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Post by Linneus on Sept 28, 2012 16:57:16 GMT -5
put your dreams away for now [/color]  - - - - I get lost in my mind - - - - [/font][/color][/center]
The trick to avoiding sadness was to forget that sadness existed. How could anyone feel sad if they felt nothing at all? Even better, how could anyone feel sad if they felt nothing but happiness? Gray wasn't possible in a world of red. Darkness didn't exist when you flooded a room with light. Yvette was pregnant. Linneus was happy for her. Yvette was pregnant with Xanthe's baby. Linneus was happy for them. Xanthe took occasional comfort in Lilith's body. Wonderful. Good for them.
Linneus rubbed his eyes. Not from crying, no. No, there was no crying in the garden. It was from sweat. The heat of the sun on his back as he bent over his rose bush. No, not from crying. Not from being left in Xanthe's office, his old letters like dried leaves at his feet.
He inhaled deeply and trimmed a dead rose from the others. Linneus always felt a deep sense of melancholy at that. He knew the sacrifice was necessary. That in order for the rest of the roses to flourish, the dead ones needed to be trimmed. They only took water and sun from the rest of the roses, the ones still trying to survive. But still...
Linneus' brow furrowed in guilt. It didn't seem fair, it didn't seem right to give up on the stalk. The bloom was still an attractive light pink, only rotted brown around the edges. Its leaves were a little shriveled, but it might have made it. And now Linneus had killed it. The rose became heavy in his gloved hands, a weight in his palms. Perhaps he could hang dry it in his room. Tie it up with some twine in his window and immortalize its beauty in its death. He smiled slightly at that, picturing his window filled with dried roses. And when winter came, he wouldn't have to watch them all rot to their death. He could cut them then and hang them. They could be beautiful forever. Perhaps he could give a bouquet to...
His smile faltered. Xanthe. Linneus shouldn't be giving anything to Xanthe. He was going to have a family soon. Linneus wiped his brow again. Not crying, no, never crying. Just...trimming the rose bush. Just...enjoying the sun.
When a shadow fell over him, he looked up to see if perhaps the clouds had finally blown in. But no, not a cloud - Argent. Linneus smiled and stood, brushing dirt and grass from his knees. "Argent," he rubbed at his eyes, "Good to see you out here."
And it was. Truth be told, Linneus always felt safer when Argent was around. Not just because of the longsword perpetually resting at her hip (thought that was a part of it sometimes). There was something calming about having her around. Her serious face, her ramrod posture. Comforting. Soothing. In all the best possible ways.
tag Argent, please
lyrics lost in my mind - the head and the heart
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes Gardening soothes the soul.
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Post by Argent on Sept 28, 2012 18:10:37 GMT -5
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACESlittle darling, it seems like years since it's been here- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Argent supposed that it was only natural. A bodyguard did have a duty to ensure to the health and welfare of her master and those he had placed under her care. And if her master and one of her charges were hurting each other, well, it was only natural she should help smooth things over.
Seeing Linneus in the garden was no surprise. Most of the grounds seemed to be under his care, despite there being a gardener on staff. She strode over carefully, not wanting to startle him. He looked up soon after she stepped up behind him, though.
“Argent. Good to see you.”
Pausing, she gauged his words. Much more subdued than normal. Hurt, but trying to maintain his calm. Much like her master. She reached out to touch a bloom on the rose bush.
"Beautiful. Even when struggling.” She touched the rose in his hand gently.
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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tagged; Linneus lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles word count; 149
credit; to brooke from caution |
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Post by Linneus on Sept 28, 2012 19:30:24 GMT -5
put your dreams away for now [/color] - - - - I get lost in my mind - - - - [/font][/color][/center]
"Beautiful. Even when struggling.”
Linneus smiled. He'd often given flowers to his visitors and to Xanthe, but he'd never thought to give Argent any. Somehow the idea of flowers and bouquets didn't quite fit in with Argent. But the more he thought about it, the better the idea sounded. He looked over to his white roses. When they dried they'd turn a pale buttery color, like old piano keys. He could tie them in a red ribbon the color of Argent's coat. They'd be fragile, but Argent would be ginger with them. She'd know how to take care of them.
"That's a lovely way to put it." He looked down to his roses, biting the inside of his lower lip. "I was thinking about drying it so it could stay beautiful. I hate it when they rot."
He fell silent for a moment, struggling for something to say.
"I'm almost finished with the roses then I thought about making some lunch. Would you like to join me? I won't be much longer..."
It wasn't a real request. Claret was in her rare appointment and he'd never been very good at maintaining conversations with the others. Linneus was starved for human contact. If Argent said she was going inside, Linneus would find a way to follow her. An excuse to be around someone. He paused at that thought, the inherent creepiness of it. Perhaps he was a bit needy today.
tag Argent, please
lyrics lost in my mind - the head and the heart
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes Gardening soothes the soul.
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Post by Argent on Sept 28, 2012 23:34:30 GMT -5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACESlittle darling, it seems like years since it's been here- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "That's a lovely way to put it." He looked down to his roses, biting the inside of his lower lip. "I was thinking about drying it so it could stay beautiful. I hate it when they rot. I'm almost finished with the roses then I thought about making some lunch. Would you like to join me? I won't be much longer..."
Argent picked up the rose in his hand, bending over to give it a small sniff as he discussed his plans with the cut flowers. The light fragrance brought a small smile to her face, although mildly obscured by the flower and her hair. “Lunch would be lovely.” She handed the flower back to him. “Do you require some help to finish out here?”
She was certain that Linneus needed some companionship; his behavior of late was at odds to his usual. While his being around Claret was not unusual, his reticence around her was. And considering the new client, this quiet was even stranger. Perhaps having someone willing to listen would be beneficial to the young man.
She rested back on her heels, hand involuntarily going to her sword. This was a trickier fight than that with which she was used to dealing.
[/sup][/blockquote] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tagged; Linneus lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles word count; 205
credit; to brooke from caution |
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Post by Linneus on Oct 1, 2012 12:25:11 GMT -5
put your dreams away for now [/color] - - - - I get lost in my mind - - - - [/font][/color][/center]
“Lunch would be lovely.”
Relief flooded through him. The emptiness of his afternoon which had stretched out infinite before him, closed up. A gaping wound stitched and pleasantly numbed. He smiled up at her, alight with gratitude.
“Do you require some help to finish out here?”
Linneus shook his head and sunk to his knees to work on the roses again. The position put his head right next to her hip, longsword jutting from its sheath. Linneus paused, the circumstance bizarrely familiar. He inhaled sharply, pushing the word whore away. He looked down to his roses, trimming the leaves.
"If you just want to sit with me for a bit...if you're not busy keeping us all safe." He glanced over to her sword again, her hand hovering over it. A smile, genuine and warm, fluttered over his lips.
A few more leaves fell under his pruning sheers. "Anything exciting happen recently?" He couldn't imagine having her job, living her life. "Lives spared? Blood shed?"
tag Argent, please
lyrics lost in my mind - the head and the heart
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes Gardening soothes the soul.
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Post by Argent on Oct 1, 2012 14:25:11 GMT -5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACESlittle darling, it seems like years since it's been here- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - His grateful smile caused a reciprocal one from Argent, albeit smaller and a touch restrained. It was good to know she was helping, even in a small way.
"If you just want to sit with me for a bit…if you’re not busy keeping us all safe. Anything exciting happen recently?”
Argent sank into a low squat, accommodating for her sword and job with Linneus’ request, shifting to keep the sword slightly away from him. She had noticed the moment after he had gone back to his knees and wondered what, exactly, had caused it. But that would come in his own time. She wasn’t here to pry, just to listen and help things work out.
As he asked questions about her job though, she shook her head. “Such things are not a good topic in such a setting.” She smiled though to offset the rejection. “But suffice to say, things have been quiet. Master Xanthe prefers things to go smoothly.”
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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tagged; Linneus
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
word count; 160
credit; to brooke from caution |
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Post by Linneus on Oct 1, 2012 20:36:46 GMT -5
put your dreams away for now [/color] - - - - I get lost in my mind - - - - [/font][/color][/center]
“Such things are not a good topic in such a setting.”
Linneus hummed, nodding. "Of course, I didn't mean to pry." More leaves fell and he gathered them into his basket, making sure that his bushes stayed neat. Almost perfect.
“But suffice to say, things have been quiet. Master Xanthe prefers things to go smoothly.”
In surprise at the name, Linneus clipped his fingers with the pruning shears. Xanthe. When he pulled off the leather gardening gloves, blood streaked over his ring finger from his top knuckle down to the palm. Not a lot, just enough to seep into the lines and crevices of his skin. He looked on in dull fascination before realizing that it actually stung. He looked up to Argent, smiling apologetically.
"It's fortunate I'm not in your occupation." He stood, taking the basket with him as he headed toward the kitchen to rinse his hands. "I would have decapitated myself by now. Ah..."
He knew he shouldn't ask. He told himself over and over again on his way to the kitchen that he shouldn't ask. But as he turned the faucet on, he felt his own taps give way. Thoughts and words bubbled up and he inhaled like the creak of water working its way up the pipe.
"How does he...is he..." He pressed a palm against the edge of the sink, leaning against it heavily as he watched water rinse away the red on his palm. It went pink for a moment and then washed away. He turned the water off. "...you must talk with him a fair amount. I've always been curious what your conversations are like."
Linneus mouthed over the thought, Does he ever talk about me? But it was so wholly selfish. So wholly wrong of him to even want that, to even think that. Self centered and conceited to think that Xanthe would speak of him. He loathed himself for indulging in the momentary thought.
tag Argent, please
lyrics lost in my mind - the head and the heart
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes Gardening soothes the soul.
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Post by Argent on Oct 3, 2012 0:17:51 GMT -5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -LITTLE DARLING, THE SMILES RETURNING TO THE FACESlittle darling, it seems like years since it's been here- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Argent started forward as Linneus cut himself, seeking to prevent the physical damage to one that was given to her to protect. She should have known better. Linneus was a gentler soul than Master Xanthe, and if he was hurting, then Linneus must be as well. She grimaced to herself as Linneus stared at his hand.
"It’s fortunate I’m not in your occupation. I would have decapitated myself by now.”
"I nearly did myself when I first took up the sword. It takes some practice.” She walked beside him as they headed toward the kitchen, keeping an eye on his finger. She would hate for it to get any worse.
She continued to watch as he cleaned himself up at the sink. Perhaps she should get the bandages…
"How does he…is he…you must talk with him a fair amount. I’ve always been curious what your conversations are like.” The young man looked remarkably like Xanthe in that instant, in trying to restrain himself so hard from showing the emotions he wanted to.
Argent shook her head at the statement and the image. “He prefers his silence as he works. And most of our conversations relate to that. Clients that come in. Who is causing trouble in terms of caring for you and the others, or in terms of payment. If favorites are developing. That sort of thing.”
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LITTLE DARLING, I FEEL THAT ICE IS SLOWLY MELTING
little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tagged; Linneus
lyrics; here comes the sun by the beatles
word count; 227
credit; to brooke from caution |
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Post by Linneus on Oct 4, 2012 23:52:50 GMT -5
put your dreams away for now [/color] - - - - I get lost in my mind - - - - [/font][/color][/center]
“He prefers his silence as he works. And most of our conversations relate to that. Clients that come in. Who is causing trouble in terms of caring for you and the others, or in terms of payment. If favorites are developing. That sort of thing.”
Oh, of course. Right. Xanthe barely spoke to Linneus about anything, why would he gossip with Argent? Even if he did have long conversations with Argent, he wouldn't expect her to divulge that information. Xanthe's secrets were a privilege that few got to experience. Linneus himself hoarded them. Kept them under his bed to pull out at night and hold to his chest. They kept him warm at night, the knowledge of them. The promise of more. Even the terrible ones felt like an exquisite gift. Better than earrings, better than chocolates, better than flowers.
"Right, I apologize. I...I should have known better." His own voice sounded strange to his ears. Like a poorly formulated lie.
It was then he realized he'd just been standing there, water running over his well-cleaned hand. He turned off the faucet and turned back to Argent, smiling.
"Now, I promised you lunch. What would you like?"
Hand wrapped around his nicked finger, he walked to the pantry and looked it over. All he really wanted was biscuits and tea. Unfortunately, biscuits and tea never constituted as a real lunch (according to someone that Linneus knew). He looked back to her, brow quirked.
tag Argent, please
lyrics lost in my mind - the head and the heart
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes Gardening soothes the soul.
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