For Sophie

[resealable]

[Deva is farther away from the sea than she wants to be. But it wasn't as if she really had a choice in any of this. By now, rumor of her survival has made it back to her former husband's family, and the resulting bounty that has been put out on her head is unfortunate to say the least. The last town she'd passed through, someone had recognized her, and trouble had started. And then escalated. And then yes, someone had died, but really he only had himself to blame. All right, and maybe also Deva a little, but only if you squinted. She had been defending herself in any case, and the bleeding gash in her shoulder.

Not that anyone in town wanted to hear that though, especially not from a stranger in town with a price on her head, so she'd fled. The quickest way out had been heading inland. The woods have grown deeper and thicker, and Deva thinks 'lost' likely doesn't even cover her current predicament. As soon as she could, she'd left the main road, some half-forgotten path that wound and twisted first in parallel and then wound further out into the woods.

For a moment, perhaps, Deva thinks her luck will hold. Any pursuit is far enough behind that she can't hear them. The bleeding has turned sluggish in her hastily bound shoulder. That's when a crack of thunder rings out overhead and the skies begin to violently drop rain, cold and heavy and punishing.]

Figures.

[She isn't expecting to see a small cottage out here, and when she first catches sight of it she half thinks she's seeing things. When a few hard blinks don't have it vanishing, well, Deva figures she needs to take her chances. Mysterious cottage deep in the woods during a thunderstorm. What could go wrong?

She knocks on the door, stepping back to pull her cloak closer about herself. She's a small woman, no taller than five-foot-two, all soft curves and delicate featuers. Right now she's soaked through, dark hair heavy and hanging in her face, pale skin even paler than usual -- a bedraggled shivering thing standing on a doorstep not sure if she's leaping from frying pan to fire or vice versa. Raising her voice, not even sure if it will be heard above the crashes of thunder and the roar of the rain.] Please. I need help.

Comments

[worthtempting]

[ the rain is muted in the thatched cottage roof, but still loud enough that sophie almost misses the sound of a voice calling through the door. it's not a familiar voice, which is even stranger than anyone knocking in the first place. most didn't come this deep into the forest.

she pulls the door open with a yank that makes the hinges creak their protest against moving the water-swollen wood. for a moment, she has the strangest idea that it's christine on her doorstep, but the posture is entirely wrong, and christine would likely rather die than admit needing help. ]

Then come in.

[ the woman's voice is low, soft, slightly rough from disuse. she may be smaller than deva, and definitely thinner--there's no softness to her at all. but the inside of the cottage is warm and dry, lit only by a fire in the hearth.

the floor is cobbled stone packed between with pebbles. there's not much in the way of furniture, only a table and chair, with what might be a pallet piled with blankets and furs on the floor in one corner for a bed. but there's a pot simmering over the fire, and a teapot sitting on a piece of slate in the middle of the table, steaming gently from the spout. ]

Here.

[ sophie pulls a blanket out of the bed-pile, and puts it around the other woman's shoulders, guiding her toward the hearth. a few moments later, a worn cup is pushed into deva's hands, filled with some sort of hot tea that smells like herbs. this is clearly not a woman of many words, but her presence is unthreatening and her touches aren't harsh. ]

[resealable]

[The relief that floods Deva's face is unmistakable. It brightens up her features and the start of a smile threatens her lips.]

Thank you.

[The fact that it's another woman who answers the door is somehow a relief as well. She has no desire to use her magic if she can avoid it -- especially since she'd already spent a good deal of it earlier.

Stepping out of the rain is a relief. Deva hardly minds being wet, but there's a difference between being in the ocean and being soaked through to the bone in a cold rain. The blanket is a relief as well, and she pulls it around herself gratefully. Once she's settled, cupping the teacup between chilled fingers -- the webbing between them more visible than usual given her current soaked state -- she takes a moment to look around. It's a small, sparse cottage, but warm and dry. And its owner, Deva takes a moment to study her as well. Actually smaller than she is -- which is novel enough that Deva is pleased -- whip-thin, lean, but delicate-featured and pretty in an almost eerie way.]

Are you a witch? [A pause and she smiles, not quite apologetic, but at least sheepish.] Is that a rude question? It probably is... but I'd expect to meet a witch out in the woods in a cottage like this. It seems fitting.

[worthtempting]

[ sophie's expression doesn't change much when the other woman lights up, though the corners of her mouth to curve just slightly up.

she nods at the thanks, because sophie doesn't honestly think letting someone in out of a storm is anything but the most basic of politeness. the webbing between the other woman's fingers is noted but not questioned. ]

No, I am not a witch. The herbs are for tea and cooking, not medicine or concoctions. I do not usually receive visitors.

[ that does make her face do something much closer to actually smiling, though. what or whoever this woman may be, sophie is curious but not at all concerned. ]

My name is Sophie Groeneveldt.

[ she tilts her head slightly, waiting to see if there's any sign of a reaction to her surname from the other woman. ]

[resealable]

No, I suppose this is a little out of the way, isn't it?

[Off the beaten path, so to speak. Deva isn't entirely sure how she found her way here. But soaked and shivering and bleeding, she's grateful for whatever twist of luck or fate led her here. She sips the tea with a grateful sigh.

At least until she hears that name. Oh even a sheltered selkie from a small village on the shore knows the name of that family. She swallows the sip of tea in her mouth with an audible gulp. But it doesn't seem to dim her spirits.]

Groeneveldt? I thought castles were taller than this. [She remarks with a grin over the top of her cup.] Maybe the stories exaggerate. Stories do that sometimes. I'm Deva Murphy. And I'm very grateful for the warmth and the tea, and very pleased to meet you, Sophie.

[worthtempting]

A bit, yes. Most aren't brave enough to venture into the forest, there are many dangers here.

[ sophie's smile and eyes go brightly brittle. ]

The Tower is certainly still standing, but I have not lived within its walls for many years. Whatever stories are still told, the ones of Montechristien, Francescu and Manfred likely have some truth to them, but if anything, they may fall short of the truth. But my father is dead and Violet is Lady Groeneveldt now. Do they still tell stories of the soulless skinchanger? I am indeed both of those things.

[ she bows slightly. ]

Well-met, Deva Murphy. You are safe in my home. We will tend to your wounds once you are warm and dry.

[resealable]

There are many dangers in the towns too.

[Deva counters. More dangerous she thinks, for someone like her at least. And maybe, she thinks, for someone like Sophie Groeneveldt. Or well, maybe not. Maybe the Groeneveldts are the most dangerous in the end. Deva would still rather being alone in the woods in a small cabin with this woman in front of her then back where she had run from.

She perks up at the mention of a skinchanger though, soulless or not.] I've heard many stories, mostly told when men have had too much to drink. But you're really a skinchanger? Then we have that in common, though I've only the one other skin.

[Still, someone not quite human? Is a much more comfortable idea, and Deva relaxes back.] Thank you, again. I've brought mostly trouble to your doorstep, and I don't have much to offer in return aside from gratitude.

[worthtempting]

There are. But people are more easily defeated than the beasts can be. The beasts are smarter, though, in that they leave well enough alone most of the time. People seem to have great difficulty minding their own business.

[ sophie may not have positive feelings toward humans in group. at very least, she's certainly chosen to be out in the woods in a small cabin instead of a castle with her family or a town with other people. ]

I am, yes. I can take on any form I choose. Having one other skin is better than having no others, I think.

[ sophie chuckles, and it's a warm, musical sound. ]

Second skin or not, I have little worry of what trouble you may carry in your wake. Gratitude is sufficient, and if you have any skill at cooking, that would also be welcome.

[resealable]

People do. It's very frustrating.

[And dangerous. Deva's own feelings towards humans are complicated. She's been hurt -- and badly -- but she's still been met with kindness from others. So mostly she's wary if anything. Sophie being not entirely human is actually a comfort.]

It is, yes. Any form though, that's remarkable, to be anything you wanted to be. I'm a selkie, one of the seal folk. [Since they're being honest. She won't talk about the other that she also is, partly because she does not entirely understand it herself. It scares her.]

You're kind. [Deva observes with a smile, one that brightens as she continues, almost sounding proud,] I can cook. I learned how to for my family. [There's a moment where her expression falters here before she catches herself and the smile resurfaces.] Rose helped teach me. I'm a fair housekeeper as well. [So she'll certainly clean up after any mess she makes.]

[worthtempting]

Frustrating is a word, certainly.

[ sophie agrees with deva entirely, though her tone is mild. ]

Unique in all the world. [ the words have a sort of bitter amusement to them. ] Ah, I have never met a selkie. Where is your other skin? [ she didn't notice deva carrying anything with her, much less the entire pelt of a seal. ]

I try to be kind, since I am incapable of being good. [ sophie does not ask about family; family is complicated and she did not miss the falter in deva's expression. ] I have very little house to keep, but the cooking would be appreciated.

[ besides, the tiny hut is already neat. there's not really enough in it to be cluttered, but everything is organized and accessible to someone of sophie's height. the ceiling is rather low, even, as though it was designed for someone small. it was; sophie built the house herself, for herself. ]