First Commission (Solo)

[Vala]

Today is a market day. Today is a market day. Today is a market day. Today is a market day. Today is a market day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day. Today is a Market Day... On and on, and endless mind numbing chant filled the space between Vala’s ears. Her heart beat to the steady rhythm. The walls of her mental fortress shook, dust of her fears fell, coating everything with a gray gritty sheen. Vala’s mental eyes opened wide as she paced in the safety of her sanctuary. The walls continued to crumble, barraged by her anxiety for the coming day. Vala shivered. It was cold in her lonely room. She hadn’t bothered with folding her blanket to use as a cushion, and now her body was suffering the consequences. Vala tried to hold on, for as long as she could. She was making a fairly decent effort. Two particular shadows had broken from the general prison; anxiety and reluctance danced wildly, dragging their jagged claws across the crystal stones, until they were stained with putrid tar. Vala bit her lip. She didn’t feel anything as her pointed teeth pierced the soft flesh of her lower lip, a drop of blood welling up, large and bloated, until it finally dripped down her chin. Brick by brick. Brick by brick. Brick by brick. Vala added more and more walls to protect herself. Brick by brick. Brick by brick. Brick by brick. They tore them down. Vala couldn’t build fast enough. More shadows broke away; cousins yet not related of the largest two assaulting her walls. Dust. Dust filled up everywhere. She couldn’t breathe. And just as the last wall toppled into nothingness, just as the two inner demons were about to capture their prey- Vala stood up, gasping for air, clean air. Every once in a while, if she was particularly troubled, Vala’s meditative trances grew… dangerous. She raised a shaking finger to her mouth, dabbing at the quick clotting blood. The pain washed over; it felt nice. Trying to catch her ragged breath, Vala pushed the demons, reigning them back into the furthest shadows. She began preparing for the day, filling her mind with work, her hands flitting to and fro without pause. Going through the motions.

[Vala]

He frowned. “Late again? Please tell me this isn’t going to be a habit.” Vala flushed as she dumped the arm full of stuff onto the counter. The sun was only just beginning to light the sky afire. Only a few other stalls were actually open; none of them fully set up just yet.“And what do you think you’re doing dumping all your stuff on my stall counter?” Vala squeaked, desperately picking everything up before Warden yelled at her further. Tears welled up at the corner of her eyes. Absolutely everything was just going wrong this morning. Failure was not an option; running away was. Just as Vala was about to spring away and disappear into some shadowy corner where no one could see her cry her heart out, Warden held out his hands to stop her. “Oh no hon. I’m sorry! Please don’t cry.” He chuckled nervously, trying to get her to calm down. Vala sniffled. “I’m sorry hon. No, no. I just mean…” Warden sighed, rubbing his aching temples. He still had trouble handling the uber hormonal girl on occasion. Instead of trying to break through her almost palpable mental walls blocking him out from hurting her further, he just walked a few feet to the right where a brand new stall had been installed. Vala was still hunched over her stuff, trying to avoid eye contact for as long as her vision was blurred by liquid weakness. “Here,” Warden reached over and plucked the first thing he could reach, her portfolio, and set it down on the new stall’s counter. “Here. Here is your new stall. I had Derdain set something up for you since we definitely can’t be sharing a stall now that you have so much stuff of your own.” He waited for Vala to look up. He smiled encouragingly. Finally, after an endless eon of tense silence, Vala cracked a smile. “Thank you.” She whispered. Setting down her stuff, Vala wiped the tears away with the edge of her sleeve. “Thank you Warden…” Warden knew from her hardening tone that it was time for him to back away. Without another word he walked off to finish setting up his books. Vala knew what she needed to do… he hoped.

[Vala]

It was up… finally up. Vala could have cried. What was this warmth she felt, stirring deep within? – Success. Yes, for the first time in a long time, Vala felt worth, true self worth. Vala didn’t move when she heard a shuffling to her left. “Hey uh…” Warden walked slowly; it only takes one time, just one, to learn not to sneak up on Vala. He scratched his head with his left hand, his right hand was bent behind his back. “I made you a sign…” That did it. A single salty tear rolled down her cheek, it burned like fire. They worked in silence. There were no sappy words of gratitude exchanged, that was unnecessary and trite. Each knew what the other felt, and that was what mattered. Vala’s ink stained fingers knotted the left end of the sign to the stall with a scratchy piece of twine. It was a crap shoot knot, there was a 99% chance it would come undone several times in the day, not like Warden’s practiced Clove hitch knot that would not even require the twine to be cut. Vala looked over at Warden’s handiwork, then back to hers. She gave a lopsided scowl to match the lopsided bow knot that fluttered mockingly in the morning breeze. She looked back at Warden, he had undone his knot. Vala untied hers, it fell apart as easy as a house of cards on a windy day. Warden did not try and ‘teach’ her, that was her prerogative; he only sought to show her. He went slowly, doing the entire knot continuously, so she knew how many steps there would be. He untied the knot again. Vala watched intently as his fingers threaded the rope in and out, her own hand mimicking the movement without yet trying to do it on her own rope. On the third showing , Warden took his time at each step. He waited until Vala finished the step on her own end before going on to the next. He allowed himself an imperceptible turn of the lips as Vala’s tiny pink tongue poked out as she focused her hardest on the task. First Warden passed the working end over and under the stand rail. He took out a pen knife from the deep pockets of his Vinati, it was his favorite one for dressing his quill nibs, and he would never have dared tarnish it with such mundane tasks as cutting rope, he was also too lazy to go and find another knife, plus the twin was thin and weak, hopefully posing no danger to his precious knife. With a short flick of his wrist, Warden cut off an inch off the fraying end. The cut part began to fray mere seconds after. “Eh, got what I paid for.” He mumbled under his breath. Vala waited for him to finish, following with the next step – running the working end across the standing part of the rail. Vala had to try several times, Warden waiting patiently, as she ran it round the rail again to bring the working end back to the front, her fingers fumbling as she tried to trap it under the diagonal. Twice her fingers slipped, dropping the working end, and letting loose the what should have been tight wrap. Twice she had to unravel to the last step and redo the next. Once she finished the knot the first time, successfully, Vala stepped back with glee. Only to succumb to an angry growl when Warden untied her knot before she could stop him. “Do it again.” He said bluntly, refusing to back down. Vala tied the knot again. The sign was up – Avant Card – painted in Warden’s perfect script; portfolio of pre made cards set up in perfect little rows; and her tools tucked away right under the counter: Vala was ready. A real smile graced her cool countenance, lighting up the pale flesh, until it was aglow with true beauty.

[Phoenix]

Character: Vala Experience: Stall keeping- 3, Meditation- 3, Knot Making- 3 Lores: Building up the wall, A Stall of her very own, Knowing ones knots, The glow of success, A real smile The Method, The Fire: Very cute little thread. I appreciate that you played out the building of Vala's stall, rather than it just appearing out of no where in the market! Any questions or concerns, please send me a PM and I'll be happy to help!