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Post by Jacky on Jan 7, 2009 19:42:56 GMT
(haha, sing you to me like a fish  ) "Alright." Anouk agreed, falling back into the routine of being quiet. Back at the river, Roux wasn't without thoughts either though. He sat with his legs crossed on the riverbank, facing the boats. In his hands was a little wooden figure that he was carving in with a pocketknife. He wasn't focussed though. His thoughts were some 500 metres into town. She had looked different. Vianne, his Vianne, was different in his memory. He closed his eyes for a moment as he recalled her. A dash of perfume, long, loose hair, a scarlet skirt and high heeled shoes. Coffee brown hair tied back with a bright scarf. Defiant smile. Glamours. Roux sighed and lowered the carved wooden figure. Now, she'd looked like anyone else. Drab. And Anouk, too. Nothing to set them apart and.. He didn't know what that meant. What had changed? And the one question that kept rolling through his mind; was she okay? |
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Post by Jacksblackpearl on Jan 7, 2009 19:59:49 GMT
Vianne opened the door to the shop, finding it empty except for Claire. "Hey, we're back"
"we're ?" she looked down at Anouk and frowned a little
"..skipped school" Vianne admitted "to have a look at the river people" She knew it was okay to tell Claire, she was her only friend in this town, the only one who thought a little differently, just like her.
"you met the river people? how were they? I wanted to have a peek tonight.. when noone in town would see"
Vianne smirked and shook her head "they were .. odd.. I mean, not in the way they dress and all, I've seen them before. They changed. Something is going on and I can't figure out what"
"You've met them before? oh my, tell me! did anyone see you ?" she wondered
"Oh Claire, what do I care if anyone sees me ? " she shrugged, she might look different but inside she was still the same rebellious Vianne. "I eh.. used to.. sort of date one of the riverpeople. He's here in town now, but it seemed as if he did not want to talk to me"
"Vianne!" Claire through a piece of chocolate at her friend for the confession of dating one of the riverpeople "I've never seen anyone like you" she chuckled
Vianne shrugged a little, eating the chocolate "yes well.." she looked at her daughter "come on, lunch" she said, taking her daughter to the kitchen.
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Post by Jacky on Jan 7, 2009 20:19:33 GMT
After she had lunch with Claire and Vianne, Anouk had to go back to school. She didn't complain about it this time. She didn't really care. Her mind was too full with thoughts to mind about school. Even when she came home afterwards, she was exceptionally quiet and thoughtful. The only thing she said that night was 'goodnight', before she went to bed..
That night, down at the river, Roux couldn't sleep. He lay on his bed, staring at the stars above. The sleeping area of his boat had a plexiglass roof, which he'd build by himself. All that trouble to look at the skies at night - but this time it couldn't calm his mind.
The change he'd seen in Vianne made him wonder. Kept him awake. Left him worried.
He wanted to see her, but he knew that neither the villagers or the riverpeople would appreciate it.
They didn't have to know though.
He could visit her. Once. To see how she was doing for real.
"And then.." He murmered to the dark, "Then I'll step back and stay out of her life."
He'd gotten dressed in silence, blue jeans, black sweater and workboots. He'd be hard to see in the dark at all in this outfit. He'd left his boat and climed up the riverbanks, casting a glance over his shoulder, before heading into town.
He found the little chocolaterie within half an hour. There wasn't a sign at the door, but there was the unmistakeble chocolates and bonbons behind the window. It was 2:30 am by then. But he hoped she wouldn't care.
He stepped back and studied the building for a little while. Downstairs was the shop, with the kitchen in the back probably. The floor above that seemed to have two rooms, each with it's own window.
He guessed her bedroom would be north.
Not wanting to wake the neighbourhood, he crouched and picked up a small stone from the road. When he got back up, he threw it up so it hit the window softly.
"C'mon Vianne." He murmered.
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Post by Jacksblackpearl on Jan 7, 2009 20:35:22 GMT
Vianne had only fallen asleep for about an hour now, the thoughts of events earlier today had kept her awake. Everytime she was close to falling asleep she saw Roux in front of her, with those distant and almost uncaring look in his eyes. It scared her to know that a guy with whom she had shared passion, in whose eyes she had seen fire and a hint of love was able to change into what she had seen earlier today.
The urge to sing to him was also keeping her awake. She had lit a few vanilla candles a couple of times and just when she was about to perform the magic she backed out, reminding herself that her will for a normal life was stronger than the urge to solve things and make things easier with magic. Life could not always be easy, she told herself. Despite the fact that life had never been easy, not even with magic. Magic helped her shop going and gave her a peaceful feeling inside but it had always worked averechts on the townspeople..
Now, an hour later, Vianne was slowly wakened by a persistent knocking sound on her window. "hm.. not now maman" she whispered in her slumber, thinking it was the northwind trying to get her attention. When the noise continued she slowly arose, put her bathrobe on and opened the window to the balcony. At first she looked up, expecting the wind to blow furiously, but when there was hardly any wind she looked down and noticed a man , dressed in black. She looked closer and a frown appeared on her face "Roux.. ? Is that you?"
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Post by Jacky on Jan 7, 2009 20:40:34 GMT
When she appeared on the balcony at last, he watched her silently. He observed the way she turned her face to the sky, and then down to him at last. When she said his name, he nodded, though he knew she could probably not even see.
"Yeah," He said, keeping his voice down so only she would hear. He shrugged, looked down the street, and then back to her, expectantly.
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Post by Jacksblackpearl on Jan 7, 2009 20:46:46 GMT
"..why?" she whispered and then quickly went back inside. She closed the door and headed downstairs, into the shop.
What time was it ? It had to be early in the morning, very early. Did she even sleep for an hour or was it less than that? Why was he here ??
She opened the door of the shop and beckoned Roux inside "Come on in, what are you doing here" she whispered, not wanting the neighbours to wake up.
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Post by Jacky on Jan 7, 2009 20:51:51 GMT
When she opened the door for him, he stepped over the treshold and then turned to see her. She hadn't turned any lights on, so it was dark in the shop. The only light that they could see each other by came from the moon.
It striked him now that in this light, she didn't seem so changed as he thought. But still, he needed to know.
"I'm sorry." He told her, keeping his voice low. "...I didn't want to wait to come any longer. I needed to see you."
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Post by Jacksblackpearl on Jan 7, 2009 21:25:14 GMT
he needed to see her ? Right now ? What was wrong with waiting until the morning... would they be gone in the morning ? "Roux, you're always welcome. No matter what time a day" she urged, wanting him to know that first and foremost. "But.. I thought.. you didn't seem so eager to see me this afternoon, what changed ? Are you okay? Is something wrong or.." she had no idea what to think of this. A bit in shock/surprise still, Vianne turned on a small light in the kitchen, taking a better look at Roux now. He seemed restless.
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Post by Jacky on Jan 7, 2009 21:29:38 GMT
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine." Roux said quickly. Maybe a little too quickly to sound genuine. But he soon brushed that away, by asking a question of his own. "I just.. I wanted to know whether you are okay. You and Anouk. This afternoon," He paused. "You seemed different."
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Post by Jacksblackpearl on Jan 7, 2009 21:39:52 GMT
Am I okay? Do you have a day to listen?
Vianne leaned against the wall "I am fine.. we are fine" she said, not really sounding very sincere, because it was not really true. Deep down inside she knew that since things had changed, since the magic was gone a part of her had disappeared as well.
"I guess we were a bit surprised by your distant reaction" she admitted in a mumble "Whatever happened to being friends and staying friends? Friends don't greet eachother like that after such a long time..you worry me" Vianne drew a hand through her hair, looking at Roux, trying to see his reaction in the half dark room.
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