a room full of diamonds

Who: Elle and Alyson
Where: Hill Street Theatre
When: Morning

Getting to the theatre had been an undertaking.Elle had found that her umbrella had only offered limited protection as there were a couple of unfortunate occasions where it had turned inside out. Her attempts to wrestle it back into shape hadn’t been helped by fighting against the wind and worrying about being late. A little voice in the back of her mind told her that she should have called it quits and taken a cab. It would have been the more sensible choice. Enticed by the look of the sky and the heavy sound of the rain, she had decided she wanted to walk. Something about the intensity of it appealed.

But now she was within the walls of the building. Only to find that the number of theatre staff was sparser than usual as some had decided that it wasn’t worth venturing out on a day like this. While she couldn’t entirely blame them, Elle blew a bedraggled strand of hair out of her face in a sigh. She went and perched herself on the edge of the stage, awaiting instructions for what needed doing.

“Elle!”

She turned toward the sound of her name to find Viv, one of the costume makers. The woman had what looked like a dress and a length of lace over one arm and a sewing box in the other. Viv’s expression turned from harried to a pleasant smile. Although her eyes were a little too wide. Feeling apprehensive about whatever was about to come, Elle just smiled back.

“Ah, dear, you’re just the person I was looking for. One of my girls has let me down, says she can’t possibly come across town because of the rain, and this nightgown needs to be finished. I assume you can sew?”

Viv’s speech was quick, making it all sound like one long sentence. It took Elle a moment to register then she nodded eagerly. It wasn’t much, but it was being able to do something with the costumes. A step in the right direction.

The costume and equipment was practically dumped down beside her. Viv told her she was a good girl as the woman scurried away to attend to something else. Rather pleased by the turn of events, Elle diligently set to work on the task she’d been given.

It was a miserable day and any reasonable person would have stayed inside. Alyson was anything but reasonable. She had left Rabbit the Second behind for once (he had begged not to go, actually, saying that once out in the day’s hideous weather was enough, and because he had looked so sleepy, she had given in and allowed him an afternoon of peace). She wasn’t alone, though -- she had her umbrella, who she had been trying to converse with while out on the street. The wind saw to it that she could have no such conversation, which led to her taking some time to scold the wind.

She hadn’t intended to end up at the theater, but once she recognized where she was, she accepted that it was time to find some shelter. Besides, the theater always would be one of her favorite places. There was something serene about it. It was the one place where everyone else would suspend their disbelief and accept a preposterous story if it were delivered to them. Plays, and fiction in general, were far more suited to Alyson’s taste than reality.

Once inside, she closed her umbrella and apologized profusely for her earlier foul language with the wind (and the interruption in general). After heading towards the stage, she saw Elle and meandered over and climbed up onto the stage to sit beside her. “You’re sewing?” It was a question with an obvious answer, but Elle couldn’t verbally speak (at times, this led to Alyson imagining she heard Elle speak).

This was another pleasant surprise. Maybe it was compensation for the weather. Elle beamed at Alyson, happy to see the other girl. She was one of the most interesting people Elle knew and brightened up the theatre with her visits. Holding up the garment she was working on so Alyson could see, she nodded. Before she reached for her notebook, Elle cautiously peered over in the direction Viv had hurried away in, making sure she was out of the way of prying eyes. Satisfied that her impromptu break would go unnoticed she wrote, It’s lovely to see you! How are you?

“I’m just peachy,” Alyson responded, a smile of her own gracing her lips, “only not fuzzy. Nor round. Nor peach-colored.” Well, now the expression was making no sense at all. “I’m well. How are you?” She ran her fingers briefly over the fabric, careful not to undo any progress Elle had made.

But you are sweet, Elle pointed out with a small but bright smile. I’m good, thank you. Elle thought she was, anyway. At this particular moment she was. That was the best way to think of it. Watching Alyson, head tilted slightly to one side, she asked, What do you think of it? Do you think it looks okay? She wasn’t so sure herself. Of course she wanted to believe that she was doing a good job but at least any critique would come before she’d finished the work and would need to start all over again.

Alyson further examined the fabric before giving an enthusiastic nod. “It looks good to me,” she answered, letting Elle take it back. “Do you know what play they’re preparing for?” Alyson would inevitably go, most likely on opening night. She hadn’t missed a show in the theater yet, and hoped to keep it that way.

That was enough validation for Elle, so she smiled widely, gratefully. Though Elle couldn’t resist scrutinising her own handiwork herself. It appeared to be neat enough to her. Nodding, she wrote back to Alyson, Peter Pan. I think it’s going to be really good. Her opinion may not have been the most reliable as she was a biased judge. She always thought the shows were wonderful. Being taken out of herself and into another world was wonderful. Do you like that story? she asked, curious of Alyson’s take on it.

“I do,” Alyson chirped. She was much the same as Elle in that department, enjoying anything that took her elsewhere than Eidolon City. “I’ve always wished I had the opportunity to visit Neverland.” The idea of never growing up was immensely appealing to Alyson. Wisdom came with age, perhaps, but she was more than fine with not being wise.

Elle nodded in agreement. Neverland definitely had aspects that she found alluring too. Naturally, she didn’t point out the fact that it wasn’t a real place that one could be whisked away to. It wasn’t necessary and, for all anyone knew, there could be some magical land out there. Not probable, most likely, but perhaps possible. Although there was a way she could Alyson there. Sort of.

Setting her project carefully down on the stage, Elle got to her feet and gestured for Alyson to follow her. It wouldn’t hurt to be gone for five minutes. Quietly, Elle led her to the area adjacent the stage where the scenery was being kept. Wandering through the tall scenery flats that depicted various locations, she gave an excited wave when she found what she was looking for. The Neverland scenery. She flashed Alyson a smile and gestured as if to say ‘here we are’.

It seemed to delight Alyson to be surrounded by such a mystical ‘land’, and she went around, examining each flat. “They’re very well done,” she finally commented. “I almost feel like I’m there.” She turned around to smile at Elle and added, “I think I’d be more at home in Neverland than I am here. I’m much more suited to fighting pirates rather than being a bored, little girl.”

Alyson was no longer ‘little’ at seventeen, but the idea of no longer being a child had never settled in her mind. As far as she was concerned, she really would never grow up, Neverland or not.

Elle had to smile, for she could well imagine Alyson brandishing a sword to beat off scurvy sea-dogs. Or as a Redskin princess, or a charming mermaid. It was quite easy to imagine Alyson in a range of fantastical situations. The girl had that sort of quality to her. Surely you’re not always bored here? she asked, slightly troubled by the idea. While the city may not have been as exciting as the ones in stories, it had its moments. I mean, I imagine your rabbit alone would make things rather interesting most days.

Any mention of Rabbit the Second made Alyson smile. “Sir Rabbit,” she corrected. “He was knighted by the Queen herself just last week.” It was obvious that Alyson fully believed in her tale, as she went on to explain how, since they’d been unable to travel to England, the Queen had visited them in Eidolon City. It was all very hush-hush, as she hadn’t wanted to be ambushed, so it hadn’t been mentioned in the news.

“But I suppose that’s true,” she said at last, back to the original topic of the city. “It can be interesting, you just have to dig for it. I don’t much like digging. Your hands get all grimy, and no amount of washing them does the trick.”

Elle nodded along in all the right places as Alyson recounted the story. If Alyson wanted to believe that, she couldn’t see what harm it would do. Contradicting and questioning Alyson would probably cause more harm. Even though the rabbit wasn’t there, she did a curtsy in his honor anyway. You’ll have to give him my congratulations. Did you have a party for him? Or would that have generated too much attention?

Frowning a little, Elle couldn’t help wondering if the choice of words was intended to be a metaphor or simply colourful. You could try using a spade. Her frown turned on herself as she looked at her own words, finding them clumsy. She went to scribble them out but changed her mind. But your hands look perfectly fine to me. Maybe the digging isn’t so muddy after all?

“I’ll be sure to,” Alyson replied with a smile, all too glad to tell Rabbit that he’d impressed Elle (Rabbit the Second, after all, was quite fond of impressing women, Elle included). “There’s been no party, but perhaps I’ll run the idea by him. We’re long due for a celebration of some sort.” She wondered if she could persuade her family to throw a party in her knighted rabbits honor, but she doubted it. If anything, she would have to have the party on her own -- perhaps in the park?

“A spade.” Alyson nodded and despite knowing what Elle meant -- a shovel, of course -- she replied with her usual nonsense. “I prefer to use my heart, in a room filled with diamonds, with a field of clovers for Rabbit the Second.”

Putting a finger to her lips, Elle’s eyes went skyward in an expression of deep contemplation. Someone should get a cake for him. A carrot cake, naturally. You can’t have a celebration without a cake. Maybe it could have a little rabbit on top. The thoughtful look was swapped for a smile. For a moment she tried to convince herself that she was going along with Alyson’s stories for Alyson’s sake and not because she really quite liked to. She wanted to think of herself as more mature than that (even if, deep down, she knew she wasn’t).

I like the sound of a room full of diamonds. It would be beautiful. Somewhere that’s always bright and sparkling. Somewhere unlike the world around them often was. After a second’s pause she added, And a field of clovers would be wonderfully green so I like that too. If Alyson was indeed spouting nonsense, Elle didn’t take it as being so.

“You know,” Alyson began, clearly delighted to converse with someone who wasn’t talking down to her, “Rabbit the Second often tells me that the link to carrots is speciest, but then turns around and gobbles them up left and right. I think he just likes to complain.” It made sense, she thought, given that most of the words out of Rabbit’s mouth were complaints -- he must find some enjoyment in it.

To Elle, she promised, “One day, we’ll find a room of diamonds.” They both deserved as much, she thought, having lived in a place like Eidolon City for so long.

Maybe he doesn’t want to be classed with all the other rabbits and so wants to find a way to make himself different. Although he’s already special, if you ask me. Pursing her lips, she put, But as you say, he could just like complaining. She didn’t mention it but the thought of an irritable rabbit struck her as amusing, given how cute his exterior was.

Head tilted to one side, Elle looked at her questioningly. How do you think we can find one? It wasn’t merely to humor Alyson, she was genuinely interested in the answer. As if Alyson had some insight into the workings of the world that she didn’t. Her gaze flicked briefly down to the floor. But if we found somewhere like that, I’m not sure I’d want to leave. I suppose that’s the danger of beautiful things - you might not want to give them up.

“He is special,” Alyson agreed wholeheartedly, “whether he likes carrots or not. He knows, too, and likes to remind me.” He’d be jealous that she got to speak to Elle and he didn’t, but that was a fight that Alyson would just have to deal with. It would have be a hilarious ‘fight’, were it true that Rabbit the Second could speak, given Alyson’s physique and just how small the rabbit really was.

She gave this question careful consideration. How could they find a room full of diamonds? “Well, one must exist,” she mused, “because there is one of everything somewhere, and if this is the case, then...” She trailed off, thinking of how perhaps coming a cat burglar would solve the problem. They seemed to know where all treasures were, from instinct, Alyson assumed.

Make sure you give him a big hug and a pat from me, Elle replied with a grin, playfully implying that she was on Rabbit’s side. As the smile naturally faded away, a more thoughtful look replaced it. Is he quite easy to look after? she asked. The idea of a pet was one she had sometimes entertained. While she had plenty of plants, and loved her plants, they weren’t exactly the best company. Perhaps a pet would be.

Nodding along with Alyson’s logic, Elle gave her arm a gentle squeeze. I’ll be sure to be on the lookout. Perhaps I haven’t been paying enough attention to find one. A small sliver of doubt about encouraging Alyson’s ideas too much crept in. Her father’s brand of logic. So she smiled reassuringly and decided that she would find something, somehow.

“I will!” Alyson promised. It was for this reason that Rabbit the Second had a deep affection for Elle, more so than a lot of Alyson’s friends (although he was quite the playboy and would flirt with reckless abandon).

She gave Elle’s question careful consideration. “Rabbit the Second is a troublemaker,” she explained, although it was of course only in her head, “but Rabbit the First was much easier. He was lazy. Fat and lazy, he sat around a lot, and he had no problems with carrots.” She smiled, “Are you wanting a rabbit?”

Alyson gave a nod, jumping to their second topic. “I’ll be on the lookout, too,” she told Elle, “and if I find a room of diamonds, you’ll be the only person I share it with.” A room of diamonds could most likely cause a lot of trouble, and she wouldn’t be able to tell just anyone about the discovery.

Entertaining Alyson’s ideas were something that people either did wholeheartedly or didn’t do at all. When people regarded her like she was crazy, she simply didn’t understand (and depending on just how adamant they were, Alyson would write them off as rude). She enjoyed the people that ran with things, even if she could, on her better days, see that she herself was off to some degree.

I’ve been thinking about getting a pet of some kind, but I’m not too sure what. Something friendly and furry. That was about the extent of Elle’s criteria. She didn’t fancy a bird or fish or anything like that. She wanted something she could pet and sit with. I haven’t had one before and I thought it would be nice. It would make the apartment more lively. And be something to come home to.

Touched by the sentiment, Elle gave her a warm smile. Me too. I don’t think I’d want just anyone knowing about it. It would have to be someone trustworthy who has a good heart. She finished with a nod to make it crystal clear that she considered Alyson as someone who had both those qualities.

The compliment was one Alyson could appreciate, and with a nod of her own head, she showed that she believe Elle also had both of those qualities. There were more pressing matters to attend to now, though, such as what pet would be best for the girl.

“Well, I’m partial to rabbits,” Alyson confessed, as though it were some big secret, “but I’ve heard rats make nice pets. They’re also riddled with diseases, but at least they’re easy to entertain. I have a book of riddles, in fact, if you do so decide to get a rat.”

That was one animal Elle hadn’t considered, and the look on her face said as much. To try and pass it off as merely a suggestion she hadn’t thought of rather than one that didn’t strike her as that appealing she wrote, I think I’d be worried that the poor rat would feel too sick too much of the time to really enjoy the riddles. Or that he or she might get whisked away by a nefarious cat. Hopefully that was a relatively diplomatic answer. Perhaps I could adopt one and teach them to kinder to rats and mice.

Most people didn’t much like rats, which Alyson tried to understand. They had creepy, beady little eyes and looked like villains, most of the time. “A cat would be nice,” she agreed. “They’re horrendously lazy. My parents have a cat, and she prefers to sunbathe rather than to talk.” She wrinkled her nose. “I pity her, as there’s never any sun here. Rabbit and I drew her a sun once. It’s hanging on the window.”

Elle could cope with lazy. She quite liked the thought of a lap cat that would be perfectly happy sitting with her and being fussed. That was very sweet of you, she commented. I’m sure she appreciates it. And if I do get one, I’ll be sure to hang a sun in my window too. I have a lot of plants so it would make it rather outdoorsy for them, no matter what the weather.

“You should get the kind with stripes, then,” Alyson suggested, “and she (or he, I suppose it’s rude to assume) could pretend to be a tiger. Or an all black cat, like a panther. As a cat, I would quite enjoy slinking through your plants and pretending that I was in the jungle.” It sounded like something Alyson would enjoy doing, even if she wasn’t a cat.

The smile on Elle’s face showed that she was clearly impressed and delighted by the idea. I think that may have settled it, she wrote with a definite kind of nod. I could hide little treat in amongst them. I’m sure he or she would enjoy that. That and it would be fun for Elle to watch. Already she was building up a picture of the endearing little character that she wanted to find. You’ll have to come and visit, of course.

“Of course!” Alyson agreed, quite delighted with Elle’s idea. It was one she would have to steal for Rabbit. He enjoyed quests, and if he knew there was a reward at the end, he’d undoubtedly be thrilled. “We should pick out the cat together. Perhaps even Rabbit the Second could come along.”

With a bright smile, Elle nodded. You can tell me which ones sound friendly. There might be ones that look cute but I’ll need you to tell me what they say. In case they’re not cute on the inside. And make sure that they get along well with Rabbit the Second, of course. She wasn’t sure how well a cat would get along with a rabbit but she supposed if she got a kitten, it would learn to tolerate the rabbit rather than view it as a potential meal.

“You’re right,” Alyson agreed. She knew people didn’t hear the same things she did, and while she couldn’t understand why, she knew her skills would be valuable to someone doing something such as picking out a pet. “Although, Rabbit the Second is quite difficult to get along with. He’s a snob.” She said it, sounding quite offended by the idea that she had raised such a snob. “I love him dearly nonetheless, but it will take a special sort of cat.” She smiled at Elle. “We’ll find one, though. The perfect one. I’ve already made her up in my mind.”

She gave Alyson a sympathetic look. You can only do so much, and he’s certainly had a good start in life. Perhaps he was born to be a snob. Elle managed to suppress the urge to break into a grin in case Alyson thought she was mocking her. Really she was amused by the way they were discussing such matters, as if they were a pair of mothers lamenting about the shortcomings of their offspring.

Nodding, Elle flipped to a fresh page at the back of the notebook. What sort of cat are we going to search for? she asked, still poised with the pen in order to write down the particular traits and qualities that the cat Alyson had dreamed up possessed.

Rabbit the Second chided Alyson often because she was so motherly to him. She would insist they were equals (a fact alone that many people took to prove that she was nuts), but he got so incredibly fed up with her. If she truly believed they were equal, she wouldn’t ‘coo’ over him so often and treat him as thought he were adorable. (Really, he was simply offended at the idea of being adorable, but Alyson told him he couldn’t change the fact that he was. Embrace it, she’d tell him, but he refused.)

“Well, a polite cat,” she began, “a quiet girl with a wild streak. Imaginative, we’d want her to be imaginative, so she would properly appreciate the Jungle.” The ‘jungle’ was officially what Alyson would refer to Elle’s home as.

Numbering each one and jotting them down as bullet points, Elle carefully transcribed what Alyson said. The list would be safe in the back of the notebook, where it wouldn’t get mixed in with every day conversations and lost. The description fitted with her own ideas about what she was looking for, and she also added the details about a striped or black cat mentioned earlier.

Now she couldn’t stop herself from grinning. She supposed her place did resemble a jungle. What had started out as a few plants to cheer the place up had turned into quite the collection. There was something about being surrounded by the beauty of nature that soothed her, and the beauty of nature wasn’t exactly abundant in the city.

Alyson watched Elle scribble the words into the back of her notebook. It was one thing she had always liked about Elle; the idea of being able to keep all of the conversations she had -- even if it was only her half -- appealed to her, and she’d tried once to do the same thing. She’d, unfortunately, misplaced the notebook and had never tried to chronicle her conversations again.

“You’ll have to finish hemming this dress first, won’t you?” she questioned. Now, she was anxious to start their search, and Alyson had never been particularly good at being patient.

All of Elle’s notebooks had been carefully saved and catalogued in chronological order. It might have been strange, and she had accumulated a number of them, but she couldn’t bring herself to simply throw the books away once they were filled. Not only did she enjoy reading back on conversations, remembering people she’d met and experience she’d had, but it served as a record that she still had a voice. A concrete reminder for her own comfort.

Letting out a gentle sigh, she nodded. Back to the more boring world of obligation and responsibility. While she did want to impress Viv and convince the woman of her merit when it came to costumes, the task had lost some of its appeal. You know what they say, all good things in time. We’ll have to make time soon, she wrote, nodding to show that it was a promise and not a brush off.

Alyson gave Elle a warm smile and offered, “I can wait around until you’re done working.” She lived a rather uneventful life, she thought, and was able to do what she wanted when she wanted. Of course, she had her own ‘job’, the on-the-downlow job the Walkers had given her, but it wasn’t the sort of occupation that got in the way of a social life. In fact, if one counted talking to bodies as socializing, it actually increased Alyson’s ten fold.

Are you sure you want to wait? I don’t want to keep you from anything. It probably wouldn’t be the most exciting way for Alyson to spend her time. Though Elle had to admit that the idea of company was a pleasant one. Not that I’m saying you should go, of course, she quickly added. Setting the notebook down for the moment, she resumed working, trying to be quick but careful about it. After all, the ability to sew at a reasonable pace would be a good skill to learn. It was practical. That was what she told herself, anyway.

“I haven’t got anything to do,” Alyson told her, fiddling with the fabric of her own skirt, examining it and mentally comparing the two. There was such skill involved in sewing, and she’d always wished it was something she could master. Unfortunately, she lacked the patience to even know where to begin. Watching Elle sew may not be the most riveting thing to do, but it would be fun in its own way and if nothing else, she’d be with a good friend.

“I wish I could act,” she spoke up, seemingly out of the blue, though the comment had come from studying the stage. “To be anyone I wanted to be. Sometimes, I get bored being just Alyson. Do you ever get bored of being Elle?” Quickly, she added, “Not that I find Elle boring at all, of course, I just wonder. People spend so much times being them, and only actors get the chance to be someone entirely different.”

Elle gave the question more serious thought than perhaps she should have done. The immediate answer was yes, she did get bored of being herself. No doubt she shouldn’t do - there were people who were in far worse positions than her. But at least Alyson had said she felt similarly. That made her feel better about it. Eventually she replied with, Sometimes I do. I suppose most people do, some of the time. Everyone must think about what it must be like to be someone else. To be richer, more beautiful, more intelligent, more special. Or even less so, perhaps. Just... different. But you can be different, if you want to be. It’s not really acting because you’re still you but a more sparkling you. She frowned slightly as that sounded tantamount to lying, being fake. Which it wasn’t. Not really. It was about projecting all the good things. Keeping the things that others didn’t need to see inside. To lighten her comments she asked, Who would you be, if you could be anyone?

Alyson didn’t take such a thing as lying, and in fact, the idea appealed to her. “I wouldn’t want to be any one person,” she answered matter-of-factly. “If I could be anyone, I would want to change every day.” She glanced up at the ceiling, studying it as if it could tell her something about their current conversation. It had certainly seen a good number of different people. “Perhaps tomorrow I’d be a private eye, solving crime, and the next day, I’d be a politician’s wife...” No, she wouldn’t. That was what she was supposed to be, one day, she thought, but it was too boring, too stuffy, too... “No, that’s a box, and I dislike boxes. Not that they’ve done anything wrong, I just wouldn’t want to be one.”

The response coaxed a little smile out of Elle. She could understand Alyson’s train of thought but, in a way, she liked the idea of being in a box. There was a safety in it. Boxes came with expectations, both of how to act and how to be treated. It may have been worth being pigeon-holed for. Have you ever thought about trying out for one of the plays? Sometimes there are open auditions for parts and I’m sure you’d be great. You would definitely make things a lot of fun.

“I fumble up my words,” Alyson sighed, as she had given the idea much consideration. “I fear I’d have terrible stage fright, and all my lines would come out completely wrong.” She could only imagine how embarrassing it would be to be in front of an audience full of people and messing up one of her favorite stories.

Alyson with stage fright was something Elle had a difficult time picturing. She always seemed sure of herself, not caring about what others may think. Elle gave her hand a pat. Lots of people get the lines a little wrong. The good thing is no one really knows because they don’t know what the script was in the first place, she offered in an attempt to be reassuring. Her face brightened and she gave Alyson a conspiratorial smile. If you ever do want to try out a new persona, you can try it on me. Elle was happy to play along with it.

A smile graced Alyson’s lips as well as she gave that some consideration. “Perhaps next time they have auditions, I’ll give it a try.” She knew most of the stories the theatre put on like the back of her hand. Surely learning individual lines wouldn’t be too difficult. She had only partially considered becoming an actress. Most of her time was spent writing or reading, but to really become part of the stories...

It was tempting, and if it tempted her, Alyson gave it a try. There was no reason not to in this case. What harm could an audition do?

Elle grinned back at her and clapped her hands together. I’ll help you if you need it, I promise, she wrote with a sincere nod. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, there was a vicarious element to her encouragement. The issue of not being able to read lines aloud aside, she doubted she’d have the confidence to get up on stage. Maybe at one time, but not now.

“Thank you,” Alyson smiled. She was starting to get excited about the idea, picturing all the roles she could play, all the characters she could be. She looked down at the dress in Elle’s hand and then back at the set for the play. Most of it had already be constructed in it. “I wish I was artistic like that,” she mused.

You should meet DG, Elle penned back to her. She’s a fantastic artist and does some of the work for the shows. She’s around here sometimes. You’d like her, I’m sure. Her mind drifted to the other girl for a moment, wondering if she was alright. She told herself that DG would be fine, as she seemed nothing if not resourceful. And you are artistic, she continued. Writing is art - it’s a wonderful talent. Elle wagged a finger at her, playfully scolding for what she perceived as Alyson selling herself short.

“DG?” It wasn’t a name (or nickname) that Alyson recognized, though perhaps she should have. She knew the girl it referred to, after all. She gave a sheepish smile, the compliment taking her mind off of the mysterious ‘DG’. “Ah, but writing, you create the pictures yourself. Sometimes, I like the simplicity of just looking and the image being there.” Sometimes, and only sometimes -- Alyson was very much a ‘painter of the mind’, and she enjoyed the different images that she could come up with just by rearranging words in a sentence.

It’s what she goes by. If you ever see a blonde girl with big blue eyes here, chances are it’s her. With a little smile, she gave an easy shrug. As she listened to Alyson, she made a so-so gesture, wrinkling her nose as she both agreed and disagreed at the same time. That’s what I like about the written. You can see whatever you like. You can in pictures, different interpretations and all, but it’s not quite the same. You can get immersed in words in a different way. Another shrug, one that had an air of self consciousness to it. Though that may just be me spending too much time inside my own head.

“I don’t think it is,” Alyson smiled. She liked the way Elle put it, after all. It gave writing an air of importance all to its own, and she certainly agreed that it deserved one. Writing was Alyson’s ‘escape’, though with the way her mind worked, she didn’t particularly need any sort of fantastical escape. “I think they’re both wonderful things.” There was something almost dreamy in the way she was talking now; art was one thing Alyson could relate to easily.

Looking down, Elle smiled shyly, pleased by that little bit of validation. Sometimes she worried about her tendency to drift off into her own world and get swept up in things. Not to mention her typical willingness to share facets of it with others. Anything like that is wonderful. They make the world vivid and full of possibility.Someone’s dreamed of something and brought that dream into the world. Things become less ‘what is’ and more ‘what if’.

If anyone could just as easily be swept up by Elle’s own world, it was Alyson. There was quite literally nothing that Elle could say that would sound insane to the delusional Walker. “Everything is very much a ‘what if’, and rarely a ‘what is’,” she replied. “What is... that’s boring. Anyone can see it. ‘What if’ is magical.” Magic -- now there was something fantastic that Alyson wished their was more of in the world.

Elle nodded in agreement with everything Alyson said. It’s funny how there are a lot of people that don’t seem to see it that way. Maybe they just don’t want to. I suppose always wondering about things instead of accepting or taking them at face value seems like a difficult way to be, she wrote with a thoughtful little frown. There had been plenty of times Elle had been told to get her head out of the clouds, as though she was being deliberately obtuse (of course, there had been times when that was exactly the case). I think we must just be special. She gave her friend an affectionate sort of smile, glad that there was someone like Alyson in the world.

“Mayhaps, perhaps,” Alyson replied with a thoughtful expression gracing her face. “Special is better than boring.” Eidolon City had its share of adventure, even without imagination, but it would never have been enough for her.

She looked down at the dress in Elle’s lap, pursing her lips. “I keep distracting you!”

It’s okay, Elle wrote. Still, she glanced off to see if anyone was coming to check up on her progress. Luckily they weren’t. A gentle sigh escaped her lips and smoothed out the costume. Would you like to go and look for a kitten another day? We could take as long as we wanted then.

That seemed like the best plan, as it would allow Elle to focus on her work and then, tomorrow, focus on the important task of finding Elle a pet. Alyson nodded in agreement with the idea. “Shall I find you at home tomorrow?”

Elle grinned and nodded back at Alyson. That would be lovely. Just come by whenever you’re ready. She wouldn’t be at the theatre and so had plenty of time to indulge in other pastimes.

Alyson got to her feet with a bounce and brushed off the back of her dress. “I’ll try to get there early,” she promised, “so we’ll have plenty of time.” Pulling her coat back on tightly around her, she gave Elle a quick wave and a, “See you!”, before she headed towards the exit of the theatre, all too excited to tell Rabbit the Second about Elle’s decision (although, she worried that he would be jealous; hopefully, he’d be polite about the whole thing).