Work Text:
Rain drops upon your hair
June had arrived to the countryside of England. Classes for the year at the College were finally done for Chise Hatori and Elias Ainsworth, much to their relief. They had spent the better part of their first week home tending to their expansive garden, getting much needed weeding and harvesting done for their medicinal orders for their clients in the village nearby their home.
Saturday morning dawned cloudy, yet warm and breezy. Chise woke up early, as she usually does, and got up from her shared bed with Elias and Ruth. She quietly went to the bathroom to shower and get dressed.
"Good Morning, Elias. Good Morning, Ruth. I'm going downstairs to help Silky with breakfast. What are our plans for today?" Chise asked her teacher.
"Good Morning, Chise. I figured after breakfast, we could head into town. I need to pick up a few books I ordered from the bookshop there, and we can go to the farmer's market if you'd like." Elias told his student.
"That sounds great! I've missed shopping there on Saturdays, since we've been so busy at the College. I'll meet you two downstairs." Chise said, then left their bedroom and went down to the kitchen.
Chise walked in the kitchen to find the house faerie at the stove, stirring a pot of thick Irish oatmeal. "Good Morning, Silky. I'll finish getting breakfast set up for you." Chise said as she grabbed the blueberry preserves from the pantry, as well as cream from the refridgerator. Chise poured a large mug of cream for the brownie, and set it on the counter. Chise grabbed three tea cups and saucers from the cabinet, and some looseleaf herbal tea that Chise and Ruth made in the spring. The Silver Lady saw the mug of cream set aside for her, and smiled at the lady of the house.
Chise was pouring boiling water into the teapot when Elias and Ruth came down from upstairs. "Good Morning, Silver" the men said as they sat down at their seats at the kitchen table. Silky placed the pot of porridge at the middle of the table, then took her mug of cream and left the room.
Ruth dished out the oatmeal in shallow bowls, then handed them to Chise and Elias. He then made a bowl for himself and sat down. They added as much of the preserves and cream as they liked, and ate their breakfast making small talk inbetween bites of the hot cereal and tea.
After their breakfast was done and dishes put in the sink, they left the house, leisurely walking towards the village. Elias walked beside Chise, holding her tiny hand in his very large purple one. He walked slower to match his pace with his little wife. He had his veil covering his face.
"Elias, does it hurt you when you change into your humor glamour while we are out in public?" Chise asked.
"Not hurt, per se, but it can be uncomfortable if I keep the magic in place like that for a long time. There is always a phantom itch where my horns should be. I've worn that glamour for so long now, it has become second nature. I would compare it to a dull headache, if nothing else." Elias explained.
"What's the longest amount of time you've had to wear it? Was it always modelled after Simon?" She asked.
"No. The Simon glamour has only been around these last ten years or so, right after I met him. I've had many versions of my glamour, both male and female over the years. The longest I've had to keep it in place was about a month, while on a cargo ship." He said.
"Do you think I could place a glamour on my arm?" Chise asked while holding out her dragon-cursed arm.
"I don't see why not. When applying a glamour or any change to your appearance, the magic you use is yours alone, and the focus is done to inside your body. Would you like to try it?" Elias asked her.
"Yes." Chise said, and stopped in the middle of the dirt path.
Elias and Ruth stopped as well. "All right. It's a simple spell. All you have to do is focus your magic into your left arm, and direct which way and how you would like your arm to appear. Your will should take care of the rest." He explained.
Chise held her arm straight out in front of her. She focused her will into the black cursed skin, and her magic responded by changing her arm back to it's original color.
"Well done, Chise. It's a useful spell to know when you are out in public and don't want to wear sleeves or gloves." Elias said, then changed into his familiar human glamour with a smile.
"So Elias, what books are you picking up today? Is there any I need to read?"
"I've always like to check the book seller whenever I'm in the village, to see what new books he has. Now with the advent of the internet, my search for books for my study has only grown. I've asked Marcus to find me any antique books on literature, witchcraft, medicine, and poetry." Elias told her.
"I see. Ruth, what would you like to get at the farmer's market today?" Chise asked her familiar.
"I hope the baker with the Cornish pasty booth is there." The grim thought with his stomach, as usual.
Soon they arrived to the village. Right in the center of town was a very large dark green tent, set up to keep out the impending rain. Inside the large tent were long tables set up with the freshest produce; asapargus, strawberries, wild garlic, ramps, and fiddlehead ferns. On all sides of the tent were local artisans, selling pasties, flowers, candles, soaps, and jewelry.
Elias turned to Chise and Ruth. "I'm going to the book shop. Take your time. I'll meet you back here. Do you need money?" Elias asked his wife.
"No, thank you. I still have some from last week." Chise said quietly. Even though she knew Elias was rich and would give her anything she wanted, she still wasn't comfortable asking or taking his money.
Ruth was wagging his tail happily. "Let's go to the Cornish pasty guy first!" The hungry church grim said.
Chise laughed and lead her familiar through the crowd to the baker's booth. After waiting a few minutes, Chise held two pasties in her hand. She walked to a bench and sat down, then fed Ruth the hot pastry.
-Uh Oh Chise. Here comes your favorite customer, Nosy Nessa- Ruth sent the thought out to Chise. Chise groaned to herself, and rolled her eyes.
Vanessa Horton was an older, dumpy looking lady, with whispy, over-processed blonde hair. She had a permenate frown on her face, and was always complaining about something. She's been getting medicines from Elias from years, to help with all her current (and made up, if Chise was honest about it) symptoms. She was also the town gossip and all-around busy body. Chise couldn't stand her.
"Well hello there, Chelsea! I haven't seen you here in the village in forever! How are you?" Nosy Nessa asked Chise.
-that's not your name, Chise- Ruth spoke in her head.
-I know, Ruth. I've given up trying to correct her. She won't listen to a thing I say. She's a know it all- Chise thought back.
"I'm doing well, Ms.Horton. How are you?" Chise asked politely.
"Well. I just went to my GP yesterday afternoon, and he told me I had Munchausen Syndrome. He told me to stay away from sugar and carbs, eat more fruits and vegetables, and cut my meat intake. I hope it will help, but of course I plan on visiting Dr.Ainsworth this week to get a second opinion. I'd much rather treat this condition holistically, with your teacher's medicines." Vanessa said.
"Speaking of Dr.Ainsworth...Tell me, lass. Is he single? I've never seen another woman at the house when I stop by, except for his maid that refuses to speak to me, and now you, his student. I believe my daughter Myra would be a perfect match for him; she's forty-seven, never married, no children. She even has the same lovely blonde hair that I do!" Vanessa said proudly.
"Um...no...not single, really..." Chise said nervously, while touching the ring on her left hand, hoping Nosy Nessa wouldn't notice. It was of course Chise's luck, to look up and see the nosebag staring at her, her face like a thundercloud.
"I see. Well, I must be off. Please tell the good doctor I shall be coming over by Wednesday, at the very latest. Good day, Chelsea." Vanessa turned and stomped away, muttering to herself.
-God I hate that woman- Chise said to Ruth in her mind.
-Hopefully whatever Elias makes her will take care of her "syndrome" for a while, and you get a break from her- Ruth replied back.
-I hope so. I might have to go run errands when she stops by- she said in her mind.
Chise and Ruth then got up and started to walk around the farmer's market, looking at the different booths and stalls. Chise picked up some strawberries, still slightly warm from being in the sun, for Silky to make jam. She found some local honeycomb from a beekeeper nearby for Elias to use for his medicinal salves, and she found a plush chew toy for Ruth. Chise walked by a table where a young woman was selling handmade jewelry and stopped, looking longingly at the beautiful beaded earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
-Why don't you look and get something for yourself?- Ruth asked her.
-I don't know Ruth. I would hate to get something I love, then lose it. I'm always forgetting where I put things.-Chise said.
-Get something anyway. It would make you happy. I'm sure if you truly lost something, Elias would either make or buy you a new one. Think of yourself for once.- Ruth said, then padded to the grass nearby and laid down. A few children that were nearby shopping with their parents came up to Ruth and started to pet him, and gave him head scritches. He rolled his tongue out in happiness.
Chise stood uncertainly in front of the jewelry table. She saw earrings placed on index cards, and hanging from a holder. There were metal bangle bracelets with tiny seed beads, in many colors. Then she saw necklaces hanging from felt headless mannequins. The one thing that caught Chise's eye was a choker style necklace, made from black lace, with a flat oval piece of jade hanging from the center of it. It was the exact shade of green as her old adder stone necklace that Elias gave her years ago. She touched her ring, knowing that the pieces of that now broken adder stone went to make the rings she and Elias now wear everyday.
"Find something that catches your eye, lass?" The woman asked her.
"I think so. How much is this choker necklace?" Chise inquired.
"It is £20. I have a special going on, just for today. You can chose any two items you'd like for only £30." The woman said eagerly.
Chise had just the right amount of money left, and decided that yes, she would get something for herself. She chose the jade choker, then took a long look at the table again. She found a silver ring that held a large moonstone. She surmised that the moonstone could probably hold an enchantment or could have protective properties. She lifted the ring off the table, and placed it on the ring finger of her right hand. It fit perfectly. The lady helped Chise fasten her necklace with a sliver chain that could adjust the tightness of the choker. She paid the woman and started to walk back to where Ruth was laying in the grass, getting a belly rub from a little boy named Jack, who visits their house with his mom sometimes, to pick up a tincture for migraines.
The rain that held on for so long finally started to fall. It started as a light mist at first. Then the rain quickly became heavier, big raindrops leaving traces on the ground. Chise got to Ruth and looked up at the sky.
"It figures I forgot my umbrella and raincoat." Chise said, as the rain quickly went through the pastel pink dress she was wearing. Ruth stood up and shook himself, shaking the rain off of his fluffy black fur.
Elias had no luck finding any rare books at the book seller this time. He did get a new umbrella from the shop next door, and started to walk back to the farmer's market. He walked by the produce, baked goods, and candles. He started to slow down halfway through the market, until he saw something he knew Chise would like.
Chise was standing next to Ruth, speaking to one of his worst customers, Vanessa Horton and her daughter Myra. If he would get away with it, he would either stopped serving her, or make her a potion so strong it would kill her. He knew he would get in trouble with the church if he did, so he suffered her in silence.
It was rare now that Elias got to just stand there and watch his apprentice without her noticing him. Even though she was rather small and delicate, he could sense the strength and tenacity in her. Even though she still spoke quietly, her voice was finally confident and sure. She held her head high, no more looking down and being afraid. He knew how much Chise couldn't stand Vanessa and her equally problematic daughter, but yet she greeted and spoke to them with a grace he didn't possess.
Her beautiful green eyes lit up whenever she was talking about something that interested her. She was currently telling the frumpy women about Ruth, who sat beside Chise on his haunches. She became animated, talking with her hands, and pointing to the farmer's market vendors where she did her shopping.
He noticed that her dress was wet, and started to stick to her body. She definitely had a woman's body now, and her curves accentuated the fact. What he looked at with earnest was her hair; it was becoming matted onto her head, with big droplets highlighting her crimson locks like gems.
He decided to end Chise's suffering at the hands of the two nosy women. He strode to Chise's side, holding the large black umbrella in one hand, and a large bouquet of red chrysanthemums, baby's breath, and lily of the vallet.
"Elias!" Chise said, looking up at her teacher with a smile.
"Chise. The rain drops upon your hair are so beautiful. But not as beautiful as you." Elias said, giving her the bouquet with a flourish.
"Thank you, Elias. They are lovely." Chise said, and bent her head down to smell the flowers. When she rose her face, Elias was there, leaning in for a kiss. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him soundly.
Elias then turned to the village gossipers and looked at them blandly.
"Have a good weekend, ladies." Elias said, extending his hand out to Chise. Chise took his cue and held on to his right hand with her glamoured left hand, and bouquet in her right hand.
They slowly walked their way home, with much resentment from the Hortons.
Fin.