anti-OTP: Karla/Viola

[servantsservant]

Viola sits out on the porch -- on the steps rather than a chair, despite her skirts -- mending a boy's shirt, which has grown worn because its owner is reluctant to replace it and reluctant to give it up. A pair of breeches, a patch pinned in place at the knee, lies waiting for the same treatment

Comments

[glacianbitch]

Karla, bored, is wandering around when she spots somebody sitting on the porch, alone. She grins and strolls over toward her, promptly plopping herself down on the steps beside her. "Kiss kiss," she says genially. "Mending? On a fine day like today?"

[servantsservant]

Viola seems puzzled at the greeting, but she smiles briefly, politely. "The sun will not mend them, and so I must."

[glacianbitch]

"Psh," says Karla brightly. "I'm not exactly the sun, but..." She examines the garments, runs her fingers through spiky hair and then twitches her fingers over the patches. The fabric melts together, though it's a slightly different color. Karla frowns at it, and it obligingly matches itself to the rest of the breeches. "Ah, excellent," she says with a grin, looking back up at Viola. Of course she's showing off. It's her favorite thing to do. Or one of them.

[servantsservant]

Viola examines the breeches curiously, then laughs, delighted. She comes from an era taught to fear anything that might be perceived as witchcraft, but that has never stopped anyone from being pleased where magic seems to be on their side. "O! What charm is this?"

[glacianbitch]

She beams at Viola, stands, and makes a courtly bow. "A simple one," she says, grinning. "And another..." she wiggles her fingers theatrically at the shirt in Viola's hands and the seams flow together and vanish. Beaming, she dusts her hands and continues, "And you have a free day ahead of you."

[servantsservant]

Viola applauds. "And how may I thank you, good sorceress, for my freedom?"

[glacianbitch]

Karla beams. "Well, you can start by calling me Karla, and introducing yourself," she says, "And then you could join me on a walk. I'm looking for some company."

[servantsservant]

"I will, and gladly." She curtsies, ladylike. "Viola, once of Messaline. Now of Illyria."

[glacianbitch]

"Viola, hm? Nice name," she says. "Flowery. Doesn't sound like the kind of name to wear breeches. But I suppose Karla doesn't either. People always expect me to be named...I don't know...something butch, I suppose." She grins and offers her elbow with a small bow. "Shall we?"

[servantsservant]

Viola nods and takes Karla's arm. "'Twas of a need for disguise, to begin."

[glacianbitch]

Karla raises an eyebrow and begins strolling in the general direction of the lake. "What's this? Sounds like an interesting story to me."

[servantsservant]

"The ship upon which I sailed was wreck'd, and I alone in a strange land -- no place for a maid, and so 'twas better that I be a boy."

[glacianbitch]

Karla looks at her with wide eyes. "Oh," she says, "So what sort of place was it, that you couldn't even be female there?" She has an inkling of why, and that inkling gives her voice a harsh edge.

[servantsservant]

"Much like any other." She pauses, corrects herself. "Nay, unlike any other I have seen. Yet no different in that respect. Fearful for a maid left alone by loss."

[glacianbitch]

Karla tilts her head. "Well. It doesn't sound altogether pleasant. But what loss do you mean?"

[servantsservant]

"I was shipwreck'd, and thought my brother dead. Else would I have traveled with him safe in mine own woman's garment."