[005] Before the summer, there is the spring

[tristranthorn]

"Well, I really think we ought to be moving along once more," Tristran says as he begins to pick up the mess of things left in their room -- socks, dirty plates, cups, and other things of the sort. "We've been staying here for far too long."

He's been dreaming of home lately. As soon as he regained the ability to breathe properly and move about as energetically as he used to, he's been feeling restless for the journey ahead of him.
At first he didn't think much of these dreams, but soon he was dreaming of Victoria again, and of the day he returned to her -- with the star.

A sock hangs off the end of their bed, and he scoops it up, turning to Yvaine with a slightly serious expression on his face. "And we haven't had the chance to check on the unicorn either," he adds. Perhaps if he appeals to Yvaine's fondness for the unicorn, she will be more likely to cooperate with him. "I'm sure he must be eager to move around in Faerie once more."

Now, he manages a slight smile of a sort as though to say, 'Hmm?'

Comments

[tristranthorn]

He tilts his head back up to stare at the sky for a moment, an almost grateful smile crossing his features.

Oh, if only eight-year-old Tristran had known Yvaine back then. He would have possibly been spared quite a bit of laughter from Louisa's classmates -- and his own, for that matter if so.

"I suppose my telling her we went to a... tavern at the end of the universe would send her into fits of uncontrollable laughter." He smirks. "Or she'll simply say I've gone completely mad."

[an_evening_star]

She would have taken care of it - for a given, and possibly great deal more violent, meaning of 'taken care.' And he probably wouldn't have constantly told her to stand up straight and that her hair was a mess, her dress was an utter disgrace, and she really shouldn't know such words, let alone use them while in polite company.

"Who's to say that you haven't?" she grins back, arcing one delicate brow. "You are discussing clouds with a star, Tristran Thorn."

[tristranthorn]

He laughs, now. And while the reasons for his next words don't make much sense to him yet, he means them.

"Well, if I've gone mad, then I wholly welcome it."

They've reached the lake.

[an_evening_star]

Her stomach flutters and she slows for a moment, tilting her head at their reflection and bracing her fingers over her chest - forcefully quelling the need to snap something unpleasant in defense.

This was all a great deal easier when she hated him. He couldn't just continue being obnoxious?

She almost would have appreciated it.

"You have certainly taken to it - madness or not."

[tristranthorn]

"It isn't an unpleasant thing," he replies, crouching down for a moment to pick up a loose pebble from the ground.

"Sometimes I thought that some of the so-called 'sane' folk of Wall could do with a bit of...something out of the ordinary once in a while." Or imagination.

He flicks the pebble in the lake's direction, not particularly getting the effect he was going for. It skips once, then sinks rather embarrassingly into the water.

[an_evening_star]

Yvaine happens to think that 'sane' is another, far more diplomatic, word for 'terribly boring.'

"It is a wonder you survived at all," given what he is he must have felt terribly suffocated - the very idea of it makes her shiver. A place where magic only dares to come close every few years.

"You are tilting your wrist too far down," she murmurs absently, watching the ripples with a vague sort of interest.

[tristranthorn]

Blinking, he looks down at his wrist, then turns to her.

Tristran doesn't really know yet how different he is from the people in Wall. Sure, he has a feeling, but that's all it is. To him, at this moment in time, Wall was -- and always will be -- his home.

Another nervous laugh, and he stoops once more to pick up a slightly smaller pebble.

[an_evening_star]

It's not so much an issue of home, at least not in this context. It's that difference - it's a wonder that it is still there, that it is still loud enough that she can even notice it.

She shakes her head again, tapping the back of his hand dismissively.

"No, something flatter," another pause and she searches the ground, gesturing vaguely and then carefully pointing once she remembers that she's not going to be able to get it herself. "That one - and keep your wrist straight this time."

Her lips quirk again, challenging.

[tristranthorn]

However, for Tristran whose experience in the outside world is almost slim to none (though he is learning), home means he ought to belong there, no matter how awkward and different he may feel while there.

His head turns in the direction she points at, then taking a couple steps, picks up the rock, the chain between them stretching a little.

"This one?" He returns to join her. "Where did you learn to skip pebbles?"

[an_evening_star]

"I know a great many things," she replies. "It comes from paying attention."

Her nose wrinkles and she just continues to grin, silently and privately amused.

"Come on then," one hand waves toward the lake, causing the chain to swing. "Impress me."

[tristranthorn]

He raises an inquisitive eyebrow at the star, but doesn't say anything.

Straightening his wrist upon instruction, Tristran attempts to flick the pebble across the water.

Oh, he really wants to impress her, but...well, he really isn't any good at that. Sure, the pebble skips a little farther this time, but it still only skips once before plunking into the water again.

[an_evening_star]

Yvaine takes a moment to look distinctly unimpressed before she bites down on one half of a snicker, fingers pressing over her lips.

"Not exactly," she snorts, eyes bright and amused.

"It is, perhaps, very fortunate that you endeavored on a quest with stones that turned out to be girls, and not the other way around."

[tristranthorn]

"I suppose it's official, then. I can't say I'm any good at skipping pebbles," he says with a shrug and an awkward laugh.

He puts his hands in his pockets and watches the water for a moment.

[an_evening_star]

"I do not think it is a cause for great concern," comes the reply, followed by a mild shrug. "I cannot say that I have ever had the opportunity to try it myself. I could very well be just as horrible when in actual practice."

There see, look at that - momentary lack of superiority complex.

[tristranthorn]

Aww. Well, that's something to write home about. Only, neither of them has paper or a pen. Or a messenger.

"Perhaps you'd like to try it?" he suggests, giving her a sideways glance. "We might not find much in the way of lakes for a while once we...leave here."

[an_evening_star]

The star darkens slightly, then squares her shoulders with a resigned sort of sigh forcing a not quite so dismal expression back onto her face.

"Perhaps I will save it then," she answers. "In anticipation of future lakes."

A mild sniff, "I'm sure there will be sometime when you need to laugh at me."

[tristranthorn]

He gives her a reassuring look. "I'm sure you would be far better than I could ever be," he encourages. "And thus, I won't have any reason to laugh."

But he isn't going to force her, either way.

[an_evening_star]

Having things to do later ensures somehow that there will be a later - she's rather fond of the concept of actually having time to do things.

"Later please?" she replies, swallowing the unpleasant shakiness and replacing it with a crooked smirk. "I will even promise not to hit you with things if you do laugh."

[tristranthorn]

He nods, expression becoming a little more serious.

"Of course," he replies. He turns back to stare at the lake for a moment before clearing his throat. Something about that 'please' lingers in his mind. It sounds almost...well, concerned.

He's sure there is a reason; he just isn't sure of what that reason is.

"...Would you like to take that walk to the stables now?"

[an_evening_star]

"Very well."

A soft sigh, quiet and almost relieved. She likes that he doesn't ask questions - though she doubts that he would even know which ones to ask.

"I do not imagine that he will be pleased at being left alone for so long," she murmurs, voice steady again and she slants her gaze, bumping his hip as she turns. "I will not hesitate to blame everything on you."

She smiles, "Just so you know."

[tristranthorn]

Even if he knew the questions to ask, it is unclear whether he will have the courage to ask them. He can be quite the dunderhead sometimes, as Yvaine will know.

Regardless, Tristran is content enough not to try to figure out what those questions are -- Yvaine's smile can be quite distracting. Of course, that is only because it is a rare thing in itself to see. Not for any other reason.

"I wouldn't doubt it," he says easily, then begins to move at her pace.

[an_evening_star]

An idiot, perhaps, but a charming idiot - and that's most of the problem once more.

But she's pleased enough for just right now - no reasoning or figuring, as she is rather content not to think too terribly hard herself. Later, she supposes, can be left for if or when there is a later.

"So you do catch on eventually," she quips. "It is comforting to know."

[tristranthorn]

He gives the star an amused smile but doesn't say anything else about that.

"I'm sure the unicorn is fine and well taken care of, but he will no doubt be glad to see us."

Or, rather...her.

[an_evening_star]

The unicorn likes Tristran well enough - but he's a moon-child, just like her, and so it's something like family.

Family that doesn't make fun of her. Well, at least not in a manner that other people can hear - a fact which she remains endlessly grateful about.

"Probably terribly bored," she returns. "We are not expressly fond of boxes - no matter how fancy."

[tristranthorn]

"Well, the sooner we can leave, the sooner we can bring him back into the open space he likes so much," Tristran says cheerfully.

Which means, they can go forward on his quest.