MilksopJul 16, 2017Jul 16, 2017 at 02:00 PM
#1
Amongst the bright bursts of blue forget-me-nots, sow thistles kissed by sunshine, and poppies painted in an eye-striking orange sat mother and daughter. The former was threading stems of flowers through her young daughter's twin braids as she fidgeted impatiently. "... Sit still, Estre," came a murmured command, the woman far too concentrated on her task to truly scold her anxious daughter. Wrinkling her generously freckled nose, the young girl sighed dramatically.
"Are ya almost finished, mam?"
"Estre."
"Ah, apologies." Clearing her throat, she took on a regal tone. "Art thou almost done, mother dearest?"
The sarcastic reply was greeted with a tug at her braids.
"OWOWOW--" Giggling, "I'll behave."
Falling silent, the preteen looked across the lush field in anticipation. At first, they appeared as two figures in the far distance but as the came closer, there was no denying who it was.
"MAM, THEY'RE HERE."
Pale eyes touched with amber widened at the sight of her cousins, nearly bouncing in her seat. "We're gonna have so much fun! My first harvest festival! You know, at first I was like bleh but there's a dance this year! An actual, real-life dance. like they have in Skywatch except instead of fancy ladies and gentleman there will be farmers and ... well, more farmers." Gasping, she balled her hands into small fists. "Do you think there will be cake? I hope there's cake. With those sugar roses, those are so pretty. Once-- mam, are you listening?"
"I'm listening."
"Once Elandore-- you know Elandore?"
"I know Elandore."
"Yea? Yea! Well once she ate so many that when sneezed a button from her dress shot off!"
Chuckling quietly, her mother kissed the side of her head in an affectionate manner. In the near distance, two teens not much older than Estre stood beckoning her along with a wave of their hand. Jumping up, she nearly tripped over a rock but managed to catch herself. "Wait now--" Clucked her mother, dusting her hands on her worn, patched dress. "Let me see my girl."
"Oh, oops!" Spinning around, the simple dress of cotton tied at the waist with a pale blue ribbon flared up slightly. Throwing her shoulders back, Estre did her best to look as grown-up as she possibly could. Standing, her mother held her face between her calloused palms. "You're an absolute vision, my dear. Now, remember to--" She was quick to cut her off, "remember to sit if I feel tired, not over-exert myself, drink water, mind my manners, and ... I think that's it, right?" The older woman smirked, the wrinkles around her eyes creasing. "Right."
Spinning once more for the sake of spinning in what she dubbed a fancy dress, Estre sighed. "Remember this face, mam, this is the face of a girl but when I come back I will come back a lady. I will drink my tea with a pinky up and hold my chin high and when someone offers me another slice of cake, I will laugh a little laugh and bat my eyelashes and they will be so overcome by my feminine charm that I guarantee I will have at LEAST seventy-two marriage proposals. BUT, but, but-- I will laugh that same little laugh and apologize because I am waiting for my one true love and I just know he'll be there and we'll dance all night. I promise not to hold any hands though, mam, not until I'm a married woman."
Her mother just stared amused with a cocked brow.
"You're your father's daughter, you know?"
"I know."
Motioning to the two waiting figures in the distance, "come now, don't keep them--" Estre dashed off without another word, hitching up her skirt, she still wore her mud and muck covered work boots, twin braids flying behind her as carefully placed blossoms were left behind in a trail. Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, the older woman pursed her lips at the sight.
"... Be safe."
"Are ya almost finished, mam?"
"Estre."
"Ah, apologies." Clearing her throat, she took on a regal tone. "Art thou almost done, mother dearest?"
The sarcastic reply was greeted with a tug at her braids.
"OWOWOW--" Giggling, "I'll behave."
Falling silent, the preteen looked across the lush field in anticipation. At first, they appeared as two figures in the far distance but as the came closer, there was no denying who it was.
"MAM, THEY'RE HERE."
Pale eyes touched with amber widened at the sight of her cousins, nearly bouncing in her seat. "We're gonna have so much fun! My first harvest festival! You know, at first I was like bleh but there's a dance this year! An actual, real-life dance. like they have in Skywatch except instead of fancy ladies and gentleman there will be farmers and ... well, more farmers." Gasping, she balled her hands into small fists. "Do you think there will be cake? I hope there's cake. With those sugar roses, those are so pretty. Once-- mam, are you listening?"
"I'm listening."
"Once Elandore-- you know Elandore?"
"I know Elandore."
"Yea? Yea! Well once she ate so many that when sneezed a button from her dress shot off!"
Chuckling quietly, her mother kissed the side of her head in an affectionate manner. In the near distance, two teens not much older than Estre stood beckoning her along with a wave of their hand. Jumping up, she nearly tripped over a rock but managed to catch herself. "Wait now--" Clucked her mother, dusting her hands on her worn, patched dress. "Let me see my girl."
"Oh, oops!" Spinning around, the simple dress of cotton tied at the waist with a pale blue ribbon flared up slightly. Throwing her shoulders back, Estre did her best to look as grown-up as she possibly could. Standing, her mother held her face between her calloused palms. "You're an absolute vision, my dear. Now, remember to--" She was quick to cut her off, "remember to sit if I feel tired, not over-exert myself, drink water, mind my manners, and ... I think that's it, right?" The older woman smirked, the wrinkles around her eyes creasing. "Right."
Spinning once more for the sake of spinning in what she dubbed a fancy dress, Estre sighed. "Remember this face, mam, this is the face of a girl but when I come back I will come back a lady. I will drink my tea with a pinky up and hold my chin high and when someone offers me another slice of cake, I will laugh a little laugh and bat my eyelashes and they will be so overcome by my feminine charm that I guarantee I will have at LEAST seventy-two marriage proposals. BUT, but, but-- I will laugh that same little laugh and apologize because I am waiting for my one true love and I just know he'll be there and we'll dance all night. I promise not to hold any hands though, mam, not until I'm a married woman."
Her mother just stared amused with a cocked brow.
"You're your father's daughter, you know?"
"I know."
Motioning to the two waiting figures in the distance, "come now, don't keep them--" Estre dashed off without another word, hitching up her skirt, she still wore her mud and muck covered work boots, twin braids flying behind her as carefully placed blossoms were left behind in a trail. Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, the older woman pursed her lips at the sight.
"... Be safe."