Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

[capuletnomore]

Characters: capuletnomore and babblewitch
When: Sunday morning, 10am
Where: Casa de Capulet at first, then off to the Naming Tree
Rating: PG? I'm bad at ratings
Summary: Female bonding over absent friends

Comments

[capuletnomore]

While Willow stood gazing at the tree, Juliet opened her bag and withdrew her knife, eyes scanning for a good spot at which to carve.

"It is good a monument such as this exists, though," she said after a few moments. "It reminds us of those whom we love and whom we have befriended. It is a living tribute to them, is it not?"

Finding a spot that she thought large enough to hold Lord Duroc's full name, she set the tip of her knife into the bark and began to carve. Fortunately, she could remember the proper spelling for both his name and his lady's, thanks to the handwritten dinner invitation Lady Duroc had sent months before - before the rains had come.

[capuletnomore]

It was difficult to carve all of the curved letters, as she had discovered last time, but with patience, she managed to inscribe Lord Duroc's name in handwriting she hoped he would find suitable, should he ever return to see it. She turned and offered the knife to Willow.

"Before I carve Lady Duroc's name, you should add your friend to the tree as well."

[capuletnomore]

Juliet read the name, attempting to place it. She had not spoken with anyone by the name of Ren, she was certain. And that bothered her. The city was small enough that she should know the people who inhabited it.

"Would you tell me a little of your friend?" she asked.

[capuletnomore]

"An actress? How exciting! Was she to be a traveling player, or did she the Revue she wished to join have a patron?" She smiled at the idea. Yet another woman who was going out into the world to do what she dreamed. It was a happy thought. "I am certain she is. If that is what she wished, then surely she shall."

She held out her hand almost reluctantly, but there was still one more name to carve. "If I may, Willow? Lady Duroc's name must join her husband's on the tree. And -" She paused, eyes going wide. How could she have forgotten? "And Jean Philippe's as well."

[capuletnomore]

The word was unfamiliar to her, but Juliet nodded anyway. "To have such a passion for anything is always good. It means that one can follow their heart and be fulfilled."

She took the knife and began on Lady Duroc's name, concentrating carefully, lest she spell it wrong. 'Mireille' was a difficult name to remember. There were more letters than she would have thought within it. "I hope that Jean Philippe may still be born at home. Lady Duroc was so excited about their son's birth." As Juliet herself had been. "Perhaps he will return to us one day, grown, or nearly grown, and surprise us all."

Between and just below the names of her dear friends, she set about carving the child's name. He, too, would be remembered. She would make certain of it.

[capuletnomore]

Juliet smiled sadly. "It is most certainly not safe for a baby here, but the child would have brightened everyone's lives so much."

She didn't bother to correct Willow. It was better to think of things that way, than to think on the realities of the situation. She did not like to think the Animus had forced a miscarriage by sending Lady Duroc home.

"There were children here, before," she said as she continued to carve. "Miss Alice, who had just turned eight, I believe, and my darling Bubbles, who was five." She looked up at the name she'd carved only a few weeks ago and smiled fondly. "I think they would have enjoyed meeting Jean Philippe, had they the chance."

[capuletnomore]

She nodded. "They have gone now, sadly. Miss Alice disappeared several months ago. Her caretaker, Horst, was most upset." She sighed. "He is gone now, too. And Bubbles - Bubbles disappeared during the week when we were not ourselves. Tybalt made the discovery. He was heartbroken. He had come to care for her very deeply."