Post by ubiquitous on Mar 10, 2009 16:16:06 GMT 10
Title: Understanding
Rating: G
Genre: Drama/Angst
Series: Set sometime after Will of the Empress
Summary: Tris makes a visit to Capchen. Gen.
Notes: My first shot at Emelan fic. Written for the piercefic '08 fic drive.
Tris listens to the winds as she rides into Capchen. The wind whispers as it floats about her, telling her what it knows. She has yet to learn anything of use to her. The city has changed since she left it, it has grown larger and even more imposing, yet it no longer impresses her as it once did. There is a lack of warmth and colour, and she has seen far greater cities in her travels.
She wonders only for a moment if accompanying Niko to Capchen was a good idea, before remembering Briar’s words to her before she left. “We’re your family now, them folks in Capchen ain’t got no business with you anymore.” After Aymery, she is sure that there is no room for her old family in her heart. Once more, she tries asking the winds for any news of her family’s whereabouts, still hoping to avoid them, but to no avail.
Forgetting her frustration, she walks into a nearby shop. As Chime sees the myrrh under the glass counter, it flies from its hiding place in Tris’s pouch. She is so preoccupied scolding the creature that she almost doesn’t notice the woman who appears at the counter. Tris does a small double take at the sight of the woman, turning to look at her. Her hair is the same colour as Tris’s, and is pulled back in a tight bun. Her face is more worn than Tris remembers, lines forming around her eyes and lips, yet she still looks quite youthful, but there is no mistaking her identity. Her mother’s expression is different from what Tris remembers. The annoyance and fear she remembered was replaced by a polite mask and a sweet smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
Looking around the shop, she sees what her life might have been like had Niko not found her. Being stuck in a small shop all day, not understanding her own power and being afraid of doing something her family considered strange. Never meeting Sandry and Daja and Briar, or Niko. In that world, she would never learn to play with lightning, never be outside enjoying the winds and rain, never knowing the world outside Capchen. She sees it all flash by, and knows she would never be happy in that world.
The woman peers at the dragon, instinctively curious at the sight of the marvel. Chime is moving around quite excitedly, sick of staying in the pouch for so long, and makes an even greater show for the woman’s attention. Tris can tell why the woman is so interested in the creature from the gleam in her eye. But her companion is not for sale. After her initial wonderment passes, she drills Tris, trying to learn more. She indulges her, telling of his creation, and asking to purchase myrrh and other foods for him. The woman obliges, asking if she could purchase the dragon. Tris refuses politely, accepting the goods.
However, resentment rises within her as she begins to realise the woman doesn’t recognise her. Unbeknownst to her, lightning begins to dance about her copper braids. As the woman accepts her money, she notices the lightning crackle about the girl’s hair, and realisation dawns up on her. Misunderstanding the look of horror upon her mother’s face, Tris recoils, wounded by the sharp stab of pain she thought would never have to experience again. Outside, the sunny skies have suddenly changed into a wild storm, rain and lightning pouring down upon the city. She was wrong, they still mean something to her. Why, she doesn’t understand. Chime chirps at her, worried by Tris’s rigid stance. Coming back to herself, she picks up the dragon, and flees the shop, fighting the hot tears that swell to her eyes unbidden. The woman runs after her, calling her, but she is nowhere to be found.
Rating: G
Genre: Drama/Angst
Series: Set sometime after Will of the Empress
Summary: Tris makes a visit to Capchen. Gen.
Notes: My first shot at Emelan fic. Written for the piercefic '08 fic drive.
Tris listens to the winds as she rides into Capchen. The wind whispers as it floats about her, telling her what it knows. She has yet to learn anything of use to her. The city has changed since she left it, it has grown larger and even more imposing, yet it no longer impresses her as it once did. There is a lack of warmth and colour, and she has seen far greater cities in her travels.
She wonders only for a moment if accompanying Niko to Capchen was a good idea, before remembering Briar’s words to her before she left. “We’re your family now, them folks in Capchen ain’t got no business with you anymore.” After Aymery, she is sure that there is no room for her old family in her heart. Once more, she tries asking the winds for any news of her family’s whereabouts, still hoping to avoid them, but to no avail.
Forgetting her frustration, she walks into a nearby shop. As Chime sees the myrrh under the glass counter, it flies from its hiding place in Tris’s pouch. She is so preoccupied scolding the creature that she almost doesn’t notice the woman who appears at the counter. Tris does a small double take at the sight of the woman, turning to look at her. Her hair is the same colour as Tris’s, and is pulled back in a tight bun. Her face is more worn than Tris remembers, lines forming around her eyes and lips, yet she still looks quite youthful, but there is no mistaking her identity. Her mother’s expression is different from what Tris remembers. The annoyance and fear she remembered was replaced by a polite mask and a sweet smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
Looking around the shop, she sees what her life might have been like had Niko not found her. Being stuck in a small shop all day, not understanding her own power and being afraid of doing something her family considered strange. Never meeting Sandry and Daja and Briar, or Niko. In that world, she would never learn to play with lightning, never be outside enjoying the winds and rain, never knowing the world outside Capchen. She sees it all flash by, and knows she would never be happy in that world.
The woman peers at the dragon, instinctively curious at the sight of the marvel. Chime is moving around quite excitedly, sick of staying in the pouch for so long, and makes an even greater show for the woman’s attention. Tris can tell why the woman is so interested in the creature from the gleam in her eye. But her companion is not for sale. After her initial wonderment passes, she drills Tris, trying to learn more. She indulges her, telling of his creation, and asking to purchase myrrh and other foods for him. The woman obliges, asking if she could purchase the dragon. Tris refuses politely, accepting the goods.
However, resentment rises within her as she begins to realise the woman doesn’t recognise her. Unbeknownst to her, lightning begins to dance about her copper braids. As the woman accepts her money, she notices the lightning crackle about the girl’s hair, and realisation dawns up on her. Misunderstanding the look of horror upon her mother’s face, Tris recoils, wounded by the sharp stab of pain she thought would never have to experience again. Outside, the sunny skies have suddenly changed into a wild storm, rain and lightning pouring down upon the city. She was wrong, they still mean something to her. Why, she doesn’t understand. Chime chirps at her, worried by Tris’s rigid stance. Coming back to herself, she picks up the dragon, and flees the shop, fighting the hot tears that swell to her eyes unbidden. The woman runs after her, calling her, but she is nowhere to be found.
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!