Madeira received the hug with a smile, rocking back on her heels with the force of it. For a very long time gratitude was the only kind of love she knew, and the feeling of it still warmed her soul even after tasting the real thing. But this childish exuberance felt so much more pure than something as sweet and empty as gratitude. With it she was able to wash away the last of her dark, lingering thoughts and bask in the happiness of her little girl.
"You're very welcome, my little fox. If you stay still, I might even be able to put it on you."
Detangling herself from her daughters embrace she set down the box and took the necklace out with two hands.
"Now you must be very careful with this. It's not a toy. Only the most special and powerful of men and women get to wear diamonds." Reaching under Amelie's hair, she fiddled with the latch of the necklace until it secured itself with a little click. The necklace was a little too big, the girl would easily be able to lift the chain over her head. But this was meant to be something the Kelvic could grow into.
Sitting back on her heels, Madeira allowed herself a self-satisfied smirk. She was right to choose that delicate blue. It made Amelie's own blue eyes sparkle. The star was not a simple choice either. If she was to grow up in Lhavit her mother was going to make sure she did so with her best foot forward. If that meant showing her cultural assimilation by parading around in the stars the Lhavitian's so loved then that was what she was going to do.
"You look beautiful, Amelie."
Brushing off her knees, Madeira stood, setting the empty box on the counter. "You've done a wonderful job again, master Li", she flashed her own most charming smile between the glass cases to the man slumped by the front door.
"Mmm", he assented around the pipe he was trying to relight.
Approaching him, Madeira fixed the collar of her dress, pulled her gloves taut across her wrists, fussing like she was ready to leave. "I'll send you the payment over carrier tomorrow", she purred almost absently, like half a hundred kina was nothing but an afterthought. "Come along, Amelie."
"Woah", the old man raised one bushy eyebrow, his guttering pipe forgotten in his mouth. "My services are paid for up front."
Madeira blinked in feigned confusion. "Is that really so unusual? When have you ever known me to skip out of your bill?"
"That's not how it works here."
"Oh, I don't keep such sums on me anymore. The streets are dangerous these days, what with the strife..." her hand fluttered worriedly over little Amelie.
"Then you may leave the piece here, and return when you feel safe", the old man retorted stubbornly, his pipe finally going out with a sour little puff.
Madeira laughed slow and lazy, keeping the tension down. Her voice turned hushed, and low, leaning forward like they had a secret. "I thought we were past such mistrust, master. You've been so good to me, have I not proved myself good to you?"
A little spark of dijed lit in the tips of her fingers, humming with their own electric current as she reached forward and plucked the matchbox out of his hand. She struck a match against the side of the box and held the flame to the dying pipe. The old man automatically sucked at the stem until the pipe renewed itself with a happy cloud of fragrant smoke. He reached to take the matches back from her, and as he did their hands touched. With that contact her soul roared forward, twisting intent into that small piece of dijed imbedded in her fingers.
Trust me, the hypnotism sang with the delicate contact of silk on skin.
"What do you say, will you forgive your best customer?", Madeira straightened, letting the contact linger a long moment as Li blinked up at her.
Her hypnotism and persuasive pressure proved to be too much for the grumpy old jewelcrafter, the notoriously steelhearted negotiator, who conceded gracelessly.
"Yes, yes, fine", he gestured exasperatedly towards the door. "I'll expect your package."
"Thank you, sir", Madeira inclined her head politely, motioning Amelie to do the same, and glided out the door, which tinkled happily at their exit.
Outside the air was still crisp, Syna falling lower across the cobblestone that it was when they had stepped inside. Emma was a few houses down, tormenting cats with her possession. Madeira took the moment of privacy to lean down to her daughter.
"I think next season I'll begin teaching you how to do that", she winked mischievously. "Where would you like to go next, little fox? We can go to the Fleeting Comet if you're hungry. Or we can go to the Opera to watch a show. The hotsprings are nearby..." she fluttered her gloved hand to imply the endless possibilities. 'It's all up to you, my darling. I want this to be your day."
"You're very welcome, my little fox. If you stay still, I might even be able to put it on you."
Detangling herself from her daughters embrace she set down the box and took the necklace out with two hands.
"Now you must be very careful with this. It's not a toy. Only the most special and powerful of men and women get to wear diamonds." Reaching under Amelie's hair, she fiddled with the latch of the necklace until it secured itself with a little click. The necklace was a little too big, the girl would easily be able to lift the chain over her head. But this was meant to be something the Kelvic could grow into.
Sitting back on her heels, Madeira allowed herself a self-satisfied smirk. She was right to choose that delicate blue. It made Amelie's own blue eyes sparkle. The star was not a simple choice either. If she was to grow up in Lhavit her mother was going to make sure she did so with her best foot forward. If that meant showing her cultural assimilation by parading around in the stars the Lhavitian's so loved then that was what she was going to do.
"You look beautiful, Amelie."
Brushing off her knees, Madeira stood, setting the empty box on the counter. "You've done a wonderful job again, master Li", she flashed her own most charming smile between the glass cases to the man slumped by the front door.
"Mmm", he assented around the pipe he was trying to relight.
Approaching him, Madeira fixed the collar of her dress, pulled her gloves taut across her wrists, fussing like she was ready to leave. "I'll send you the payment over carrier tomorrow", she purred almost absently, like half a hundred kina was nothing but an afterthought. "Come along, Amelie."
"Woah", the old man raised one bushy eyebrow, his guttering pipe forgotten in his mouth. "My services are paid for up front."
Madeira blinked in feigned confusion. "Is that really so unusual? When have you ever known me to skip out of your bill?"
"That's not how it works here."
"Oh, I don't keep such sums on me anymore. The streets are dangerous these days, what with the strife..." her hand fluttered worriedly over little Amelie.
"Then you may leave the piece here, and return when you feel safe", the old man retorted stubbornly, his pipe finally going out with a sour little puff.
Madeira laughed slow and lazy, keeping the tension down. Her voice turned hushed, and low, leaning forward like they had a secret. "I thought we were past such mistrust, master. You've been so good to me, have I not proved myself good to you?"
A little spark of dijed lit in the tips of her fingers, humming with their own electric current as she reached forward and plucked the matchbox out of his hand. She struck a match against the side of the box and held the flame to the dying pipe. The old man automatically sucked at the stem until the pipe renewed itself with a happy cloud of fragrant smoke. He reached to take the matches back from her, and as he did their hands touched. With that contact her soul roared forward, twisting intent into that small piece of dijed imbedded in her fingers.
Trust me, the hypnotism sang with the delicate contact of silk on skin.
"What do you say, will you forgive your best customer?", Madeira straightened, letting the contact linger a long moment as Li blinked up at her.
Her hypnotism and persuasive pressure proved to be too much for the grumpy old jewelcrafter, the notoriously steelhearted negotiator, who conceded gracelessly.
"Yes, yes, fine", he gestured exasperatedly towards the door. "I'll expect your package."
"Thank you, sir", Madeira inclined her head politely, motioning Amelie to do the same, and glided out the door, which tinkled happily at their exit.
Outside the air was still crisp, Syna falling lower across the cobblestone that it was when they had stepped inside. Emma was a few houses down, tormenting cats with her possession. Madeira took the moment of privacy to lean down to her daughter.
"I think next season I'll begin teaching you how to do that", she winked mischievously. "Where would you like to go next, little fox? We can go to the Fleeting Comet if you're hungry. Or we can go to the Opera to watch a show. The hotsprings are nearby..." she fluttered her gloved hand to imply the endless possibilities. 'It's all up to you, my darling. I want this to be your day."
x
