Three Twisted Knots

I don’t think there’s a word that really means “the calm after a storm”. Someone suggested “lull” to me, but that sounds like a quiet bit inside a storm to me, not the calm that comes after it.

Anyway, I am enjoying that temporary tranquility today. I just threw on some jeans and a jumper (sweater, Americans!) and headed for a Realm where I knew it was all right to be me, and I brought a book.

I brought a book because even after all this time in Faerie, I still like to read. Stop laughing. Besides, it’s just past midwinter, which means I have to re-read Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising and I have to talk about to anybody who will listen. It’s a tradition.

I was greeted by the Queen of the Field Mice, who invited me to read to her friends. They’re a lively bunch, and they are good about not chiming in with questions until I’ve got to a point where I’m taking a breath at least. Though some of them were not very happy about Susan Cooper’s treatment of foxes in the texts (these would mostly be the foxes themselves; nobody else seemed all that bothered).

Aside from a bunch of cats who mostly just seemed to want to sleep, everyone seemed interested in the story.

They’ve asked me to come back again and read tomorrow, which I gather is quite an honour, or so Her Majesty told me.

‘You know, I think I will come back tomorrow’, I said to the Queen. ‘I think I would enjoy that very much.’

She replied that I was always welcome in her Realm, that they didn’t get too many two-legged visitors these days and that particularly someone who would read to them is always in demand.

It was a great way to spend a quiet few hours, winding down from the fever-pitch of Midwinter and all the responsibilities that fall to me during that time. For the first time in months, I felt truly calm.

Style Card:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Catwa, Catya Bento Mesh Head (NEW at the Catwa Main Store!)
Hair: Wasabi Pills,  Nyssa (Available NOW at Uber!)
Eyes: Mesange, Serendipity Eyes (Omega eye appliers)
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins, Iclyn (Omega head and body appliers) (NEW at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main Store!)
Hands: Vista, Bento Prohands
Jumper (Sweater, Americans!): Fame Femme, Amelli Sweater, Dark Rose (Available NOW at Shiny Shabby!)
Jeans: Zhora Designs, High Waist Jeans
Necklace: RealEvil Industries, Noelle Necklace (Available NOW at Shiny Shabby!)
Wings: FATEplay, Bento Wings. Wing Appliers by Blush
Boots: Zenith, Leather Boots with Lace Socks

Scene:
Setting: Apt B, Forgotten Corner, Setup (Rare)
Lights: Art Named Capering {a.n.c.} Limited, In the Rain Drop Lamps
Bench: Rivendale, Bench (Atrium Gacha)
Book: Rivendale, Mystic Woods Book

Animals: (clockwise)
White Dogs: Art Named Capering {a.n.c.} Limited, Flotantte Puppy, Milk
Goat: Jian, Chester the Goat
White-Tailed Deer and Fawn: Jian, White-Tailed Deer Family
Fennec Foxes: Half Deer, Fennec Foxes
Red Foxes: Jian, Red Fox Family
Raccoons: Jian, Raccoon Collection
Faunicorn: Jinx, Faunicorns, Chill
Bunnies: Art Named Capering {a.n.c.} Limited, Cotton Bunny Cappuccino
Book on wall: Random Matter,  Book of Sorrows

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I never have Gwyneth read Susan Cooper to animals without it!