Closed The Park of Surrealism

[Fraint]

Season of Winter, Day 35, 512 AV :: Around the 1st bell, located in Ahleas Park Fraint’s eyes slowly opened, and he was greeted with a view of his ceiling. He laid there for a few chimes, comforted by the fact that he had no immediate responsibilities to attend to. It was just after Midnight Rest, and his duties as a Library Assistant were over. A contented grin decorated his handsome face as he wondered what he’d go about doing now. His body had gotten used to Lhavit’s strange sleeping schedule, and he now felt that he was a true resident of Lhavit. He didn’t allow himself to use the term Lhavitian because of the fact that the young man hadn’t actually been born in Lhavit, so he preferred the term resident of Lhavit. He decided that it was time to get up. As he sat up, various joints in his body creaked from the effort, and Fraint let out a relaxed sigh. He remained in a seated position for a few more chimes, looking around his humble abode. There was nothing much to see; he lived in a rather plain room, but it was comfortable and homely. The man swung his feet over the side of the bed and stretched. He was going to have a wonderful night. --- The man had allowed his feet to dictate today’s tourist spot, and he found himself standing in the middle of Surya Plaza. His intelligent blue eyes scoured the area for anything new. There were lax Lhavitians everywhere – Syna’s light was long gone now, and now people enjoyed themselves under the careful eye and light of Leth. He preferred the nighttime. It made Lhavit seem so much more surreal. He shifted his weight from one leg to another and placed both hands on his hips. Surya Plaza was a wonderful place, and he knew that. However, it was frequently visited by the young man, and he felt that he should be trying something new. His inquiring gaze landed on the Koten Temple. Fraint pursed his lips, pondering. The next thing he knew, he was heading up the steps and down the path that led to Zintila’s domain, with no real plan in mind. Perhaps he’d just go for fun. There was no harm in that was there? However, as he walked, his curious gaze refused to rest. His peripheral vision caught something different, and his sight veered to the left. An overhang of growth made itself apparent, seemingly branching off from the forest that lurked behind. Fraint’s eyes narrowed. He’d always assumed that the area was off-limits, but then again, he thought he assumed too much. As if to confirm his foolishness, he spotted a couple, arm in arm, walking under the verdant overhang and heading down the dirt trail like a couple of lovebirds. Fraint blinked, and without noticing, he found that his feet had changed course and he was now following in the footsteps of the couple, his curiosity getting the better of him. As he passed the overhang, he realized that his environment changed. This realization wasn’t instant, but rather, he’d begun by absentmindedly walking down the trail, his mind a blank slate. His instincts sensed a change in atmosphere, and it was then when he actually looked up and absorbed his surroundings. He was walking in a lush park that had a surreal attribute. Fraint’s observant eye was able to catch hints of blue and purple hues, but he continued to walk, his chest welling up in a sort of nervous excitement. He didn’t know what to expect. After a few chimes of walking, he found that the air was different, and he was actually walking among wild djed appearing in the colors of blue and purple. A sharp intake of breath reflected his amazement at the revelation. Lhavit was truly something else. He stopped to catch his breath, and turned his head to one side. It was there where he first witnessed the existence of the fadeong, though at the time he didn’t know its name. Its trunk looked fragile, and its leaves delicate. But the most breathtaking aspect about them was their multi-colored leaves, giving them an all-around divine presence. A fresh breeze rustled their leaves, and Fraint was unable to tear his gaze from it. A few moments passed before he found himself, and he continued to walk, taking note of the unique and various flora and fauna. A creature that looked like a sort of bobcat skittered past some distance in front of him. He bit his lip firmly. Was he dreaming? Eventually, he found himself standing in front of what looked like a tranquil pond, with the night lights reflecting off the surface of the water, and little spots of alternating lights dancing across the waters. The lights were everywhere. His head lifted to behold the sight in front of him. No words could express what he was feeling at the moment. He found himself a bench crafted from skyglass and sat down, leaning forward in the direction of the pond. Fraint found that he could very well spend a bell or two sitting there, marveling and getting lost in his own thoughts. A very productive bell that would be.

[Haeli]

The girls voice rose over the silence of the park. And it sounded, at least in a one-sided way, that she was having an argument tinged with laughter. And if he looked closely and spotted her, it would seem for all the world that she was arguing with a fadeong tree.

Barefoot in the cold, wrapped in a cloak that swathed her from head to toe, the girl's wild hair twisted around her face. She kept shifting her stance, as if warming one foot at a time, as she peered into the bows of what looked like one of the unusual trees in the park that shimmered with color. The fadeong wasn't arguing back, however. He couldn't quite see what was. But something was for the girl responded, paused, and then responded again dancing backwards and then darting forwards as if avoiding projectiles that were thrown from its branches.

It would have looked as if the thrown objects were nothing but a crazy woman's imagination save for the leaves and duff at her feet that bounced with offense every time the girl darted to one side or another avoiding whatever was being thrown.

The projectiles didn't seem to dampen her spirit though. She laughed harder, then dug into the pocket of the cloak, produced what appeared to be a winterberry, and nimbly sprang forward and left the offering on a low enough branch for her to reach. Then quickly she was back out of the way, but not before he saw her wince as something sharp bounced off the side of her cheek leaving a mark.

She stopped laughing, and winced. Then pointed at the tree accusingly as if to say "I'll get you!" or "I saw who through that." though she did not speak.

Then, closer observation would reveal a large squirrel, obviously angry, chittering its way down the fadeong's trunk and out onto the branch where the berry was left. The wind had shifted, carrying its sharp scolding tone towards the skyglass bench and its palm. The squirrel claimed its prize and retreated while yet another hurled one more thing at the girl, some sort of heavy seed pods it seemed.

The girl laughed and danced slightly as if to say 'You missed!' at the creature. Her revere was cut abruptly short as yet another almost identical smaller squirrel managed to hurl another seed pod at her and this one bounced off her head and tangled into her already snarled hair. Then the wind shifted and Fraint could feel it blowing not towards him - for the sound abruptly ceased - but away from him towards the girl, the tree, and the squirrels. The girl froze, turned her head sharply and noticed the stranger on the bench. Her laughter died and the squirrels vanished, and she seemed momentarily torn. He wasn't that close, but it was close enough to see the flight or fight instinct war within her. She took a step away, flight edging ahead marginally, before she planted her feet and turned towards him.

Light steps carried her to the pond and the edge of the bench. He could see now that she was indeed barefoot, slightly dirty, and wholly unkept if her hair was any indication. It was snarled with twigs and there were scrapes on her arms from thorns. She looked as if she'd been crawling through a bramble like a child would, perhaps to sneak in and retrieve a ball.

She dug her hands into her pocket and pulled forth a fist full of bright red winterberries. "Would you like one? They are delicious this time of year, slightly frozen but still oh so sweet." She said abruptly, with an accent that was tilted with a slight lisp, her s's drawn out and almost exotic. "I did not mean to disturb your ... meditation. I was only visiting friends." She said, glancing at the fadeong tree in the distance. "I will leave you alone. I did not wish to disturb anyone here." She said, lining up the berries on the edge of the bench's arm rest before turning to go. The wild djed generated colors swirled around her bare feet, as if she walked in mist that refused to part. The girl had kind eyes and an easy smile, but she was also wary and polite, never turning completely to present her back to him but instead starting off and away almost sideways, keeping him always in view.

[Fraint]

Fraint was in an understandably absentminded state, devoting his time to behold the beauty of the little, natural garden of tranquility. His blue eyes soft, his brows relaxed. The corner of his lip was lifted, reflecting the young man’s quiet glee through a lopsided grin. His features were relaxed, his shoulders hunched over in a lax manner and his hands resting on his thighs as his gaze wandered across the scenery. A time of serenity was rare in Fraint’s bustling life as a resident of Lhavit. His mind was nowhere in particular, but the feeling was like being lifted by a large, billowing cloud. Suddenly, a peal of laughter rang through the air, disturbing the precious silence, though the laughter expressed his jittery feelings. At first, he paid the voice, which most likely belonged to a woman, no mind. However, a few moments later, rational thoughts entered his sleazy thought process. Normally, one wouldn’t want their precious moments of peace to be interrupted by laughter. In retrospect, the giggling was actually quite rude. From what he saw, the park was meant to be enjoyed in silence. His curiosity getting the better of him, he moved slightly so that he faced sideways in regards to the voice. Then, sneaking a sidelong glance in the direction of the sound, he attempted to discreetly take a peek at the action. What he saw perplexed him more. A girl with a messy appearance seemed to be speaking with the tree of many colors. No, he thought. Arguing is a much more accurate term. The woman’s movements were equally befuddling, the way she danced forwards and backwards causing Fraint to wonder if she was attempting some sort of Lhavitian ritual. Which, of course, was a ridiculous idea, but Alheas Park was to blame for his muddled thoughts. The girl reached into her cloak and gingerly placed something onto a branch within her reach, further proving Fraint’s previous assumptions. Was it an offering? In a way, it was. Fraint’s eyes narrowed slightly as he strained to see more. She bounded away, but not before she seemingly cringed at something. Fraint blinked. This young woman was stranger than most Lhavitians he’d acquainted. The confounding actions continued. The woman spoke no words, and Fraint heard no words that might’ve signified a prayer to a god or goddess. She’s crazy, he thought sardonically. Fraint had not seen the squirrel yet, but if he had, it might’ve cleared much confusion at the time. However, it was not until Fraint saw, as he was focusing on the berries, the squirrel snatch the berries that the girl had placed there earlier. Trivial enlightenment was apparent as understanding dawned on him. He realized that his shoulders were stiff from concentrating on the scene, and he relaxed, shaking his head slightly at his behavior. The gentleman turned away, leaving the girl with the irritated squirrels. He’d lost interest. Moments later, just after settling into a comfortable state of laziness, his moment of lethargy was interrupted by a question that, judging from how close it was, most likely directed at him. He turned slightly to see the girl dancing who was with the squirrels. Upon closer inspection, she was indeed rather dirty, and he wrinkled his nose slightly. However, his impeccable manners and gentlemanly skills corrected the notion, and he quickly assumed a face of polite nonchalance, sporting a tight, quiet smile. He nodded in the girl’s direction, and she offered him some red berries. They looked delicious, but Fraint’s natural cynicism wanted to decline. An inner battle occurred, with him staying silent as a result, but before he was able to reach a conclusion, the girl placed the berries on the bench armrest and expressed her apologies. She was only visiting her “friends.” Fraint’s eyes flickered over to the fadeong tree, but he again, said nothing, wondering what indeed he was supposed to say. Fraint regarded the berries curiously. It would seem rude of him to not eat them, but as he reached for one, the girl began to inch away. Her movements made it seem as if she were somehow cautious. Before he could allow her to move away, he blurted out, “No… I’m not meditating. I was just… enjoying the scenery, I suppose?” He paused, quickly racking his brain for something to say. There was something he was supposed to say, and his manners were screaming at him in a vexed manner. However, he could not quite place his finger on it. On a whim, he spoke, saying, “Pardon me for asking, but do you know where this… is?” The brunet tilted his head, offering a sweet smile. However, it was strained, and the smile failed to reach his eyes. Oh. That’s right. “…Thank you for the berries, by the way.”