Chance

[Naelona Ezel]

"Few do." Naelona stated simply, her more commonly heard colder tone seeping in at the thought. Naelona had a peculiar habit.. or so it seemed to be more of an effect than anything. A pattern for years set into motion. Friendships were not something Naelona was destined for, nor anything else. Considering anything of relational value was the quickest way to lose it. It was just a common law in Wonderland, one she'd seen enacted many, many times.

The weak curl of her lips faded away as Naelona leaned back into the alcove and against the stone blocks that formed the back of it. "Anolean was the schemer, the contriver of all things peculiar and entertaining.. for a child. We were very mischievous as a pair. Consider between the two of us no walls could keep us in and no jars could keep us out. Perfect illumination can keep out my brother, but not myself. We did as we pleased."

Those had been enjoyable times. Shadowing about the house, pulling pranks on family slaves and then fading away into misplaced darkness to the safety of their quiet rooms. It all went fine and dandy until one of them messed up and ended up stuck somewhere. Strange. She recalled more of times when they became snagged upon an oddly lit wall, or were thwarted by a bright fire than the actual mischief they got into.

The boogie crossed one knee over the other and with a subtle movement of her hand and a shift of shade a pipe appeared within her hand. No doubt from somewhere on her dress, but where was the better question. "I recall.." Naelona actually had to stop and think. Shaehern had gotten upset at the twins a number of times as children, and vice versa. He didn't always show it, but even a 4-decade senior Nae could tell when the child was angry with them. Most of the time at least. She wizened up quick enough after the first few mispresumptions. If only she could say Anolaen had done the same.

"Anolean tried to dunk him once, but that didn't go over too well." Oh no.. there were much worse things they had done, but for the moment Naelona couldn't recall them. After a few minutes Naelona just shook her head. "The years are too aged. However.. no.. there was a time I tricked him into believing a tree was about to fall on top of him. It was a windy day and he just wasn't watching where he was going."

At the simple remark the weak moonlight shadows of branches above suddenly waved wildly before some 'broke apart' and given the increasing side of shade where quickly hurtling towards the ground. A simple illustration to her point. "He payed more attention after that when I said it was too windy out." Pity he couldn't be convinced into listening anymore. Perhaps too many tricks back in the day. He hardly heeded her word at all now.

[Jasmine Krisp]

Jasmine could almost feel the chill coming from the younger woman’s voice. It was haunting in a way, and sad in another. How many acquaintances did Naelona have, and out of them how many could be considered a friend? If that tone of voice was any hint…Jazz would safely assume not many. Little pale hands interlocked together, resting gently on the black-drabbed plum’s lap, her head held high. When sitting, she almost reached the same height at the shadow woman.

More memories of her ‘other half’ spilled from the younger woman, and the older one eagerly listened. “I imagine you were hell for the slaves who kept watch,” she chuckled. There was that gentle echo under her words again. She really did sound like a mother, even after all these years of not being one. “It’s always interesting to remember who you were as a child and compare it to yourself now. You seem to have matured since such times, as one should…”

…though perhaps you should keep just a spark of that former life.

Jazz was somewhat surprised when the pipe appeared in Naelona’s hand. Where in the world had that been hiding, a secret compartment? She almost asked Naelona but stopped as the thought bubbled to her lips. Keep strange questions down until you know her better, at least. The laugh that came forth wasn’t stopped quite as easily. “I’d think making him believe he was about to be crushed is somewhat more devious than a mere trick. It sounds like he was your punching bag.”

Gold eyes watched carefully as the shadows moved to aid the story.

“So what changed between you three?” It was somewhat of a loaded question, but Jasmine wanted to ask it. “You sounded like you were close, as far as childhood plamates go, but looking at you and dear Shaehern now…one could never guess. I am a good friend of Shaehern’s and never once has he told me about your past together.”

[Naelona Ezel]

"Always." The twins were always moving about, being sought for, or searching. The slaves always had difficulty keeping track of the pair, even years before Shae even existed. That was a different and somber topic entirely. One Naelona didn't wish to delve into and so relented considering her earliest of years. Sometimes the Ezel was just a little too good and getting to where she wanted and finding who she wanted to - even when they ran.

Naelona made a verbal note, a monosyllable remark to Jasmine. "He was sitting under a tree and wouldn't hear us when it was time to go, so I got his attention." Briefly she recreated the small scene for Jasmine. It was cut short as a nearby plant took the bait and tried eating the childish looking shadow, but not before Jazz could see him scramble out of the way. "His mother wouldn't have been happy if we kept him out late again that evening." Cebil wasn't one she cared to disappoint as a child, either.

"What changed?" The boogie weighed the question carefully. A brief flicker of flame died within turn as she lit her pipe and tendrils of blue smoke began to sift out. "We grew up." It was the short and simple answer to it all. "Anolean was taken to follow my father's footsteps, Shaehern went to take his own, and I came here. The reason we do not get along in that time I have grown. He still revels and strives to embellish in the childish play he left behind."

Switching which leg was crossed over the other, Naelona shifted slightly to lean into the rounded corner of the alcove and better face her peculiar conversationalist. "I wouldn't expect he would. As I've told you before. He is very different now than he was before." To touch on a remark Naelona had mentioned earlier, sometimes even Naelona didn't recognize him.

[Jasmine Krisp]

Again the shadow-play all around the garden, the child-shadow enough to get the attention of the local flora. Jasmine chuckled as the silhouette ran for cover from a ‘falling tree’ while it looked like he was running from the plant. “He had the same attention span he does now, I see.” The plum woman stretched her arms and rounded her back a little. “I wonder if he’d remember it if I called him out on it…or tried to push a tree onto him.”

She’d do it too, which was the best part of the joke.

Jasmine’s golden orbs never left the younger woman, though they did flicker like the fire that lit Naelona’s pipe. Her answer bothered her a little. ‘Growing up’ didn’t mean ‘growing apart’, but in the ex-trio of friends it seemed to be the case. But at the same time they were all her now…though on their own paths. It was rather upsetting in its own way how people once so close could lose touch so quickly, even when they’re so close.

“Have you completely let go of such friendship yourself?”

With a little sigh, the older woman shook her bangs back. “I’m going to assume you preferred him as he was to who he is.” The idea made her wonder what kind of person her dear friend had been before...and if they would have gotten along as they did now.

[Naelona Ezel]

"Do you speak in general, or specific?" Naelona's coal-gray eyes regarded the small woman silently. "The past is past, Miss Jasmine. Only fools and children still cling to it. The wise know better and go on." Another puff of smoke curled into the night air rising to the dark branches above. Was it even worth hanging onto anything of the past? What was there even to hang onto? Friendships came and went in time. Most flickered once and vanished, others tended to linger as re-occuring.

She supposed it was a peculiar consideration she'd managed to know Jouhnin as long as she'd managed to and they were still on good terms. But friendships were fickle, fragile things, even more so than sickly slaves. They could only be called on once in a great while, and never too frequently or too neededly. It was a surefire way to shatter anything, whether by fate or consequence.

Naelona remained very quiet for a few moments, the air feeling a bit cooler before sounding a single note to Jasmine's last remark. She certainly fancied herself perceptive, didn't she? "Sensibility is always more preferable than foolish behavior, but I believe he has always had a bit of that." Naelona added lowly. There was just a lot more these days than in the old. It didn't bother her if it wasn't the exact question Jasmine was looking for, but it was the one she would recieve.

From across the path, shadows melted away from their theatric places and returned more properly to beneath her feet. "You are very inquisitive Jasmine Krisp, but I am not the one to be asking for such answers of how or why." Sitting up a bit straighter she stretched out one leg before her, then the other, waking the idle muscles. Sitting really wasn't her style if papers weren't involved. "Ask him yourself, if he will tell you." Nevermind it was likely to stir up it's own mess. If it landed Jasmine into hot water and thus out of her hair on the matter, all the better.

The boogie then got to her feet, and nodded to the strange little woman. "However, the hour is late for me and the morning and it's respective tasks are soon. As I have not rested, it is time I go." It was about as close to polite she could come to the matter. "Perhaps another time?" A slight nod in lieu of a bow before she turned to go. "Good night, Miss Jasmine." Perhaps her 'perceptiveness' would serve her properly this time.