“Finally some happy news.” Valarie Vamdemeter days as she drinks her tea, chatting with Sarah Velothi, Valan’s mother. Tiggs, Valarie's son, sits reviewing something on his computer next to me, oblivious to the conversation going on around him, as I had noticed he’d turned his CI’s off. “What's the happy news?” I ask as it's a rare occurrence for me to hear such things. “Hmm? Just that Valan will be home in a few days.” Valarie replies showing me the message. Sarah smirks to herself looking at something. “What's that?” She closes what she was looking at suddenly “Oh Nothing.” That's peculiar I don't know her to act like that. Huh. Valarie taps Tiggs and gestures to have him turn on his CI’s and whispers something unintelligible into his ear, soon afterwards he turns to me and asks if I'd like to go for a walk.
The two of us make our way through the city with ease, Tiggs having grown up here and myself having learned its every crack and crevice via being a member of various guilds and factions. “What were they working on do you know?” I ask him as we make our route through the gardens toward the harbor. “What who were working on?” He asks “Your mom and Valans mom. They were talking about something over tea I don't know what.” Tiggs laughs “I couldn't hear a thing they were talking about! And even if I did I'd have no clue. I don't pay attention to that very often. Let them chat why should I care.” He responds and holds the door as we pass from one district to the next.
MEANWHILE BACK AT THE APARTMENT
(We now switch to the POV of Sarah Velothi)
“Valan? Do you have your friends contact information I'm trying to plan something for Isabelle, it's her birthday this week as you probably know. So far I've got Lucien of course he doesn't exactly have an address but I managed to ask him last time he was here, Anna will try but makes no promises apparently things have been hectic though she thinks she can come, Xavier and Juliette are definitely coming, and of course you'll be here. Are Sammie and Yuuri coming with you? Alright tell him it's perfectly fine if he comes a few days late that will be okay. Now I just need Lanriael, Carmen and Sarah, Everan, Phillip, and your three friends in Riften Abigail, Isabelle Belet, and Olivia. Thank you! Okay, goodbye see you soon.” Hanging up the phone I look over the list of addresses written down, check marks done over the ones that are finished and hand it to Valarie. “Can you do me a favor and write out another batch of invitations?” I ask and she nods giving me her ever present smile and grabs her calligraphy pen starting up once more. Getting up with a sigh and stretching I pat our dog, Bella who officially is trained to be Valan’s seeing eye dog though she really plays many roles, and feed her before going back to planning. A surprise party is really quite a lot of work, a fact that is to me...surprising. “Wow Valarie all this work surely is quite the surprise.” I joke sitting down once more and she gives me an overly dramatic groan and eye roll “You're no better with horrid puns than your son I swear.” She laughs as she continues to write out notes. “What can I say? He learned from the best.” I grin. Now to find a cake. “Tiggs on your way back stop at the bakery and distract Issy enough that you can order a cake.” Valarie texts him sparing us as much time as possible to finish our work here.
BACK TO ISABELLE'S POINT OF VIEW AT THE IMPERIAL CITY HARBOR
Tiggs and I sit by the water on one of the empty docks watching the sun set. Silently looking around at the surroundings, the boats pulling into harbor full with goods from near and distant lands, beggars and thieves in disguise attempting to get a coin or two, guards patrolling in neat lines of two by two looking for trouble on every street corner and empty alleyway. Eventually it begins to get dark and we head back, stopping to get dinner on our way. At the door to the building I bid Tiggs goodnight and go home to my own little hiding place away from guards and prying eyes. Slamming the door draws Lucien's attention and he materializes sitting in one of the chairs reading a book. “Eventful day?” He asks flipping a page. “You could say that. Valarie and Sarah are up to something, I swear, I just don't know what.” I explain falling face first into the small bed in the corner “And what are you going to do about it then?” He asks turning another page “Sleep.” I reply with my face smushed into the pillow and turn out the light, and on that note he disappears as quickly as he had appeared. “Goodnight darkness. Goodnight silence. Goodnight sword sitting in the corner and the dagger under my pillow.” I mumble half asleep and turn over going to bed.
THE NEXT DAY IN RIFTEN (Olivia's POV)
Opening the secret passage up to the surface from the thieves guild I walk out of the foe crypt into the sunlight- and directly into view of a passing towns person who stares at me in shock “What never seen someone come out of a coffin before keep walking.” I shoo the person away snickering to myself and go find Abbie sitting on the fence near one of the bridges while Isabelle wanders the market. Anna comes half walking and half running over to us with an envelope in her hand. “Did you get one too?” She asks walking up to us. “Get what? A letter?” I ask confused and Abbie interrupts pulling two envelopes from her jacket handing me one. “It's Isabelle McKinnons birthday soon. Sarah Velothi, Valan’s mom is organizing a party for her.” Abbie explains shoving the envelope into my chest. I read over the envelope, I never knew she had just pretty handwriting and I wonder how she did the foiling. “It's almost too pretty to open.” I murmur and Abbie breaks the seal of hers “Fine then read mine.” I open the letter and quickly scan it. “Are you two going?” I ask Anna, and Farkas who had shown up a few minutes later, must have had to finish something up. Anna nods and bounced from foot to foot, seeming barely able to contain her excitement. “Can we go Livvy pleaseeeee.” Abbie begs shaking my arm and I pretend to be considering it “Isabelle said we could cmon it's been forever since we were invited to a party.” I continue faking to keep her on edge, and in fact we went to a party just last week. Abigail may have almost gotten us thrown out for slipping things into her pockets but we were invited nonetheless. “Yes we can go.” I say making a written reminder on a scrap of paper that Anna for some reason had of the date. Though she is an illustrator so she draws on anything it makes a little sense she’d have scraps of paper. Abbie and Anna high five and Isabelle notices the commotion and comes over to us and reads the invitation for herself.
THAT SAME DAY IN VVARDENFELL (Valans pov)
“Neloth can't you just finish the experiment yourself? Do you really need me for- whatever this is?” I ask referencing to the mess he has laid out on the table. “Unless you want to give me a skin sample next time Talvas refuses yes you have to help.” Oh I don't like the sound of that, poor Talvas. “On second thought let's get experimenting.” If anything the tests get finished faster with the two of us working. Having finished the tests and being in desperate need of a shower after I decide to quickly go home...dissecting spriggans is not exactly the cleanest work. Kicking open the door to my apartment I drop my things by the door and take a shower finding Sammie in the little kitchen when I get out. “Have you packed yet?” She asks gesturing to the suitcase by a chair. “Little bit. Why? We still have a few days.” She shakes her head “We leave tomorrow night.” My eyes widen and I look at the calendar “Better get packing.” She pats me on the shoulder as she passes and goes to put her shoes on “Where are you going?” I ask as she pulls on her boots “Post office. I need to send Yuuri his information since he’ll be late due to an appointment he can't reschedule. See ya later.” She explains and closes the door behind her leaving me alone. I roll up my sleeves and kneel down on the floor, might as well start packing.
THAT NIGHT IN ALINOR (Everans pov)
“Phillip there's a letter here for you!” Rebecca yells upstairs though gets no reply, having to march up to his study herself and drag him out. Curious I tag along with her to find Phillip sorting out class materials for the next few weeks. His mother drops the letter on his desk next to a pile of papers “This is for you.” She says passively, gives me a smirk and leaves the room. “I peaked, it's exciting.” She whispers on her way out. “Aren't you going to open it?” I ask sitting on the carpet next to the desk. “In a couple of minutes. You can open it if you want.” Phillip says while trying to get his pen to work. Immediately I grab the envelope and the letter opener, it's packaged too prettily to tear open by hand. I've never seen such a pretty looking envelope in fact, I wonder where the sender got it. “It's an invitation.” I say quickly scanning my eyes over the heading and first few sentences of the letter. Phillip picks his head up and asks to see, he reads the letter to completion and hands it back. “Valan’s mom is hosting a surprise party for Issy. Want to go? It's addressed to me and you, though she only sent one to my house as it's less time consuming. Like how only Carmen got that letter but it was addressed for both her and Sarah. Lani got one as well. As far as I know they're all going.” He explains and checks his calendar “And I don't teach that day. Might as well go.” As he finishes up the last remains of his paperwork I begin to write a return letter. From what I've heard from Valan his mother is quite the cook, I wonder if she'll even bake a cake, I hope so.
THE DAY OF THE PARTY (Sarah Velothi)
One by one each duo, trio, or small group showed up, Valan being first of course. I'm glad the party itself has stayed under wraps so well. “You two, hide over there, and the three of you hide in there. No Ev you can't hide in the closet, that spots taken.” Juliette assigns each person their hiding place, it's a bit of a tight fit in the small apartment but it works well enough. Lani helps me set the table inconspicuously as not to draw attention and checks on the cake allowing me time to put the plates for the party itself into a cupboard. “Alright everyone Issy will be here in ten minutes!” Lucien announces appearing suddenly in a flash of blue light. “That's the good part of having a teleporting ghost as a friend. Easy to get updates.” Abigail jokes. “Yep, anyways gotta go. I'll be back later!” As suddenly as he had appeared he is gone. “I wonder what people think when he does that.” Abigail murmurs to her friend, the friend just shrugs. Hearing the doorbell a few minutes later Juliette jumps into her hiding spot, nearly knocking something over in the process, and allows me to open the door. The apartment goes silent as I greet Isabelle and they begin the five minute countdown, some are better at keeping silent than others but luckily, Isabelle doesn't seem to notice. “5,4,3,2,1” I see Juliette mouth to some of the others nearby as they jump up “Surprise!” They yell and Isabelle looks around. “Well you certainly succeeded in doing that!” She laughs, some withdraw presents from other hiding places or a card if a package had been too much to carry all that way. Anna simply runs up and gives her a big hug. Yuuri shows up later as my attention is drawn away focused on cutting the cake, and not my hand. “Sorry I'm late, but happy birthday.” He says giving Isabelle a seemingly very large card, which actually contains a painting.
“Who wants cake?” Valarie asks and counts the number of hands, Olivia pulls Abigail's other hand down to keep her from getting two slices, these kids sure are funny. Sammie chats with Juliette, Carmen, both Isabelle's, Lanriael, and Sarah while Everan finishes the remains of his food while joking with Phillip, the Twins, and Yuuri. And last out not least Valan entertains Anna who had found the rest of the conversation too loud. Abigail and Olivia had been drawn off by Tiggs as he had gone across the hall to show them his drums and other percussion things...as well as show them that yes his CIs are really magnetic and stick to the refrigerator. “Well it was an unexpected party but I really enjoyed it!” Isabelle thanks me, as well as all the others for a very nice time. “And I'm happy it wasn't a party of thirteen dwarves invading my kitchen!” I joke nodding a reference to a favorite book of hers. “Oh! And I have something for you one moment! Now where did I put that blasted thing? Ah yes right here!” Taking a thin box out from under the sink I hand it to Isabelle along with a card. “I had noticed your old one was getting dull.” I comment as she opens the box revealing a thin shortsword. “You have very good taste in swords.” She whispers staring at the blade before tearing open the card and reads it aloud, “Since I'm practically your mom at this point since yours is far away happy birthday here's a sword in case anyone gives you trouble. Love, Sarah Velothi.” At a loss for words she gives me a hug as thanks.
Eventually as it gets later people begin to drift back to their own places to stay, with the exception of Yuuri and Sam who are staying here, Valan of course, and Anna; who had fallen asleep. Valarie, graciously offers to let the twins and Anna stay with them for the night, which they gratefully accept. Sam had gone off with Yuuri to show him a few things, as she knows the city better than he does, leaving only Valan and I. “I think everyone had a very nice time.” He says looking out the window as the sun sets. “Agreed.” He turns and looks at me with a smirk “And it was certainly a very unexpected party.”
No comments:
Post a Comment