Miracles

The Amazing Catwoman:

I said I never wanted my holiday to end. Truth is, I hadn’t taken a break in so long, I just extended it. For nearly a month. And I’m not even out of money yet. I guess that’s what happens when you do the sort of work I do.

Yeah: don’t ask what sort of work I do.

I spent a lot of time just enjoying the wilderness.

I spent a lot of time just enjoying the wilderness. This place was really off the beaten path: you can only get to it by boat, in fact, and I spent one really lovely afternoon just soaking up a hazy summer day, watching and listening to birds, and, believe it or not, reading. I know I said I’m not into books, but there’s this series I discovered that’s got me totally hooked, by some American girl named Seanan McGuire. Usually, books about contemporary Fae written by ordinary people, well. They’re fanciful, good for a laugh. But this author really has her head together, and honest to gods, she gets it right. Most of the time.

And then, wouldn’t you know it. I started thinking.

And then, wouldn’t you know it, I started thinking. It wasn’t the book: the book was a fun read, but– or maybe it was the book. I want my life, my work, to matter.

I figured that as I ended my holiday I’d go back and check out some of the other places I love to go.

I went back to It All Starts With A Smile.

I must have sat there and just listened to the surf for hours. I keep meaning to go back and investigate the valley, but something about the sea just calls me. Those choppy waves, a craggy shore. Not a boring beach or, no sand and surf: there’s something about the desolation of a rocky beach that draws me.

I hitched a ride with a guy in an old truck back to L’Arc en Ciel.

He ran out of the truck as soon as we arrived to make some deliveries, but he’d left a box in the back of the truck, so I lifted it to carry it to him. He thanked me for helping and then handed me a little warm parcel. “For your trouble,” he said.

And then the parcel started rocking in my hands. I tore away the cloth cover to discover that I was holding a large egg.

Inside of which…

…was a dragon!

…was a dragon! Not a big dragon, mind, though I have no idea how big the little fellow will get.

He is so lovely! And he settles on my shoulder and hovers just above me most of the time. I’m calling him Kermit. I don’t know why: it just seemed like a nice name for a dragon.

When I turned around to thank the old guy, he, and the truck, were gone. I never heard them drive off.

When I turned around to thank the old guy, he, and the truck, were gone. I never heard them drive off. I must have looked a right idiot, leaning forward to prop on the truck’s door and thank the guy. Luckily we weren’t closer to the edge of the dock or I’d have fallen in and people around would have thought I was swimming for the lighthouse!

Here we are, Kermit and me, in front of the market sign.

Here we are, Kermit and me, in front of the market office.

I made my way over to my old digs, telling him all about the great fried chicken place right next door. He seemed as excited as I was.

But when we got there, the fried chicken shop was closed!

I’m sure I swore quite a bit, but I don’t think Kermit minded.

Then I turned and noticed that the tattoo shop was closed too.

Then I turned and noticed that the tattoo shop was closed too. In fact, it looked abandoned. Deserted. I walked back to the chicken shop and found grime on the windows and everything inside was in disarray, stuff strewn about on the floor, chairs and tables knocked over. How strange.

I guess I’d been completely oblivious, which is totally unlike me, on my way to the chicken shop, busily talking to Kermit about how great the chicken was. I don’t know if he understood me, but he sort of chirped and mrrped along, so I figured he at least likes — wow, how do you tell if a dragon is a boy or a girl, anyway? — I figured he at least likes conversation.

Then, we had a look at the deserted street from the other end.

Children’s toys just left out in the street.

And air of finality and desolation about everything.

I couldn’t believe I’d just walked past some of this stuff, intent on getting city fried chicken, without noticing things like a car in the middle of the road with the door opened, the overturned gas truck, the empty shops.

Just outside the town limit, we even saw a deserted tractor.

Just outside the town limit, we even saw a deserted tractor. And across the water, the church I’d danced in front of just a few weeks ago … looked like no-one had been there in ages.

Even the beautiful church looked deserted.

This sign, outside of town, always moved me.

It’s one of the few things I have in common with *her*.

It’s one of the few things I have in common with her. She was amazed by this sign as well. I think it might have something to do with their strange religion.

And I got the call to go to my next assignment, which is in New Brighton of all places, talking of beaches. And boardwalks.

So we said goodbye to L’Arc en Ciel, probably for the last time.

Goodbye, L’Arc en Ciel. And thank you a million times to Asa Vordun for making such a beautiful place and opening it to avatars and humans (like the one who’s typing this entry). Your creation was a beautiful gift, and we will all miss it very much.

Style Cards:

The Amazing CatWoman in a Bathing Suit:
Body: Maitreya Lara
Head: Lelutka, Karin
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins, Patience in Caramel, with NEW Lelutka Head Applier, available at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main store!
Bathing Suit: Faboo, Box Wrap Bikini (Maitreya Applier)
Hair: Elikatira, Piper (At Collabor88!)
Ears: Gauze, High Elf Ear

The Amazing CatWoman, all other photos:
Body: Maitreya Lara
Head: Lelutka, Karin
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins, Patience in Caramel, with NEW Lelutka Head Applier, available at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main store!
Top: Emery, Audrina top, Smoke
Jeans: Emery, Lauren Riot Jeans, Grey
Shoes: Ingenue, Pandora Flats, Noir
Hair: Elikatira, Piper (At Collabor88!) (swept back style)
Hair: No Match, No Exceptions (straight style)
Ears: Gauze, High Elf Ear

Gwyneth, There Will Be Miracles:
Dress: Evie’s Closet, WindSong, Violet
Hair: Truth, Daniela
Hair Flowers: Liquence
Necklace: (L’Arc en Ciel) Evie’s Closet, Briar Rose
Shoes: Deviance, Milady’s Slipper, Amethyst
Skin: Curio, Simone, Moondrop
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears