Weeping Willows

Lois McMaster Bujold: If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back.

Sylvia looked around her with interest. It had been a long time since she had done anything so fun. She watched the Dance of Daggers play out before her. She could feel her guardian's eyes on her but she paid no attention as she grabbed his hand tightly in her own, watching the tall boy dodge yet another closely placed knife.

She did not know how he could be so calm about having knives thrown at him. One slip and he might be permanently injured, or worse dead. There were several knives where he did not move and they just barely missed skimming his face or other parts of his body. It was all very exciting and nerve wracking for her to sit and watch, especially when all she wanted to do was shout a warning to the young man.

Sylvia Noventa studied the boy closely. There was something very familiar about him; she felt she had seen him somewhere before not too long ago. His bangs came down obscuring his face better then the paint he wore over it. At one point he had moved close enough to where she sat in the stands that she could see his one visible green eye. It struck a memory of hers.

"Lucan," Sylvia spoke softly to her guardian. "I wish to meet that boy after his act is finished with."

"But Miss Sylvia," Her guardian frowned slightly. "I don't think that is a wise idea. He's common, not a good idea at all."

"If you're not going to help me I'll do it myself," Sylvia insisted.

Normally she was not so forward or direct. Lucan stared down at her hard with his hazel eyes but made no comment. Finally he nodded. He would help her to meet the mysterious boy.

She thought that she had remembered him showing up at a few parties of Miss Relena's. If she was right about him then he was a Gundam Pilot. It had been a long time since she had seen any of them and she looked forward to speaking with him. Perhaps they could even be friends, after a fashion.

All her attention went back to the Dance of Daggers. It seemed like things were speeding up, the knives were just a silver flash as they flew through the air at the young man. He twisted and leaped through the air so fast that Sylvia could barely keep track of both him and the knives being thrown at him.

At last the finale came up. Knives left the woman's hands with amazing speed and the young man moved at the last moment, barely in time to avoid being hit with one of the knives. Sylvia held her breath as she watched, squeezing Lucan's hand tightly in her own. And then it was all over and Sylvia got on her feet with the rest of the crowd to cheer and clap for the two amazing performers.

"Come on Lucan," Sylvia said moving toward the exit used for just performers and other workers. "I need to see him."

Lucan merely nodded and trailed after her keeping a watchful eye on the crowd. Sylvia looked back over her shoulder a few times to make sure that he was following closely enough before she walked calmly through the exit towards the living quarters of the animals and performers. There were several people lying about relaxing before they would have to go in and clean up the mess the crowd has left. She looked around for the boy and spotted him going towards some of the animal cages. Curious she followed after him.

"Excuse me," Sylvia called out once he had stopped. "Are you Trowa Barton?"

She remembered his name from Relena's parties, she remembered most of the Gundam Pilots names when she had been introduced.

"Who are you?" He asked looking calm.

"Sylvia Noventa," She said walking up and extending her hand to him.

He looked at her for a long moment before finally shaking her hand.

"How have you been?" She asked. "I never knew you were in the circus. That was a wonderful performance by the way."

"Thank you," Trowa nodded.

"I've been well enough I suppose," Sylvia informed him.

"Why did you come here?" Trowa asked studying her.

"I don't have many friends and I just wanted to try to get to know someone," Sylvia looked at the animal cages, not able to meet his gaze. "I just wanted to see that you were doing well."

"It's good to see you," Trowa's words were hard to make out. "If you would like I will be your friend."

Sylvia smiled. She could tell that he was nice and it would be nice to have someone to lean on once in a while just as she was sure it would be nice for him to have someone there for him.

"What are you doing tonight Sylvia?" Trowa asked, breaking the nervous silence.

"Attending a social function at Duke Reynols," Sylvia sighed. "I just hope that the other young men don't do what they did the last time.

"What was that?" Trowa cocked his head to the side.

"They kept bothering me," Sylvia flushed.

"Can you bring a guest?" Trowa asked softly.

"Yes," Sylvia nodded.

"Then I'll accompany you," Trowa offered. "It's not a problem."

"Are you sure?" Sylvia asked nervously.

"Yes," Trowa gave a tiny smile. "And any other important function where you should have an escort just give me a call and a few days notice. It's no problem and that way you'll have the added protection of a Gundam Pilot."

"Really?" Sylvia's eyes widened. "Thank you so much. You don't know what this means to me."

Trowa heard the footsteps before Sylvia. He pushed her to the ground and drew his gun on the unfamiliar footfall.

"Sylvia are you all right?" Lucan asked from some distance away.

"I'm fine," Sylvia stood and brushed the dirt off her skirt. "Trowa Barton, this is my guardian Lucan."

"I apologize," Trowa tucked his gun away.

"Who are you?" Lucan asked suspiciously.

"Trowa Barton, Gundam Pilot," Trowa gave a half smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you as well," Lucan acknowledged.

"Do you think you could meet me at the Grand Hotel around six tonight?" Sylvia asked. "And do you have anything formal to wear?"

"I have a tuxedo," Trowa frowned lightly. "Will that do?"

"Oh yes," Sylvia smiled.

"I'll see you at six then," Trowa told her.

Sylvia said goodbye and followed after Lucan to the car. Tonight was going to be the most fun she had had since Relena's last party more than eight months ago.