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[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

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Are you not usually?" asks Susan, who is pleased to finally have an excuse to introduce herself to one of the newer arrivals.

[higginbottom]

Esther pauses, seemingly surprised that someone was actually there to respond to her.

"Not always," she admits, feeling a touch sheepish. "But no matter. I'm happy now, and that's what counts, right?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"One ought always to embrace joy whenever they happen across it," Susan agrees, nodding. "I'm pleased to hear your day is a good one. I'm Susan, by the way. Susan Pevensie."

[higginbottom]

"Thanks," Esther replies, smiling. "I'm Esther Greenwood. How are you liking this place? I'm sort of new here, and still getting used to things."

[temnota]

"Possibly if the Mansion likes to make your day difficult," Aleksander teased gently. "But it's entirely possible that this only happens to me."

[higginbottom]

"Oh, I think it does that to everyone, at some point," she replies, amused. "I'm taking it for what it is - a seemingly good day."

Which has been hard in the past for Esther to accept.

[sagramore]

Sagramore has thought, over the last few months, about Esther, and worried about her, so it's a relief to see her out and about when he arrives for his daily dry goods liberation, and looking more or less all right.

"Esther! How are you?"

[higginbottom]

"Oh, hello!" She grins as she spots Sagramore. "I'm doing well. How're you?"

[temnota]

"I am glad to see you out and about," Aleksander said. "Are you settling in well?"

[vineleaves]

"I'm very glad to hear it," Dionysus says as he rounds a corner, very much aware that she didn't expect him to hear it at all. "I think you should celebrate," he says in his usual warm voice. "It's good to see you, my dear, how have you been settling in?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I've been here for a little over fourteen months," says Susan. "So roughly a local year, I suppose. I find this place... hm." She presses her lips together. "Occasionally frustrating, but I shouldn't want to be anywhere else."

[higginbottom]

"I think so," she says with a slight nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. "I still have...bad days, but I like it here, mostly."

[higginbottom]

"Oh, hello!" Esther exclaims, perhaps a touch too loudly (mainly because she was surprised by him). I've been well, mostly. What about you?"

[higginbottom]

"It can certainly be frustrating, especially at first, when all you want to do is go home," Esther agrees. "When I came here, I actually was heading home, so I was really quite confused."

She was heading home from a psych ward, but no need to mention that! Nope, Esther is extremely normal.

[sagramore]

"I'm well, I'm well, I'm glad to see you. You've settled in?"

[higginbottom]

"For the most part, yes," Esther replies. "It still feels a little strange being here, but I'm starting to like it."

[sagramore]

"Oh, that's splendid." Indeed, it's a relief. "You've chosen a room and found the kitchens and all of that?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, I was rather sore when I first got here, as I had a full life back in London. I found it tremendously helpful to find a new routine to occupy my days."

[higginbottom]

"I have, though I really think my room is a touch small," Esther admits, sounding a little sheepish. She feels silly complaining, even a little, but still. "And I've found that I really enjoy cooking for myself here. It can be fun!"

[higginbottom]

"Oh, I've always wanted to visit London," Esther replies excitedly. "I hope to...one day, if I ever get out of this place."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

So she's likely at least familiar with the regular world. "Where are you from?" Susan asks, politely. "And when, I suppose."

[sagramore]

"Oh, a remarkable pleasure, especially when you have a boy who likes to do the dishes."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is not one to complain about someone being too loud. Considering he has several epithets dealing with how wild and loud he is, it would be downright hypocritical of him to say something about someone else not using their inside voice.

"I've been-- well! I've been well." As this conversation is happening shortly after he had to say goodbye to his wife again, he undoubtedly hasn't been doing well, but he tries not to let on exactly how unwell he has been¹. "I'm glad to see you out and about, did you have any big plans for today?"


1. Mostly because such threads have yet to be played out...

[untamedantinous]

"I suppose that depends on your mood in general," Enjolras remarks absently, on his way from doing mysterious things with the printing press. What were they? No one is certain, but he is definitely ink-stained.

[temnota]

Aleksander nodded sympathetically. He'd had his own difficulties settling in and what equilibrium he'd managed to find had been shattered by Zoya's arrival. "For all this place's... quirks, it could indeed be much worse."