my opinion, I always like being busy compared to having nothing to do!))Willow followed after Rowan, removing her eyes from the meal and the kitchen and leaving them on the ceiling. Bessie peered at them, curious at their strange antics. "What's wrong missus?" she asked of them. "We'll help you put up the laundry in a bit Bess, you should start now," Willow intervened, not wanting to worry the woman. She was sure it couldn't be bad...perhaps it was their father after all? But there were no cloaks hanging in the hallway, or stablehand commotion to rest and water the horse.
(( Haha, I agree! ))
The aged wood of the stairs creaked as Rowan stopped and turned back to face the kitchen. “We’ll be right out,” she added, giving the older woman a carefree smile. A slightly louder groan from the ceiling had her heading climbing the stairs again. It was footsteps, she was sure of that – now it was only a matter of figuring out whom they belonged to. The short hallway at the top of the stairs was made up of parallel rows of windows and doors. In an alternating pattern several short table were placed throughout the hallway- each one was decorated with a vase filled with a variety of wildflowers. Sunlight filled every corner of the open space, glimmering against the hinge of the attic ladder that led to the large loft the sisters used as a joint bedroom. The door that led to their father’s personal study was uncharacteristically left ajar and Rowan strode towards it, only stopping for a moment before curiously pushing it fully open.
The aged wood of the stairs creaked as Rowan stopped and turned back to face the kitchen. “We’ll be right out,” she added, giving the older woman a carefree smile. A slightly louder groan from the ceiling had her heading climbing the stairs again. It was footsteps, she was sure of that – now it was only a matter of figuring out whom they belonged to. The short hallway at the top of the stairs was made up of parallel rows of windows and doors. In an alternating pattern several short table were placed throughout the hallway- each one was decorated with a vase filled with a variety of wildflowers. Sunlight filled every corner of the open space, glimmering against the hinge of the attic ladder that led to the large loft the sisters used as a joint bedroom. The door that led to their father’s personal study was uncharacteristically left ajar and Rowan strode towards it, only stopping for a moment before curiously pushing it fully open.
Willow had followed her sister upstairs tentatively, careful not to make noises as they arrived onto the upstairs corridor. Everything seemed to be in order save their father's study. She had a creeping feeling about this, but since the area was flooded with light she felt no worries in her curiosity. As Rowan pushed the door inwards, Willow twisted and craned her neck around the corner to have a look. The study didn't look nearly as in order as the corridor, with the desk Willow would even work at sometimes, in disarray and a few books from the nearby shelf on the floor and opened. Some drawers were hastily pulled and closed, while the rug in the centre was twisted at an angle - someone indeed had been here. Yet, as Willow turned her head right and left, there was no one present. Just an open window.
Rowan peered around the door frame, taking in the mess strewn across the floor. With a huff she strode through the open doorway, taking in the clutter distractedly as she moved towards the open window. Once there she thrust her head out into the mid-morning air and surveyed the grounds that surrounded their home. Her finger dug into the aged paint of the sill as she leaned forward in search of whoever had been in their home. No one was to be seen. Rowan retreated back inside after a moment, closing the window after her. “Seems we missed our guest,” she quipped, her dry comment punctuated by a click of metal as she secured the latch. “What were they looking for I wonder?”
Willow had already started tidying up the mess, reading the spines of the books and the titles of the papers to get a rough idea. "Who can say? I hope it wasn't serious. Father doesn't keep anything valuable in here, not even the important documents," she responded. She then flattened the rug out with the tip of her toe, and tried to imagine the movements of the stranger. He had looked at the desk first, then the shelves. He was obviously going to leave the room but upon knowing there were people still here - they must have returned from their wash by then - turned, shuffled on the carpet and departed. "This is a bit worrying. Father surely would have locked the window. How did they get in?"
Rowan stooped to pick up a pile of manuscripts that were piled behind their father’s desk. Obviously, the person hadn't been a thief that had happened upon their home. No, their visitor had been looking for something specific. “I’m not sure they used the window to get in. Seems to me they could just as easily of walked through the door. We did leave it unlocked. Come to think of it, we should probably check the store room. If they were looking for something having to do with a shipment they’d likely have gone there as well.” She mused as she placed the stack of papers in her hand on an open spot on the desk. She shifted the inkwell back into its original position, and went about reorganizing the desk’s contents into some semblance of order. “What I’m really curious about is the food. What’s that all about?”
Willow didn't know if she felt confused or worried about this whole situation. "Let's go check out the store room then," she ended up saying, departing from the room when everything was set into order, walking by the kitchen with the mysterious food which Bessie was amiably setting up for dinner. She headed down the other set of stairs she took often to go do the accounting for the business and ended up in the store room. It was poorly lit for now, so she fumbled to search for the match and candle she kept in its usual spots. She struck the match against the wall and lit the wick to slowly illuminate the crowded room.
Rowan followed after her sister with an air of bemusement. As they passed through the kitchen she glanced back at the table skeptically. Bess continued about her business, setting the table, unaware of her momentary vigil. The hiss of a catching flame reached Rowan's ears just as she reached the foot of the stairs and she followed after her sister into the storeroom. The light emanating from the candle cast their shifting silhouettes onto the menagerie of objects that surrounded them. “Its odd,” she commented, not bothering to elaborate as she moved past her sister and further into the room. With a curios noise she disappeared behind one of the cramped shelves to inspect the room further. “Nothing seems out of place."
"This is perhaps more worrying than knowing what was stolen..." Willow muttered, moving the candle around and changing the shapes of the shadows on the crates and boxes. "Let's just forget about this, shall we? I don't think telling father will make the situation any better..." Willow just wanted to move on from the strange incident and carry on with what seemed to be a great day before this. They had lunch to look forward too, and then the shipment in the afternoon. Not to mention her meeting with Westin...she didn't feel completely safe moving on from the mystery, but she didn't know how else to handle something that wasn't even there.
“Understood,” she replied with a two fingered salute, her back still turned away from her sister as she rummaged through the shelves. She had been about to voice her suspicions about the entire incident to her sister, but thought better of it. Rowan knew that tone of voice. It wasn’t as if she was going to say anything to their father anyways. Not telling him would just give her and a legitimate excuse to avoid him or at least the conversation he wanted to have with her. The future he was laying out for her. “Oh before I forget, I was planning on going out to the field and collecting some herbs later on this afternoon. That way you and Wes can have some alone time?”
Willow immediately became flustered as she blew out the candle and began walking back upstairs. "Don't trouble yourself about that Ro, I'm sure we won't be talking about such private matters," she insisted as she walked into the kitchen once more, picking up a roll of bread and breaking it as she leaned against the counter. "You have your own issues to worry about regarding men. Look, if you really want me to say something to father, I happily will." Bessie had plated what they were going to eat, and put away what would be for the family that evening.
“Oh please,” she scoffed good-naturedly. Her voice followed after her sister as she lagged behind in the darkened room. There was the grating noise of metal against wood. “I know what you want from each other, even if both of you insist on being blind to it. Not private, indeed.” With a huff she entered the kitchen, scale in hand. She set it down on an empty space of counter top and joined her sister. “At the very least I’m happy one of us will end up with someone they enjoy to be around.” She plucked a roll from the basket, regarded it with a skeptical glance and broke it as well. “ You shouldn't trouble yourself, Lo. I doubt that Father would listen even if you did mention it to him. If he's truly set on getting rid of me, then he won't change his mind. Besides he hasn't told me his decision yet."
"I don't anticipate this entire thing will have a happy ending," Willow couldn't help admit nervously, looking down at the roll she had torn apart before continuing. "We can joke as we want but I am worried about this whole thing." Bessie began humming to herself as she brought the laundry baskets out of the doorway they entered from, to hang them up in lines in the sunshine to dry. Willow took her seat at the kitchen table and began serving herself casually. She didn't feel too hungry with the excitement of the morning, and the oncoming worry of the busy afternoon.
"What- your visit with Westin? I wouldn’t worry over that. He seemed quite excited to see you.” she replied, purposefully avoiding the darker turn the conversation was taking. At least for a moment. “As for the other things, I don’t see a way that we can change what’s happened. I only worry that it has something to do with today’s shipment or at least the customer that’s receiving it.” Still suspicious of the food, Rowan watched as her sister sat down at the table. She ripped another piece off her roll and perched herself on the counter space they’d leaned against. “Things never go over as easily as they are planned. I doubt it will be anything that we can't handle.”
Willow sighed as she picked at her food, doing mental calculations to see how much time she had on every activity before Westin arrived - when did he say he was coming by again? She found herself absently gazing at Bessie's skirts billowing in the gentle wind as she pinned sheets and rags onto the line, bouncing and swaying as the grass bent and the trees rustled. "Even though I enjoy doing this work, working with father can be a nightmare sometimes. He's off onto his next project before one is finished and forgets to tell us important secrets, like who is the buyer, and how this shipment is to be delivered to us," Willow couldn't help complain slightly.
((Hey Giulia, I'm sorry that I keep disappearing on you. I can't post tonight but I wanted to give you a heads up that I will be posting on both of our rps in the next few days. Thank you for being so patient! I really appreciate it. (: ))
((Hey it's not a problem! I really enjoy our RPs and am happy to wait - mega busy on this side too!))
“He certainly has a tendency of doing that,” Rowan agreed, allowing her the complaint. If anyone deserved it was Willow. She looked away from her sister, then, turning her gaze on the small window adjacent to the counter she was perched on. It was obscured by a small set of curtains, pure white in color that were illuminated by the sunlight to give off a muted glow. They billowed slightly, moved by the gentle breeze that seeped in from the outside. The movement of the fabric matched the movement of Bessie's skirts. It was no secret that her relationship with their father was strained. The state of their relationship had only grown worse as Rowan had aged. Therefore, she was not surprised that he hadn’t divulged that information to her. “ You know how he is. For all his business sense he can be incredibly dense about things. Out of all the people I know, he trusts you the most. It might be that he assumes that if you wanted to know the details of the projects he gives you, you would approach him with our..." Rowan was interrupted with a wrap on the door, she twisted around her perch at the sound. "It's unlocked!" she called, sliding off the counter. There was a pause and then Westin peeked around the door frame, he glanced about the kitchen, his quirking smile lighting up on his face as she caught sight of the two sisters.
((Should we move the story forward to when Westin comes and the package too or...?))
((Sure, I'll edit my post a little bit and have Westin show up.))
((I DIE this is going to be so cute))Willow's face immediately redden as she straightened from her lax pose and put away her plate swiftly. "Westin," she remarked, trying not to let her voice rise to high as she walked toward the door to open it wide and invite him in. Her mind was immediately set abuzz as her heart first dropped to her stomach then began racing at his expected, yet surprising entrance into their days. How much more confusing and emotional could this day become at this point? "You're early. Did you have lunch? Care for something? We've got more than usual..." She had to glance at Rowan when she said that, not being able to contain her small smile at the joke between the pair of them.
(( Hehe. ;3 ))
“Hey Wes,” Rowan called in greeting, giving her sister a sidelong glance. An amused smirk settled itself on her lips at her sister’s flush. Westin grinned from his spot in their doorway, and gave a friendly, if not slightly sheepish wave, in response to the sisters. As he stepped across the threshold his eyes lingered on Willow. “Thank you, but I’ve already had lunch. I hope I’m not interrupting your meal,” he stated, noting the table and its spread. He glanced between the sisters, noting the joke while not understanding what it meant. “I came to check up on an order for my father.” He shoved his hands in his trouser pockets, as he focused on Willow with all his charm. “But I was wondering if we could talk?"
“Hey Wes,” Rowan called in greeting, giving her sister a sidelong glance. An amused smirk settled itself on her lips at her sister’s flush. Westin grinned from his spot in their doorway, and gave a friendly, if not slightly sheepish wave, in response to the sisters. As he stepped across the threshold his eyes lingered on Willow. “Thank you, but I’ve already had lunch. I hope I’m not interrupting your meal,” he stated, noting the table and its spread. He glanced between the sisters, noting the joke while not understanding what it meant. “I came to check up on an order for my father.” He shoved his hands in his trouser pockets, as he focused on Willow with all his charm. “But I was wondering if we could talk?"
"You're not interrupting anything, no, no," Willow insisted, holding her own fingers nervously before walking back to be closer to him. "Of course we can talk about the order. Would you like to go up to the office?" she wondered, trying not to let her gaze wander too much over his face. She felt her chest inflate when she saw him slide his hands into his pockets, so she tried to control her breathing and expression as she offered him the way upstairs.
“Oh, the order. That-” Westin stood dumbly for a moment. “ That wasn’t what I meant. I wanted to ask if you’d like to go somewhere with me later tonight.” Rowan, seeing where he intended to take the conversation, decided to make her exit. With silent amusement she slid off her perch on the countertop, skirted around the table, and slipped out the front door. She considered eaves dropping on their conversation, but decided against it. Instead she went around to the back of her house and stood underneath the window of her father’s study. She stood there scrutinizing the glass and down the siding of their home before she turned to walk back towards the stream from the morning. Westin momentarily paused their conversation as Rowan left the house. He absently fidgeted with something in his pockets as he watched Willow’s expression trying to gauge her reaction. “I heard that it was supposed to be a clear night. Great for stargazing. I was wondering if you’d be interested in doing that with me?”
Willow had to stare blankly at him for a bit as she blinked and processed what he had offered. Did he just...? Had he just...? Rowan's departure made everything all the more obvious and Willow had to lean against the doorframe to regain her spine and breath before managing out a feeble squeak of a reply. "Very much so." Seeing Westin alone? In the evening? For stargazing? "With the seasons, I think we can expect a very good via of some planets and especially the little and big bear tonight," she had to add, remembering how many constellation books she had devoured in her childhood (between lessons in accounting that is).
