The third day of summer dawned bright and humid. Sunlight streamed over her face, burning a warm red color through her eyelids and heating her cheeks like blush. The bed creaked ominously under her as she stretched catlike and groaning past the unfurled kinks and subtle pangs of her muscles. Instead of the deadening and outright painful aches of her first couple days– maybe weeks– this was a good, pleasant sort of ache. The kind that had Evie grinning contentedly as she rubbed her belly and grinned at the ceiling. She had a full day ahead of her, money in her pocket, land that she owned, and a brand-new coop already finished. Hopefully the hoard of ore and Wonderfuls she'd saved up would give her a good bit today when she got them refined. Or at least break even after paying for the refining.
Her chickens and duckling were already waddling out of their fancy new coop when she walked into her barn. Only to quickly stifle a shriek of glee and surprise the moment her eyes adjusted to the dim. Clotho wasn't still the tiny, trembling unspun-ball of fluff the first day she bought her, but was big. The highest point of her shoulders knocked against Evie's hip. She was bleating pitifully, big, watery, brown eyes gazing at Evelyn hopefully with their strange horizontal pupils.
"Oh my gosh! When did– I never even noticed her growing! She could knock down a barn wall now, if she wanted," Evie gasped. Finn blinked sleepily from atop Hera's head.
"This barn, maybe. I don't think she could knock down Renee's," Finn rebutted with a drowsy giggle.
Evie snorted, but nodded. "Probably right. Am I… Am I supposed to milk her now?" the rancher wondered while stroking Clotho's oily fluff. The black-faced ewe baa-ed louder even as she nudged her velveteen nose into Evie's belly.
"Pretty sure, yeah. She says she's very uncomfortable," Finn translated with his too-big head cocked to the side.
With a parting pat, Evie hurried towards the barn door. "I know I've milked Hera, but cows are pretty easy, I mean, you see it in movies all the time. I have no idea how to milk a sheep, though. I never got around to asking Renee "
"I'm sure we can figure it out! It can't be too hard," Finn attempted to reassure her cheerfully. "Clotho can help us, too."
Evie laughed boisterously at the assurance and Clotho's agreeable sounding baa. Hera's lowing became continuous and almost sounding irritated, most likely since she hadn't been fed or milked yet and Evie was still pondering over the sheep. The long spring on the farm had gotten the heifer used to the routine and waiting for breakfast wasn't something Hera was placid about it seemed. The ex-Classics major squatted at Clotho's side, fighting a snicker at the thought while somehow also frowning pensively at the milker in her hand and chewing her bottom lip ragged. After getting it correctly placed, fumbling and cursing internally at her own clumsiness, Evie rolled back on her heels.
"That should– oh Snapple-jacks!" Evie growled, quickly getting to her feet and running for the milk cans lined up along the far wall. "I can't believe I almost forgot. It would've been a mess," she grumbled, blushing brightly despite being pretty much alone. Finn didn't really count since he was a fairy. A tiny baby fairy who didn't know enough to judge, anyway.
"The dirt sure woulda tasted yummy," Finn joked, buzzing over to perch on Evie's head when she bent down again with the can held securely in place.
Evie rolled her eyes and turned the milker on. Within moments, milk was dripping, and then streaming, into the empty tin pail. Finn buzzed from her head to the edge of the pail. He teetered precariously on the lip of it, tiny wings a blur to keep himself upright, as he peered at the milk rising ever closer to the top. With a fond smile at the nostalgic picture Finn made, Evie braced her elbows on her knees and kept her gloved hands on the can. At long last, the milk dribbled to a stop and Evie stroked Clotho's neck, murmuring softly as she took away the milker and closed up the tin pail. When she got up to make her way to Hera, Clotho headbutted Evie's hip just hard enough to make her wobble and let out a surprised chuckle. Milking Hera was easier, habitual by now. Evie's forehead pressed to her cow's quietly heaving side, her gloved hand patting Hera's shoulder while Hera let out an irritated-sounding snort. The rancher snickered, then freed her cow from the weird suctioning contraption to get the food for her impatient livestock. Two cans sat just far enough away a stray foot or hoof wouldn't knock into them as Evie ran back and forth with hay, then wielding her brush moments later.
"Do you think it tastes good… just like cow's milk?" Finn queried, tiny nose twitching and sitting on the lip of the milk pail with sheep's milk inside.
"We can find out. We can steal a few sips before trading it off in the shipping box," Evie promised with a wink. Finn nodded enthusiastically, guilty little giggles spilling out from behind his tiny hands.
Evie propped the cans up on her hips, and jogged outside to let her livestock out. The bell rang, and Evie glanced over her plot of land. Her plot of land that was looking like a farm. So many animals, and rows upon rows of barely-sprouted summer crops, cherry fruits glistening among the dark leaves of her wild cherry trees, and a pail of fresh, warm milk on her hip and by her foot— she tipped her face up to the summer sun and grinned. Every day Serenity became more real, while her old college life slid further and further into the dream.
"Evvy?" hallooed a voice, curious and slightly concerned.
Grinning even wider, she turned her head just enough to peek over her shoulder. Of course it was Toby standing just behind her, fishing pole over one shoulder and tacklebox over the other.
"Hey, I haven't seen you since summer first started!" Evie joked. Toby obliged her with a soft laugh and came up to her side.
"It's only been a day," Toby pointed out. Evie's nose wrinkled even as she shrugged and smirked.
"So much has happened, it's hard to believe."
"I did hear something about an elephant and a party and a poisoning… oh my," Toby drawled, thin eyebrows arching high. Evie laughed gaily. His attention turned to the dull grey pails, one still under her arm and the other by her foot in the grass. "Is that milk?"
"Yes!" Evie bounced on her heels, only to quickly freeze and wrap both arms around the can. She eyed the crease between lid and lip, but nothing dripped out, so she relaxed with a sigh. "It's the first ever sheep's milk I've seen in my life, actually. You wanna share a cup skimmed from the top?" Evie offered with a sly wink.
Toby's irony-less smirk curved up the side of his mouth. "I'd be honored."
Her head ducked to hide the pink flush on her cheeks. The broken gaze didn't last long, her eyes drawn as if magnetized to his from under the fringe of her auburn bangs. He waited, quiet and patient as always, the humor lingering at the corners of his mouth and eyes. The moment drew out until she was shuffling, unsure of what she was expecting, or even if she was expecting something.
"Good morning, by the way," she finally mumbled. She blinked when Toby dipped down to grab the second pail.
"A very good morning," he agreed, meeting her startled gaze directly. She felt her cheeks heat, teeth pressing to her bottom lip, before spinning on her heel and stomping towards her front door to hide the absurd grin.
"You're acting really weird, Evie. Hey, if he's gonna drink milk, does that mean I can't have any?" Finn exclaimed, aghast, promptly forgetting the 'weird' in the face of this terrible dilemma. Evie barely contained a scoff of humor.
"You can have first sip," she whispered out the side of her mouth. Finn cheered as she slowed just enough for Toby to fall in step with her. Her eyes darted towards him, then back to the can in her arms, tongue swiping over her bottom lip. "Whatcha doing up this way, anyway? On your way to Flute Fields?" she asked, raising her voice to normal levels.
Toby nodded placidly. "Yeah, I'm hoping to catch a few big brown trout for dinner. Ocean fish are nice and all, but sometimes a nice trout is better."
"I really can't tell the difference… they're all just fish to me. Except for maybe salmon and tuna. Mmmmm tuna. I love tuna sashimi," Evie hummed with eyes slipping closed in remembrance.
Toby sighed wearily, but it was so obviously overdone, it had Evie snickering. "So few understand the nuances of fish. I'll have to teach you." The flashing glitter of his green eyes had her heart pounding an extra beat. "At least you appreciate a good sashimi platter. Sadly, the only place to catch any is near Toucan Island."
"The place with the hibiscus flowers!" Evie blurted. Toby stared at her in surprise. Heat suffused her cheeks and she fumbled for the door. "Just something someone mentioned."
A hand quickly propped up the pail before she'd managed to tip it. Just as swiftly, Toby leaned in to brush a kiss over her cheek, making her jaw drop in surprise, and the door swung open under her awkwardly jerking hand.
"I missed you, too," he said quietly, that teasing almost smirk back.
She boggled at him, then tripped into her house with Toby just behind her.
"Is kissing gonna be a thing that happens a lot now?" Finn griped, zipping past her head.
Evie tripped on nothing again and blushed brighter. It took a longer than the planned few minutes to get everything ready. She hadn't wanted to "contaminate" the rest of the milk, which she fully intended on selling, so she'd (im)patiently waited for water to boil for her coffee mug to be cleaned. The whole time, Toby was his usual affable quiet self, humming softly as he checked over his tackle box and fixed a few loose lures. And all the while, Evie was about ready to hum right out of her own skin with Finn's offhand question rattling in her skull. Half of her was twitching with the need to ask it herself, but she couldn't tell if Toby's answer was important, or if her own was.
"You… um… mentioned teaching me more about fishing?" Evie cleared her throat while carefully dipping her mug into the finally boiling water.
"I've mentioned it a few times, I'm sure. But you've been rather busy," Toby agreed pleasantly. The tacklebox closed with a snick, but he stayed at the table at her back.
She wondered if he was treating her like one of his stray cats, carefully keeping his eye contact minimal and his attention focused elsewhere to keep from spooking her. The idea made her want to laugh… and her heart thud uncomfortably.
"I gave my promise to Paolo about those fish, and thought, maybe this afternoon would be a good day for it? I know you're going for trout, but maybe when you come back towards the Fishery later today? We could try catching sardines, or something? I heard from a reliable source that sardines are plentiful and easy to catch," Evie suggested, forcing out the light-hearted comment and turning everything into an awkwardly pitched question. She leaned back against the counter nonchalantly while drying the mug, glancing over at him under her lashes.
Toby looked up at her and gifted her with that slow, warm smile that had her smiling back so easily. As much as his presence brought up too many questions in herself– unvoiced questions and repressed answers– she couldn't help but feel drawn towards him. There was something magnetic that reeled her closer, as surely as his fancy lures lured in fish.
"I'd be delighted to fish with you. If you think you can hold still and quiet long enough," he teased with glittering green eyes. Evie pouted and rolled her eyes.
"I can enjoy being quiet."
"Coulda fooled me and every other resident of Castanet," Toby remarked with a chortle.
"I enjoy being quiet with you."
She froze at the admittance, cheeks burning red as his eyes widened incrementally. They slipped to their usual lazy half-liddedness moments later, but there was something softer about his expression now. He made his way to her side and leaned against the counter next to her.
"Now that's a compliment if I ever heard one." Evie ducked her head and shrugged at his words. "So, is it ready to taste yet? It's a big occasion for you," he prompted a second later. She started guiltily and turned to the milk can.
"Yeah, I almost forgot what I was doing. Just planning ahead the rest of the day and–" really making a fool of myself "–and all…" she finished lamely.
"Of course."
Finn whizzed up then from wherever he'd been lounging– like a cat in the sun most likely. "Finally, finally! I've been waiting forever!"
Evie snorted softly, but lifting away the lid and dipped the newly boiled clean mug into the still slightly warm milk. Thick clots of fatty cream floated on the top and Evie couldn't tell if the look disgusted or fascinated her. "Luckily, I've always been a whole milk kinda girl," she joked. Toby laughed.
"Never seen fresh milk 'till you came here, city-girl?"
"Nope, not-a-once. The only other farm I've been on only had horses. And a chicken coop. But yeah, nothing that you're supposed to milk. Though, Mongolians drink mare's milk, and make butter and cheeses and stuff from it. But I can't imagine how you'd go about milking a horse… a sheep was awkward enough," Evie rattled on, scrunching up her nose in thought.
"You'll have to find yourself a Mongolian," Toby replied with a smirk. Evie huffed and looked down at the milk again. "Go on, I'm sure you'll like it. It's not so different."
Evie glanced up at Toby, then darted her eyes towards Finn who was bouncing in the air next to Toby's head in anticipation. She lifted up the mug with a sardonic lift of her brow.
"Bottoms up."
After a quick intake of breath, she took her first sip. She blinked rapidly in surprise. It was different from cow's milk, that was for sure. It was still strange drinking it unpasteurized; thicker and heavier, tasting almost rancid at first in comparison. The minute difference in taste was made more so because of it. She swallowed it down and took one more slightly bigger gulp. It didn't taste quite so foreign or strong the second time, just warm and fresh and sinfully fatty. Odd, but still good.
"I think… I think I could like this. Here, have a bit." Evie handed over the mug to Toby, who took a hearty swallow.
He all but hummed as he handed it back. "There's nothing quite like fresh milk. You did good."
"I'm pretty sure Clotho did all the hard work," Evie demurred dryly, setting the mug to the side with a look towards Finn. He zoomed to the cup with a whoop and downed the rest of it with a satisfied sigh.
Toby grinned lazily. "I'm sure she did, but you raised her well and took good care of her. An unhappy animal is unhappy milk, as Hanna says." Evie chuckled behind her hand. "You'll get good money for that can. You deserve it for all the hard work you are doing here."
Evie ducked her head again and rubbed the back of her neck. "You have a much too high opinion of me, Tobes. Most the time, I don't know what I should do next."
Toby shrugged. "Doesn't seem too high from this side. You should stand over here and see what I see."
Auburn eyes met the glimmer of green, and she felt a little breathless and was he closer? Yeah, he was definitely leaning closer. Despite having not even gone fishing yet, he smelled like brine and sun-warmed sand and his lips tasted like fresh sheep's milk. Her hands automatically twisted in the loose folds of his clothes as they kissed slowly and languidly in the middle of her shoddy kitchen. It didn't feel new or unfamiliar, mouths moving as if they'd done this a thousand times and it made her head spin in the best way.
Being with him was easier if she just didn't think about it, in her very "unbiased" opinion. Thinking led to doubts and a sick coiling pit in her stomach that felt too much like fear. Evie never did like feeling afraid. Why not just go with the flow, much like the man who was pulling away to smile lazily at her. He wasn't asking questions or tripping over air. Toby just… acted like Toby and didn't ask for Evie to be anything but Evie. There wasn't anything confusing or panic-inducing about wanting to kiss someone who wanted to kiss you, too. Right?
Evie smiled back at him, a little more bashfully than usual, and let her hands smooth his clothes into a semblance of order. Finn was whistling the Yellow Bell tune somewhere behind her, interspersed with loud, impatient sighs and groans. It helped her take a step back and grin somewhat more like herself at Toby.
"I better get my day started if I want enough time to meet up with you later," she pointed out wryly. Toby nodded his head in agreement.
"True. I'll keep an eye out for you," he replied, his hand reaching up to brush his thumb over her cheek. Which immediately flamed red at the too-romantic-like touch.
"I-I don't know how long I'll be, though. It might be kinda late, after dinner even," Evie sputtered slightly.
Toby's shoulder lifted slightly as he gave her a wry smile. "I'll be there."
Her throat went dry before she hurried to get everything cleaned up and put away. They left her house a short while later, Evie holding her cans of milk, Finn atop her head, and Toby toting his pole and tacklebox. He held open and closed her door for her, before helping her with the shipping box.
"Tonight, then," he said, his smile lit up with the morning sunlight.
Evie grinned at him. "Yeah. See you."
She watched him saunter down the road, heading toward Flute Fields. He turned back just before he was out of range to lift his hand to wave. She raised both arms to wave back wildly, laughing under her breath. Then, he dipped out of sight. With the distraction gone, Evie made sure to finish watering all her crops and shaking the ready cherries out of the trees, whistling and grinning. She wasn't a huge cherry-eating fan, and her first sugarcane crop wasn't yet ready to harvest so she couldn't make any jams with them. So, into the sell box they went with her milk. Her animals were wandering aimlessly and happily around her property and her crops were tended to at last.
Since she had until dinner time, she turned up towards Garmon Mines with her rucksack filled with ores and 'fuls and her mining tools. It'd been a while and she needed enough iron to upgrade all her weapons. Plus, not being one for fancy gems or jewelry, any 'fuls or gems she'd find would be easy money. There were mushrooms and wild berries and herbs to pick along the way and she could hear the chink of auree her haul would bring the next day. Also, she had a jar of mayonnaise for Luke, who'd be pretty ecstatic over it. He'd been begging for some ever since she installed the Maker in her coop when they'd finished fixing it up.
"Evie, is Toby your husband now?" Finn asked as they neared the bridge. Evie sputtered and tripped over her own feet, hitting the dirt with a cry. "Oh no, are you okay?! Evie!?"
"I'm fine, just– never mind. Why in the sphincter do you think Toby's my husband?" Evie exclaimed as she patted dirt off her clothes.
"Because when you get married you kiss, right?"
Evie facepalmed. "Oh, baby Twinkle-toes. There's so much about humans you don't understand. I'll explain you a thing or two, but do not expect the birds and bees talk from me."
"I know about birds and bees! Probably more than you!" Finn protested, affronted.
Evie laughed and quite cheerfully deflected the conversation into what a wedding is and why kissing is important to it (it being the ceremony). She very carefully steered clear of emotions or whys and wherefores, sticking to explaining the ceremony and history behind it specifically.
No way would her first conversation about her love life be with an innocent little fairy.
By the time she lost steam, they'd made it to Garmon Mines and Finn didn't have time to ask more embarrassing questions. Luke was outside swinging around his axe like a numbskull, but he neatly stuck it in a log to crow over his gift of mayonnaise and rush it inside to chill in the fridge. Evie rolled her eyes at Bo, who remembered to thank her properly for it, and then marched onward to the Accessory Shop.
She'd been there before, but walking inside still felt like walking into a whole new world. Disney reference intended, thank you very much. It didn't help when she managed to take in the rest of what she was seeing. Mira was ordering Julius around, her soft voice almost sharp in its sternness, but Julius was smiling and happily prancing around the shop at each new direction given.
"Now, this is more like it," Evie blurted. She immediately clasped both hands over her mouth, cheeks reddening. Both of them turned to her, surprise quickly becoming delighted laughs.
"You're not one to want for idleness are you, sweetheart," Julius replied with a wink. "I knew you didn't approve of me last we met."
"No, I mean, that's not, I shouldn't have-" Evie babbled, hands waving frantically. Mira only giggled and tucked her hand into the crook of Evie's elbow to lead her into the living quarters.
"Never you mind, you were quite right. Julius needs a firm hand or else he languishes, like a diva without a stage," Mira confided in a loud whisper so that Julius could hear. He only laughed, boot heels clicking on wooden floors.
"It's true, alas."
"I've never heard anyone but me use alas," Evie said, with a blink and grin. "I'll change my mind about you on that alone."
"Aha, I found the way into your busy little heart. Fanciful words shall woo you to me," Julius cried with a flourish of his hands and a deep bow. Mira and Evie laughed at his ridiculousness.
"I think some fresh tea and cookies would do wonders as well," Mira gave Evie a conspiratorial little smile. "He's an excellent baker, my dear nephew is. But he never puts himself out to use his skills. Catch it now while you can."
"I couldn't– I don't want to impose," Evie tried to object. Finn cried out in dismay.
"But cookies, Evie! I want cookies," the fairy begged.
"No imposition at all. I promised coffee and pumpkin pie for helping me, don't you remember? Sadly, we don't have the ingredients for pumpkin pie, but some delicious herb cookies, that we do have," Julius told her with a magnanimous wave of his elegant, pale hand.
"I had some ores and 'fuls I wanted to refine. To upgrade some farming equipment…"
"We'll make sure you get it done before you leave. I can't give you discount with that , it's our main line of business and even that's slow. But maybe with one of our already finished pieces of jewelry I could knock a few auree off," Mira suggested while placing pretty china cups and saucers on an equally pretty tray. Everything about this place was so damn pretty, Evie thought enviously, her mind on the image of her own shabby little shack.
"You really don't need to do that! I only put my nose in your business. You really shouldn't reward me for that!" Evie laughed and rubbed the back of her neck.
"But I want to, so I will. We can take a quick look over the pieces we have left and you tell me if anything sticks out," Mira suggested gaily, setting the tray down and pouring boiling water into the porcelain teapot decorated with rosebuds. "The tea needs to steep for a moment anyhow."
"And those cookies need to cool. Go on with you, busybody, and let us pamper you today. Goddess knows from all the gossip I've heard, you need it," Julius told her briskly.
Evie let herself be whisked back into the jewelry shop. Mira carefully pointed out each piece of jewelry, explaining where the stones had been found and who made which piece (apparently her husband had been the artisan before Julius had come, and her eyes turned misty and fond when she lingered over the pieces of his still left for sale). For the most part, Evie remained only interested in the stories with cursory glances out of respect and politeness. Until they came across the few pieces made with shimmery pink sakura shells. She couldn't help but oooh over them, eyes wide and surprised. They looked like pink mother-of-pearl, with the same kind of sheen to them. No wonder Kathy liked the shells; cleaned and buffed, they were prettier than some of those precious gems.
"It's actually Kathy's birthday today… maybe I should get her one of these? Probably not a ring, since she works in a bar and washing dishes and the like. Maybe a necklace or a bracelet."
"A necklace is a bit more like a lover's token, at least that was my late husband's view," Mira told her with a wistful, wispy smile on her face. A long blink was the only clue she had to shake herself free of cobwebs before taking out a velvet-padded tray. "But this bracelet here might work for you. It's made with silver and he put such care in the design. See how he made the silver look a bit like branches, and the delicate work he put into shaping the shells and their settings so they look like sakura blossom petals? It was one of his favorites," Mira told her, fingers gently running over the silver and pointing out its details as she spoke.
"It's lovely, but not really showy, and it's small, so I don't think it'd slip off Kathy's wrist, either. It's perfect," Evie replied with a gentle smile. Mira smiled sweetly with a nod.
"It is indeed. She's a good girl and she'll cherish it. I'll wrap it up for you. We'll worry about paying when you leave, after cookies and tea."
Evie grinned widely. "You saved my bacon, really. I had no idea what to get her."
"Now that you females are done looking at the pretty baubles, come in here and eat these cookies I slaved over a hot oven making!" Julius called out.
"Juli, you make these pretty baubles for a living," Mira called back fondly.
Tea and cookies in the accessory shop was one of the better hours Evie had spent in Castanet, surprisingly. She wasn't sure she'd have enough in common with Julius to enjoy spending so much time with him. But with his energy and verve returned, he was a lot more likeable; and Mira, while still quiet and lapsing into pensive silence occasionally, was a sweet soul and impossible to dislike. They compared stories about their times in university– all three of them having gone– and the other two clucked over and bemoaned her putting off her last semester, but didn't hassle her about it. Instead, they complimented her on her work at the ranch and how well she'd been settling in their town. The bracelet for Kathy was wrapped up in pretty tissue paper and set in a little gift bag, and Mira knocked a good 100 auree off the price before putting all the 'fuls and ores through the refiner. There was enough iron ore to upgrade at least one tool, and a little extra, but most everything else became junk metal or glass beads. A garnet and an amber were found in the red & yellow 'fuls, though, and a couple copper ingots Evie packed away to be kept at home for later. All in all, she was almost… sorry to go, despite her checklist to get through.
"What are your other plans today, my darling little bee?" Julius asked with a wink while printing out some receipts.
Evie wrinkled her nose at him, which made him chortle. "Well, I'm gonna go mining a bit, since I've got the time. Then, probably lunch with Candy, 'cause I miss her adorable face, plus Kathy's last minute surprise party to set up, and then some fishing off the docks with Toby until the party later tonight. Did anyone call you to invite you to come?" Evie asked with a head tilt. "I know Toby knows you well, but I don't know if he would've invited you without asking me first."
Julius checked the receipts and handed them over. "No one yet, I've the feeling you're about to fix that. I haven't really been out on the… scenesince I've been back. Not that Harmonica has much of one," the purplette joked mildly. "Now, when you say Candy, you wouldn't be meaning sweet little Candace, would you?"
Evie was so baffled by the question, she missed Mira's sharp look over her shoulder at Julius. "Yeah, from Sonata Tailoring. You know her?"
"I used to, quite well," he sighed sadly. His eyes narrowed for a moment, an idea coming to him as he tapped his chin. "How about when you leave, I just go down with you? I'd love to say hello, then I'll go get some lunch at Ocarina. I haven't been by there in a while and Yolanda's lunch specials are always something delectable. Not to mention I heard about a new man come to stay who's very interesting."
"He is interesting and mysterious," Evie admitted with a wry smirk. "I'll come by and holler for you when I leave the mine. Thank you again, Ms. Mira, and you too, Julius. I had a really good time."
"Of course, any time, sweetie. Take care of yourself. No more broken legs," Mira teased.
"Does everyone know about that?!" Evie exclaimed, throwing up her hands and storming out the door to the sound of their laughter.
The errand at the blacksmith's was easy enough to get through, Ramsey his usual brusque, if kind, self. He gave her a few tips for finding good ore caches and sent her on her way with a shiny new watering can that was double the original size, but still collapsible. Needing the money 'fuls could provide sent her up to the Upper floors, since the White Wonderfuls' stones were more expensive. Surprisingly… or maybe not surprisingly if she'd thought about it, Phoebe was on the fifth floor and eyeing up a few ores that looked like silver to Evie's, admittedly untrained, eye. But Phoebe agreed with a sigh and set them aside.
"So, anything in particular you're lookin' for? I thought I found a good rare ore vein, but it's just silver, as you saw. This dim lighting doesn't help things. I really need to remember to fix my headlamp," Phoebe muttered to herself. Evie shrugged.
"Just iron or copper, and any Wonderfuls I pick up along the way. I need to upgrade all my tools. The better the tools, the less tired I get, you know?" She held up her battered old hammer in emphasis. Phoebe frowned at it.
"That old thing looks like a death wish waiting to happen. Two hands… well, four hands are better than two. I'll go up with you and pull you back from any gaping holes in the ground," Phoebe offered hoisting up her own hammer and her satchel of more specialized mining tools.
"No, you don't have to do that. I'm good."
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Please, let me. That man is gonna show up any minute and he just chatters and ask questions and looks around. Useless. I know you're more task-oriented than him. Let's go before he shows up."
"Wait, what man? Owen?" Evie asked curiously, but following Phoebe's determined stride towards the upward stairs.
"Ha, no. Owen doesn't come to the Upper Mines often, it's why I like it up here. I don't like distractions. I mean that Calvin. He's interesting enough, but I don't need a conversation while I'm working." Phoebe snorted loudly and disparagingly. Evie hid a snicker behind her hand.
Mining went faster and easier with a veteran at her side, giving her tips and sighing fondly when she dragged Evie away from pitfalls and hot air geysers. They even found a mole hole with a pontata root left at the entrance when the timid creature scuttled away at their approach. Evie found so many ores and 'fuls, her back was crying at the load. She dropped to the ground, covered in rock dust and sweat, tiny scratches on her legs and arms from flying debris, and guzzled down the water Phoebe handed over.
"Thanks! I really need to make sure I carry my own water around. This was a last minute decision, today," Evie explained apologetically. Phoebe shook her head.
"It's fine. You're a good mining partner. You keep up and focus on the work. It's nice. But… you haven't been hearing bells, have you? I swear I've been hearing bells all morning. Or just one little bell?" Phoebe queried, a baffled frown and eyes darting around the dim cavern.
Evie blinked in shock, gaze following the bobbing ball of light playing around the quartz crystals among the rocks. "Maybe… yeah. But, uh, I've been kinda hearing bells ever since I fell through that hole. Every time I come here, I can hear it as clearly as that day," Evie not quite hedged.
Phoebe's expression cleared. "That's true. That was a beautiful tune. Renee said she heard it again, or something like it, just a week or so later? Out by the Marimba Farm. I thought I heard something that day, too, but I thought I was just imagining it, until Renee said she did. I wonder…I wonder if the Goddess is returning…" Phoebe murmured, sipping at the last of the water pensively.
"Returning? I hadn't heard she'd left," Evie pointed out questioningly. Phoebe lifted a shoulder in a lazy shrug.
"It depends on who you ask. Some say she's sleeping, her magic too weak to keep her awake, some say she never existed," Phoebe snorted incredulously at that, making Evie grin. "But my mother and a few others think she must've left. For her Tree to have died, and the whole land to be suffering like this? She can't still be here and watching everything die. It doesn't fit with the stories, or with common sense. Not even immortal fairies want to die, and she will. When the last of the magic dies, so will she. With the Bells Ringing again, maybe she's finally back and sinking her magic back into the land?"
"Something like that," Evie agreed, wrapping her arms around her knees, feeling chilled.
Those words twisted into her heart, like a too-sharp stiletto slipping past her ribs. When the last of the magic dies, so will she. Is… Is Evie keeping the Goddess alive ? All this time, it wasn't just about the land; Evie's belief, her job as the hero, the Goddess's "chosen one", was she really the Goddess's last chance to live? Would the Goddess die if she failed? Would the Sprites die? Would Finn die? Horror gripped her throat as her gaze sought out the bright spot of light dancing among the quartz and giggling like an innocent child.
Was she responsible for their lives? This little being with all his faith and belief in her, created solely for her, would die if she failed him?
The burden of ores and Wonderfuls in her rucksack was suddenly light in contrast to the weight of that knowledge now resting on her shoulders. Surely, a part of her had known all along that if she failed, it couldn't be good for them. But… their death? Their very existence over? How petty and ephemeral her worries and questions over her love life had been this morning.
"So, about Kathy's party tonight," Phoebe began. Unlike Evie, whose very life and purpose was wrapped up in Phoebe's words, Phoebe believed in them abstractly. They weren't personal to her, not really, not in the same way. She could move on, and Evie could nod along in all the right places, but she was still mired in the heavy epiphany Phoebe's offhand theory had caused. Luckily, it was just rehashing the simple details: time and place and people.
After a moment, Phoebe got to her feet with a creaking stretch and decided to move on, more upwards, but Evie knew it was time to turn back at last. Not just because she needed to be alone– with Finn– to calm down a bit. They agreed to meet at Sonata Tailoring at 8 pm, where'd they put up the last bits of the surprise party before Candace lured Kathy over at 8:30. Something Candace had already cleared with Hayden the evening before.
She made her way quickly back to accessory shop where aunt and nephew welcomed her back as eagerly as the first time she'd come by. Her new load of ores and 'fuls she got refined, but only saved the metals she got, knowing she'd need more money before she could upgrade any of her other tools. Everything else got thrown (nicely) into the shipping box as Julius whistled at the haul, impressed.
"I know you're here to be a rancher, but you're not too shabby at the mining thing. Now, anyway," Julius said with a smirk that had Evie scowling up at him.
"One day, you all are gonna forget about the broken leg thing."
"I very seriously doubt that- what are you doing?" Julius exclaimed, aghast. Evie and Finn made eye contact, then looked to where Evie had swung her leg over the side of the mining cart.
"Getting in the cart. What does it look like, Julius?" Evie asked slowly.
"It looks like something extremely dangerous and filthy." He made a supremely disdainful sniff in the cart's direction. "It also goes under the waterfall! Do you know what water would do to these clothes or worse, these boots?"
Evie stared at him, just as unimpressed. "So you'd rather waste a whole hour walking around the long way… than take a less than two-minute ride in a cart that will maybe muss up your clothes?"
Julius tsked and waggled a finger at her. " I'm not a rancher, I'm an artisan, an accessory designer, and couture enthusiast. I don't judge you for your rather unflattering color scheme–" Evie's eyebrows jumped up as she looked down at her yellow camisole and maroon shorts. Was it unflattering?! "–so don't judge me for my choices, either."
Evie sighed, but held up her hands, conceding the point. "Fine, fine. If I lay something down for you to sit on would that work?"
Julius sniffed again, but nodded warily. With a groan, Evie tossed her rucksack into the cart, then yanked her camisole over her head. The shirt underneath was more than enough cover, and the camisole wasn't so thin or expensive that it couldn't survive the trip to town under Julius's bum. She laid it out and then gestured, like a jester to a king, for Julius to climb in. He tilted up his chin, nose haughtily in the air, but leapt lightly and gracefully into the cart and carefully sat on the camisole, knees drawn up close to his chest and body held tightly upright to avoid leaning against the sides. Evie looked to Finn and grinned.
"Glad I'm your human?" she whispered.
"He's sorta fussy. They're just clothes," Finn muttered back, utterly bewildered.
Evie laughed as she clambered in, much less gracefully, and balanced on her knees, hands gripping the front of the cart. "You ready, your highness?"
"Just get it over with, please," Julius groaned dramatically. Evie laughed, shaking her head, as she pulled up the brake.
When they made it to the bottom, Julius looked downright green. He was also fussing over his hair and the fur on his coat that had been dewed with water when they'd gone under the waterfall. Evie jumped out the moment she re-set the brake and helped Julius climb out. Getting out with as little touching the cart as possible was a great deal more difficult than getting in. She had to stifle another laugh when he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped at his hands. She shoved her camisole in her rucksack and swung it over her shoulder.
"You looked half-dressed like that," Julius told her critically as they walked up the steps towards the Church.
"But I'm not , and it's only because you were worried about your clothes. You gonna lend me your coat to cover me up, Mr. Rosens?" Julius eyed her filthy clothes askance, and Evie laughed at him. "I'm just joshin', Juli. I can't pull off the whole… fur look, especially with a coat that'll drag behind me if I wear it."
Julius shoulders slumped in relief. "I really would've if you meant it, despite my misgivings. I am a gentleman."
"Lucky for you, I ain't much of a lady," Evie drawled in a thick mocking accent that had Julius rolling his eyes heavenward.
"I'm sure there's a little bit of one under the dirt and attitude," Julius retorted, though his tone was affectionate.
"Only a little bit. Especially if it gets me something," Evie retorted, grinning victoriously when Julius laughed hard enough his shoulders shook in a very undignified manner. "It's getting kinda late. I've probably already missed lunch, but if I get there fast enough, Candace won't have packed it all away yet. Come on, let's go," Evie urged, hurrying Julius along. A dandy, melodramatic diva Julius may be, but he was no slacker when it came to walking. It probably helped him to have those long stork legs, though, Evie thought with a jealous scowl at said limbs. It took two of her fast-paced stomps to keep up with his single, long-legged stride.
Rude is what it was.
Evie barged into Sonata a few minutes after 1 pm, calling out a 'hallo' gaily. "Candy, my darling, lovely, sweet, biffle-lumpikins, I'm here," she announced, voice saccharine and laughing.
"And an hour late to lunch, too," Candace said from the kitchen.
There was a split second where her face was its usual sweet and openly fond default, then her giant blueberry-blue eyes saw Julius at Evie's back, and she went bone-white. Two bright spots of color burned on the apples of her cheeks and her eyes dropped immediately to the ground. Evie frowned in confusion. Candace was still shy and reserved, but she hadn't been this closed off and timid since Evie's first days in Castanet. Candace had admitted a few times that being around Evie had given her a new sort of bravery and made her feel safe– every such confession ended in overly exuberant cuddles, of course. Evie glanced back (and up) to Julius' face, only to see something like regret and sadness in his ruby eyes, before his typical dramatic flair took over. A little more so than usual.
"Why, dear Candy–"
"That's my nickname for her," Evie grumbled. Maybe these two knew each other years ago, but that didn't give him permission to use her nickname for Candace. The only ones who ever did were Luke or Renee. Two people that Candace was almost as comfortable with as she was with Evie.
"–it's been an age since I've see you. Still in your dowdy cardigans and plaids. They suit you, but you should try for some brighter colors. You always looked sweet in pink," Julius greeted familiarly. Too familiarly, actually.
Candace was obviously shrinking into herself at his flamboyance and… Evie winced at the word "dowdy" being followed up by "they suit you". She was sure, knowing Julius even as little as she did, Julius hadn't meant it like it sounded. But Candace, already shrinking and too humble for her own good, took the worst meaning to heart and shrunk even further. She looked heartbroken under the shadow of her bangs. Evie frowned. Instead of slowing down, or trying to gently pull Candace out of herself, Julius seemed to be overcompensating by talking louder and faster, a tightness to the corners of his eyes.
What the hell? Evie wondered, bewildered. Her eyes darted between the two.
"So, uh, you two used to know each other? Julius was saying you had," Evie interrupted, putting the question Candace's way so the shy girl could answer. Candace all but flinched at Evie's pointed question, eyes too wide and deer-like. Evie could see Candace's mouth opening to attempt a reply before Julius broke in, steamrolling right over Candace and answering for her when the silence stretched on a beat too long. Evie scowled in frustration up at him as Julius spoke rapid-fire and loudly.
"Well, yes, I'm a few years older, twenty-six, like Toby and Anissa, but I knew Candace and her baby sister Luna in our school days. Luna only came around during summer breaks, sometimes in the winter, so Candace spent a lot of time with Anissa, Toby, and myself during school hours."
"Ah, that makes sense. I surprised you didn't go reacquaint yourself with him when he came back, Candy," Evie tried again, her mouth stretched a little too tautly to keep from scowling.
Candace stuttered a little, one shoulder shrugging as she spoke, "I d-d-didn't th-think I sh-should int-t-t-terfere at th-the t-time."
"Oh, that wretched stutter is still around. How perfectly dreadful for you, Candace dear."
Evie's glare became downright poisonous when Candace hid her face behind her hands. There'd be no talking coming from her for the rest of his damn visit now. Once it was pointed out, Candace tended to shut down completely and refuse to talk out of embarrassment.
"So, Julius, don't you have a lunch to get to?" Evie suggested pointedly.
"Oh, yes, of course. I'll leave you two. I'll be back for the party tonight," he said gaily, eyes darting between the silent Candace and Evie. Who had to force herself not to wince now. It seemed fine before this mess.
"Of course, 8:30. Shoo shoo, I wanna eat and finish planning with my girl," Evie ordered, literally pushing him towards the door.
"I look forward to seeing you again, Candace dear!"
The door snapped shut a second later and Evie stared at it, breathing heavily and scowling. She resolved to keep him as far away from Candace as possible. She'd get Renee and Luke and Toby on it, too. Well, maybe Renee and Toby would get the whole story. She'd just tell Luke to watch out for Candace. Boy could be dumb as a brick, but he was loyal as a Lancelot to Guinevere. If she even insinuated Candace might be uncomfortable on account of so many people, he'd stick to her like glue and keep her smiling at his goofy antics all night.
"I-I'm s-so sorry!" gasped out a shaking, tiny voice from behind her.
Evie swung around to see Candace trembling, thin fingers pressed to her white lips, and her eyes too wide and dark with dilated pupils.
"Candy?"
"I'm s-s-so sorry, it's s-s-so stupid, I shouldn't have… I-I'll b-be f-fine in a m-moment," Candace all but wailed, before hiding her face in her hands again.
"Oh my Goddess, Candy, let's go sit down!" Evie yelped in shock. She bound across the room and ushered the silently weeping Candace to a chair. A moment later, Evie was pouring the hot water from the always-on water boiler into a teapot and bringing the fixings for some soothing herbal tea to the table. She dug around inside her rucksack until she found the carefully wrapped up herbs from her morning's foraging, and taking out the pretty purple herb that was Candace's favorite besides mint. The relaxing aroma of the steeping tea had Candace soft sobs easing. The first few sips of tea calmed her even further, and she slumped against her chair with a rueful and shame-faced expression.
"Are you ready to talk a little more?"
"It's s-silly," Candace whispered, staring into her tea cup.
"It isn't silly if just the sight of him can turn you into a wreck. Surely you know what a trigger is, Candace? Because what just happened was a definite example of one in action," Evie replied, gently and seriously, hands wrapping around Candace's. The warmth of the tea seeped into their hands and tiny ripples in the lavender surface betrayed Candace's leftover anxiety.
"It's just. He… He was right. About us knowing ea-each other wh-when we w-were young. He was one of m-my only friends. R-Renee and L-Luke were so v-vibrant and b-busy, and y-younger than m-me, I never f-felt like I c-could k-keep up. B-But Anissa and T-Toby were so quiet and calm. I liked to b-be around them, and…" Candace broke off, eyes slipping closed.
"With them came Julius."
"H-He w-wasn't awful! I d-don't think he m-meant to be!" Candace exclaimed, eyes earnest and meeting Evie's straight on. Evie nodded encouragingly, but the energy left Candace just as abruptly. "But… he could be cruel… w-without realizing it. My m-mother used to t-tell me he liked me, that little b-boys are m-mean to little girls they liked, but I c-couldn't understand. Why would making me c-cry b-be okay if he likedme?" Candace's voice began to wobble, tears filling her eyes again. "He'd t-tell me my clothes were ugly, that I w-was t-too quiet, th-that I c-could be p-pretty if he c-could help me, he'd hush me if I t-tried to say I liked my clothes, th-that my Gr-Gra'mama said a p-pretty heart was b-better than a p-pretty p-package. I stopped trying t-to… t-talk b-back. And then I st-started t-to st-stutter, and he'd t-try to help me, but it just g-got worse and worse," Candace narrated as the tears spilled over her cheeks and dotted her blue wool cardigan.
"Oh, Candy, I'm so sorry. I should have forced a better explanation out of him. I knew someone like Julius would be difficult for you to get along with, and thought that was the only explanation why you never talked about him," Evie said, quickly pulling Candace into a hug, careful of the hot tea between their torsos.
Candace shook her head mutely, but leaned in closer. "It w-was so long ago, I sh-shouldn't have r-reacted like that."
"Time is relative. All that matters is whether or not you're ready. And you aren't yet," Evie told her firmly, cheek resting on that soft, periwinkle hair. Candace sighed softly, but didn't protest anymore. Maybe too relieved to be told she wasn't being stupid to muster up the energy.
Evie's stomach took that moment to rumble loudly, the sound of it too loud in their close proximity. Candace pulled away with a shuddering little laugh and lifted a hand to wipe away the vestiges of her weeping.
"Exactly the d-distraction I n-need. I'll heat up some lunch f-for you. Sit and rest, p-please, Evie," Candace pleaded politely, while setting aside her tea and getting to her feet.
"… you sure you're all right?" Evie asked, with narrowed eyes on Candace's back. The bluenette puttered about the dishes and oven without turning at the question.
"All right enough for now. Ms. Yolanda is s-sending Maya down with a c-carrot c-cake before the party. She had s-some frozen c-carrots s-since last fall. And she s-said she's already unfreezing spinach for Luke's c-cake next week," Candace listed off, as briskly and professional as she could dredge up.
"It sounds fantastic! Are you going to the Firefly Festival the day before Luke's party?" Evie asked, taking up Candace's change of topic and running with it. It was obviously what Candace needed.
Evie couldn't bring herself to force it anyhow.
Halfway through lunch, and after several changes of topic and soothing of over-fraught nerves, Evie was suddenly reminded of her state of dress when Candace cocked her head to the side and frowned at Evie's shirt.
"What happened to your cute orange camisole?" Candace asked curiously, her stutter thankfully long gone by then. Evie scraped up the last of her meal and scowled as she chewed.
"I had to use it to protect Julius's too expensive butt. I guess I need to make time to go back home and wash up and change, too," Evie groaned. "I wanted to spend more time fishing, but I can't come to a party covered in mine dust and the smell of fish."
"Well… actually. Um. I made you something," Candace fiddled with her now empty tea cup, cheeks flushed a pretty pink. Evie's eyebrows shot up. Without another word, Candace rushed away and hurried back, even pinker. "It was going to be put up for sale in the shop, but I made it with you in mind. It's a bit more like workwear than your current outfits. Tougher fabric, bigger pockets, but they're smoother and almost seamless on the outside to prevent snagging like cargo pants tend to do, and they're easy to clean, but they can take more abuse and be worn a bit more often without needing washing for those days you want to spend mining, and–"
"Whoa, calm down, Candy, and lemme see my goodies! It sounds great already!" Evie interrupted with a cheerful laugh. Candace blushed tomato red– which clashed awfully with her hair and somehow made her cuter in the process– and set out the outfit on the table top. Evie's jaw dropped and her eyes shined with eagerness. "This looks perfect for my ranching, run-around lifestyle."
"You could shower here before the party, if you'd like? We have… umm… underthings… in the shop that aren't too expensive."
"Well, I do need new underthings," Evie repeated with a snicker. She folded up her new clothes and grinned up at Candace. "You're one of the most thoughtful people I've ever met. Thank you, Candy."
"It's… it's n-nothing," the sweet soul demurred, face hidden beneath lashes and the fall of her bangs.
"No, it's something. Thank you," Evie said, getting up to hug Candace tightly. "Thanks for lunch, too. I better go get that fishing done, so I can get back in time to set up." She stepped back and frowned in concern. "You're all good here?"
Candace nodded quickly.
"Okay… well, see you soon. I'll wash up and be outta your hair until the horde descends for the good time."
Candace giggled quietly and followed Evie to dry the dishes Evie washed and rinsed. She made a mental note to definitely talk to Renee, Toby, and Luke before the party, though. No way would she let this surprise party, which Candace was planning so meticulously, be ruined for the young woman.
A/N: A little bit of filler, basically, but Mira's in the game now! Thank you all for all your reviews and favorites. I really appreciate the regular comments from you all! It really keeps me inspired. The next chapter will be 9/20/17. See you then~
