IC contact for wethelost

[devoutish]

Solomons & Melborn
1108 Sweet Cream Street

[Feel free to use this space for letter/package deliveries as well as visits/knocks on the front door!]

Comments

[furgood]

All with the pretty smiles. [She takes a sip and raises her eyebrows.] So far on the things Alfie loves list: we have tea, your gang, London, pretty smiles and--more tea. [A mock serious pause] Not snow. Whatever the opposite of snow is.

[devoutish]

Melted snow, in little puddles on the ground.

[furgood]

I'll add puddles to the list. A sunny day maybe. A warm fire, food you made. [She drains the cup of tea and fiddles with the saucer, more interested by the sound of china clinking than she probably should be]

You should tell me more things you like. I need ideas.

[devoutish]

A warm fire.

[He repeats, because that sounds particularly wonderful right now.]

Gold jewelry. The sea air.

[furgood]

[The teacup and saucer are set on the nearest flat surface so she doesn't drop them by accident. Tucking her legs up under her, she turns more fully towards him and nods along.]

I prefer gold to silver myself. It looks prettier. I feel like it makes my skin glow. [She holds her hands out to look at them as if she can see some of the slender bracelets she wore more often before] Sea air is a good choice as well. So far, pretty good choices all things considered. I approve. Mostly.

[devoutish]

[He holds his hand out in turn, splaying his fingers to show off his gold rings. He takes her one of her hands again, pressing their metal to her skin.]

They do look good on you.

[furgood]

[Her lips quirk at the edges and she twists one of his rings about idly, feeling all the little bumps and edges] I don't wear much jewelry here. Or dress up much. Maybe I should. It's not very practical but I hardly ever have excuses to put on a necklace or rings or bracelets. I should make my own.

[devoutish]

These are heirlooms. They remind me of home.

[Which probably explains the touch of melancholy in his voice.]

You don't have any at all with you?

[furgood]

[She squeezes his hand at that tone in his voice and looks over those rings, being careful not to touch suddenly. She'd hate to ruin one]

Hmn? Heirlooms or jewelry? I have plenty of jewelry, I just get afraid of ruining it.

[devoutish]

Jewelry, I meant. I don't suppose you could do with more?

[He's thinking birthday presents again.]

[furgood]

I suppose I could. A lot of it isn't anything I could wear around for no reason. Big on their themes in the Capitol.

Why do you ask, hmn?

[devoutish]

I can't tell you that.

[He drums his fingers against the back of her hand.]

Surprises, remember?

[furgood]

Surprises--I'm the one who's supposed to be getting ideas here, you know? [Huff] I'd say something new couldn't mean as much as any of this but I know for a fact that's not really true. Hmn. I'll think of something. I have time.

[devoutish]

These are a lot to live up to.

[He admits, touching one of the rings.]

But I'd like anything from you.

[furgood]

You know, everyone says that. [She hums] I believe you, I'm just saying. I might pick something like this. Might pick something different. That's the beauty of surprises. You'll have no idea.

Maybe I'll do that trick where I put a box inside a bunch of other boxes so you won't know until the very last moment.

[devoutish]

They've got dolls like that, in my mother's country.

[furgood]

Really? Dolls inside of dolls? I'd ask how they're made but I imagine it's 'carefully'.

[devoutish]

They're hollow, and made of wood. I can show you, if you like. I've got one here.

[furgood]

Really? Do you mind? [She sits up a little and lets him retrieve his hand should he desire]

[devoutish]

[He lets her go and sets down his teacup, moving into one of the bedrooms along the back hall. He reappears moments later, carrying a painted wooden Russian nesting doll, completely stacked. He'll hand it to her for her to investigate.]

[furgood]

[She takes it very carefully and turns it over in her hands. There's the seam but she can't find a latch and she's afraid to just start pulling and yanking at it] It's beautiful. How does it open? I'm not going to break it, am I?

[devoutish]

Here.

[He reaches over and twists the top of the first doll, loosening it a little for her so she can lift it off.]

It's not from home. I found it in Norfinbury.

[Just so she doesn't think it's another family heirloom that she's afraid of manhandling.]

[furgood]

[Well that relaxes her a touch but she's still careful. It's his after all. ]

So it just--ohh...[She lifts the top of the doll and carefully pulls free the smaller doll within. Setting up the first doll properly before her, she takes in the different clothing, the way the details shrink or disappear. It continues on and on until she has a small row of dolls set before her.]

It's so intricate. Why was it in Norfinbury?

[devoutish]

[There are six in total, the smallest one shorter and only a little bit thicker than her pinky finger. Alfie picks it up, rolling it around in his palm.]

Dunno. Norfinbury had all sorts of strange things. It might've been because of me; it might've been pulled from my own memory.

[furgood]

I didn't realize they did things like that. [She picks up the largest and the second smallest, comparing them] It's like a mother and all her daughters. If daughters came neatly with two years between them.