Chapter 15 – Being Human

When Jonathon returned from his consultations with Susan Sto Helit, the first thing he saw as he finished paying the fare for his hired coach was someone else also exiting a coach in front of the bakery.

It was a woman.

Her hair was braided and coiled, with stray tresses falling across her cheekbones. Her dress only added to the effect, with its pale color offsetting her lighter skin and darker hair. As he wondered who this could possibly be, she was followed a few moments later by a more familiar figure.

Jessica? A doubletake. Myria? He had thought her beautiful the first time she had passed the bakery. Now she was not. She was more than beautiful. She was… words failed him. Her face was… was an alabaster canvas on which her features were painted in contrasting colors. Her figure was grace and lace and…

She was the most beautiful creature alive.

"Jonny, close your mouth. You're letting flies in."

"Whuh?"

"Seriously cousin, try not to drool. " He heard a giggle from beside him, but all he could see was Myria looking at him with an uncertain small smile on her face. "Jonny…" –snap snap– "Oh fine, yeah she looks amazing doesn't she. And hey, we even have money left over!"

"Whuh?"

"Oh good grief. Go escort her inside before a mountain falls on you. I have to settle up with Jackstone. Maybe you'll have found your brain by then." He vaguely saw her move away.

Myria continued to regard him, her smile starting to waver. "Jonathon, you seem discomfited. Is the dress not pleasing?"

"Whuh?"

A look of concerned came over her face. "Jessica said we would 'blow your mind'. I assumed that was a figure of speech, but your faculties appear to be actually impaired."

Jonathon shook his head, trying to get some focus back. "No! Er… no I'm fine Myria. You just look… you look incredible!"

"Thank you. It was an interesting and generally pleasant experience. Thank you for suggesting it. Jessica is a very capable companion."

"I…" Jonathon reflected. This was turning out to be a very good day. Myria was obviously much more stable than she had been even that morning. And that had been a huge improvement over the previous day. Tearing his eyes off her, he could see that even Jessica had partaken a bit, and was bouncier than usual. In the meantime, he had gotten information out of Susan without being ordered to go out to the playground, and they might actually have a way to handle the whole… shiny yellow metal problem. Yes. "I'm glad it worked out well Myria. Everything seems to be working out today."

"So you are rested as well?"

"I feel great actually. In fact…we should go out. You aren't dressed for an evening in. We should… I don't know, go out to dinner, or see if something is happening at the… I don't know, the Opera House? Oh wait! We'll need transportation!" He turned to Jessica, signaling frantically until he caught her attention.

She looked slightly put out. "What?"

"We may need the coach. For the… for the Opera. Or the Theater!"

Jessica frowned, opened her mouth, then closed it again. She seemed about to have some sort of fit but instead covered her face with her hands for a few seconds before turning it back to him. "Jonny, either one of those are like 2 blocks away. Will you please just go inside? Your brain isn't working at all and I'm afraid you are going to hurt yourself trying to walk or something."

"Oh. Ok. Right. Um, Myria why don't we go inside. You can wait and I'll change into… gods I'll think of something."

For Myria, the rest of the evening was a warm, comforting blur. Johnathon was radiating… something, and it affected her. The play was some piece called "The Turtle Moves" and was apparently about the queer goings on years ago in Omnia. The writer had managed to make it humorous without going so far that he risked the Church of Om reversing its prior mandates against burning heretics at the stake. But more than the play, it was Jonathon's presence that made the evening. It was palpable. If she'd had more life experience, she might have compared it to sitting next to a glowing campfire on a cool evening. As it was, all she could do is file it under 'exquisite'. And she kept turning her head to find him looking at her, and they would share a smile before turning their attention back to the play. She remembered the clockmaker looking at her like that, in what seemed a lifetime ago, but now she was beginning to understand what it signified.

So this is what 'smitten' means, she mused.

Later that night, she lay in her borrowed bed above the bakery, listening to Jon's quiet even breathing on the makeshift cot nearby. She found herself comforted by the sound. She was happy. This was happiness.

She reviewed in her mind the discussions over dinner, about how they would resolve the question of living arrangements, and what Jonathon told her about Susan's offer to help. She believed it would all work out. This was hope.

She remembered how she felt as he held her hand on the walk back to the bakery. She was not alone. This was belonging.

This was being human.

She slept through until morning, the terror kept at bay by tomorrow's promise.