Open (but especially for the Rose)

[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki is sitting below a tree, picturesque and surrounded by wildflowers; she might have plucked them and torn idly at their petals, once, but now she knows a flower and loves her, and that keeps her from tearing at petals. Instead, she is only unbraiding her hair and letting it flow loose over her shoulders, combing it with her fingers and

Comments

[herfourthorns]

And here is her flower, walking amongst the trees, practicing being slow and elegant and pretending the heat doesn't make her human body sweat -- she would like to run and dance in the sunlight, but it's her pride, her pride --

[false_kyllikki]

And we hope her pride won't be squashed entirely when Kyllikki catches sight of her, and scurries over to her to pounce her and snuggle her--

[herfourthorns]

Ack! Just for that, she'll have to pretend to take offense, but it's surprise and embarrassment, nothing more. "Calm yourself -- I understand how eager you must be to even be beside me but you mustn't rush at me like a beast -- !"

[false_kyllikki]

"Oh--! I am sorry," she laughs, kissing the Rose's cheek. "It is only that I am so glad today."

[herfourthorns]

"I'll forgive it." She's very magnanimous, you see (and she's gone as pink as a cherry tree's petals). "But what's made you so glad?"

[false_kyllikki]

Softly, like giving a shy and secret gift, "I think a man is in love with me--"

[herfourthorns]

Immediately suspicious, "Oh?"

[false_kyllikki]

"He danced with me, and called me his darling," she says, catching the Rose's hands.

[herfourthorns]

She makes a face. "He must have been a very foolish-looking man."

[false_kyllikki]

"A little," she giggles. "But so sweet, and so earnest ... he kissed my hand and said that he would cherish me forever."

[herfourthorns]

"Foolish, foolish! Why, anyone can do that!"

[false_kyllikki]

"But he sounded as though he meant it."

[herfourthorns]

"Oh, I'm sure he did. You're very beautiful, for a woman who isn't a flower ..." She looks a little abashed, at having exclaimed so. "But you'll tell him it's hopeless, when you're through being praised."

[false_kyllikki]

"Why?" She goes a little red. "He would be a good husband, I think ... he would like it when I danced, and help me at my work, and he would have beautiful children ..."

[herfourthorns]

"Oh! But who cares for all that!" She's exclaiming again.

[false_kyllikki]

"What else should I care for?" She runs her fingers over the Rose's palms, brows creasing--slowly remembering the conversation they had had, just after she was a man.