InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "LP"

Jeannie (i_blink) wrote in we_coexist,
@ 2009-01-25 22:04:00

Entry tags:

guy of gisborne, jeannie

Illumination (tag: Sir Guy)
Tiffany lamps were very lovely things. Jeannie had always thought so, ever since she’d had first seen one in the home of her former master darling’s friend, Dr. Bellows. Mrs. Bellows had been very proud of it, and Jeannie had understood why immediately. Someone had taken the idea of a stained-glass window and made it into a lamp that could be taken home. It was very clever.

But then, Jeannie had always had a fondness for lamps in general, she reflected as she looked at the beautiful Tiffany lamp in the display window before her. Lifting her fingers to the glass store front, she leaned a bit closer and wondered if that affinity had anything to do with so many of her kind being bound to lamps. Oh, not this sort of lamp, obviously. That was just silly. Where would a djinn reside in a modern lamp? The light bulb? That would be terribly bright, not to mention hot, and really, there was no way to open and close a bulb. Very silly indeed.

So maybe she simply liked lamps because they were pretty. There was one, behind the Tiffany lamp, with a fringed shade that she would love to have inside her bottle. Jeannie liked the fringe, it looked very fancy. Perhaps she could put more fringe on things inside her bottle.

Not that she got to spend much time in there these days. Inside her bottle, that was. At first, it had been a blessing. After all, she had been stuck in there for thirty one years, seven months, two weeks and three days before arriving in the City. After all that time, one got a little tired of looking at the same curved walls, no matter how many times one redecorated!

But since coming to the City, Jeannie had been unable to find a safe place to stash her bottle. She had been keeping it in her pocket at all times, so it would not fall into the wrong hands. Whoever owned the bottle, owned the genie, and she had not found anyone she could trust enough to share that secret.

Besides, it was a little against to rules to be so disloyal to a current master. There were loopholes, of course, and many genies had found ways of getting rid of masters they did not like. Jeannie had always thought that a bit unscrupulous and avoided doing such things herself. But she had always been fortunate enough to have good masters.

She was having some doubts about her own, lately, though. Not whether the City was a good master, because she truly thought it was, but whether it was still her master at all. She had died. Did that not break the contract? Besides, lately, she had not felt a strong connection to the City, the commands had felt vague and unclear. Perhaps because they were actually requests instead of commands? Then again, she had never felt the overwhelming rush of a bond made with the City as she had with her other masters. Was that because of the nature of the City, or because it had never truly been her master?

It was so confusing. She longed, oh how she longed, for someone to talk to about this. But she was unaware of any of her kind elsewhere in the City. Plus, they were not always the bes for this sort of advice. She would ask Dr. Simontam, but he seemed uncomfortable with her abilities. George seemed uncomfortable with her altogether, which deeply saddened the djinn, as she had very much liked the girl. Who else did she know that she could trust?

Oh, how she missed Spike. She had not known him well, but he had been so full of practical advice and help, Jeannie felt certain that were he still here, she could have gone to him with this problem. But he was gone. So she was alone. It was not at all what she hoped her life here would be like. Not at all. Lost in dark thoughts, she stood on the street, staring into the brightly lit store.

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i_brood
2009-01-30 12:37 am UTC (link)

Sir Guy of Gisborne had decided that the cabin where he had waited out the snowstorm would be a perfect place for him to stay while he was stuck in this City. It was already well stocked and there was still no sign of anyone that it might actually belong to. It was possible that the cabin’s pervious owner had been caught in the blizzard and would not be any bother at all. If someone did show up and try to reclaim the property, he was certain they could come to some sort of understanding. Either by reason or by the point of Guy’s sword.

While his new home was well provided with meat for food and wood for the fire, he still needed to get a few supplies. He wanted candles for more light, some proper tools for cooking and more matches. Sir Guy liked matches. They were fun and made lighting a fire much easier.

Guy walked into town, wondering if The City had a place where he could purchase a horse. All this walking was for peasants. As he wandered around, he saw the Saracen girl, Jeannie, staring in the window of a shop. He was very pleased to run into her again. She was one of his few friends and he remembered how she had not been impressed when she met Hood. He liked that trait in a woman.

He went over and stood beside Jeannie, curious as to what had captured her attention. The shop was full of burning lamps. Which seemed like a terrible waste of tallow to him. He leaned in to look closer at the lamps and frowned. All of the wicks were enclosed in oddly shaped balls and there didn’t appear to be any flames.

“How do they light all those tiny wicks in there and then keep them burning so brightly without any air?”

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i_blink
2009-01-31 07:59 pm UTC (link)

“Sir Guy!” It was not quite a squeal, but her excitement was obvious. Not long ago, she was bemoaning that she did not get to see people in this city more than once, which she felt a great loss because she was a very good person to have as a friend. And now, she had run into Dr. Simontam in the snow storm, and Sir Guy here on the street. Oh, this was a very good day.

She was so pleased to have his company, she did not even hesitate to display her joy. Throwing her arms around his shoulders, she placed a quick peck on his cheek and gushed, “Oh I am so happy to see you! I was worried for you, with the illness that made people act so strangely, and then the snow storm. But you are here! This is wonderful!”

He got another kiss before she settled at his side, though she was far too happy to simply stand still. Hugging his arm, she bounced slightly on the balls of her feet as she finally considered his comment. It was not that she had not heard it, she had simply been too excited to see him to put off her greeting. But now, she could address his confusion.

“Oh those are not wicks,” she explained. While she was not entirely clear how exactly a light bulb worked, she did know that much. “I think it is metal. They run electricity through it and it glows, so it does not need air. Are they not beautiful? I do love Tiffany lamps, but I think I like the one with the fringe best. It is pink. I am very fond of pink.”

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i_brood
2009-02-05 11:37 pm UTC (link)

Sir Guy had been a little surprised at the enthusiasm in which Jeannie greeted him. He was not use to such open displays of affection. He wasn’t even use to someone being glad to see him. It was an interesting feeling to be wanted. The best he had ever received from Marion was a warm smile.

“I avoided the illness, thank you. And I am pleased to see you seem well.” He still didn’t quite understand why it was such a bad thing for him to cut the heads off of those that were sick. They weren’t going to get any better. He was doing them, and the uninfected, a favor with his actions.

“And you survived the blizzard, I am happy to see.” He was indeed for that. He might even remember to actually say his prayers tonight and thank good for Jeannie safe deliverance. The past few weeks had been very trying and tested his mettle to the extreme. But that was behind him now, and he thought he proved himself well. And regardless, at least his friend was safe.

And still talking about strange things.

“Electricity? What is that? Something from Spain?” If there was a way to keep those candles lit without needing air, then Guy should find a way to get them to Prince John.

“If you like the pink, perhaps I can purchase it for you. I need to buy more candles and matches for my new home and I suppose this would be the place to get them.” Tiffany lamp most definitely came from France. He just hoped he had enough gold coins to make all these purchases. He had plenty, but everything else in this City worked in odd ways, he was certain the currency would be different as well.

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i_blink
2009-02-06 11:45 pm UTC (link)

“Oh, I would love to have that lamp! Thank you!” In appreciation, she kissed his cheek once again, reflecting that she could quite get used to having a man around again. Very easily.

And Jeannie was not about to turn down a gift. She liked getting presents far too much to turn one down when it was offered. Especially when it was something she really wantes. Most especially when it was being offered by a very handsome man. Oh, he was very sweet, and she was getting a new lamp.

Though she still had no home to put it in. She could keep it in the lamp for now, she supposed. But it would soon get crowded in that small space if she did not find another solution. She should get a house, as Sir Guy had. But the truth was, she did not want to live alone. She did not like it, no matter how many lamps she could have.

Which brought her back to her friend’s confusion. She shook her head, trying to think of how to explain. “Oh, no. It is not from Spain. Electricity is… it is…” Jeannie frowned. “It is lightening. That is electricity. And people have harnessed it to make it work many machines in their homes. Such as lamps.”

She was actually rather proud of that explanation. Though she knew it probably did not much help Sir Guy. “I know, it is terribly confusing, is it not? When Major Nelson first met me on the desert island, I was very lost. I did not know how anything worked either. Centuries had gone by and everything was different! But he helped me to learn. And I shall help you.

“For instance, are you certain that your home does not have electricity? Most homes do now.” Holding up her hands, she made a rectangle. “Are there spaces in your walls, that are rectangles like this? With two pairs of slotted holes? Oh! Or light switches! A rectangle like this, but with a little piece that sticks out? It can go up and down.”

She demonstrated flicking a light switch on and off, watching his face for a sign that he understood what she was talking about. The poor man. He had no idea what he was in for. He needed her.

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i_brood
2009-02-18 12:50 pm UTC (link)

Guy liked the thought of buying a gift for a woman who showed her appreciation for his actions. It was a nice change, even if Jeannie was a little too forward for such a public place. But still, he was glad she was so pleased with his offer.

He listened to Jeannie’s explanation of this electricity. Guy was not a stupid man; regardless of the slanders Hood and his band spread to the contrary. Using the power of lightening to get machinery to work made quite a bit of sense. He would hate to be one of the people that had to try to capture the lightening, but that was what serfs were for.

“I have seen those rectangles in my cabin,” he said, nodding. “I wasn’t what sure they were for, but I did know they were not for defense. The placement is too low and the slots are much too small for arrows.”

Guy didn’t understand what the rectangles had to do with electricity, but there must be something or Jeannie wouldn’t have mentioned them. This did sound like something he should avoid until he understood it better. He knew lightening could be deadly. He really did need someone to help him learn how to function in this City.

“We will purchase your lamp and some candles and matches for my home,” he told his friend. “Then perhaps you could help me find a place that has men and women for hire? I fear I need someone to help me with the cooking and cleaning in my home.”

It wasn’t that Sir Guy’s cabin was so large he couldn’t clean it on his own, he just didn’t want to. Besides, it was beneath a man of his station to wash his own linens.

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i_blink
2009-02-18 07:21 pm UTC (link)

Jeannie beamed as she watched him sort it all through. He was very clever, and much quicker than she had expected him to be. Which meant that she had explained it well enough for him to grasp the basics. It was very difficult, as she knew from personal experience, to get used to all the wonders of a modern world without someone there to help.

Though there were, she admitted, a number of things that she herself did not entirely understand. Cars that beeped. Telephones that did not need a cord. Much had changed in the last three decades when she was trapped in her bottle. And she had just started getting used to the 1960s! But she would aid Sir Guy as much as she could.

Which apparently meant explaining further, because he still thought he needed candles and matches. And servants. Oh, of course he would think that! He was obviously a nobleman, and though the genie did not understand the society that he had come from, she remembered her own. Sir Guy was perhaps not the equivalent of a pasha, but perhaps a mushir or a ferik. Though he did have enough presence that he might even be a khan. And most certainly, those sorts of people did require servants.

The problem, as Jeannie saw it, was that she did not think the City recognized those sorts of claims. She had not, thus far, seen anyone with any sort of title, nor with any sorts of servants. So she had to assume that this place was much like Cocoa Beach in that only the most wealthy of families had the most basic of servants. Butlers. Maids. Perhaps a chauffer. But definitely not concubines. And Sir Guy had mentioned both men and women for hire.

She chewed her lip as she considered his request. Finally she said, “I am sorry, but I do not know of any place that offers servants for hire. It is rather rare for most people to have them, at least that is what I have found. You see, the electrified machines have made it possible for people to do many things for themselves. Washing clothes, washing dishes, even cooking has been made much easier.”

Then she brightened. “I can show you! Oh, I am a very good cook! I used to make wonderful meals for my master all the time. I have missed it, really, it would be so nice to show you. Oh! I can show you all sorts of things, it will be so much fun!”

Jeannie bounced, clapping her hands, excited at the prospect of doing something tangible to help someone. That she was helping a friend just made it that much better. “For instance, you do not need the candles! Not if you get a lamp. You just need to… oh, it will be much easier if I can show you. Does your home already have a lamp? Perhaps one that hangs from the ceiling? I can show you how that works!”

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i_brood
2009-02-26 12:58 am UTC (link)

One thing Guy would have to admit, Jeannie seemed very enthusiastic about helping him out. He had to smile at her excitement. But he was disappointed that there didn’t appear to be any serfs he could get for his house staff. That feeling quickly disappeared however. Jeannie apparently had another idea of where he could get help for the cabin.

“You are offering to come be my cook?” he asked, wanting to clarify the matter. He didn’t want to make any false assumptions and risk offending one of his few friends. It would be nice, though, to have someone he knew and mostly trusted to prepare his meals.

“You would be most welcome, Lady Jeannie,” he said, smiling. “Though I fear I cannot offer you any lodgings. My cabin has but one bedroom.” He would have to see about finding a craftsman and see to expanding his humble home to something more suitable to a man of his position.

He was curious about the machines Jeannie was telling him about. He had already discovered a few on his own. Like the amazing self-emptying chamber pot! And the bathing tub with the built in pumps. They were in the same room. It had taken him the entire day to figure out those two devises, but they both were well worth the effort.

“There are lamps hanging from the ceilings in the cabin,” Guy commented, answering Jeannie’s final question. “I saw no way to lower it to be lit, nor was there a ladder close by to reach it. I have no idea if it even has candles in it. We can go see it if you would like.”

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i_blink
2009-02-27 07:44 pm UTC (link)

Jeannie was slightly disappointed that he felt he needed to tell her that he did not have room for her to stay. That probably meant that he did not wish to have company. But then she brightened when she remembered that she had not explained about her bottle. Perhaps he would change his mind when he found out how little room she would need.

Though there was the issue of whether or not she could trust him. Truthfully, it was as very large concession, to tell someone about her bottle. Because the person that owned her bottle owned her, and it was rare that a genie was in a position to chose her own master. And that was not even taking into account her confusion over whether she currently had a master or not, because a genie that deliberately went against her master and got caught could be in big trouble indeed. It was a bit of a muddle, and required some thought.

But first, she would help Sir Guy. Who had called her Lady Jeannie. She was thoroughly tickled by that, and did not correct him. Nodding enthusiastically, she confirmed, “I will come cook for you, and clean for you, and teach you all sorts of things! Oh, this is going to be so fun!”

Letting go of his arm, she said, “Do not worry about the lamps hanging form the ceiling. I will show you how those work too. And then we can decide if you need more lamps before we come back and you buy the pink lamp for me.” She had not forgotten about that, oh no, she had not. “We must see what you have before we can see what you need.”

With that bit of pragmatic advice, she crossed her arms one over the other at chest height. Then gave a sharp nod and a blink, and they were in his home. “Ohhhh! It is a cabin! How rustic. It will be like camping, only better!”

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i_brood
2009-03-07 01:46 pm UTC (link)

Guy thought Jeannie had a good point about finding out what he needed before he spent any gold or silver. Luckily, his cabin wasn’t too far from where they were. An hour’s walk there and another back. They would still have plenty of time before sunset to complete their shopping. Guy turned, ready to lead his friend down the road to his cabin.

Then, without warning, he was standing in his home.

Guy’s eyes got large and he stumbled away from Jeannie while he reached for his sword. He had heard peasants talk of such magics before, but he had never believed them to be true. Such things could not be real. A man such as him should be above the superstitions of the lower classes.

Yet here he was the victim of actual magic. Of witchcraft! Guy somehow managed to hold his sword out without it trembling. Moving backwards, he tripped, falling back into a chair. His training allowed him to still keep his weapon aimed at the blond sorceress.

“Witch! You’ll not have me!” He had no idea what he could do to escape this situation.

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i_blink
2009-03-12 09:09 pm UTC (link)

Jeannie’s jaw dropped in shock. How had this wonderful man gone from being such a perfect gentleman to such a rude brute so quickly? She was surprised and more than a little angry.

“I. Am. Not!” she stated in very emphatic tones. “Of all the rude, ungrateful, mean things to say!”

Her arms crossed over her chest, though this time not to blink, but to indicate her sulking displeasure. There was a definite pout on her lips. “A witch. Oooh, how could you even think I am a witch? Witches are mean and petty and spiteful and sneaky. Oh, they are so sneaky, and you cannot trust them as far as you can spit, and I am none of those things!”

Advancing toward him, her arms uncrossed so that she could shake her finger at him, completely ignoring the sword. “I have been nothing but kind and helpful to you and you repay me by being… by being…”

Suddenly overcome by the maliciousness of the abrupt about-face, Jeannie’s face crumpled and two fat tears rolled down her cheeks. She had really thought she had found a friend and instead she was being insulted, vilely insulted. “I am not a witch,” she wailed in utterly hurt tones, correcting with a sob, “I am a genie!”

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i_brood
2009-03-14 12:42 pm UTC (link)

Sir Guy could do little more than blink at Jeannie’s reaction to his accusation. He was prepared for her to deny any use of any magic, but she wasn’t doing that at all. She was angry with him for calling her a witch. Not because of the death sentence that goes along with being a witch, but because she seemed to have no use for them. She really didn’t like witches it appeared.

He felt like a wayward child when she came closer to him shaking her finger. He hadn’t been scolded this thoroughly since he had been a small boy. He kept opening his mouth to try to apologize, but Jeannie was not done with him yet. When she started crying, he finally thought to lower his weapon. He felt like heel for making her cry.

“I’m sorry,” Guy muttered, not completely certain what he had done to deserve such a tongue-lashing. But Jeannie was right about one thing. She had been nothing but kind and helpful to him.

“I remember a Saracen talking about genies,” he said, grateful that he found that memory. “Djinns, I think he called them. I think he said they could be creatures of good luck and fortune.”

Guy wasn’t sure he could really trust anyone that did magic, but he also wasn’t sure he wanted to lose his only friend in this City. “We don’t have genies in England. Only witches and they are evil. I am truly sorry if I insulted you.”

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i_blink
2009-03-16 09:54 pm UTC (link)

Jeannie sniffled, trying to get her crying under control. He was apologizing after all. Her voice was tight as she told him, “Oh not all genies are good luck, some of them are just trouble, but you really cannot blame them. They do not like being in service, I suppose. I do not understand that, because I love having a master. I have had very good masters.

“Even this master is a good master, if it is still my master. But I do not know, you see, it is very difficult to tell because it does not feel like it usually feels when I have a master. The connection feels odd. And that was before I died. If I die, does that not mean I am set free again? I have never died before, it was very strange and I do not know where that leaves me. Am I free? Am I bound? If I am bound, why does it not feel like it? I do not understand!

“Everything here is very strange and uncertain and I do not like it! I do not like being alone and I thought that I had finally found a friend.” Jeannie collapsed in a graceless heap onto the floor, pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. Putting her forehead on her knees, her muffled voice wailed, “And then he called me a witch!”

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i_brood
2009-03-20 02:08 am UTC (link)

Sir Guy looked around, trying to find a way to escape this situation. Jeannie was talking about nonsense and sobbing uncontrollably. He did not deal with hysterical women. He had no clue how to get her to stop. Besides, he didn’t think he had insulted her that terribly. It wasn’t as if he had actually tried to burn her at the stake.

“It was not my intention to insult you,” he said in a soft calm voice. It was the same tone he used when dealing with a distressed horse. He just hoped it worked on distressed women as well. “It is very strange and uncertain here. Not to mention confusing. I reacted badly to something I had never experienced before. Magic and genies are not something common in my time. You are my only friend and I would hate to lose you due to my bad manners.”

He frowned slightly, trying to work out the rest of her ramblings. He had no idea what she meant by having a “master”. But it did concern him if someone else was going to try to claim her. If she was someone else’s serf, guy could get in trouble for using her services for cooking and cleaning without getting permission from her lord first.

“Wait a moment. What do you mean, you died?”

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i_blink
2009-03-20 04:25 pm UTC (link)

Jeannie sniffled, soothed by the tone he used more than the words. Though she did listen to everything that he had said. Especially the part when he said that she was his only friend and he did not want to lose her. The poor man was just lonely and confused and she had yelled at him! That made her a very bad friend!

Wiping her cheeks, she nodded in answer to his question. “Oh yes. I died. A lot of people did. As you said, this place is very strange and uncertain. I do not know why my master allowed a killer to roam free or why it let people die, but it did bring us all back so I suppose it turned out alright. But it was very unpleasant and I do not want to do that again. Be murdered. Having your throat cut hurts.”

Unconsciously, her hand drifted to her neck, rubbing where she’d felt the cold sting of the blade. Sighing, she pulled herself together. She had promised to help Sir Guy, not sit on his floor and cry over a misunderstanding. “I am sorry. I should not have yelled at you. But it was very hurtful, being called a witch. Mostly because I thought it meant you no longer wished to be my friend. And I do want to be your friend.”

Jeannie rolled up onto her knees, kneeling before him, looking at him with sincere blue eyes. “I have been very lonely here. My master, if it is still my master, does not really speak to me. Not the way a master should. And the people that I have met, none of them seem to stay around very long. I do not even have a place to stay other than my bottle, and I have to be very careful where I leave my bottle because if it fell into the wrong hands, then I could end up with a very, very bad master.”

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i_brood
2009-03-27 04:31 pm UTC (link)

The City had allowed people to be randomly killed and then brought them back to life? If Guy had not been a witness to Jeannie’s magic and other strange things in The City, he would have thought she was a bit soft in the head. Even more so than Hood’s simpleton of a manservant with the stupid name. The things Jeannie talked about were only found in children’s stories. And yet, here they were. And those things were very real. Guy was seriously starting to think about going on a retreat in a monastery when he finally returned home. Maybe the monks could help make sense out of everything that he had seen since he arrived here.

“So then, The City itself is your master?” He repeated what he had heard, seeing if he was starting to understand her. “And whoever has a bottle of yours then becomes your master?” That seemed a bit silly to him, but what did he know about genies?

Guy, himself, had experienced a few bad masters in his time as a wandering knight. Vaisey may not be the best man or sheriff in the world, but he did treat Guy better than most. The Sheriff usually turned his anger towards the lower classes and was satisfied with verbally attacking Guy.

“You should keep this bottle in a secured location,” he suggested. “That will keep it out of the hands of any bad people.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You could keep it here if you wish.”

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i_blink
2009-03-29 09:55 pm UTC (link)

Jeannie was, most of the time, a very good genie. Not in the sense that she was powerful, though she was, or that she had good control of her powers, which she did until coming to this place. But in the sense that she knew right from wrong and consistently chose to do the moral thing. Jeannie tried very hard to do that, because she knew how sneaky some of the others were. Her twin sister, for example.

So when the bad thought floated through her mind, she tried to dislodge it with a little shake of her head, even as she answered, “Not just has the bottle. You have to rub it to call me forth.”

But the bad thought would not leave. If the Great Haji knew what she was thinking, oh, she would be in so much trouble. A genie could rebel against their master in subtle ways, such as purposefully misunderstanding a wish and fulfilling it literally. But a genie could not, ever, deliberately give their magic item to another when they were contracted to a master. They could plot and plan for a way to remove their magic item from their current master, so that it might be found by another. But not simply hand it over. It was not done that way.

Yet, here was a very kind man, who had been given some very big surprises today, and he was still being so nice as to offer her a safe place for her bottle. She would very, very, very much like it if he were her master. She wanted it very much. But she did not know how to make that happen without actually giving him her bottle.

Then she had an idea. She pulled her bottle from the pocket in her chalwar that was much like the container itself, larger inside than it appeared from the outside. Standing, she crossed the room, commenting cheerfully, “Thank you very much for letting me keep my bottle here, it is very, very kind of you. It will be nice to know that it is in safe hands.”

Jeannie bent down, placing the bottle on the hearth near the fireplace. A little too near, actually. It would be quite hot there, but she was hoping that her plan would work. “Is that a good place for it? I am uncertain. You see, this is why I need a good master.”

The last word was stressed slightly, and she gave him a look that was at the same time innocent, scheming and pleading. Oh, she hoped he would take the hint! She hoped that he would want to be her master!

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i_brood
2009-04-05 01:36 am UTC (link)

Jeannie looked like she was up to something, but Guy wasn’t sure what it was. She kept looking at him as she was putting her bottle down. As if she was expecting him to do something. Why were women always so blasted cryptic? Couldn’t she just tell him what she wanted? Then he could decide if it was something he wanted to do or not.

He thought he had given her what she needed when he offered her a place to put her bottle. He wasn’t sure exactly what she was implying when she said he had to rub her bottle as well as own it. Then again, he did recall hearing a story among the Saracens about some boy finding a lamp and rubbing it to find a genie that granted him three wishes. Guy smiled thinking about the wishes he would ask for. His lands and titles returned to him, enough wealth to last him and his family forever and Hood to die a slow death. No, not Hood’s death. He would wish for Marian to fall in love with him and then he would invite Hood to their wedding. Their real wedding that would end better than their first attempt.

Three wishes would be fun, but he wasn’t sure if those stories were true or not. He supposed he could ask his friend about them. Jeannie would certainly know if she granted wishes or not. But first, he had to do something about that bottle. The place where she had set it down did not seem like a very safe place. It was too near the fire. If he came in with his sword on, he could accidentally knock it into the flames. And he had promised her a safe place to keep it.

“Not so close to the fire, Jeannie,” he said, picking up the bottle. “We don’t want it damaged. There’s already some soot on it.” Guy wasn’t really thinking about what she had said as he used his sleeve to wipe the soot off of the side of her bottle. “We’ll put it on the shelf above the hearth.” He moved to place the bottle on a higher shelf.

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i_blink
2009-04-05 06:46 pm UTC (link)

For a long, frightening moment, Jeannie thought that perhaps Sir Guy had not understood her hint. And it was a very blatant hint. If she were caught disobeying so badly, she would be in very much trouble. After all, she was very nearly giving her bottle to a new master. Very nearly, but not quite, and that was the important part.

After all, she had not given it to him directly. She had put it on the hearth. Because he had offered her a safe place for her bottle, and she could not think of a safer place than in his possession. If he would only just take it! She held her breath, waiting.

And then he finally understood! Oh, he was very clever, her soon-to-be-master. He was playing along with her game, not showing that he knew he was stealing her away from The City. He was going to move her bottle, and she gave him a knowing grin as he picked it up. One that became a brilliant smile as he thought of a surreptitious way to rub her lamp. Oh yes, he was very smart!

There was a moment of confusion when she realize that her connection to Sir Guy was not as strong as it had been with other masters either, but something very different than it had been with The City. However she could definitely feel him. That meant that he was her new master. And she would serve him well.

With great satisfaction and a good deal of pleasure, Jeannie placed her hands together, palm to palm, and bowed low. “What is thy bidding, my master?”

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