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Tweak says, "have a romy and michelle day!!"

Effie (lacemaker) wrote in lechance,
@ 2008-08-27 20:36:00

Entry tags:

effie gallehawk, jonathan ibis

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Effie had lifted the gloves from her pillow the night before, and carefully pressed them between clean handkerchiefs inside her bible. This morning, she packaged them up, wrote the destination address in neat script on the outside of the parcel, and requested the services of one of the chaperones to accompany her to the post office.

It was a fine morning, and a treat to be outside in precious daylight rather than using it to continue work on her next commission, but bobbins could be wound by lamp light and she was hardly overwhelmed with work. Her mind was still on the possible stitches she could use in the panels of the fan when they reached the post office and she stopped abruptly, clutching her parcel securely to her chest and stepping back when she saw someone on their way out. "Oh! Excuse me, please, I didn't...please, after you."

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	lacemaker 2008-08-28 04:55 pm UTC (link)
	Ten years was almost longer than Effie could conceive of. "Two," she replied softly. "A sister and a brother. Both back...in Scotland." She'd been intending to say at home, but Glasgow wasn't home, no matter how long she'd lived there. Not for anything she understood as a home, from the books she'd read. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 04:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Do you miss them yet?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 05:04 pm UTC (link)
	"Since I got off the boat at Ellis Island," she admitted. She hadn't had the fare for a flight, even if she'd quite trusted airships to carry her that far. "D'ye miss your sister so much?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 05:08 pm UTC (link)
	"All the time," he admitted, "But she's in a better place." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 05:09 pm UTC (link)
	Effie blinked, and went quiet, looking up at him through her lashes. Not sure she'd quite caught the euphemism. "I'm...sorry?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 05:19 pm UTC (link)
	He shook his head, "No, my apologies. You do have her smile though. It's sweet." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 05:21 pm UTC (link)
	"Then I'm pleased it's a happy memory I'm raising," she said softly, wondering where the odd urge to rise to her toes and kiss his cheek came from. And blinked, called away to the counter with Mr. Fielding in attendance to take care of posting her parcel, conversation perforce interrupted briefly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 06:13 pm UTC (link)
	Jon took that moment to clear his head, shaking away the cobwebs. He posted his letter once Effie was done, stepping back. He glanced at her chaperon before asking, "May I escort you somewhere?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 06:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, now that would be grand," Effie agreed, with a warm smile. "If I'm not keeping you from business?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 06:22 pm UTC (link)
	He shook his head, "I do most in the early morning and the rest is thankfully bad." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 06:24 pm UTC (link)
	She tilted her head to look up at him as they stepped outside again. "How is bad thankful?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 06:30 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm the undertaker," he said dryly. He liked to get that out of the way fast. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 06:33 pm UTC (link)
	Regarding him thoughtfully for a moment, Effie nodded. "Good," she said, firmly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 06:41 pm UTC (link)
	He blinked, "Beg your pardon?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 06:45 pm UTC (link)
	"You're hardly the first undertaker I've held speech with, Mr. Ibis," she declared, eyes bright. "You're by far the easiest to hold speech with." At least for Effie, who usually didn't talk with anyone much. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 06:48 pm UTC (link)
	He laughed then, amused and sort of pleased, "Thank you for that, Ms. Gallehawk." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 06:51 pm UTC (link)
	Effie blushed, smiling at his laughter but aware that she'd very probably overstepped limits of polite conversation. "You're most welcome, sir." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 08:18 pm UTC (link)
	He glanced at Mr. Fields again, before offering Effie his arm. "What do you do, if I may ask?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-29 05:17 am UTC (link)
	"I make lace," she explained softly, knowing that her trade, although skilled, was hardly held in high regard. "Embroidery and fine needlework, too, when needed, but mostly lace." Effie slipped her hand through his arm, fingers resting lightly on his sleeve. "That was a pair of gloves, in my parcel, to a haberdashers I used to trade with in Boston." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-29 07:03 am UTC (link)
	"How long were you in Boston?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-29 07:23 am UTC (link)
	"Six months." She turned her face up to the sun, obviously enjoying the warmth. "Near exactly. Was it a long journey that you made to come here, Mr. Ibis?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-29 07:24 am UTC (link)
	"Long enough," he made a face, then smiled, "From Illinois. Not near long as yours." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-29 07:28 am UTC (link)
	"Is Illinois very far?" Turning her eyes back to the road ahead, she matched her pace to his, too used to walking with taller people to struggle. "I'm still learning this country, everywhere is so big." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-29 07:46 am UTC (link)
	"It's about the middle," he shook his head slightly. "It's beautiful here though." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-29 07:53 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, it really is," she agreed readily. "And I'm learning the geography, truly, my soul but there's so much of it! That means you were halfway across the country ahead of me - did it take a terrible long while?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)