0195: Moonwise

[livingmyths]

It will be the full moon at the end of the week and I'm going to go out by the river and sit on a big rock and sing and dance and maybe even sleep out under it. I think people should come join me.

Arthur, I think you should come. It would be fun!

Comments

[lupusalpha]

Why?

[livingmyths]

Because it's fun and wonderful!

You can come if you want!

[lupusalpha]

I won't.

[livingmyths]

How come?

[lupusalpha]

Why would I?

[livingmyths]

Why not?

It will be fun! You can enjoy the moon and the river and the woods and dance if you want or sleep under the stars and maybe meet new people. Or at least me if no one else comes.

[lupusalpha]

What's your name?

[livingmyths]

Me? I'm Rain.

[lupusalpha]

I'm not interested in dancing.

[livingmyths]

You don't have to dance. You can just come and enjoy the moon and sit on one of the big rocks in the river and nibble on picnic stuff.

[lupusalpha]

Hasn't anyone told you the woods are dangerous?

[livingmyths]

Not so much if you pay attention and don't go in too deep.

I live in the woods. Not too far from where the big rocks are in the river. I've never had a problem.

[pratful]

Have you slept outside before? [ certainly not Arthur's idea of fun, nope. At least it's not entirely cold at the moment. ]

[livingmyths]

[Giggles. Lots of giggles.]

Of course I have, silly!

I mostly lived on the streets back home. Where do you think we slept?

And here, when I first came I slept outside all the time in the woods till my friends made me a house.

It's nice, especially by the river when the weather's nice. You can see the stars and hear the river and all the night birds and watch the leaves, and oh, it's wonderful!

[pratful]

Well, I would have assumed in a bed. [ even one made out of straw. ] And I've listened to those birds before. I've lead my fair share of hunts after all.

[ he shakes his head ]

You're a strange girl, Rain. [ and he means that as a compliment. ]

[livingmyths]

Silly! I didn't have money for a bed. I slept in doorways or on floors or on the ground.

Oh, well, if you've heard them, then you know how wonderful they are! See! You should come!

[She ducked her head, blushing.]

I know. I'm not really right.}

[pratful]

[ . . .

Oh right. That whole being poor thing. Guinevere mentioned that not too long ago. ] Did you at least have a blanket?

[ how in the world did this woman survive and still manage to smile like that? It completely confounds him time and time again. ]

I said strange; I never said anything about not being right.

[livingmyths]

Yep. Not a thick one, because everything has to fit in my backpack, but I have a thin one and a big sweatshirt.

I can show you next time I see you if you want. I always have everything in my backpack. That way if anything happens I still have everything I own with me.

[She smiled at him.]

Well, I know I'm strange, too. But not in too bad a way, I hope.

[pratful]

No, that's... [ he frowns ] Do you really carry everything you own in your pack?

[ even to Arthur, that didn't sound particularly right. Everyone was supposed to have someplace they returned to. Even if it's just for a while. ]

[livingmyths]

Well, not everything now. But everything I need.

There's stuff people gave me at my little house, like the dresses Mat gave me and some things for pretty, but my extra pair of jeans and extra two shirts and my little blanket and sweatshirt and underwear and extra pair of socks and toothbrush and toothpaste and soap and washcloth and hairbrush and a book or two are in there. That's all I really need.

[pratful]

[ that's some big backpack ] I... see. [ Arthur shakes his head ] If ever I get lost -- and I wouldn't get lost, for the record -- I think I know who I'd like to be lost with now.

You might want to add in some flint and tinder though to that pack of yours. You do know how to make a fire, don't you? [ after everything else he's heard, he can hardly believe she wouldn't. ]

[livingmyths]

[It can be done in a regular backpack with room left over if it's a very thin blanket!]

You can be lost with me whenever you want. Not that I think you will. See, that's why I'd want to be with you because we wouldn't get lost.

Oh gosh, fire's dangerous! I don't even keep matches!

[pratful]

But then what do you do when it's raining or snowing? You'll freeze to death without at least something!

[ he holds up a hand ] And don't mention the blanket again. THat might get you through an evening, but not a whole winter. I've seen what frostbite can do to a person.

[livingmyths]

That's why my friend helped make me a house where I wouldn't be scared.

It's built right into the side of a hill and the front and the roof are all clear so I don't feel trapped.

But before that, well, sometimes I'd just sleep in the basement of the Library. It didn't mind me being there.

Sometimes I still sleep there if I'm scared to go through the City at night.

[pratful]

... [ he looks at her, frowning as they walk ] You do know that if you're ever feeling scared you can just give me a call? There's no need to sleep in the library so long as I'm here. [ he'll walk Rain home every night of the week if he must. ]

[livingmyths]

Oh gosh! I wouldn't do that!

You're a prince! You're not supposed to have to do things like that!

But it's really really nice of you to offer.

[pratful]

And a prince could hardly be considered one if he didn't take into consideration the safety of his people. I'd be less of a man if I allowed you to fall into unnecessary danger.

[livingmyths]

Aw... see... that's why I like you so much.

You really care about people. Even people like me!

[pratful]

[ he almost blushes at that like, almost. If he keeps staring straight ahead he might even pretend that it's true. ]

Oh, well... I could hardly consider myself a man if I turned a blind eye to injustice. [ he swallows and then peeks a glance at Rain's face ] There must be someone else you like just as much, I would hope. [ nope, not fishing, not at all. He'd never do that in a hundred years. ]

[livingmyths]

[She looked up at him curiously, shaking her head.]

As much as you? No. You're... pretty special.

[And now she's blushing.]

[pratful]

[ as is Arthur, in equal measure. ]

Ah, that's... What's so special about the moon again? [ change of subject.

... good. ]

[livingmyths]

It's a full moon, so it will be big and bright and look ever so close to the earth and it's just beautiful!

You don't even really need a flashlight or anything to see.

And it's just wonderful to be out under it and feel like you're a part of it and everything everywhere!

[At least she's easily distracted?]

[pratful]

[ a silver lining among many

he laughs, easy going and instantly relaxed again ] Well, with a description like that, how can I refuse? I'm not much for flashlights as it is. [ marvelous invention, but Arthur still tried to stick with his usual schedule. In bed by nightfall and up with dawn (or a few hours after). It kept life simple. ]

[livingmyths]

Oh good!

[She clasped her hands together in delight.]

Oh, I'm so glad you're going to come! I think you'll like it, I know you will! And we can dance and tell stories and walk in the river and lay out under the moon and watch the stars and it will be wonderful!

[pratful]

[ he laughed ]

I'm starting to believe you're like one of those woodland nymphs in the stories. You're not going to disappear on me when I wake up, are you?

[livingmyths]

Me?

[And there was giggling.]

I'm not a nymph from a story! I'm just Rain. And I wouldn't disappear on you unless you wanted me to.

[Which he probably will someday, but for right now she's not going to think about that. He's here and he's going to dance under the moon with her and maybe sleep out under the stars and it will be wonderful. When he realizes she's not good enough later, at least she'll be able to remember times like this.]

[pratful]

Good. I hate being left stranded in the middle of nowhere. [ his smile warms and then he nods ] Until the full moon then.

[livingmyths]

I promise I'll never leave you stranded.

And I'll see you then!

[pratful]

[ he gives a nod of acknowledgement and then cut the feed. and then from now until the frolicking, he's going to be a useless mass of nervous energy.

With luck, Merlin won't notice a thing. ]