Ruan Ji
New Owner: Aiming To MIsbehave – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves
by Carla Amarelle & Elise Niven
Post Details
The bell was ringing out the call to matins as Elise Niven stepped carefully over the kitchen threshold, one hand balancing a breakfast tray, the other bracing against the heavy wooden door to prevent it slamming closed before she was out of the way. She offered to adjust it; one minor mechanical improvement to make life easier and make sure the ruttin' thing didn't do herself or anyone else an injury. The elder that supervised her had simply smiled tolerantly and shook his head and somehow managed to remind her with nothing more than a look that she should stick to her own duties and not interfere in anything beyond that.
Old fool, she'd thought, I hope you catch your fingers next.
Her 'job' at the abbey was simple. In return for food and lodging she'd do basic housekeeping, look after visitors to the abbey. There was no pay but it didn't matter, she didn't intend on staying around long enough. She'd find a place with a crew before too long, if she could find a boat she liked the look of and if she could steer clear of the dock master. That woman didn't like her, she'd ruined her chances with more that one prospective captain.
Adjusting her hold on the tray, she started down the tiled corridor toward the visitor wing, crockery rattling with every step. Eventually tile gave way to stone paving as she turned toward the guest cloister and made her way toward the room that belonged to Sister Amarelle.
The door to the room was open and no answer came when she called. She took a step forward and peered inside. The narrow cot was neatly made, a travelling case lay closed below the window but there was no sign of the shepherdess. She turned on her heel, irritation bubbling up as she prepared to head back to the kitchen. The meal could spoil, Amarelle could find her own breakfast if she chose not to be around when Elise called with it.
She was almost at the steps leading out of the cloister when she saw her beyond the arches, walking the small garden in a long white shift. The smile she favoured Elise with as she went to meet her was calm, entirely at peace.
"I brought your breakfast, Sister." Elise knew the explanation unnecessary but part of her wanted to remind the woman of the trouble she'd gone too, whether she appreciated it or not.
"Of course," Carla Amarelle reached out and took the offered tray. "I'll eat here. You're one of the new novices?"
"No," Elise replied, raking a hand through her long hair, but didn't offer any introduction. She was here to do what she needed to do; deliver breakfast and leave the shepherdess to her musings.
"Ah, Miss Niven then?"
"Yes," she hesitated, wanting to ask how she knew. The older woman seemed to have anticipated that as well.
"Elder Tseng mentioned you," Carla explained, setting the tray down on the cloister wall before seating herself beside it. "I'm told you know about ships?"
"Engines." Elise told her, keeping her answers clipped. She didn't know where this was going.
"I'll be leaving Persephone as soon as I can find a boat. I was told you'd be the one to ask." When Elise offered no reply she prompted again. "Nothing fancy, just something that'll stay in the air."
Elise eyed her with curiosity and a hint of amusement. "You looking for your own ship?"
The shepherdess waved a hand dismissively. "No, no. No. As a passenger."
"Might be a few who'd take you." Elise offered, her mind already jumping ahead to an opportunity to make quick coin. Commission from the captain for finding a paying passenger, maybe she could play both sides and charge the shepherdess too. "It'll take me a bit of time and effort..."
Carla Amarelle smiled back at her but her face was no longer unclouded, the dark eyes that met Elise's own carried reproof and an edge of disappointment. "That would be gracious of you, Miss Niven," she replied is the same calm voice before adding a gentle dismissal. "Thank you for the breakfast."
Elise Niven left that garden with the sense that she was most certainly going to hell.
by Carla Amarelle & Elise Niven
Post Details
| Title | Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves | |
| Mission | New Owner: Aiming To MIsbehave | |
| Author(s) | Carla Amarelle & Elise Niven | |
| Posted | Wed Jul 21, 2010 @ 12:15pm | |
| Location | Southdown Abbey, Persephone | |
| Timeline | MD1 |
Old fool, she'd thought, I hope you catch your fingers next.
Her 'job' at the abbey was simple. In return for food and lodging she'd do basic housekeeping, look after visitors to the abbey. There was no pay but it didn't matter, she didn't intend on staying around long enough. She'd find a place with a crew before too long, if she could find a boat she liked the look of and if she could steer clear of the dock master. That woman didn't like her, she'd ruined her chances with more that one prospective captain.
Adjusting her hold on the tray, she started down the tiled corridor toward the visitor wing, crockery rattling with every step. Eventually tile gave way to stone paving as she turned toward the guest cloister and made her way toward the room that belonged to Sister Amarelle.
The door to the room was open and no answer came when she called. She took a step forward and peered inside. The narrow cot was neatly made, a travelling case lay closed below the window but there was no sign of the shepherdess. She turned on her heel, irritation bubbling up as she prepared to head back to the kitchen. The meal could spoil, Amarelle could find her own breakfast if she chose not to be around when Elise called with it.
She was almost at the steps leading out of the cloister when she saw her beyond the arches, walking the small garden in a long white shift. The smile she favoured Elise with as she went to meet her was calm, entirely at peace.
"I brought your breakfast, Sister." Elise knew the explanation unnecessary but part of her wanted to remind the woman of the trouble she'd gone too, whether she appreciated it or not.
"Of course," Carla Amarelle reached out and took the offered tray. "I'll eat here. You're one of the new novices?"
"No," Elise replied, raking a hand through her long hair, but didn't offer any introduction. She was here to do what she needed to do; deliver breakfast and leave the shepherdess to her musings.
"Ah, Miss Niven then?"
"Yes," she hesitated, wanting to ask how she knew. The older woman seemed to have anticipated that as well.
"Elder Tseng mentioned you," Carla explained, setting the tray down on the cloister wall before seating herself beside it. "I'm told you know about ships?"
"Engines." Elise told her, keeping her answers clipped. She didn't know where this was going.
"I'll be leaving Persephone as soon as I can find a boat. I was told you'd be the one to ask." When Elise offered no reply she prompted again. "Nothing fancy, just something that'll stay in the air."
Elise eyed her with curiosity and a hint of amusement. "You looking for your own ship?"
The shepherdess waved a hand dismissively. "No, no. No. As a passenger."
"Might be a few who'd take you." Elise offered, her mind already jumping ahead to an opportunity to make quick coin. Commission from the captain for finding a paying passenger, maybe she could play both sides and charge the shepherdess too. "It'll take me a bit of time and effort..."
Carla Amarelle smiled back at her but her face was no longer unclouded, the dark eyes that met Elise's own carried reproof and an edge of disappointment. "That would be gracious of you, Miss Niven," she replied is the same calm voice before adding a gentle dismissal. "Thank you for the breakfast."
Elise Niven left that garden with the sense that she was most certainly going to hell.