I finally got the puppet show banner done and oh heck I like the way it turned out! Somehow I got the shadows just right so the puppets look almost like they're comin' out at you. But it still ain't nearly as good as the one I did yesterday after I came home, late at night, with my blood makin' Tez's snow shimmer and his mountains freeze against that black sky.
Tezcatlipoca. It's the best stuff I ever done...My arm hurts a little where the easel's pushin' against the bandages now, but I don't care 'cause I've got those snowflakes floatin' in my head, can still see 'em in front of me if I think hard enough. And I can still feel Tez's arm 'round me, strong and safe, and the jaguar taking away my tears, standing by me all warm in the cold. If that ain't family I don't know what is
( ... )
I have existed long enough - and dealt with mortals more than long enough - to recognise that tone. It is not the shy uncertainty of a new lover. No; it is tinged with guilt.
Genny is about to tell me, very sadly - she will probably cry - that she has finally made it to bed with Zann. There is a certain absurdity in that this is the second time this has happened to me this week, and had I not made such a concerted effort to make Danika so shy, so soft, so not at all dazzling, I might be offended. But Zann is a pretty pinwheel, and Genny will follow her. I knew that as soon as I saw her. And Zann was fascinated by Kent; and Genny is fascinated by Tezcatlipoca. Their union may serve me well.
I do not indicate that I know any of this. Instead I smile nervously, and fiddle with my bag.
"Hey," I say, as if I have been holding the word in my mouth for days. "Hey, Genny." And I look to my left and right, very carefully, and then dart forward as if I am doing something very daring and kiss her on the lips.
She's smilin' all sweet'n shy like she always does, still pretty watercolor pale in the sunset, still got a dress the wrong color for her and it's weird how that makes me want to pick her up and keep her safe. And makes me want to dig a hole and go away. Oh princess, I don't want to be the dragon...
"Hey. Hey, Genny."
And then - oh heck why'd she have to go and kiss me? It's nice and it's sweet and she's still real pretty, and sure I kiss back, but...oh, it ain't the same. I hope Zann don't see me. I gulp. Can't look Danika all the way in the eye. Oh heck I hope she thinks I'm just bein' shy...
"Hey," I say again, even though we've both said it 'bout twelve times now. "Um. How you been? Is, um, is your ma feelin' okay?"
She kisses me back. How interesting. Genny is not so noble that she will draw back, say her lips belong to another, and all those other worthy songs. Instead she has guilt coiled in her belly. Like a snake.
Guilt can be such a useful device.
"Um. How you been? Is, um, is your ma feelin' okay?"
"I've been good!" I say brightly. "I mean, you know, since." I stop and blush. "Well, I've been thinking about you. So I brought you this." I reach into my bag and bring out a jam jar that has been carefully painted with a floral motif. "I thought you could use it to, you know, keep paint brushes in or something." I smile a bit anxiously at her. "And my ma's okay I guess. Same as usual." My mouth turns down a little at the corner. "But I haven't been so worried about that this week," I say, and give her another hesitant smile.
Comments 24
Tezcatlipoca. It's the best stuff I ever done...My arm hurts a little where the easel's pushin' against the bandages now, but I don't care 'cause I've got those snowflakes floatin' in my head, can still see 'em in front of me if I think hard enough. And I can still feel Tez's arm 'round me, strong and safe, and the jaguar taking away my tears, standing by me all warm in the cold. If that ain't family I don't know what is ( ... )
Reply
I have existed long enough - and dealt with mortals more than long enough - to recognise that tone. It is not the shy uncertainty of a new lover. No; it is tinged with guilt.
Genny is about to tell me, very sadly - she will probably cry - that she has finally made it to bed with Zann. There is a certain absurdity in that this is the second time this has happened to me this week, and had I not made such a concerted effort to make Danika so shy, so soft, so not at all dazzling, I might be offended. But Zann is a pretty pinwheel, and Genny will follow her. I knew that as soon as I saw her. And Zann was fascinated by Kent; and Genny is fascinated by Tezcatlipoca. Their union may serve me well.
I do not indicate that I know any of this. Instead I smile nervously, and fiddle with my bag.
"Hey," I say, as if I have been holding the word in my mouth for days. "Hey, Genny." And I look to my left and right, very carefully, and then dart forward as if I am doing something very daring and kiss her on the lips.
Reply
"Hey. Hey, Genny."
And then - oh heck why'd she have to go and kiss me? It's nice and it's sweet and she's still real pretty, and sure I kiss back, but...oh, it ain't the same. I hope Zann don't see me. I gulp. Can't look Danika all the way in the eye. Oh heck I hope she thinks I'm just bein' shy...
"Hey," I say again, even though we've both said it 'bout twelve times now. "Um. How you been? Is, um, is your ma feelin' okay?"
Reply
Guilt can be such a useful device.
"Um. How you been? Is, um, is your ma feelin' okay?"
"I've been good!" I say brightly. "I mean, you know, since." I stop and blush. "Well, I've been thinking about you. So I brought you this." I reach into my bag and bring out a jam jar that has been carefully painted with a floral motif. "I thought you could use it to, you know, keep paint brushes in or something." I smile a bit anxiously at her. "And my ma's okay I guess. Same as usual." My mouth turns down a little at the corner. "But I haven't been so worried about that this week," I say, and give her another hesitant smile.
Reply
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