lady_moon | (no subject)

He doesn't take her hand.

He's not sure why. He can't justify it even to himself. But he can't bring himself to touch her.

This is too weird. What she makes him feel is weird. He doesn't want to get nearer.

"I'm a writer. And a drunk. And I love Draco."

She pauses and looks at him.

Really looks at him.

"Those are not things you do. In fact, those are just aspects of your life. Are you afraid of me?"

He blushes deeply. "I don't know. I--you make me feel... strange. Like I did back home. Or maybe it's just being kidnapped. I dunno."

"I'm sure it's me. I do that to people. It's why I stopped going out. Best if I just quietly and distantly fulfill my duty."

She drops her hand and turns toward the door.

"We have too much in common, too, I think. Parents and upbringing."

"If I touch you, will I break?"

She has a feel about her. He's afraid to go nearer. And he is sorry. Because he does want to. He wants friends.

As they walk out of the room, she smiles over her shoulder.

"I'm not sure. Still, even if you never touch me, I'd... I'd like if we talked. I have too few people to talk to."

In fact, Sorrow has no friends. She lives in her room, reading her books or painting her pictures. Her only interaction is with her family, when they come by.

It's not a sad life.

It's her life, and she's content with it.

It's... not dissimilar to Miniver's life. Only he's lonely.

"Okay. I'd like that, too." He follows after her.

Sorrow had been lonely, but she's been alive too long for it to matter much anymore.

She leads him down the stairs, taking her time so he doesn't get winded behind her.

"Skill's a very good cook," she says. "She's... just very good at everything."

"Skill would be," he grins. "She cooks?"

"She cooks, cleans, sews, knits, crochets, paints, has children, gardens, uses the loom, can basket weave... If it's something you can do with your hands... Skill can master it," she says, a little enviously.

"...I bet she makes really good macaroni and cheese."

Yes, that is Miniver's insightful addition.

"How close is the kitchen? This place seems to go on forever."

They finally make the ground floor again, into that main hall.

Halfway down it is a large painting of Sorrow seated in front of Ruin, both of them in traditional Victorian clothing and neither smiling.

"It seems that way, doesn't it? I've tried to get lost before, but I never seem to be able to."

The lower floor is full of the scents of Southern home cooking.

The moment the smell hits him, he realizes he's hungry.

Getting kidnapped can build up an appetite.

He scurries along after her. "Is Moon coming to dinner?"

"Yes. She won't go back to the bar until tomorrow."

She pauses where three rooms open up.

"To the right is the kitchen -- you can go in there any time. To the left is the dining hall. Straight will take you to the library."

Which was three stories high.

Sorrow leads him into the dining hall where there were several large tables set up, but only one was set. Fortune, a young, rakish man, sat at the foot, and Moon sat to his left while Choice sat at the head of the table. Choice was tall, older, giving off a particular feel of age.

"You can sit wherever you like..." Sorrow says as she approaches the table.

Miniver's eyes linger on Fortune. Eventually, he goes to sit next to Moon. He knows her.

"...Hi."

Moon smiles at him, and says, "Family dinner. This should be fun."

Beside him is where Sorrow sits, her hands folded in her lap and her eyes on her plate.

Fortune, whose eyes are a pale, almost icy blue, grins at him. "Too bad it's only a small portion of the family. Least Mary Anne got to meet most of us when she came visiting the first time." He also has a somewhat Southern accent. It's muted; he might have been from Louisianna once upon a time.

"Well, she was going to marry one of you," Miniver points out with another shy smile to Fortune.

He turns to Moon and nudges her. "As long as I'm being held here against my will, can I have wine? Could always pretend that was against my will, too..."

"You planning on marrying one of us?" Fortune teases with a wink and a grin.

Moon raises an eyebrow. "I believe that everything can be enjoyed in moderation."

"You believe no such thing," Choice interupts. "You're a card of excess and addiction."

There is some tongue sticking out on Moon's part at that. "He can have some wine. We won't let him become intoxicated."

"Thank you." He hides it well, but this really is making him extremely nervous. He isn't good with new people and strange places.

Even if Fortune is pretty to look at.

Moon understands. She places a hand on Miniver's thigh, squeezing reassuringly.

"Do you have a preference for wine?" she asks. "Or do you not care?"

He squeaks at the touch, clearly nervous.

"Um, I dunno. What're we having? Aren't you supposed to drink reds with some things and whites with others? I never really learned the trick of that one."

Skill comes in with a large tray and places dishes on the table between the occupants.

Fried chicken, sweet slices of country ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, corn on the cob, green bean casserole, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, sweet potato casserole, three bean salad, black eyed peas, and collard greens.

Moon eyes it all and then gives Skill an exasperated sigh.

"We're not starving, for Pete's sake!"

Fortune gets up and returns with bottles of cold beer, giving one to Miniver. "This is better for this sort of meal," he informs Miniver.

Well, he would agree with that one. He takes the bottle from Fortune with a grin.

"The Tarot cards eat American food," he laughs. "I'd have thought you guys ate weird things like Medieval venison and stuff. Or Greek god food. Or like the Medicis. Something."

Choice dishes up a plate of food for himself as the bowls and plates are passed. "When young Draco visited, we ate more of his sort of fare. This is Skill doing something in honour of your company," he explains.

Skill, who looks like everyone's perfect, matronly mother, sits next to Fortune and smiles happily at Miniver. "You're too thin. You need to eat plenty. There's also dessert, so keep room for that."

Miniver blushes a bit and nods to Skill as he takes some food. He takes a little bit of everything, but favors the macaroni and cheese, and the ham. He nibbles and pecks at things, but they do get eaten, and appreciated.