An interlude over tea...
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:40 am
Author's Note: Ever have a brain flash that was set off by a note of music, a turn of phrase or simply an image seen in the street? That's what this is from - with all credit to Dinky. I will let her inform you all of the phrase.
The two sat in Phix’s home office, a teapot, place settings and a plate of petit fours between them. Gossiping in a friendly manner they enjoyed tea and each other’s company.
“It’s good to settle down and just relax. We always talk on the phone – you know you, Al and Greg are the only ones who ever actually call me?”
Daisy laughed. “Well, it’s all down to basically being mundanes no matter what. I spend my time in the mundane world between RE and AHI, and Greg and Al are still conditioned by sixty years and more among the non-paras.”
“True enough, true enough. And how is that lunatic you’re married to?”
“Hard at work, as usual. Took a day off to start setting the line shafts for the 1900 workshop in the basement at Alexander, and I got tired of the cursing and drilling into the concrete. He’s been running the tools down there off separate motors, and while it works well it simply didn’t suit him. He’s going to build what he wants no matter how much of an OSHA nightmare it is. Speaking of spouses, where are Aeternia and Neil?”
Phix stretched luxuriously back in her chair. “They are off to the park. Neil, the Flyer and Aeternia are off to burn off some energy, because he and I need to do some things this afternoon. This way she won’t be twitching when I make her wear her amulet and we can just be a nice, normal family out and about.”
“Oh, speaking of amulets – more about jewelry – I have something for you!” Daisy slid a slim box across the table.
“Oh?” Phix picked up the slim case and examined it.
“Yes, a friend of mine is a silversmith. She had an exhibition of her work and I went down to check it out. I have quite a few pieces of her work, and so does Cinnamon. I saw this piece…and well, it seemed perfect for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
Phix opened the box and drew a long breath. There, nestled on the black velvet in the case, was a silver chain, decorated along is length with filigreed nature pieces. Leaves, fronds and ferns, all intricately done in silver. These were complimented by small silver globes, each done in punchwork, with tinier silver globes contained within. The whole piece reflected the light threw it around the room in reflections.
It was beautiful.
“Oh, Daisy – it’s wonderful!” Phix exclaimed, picking it up from the box. As she did the necklace tinkled, small musical notes coming from the globes spread along its length.
Daisy stepped around behind her friend and held out her hands. “Here, let me put it on you – I need a picture of this for my friend’s album.” Locking the clasp on the chain, she stepped back around, admiring the play of light on the faceting of the filigreed pieces.
As Phix turned to her friend the necklace tinkled again, the musical notes clear in the quiet of the office. “What a wonderful gift. Thank you!”
“Hold still – I need a picture of this, if you don’t mind.” Daisy got out her camera and snapped two or three head-and-shoulders shots of Phix and the jewelry. Oh – one thing. The chain is long enough so you shouldn’t have to worry about it if you change – it’s got enough room to accommodate the changes.”
“What a thoughtful gift!” Phix wrapped Daisy in a hug, then stepped to the mirror on her wall to admire her prize.
“I saw it…and just thought of you.” With that Daisy departed, headed back for Alexander House.
Soon Neil returned, carrying a very tired Aeternia and wheeling the small cart that contained the Flyer and its cooler.
“How was your company?” Neil asked, setting Aeternia on the couch. The cub grumbled quietly and settled into the yielding surface.
“It was lovely. Daisy and I had a good chat – and look at the necklace she brought me!” Standing proud, Phix turned to the light and the necklace glittered. She shook a bit, and the tinkling of the globes perfectly complimented the reflections from the room lights.
“My, that’s…a wonderful piece. What made her buy it?”
“No reason – she saw it in a jewelry exhibition and thought of me. Isn’t it wonderful!”
Neil’s face worked strangely and he turned away. Mystified, Phix looked at her husband and realized his shoulders were….shaking?
Walking around to face him, Phix asked, “Neil, are you all right? What’s wrong?” Then she realized he was..laughing?
“What’s so funny?” she asked, curiousity getting the better of her.
“Do you realize, my lovely cat, that Daisy gave you a jingle bell collar?” After calmly uttering these words he collapsed into a chair and began to bray with laughter.
Phix stood still momentarily as the import of Neil’s words rang through to her. Then she turned to him, fists balled and reverting to her feral self. The necklace, as billed, still fit perfectly.
“That…BITCH! That MISERABLE FUCKING EQUINE!”
Far away in spacetime Daisy held up a photo on her phone to her incredulous husband.
“Fifty bucks. Pay me!” she said, triumphantly, holding her hand out palm upraised.
The two sat in Phix’s home office, a teapot, place settings and a plate of petit fours between them. Gossiping in a friendly manner they enjoyed tea and each other’s company.
“It’s good to settle down and just relax. We always talk on the phone – you know you, Al and Greg are the only ones who ever actually call me?”
Daisy laughed. “Well, it’s all down to basically being mundanes no matter what. I spend my time in the mundane world between RE and AHI, and Greg and Al are still conditioned by sixty years and more among the non-paras.”
“True enough, true enough. And how is that lunatic you’re married to?”
“Hard at work, as usual. Took a day off to start setting the line shafts for the 1900 workshop in the basement at Alexander, and I got tired of the cursing and drilling into the concrete. He’s been running the tools down there off separate motors, and while it works well it simply didn’t suit him. He’s going to build what he wants no matter how much of an OSHA nightmare it is. Speaking of spouses, where are Aeternia and Neil?”
Phix stretched luxuriously back in her chair. “They are off to the park. Neil, the Flyer and Aeternia are off to burn off some energy, because he and I need to do some things this afternoon. This way she won’t be twitching when I make her wear her amulet and we can just be a nice, normal family out and about.”
“Oh, speaking of amulets – more about jewelry – I have something for you!” Daisy slid a slim box across the table.
“Oh?” Phix picked up the slim case and examined it.
“Yes, a friend of mine is a silversmith. She had an exhibition of her work and I went down to check it out. I have quite a few pieces of her work, and so does Cinnamon. I saw this piece…and well, it seemed perfect for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
Phix opened the box and drew a long breath. There, nestled on the black velvet in the case, was a silver chain, decorated along is length with filigreed nature pieces. Leaves, fronds and ferns, all intricately done in silver. These were complimented by small silver globes, each done in punchwork, with tinier silver globes contained within. The whole piece reflected the light threw it around the room in reflections.
It was beautiful.
“Oh, Daisy – it’s wonderful!” Phix exclaimed, picking it up from the box. As she did the necklace tinkled, small musical notes coming from the globes spread along its length.
Daisy stepped around behind her friend and held out her hands. “Here, let me put it on you – I need a picture of this for my friend’s album.” Locking the clasp on the chain, she stepped back around, admiring the play of light on the faceting of the filigreed pieces.
As Phix turned to her friend the necklace tinkled again, the musical notes clear in the quiet of the office. “What a wonderful gift. Thank you!”
“Hold still – I need a picture of this, if you don’t mind.” Daisy got out her camera and snapped two or three head-and-shoulders shots of Phix and the jewelry. Oh – one thing. The chain is long enough so you shouldn’t have to worry about it if you change – it’s got enough room to accommodate the changes.”
“What a thoughtful gift!” Phix wrapped Daisy in a hug, then stepped to the mirror on her wall to admire her prize.
“I saw it…and just thought of you.” With that Daisy departed, headed back for Alexander House.
Soon Neil returned, carrying a very tired Aeternia and wheeling the small cart that contained the Flyer and its cooler.
“How was your company?” Neil asked, setting Aeternia on the couch. The cub grumbled quietly and settled into the yielding surface.
“It was lovely. Daisy and I had a good chat – and look at the necklace she brought me!” Standing proud, Phix turned to the light and the necklace glittered. She shook a bit, and the tinkling of the globes perfectly complimented the reflections from the room lights.
“My, that’s…a wonderful piece. What made her buy it?”
“No reason – she saw it in a jewelry exhibition and thought of me. Isn’t it wonderful!”
Neil’s face worked strangely and he turned away. Mystified, Phix looked at her husband and realized his shoulders were….shaking?
Walking around to face him, Phix asked, “Neil, are you all right? What’s wrong?” Then she realized he was..laughing?
“What’s so funny?” she asked, curiousity getting the better of her.
“Do you realize, my lovely cat, that Daisy gave you a jingle bell collar?” After calmly uttering these words he collapsed into a chair and began to bray with laughter.
Phix stood still momentarily as the import of Neil’s words rang through to her. Then she turned to him, fists balled and reverting to her feral self. The necklace, as billed, still fit perfectly.
“That…BITCH! That MISERABLE FUCKING EQUINE!”
Far away in spacetime Daisy held up a photo on her phone to her incredulous husband.
“Fifty bucks. Pay me!” she said, triumphantly, holding her hand out palm upraised.
