Topic: Gratitude and Good Luck

Juliane Smith

Date: 2008-03-26 00:10 EST
The solid clunk of door in frame sounded behind her as she left the Studio, her brother's laughter still ringing in her ears. Cool metal in her pocket the catalyst for such a reaction. "Lor' an Skies, so I need him ta use th' mods fer two secs and he turns inta a detective." Taking the steps to the street below, she paused at the bottom. "Sometimes I think it would ha' been tons easier if he'd a been a girl." And with that, Juliane joined the hustle on the sidewalk and started off towards the boatyard.

Hudson leaned against the heavy door to the building which housed the L?ir Mothan and swung it closed. The small gift of thanks he had found for Juliane had been weighing heavily on his mind for several days, and today he had the time to deliver it. Intending to take out the boat for her first run on the open ocean in the morning, he wanted all debts to be cleared. Winding his way through the boatyard and toward the busy sidewalks, he absently turned the long narrow box over and over in one scarred hand.

A quick stop into a store along the way added a bagged bottle to her cargo. Feeling a tiny bit guilty of not purchasing a bottle from Jolyon, she pushed the thoughts from her mind. "He needs ta sell th' cases fer th' highest prices, yeah? Could ya really let him refuse ta let ya pay fer one, Halo? Nope, didn't think so."

Crossing the bridge from the south side of the bridge to the north, Hudson was frowning slightly, deep in thought. Still, that wasn?t enough to keep him from noticing the tall, slim figure with the shimmering gold hair as she weaved her way through the crowd from the north to the south. After a moment he stopped dead, staggered as a pedestrian behind him was caught unawares by the move, and then recovered his balance. ?Juliane Smith, be that ye??

Pulling up short, she turned and caught sight of a plaid-clothed figure and couldn't help but grin. "Well, I was th' last I checked, yeah?" A large cart trundled past before she ventured to cross to his side of the bridge. "And if it ain't the very person I'm a going ta see. Afternoon, Hudson."

?Latha math, Juliane. Ye come in search o? me? Well, there be a twist o? th? fates, for that I had been seeking ye.? Sun-lined creases showed at the corners of his eyes as Hudson smiled briefly. ?And since we ha?e each found th? other, where would ye care tae head? For I think we block th? traffic, standing here.?

The observation was more than obvious. Native Rhy'dinians were not graced with the builds of the Scot nor the height of Juliane. Shoved roughly another step closer to him, she chuckled, her head shaking in agreement. "Yeah, an' th' sooner th' better, yeah?" Spying the proprietor of the Teas-n-Tomes placing a menu placard outside, she pointed in that direction. "Would ya care ta go there?"

?Sure and why nae? ?Tis a grand place and I always like tae visit.? Hudson caught her elbows as yet another shove had her staggering, and released her when her balance was regained. His low chuckle was barely audible in the crowd. He stepped around her to break the path through the masses of pedestrians, leaving a clear space just in his wake. ?Although I ha?e tae confess I usually stop by there in th? evenings, after work.?

Following gratefully in the path he cut through the crushing throng, she spoke up so as to be heard over the din of commerce. "Are ya sure ya don't want ta go somewhere else then? I've only been there th' once myself but if ya frequent it often, ya may be in the mood fer something different, yeah?"

Looking back over his shoulder, Hudson ricocheted off of a passing trader and apologized before he replied to Juliane. ?Nae, I gae there sae because I like th? place. It be peaceful there. And if ye?ve only been there th? once, then ye?ve nae had th? chance tae try more than one o? th? pastries there. I ha?e a mind for sweets at th? moment. If ye wish sommat more substantial we can stop in tae somewhere else, though??

"And since when did ya ever know a woman ta refuse a man encouragin' her ta have somethin' sweet, yeah?" A grin as they made it off the bridge and the crowd thinned considerably with the ability to careen in countless directions. "B'sides, I didn't even have a pastry th' time I was there. So it seems I'm at a deficit ta yer expertise." Able to walk beside him now, she did so comfortably. "Ya will have ta suggest somethin' tasty, yeah?"

The thinning of the crowd meant that they were able to arrive much faster at the shop, and Hudson pulled open the door to the tinkling of small bells hung over it. He held the door for Juliane with a thoughtful look on his face. ?Aye, that I can dae. Dae ye prefer sommat o? th? chocolate, or fruit, or th? citrus ? or sommat else entirely??

Juliane Smith

Date: 2008-03-26 00:11 EST
The seriousness with which he accepted the charge brought another smile. Crossing the threshhold. she stepped to the side and waited for him to follow suit before proceeding to the counter. The glass counter had plates and stands loaded with pastries of all sorts fighting for attention. "Hmmm." Regarding the displays a moment before turning her head towards him. "Somethin' that tastes like Spring, yeah? Light an' crisp an' fresh."

?Ahh? ye seek tae challenge me. And what would ye tae drink with yer Spring dessert? Myself, I ha?e a fondness for th? mulled cider here.? Hudson gave a nod to the girl behind the counter, who beamed back at him. Then, standing next to Juliane, he considered the display. Black eyes flicked between the ranks of the tarts, and finally settled on a berry tart and an apple tart. He pointed out the pair to the girl behind the counter with a brief smile. She bobbed a quick curtsy and set to withdrawing the tarts from behind the glass.

"A glass a milk ta wash it down, I think, yeah? Takes away th' sweet wi' not changin' th' flavor." The bottle tucked under an arm, she leaned against the counter with him and let her eyes scan the room for available tables.

With a nod he turned back to the counter-girl. ?Then milk for th? lady and a mug o? th? mulled cider for myself, aye? Tapadh leat, a ghalad.? The girl blushed and beamed and bobbed another quick curtsy as she put the tarts on plates and the plates on trays, and then began to fetch the requested drinks. Hudson looked over to follow Juliane?s gaze and then tilted his chin in the direction of an empty table near one of the large windows. ?Would that suit ye, Juliane??

"Would suit me fine, yeah? Shall I get some napkins and secure it before someone else does?" At his nod and urging, she smiled. "An' don' think that I'll let ya get my tab wi'out a fight." Her mock-serious tone was heavily laced with teasing but the look in her eye showed her earnest. The napkins and cutlery gathered up, she claimed the table just as a burst of people entered looking for tables and discussing their own orders.

The timing was impeccable, and Hudson chuckled and turned back to pay the girl behind the counter ? pre-empting Juliane?s threat smoothly, since she couldn?t leave the table to protest without losing it to the crowd. With the tray balanced carefully in his net-scarred hands, he made his way around the chattering crowd to slide it onto the table and take the seat across from her. ?Ye ha?e good timing. Dae ye prefer th? berry or th? apple, or would ye like tae split th? tarts down th? middle and trade halves??

"Why trade halves, of course. Means I get ta taste two pastries an' only eat one, yeah?" A teasing grin as she began to remove things from the tray, situating the appropriate beverage before each. Placing a napkin, fork and knife in front of him, she chuckled and then presented the plates. "Would ya like ta cut them?"

With a slight shrug he nodded and then set to cutting the tarts, transferring the halves neatly. ?Sae I ken why I was seeking ye out, Juliane ? ?tis a small matter o? thanks I owe ye ? but why had ye turned yer steps tae find me?? Passing over her plate, he considered his own before he lifted his mug to take a small sip of the cider ? and winced as the hot liquid scorched his mouth. ?Always I dae that here.?

Wincing in reflex at the expression on his face, she pushed the tall glass of cool milk forward as a possible balm. A shrug at the question before her brow furrowed at the concept of gratitude. "What d'ya have ta thank me for, yeah?" Reaching down, she placed the bag on the table and pushed it down to reveal the bottle. "Somethin' fer th' boat. A man down at th' boatyards told me about what every good boat needs when I was there paintin', yeah? Said ya needed ta pour wine on th' deck."

A grateful nod accompanied the small sip from the milk he took before he wiped the rim clean with his napkin and passed it back. ?Thanks be due for th? milk, now, for th? name ye did such excellent work on, and for th? day o? hard labor ye put in tae help me repair th? Mothan?s rudder. And ye ha?e th? right o? it with th? wine for th? boat. Sommat o? th? land tae bring her home safe tae it. Whiskey will dae if there be nae wine about. Sae I ha?e that tae thank ye for as well.? After a moment Hudson took a bite of the apple tart and gave a small smile of satisfaction.

"Ya aren't supposed ta thank someone fer wishin' ya luck, are ya?" A bite of the berry followed the question and she savored it a moment before swallowing, ready to continue her thought. "B'sides, th' paintin' on th' boat is travelin' advertisment." Digging into her pocket, the crossed iron nails were retrieved and placed on the table. Slowly, Juliane slid it across the span and deposited to the side of his mug with as much stealth as she possessed. Another bite of tart before she feigned sudden interest in something outside.

Hudson Fraiser

Date: 2008-03-26 00:12 EST
?Ye still ha?e nae accounted for th? day o? labor, and there be nae way tae avoid that I owe ye th? thanks for that.? She looked so pleased at the taste of the berry tart that he tried a bite of that. After a moment he set down his fork and reached into his sporran, pulling out the narrow box he had placed there earlier. He set it down by her hand as she looked out the window, and followed her gaze. When he saw nothing of such interest, he quirked a brow and then reached for his mug to take a sip of the now some-what cooled cider. It was only then that he spotted the crossed nails, and looked back at her with a sharply curious gaze.

Unable to pretend that the cobblestones had captured her attention, she managed a small glance over at him only to match his gaze. Lifting her brows lightly, she smiled. "He also said ya were supposed ta have somethin' ta th' like ta keep blessings on yer boat. Had Johnny fuse 'em together an' band 'em in th' silver. Thought ya might need one since I didn't see one th' other day, yeah?" Her hand slid along the table to claim her glass of milk only to make contact with the box. "An' jus' what is this?"

Picking up the crossed nails, Hudson turned them around in his fingers as he examined the near seamless joining and the carelessly intricate detail of the silver thread that bound the join. ?She?ll thank ye well for th? wine and th? charm, that will still th? seas and bind th? winds. And sae tae will I. Ye ha?e a kind heart, Juliane Smith. That be a wee token o? my gratitude that ye?ve shared yer kind thoughts and deeds with me.?

"Ya really didn't hav' ta, yeah?" Taking a sip of her milk, she picked up the box with long, nimble fingers and opened the lid. Her mouth rounded in an "oh" as a simple strand of small irregular pearls rested on the velvet lining. The pearls were in shades of blonde, gray, champagne, and bronze as if formed from sun, sand, and cream.

?Aye, but I did. Debts must be paid before I set tae sea, and I dinnae ha?e many ways tae show my thanks.? Hudson ran his fingers over the cool crossed iron nails and then set the charm down on the table with a small click. He finally picked up his mug again to take a sip of the cider that had cooled to a drinkable temperature. Black eyes were watchful of Juliane?s reaction.

She plucked the necklace from the box, the pearls slipping through her fingers like seaweed. "And since when are ya supposed ta overpay a 'debt' ta such degree, yeah? This is a very grand payment fer a day's work, Hudson." It was obvious that she liked them but was hesitant to accept such a gift. Brows lifted in question. "Are ya sure this isn't too much? Th' pastries an' drink would ha' been enough ta settle it, yeah?"

A shake of his head dismissed her concerns. ?Th? debt be nae only in th? day o? work, Juliane, but in th? kindness and welcome ye?ve shown tae me. Some might make a cold greeting tae th? brother o? their brother?s intended, but ye?ve invited me tae th? family with nae a pause for thought. ?Tis sommat that means a great deal tae me. Take th? necklace, Juliane. Ye?ll set me tae ease when I gae out on th? morrow.?

Juliane had blushed at his observations, having never given the issue of not accepting Sianna, much less her brother, a moment's thought. She fastened the strand about her neck at his insistence, fingers smoothing over the bumpy contours of the pearls against her skin. "So ya plan ta take her out tomorrow, yeah? Think th' weather will hold fine?" Her smile continued to reiterate her appreciation, not only for the gift, but the man behind it.

The question prompted one of his rare open smiles, brief as it was. Just the thought of his boat and the open water was enough to lift his mood and grant him a sense of peace. ?I hope sae ? and I think sae. Chill with th? wind, but sun in the sky. She?ll be grand out there, with th? waves against her hull and th? sound o? gulls in the air. Th? morrow just be a short run, tae test her in th? water and make sure all be well. I?ll begin fishing again within th? week, though ? I?ve worked out with Rhys tae work a late shift at th? Yransea warehouse.?

His words brought the water to life, and she could almost feel the mist on her face. A bit of apple tart was taken and she smiled as she listened. "Do ya know wha' ya plan ta fish for? Somethin' specific or jus' whatever ya haul up in yer nets?"

Hudson Fraiser

Date: 2008-03-26 00:13 EST
Reminded of the tarts, he took another bite of the berry while he considered the answer. After a moment he shook his head and lifted his shoulders in a shrug. ?There be whiting and haddock here, or sommat near enow tae pass as. But I expect tae bring in whatever comes up in th? nets, and with th? waters around here, who could tell what that may be?? He chuckled quietly and turned back to his food.

A sip of her milk before she used the knife to cut off the tarts cleanly. Full for the moment, she wrapped them up neatly in clean napkin and tucked them into her bag. They would come in handy later at the studio either for herself or her twin. "Tha's certainly true. But do ya plan ta sell th' catch from th' boat ev'ry day or supply it ta someone specific?"

Finishing the last of his tarts, Hudson picked up his mug and leaned back in the chair. He inhaled the scent of apples and spices and the dry scent of the books and ink before he replied. ?There be a few traders with fish stands I?ve made arrangements wi? already. ?Tis easier here nae tae need tae salt and pack th? catch, or spend hours cleaning it and setting it for smoking. I?ll gae out afore th? dawn, back in a few hours intae th? morning, with th? catch settled nae later than noon. Then I?ll head tae th? warehouse th? rest o? th? day, until sunset.?

Extending her long legs to the side, she crossed them at the ankles and adopted a relaxed pose of her own, elbows resting on the arms of the chair. "Sounds like a very full schedule. Will ya ever rest?" Juliane didn't mean to pry but by his own admonitions, his life would be nothing but working and labor. The hours between sunset and dawn were not that numerous and would be given to sleep. Not that she was really one to ask, seeming to cycle between home and the studio endlessly, although she was getting better.

?Fridays be rest days, sae I?ll tend tae th? net-mending then. But ?tis nae sae demanding a schedule as back tae home, in truth. Th? work in th? warehouse dinnae be as much o? a strain tae th? muscles ? more o? one tae th? mind, ye ken?? Hudson considered that answer before he shrugged slightly. ?And in any case, what else dae I ha?e here but th? work and th? sea??

"Not much more than I have, between th' studio and th' house. Maybe th' farm when it's nice." She paused a moment and regarded him, the set of his shoulders, the lines around his dark eyes. Juliane's lips curled into a gentle smile. "But I guess we'll have what we make room ta have, yeah? Like ya said at th' boatyard... family and friends. Now it's jus' up ta us ta seek 'em out more'n we do th' other stuff."

About to take another sip from his mug, Hudson lowered the warm ceramic to chuckle with a shake of his head. ?Ye make an apt point and reprimand me wi?out trying. Sae more o? an effort I?ll ha?e tae be making, I can see.? After a moment he lifted the mug again and completed his interrupted sip, only to change the topic when it lowered. ?And ha?e ye been making that effort o? late, Juliane??

Guilty as charged, she waved a hand in a small circular motion, her cheeks tinged with color. "I've been tryin', yeah? Th' op'ra, bein' at th' Inn a bit before headin' home from th' studio. Visitin' wi' Johnny and Si, even workin' a couple days in th' shop." Reaching for her glass only to find it empty, she pulled her hand back. "Small steps all of 'em, but I'm tryin', yeah?"

Draining the last of the spiced cider, Hudson leaned forward to set the mug on the table before he answered. ?Well, ye cannae run afore ye walk, they dae say.? There was a flicker of subdued expression across his face as he recalled a small dark-haired infant on the verge of walking. It was banished swiftly, and he glanced out the window and the level of the sun in the sky. ?I?ll ha?e tae leave ye tae walking, I be afraid. I ha?e tae return tae th? Mothan before th? hour grows tae much later if she?s tae be set for th? morning.?

Juliane nodded in agreement, refraining the comment from actually leaving her lips. Consolidating their plates and such to one tray, she smiled softly. "Well, I'd hate ta be the reason she wasn't ready fer her first excursion. So hurry on wi' ya and I'll be fine walkin' home, yeah?"

Hudson smiled briefly as he stood and collected the crossed iron nails and the bottle of wine for the boat. ?Thank ye for th? thoughts and th? luck ye?ve given tae her. If ye want a trip on her, just tell me th? time and I?ll set it up for ye. Sl?n leat, Juliane.? With a nod and another brief smile, he headed for the door and out, into the hustle and bustle of the street.