Post by The Librarian on Sept 2, 2011 6:06:50 GMT -8
Nyx took Ian’s hand and they headed to Phaen’s manor, if Mei were anywhere that was the place to start looking. Mei was usually in a dark place, under the stairs or Phaen’s bed. Quiet places were few ventured. Nyx trudged through the snow up to her calves her black leathers tucked into her fur boots to keep her dry; Ian in tow dressed in similar tones, her left hand firmly grasping his middle fingers, the other holding tight to a pair of big girl earrings he just gave her. Nyx’s desires firmly established she was not going to sleep tonight without wearing Ian’s gift. Mei was the only person they knew who practiced body piercing and tattooing, Nyx would find her and get her to pierce her ears to wear the earrings. Nyx and Ian entered the kitchen, working through the first floor looking in the shadows for Mei. Mounting the stairs they searched the library then headed for Phaen’s bedroom. Before leaving for Arcadia, Phaen had made changes to the wards on her chambers, allowing for Nyx to enter them freely as Mei, Ian and Mason Grey could. The last place to look was under Phaen’s bed, Nyx was determined to find her friend and wear her new earrings.
Nyx opened the door and called out to Mei, with nothing returned she headed to the bedroom and slid the panel aside. Nyx knew Mei was there, she could smell the herbs and the green tea with the lingering aroma of sushi that was a bit older than it should have been to be consumed. Lifting the bed skirt Nyx peered underneath and saw the black eyes of her friend staring back. “I need you”, Nyx said holding up the edge of the bed skirt. Mei slinked out from under the bed into the half-lit room; smoothing out her black silk kimono she looked down at her little charge and whispered, “Oh? What could possibly have you out and about while the moon is risen?” Nyx took Mei hand and pulled her into the sitting room where Ian waited sitting by the hearth. “I got a present, and I need your help to wear it.” Mei looked to Ian then back to Nyx as the childling climbed into his lap then held up her precious gift. Two tiny earrings, little black stones mirrored silver like moonlight on a still pond, dangling from silver filigree attached to a post to hold them into her ears. Delicate little earrings for what was becoming a most precocious five year old.
Mei knelt down close so both Ian and Nyx could hear her. “If you are going to display those from your ears we are going to have to change how you wear your hair.” Nyx reached to her hair it being parted down the middle and plaited to the sides covering her ears except for the points of which stuck out from her hair. Nyx looked to Mei who smiled softly and stood to fetch some things from Phaen’s room. Returning Mei had a small cherry wood box intricately carved with tiny silver hinges and latch. Mei also carried a horse hair brush from Phaen’s vanity, its ivory handle trimmed in silver one of the first luxuries Phaen purchased for herself.
Mei knelt down beside the hearth placing two copper shillings near the fire to warm, moving beside Nyx, turning her sideways in Ian’s lap, Ian’s hands resting on her back and knees as Mei untied her plaits and gently brushed her hair free. Soft fine fiery red strands of hair clung to Mei’s fingers. Starting at the crown of Nyx’s head, Mei divided the hair into five strands slowly carefully plaiting the herringbone design she often did for Phaen down the back of the childlings head. Nyx’s hair was long having never been cut it reach to the middle of her back, now in a single plait her long slender Sidhe ears were clearly visible now out from under her hair. Mei tied off the plait with a small black leather thong and bound it with a bit of silver wire.
Mei opened the small box and took from it a vial of clear liquid and a small bit of spun cotton. Opening the vial the subtle scent of witch hazel rose from it, Mei moistened the cotton and wiped Nyx's earlobes with it. Nyx sat patiently, smiling with a soft glow on her face, her sapphire eyes glimmering with pride in her new treasure. Taking a shilling from the hearth Mei tested the temperature; placing it behind Nyx's ear to warm the skin. Taking an inked quill Mei marked a spot on each earlobe to make the hole for the earrings to hang from so they would be balanced. Drawing a needle from her cherry wood box, Mei began to hum, her tune drawing Nyx's attention an aura of silver glamour forming on Mei's fingers. In a quick movement Mei dropped the shilling and passed the needle through Nyx's earlobe, healing the piercing as she spun the needle on its path. Nyx winced, blinking a bit in the moment of pain, then smiled as she passed the first earing to Mei. Mei fastened the earing in place then turned Nyx to repeat the the piercing on the other side. In a matter of minutes the young girl seemed to mature before Mei's eyes.
Mei held up a mirror for Nyx to see her new earrings in her ears, the sluagh was almost knocked over by her broad smile. Nyx threw her arms first around Mei kissing her cheek then turned and did the same to Ian thanking him excitedly for the gift. Nyx turned her head from side to side letting the small stones swing gently as a deep yawn escaped her small frame. “Past your bed time?” Mei asked in a whisper, “NO!” Nyx, responded, “time for a story about Trouble,” she finished reaching up to Ian. Ian picked her up, holding her to him; nodding to Mei he began as he headed out the door, “it all started with a goat, a top hat and a girl named Trouble...”
Nyx opened the door and called out to Mei, with nothing returned she headed to the bedroom and slid the panel aside. Nyx knew Mei was there, she could smell the herbs and the green tea with the lingering aroma of sushi that was a bit older than it should have been to be consumed. Lifting the bed skirt Nyx peered underneath and saw the black eyes of her friend staring back. “I need you”, Nyx said holding up the edge of the bed skirt. Mei slinked out from under the bed into the half-lit room; smoothing out her black silk kimono she looked down at her little charge and whispered, “Oh? What could possibly have you out and about while the moon is risen?” Nyx took Mei hand and pulled her into the sitting room where Ian waited sitting by the hearth. “I got a present, and I need your help to wear it.” Mei looked to Ian then back to Nyx as the childling climbed into his lap then held up her precious gift. Two tiny earrings, little black stones mirrored silver like moonlight on a still pond, dangling from silver filigree attached to a post to hold them into her ears. Delicate little earrings for what was becoming a most precocious five year old.
Mei knelt down close so both Ian and Nyx could hear her. “If you are going to display those from your ears we are going to have to change how you wear your hair.” Nyx reached to her hair it being parted down the middle and plaited to the sides covering her ears except for the points of which stuck out from her hair. Nyx looked to Mei who smiled softly and stood to fetch some things from Phaen’s room. Returning Mei had a small cherry wood box intricately carved with tiny silver hinges and latch. Mei also carried a horse hair brush from Phaen’s vanity, its ivory handle trimmed in silver one of the first luxuries Phaen purchased for herself.
Mei knelt down beside the hearth placing two copper shillings near the fire to warm, moving beside Nyx, turning her sideways in Ian’s lap, Ian’s hands resting on her back and knees as Mei untied her plaits and gently brushed her hair free. Soft fine fiery red strands of hair clung to Mei’s fingers. Starting at the crown of Nyx’s head, Mei divided the hair into five strands slowly carefully plaiting the herringbone design she often did for Phaen down the back of the childlings head. Nyx’s hair was long having never been cut it reach to the middle of her back, now in a single plait her long slender Sidhe ears were clearly visible now out from under her hair. Mei tied off the plait with a small black leather thong and bound it with a bit of silver wire.
Mei opened the small box and took from it a vial of clear liquid and a small bit of spun cotton. Opening the vial the subtle scent of witch hazel rose from it, Mei moistened the cotton and wiped Nyx's earlobes with it. Nyx sat patiently, smiling with a soft glow on her face, her sapphire eyes glimmering with pride in her new treasure. Taking a shilling from the hearth Mei tested the temperature; placing it behind Nyx's ear to warm the skin. Taking an inked quill Mei marked a spot on each earlobe to make the hole for the earrings to hang from so they would be balanced. Drawing a needle from her cherry wood box, Mei began to hum, her tune drawing Nyx's attention an aura of silver glamour forming on Mei's fingers. In a quick movement Mei dropped the shilling and passed the needle through Nyx's earlobe, healing the piercing as she spun the needle on its path. Nyx winced, blinking a bit in the moment of pain, then smiled as she passed the first earing to Mei. Mei fastened the earing in place then turned Nyx to repeat the the piercing on the other side. In a matter of minutes the young girl seemed to mature before Mei's eyes.
Mei held up a mirror for Nyx to see her new earrings in her ears, the sluagh was almost knocked over by her broad smile. Nyx threw her arms first around Mei kissing her cheek then turned and did the same to Ian thanking him excitedly for the gift. Nyx turned her head from side to side letting the small stones swing gently as a deep yawn escaped her small frame. “Past your bed time?” Mei asked in a whisper, “NO!” Nyx, responded, “time for a story about Trouble,” she finished reaching up to Ian. Ian picked her up, holding her to him; nodding to Mei he began as he headed out the door, “it all started with a goat, a top hat and a girl named Trouble...”