open post.

[higginbottom]

Esther has, well, only sort of gotten used to the Mansion and its ways. She's still frustrated by being stuck there - after all, she survived almost dying. Doesn't she deserve something better than a small room with a small window?

Still, she's thankful to be alive. One morning, when she opens her window and looks out over the Mansion grounds, the air comes in, shockingly cold, and Esther remembers - she's here, alive and awake and ready for anything. She breathes in and out, and sighs with a sort of strange contentment that probably won't last long, but hey. She'll take it.

She gets dressed, wearing slacks for once (she decided to try it out, as she is in fact, a very modern woman, thank you very much) and a pretty floral blouse. She makes her way downstairs, her saddle shoes tap-tap-tapping against the stairs.

"I feel very much in a good mood today," Esther announces, to no one in particular. "Is that strange? Should I be worried?"

Comments

[vineleaves]

"I look forward to it!"

[temnota]

"Anything is possible in this place," Aleksander said encouragingly. "I have managed to find love and community when I'd given up all hope. The hardest part is communication, talking through what you want and don't want with someone but it is good and necessary."

[untamedantinous]

"It is large enough to not be easily moved; it is downstairs. I use it fairly frequently to keep myself in practice, a friend and I found it some time ago. It is, however, hand-operated, so not as fast as you would like, I think."

[higginbottom]

"Oh, it's great, except for the part where I have to write it," Esther jokes, smiling sheepishly.

[higginbottom]

"Thank you!"

[higginbottom]

"I--I want to have hope," Esther says. "I'd like to find someone to...just to talk to. Who knows if that person exists."

[higginbottom]

"...Oh." Esther isn't about to hand-operate a printing press. "I'll probably need some help, then."

Hmmph.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

To her own surprise, this startles a laugh out of Susan. "How far along have you got?"

[temnota]

The demographics in this place was unusually skewed, Aleksander thought. There were very few options for someone of Esther's age and he knew all too well how very lonely she must feel. "I hope that person exists too. You deserve to find someone to talk to and share your time with."

[higginbottom]

Esther sighs, and her face darkens slightly.

"Not very far at all," she admits. "I wish I could say differently, ugh."

[higginbottom]

"Thank you, that's quite kind of you to say," she replies, offering a small smile. "In the meantime, I've got to keep busy."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well, chipping away at it every day ought to move you along expeditiously."

[higginbottom]

"Oh God, one would hope."

Esther doesn't have much faith in herself in this arena.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I believe that's the nature of any project."

[higginbottom]

But it's hard, Susan!

"Yes. I suppose it is?" She shrugs, as if helpless. "I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so."

[temnota]

"Indeed," Aleksander agreed. "I admit to finding that to be difficult some days. My current project is wood carving so should you ever wish to take that up, I would be glad to share my hard-won knowledge."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose that might make it difficult to keep a steady pace."

[higginbottom]

"Oh, I know nothing about that sort of thing." She's trying to be polite, but it's a little obvious she feels awkward. "I'm no good at anything with my hands."

[higginbottom]

No kidding, oof.

"I'm trying my best - that's what I keep telling myself."

[temnota]

"It is all right," Aleksander could see the awkwardness and hastened to reassure her. "I did not mean that you ought to take it up. I only meant it as an example. I was drawn to it because I work with my hands anyway and well... I wanted to do something nice for Sunny."

[higginbottom]

"That's very kind of you," she says, feeling less awkward now that she doesn't need to, you know, build a bookshelf or something. "What did you make for Sunny?"

[temnota]

"Toys," Aleksander admitted, slightly sheepishly. "She likes to bite and I thought she might like something that could stand up to her teeth. I made her a duck first and she liked it so much that I kept at it. I keep waiting for her fathers to tell me to stop or that I have to help them build a new room for all of the animals before I am allowed to make more."

[untamedantinous]

"I will help you out, if you are willing."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very good. Routine is, I imagine, important for such pursuits."

[higginbottom]

Esther laughs a little.

"That's very sweet of you," she says. "I think you should keep making them. I'm sure she appreciates them."