Blow, blow, thou winter wind

[kateohara]

Wednesday lunchtimeI look out of the window again and bite my lip. The snow is still falling, and I am certain that in the last hour it has begun to get thicker. The wind has picked up, too, and just as I think that the door flies open, a gust of cold air and snow blowing in. The bell rings madly, and I shut the door with effort, making sure that

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[tess_thiess]

I'm sick 'a sittin' here, with just a candle. It got cold and unlike Syl I can't just magic it warm, so I'm just keepin' the stove warm and huddlin' close t'it all bundled up.

But I'd rather be with Kate, waitin' out the storm with her 'n a pot 'v tea. So I pull on a jacket 'n a cloak and blow a spell 'cross a smooth white stone. I tuck it inside a mitten and when I step close t'the General Store it gets warmer. I dunt think I'll get lost, even 'f it's all white, since I just need t'follow the street.

I trudge through the snow, pushin' hard 'gainst the wind and mutterin' a song t'help me through. It ain't like when I took Kate outside in the rain, but it makes the walk easier.

The Store's just a big mass in the storm when I get there, the windows dark 'n the door shut. I pull at it, but the bolt must be shot even 'f I can't hear it rattle over the wind. I bang my fist on it, hopin' she hears me.

[kateohara]

Everyone takes a coffee except for Mr Sagert. He takes Genny's hand very gingerly, and I wonder if perhaps he is wary of carnival folk. Some people are.

There is a thumping noise outside, and at first I think it's the wind battering snow against the wall, but then I realise it sounds like knocking. I unlock the door and open it, and in comes Tess, covered in snow. I shut the door behind her.

"Tess!" I say, catching her hands. "You're freezing," I note, her fingers icy in mine. "Sit down and have some coffee," I add, leading her over to my stool by the counter and giving her the coffee Mr Sagert passed on.

[tess_thiess]

The door opens and I'm near swept inside with the wind, and Kate's pushin' the door closed behind me. "Tess!" I push back my hood and smile at her as she catches at my hands. "Hey, Kate. I figured it'd be nicer here than back at the apartment." She scolds me, but not seriously. "You're freezing - sit down and have some coffee," she orders, takin' me over t'the counter and passin' me a cup 'v coffee.

I shrug my cloak off, since it's a bit damp, but leave my jacket hangin' loose. It's only then that I get a good look 'round. Two gentlemen, one 'a who's that devil Foxton Manqueller. His family's old, sure, but they've always put us off, fer all they've lived here fer ages. I dunt know the other one, though I've seen him 'round town. There's that girl Genny from the carnival, and - damn. "Afternoon, Syl," I say, flashin' a glance at Kate.

[syl_thorn]

"We have not, no," says th'pale fella. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid you have the advantage of me...?"

"Syl Thorn," I says. "Work't th'Carn'val." I says, takin' some sugar from th'jar. "An' you? Where'd you'n Genny run inta each other?" Jes' tryin' t'be polite. Might's well find somethin' t'bloody talk 'bout. Genny starts showin'im 'er sketches...glad t'see she's sketchin' somethin' b'sides Tez, frankly. If'n she wants t'worship'im'at's her nevermind, but't's good t'see'er doin' somethin' for'er.

There's a poundin' on th'door, an' Kate runs t'open't. Figure jes' 'bout tumbles in, all covered'n snow. Don't see who't is 'til Kate cries, "Tess!"

Oh, bloody hell, this jes' keeps jumpin' up th'bloody awkward scale. Looks like Tess has th'same thought. Minute she gets th'snow off'n grabs a coffee, she looks't me, an'en looks't Kate real fast. "Afternoon, Syl," she says.

"Hiya Tess." I says. Feel like addin' I ain't gonna bloody rip yer clothes off 'n jam yer head 'tween m'thighs, so don't bloody look't me like I am. But I

[westin_sagert]

"I suppose that if the weather is often like this, you might be able to get an oilcloth cover for it," I add to Genny. I have gleaned the impression that the travelling show has been here really rather longer than usual, so perhaps she is not used to this kind of weather, although she certainly seems dressed for it.

"Syl Thorn," she says, and "Work't th'Carn'val," and I nod and murmur her name politely, then glance back at Genny.

"We only just met," I say. I think about adding that I believe I have seen her around the lot, but I imagine she might ask why. "How is the Carnaval weathering winter?" is what I say instead, politely.

A rather snowblown woman comes in, and Miss O'Hara is glad to see her; clearly they are friends, although there seems to be a touch of awkwardness between her and Miss Thorn.

[kateohara]

"Hey, Kate. I figured it'd be nicer here than back at the apartment."

I smile at Tess.

"It's certainly warmer, with all the people in here," I say, and then she notices Syl and freezes. I feel a little guilty for being glad that she doesn't look pleased to see Syl.

Genny's talking about her sketching.

"Did you do the Christmas artwork around the carnival?" I say to her. "I saw some on my way there a couple of weeks ago." I suppose I passed some on the way back, too, but I wasn't exactly in the mood to notice it then. "There were some lovely reindeer," I smile. "When I was a girl I saw a travelling show in the winter, and they had a pair of reindeer. Rather sad looking creatures, really, all mangy... But their antlers were lovely." That must have been nearly twenty years ago... It's strange, the things you remember suddenly. "Have you been in the carnival, Mr Sagert, Mr Manqueller?"

[genny_duvall]

"You're quite talented," I say politely. "Have you studied? And I would still count it as a book,"

"Thanks!" I say, grinnin' up at Mr. Sagert. "I studied some, I guess, but mostly I just taught myself. Just seein' what stuff looks like and gettin' it down on paper." I flip through a couple more to show him - some of Momma's horses, some jaguars I drew when I couldn't think 'bout nothin' else...

"I suppose that if the weather is often like this, you might be able to get an oilcloth cover for it,"

"Yeah, guess maybe I'd better. Does it snow much like this 'round here?" I ask, lookin 'back to Miss O'Hara. I put my sketchbook back under my arm and put my hands 'round the coffee cup while I watch Miss O'Hara.

"Did you do the Christmas artwork around the carnival?"

"Yup! I did all of it."

"I saw some on my way there a couple of weeks ago."

Oh heck, please don't say you liked the Santas! Miss O'Hara, you're all kindsa nice, but them Santas were just plain rotten no matter how hard I tried.

"There were some lovely reindeer," I smile

[tess_thiess]

"It's certainly warmer, with all the people in here," Kate says with a smile, and then Syl replies "Hiya Tess." I nod. "You bin keepin' well?"

Mostly they look t'be talkin' 'v Genny's paintin', so I dunt add much, just warm my hands on the coffee and watch Kate.

[syl_thorn]

Genny's chatt'rin' 'way like a bloody magpie, which I 'spose izza good thin'. Kate's bein' nice t'er, anyway, which gives Kate a few extra points'n m'book. Meantime th'pale fella...Westin, 'at's what'e called 'imself...s'tryin' t'make conversation. "How is the Carnaval weathering winter?" 'e asks.

"Well 'nough," I shrug, "few'a th'rides ain't runnin' so well no more...'ey ain't made ferris kinda weather, y'understand. An'a course, we ain't makin's much money's we use'ta, but'at's alright. All'n all, we's doin' okay." Kinda pause, cuzzi ain't sure where t'take'is now. "Where d'you work?"

Kate seems a bit cheerier now't Tess's'ere. Tess mostly keeps'er eyes on'er, kinda glancin't me. "You bin keepin' well?"

"Not too bad," I nod. "Cold's a bitch, but we's gettin' used t'it." Cold's a right bitch. Startin' t'wreck merry hell on m'hands, tell th'truth. "You?"

[westin_sagert]

Genny's life drawings are really quite good (although I don't recall seeing a jaguar at the show. Perhaps those are from memory). "Do you often draw from imagination?" I say thoughtfully. Everything the young lady has shown me... well, they're things I imagine she has drawn from life. Although that was clearly not the case with the reindeer she mentioned, I understand that to have been more purely mercantile work... "I'm not decrying these, please understand; they are quite good. I only wonder." I have always felt that the ability to create that which is not already laid out for one is the hallmark of the true artist.

"Have you been in the carnival, Mr Sagert, Mr Manqueller?"

I take a moment, a barely noticeable one I hope, to ensure my voice is steady. "I have visited," I say calmly. The smell of cigarette ends in mud, the winter dust under the canvas and heavier smokes twining through the air, and the caramel-golden light pouring over it all... A plethora of attenuated, surplus, malformed limbs; an absence of flesh

[mister_foxton]

"Have you been in the carnival, Mr Sagert, Mr Manqueller?"

"I have indeed. A most colourful place. I do believe it's good for the town to have some entertainment in these - difficult times. Which reminds me - "

I turn to Miss O'Hara. "I was speaking with one of our councilmen recently, and I understand there have been representations from some of the young people to have some sort of entertainment venue in town, perhaps municipally financed. A dance hall or similar. As it stands there are few places for particularly the young people to gather in a harmless way - only the drinking establishments, in the evenings. It occurs to me that you're uniquely placed to know the townspeople's opinions on such a venture."

I spare a glance at the two carnival women: "And of course, it would provide a space for the - different elements of our community - to mingle. My family have some unused buildings, still - dilapidated, of course, but they could easily be made respectable - a warehouse or such - "

[kateohara]

The conversation is a little stilted, but that can't be helped, and I'm smiling over Genny's enthusiasm about her drawings. Tess holds her coffee and I glance at her and smile, and I wish that the store had been empty when the snow came up, because it would be nice to spend the afternoon with her...

Then Mr Manqueller is looking at me, and in a roundabout way suggests that he could start running a dance hall. My eyes widen a little, because although he's a perfectly nice gentleman, it was not what I would expect him to want to do. But I smile.

"I think that would be wonderful," I say warmly. "Now town has grown so much, it would be lovely to have a social space, particularly in the winter when the park is not an option. And it would be good for those in town who aren't members of the abbey and so don't attend its events," I say. "I think you'd find a lot of enthusiasm in town for the idea. Do let me know if I can be of any help," I say.

[tess_thiess]

"Cold's a bitch, but we's gettin' used t'it," Syl tells me. "You?"

I nod. "This ain't goin' t'help any," I say. "Did you ever get that water heater workin'?" I ask quiet. "And I'm doin' well, better 'n I was. I worked some things out since I saw you last," I add.

[syl_thorn]

Pale fella says'e's a bookseller. Might'a guessed'at m'self. 'at'r a bloody mortic'an, an'I think Glass handles'at innis town. Meantime, though, th'redheaded fella's talkin' t'Kate, "I was speaking with one of our councilmen recently, and I understand there have been representations from some of the young people to have some sort of entertainment venue in town, perhaps municipally financed. A dance hall or similar. As it stands there are few places for particularly the young people to gather in a harmless way - only the drinking establishments, in the evenings. It occurs to me that you're uniquely placed to know the townspeople's opinions on such a venture." 'e glances't Genny'n me, an'en says, "And of course, it would provide a space for the - different elements of our community - to mingle. My family have some unused buildings, still - dilapidated, of course, but they could easily be made respectable - a warehouse or such - "

I swear, gotta bite m'damn cheek t'keep from sayin', Really? A place where we dirty carnies c'n int'

[westin_sagert]

I raise my eyebrows at Mr. Manqueller's suggestion, although more in appreciation than in any kind of surprise. It makes little difference to me--I suppose I shall move on once this blasted season has cleared out--but it is good to see a gentleman of culture taking an interest in the town. "That's quite generous of you," I observe. "Has your family been in Excolo long, Mr. Manqueller?" I cast an idle glance over my shoulder; Ms. Thorn and Tess are discussing water heaters. Practical concern, I suppose, especially as part of a travelling show.

[mister_foxton]

The woman from the carnival looks disgruntled at my suggestion. I suppose that there must be those who don't wish to mix with the townsfolk, to integrate with our little society here; I imagine that that is why some of them pursue the life they do. And I suppose that manners aren't something much cherished in her line of work - whatever it is - either.

"I think you'd find a lot of enthusiasm in town for the idea. Do let me know if I can be of any help."

I blink at Miss O'Hara, though of course she cannot see it. Does she truly expect me to manage such an enterprise?

"My dear Miss O'Hara," I say, "I think you misunderstand me! Surely you cannot think me suitable for such an endeavour. No, no; I had thought only to offer a suitable venue - I would not know where to begin -"

The young gentleman, the bookseller, looks pleased. "That's quite generous of you. Has your family been in Excolo long?""Oh, not generous at all," I say frankly. "I have no use for the buildiings, and I would sooner they were used for some sensible