Topic: The Locket

Luna Eva

Date: 2008-05-28 20:13 EST
?Now that's a pretty piece you got there.? The jewelery merchant tilted the necklace in the palm of his hand towards the sunlight, catching a glint on the white gold. The Marketplace was crowded with people enjoying a day of spring shopping.

?Yeah, yeah it looks like an antique. I get it.? Eva tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear as she watched the older man with the locket Tucker had given her for Christmas. ?Do you have something to go with it??

?I rather fancy the velvet cord you've already got.? The merchant looked up at her curiously. The black velvet ribbon was short, almost like a choker, but wouldn't fit quite so tight. ?You say you want a chain?? At Eva's nod, the old man shook his head and extended the locket back towards her. ?I'm afraid I don't do custom work. You can see what I've got here, but I know I've mostly got silver.?

Eva sighed and accepted the necklace back from the man. She'd come to see him because he was familiar, having worked for him wrapping gifts in his stall before Christmas. Plus, she'd been hoping he'd be able to make her a good deal. Eva glanced over at the silver chains hanging and she could tell immediately that they wouldn't match. So much for that. She caressed the soft velvet cord a moment, then tucked it away in her pocket.

?Do you know someone who does??

?Aye, there's that fella, Johnny Smith, the one's just got married.? The jewelery merchant pointed towards the Northwest corner of the Marketplace. ?He's got a shop up there with his lady-love. Expressions of something or other. You can't miss it.?

?Alright, thanks.? Eva smiled faintly, and took a step back away from the safety of the stall towards the hustling crowds.

?I might have some matching earrings for ya!? The jewelry merchant shouted after her.

Eva shook her head and called back, ?No, thank you!?

The crowd lifted her easily onto its current taking her down the aisles, until Eva had to fight to break away in the direction she wanted. She stepped left to avoid a slow moving older woman, laden with baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables, and then stopped abruptly as two small boys chased each other across her path.

Eventually Eva found her way to the correct street, looking up at a sign that read Expressions of Hope. Her fingers wrapped around the necklace in her pocket, caressing the velvet ribbon as she stood just outside. A light breeze blew her hair across her face and she sighed. More like expressions of desperation. Pathetic desperation.

Eva shook her head and stepped towards the door. There was no use going down that road just then. She at least had to find out how much it would cost.

After the chaos of the Marketplace it was a relief to step inside a place of quiet. The shop was almost serene. Eva took a moment to look around, her eyes taking in the art on the walls, the sculptures, the glass cased jewelry. This was in a different league than the Marketplace. Like a gallery. Surely, she couldn't afford it.

Leaning over one of the glass cases, a young Elven couple were whispering and laughing. Behind them, Eva could see their hands intertwined, their bodies close, their intimacy obvious. They were looking at rings. Engagement rings.

Eva sighed and stepped to the opposite counter, turning her back on the pair. She pulled the necklace from her pocket and set the locket on top of the glass case. Who was she kidding? Tucker didn't want to have anything to do with her. What was holding onto this locket going to do? What was wearing it going to do? Other than keep her hanging onto a dead relationship? Keep her hanging onto a desperate, pathetic hope.

Johnny Smith

Date: 2008-05-28 23:59 EST
Emerald eyes had flicked up at the arrival of another customer to the shop; one Johnny recognized, if only from a few brief meetings. But the giddy Elven girl was pointing firmly to a ring she wanted to try on, while her companion had paled a bit at the choice. Johnny flashed a quick smile over in Eva?s direction before he pulled free the tray which contained the girl?s choice. This particular tray contained some of his more fanciful creations.

The ring chosen by the Elven girl was an intricate weaving of platinum and rose gold, set with a water-clear and absolutely flawless diamond. She had unerringly picked out the most expensive ring on the entire tray, and immediately set her heart on it. When the boy leaned over to look at the discreet price tag, he paled even further and opened his mouth, shaking his head. Johnny made a small, appreciative noise in the back of his throat and smiled at the pair.

?Tha?s a real nice?n, ain? it? An? it suits ya jus? fine, miss, too fine ta le? someone else have it.? His baritone voice was quiet, friendly, as he picked up the price tag in seeming absent-mindedness. The Elven boy?s inarticulate sound of protest was stilled almost as suddenly as the boy blinked down at the new price tag with which Johnny had replaced the old. While still expensive, it displayed a substantially lower number. One that, while a stretch, would conceivably be in reach to a young man such as this one.

?If?n ya?ll wan? ta think it over, ya come back an? see me anytime an? we?ll talk it over, yeah? There?s lot?s ?a ways ?a workin? ou? paymen?s.? The friendly, open smile that was as natural to Johnny as breathing seemed to reassure the Elven boy. He nodded wordlessly while the girl reluctantly took off the ring to replace it on the tray. The couple walked out together whispering breathlessly, and Johnny grinned and shook his head as he replaced the tray and locked the display case.

Moving across the room to the counter Eva was standing by, Johnny still didn?t look like the traditional image of a successful store-owner. Today he was in a plain white shirt, half-unbuttoned to reveal the wife-beater below and jeans that were worn into comfortable ease. ?They been in here six times in th? last three weeks an? this?s th? firs? time she?s tried anythin? on. Bettin? I see th? kid back in th? nex? day?r two ta se? up some kinda paymen? deal.?

He took up the conversation out of nowhere with her comfortably, and grinned as he looked from her to the locket on the counter. It suited her, the white gold faintly worn and the simple black velvet cord; with the luster of old metal that?s been loved well, it looked like an antique. ?So wha? can I do fer ya, Doc Eva?? She had her own fame around the Marketplace, especially after the bombings and the healing she had done there without hesitation.

Johnny didn?t pick up the locket, not yet. A slow blink lowered the silver film over his eyes, and he made another small noise in the back of his throat, this one thoughtful. ?This don? look like it needs any repairs, tha?s fer sure. Good metal, though. Must?a cos? ya a pretty penny ta ge?.? He looked over at her curiously, although the blankness of silver film that masked emerald-sharp gaze gave the expression a strange look.

Luna Eva

Date: 2008-05-31 13:38 EST
?It was a gift...? Eva blushed at the mention of the locket's value. She leaned her palms against the edge of the glass case, her eyes down on the necklace, and shifted her weight. The easy manner of Johnny's greeting and the warmth of his smile had eased her tension somewhat, but now that the conversation had returned to the locket, she took a slow deep breath before returning her eyes to him.

A spark of her own curiosity met his blank silver gaze, her mouth open as if she were about to continue speaking but was stilled mid-thought. Her head tilted and drew back a little as she considered him a moment. Johnny had enhancements. She wasn't sure why it surprised her. Why anything in Rhy'Din surprised her. But it did. Eva shook her head, as if physically shaking the thoughts free, and returned her gaze to the locket.

?No, I... I think it's in good condition... I just want to switch the um... the cord... the ribbon.? Her fingers slid over to the black velvet with its white gold clasp. ?See...? Eva looked up at him, trying to explain herself. ?This ribbon is too short. When I wear it, it falls to about here.? Eva raised her hand to touch just beneath the shallow dip in her neck. ?See, right above the sternum.? She shifted her weight again, and moved her hand down. ?I'd rather... I'd like it if it would stay beneath my clothes... all the time... so I was thinking of replacing the ribbon with a chain... that would fall to about here.? She moved her fingers down so they were resting well below the neckline of her tank top, between the curves of her breasts, over her heart.

Her eyes finally returned to his, and then immediately away again, the blankness of his gaze disconcerting. She raised a hand to push through her hair and shook her head. ?Sorry... I didn't know you had enhancements.?

Johnny Smith

Date: 2008-06-03 21:22 EST
Eva wasn?t the first person to be unnerved by the modifications that altered Johnny?s sight, nor would she be the last. When activated, they were the most visible change to his appearance; the mesh embedded on his fingers wasn?t something most people noticed unless he showed them. So at her reaction he grinned and blinked slowly, retracting the film to show emerald green irises again. ?Ain? no worries. Yer no? th? firs? ta be surprised. ?S why I?m able ta do some?a th? stuff ya see in here. Bein? able ta see inta th? metal ?r th? stone makes thin?s easier by a long sho?.?

Finally he picked up the locket and examined it, the loop which secured the velvet cord, and the length of that cord carefully. ?D?ya wan? a custom chain fer this?n, or somethin? I go? in stock already? Ta be hones?, th? kind?a craftsmanship in this locket, I?d rather do up somethin? custom ? bu? I go? a chain?r two tha? should suit well enough if?n ya wan? somethin? t?day. Cos? abou? th? same either way, an? no? too expensive.? Finally he set down the locket with another thoughtful look, and then went to one of the display cases.

A tray with chains of various lengths removed, Johnny brought it back to the counter and pulled out three after another moment of consideration. He set them out neatly on the counter above the locket, running mesh-embedded fingertips along their lengths to the clasps. All three would let Eva?s locket fall where she wanted it, over her heart. Two were of plain white gold ? one fine and delicate, the other with larger, bolder links ? and the remaining one was actually made of white gold twined with rose gold. He tapped a finger thoughtfully on the chain with the twisted metals.

?Now if?n I was goin? ta do somethin? custom fer ya, thinkin? somethin? like this in style, bu? two shades?a white gold instead, an? then finished ta match th? antique look?a th? metal of th? locket. Take abou? three days fer tha?. If ya wan? one?a these in stock though, no worries. So ? wha?s yer pleasure, Doc?? Johnny spread out his hands in a gesture that left the options and the decision to her.

Luna Eva

Date: 2008-06-08 14:19 EST
Eva's eyes moved back and forth over the options. Her hands tensed on the edge of the counter as she leaned over. She hadn't expected to have choices. Each chain was pretty in its own way, but which would look best? She moved one hand over to the locket, her fingers handling it delicately as she slid it on the glass counter towards the chains Johnny had selected. Her fingers paused with the locket at the bottom of each chain, her head tilted.

?I hadn't... I hadn't really had anything particular in mind, you know?? She looked up at him finally, her brow furrowed. ?I guess... I guess I'll just go with what you think... so that... that sounds like the custom thing.?

Eva nodded, offered him a faint uncertain smile, and then looked back down at the locket. She would have to leave it with him for three days. Her fingers reached out to touch it again, and then pulled back, as her eyes started filling with tears. What the hell was wrong with her? It was just three days. And it was just a damn necklace. It didn't mean anything. She kept her gaze down on the glass counter as she tried to recompose herself.

Then with a muted plop, a teardrop splashed between them on the glass counter. Eva's cheeks immediately flushed with embarrassment and she shifted her hand to wipe at it, sniffling and mumbling. ?Sorry... sorry...?

Johnny Smith

Date: 2008-06-12 19:20 EST
Emerald eyes widened just a bit with alarm. Johnny was used to tears in the shop, but they were usually tears of joy. This was just a little different. Her uncertainty had been obvious and there was evidently quite a bit of emotion attached to the simple locket. Shaking his head at Eva?s mumbled apology, he frowned and fished out a clean rag from behind the counter. ?Nah, no worries. Nothin? ta be sorry for.? A swipe cleaned away the splashed teardrop from the counter before he pressed the rag into her hand.

Once Eva had a firm grip on the cloth, Johnny moved out from behind the counter to lock the door. The solid thunk of the lock was a barrier between them and the outside world, giving Eva a chance to regain her mental balance before another giddy couple decided to waltz in. With the door locked, Johnny hauled out a tall stool from behind the counter and offered it to the doctor. ?Look, grab a sea? an? I?ll be righ? back, righ???

Without waiting to see if she complied, Johnny vanished into the back rooms of the shop. When he returned a few minutes later, he had another stool in one hand and a tray bearing a pair of large mugs in the other. The rich scent of coffee drifted from the mugs, and set beside them were a small pitcher of cream and a jar of sugar. ?Ya know one?a th? advantages of havin? yer own place like this? Ain? nobody ta min? if?n ya decide ta take a coffee break.?

Johnny slid the tray onto the counter in front of Eva and nodded at it. ?Min? addin? cream an? a coupl?a spoon?s ?a sugar ta one?a those fer me?? He settled the second tall stool next to hers and perched on it comfortably, hooking his feet over the bottom rung. Taking the adulterated mug of coffee, he propped his elbows on the counter, inhaled with closed eyes, and then looked over at Eva with an open smile.

The locket and the chains remained on the counter where they had been, and Johnny didn?t look at them as he spoke. ?Now, if?n ya hate coffee, migh? be somethin? else I can rummage up fer ya, bu? it?ll take a while longer. Meantime, ya go? any questions ?r anythin?? Could tell ya abou? how I?d be makin? tha? chain fer ya, if?n ya wan?. Or ya can talk abou? wha?s on yer min?, or I can ramble, or we could jus? sit here an? drink coffee fer a few minutes.? He grinned, a warm smile that conveyed the same message as his words ? he?d be just as happy with whichever choice made her happier.

Luna Eva

Date: 2008-06-16 20:37 EST
Later, it would strike Eva how in that moment, Johnny knew just what to do when she started to cry. Eva was equal parts distressed and embarrassed, but he wasn't awkward or overly attentive. He simply provided the moment of privacy that she needed.

Eva used the small rag to wipe her eyes, taking slow breaths, while Johnny moved about. She could feel the air catching in her chest, and concentrated on the rhythm of her pulse until her breaths came evenly again. She never used to cry. Certainly not in front of strangers, let alone in front of those she loved and trusted. Now she got misty at the slightest provocation. Maybe it was just a part of getting older. Hormones run amok. She sniffled and tried to shrug it off, leaving the rag on the counter, abandoned.

Her hands wrapped about the coffee cup, leaving it black and sugarless, Johnny's opposite. It took her another moment after he'd spoken to raise her eyes to his smile. Her hazel eyes were mostly clear, but her nose and cheeks were red. She managed a grateful, if weak, smile of her own. ?I never... I never got a chance to congratulate you. On your wedding. You make a sweet couple.? She nodded as if insisting it were the truth, hands beginning to turn that coffee mug in her hands.

?I was married once. I don't... I don't know if I've told that to anyone other than Perceval... Tucker. I'm divorced. Made some mistakes.? She shrugged as she looked up at him again as if in polite apology. ?But he's remarried now... happy... has two kids... two boys.? She nods again, then raises her coffee mug for a sip.

?I still have my wedding ring. We couldn't afford much at the time... so it's just a gold band... but I can't bring myself to... to do anything with it.? Eva looked down at her coffee cup, turning it in her hands again. ?I have some jewelry from my ex-boyfriend too... a necklace... a pretty emerald stone... on a chain...? She raised a hand to touch her throat and then let it return to her mug. ?A bracelet. We were together for a long time... but he's married now, too.?

Eva set her mug carefully down on the tray, and then reached with one hand over to the locket, touching it and then looking back at him. ?My sister-in-law told me to sell this one. Maybe I should. Maybe someday I'll have to... you know, like... like a savings plan of jewelry from my exes... a retirement plan of lost love... probably not the worst idea. I mean, gold appreciates, right?? She shrugged, and shook her head.

?Thing is... the thing is... I don't want to lose the promise of this one. And maybe I'm stupid for holding onto it... maybe I look like some stupid... some weak woman who can't face the truth... but...? Eva shook her head again, taking a deep breath and exhaling. ?I want to fight for this one. Even if... even if... even if it might mean I'm just too stupid to know that there's nothing to fight for.?

Eva picked up her mug of coffee, and looked across at him. ?So just... make me something pretty, Johnny.?

Johnny Smith

Date: 2008-06-17 03:35 EST
Listening to Eva, Johnny had smiled his thanks for her congratulations, made quietly encouraging sounds when she faltered in her speech, and above all ? listened. Really, it was all he could do. Finally, when she looked up and asked for something pretty, he spoke the thought that came first to mind. ?Yer a good woman, Eva, an? ?tain? stupid or silly a? all ta figh? fer somethin? tha? ya wan?. Can make ya somethin? pretty, no trouble. Somethin? tha?ll last.?

That was what had stuck with him, in her short summary of the jewelry left from her first and failed relationships. They hadn?t lasted; she was seeking something that would. He couldn?t help with the relationship, but a chain that would hold the locket ? that, he could do. In the meantime, he set his nearly empty coffee mug to one side and picked up the locket and then the chain of twisted white and rose gold.

?Meantime, ain? no reason I need ta keep yer locke? away from ya. I know wha? I?m goin? ta be doin? fer yer chain, don? need this fer reference.? Long fingers deftly slid the locket off of its velvet cord and he replaced it with the longer chain just as easily. ?So ya hang onta this, come back in three days, an? I?ll have yer finished chain. An? hey ? wha?s yer flower, Eva?? Offering over the locket on its temporary housing, he smiled as if the last question was a relation to the rest of their conversation.

A knock on the locked door had him looking over. The slender elven youth of earlier stood to one side of the door, peering in the window anxiously ? unaccompanied by the girl who had been trying on the rings. Johnny?s smile deepened and he released the chain and locket, forcing Eva to catch it or let it fall as he headed toward the door. ?Tol? ya I?d see him back. There?s ways an? ways ta work ou? somethin? if?n ya wan? it bad enough.?

Luna Eva

Date: 2008-06-18 21:01 EST
Eva caught the locket in the palm of her hand, fingers closing around it just in time to keep the new, temporary chain from slipping free. She set her coffee mug down, barely touched, and quickly secured the necklace around her neck. For a moment, she looked at the locket in her hand, then carefully tucked it beneath her shirt. As she hoped, the chain was long enough to prevent it from falling free of her top, the locket remaining hidden. Eva took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The chain that Johnny was going to make for her would be a good length. It would be just right.

From the glass case, Eva snatched up the velvet cord, and tucked it into her pocket. When she turned, Johnny was letting the young Elven boy inside. The boy chattered nervously, gesturing with his hands, speaking words she couldn't hear.

Johnny hadn't asked her for money. It hadn't even been discussed. Whatever it was she'd pay it. Eva slipped her hand into her pocket, wrapping her fingers around the velvet cord. She felt better. More certain. It didn't really matter whether this was the right thing to do. It's what she wanted to do.

She smiled as she stepped towards them, meeting Johnny and the Elven boy towards the front of the shop. The boy smiled but moved eagerly past her towards the glass case where the ring he wanted was kept, leaving a congratulations mumbled on Eva's lips. She paused beside Johnny, one hand reaching for his, to squeeze or shake or somehow impart how grateful she was for the reassurance he provided, and the brief respite from her troubled thoughts.

?Thank you... Johnny... really. I... well, I'll be back in three days.? Her smile was easier than it had ever been from the moment she walked in to the shop. She turned to go, heading towards the door, then paused, her brow furrowing for a moment. There'd been a question about flowers. She didn't know what her flower was, let alone quite what he meant by that, but since it seemed rather irrelevant to the business at hand she picked the first thing that came to her mind. ?Daisies.? She smiled, shrugged a shoulder, and then turned again to let herself out, leaving him and his shop to its business.