The sunset's faint light peaked through the door and cast itself upon the granite floor. Assorted metals and raw gems are piled in messily organized clusters. Tools are scattered among several iron counters, suggesting recent use. It is the darkest room in the establishment, like a rusty dungeon in a ravishing castle. Peter and Elijah wouldn't want their bleak workshop to look any other way.

He relaxed back in the hard chair and polished the silver with a dainty white handkerchief, going over the delicate teeth with care. It was the first hairpiece Elijah ever made, a silver barrette adorned with sapphire gems. He was pleased with the results, and although the minor errors in craftsmanship prevented it from being sold in the shop, it was still a fine piece of jewelry.

Elijah reached for the pliers upon spotting a fixable mistake. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, and focused. The world around him became surreal, and no longer did the burden of time weigh upon him. Fixed in a trance, Elijah worked diligently to finish the barrette.

The voices around him blurred, although one in particular hovered over him like an unswatted fly. It gradually became more noticeable, grabbing more and more of Elijah's attention each time it spoke.

"Elijah!"

The voice pulled Elijah back to reality. His line of vision was graced with the dark blue eyes of his twelve-year-old sister. They were hard with purpose. Upon receiving his attention, Julia backed up out of his face. Her hands clutched her newly found hips, a gift from her ongoing puberty. The left corner of her lip curled down.

"Did you get…you know?" Julia asked, half whispering.

"Get what?" Elijah asked, in a normal voice.

"You know."

"I don't know."

"You are such an idiot." She paused for a moment and listened for any signs of eavesdroppers. After affirming the emptiness of their surroundings, Julia continued in a hush voice.

"Did you get the flowers?

Silence.

"… Do you even remember what day it is tomorrow?"
Tomorrow? Elijah bit his lip. It was obviously something important, or else Julia wouldn't be giving him the death stare (or what would be her death stare, if Elijah didn't find her twisted facial features so humorous.)

She signed
"It's Mum's birthday."

"Oh, right."

"Her favorites are roses, in case you didn’t know. Go pick them up at the florist. Do it now."

"Okay," Elijah said, shifting his focus back to his work. He'd figure he'd get them later. Julia wrapped her small hands around his wrists and gave them a small shake.

"Elijah," she whined. "The store is going to close soon! Please go now, pretty please? The roses would be a perfect addition to the present I made Mum, and if you don't go now we can't get them. So go now, please?"

Elijah looked at his sister for a moment, her puppy dog eyes in full force. He took a deep breath as he shifted his weight forward and got up on his feet. His motivation wasn't his sister's adorable face, he's immune to that, but the temper tantrum she'd throw if she didn't get her way.

"So, roses?" Elijah confirmed as he grabbed his money.

"Yes, and make sure they're red." Julia said.

"Roses come in different colors? Really?" Elijah smiled. He already knew they did, he just wanted to annoy Julia.

"Augh, men!" The back of her palm swiped across her forehead as Julia dramatically flung her head backwards. A gesture she learned from her mother.

~

"Your ring will be ready in two weeks. Come pick it up then. See you soon, take care." Peter Brooks waived as his customer left, a young man who ordered a rather fancy engagement ring for his bride.

Unlike the backroom, the shop front was warm and welcoming. The light of day glimmered off the jewelry on display. Peter ran his fingers through his once-red hair, now thinning and grey. He adjusted his glasses as his son came into view on the other side of the marble counter.

"Father, I'll be right back." Elijah said, turning to leave.
"Hold on just a second there boy," Peter said. "Did you finish the barrette I told you to make?

"Yeah, it's on the counter in the workshop if you want to take a look at it."

"Alright, go ahead." Mr. Brooks said. Then he tilted his head to the side. "What are you going out for anyway?"

"Flowers, for tomorrow."

"Ah, Julia's pestering get to you? She's just like her mother."

"Hey, how do you know I'm not just getting Mum flowers out of the kindness of my own heart?" Elijah gave out a little laugh. So did his father.

"Because, son," he said. "That would mean you'd actually remember something."

Elijah laughed as he closed the door to Brook's Jewellers and made his way toward the florist.


*OOC: Next Post in Minding Someone's Business.*

(OOC: Last Post: Minding Someone's Business)

"Those aren't roses," Julia said, tapping her foot.

He was two steps from the door. He almost made it.

"I think these are more interesting," Elijah said in his defense. "Unique. They have a message to them. It means… well, it means something better than roses."

Julia sighed. What was done was done. Her brother was an idiot. "Mom's already called it a night. Its safe to come inside."

Julia turned and Elijah followed her audible footsteps to the common room. He placed the flowers in a glass blue vase sitting upon an oak side table. His sister brought out two medium sized boxes, wrapped in pink, and placed them beside the vase. It was a modest little setup. Mrs. Brook's birthday would come and go quietly with a small family celebration and visits from a couple of her close friends. The shop would even be opened all day tomorrow. She was never one to dramatically announce that she is growing older.

"I'm getting up early tomorrow to cook breakfast," Julia said, primping the flowers in the vase. She stood back to inspect and nodded in approval. "Make sure you don't oversleep."

"Alright," he responded. Elijah waited a few moments to see if his sister needed him for anything else. Clearly absorbed in what she was doing, he pivoted on his heels toward the door. He made his way to the store front where his father was closing up for the day.

"Need any help?" Elijah asked.

"You timed yourself perfectly to get out of work, son. I'm already done," said Mr. Brooks, smiling. He locked the front door. The jewellery glittered in the fading sunlight.

"Ha."

"Is everything set up for your mother?"

"Yeah. Chief in there has everything ready to go."

"She's just like her mother, Juls." Mr. Brooks picked up a bracelet adorned with sapphire gems. He gently cleaned the silver with a delicate white hankerchief until it sparkled. Looking up to Elijah, he said, "It seems that you're free for the rest of the night. Why don't you go out and enjoy yourself? While you're at it, find yourself a girl. Your mother's been worrying you'll end up a hermit."

Elijah's lip curled upward out of awkwardness. His family is pretty open, which he usually likes, but he absolutely hated it when they talked about his love life. It's not like he's been anti-social, far from it, he just hasn't found a girl he liked enough yet to court. Besides, hes not even sure if hes ready for commitment.

Still, it was too late to start on any of his assignments and too early to call it a night.

"Good idea, I'm going for a walk. We have nice weather, after all," Elijah said, completely ignoring his father's last suggestion. He straightened his coat.

"Alright. Just keep track of the time and don't get back too late."

"Okay," Elijah responded. He unlocked the door with his key, stepped outside, and relocked it. As he made his first few strides he took a moment to notice that they were, indeed, having nice weather today.

(OOC: Next Post in new thread)

(OOC: Last Post: Out and About)

The shop would have looked ominous to someone who hasn't lived there for seventeen years. He jiggled the lock and opened the door and, despite his dark surroundings, he was feeling rather light-hearted. Although Elijah usually wore a smile on his face, the one that was plastered there tonight was wider and brighter. Tomorrow. Unless he misinterpreted her message, tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. He passed the back door where he entered the living room and…

He palmsmacked himself on the forehead. The flowers and the presents were all neatly displayed for the event. All this time he'd been so excited about Marie's visit that he totally forgot that tomorrow was his mother's birthday.

Walking up the stairs he realized that Marie's going to arrive and she's going to meet the whole Brooks bandwagon. There was no way to avoid this. Mother, Father, and especially Julia are going to make all the wrong assumptions and they’re going to be loud about it.

Elijah had an epiphany. Families were created so members can completely humiliate one another and be forced to still love each other afterwards.

He sighed. Pulling back the covers to his bed, there was no way of avoiding this. It will more or less be a very interesting day tomorrow. No use in losing sleep over it…

And Elijah began to dream.

"'Lijah," a whiney voice called, "Get up!

He groaned.

"Get up! You overslept! Mom's already awake!"

Without warning Elijah shot up, violently pushing his covers off the end of his bed. Julia, surprised by sudden movement, took a step back. She was slightly still befuddled as her brother bolted like lightning down the stairs.

Left, right, then left again, Elijah's eyes darted and found that the decorations and presents were undisturbed. More importantly, no expected unexpectant guests have arrived yet. Mr. Brooks came from the storefront, believing his wife had just descended from the floor above. An eyebrow raised when he found his son disheveled in the middle of the room.

Julia came down the steps, stopping halfway.

"Elijah, you don't plan-ah!" Her back smashed itself against the wall as her brother sprinted back up the stairs, into his room, and slamming the door behind him.

He threw off his sleeping clothes. He looked at a couple of garments and questioned their ability. He shuffled through a couple pairs of pants, still indecisive. He needed nice, but not too nice.

What to wear?

Elijah stopped to realize that all his life he never asked himself this question. For a moment he felt utterly womanly, and, going against these new unexplainable instincts, he thrusted his hand in his closet and pulled out a jacket. This is what he would wear today. Easily solved. No more problems.

The jacket was a dark chocolate brown, and it fit him rather snugly. One leg, then the other, he slid on the matching pants in three seconds flat. He moved to go look in the mirror, but he decided that his new "feminine side" would only point out the flaws in his appearance and he again would be ravaging through his clothes screaming he has nothing to wear.

Shuddering at the thought of such behavior, he left his room, politely closing the door this time. Now at ease that he was presentable, he swiftly but gracefully walked down the stairs and into the birthday room. Julia was perking up the flowers. Upon hearing his approach, she turned around.

"What was that all about?" She asked.

"What was what all about?"
"You nearly ran me over in your mad dash!" Julia's hands were on her hips now. "What happened, did you see your face in the mirror?"

"At least when I look in a mirror it doesn't break." Her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide, like she couldn't believe he said that. Elijah playfully pushed her in the shoulder, sending her two steps forward. She giggled and pushed him back.

"Well," he said, only taking a half a step back. "I'm going to go help Dad in the shop. Call me when Mom gets done whatever shes doing up there."

"Wait. I need your help with one last thing." Julia held a present up. The red ribbon went loose. Elijah put his finger on the box as she took the two ends with her hands. He was unusually impatient as she tied it slowly, making sure it was perfect. The shop front out of eyesight, he listened for the front door to open…

Ever since the previous night, Marie had been filled with a kind of anxiousness that surprised her a great deal. Never in her short life had she experienced something as.... thrilling as meeting someone that gave her such a feeling. It was odd to her that all her life she had been cooped up, kept away from such a thing. She silently knew that her mother would have been all too happy to learn each and every outstanding detail about Elijah Brooks. Marie's father.. not as eagerly, but he was an even tempered individual, who would lend an ear to his daughter's happiness every once and a while.

She had awoken this morning with such nerves, that at breakfast, hunger had nearly escaped her. Marie seemed unable to sit still, continually getting up and pacing by the window, waiting, and planning. How could she get away from Bertha.. let alone get out of the house un-noticed? Was such a thing even possible? She'd only just touched her toast when her father came into the room, looking well rested, and rather pleasant. Marie greeted him with a smile she knew barely hid her restlessness. "Good morning, father." She said politely, but pleasantly, pushing her plate away from herself and backing her chair out from the table. "Good morning Pidgeon!" Her father greeted with a pleasant chuckle. Marie smiled more warmly and headed to the window in front of the dining table. "Good day for a walk.. wouldn't you agree?" She asked as though there were no hint if mischief flurrying around in her brain.

Her father looked to her, surely surprised that his daughter, who rarely got out of the house, seemed so fascinated with the world at present. Marie turned her head slightly over her shoulder, giving her father what she hoped was a soft, hopeful look.

He glanced up from the paper that had just been handed to him, and took a deep breath, as though he were deciding something very important. "I do suppose so, yes. Would you find interest in taking a walk, my dear?" The older man asked with, what Marie could only describe as quiet satsifaction from reading his daughter so well on his face. "Very much so." Marie answered after a moment's silence. "I'll send for Bertha then. Have her take you out for a while.. doesn't that sound lovely?" Marie attemped not to let him see the dissapointment in her eyes. "Bertha.. is ill, this morning, papa." Marie told him with so much false earnesty, she surprised herself with her ability to lie to her father. "Ill?" He repeated, quite astounded that the news had not reached him first. "I wasn't made aware of this. Is she going to be quite alright?" Marie felt a pang of guilt wash over her at his surprised, and worried tone. She didn't want to hurt him in this process, but she really did want to get out of the house and this seemed to be the only way.

"Oh yes.. she will be fine. I expect a doctor will be by at some time today. I wonder.. with Bertha unavailable, would it be alright with you, papa -- if maybe, I could venture out on my own today?" She knew it was not acceptable. Not at all. If he said yes, surely he was out of his mind! Marie almost cringed, waiting for his response. "Good heaven's child! on your own? Don't be silly! You couldn't go out.. Surely you need some sort of... escort to.. to.. well," A chuckle passed over his lips. "My dear, it is most unwise, and very unacceptable to let one's daughter venture out by herself.. unaccompanied. If I was not such a busy man I would take you out myself. He announced proudly, rustling the paper, as he turned a page. "But one never knows just what is out in the world.. and you are far too young to be out on your own. Wouldn't you agree?"

She knew better than to defy him, and Marie bit her lip in concentration. "Yes.. I suppose that seems logical." It was not hard to see how dissapointed the young redheaded teen looked at the moment. And her father sensed this, as he glanced back up at his child, standing by the window with all the grace and loveliness that her mother once possessed. He sighed, clearly beaten by her unhappiness. "Though, I cannot see why you shouldn't take Abagail with you." Mr. James proclaimed, trying to hide his smile.

Marie turned.

Abagail was a scullery maid. A pretty girl, but with not much knowledge. Marie knew that the yound maid had never learned to read, and Marie felt awfully sometimes. Yet, as nice a girl as she was, Abagail was a bit slow, and easy to lose. Marie's head filled with ideas as she smiled a mile wide. "Thank you papa!" A hug, and a kiss atop his head, and the young girl was off to collect her hat and ribbons. Today was not just a day out in the town.. but it was a day to wear something perhaps a little lovelier than she was used to -- something more pleasant.

--------------

With Abby at her side, Marie moved swiftly, making sure to point things out to the older girl by her side. Abby had to be no older than 25, but her looks made her appear very young. Marie looked a bit older today, bits of her red hair purposely down and falling upon her shoulder. However, the majority of it was up, such as society suggested. Her dress was a soft blue in color, something very close to periwinkle. Marie felt her breath coming quickly and her nerves began to build.

The Books Jewellers was just up ahead, and she could see the front of the shop from their currently position just down the road. Marie felt herself quicken her pace, and nearly pulled her escort with her. A few paces from the door, Marie turned to Abagail and looked at her with a very serious but calm expression. "Abagail... I know that I have never asked you for much of anything in the past. And what I am about to ask of you is very important to me. I met a man yesterday. And I've promised to see him again. You know as well as I do that my father would have a hard time permitting this. I am asking you.. let me have time with him. Please.. I really.. It was a promise." Marie looked down slightly, before looking back at Abby. "Ms. Marie.. I... I suppose I could permit it. But you have a limited time. Make your visit quick! I will be next door.. I'll collect you soon." Marie was filled with a sudden admiration for the girl in front of her, and gently touched her shoulder. "Thank you.. from the bottom of my heart." Marie told her earnestly, then moved back and up towards the store.

Good feelings surrounded her. She reached the handle of the door, looked back at the scullerly maid moving next door, and swallowed. Her hand turned the knob, and Marie heard the tinkle of a small bell above her head.

It seemed as though her head was filled with a strange perfume. It was a lovely shop, very well decorated, and stocked richly with beautiful jewels. Her heart felt light, but also had claimed a permanent spot in her throat, signifying Marie's nerves. She looked around a moment, not wanting to touch anything. Would he hear her enter? Would he come? Marie breathed in, and suddenly felt very alive.

Elijah removed his finger as Julia tightened the bow. Perfect. She turned with the present in her hand, not quite counting on the vase being so close to her. It fell to the floor, crashing, but not breaking. The flowers scattered and the water spread across the floor.

"Nice," Elijah said, walking to grab a rag from the kitchen.

"Shut up." She gathered the flowers in her hands. Her brother came back from the kitchen and got on his knees to clean the floor. With his left hand he grabbed the vase and set it upon the table. Julia put the flowers back in their rightful place, attempting to rearrange them the way they were before.

"You need to put water in the vase first, Julia."

"I know that, I'm not stupid, Elijah."

"Dear Lord, can't I have just one day where my children aren't down each other's throats?" An upbeat voice said from the stairs.

Elijah and Julia looked up and watched their mother descend the stairs. Upon her most special day she was wearing her favorite red dress with the corset pulled a little tighter than usual. Mrs. Brooks is the only person in the immediate family with blonde hair, which was pulled up into a tight bun and adorned with ruby studded barretts. Her beautification process took a little longer than usual today, but it made her feel young again. She was clearly ready to spend her day at the center of her family's attention."

"Happy Birthday, Mom!" her children sang in unison.

"Why, is this all for me?" Mrs. Brooks said bashfully, as if she didn't know. She kissed Elijah on the cheek and gave Julia a big monster hug. "Thank you, sweeties. You even remembered, Elijah. I'm so proud of you."

"I'm not that bad," Elijah said, and his mother started laughing.

"By the way, where is your father?"

--

Mr. Brooks looked up upon hearing the tiny bell's ring. For a moment he was taken aback by the young girl's fiery red hair and bright blue eyes. He wanted to ask what year it was, just to make sure his daughter didn't just turn 16 and he was completely oblivious to the passage of time. However, the girl's soft features were different from Julia's, and if it were not for the similarities in their eyes and hair they would look nothing alike.

Approaching her, he figured she was probably Elijah's age. It was rather uncommon that a young pretty girl had no escort…

"Welcome to Brooks Jewelers," he said cheerfully with a smile. "I am Mr. Brooks, is there anything specific you are looking for today?"

"Welcome to Brooks Jewelers," he said cheerfully with a smile. "I am Mr. Brooks, is there anything specific you are looking for today?"

Marie was startled, and jumped very slightly at the words spoken by a man she could only assume was Elijah's father (judging that his name was Mr. Brooks as well). Her attention left her fright and immediately came upon appearing older somehow. She saw the look upon his face; surprise that she was unaccompanied. Marie swallowed, and turned to him, her expression pleasant but still rather shy. "Well.. yes, sir. I was actually looking for your son, mr. Elijah Brooks? We met just yesterday, and I spotted a piece of jewelry he had with him, and inquired where he had gotten such a fine thing. Of course he mentioned your shop, and offered something of a tour." She was lying. She knew it. Marie hoped he coudln't see through her harmless lie, and began to play with her fingers in a distracted manner.

[ooc: i'm sooo sorry that royally sucked. my muse is on vacation xD i promise next post will be bearable! + i'm sorry that i took so long to post! gahh -grovels-]

"Well.. yes, sir. I was actually looking for your son, Mr. Elijah Brooks? We met just yesterday, and I spotted a piece of jewelry he had with him, and inquired where he had gotten such a fine thing. Of course he mentioned your shop, and offered something of a tour."

“A tour…from Elijah?” Mr. Brooks rubbed his chin at this peculiar request. What could she want with Elijah? Still, he was happy to fulfill her request. “Certainly! Allow me to retrieve him for you. Excuse me for a moment.” Mr. Brooks walked back behind the desk and poked his head through the door. His wife, beautiful as ever, was standing at the edge of the stairs talking to his children. He was distracted.

“Happy Birthday, my dear,” he said, walking through the door completely and into the family room. “And how is my lovely wife on her special day?”

“Spectacular. Except you missed my grand entrance down the stairs,” she pouted with a smile.

“You should have waited my love. Surely the children would have come to get me and I would have witnessed it-“

She slapped him playfully with her fan and said, “How dare you make a lady wait!”

“Oh! That’s right, speaking of ladies…” Mr. Brooks turned toward his son, remembering. “Elijah, there is a young lady waiting for you in the shop.”

He sounded a little confused, as if he was missing something. Mrs. Brooks, however, didn’t miss a thing. Her eyes lit up, excited. This was possibly the best birthday present anybody could have ever given her. She glanced at Julia, who understood completely, and nodded at her mother with anticipation.

“I must have been a terrible mother. Didn’t anybody teach you how to be a proper gentleman?”

“Wha-What?” Elijah stumbled in complete dismay.

“You made her come to you?!”
“I-”

“Elijah! That’s not how you court a lady! I see that I have failed miserably.”

“But-“

“She only said that she wanted a tour,” Mr. Brooks said in Elijah’s defense, but Mrs. Brook’s hands were already in her son’s hair, fluffing it. She moved to his clothes, smoothing them out frantically.

“At least you’re dressed somewhat nice, I suppose. Did…you have this planned all along?:

“No! Its not like…I really…I’m not technically…” How can he explain this?

“Oh, no matter.” She grabbed his shoulders and whipped him around. “Just don’t make a bad impression.”

She gave him a forceful push out the door into the front shop. Elijah lost his balance. Before reaching the floor, he felt himself grabbing something soft and taking it down with him.

This ‘something soft’ had fiery red hair and blue eyes. And he was on top of her in a way only married people should be on top of each other. Rather compromising if a customer were to walk in.

He immediately jumped off of her before his ‘un-gentlemanly’ senses kicked in.

“I’m terribly sorry, Ms. James! I ask you excuse my clumsiness.” As he said this, he couldn’t help but smile. He knew it was wrong, but he was feeling kind of giggly, joyous, like a young kid. A little laugh escaped him. “It seems that gravity takes effect on me everytime I see you.”

“I’m terribly sorry, Ms. James! I ask you excuse my clumsiness.”

It seemed to happen in one big blur. Marie, though continually told it was not appropriate, attempted to listen to the voices she heard just outside the shoppe'sback door. When she could not distinguish who was who, or what was what in the conversation, she let her attention simmer down to polite anticipation of seeing Elijah again. Her hands knotted together, fingers (to her dismay) slightly clammy, tangling as her nerves mounted.

And then, as if by some very odd wish/curse, Marie felt something hit her from the side, and fell to the floor. It took her an instant to see who had lost his balance and accidentally crashed into her. Why, Elijah Brooks. Of course, seeing his face so full of amusement and regret at the same time, Marie couldn't help but laugh off her embarassment. She wasn't hurt, nor had anything been damaged -- she supposed there was no harm done. Besides, the smile that was resting so casually over his lips was something she wanted to imprint in her memory forever. "Of course! Your apology is completely accepted." Marie chuckled, standing up with his assistance. She delicately brushed off her dress's front, and offered him a smile that almost suggested an inside joke, "We are a most impossible pair, where balance and propriety are concerned, are we not?" Marie's gentle laughter, light and silly while intermingling with her words.

She had a very good feeling that there was nothing he could really do that would cause her to stay angry at him for very long.

“It seems that gravity takes effect on me everytime I see you.”

Marie paused a moment, blue eyes intent upon his own. She did everything in her power not to seem so very effected by his words, but.. they left something there, in her eyes, and in her smile. Something sweet and welcome. Marie felt her cheeks turn a rosey color. "Yes.. it does seem to rule you out of it's favor." She allowed a small, halfsmile to brush over her lips red from being chewed on from the inside. Marie was a bit of a lip-biter when no one was watching. But at that moment, she bit her bottom lip for a moment, lost in a simple gaze they'd begun to share. At that moment, it was like no one was watching.. it was like it was only them. Though, she was sure, that with all the noise that little episode had caused, whomever Elijah had been speaking to beforehand would come to investigate. Would she meet the rest of his family? Marie swallowed, still not quite able to break his gaze.

Elijah helped her to her feet without breaking the gaze that was held between them. He appreciated these little moments they had, where he could study her eyes, every speck of color that shined through them, and have it not be awkward.

“I’m very honored that you came, Ms. James,” he said politely. He was about to greet whoever brought her to visit but…Bertha was not present. Nor was any form of authority. Did she come here on her own? Was she allowed? Or did she…sneak over to see him?

“Are you…alone?” Elijah asked, accessing the situation. He was too curious not to ask. A little hope spurred in him, one that he had to tame so he wouldn’t feel so bad when it was let down. He would have waited in complete silence for her answer…if he hadn’t caught wind of the conversation that was going on behind the door:

“Come, dear, lets leave the poor boy alone.”

“You stay quiet Peter, I’m not missing this. My baby boy, courting a young woman,”

“If you even call it courting. I would NEVER want to be courted this way.”

Even if she couldn’t make out the words, the whispers were loud enough to be heard by Marie. Has his family no shame?

“Never mind,” Elijah said, dismissing his initial question hastily. “I’ll give you a tour, like I promised.” He smiled at her, and motioned her to come to the west wall, away from the door, where his family:

“Maybe she’s courting him… that would make sense, she probably has more balls than he does.”

“Julia! Where in heaven’s name did you learn to speak like that?”

“We do a lot of custom ordering, but we do have some pre-made stuff for sale.” Elijah said to her, “Sometimes a customer will cancel an order and we’ll have already made the piece. Or sometimes my father and I make stuff for fun and sell it in the shop-”

“Julia, take a look. Is she pretty?”

“- like this one.” A talent Elijah had was knowing how to keep talking, and talking, and talking. He felt bad for not giving Marie a chance to speak, but he didn’t want to subject her to his family’s “secret” conversation that is entirely about her. He lifted a necklace studded with garnets. It was a rather intricate design, with the chain weaving in and out in a braid-like manner. “My father and I made this one together.”

“She’s beautiful! How did he manage that?”

“You might not know it, but your older brother has charm, if anything.”

“That’s my boy.”

“Everything we sell in the front is held in glass containers so they don’t break. That’s the obvious reason. But I think it gives jewelry a sense of mystery. There is a wall between the artwork, you can see it, but you can’t touch it. That’s why it looks so appealing.” Elijah made that up, right here and now. It sounded valid, to him at least. His words flowed, calm and unnerving.

“Elijah!” A small head poked through the door.

“Yes, Julia?”

“Show her the big bracelet you made last week! The one that the baroness commissioned! Wait…okay, and Mom says to carry on…and pretend we are not here. Its not like were listening or anything either.”

Julia closed the door. Although he found this mildly amusing, he was worried this was making Marie uneasy. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“Please excuse my family. They are somewhat…kooky, if you will. I promise they are very nice people. So if we haven’t already made you a nervous wreck, would you like to meet them?”

“I’m very honored that you came, Ms. James,” he said politely. He was about to greet whoever brought her to visit but…Bertha was not present. Nor was any form of authority. Did she come here on her own? Was she allowed? Or did she…sneak over to see him?


Marie let a delicate smile wash over her lips. "I'm simply happy that I could come by, Mr. Brooks." She sighed happily after her words, clearly very pleased that she could see him again without much interference. Though, Marie had to keep in mind that she had quite a limited time here.

“Are you…alone?”

She was about to answer that she was alone for the time being, but someone was nearby to escort her home, when he interupted himself to continue on in conversation.

“Never mind,” Elijah said, dismissing his initial question hastily. “I’ll give you a tour, like I promised.” He smiled at her, and motioned her to come to the west wall, away from the door, where his family:

Marie smiled slightly at his quick, dismissive attitude. He pressed on, and she followed him obediently towards the west wall, and away from the slight whispers that just tickled her ears and her thoughts. Her concentration was solely on Elijah at the time being, and it appeared she was lucky that she could not hear his family's gossip about her. "Fantastic.." She whispered, more to herself than as an addition to the conversation.

“We do a lot of custom ordering, but we do have some pre-made stuff for sale.” Elijah said to her, “Sometimes a customer will cancel an order and we’ll have already made the piece. Or sometimes my father and I make stuff for fun and sell it in the shop-”

She nodded along to him as he spoke, taking in what he was saying and nearly committing it to memory. For some reason, the wonder that this little shop held for her was a wonder that she wanted to keep in her thoughts regularly. It reminded her of Elijah, and said memory was good enough for Marie.

“- like this one.” A talent Elijah had was knowing how to keep talking, and talking, and talking. He felt bad for not giving Marie a chance to speak, but he didn’t want to subject her to his family’s “secret” conversation that is entirely about her. He lifted a necklace studded with garnets. It was a rather intricate design, with the chain weaving in and out in a braid-like manner. “My father and I made this one together.”

Elijah lifted a piece that he claimed to have made with his father. Marie's blue eyes widened just slightly as she watched it's beauty glimmer in the early afternoon light. It was beautiful.. "Wow.." She whispered, almost afraid that a loudness in her voice could break what appeared very sturdy yet somehow impeccably delicate.

“Everything we sell in the front is held in glass containers so they don’t break. That’s the obvious reason. But I think it gives jewelry a sense of mystery. There is a wall between the artwork, you can see it, but you can’t touch it. That’s why it looks so appealing.” Elijah made that up, right here and now. It sounded valid, to him at least. His words flowed, calm and unnerving.

There was something charming about him -- Marie wasn't going to deny that. His words were so fluidly in-the-know. He knew what he was doing, it seemed, 100% of the time. She only wished she could possess a quality so rare and impressive. "That's very smart." Marie nodded excitedly, thoroughly impressed.

At that moment, a head appeared at the door. A young girl, resembling Elijah but with another's facial structure called for her brother. Marie offered her a shy turn up of her lips.

Taking in Julia's words, Marie couldn't help but offer a silvery laugh. She was a bold girl, clever, and humorous. Marie was reminded of her younger sister, before she had passed on.

“Please excuse my family. They are somewhat…kooky, if you will. I promise they are very nice people. So if we haven’t already made you a nervous wreck, would you like to meet them?”

Suddenly, his words directly into her ear gave her the sensation of goose bumps. Marie tried horribly not to give away any clue to her breathlessness, and instead nodded, attempting to hide it. "I'd like to meet them v-very much." She agreed in a small voice, yet one that seemed much more grown up than she was accustomed to.

“I'd like to meet them v-very much."

On cue, as if those words were some sort of magical summoning, the back door swung open. “Why, it would seem to me we have a guest! Welcome to our home, dear. I am Mrs. Brooks. This is my husband and my daughter Julia. It would already seem you know my son.”

Mrs. Brooks shot a glance in Elijah’s direction, a look that reeked of mischief. Her eyes gave way to the obvious; she was conjuring up some sort diabolical design to make her son more attractive in the eyes of this young woman.

She moved over to Marie. “It’s such a pleasure to have you here. What is your name, dear? Are you from around here?”

Elijah smirked at the predictable yet inane behavior of his mother. Marie better be prepared, he probably should have warned her, but she will be subjected to this type of questioning the entire night.

Then a realization struck him. Would she be staying? For dinner? Or maybe longer? Or was this intentionally only suppose to be a short visit? She didn’t bring an escort so it would make sense that she would only stay for a short period of time. Yes…that would be logical and, at the same time, the exact opposite of his wishes.

Elijah’s attention was turned back towards the women. He thought of stepping in and introducing Marie to his mother himself, this way so she would feel less nervous. Mrs. Brook’s questioning usually leads to one telling their entire life story, or at least lying about an entire life story, either or. He held himself back, however, because he knew Marie to be a sweet girl, and he wanted his mother to see that. He waited for her answer.