mathieu trinket. (flauto) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-04-17 12:07:00 |
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Healers seldom got a break, Esther had forgotten how true that was from her few months away; Emillion had not really change (holes in the nobles district aside) and so the Festival seemed to lift the spirits of its citizens. That and the large quantities of alcohol available. She smiled, sighing and shaking her head, not annoyed but fond — feeling the years weight on her more than usual. Twenty-one was young but on some days she felt older, which could be related to having a fiance that seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders constantly. She pinned her hair up before deciding that it was best left down (messy enough already) and removing the apron she had been wearing during her shift. More practical than elegantly dressed, Esther waited for the Councillor of the Bards’ Guild to show up — the rides behind a steady echo of machinery and people’s laughter. Mathieu, by contrast, seemed to present himself toward every venture, whether work or leisure, as so commingled as to confuse the ideas almost seamlessly. A necessity, he had long ago decided, for one so young entreated to take up such a weighty position as guild councilor. There was little room to do more than soldier through his tasks with an inspirational burst of air and temperament. However, this day required no great personal effort on his part to feel and appear excited for the day. How little, it seemed to him, were the moments spent in the welcome company of his dear childhood friend, Esther Glass. The years had molded them into greatly different people, as time always did, with different goals and responsibilities. And even so, he understood the importance of fitting her into his decidedly enormous festival schedule. They would be seen about the festivities, and they would do so together--for if he was meant to run about supervising every little thing, he ought to seek to enjoy it. Mathieu considered these things as he approached, said his greetings (always smiling, but this was unwaveringly genuine), and drew the mage into the crowds of festival-goers while at his side. There was something about the binds of childhood that carried over, differences were irrelevant and she approached him as always: enthusiastic and welcoming in her greeting before settling at his side. “Led the way, esteemed Councillor.” The playful tone that revealed the formalities to be for show. Mathieu was, first and foremost, her friend. Esther was steady, her footsteps by his side as she found the rhythm he set out, “How many things here did you organize?” She had always assumed that his work duties were far from few but tried never to ask too much about work when they saw one another. Work was heavy at times, a reminder that they had left behind the protection of childhood. Soon their paths would divert further; there was deep rooted melancholy at that, kept quietly to herself. Yet she was constant like the sun, making a point to remain by those she had made a promise to. Without Mathieu intending to, their crossed paths became about less about the festival and more about them; she was here to keep him company too, content to follow and lend her quiet support. “I wouldn’t take all the credit,” Mathieu exclaimed, cheerily keeping in step with his friend. “Meetings, signatures, supervising event committees, these are all easy tasks in comparison to the efforts of my hard-working guildmates!” With a flourish, the councilor gestured to a number of entertainment stalls that had clearly been set up by the Bards Guild, and those he recognized were seen toiling about their appointed tasks. From the buskers at the street corners, to the esteemed actors and dancers in the Theatre District, and certainly counting the Machinists putting on a display at the Aerodrome, everyone in his view seemed excited to play their part at this event. “But I’m sure we’ll stop by and see a few of the more interesting things while we’re out today,” he added, looking Esther over with a slightly mischievous smile. If she was not in the highest of spirits now, at the beginning of their joint outing, then Mathieu would not relent until she had only the best possible time. It was only proper, after all, having insisted that she join him. “Any requests, before we charge along?” Esther nudged him with her elbow, a playful reminder of the conspiratorial smiles and gestures they exchanged while causing mischief in their earlier years. “Oh don’t worry, I think you should take most of the credit here. It will not affect your modest image.” Her tone was teasing, but not malicious, never that — mischief stopped when it crossed that line for her. On some days she missed the careless days where they were up to no good and got away with it. On others, such as today, she could almost forget they were adults though they were (and would be reminded of it soon). His question was considered and there was nothing but earnest sincerity in her tone, “My esteemed lord, we’ve been friends all our lives, just lead the way. Surprise me.” Mathieu found himself rather proud of this, a machinist’s glorious handicraft--a mechanical ride that had them strapped in and sailing along on a breathless circuit, spinning in circles until the world dissolved in a blur of swirling colors around them. Even if they were adults now, fully-fledged or nearly so, it wouldn’t hurt to start the day, he thought, by testing out the festival rides. What better way to acknowledge the hard work of those who built and ran such machines, than to be seen testing them out himself? Afterward, pink-cheeked and breathless, Mathieu unstrapped himself and stumbled along back into the crowds, searching for Esther and taking her hand as if to steady her (or himself). “I hope you’re not feeling queasy yet,” he said, running his other hand through his now tussled mop of hair. “The refreshment stalls are just around the corner!” He still could surprise her. That they could build such machinery was impressive - Esther wouldn’t outright state her admiration, she didn’t have to, her expression said as much before getting on. By the time they were finished losing the world around them, laughing (and screaming) Esther was glad he took her hand to steady her (and himself). “Not a chance, not queasy just-” breathless, and she would’ve laughed at the disaster that was now his hair. Not that she had room to talk, brown locks tangled beyond immediate repair. Esther didn’t care, among the crowds it was easy to lose themselves — no longer nobles but just two individuals enjoying the festival. “-I can still drink you under a table.” Mathieu laughed. “That sounds like a challenge.” Drinks and food were afforded in plentiful amount. Sitting themselves at the nearest open picnic table, Mathieu set down an armful of refreshments, whatever he had seen nearby that looked either new or appealing, an assorted array of treats for their enjoyment. And if Esther’s eyes had gone wide with interest as they moved along the stalls, then certainly he made an effort to purchase something. No sense going through the day’s long campaign on empty stomachs, he reasoned, not with so much to do and so much ground to cover. “Do you think it’s improper of us to make this into a competition?” He couldn’t help but ask, just as soon as the idea had struck him. Propping her chin on the back of her hand Esther survey the plentiful banquet they had amassed from their walk along the stalls. There were things in here that Esther had no idea what they were even called. “Probably, but I don’t think Frederik is here to scold us.” Or Mireilla. The two were Esther’s oldest caretakers, always ready to pick her up after a prank gone wrong, but she was no longer a child so they were not required to follow her around, quick on her heels before something ended up wrong. Very carefully, Esther split a set of pink and white desserts; coconut and rice paste. “Never had these before, how about we start here.” After all, there was no one to tell me not to start with sweets first. Her approval seemed more than enough for him, and Mathieu turned his attention toward the desserts in question. A worthy challenge, if ever there was. “No time like the present,” he enthused, digging in to the treats with no spared amount of gusto. They had spent hours running around the festival proper, experiencing all manner of available wonders and entertaining themselves thoroughly, until the pair eventually found themselves at the Aerodrome. This was the venue where the technology display was held every year, and a place where Mathieu had to visit as well, to observe and assess as a general might stride gallantly through the ranks of his soldiers, keeping sure that everything was kept up orderly. A heavy responsibility, having to do all that, but Mathieu approached it as if it was the lightest chore he could aspire to, keeping Esther by his arm all the while as he traveled through the circuit of tables and stalls, each filled with more machines than he could count. “Nothing similar from the year past,” he said to her, pointing out a strange device that seemed to have been half-pulled apart for the sake of passing audiences. “And always something astoundingly clever!” In the vast exhibit of the Aerodrome, it struck Esther how well suited Mathieu was to his position in the guild, there was only pride for his achievements and a little longing that one day she too may find a way to shine in something. More than just a capable wife, but someone who could do more - for others, for nobles and commoners, for Emillion on the whole. “How do they come up with these?” Esther held one hand up, clearly tempted to reach out and touch what she was very clearly not supposed to be touching. “And how do you remember all of these?” But then he was councillor, it made sense that he had to, “You’re supposed to get old, like me, we’re supposed to get worse at the memory thing.” She did not stray from his side, he was the guide; a younger Esther would’ve ran back and forth in the room, touching and pulling before returning to Mathieu’s side. At the end of the day, however, Esther was still Esther and curiosity won out as they passed one of the tables. She stuck her finger and was rewarded with an electric jolt that had her yelping in surprise. He was right beside her immediately, helping to ease her away from the offending device and attempting not to chuckle. The years hadn’t tamed her curiosity, he noted to himself with amusement, glad as well that she could find wonder and amusement along the day’s journey--even here. “Careful,” he said, raising his eyebrows. “Some of these bite.” Mathieu had been looking around himself, attempting to catalogue the day’s participants in his mind, distracted enough to missed Esther’s hand poking out toward the machine. He would need to watch out a little more carefully, he decided, offering up his arm to her--so if she did decided to dash away, at least they would do so together. It was the final act of the day now, and the evening saw the pair approaching the theatre and the swell of eager crowds settled in front. The Founders Play was not to be missed after all, and Mathieu found that he could not have asked for better company alongside him. Having dressed up a bit for this event, the two didn’t have to wait and bore themselves in line. There were a few perks of being a Bards Guild Councilor that he was not at all above exercising, and slinking through the lines and up to the front was one of them. Mathieu looked to make sure that Esther remained close as he exchanged words with the doormen. “I hope you’re ready for this excitement,” he said to her as the doors opened. “I promise, it will be even better than last year!” Theatre was the favourite part of the day as she was an avid fan of theater and a constant patron of any promising actors. She had a few special favourites and since they were going to be performing tonight- well, she had made sure to book tickets. In the end, her fiance did not enjoy these things and Esther wouldn’t force him to attend; didn’t make any sense to do so when there was perfect company available already. “Even better than last year? I’m going to hold you to that, last year was pretty amazing. Shall we have a bet on it? We can’t sneak into the kitchen anymore to drop the entire salt shaker into the soup but hm-” They had a lot of things at their disposal, it had to be something more meaningful than an object, “-how about a wish?” An intangible payment that held a childish meaning for them and at the same time could be more. As they took their seats, Esther nudged him, a silent ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m having a good time’ and ‘you’re a great friend’ all conveyed in that motion. Esther reached up to smooth the edge of his shirt collar before she gave an approving nod along with a thumbs up. “It was a little crooked.” Faram forbid they had rumpled clothes now. The lights dimmed, Esther dropped her cheek on his shoulder and turned her attention to the stage. Sometimes, it felt like they were destined to keep doing this year after year for the rest of their lives. Mathieu settled into his seat, as if the two were settled in a parlor sofa at the estate, a pair of wide-eyed and inexhaustible children--grown up now, but no amount of years had changed this singular feeling of happiness exchanged between the two. As the music of the play began, Mathieu silently renewed his promise that they would share many more festivals just this way, no matter what the world would eventually make of them. |