The Knitting Circle - (Open Kin RP)

[Winter Mist]

~Clarai~

 

Her heart was heavy this morning.  There was no doubt that if anyone saw her, they would say that Clarai had a sweetheart she was pining for.  The simple truth was that she did not want a sweetheart and she would never get over the one love of her life.  Even all those years since the apple-scented days at the White Tower, Clarai could not proceed.  It was akin to a block, almost, except that did had never impeded her ability to channel, merely think rationally.  One hundred and eighty-five years after her birth to Andoran parents she had experienced love, loss and far too much life, and this was as good a retirement as any.  She could still be useful here. 

 

Useful, she could still be useful.  Sometimes, that was how her days were filled, with the simple thought that she were doing something good for someone else, as her own hope of redemption was sadly absent.  Many had tried dosing her with foul tasting remedies from around the continent to try and shift her malaise, but it was more of an issue with her mind rather than her body.  One hundred and eighty-five years old and she still had the appearance of a woman in her mid-thirties; her hair was as yet untouched by grey and only a few expression lines marked her face.  There was little expression ever shown on it. 

 

Even now, trying to be useful, Clarai set out the places for the Knitting Circle’s weekly meal.  She had been in the kitchen since the early morning cooking something hearty and wholesome for her Kin.  Any leftovers would be sent into the Rahad as usual.  A small bowl of fresh fruit would do them nicely for afters.  Nestled within lay a pair of red and green apples, plump and freshly bought from the markets that day.  Clarai’s fingers brushed lightly over them and she fought back memories of the blossoming tree in the glade she had used for stealing quiet moments back in her novitiate.  The moonlit night filled with such promise and hope for the future.  It was now cold and lonely there, even if she nurtured the tree in her mind every day.

 

Bowls of sweet peas laced with butter sat on the long wooden table alongside plates of fish cooked delicately in their golden batter.  Bowls of boiled potatoes waited, steaming faintly in the air, and boats of green herb sauce would be a fragrant counterpoint to the fish and vegetables.  She allowed herself a rare smile of satisfaction at a job well done before her face resumed the expressionless mask that normally resided there. 

 

She tried to make certain that this meal happened every week before the Knitting Circle met to allow the chance for the others to catch up.  Clarai had precious little to say herself, but the other members were as garrulous as magpies given half the chance.  As well take that chance before the more serious stuff began, and it allowed Clarai the chance to filter some of the gossip that each member would bring. 

 

They would be here soon.  Soon, her silence would change to a mild resentment that she could not have joy in her own life.  Soon, there would be chatter and the only reason she herself stayed was that they all had their own reasons for being where they were today.  Their own histories were as chequered as hers and the small measure of kinship she had found here was enough.  Most days, it was enough. 

 

A knock at the door heralded the arrival one or more of her kin.  No one else knew where the Knitting Circle met.  If someone came here looking for a relative or directions, she would send them on their way.  Clarai pulled the door open to the first of her kin.

 

[Jehaine]

Masura patiently waited at the door for the person inside to open it. She knew, as any member of the Kin did, that the Knitting Circle was supposed to meet here today, which made it unlikely that there wouldn't be anyone waiting on the other side of the door. As the door was opened by a brown haired Andoran she knew as Clarai, she nodded, greeting her in a soft voice.

 

A roll of parchment was in her hands, and those that knew her would have little trouble guessing who it was from. Masura always spoke fondly of her daughter, and even though she had sworn to keep the existance of the Kin a secret these letters back and forth to what she believed was her only living kin were her only transgression. She had asked -- and been given -- permission to use the Thread for the purpose of keeping the White Tower from tracking Jerinia's letters back to Ebou Dar, and it had been a condition she had been all too willing to agree to.

 

As she walked into the room, she noticed she had been the first to arrive. Noticing the food had already been prepared and served, she nevertheless didn't feel quite comfortable by just sitting down without doing anything herself. It seemed being a housewife was a habit she never really managed to break over the years since leaving Malkier.

 

- "Hey Clarai, how are you doing? Can i help you with setting things up for when the others arrive?" :)

 

Masura Zaralyn

Not breaking the habit ;D

[Winter Mist]

~Clarai~

 

The other woman’s cheerfulness was a bonus to her.  Everyone had a different way of behaving, that was only to be expected, but it was difficult to bear sometimes.  Still, she could not hold anything against the other woman.  She had comforted her in times of need.  Tears started to form at the corners of her eyes.  She missed him.  Oh, how she missed him!  To hear from him, to know that her heart still worked … that was all she needed.  Purpose to live, that was what she wanted.  Nothing more.  A tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away before the other woman could see it.  Tonight’s festivities should not be marred by her maudlin streak.  Even if all she wanted to do was cry.

 

After a time, Clarai spoke.  “I’m fine, thank you Masura.  I’m just a little thoughtful, that’s all.”  She could not tell the other woman that the majority of her mind dwelt in the old days with someone she loved more than her own life.  She just wanted him here.  “I’m hoping that a lot of people turn up tonight.  I have not seen some of our kin in a while and it would be good to know that everyone is alright.”  Yes, make Masura believe that she was worried for her kin.  She nodded as though a purpose for the moment had been decided and moved with the same blank expression she had before Masura’s arrival.  Pouring herself a glass of water, Clarai gestured to Masura to make herself comfortable.

 

“We could be a while yet.  Tell me, Masura, how are things with you?  Have you been learning a new craft to help blend in?”  Clarai herself was a seamstress that specialised in embroidery at the moment, but she was looking for a new avenue of opportunity to help blend in.  She would wear her hair in many styles, learn many crafts, but her face would remain the same.  As would her memory.

 

[Tigara]

Jagaea's head swam. It was one thing to keep something a secret from most people, but it was a totally different thing to keep another equally big scret away from the people who share your first one. It seemed she had to try her words through the fire before she said anything at all. Of course, her usual way of rashly speaking without thought was not a good thing, but she was overcoming it.

 

She arrived at the house in good time and went in. After asking a few directions, she did find the room where they were all meeting. She knocked and the door was opened by a dark-haired woman whom she vaguely remembered as Clarai. And to her own surprise, there was only one other present. She would have expected the full Knitting Circle to be there already plus more. She was one of the youngest, sitting at barely 30 years. "Good day, ladies." she said as she entered and found a seat. Almost instantly, she began playing with one of her blonde braids. It was a habit she had picked up back in Tanchico when she was a barmaid, and it stuck with her. "Who made the dinner? It smells wonderful."

 

Jagaea Kazim

Shadow Kin

[Jehaine]

Masura had been looking at the table to see if anything was missing -- unlikely, but it never hurt to check -- and thereby missed Clarai wiping the tear from her cheek. As the older woman spoke up though, the blonde Malkieri nodded in agreement. With all the longevity channeling had granted the members of the Kin, it was hard not to be thoughtful at times. It was hard to forget ones blood relatives after all, she for one could never truly forget about her daughter either.

 

Still, that was a topic for each Kin to bring up on their own, a woman's past being a mutual secret each was entitled to keep to herself if she wanted. So, she looked at the parchment again, face lighting up with a smile as she looked at the somewhat chaotic handwriting of a person that apparently tried to write a bit too fast.

 

- "Not yet, but i've been thinking about taking up herbs, actually. A lot of Kin members have, if i recall, so it shouldn't be much of a problem finding someone who can help me get started."

 

Her smile faded as she looked up from the parchment, and the look she gave Clarai was somewhat hesitant, as if she were trying to decide whether or not to bring something up. Truth was, there was something bothering her about one of the latest things Jerinia had written her about. It wasn't a bad thing, far from it. It was just... inconvenient. For the Kin, that was.

 

- "Actually, i... could use some advice on what to do. It's about Jerinia, she--"

 

Masura was cut off by a knock on the door, signaling the arrival of more of the Kin. Sending an apologetic look at the older Kinswoman, she sat down to have a glass of water herself, putting the letter away in one of her pockets as she waited to see who it was.

 

"Good day, ladies. Who made the dinner? It smells wonderful."

 

Masura looked at the newcomer, whom didn't look familiar to her. Well, not enough to know her by name, anyway. After returning the greeting, she clasped her hands together at Jagaea's question, the smile on her face forming into a grin.

 

- "Ah, but Clarai deserves all the credit for making dinner, she was all finished by the time i arrived, i'm afraid. I'll just have to get here earlier next time though." ^_^

 

 

Masura

Trying to recall what the new person was called again