All the Pretty Colors (Hadrian)

[Theia]

26th of Winter, 512AV An entire room filled with cloth of all colors and shapes. Each organized, evenly placed and meticulously kept up with the peoples trends. It was exciting for any in there for even the simplest dress was to be used for an occasion to make it wonderful. Even a simple dinner! The young woman could even imagine the way the colors would shine in the light, pale and bright. Perfect for the sunny weather of the season with the sun so warm she could picture something with little sleeves. The price was forgotten as was the coin but she didn’t need it right this second even if she did want it. Theia was only there to look. She could do that. She could absolutely do that. Except for the fact that she wanted to yank every piece off the shelf and run home. The only thing she needed was to first stop her hands from fluttering around like her stomach, feeling just as blissful as she had the first time she had been thrown a coin. And now it had been so long since she had gotten a new dress and they finally had enough coin! Now if she could just pick one. Her hands and body surged around the store almost anxiously, flitting around with no more thoughts of prices and only thoughts of a pretty dress to dance in again. It was so exciting! Around her people moved away and she smiled at them as they mumbled at the cool, damp air. How silly they were being, honestly, the Spring air was already showing a smidge of the warm Summer to come. And didn’t this dress just look perfect? Absolutely perfect! “Yvette, you’re wonderful! This dress is perfect!” The woman nodded, pointing out a dress to another young woman in front of her and Theia beamed even brighter. Her brother would be happy, she thought, and so would she. Likely they could even splurge and get him a little trinket as well; the dress was not too costly. Her mind focused on making sure there would one for her, she reached to place it at the front. Hopefully Yvette would let her pay later but clumsy fingers slipped over the silky fabric, Theia laughing at her own stumble and reaching again. And again. And again. And again. It was maddening! The dress was like water over her fingers. She took a breath to calm her giggles and her growing temper.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian hadn't been back to Zeltiva long, but there were things the orphanage needed and those became his responsibility again. Just now he had come to the shop to see about a new batch of uniforms for the children. It was just easier to have uniforms, so none could be shown undue favoritism, and it was easier to keep them all clothed between the hand-me-downs and modest new purchases. The Farson Home was not made of money.

Noaru was no longer in Zeltiva so far as Hadrian could tell. At least, there had been no ghostly presence in any of the places he had invited the ghost to haunt. And so it was surprising to feel that tingle along his senses that he had begun to recognize as ghostly, and develop as a skill.

He spotted her quickly, even though she wasn't properly materialized such that any others could see. Her energy was starting to flare with frustration and he wondered perhaps if she was one of those who weren't aware of her state, the ones whose anger and frustration made them poltergeist, moving things and causing cold spots with their fragmented memory and emotion.

When the other live ones moved far enough away, he stepped up next to her, perusing things nearby. Yvette was busy, after all, and would require time before she could get his order for him.

"Slippery, isn't it?" he asked quietly.

[Theia]

Theia jumped, heart jerking wildly. She hadn’t done anything wrong, she hadn’t really, but she felt like a child caught breaking a vase but she didn’t know the man. And he was not who she regularly seen but she nodded, “Very, though you don’t look like you would need a dress.” Oh, that might have been rude. Her brother was always telling her she was rude. But she didn’t take her words back, her gaze giving the man a once over. He wasn’t familiar, just another face but he made her uneasy for people rarely approached her. Well, it didn’t matter if she could just get the dress, at this rate she would be lucky if she could and even luckier if she could get into it later. What did Yvette make these dress out of?! He can’t mean any ill, she thought, and he was not making fun, she was just aggravated. A short debate and she looked up at him once more. Gods he was tall, wasn’t he? Cute too. “I’m Theia and you are?” No hand was held out and she reached for the water-like dress again her fingers clenching around the air with each huff of breath. Oh, but oh. How perfect this would work, she turned toward the man eagerly, standing tip toe and pointing. “Can you hand me that? My brother said I could get a dress! It’s the only short sleeve one here. I’m surprised usually the dresses are more seasonal and it’s not cold enough to warrant so much fur!” She would get the dress! And looking at the price she could get her brother one of those odd salty sweets he liked so much. She’d just run home and grab the coin. Any anger she felt was washing off rapidly, giving way to the rising excitement once more. She could just see herself in it, dancing again! Maybe she’d even invite this fellow for helping her out, getting their ragtag group up and busking again would be something.

[Hadrian]

"I'm not looking for me," he admitted quickly, pale skin flushing with embarrassment. "I help out at the orphanage. There are only so many hand-me-downs. Ah, I'm Hadrian Aelius. Pleased to meet you, Theia."

Hadrian took the hanger in hand, holding the dress out for the poor, deluded ghost. It looked like a dress for summer, something Kendall might have liked back when they were students at the university. He smiled sadly, wondering whether she was happy.

"Well, it is Winter," he pointed out. He wasn't sure what else to do or say. He just hoped Yvette didn't catch him looking at a dress for a grown woman. Well, he could say it was for Lily, perhaps. Gods knew the Konti healer at the orphanage deserved a new dress too, poor martyr.

[Theia]

Her thoughts wriggled like worms to the point in which she had almost forgotten the man. But he wasn’t who she was supposed to see anyhow. But who was she supposed to see? It tickled at the back of her mind as she spoke, both pleased and confused, “They would need a lot of help there after the storm! Its sweet of you. But are the children really so grown?” Theia had a known a few children who went there, most had come out fine, she thought, though not all. “Wasn’t too bad off was it? I know a lot of the houses are still in repair.” Ah, she had almost forgotten the dress. She reached out but…damned thing was still so slippery and the tickling only grew. Her teeth clacked in annoyance and it only grew as Hadrian spoke of winter. Winter, winter, winter! What was it with the city? Had everyone gone mad from the storm?! Well, she’d just ignore it then. And all the while she couldn’t get the dress, her hands sliding over the fabric to the point where it was as if she went through it. Even the hanger wasn’t easy to grab! “Is not winter just yet and usually Yvette puts out the cooler things near the end of the season. Summers aren’t that cold and…” focus, just relax and focus on the dress, wasn’t that hard she just had to reach for it…slowly and just a little. “Damned dress!” She swatted at it angrily and then smiled sheepishly at Hadrian, “May I ask you for another favor Hadrian?” OOCJust like to thank you for your patience and apologize for the fact that I take so danged long!

[Hadrian]

"So grown? Oh, Yvette makes smaller clothes, too. She makes a lot of the clothes for the children; she gives us a good deal. The storm did hit the building hard, though. It wasn't exactly new, and now the entire West Wing is a bit ruined. Soon I hope we will be fixing it up, making improvements and renovations."

He observed the strange ghost carefully, not wanting to add to her ire, though he could feel the ripples of her distress through the aether.

"What can I do for you, Theia?" he asked.

[Theia]

“Maybe if I get a moment I’ll go help out, if that’s alright. My brother and I almost ended up there once it’d be strange for kids not to have a place to be comfy at.” She said with a small smile, “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind asking Yvette to hold this for me? Since I can’t seem to get a grip.” Her joke felt flat because her frustration roiled its ugly head again. What was wrong with her today? It usually wasn’t this hard to do things. She was probably just tired. “But there’s a bit more, I need another favor and be honest,it sounds crazy but I'm look right to you...right?” Theia felt her smile fade, a twinge of nervousness creeping in, vague remembrances of this occurring throughout the day made her worry. Her hands looked fine to her though. Skin covered them like it was supposed to. Or did it? Was that a spot of something else? The woman wasn’t sure. The familiar pull in her gut assured her that whatever spiked from there and curled around her was visible and skin like. Not just skin like it was, bone covered in blood and flesh as even Hadrian was. She shifted from one foot to the other in obvious discomfort, a little worried she sounded crazy and a little worried she was forgetting something. Theia made to lean against the table of folded dresses nearest to them but nearly slid to the floor, jumping back up with a an embarrassed laugh.