Chapter Text
“And how much would you price this at, sir?”
“5 gold coins should easily suffice.”
“Ridiculous. I’ll give you 3.”
Chains jingled in random notes as the man clutched the humble necklace tighter in his hands. His eye narrowed at him. Murmurings of other patrons floated through the air as they browsed, and the gray glow of approaching nightfall bathed the place in darkness. A few candles and mirrors lit the place with a warm orange. With some trepidation, another customer stepped up to wait behind the haggling octagon.
“Dear sir,” Pax began. He bowed a bit while still retaining eye contact. “I appreciate your want for our craftsmanship, but I simply cannot accept any bargaining. The price is 5 gold, no exceptions.”
“Nothing is so above that,” the octagon retorted. “3 gold and 5 silver.”
“5 gold,” Pax said. “This is, in fact, our least expensive handiwork, sir. I’d take the price.”
The octagon looked down at the necklace. It was a simple gold chain, decorated with flowery charms made from rosy pink glass beads. Most of the floral charms were familiar, roses and lilies and daisies, but a few were exotic, known only from illustrations made by travelers. Pax drummed his fingers on the wooden counter in such a rhythm to avoid a single splinter. There was a flash of red on one of the octagon patron’s sides.
Suddenly, a line came up from behind him. “4 gold!”
“Let’s round it up to five,” Pax sighed. “Look, the day is about to end-”
“4,” the line insisted. “4 gold or we leave!”
There was a tug on Pax’s lower angle, to which he glanced down. A little line looked back up at him with a tired eye. She mumbled some babbling words, and then she yawned. Pax furrowed his brow as he looked back up to the pair of troublesome customers.
“I’m not quite sure if you do know, but it seems you don’t,” Pax said as calmly as he could. “The work of Areia Line is often donned by residents of our very capital, including special commissions from members of the Imperial Court. You’re paying not just for the jewelry, but also her name-”
“And you are?” the octagon glowered at him.
“That is not relevant,” Pax replied. “5 gold, take it or leave it. You’re holding up the line and my daughter’s bedtime.”
The line and the octagon quickly turned their backs on Pax, whispering hurriedly to each other. Words such as “mother” and “making up” were all he could make out. Someone behind them coughed loudly. Finally, they faced him one more time. In complete silence, the line reached for a pocket, and then held her palm open. Pax peered and counted. 5 gold coins.
“Your patronage is much appreciated,” he said. The necklace was handed over and he neatly placed it inside a gift box. “Do enjoy, and return soon.”
The pair briskly left the shop. The next customer, an equilateral triangle wreathed in golden ropes and a ring on each finger, looked to Pax with pointed sympathy. He let out a disapproving hum.
“Misers,” he scorned. He placed down his purchase, a ruby-studded circlet, and was already reaching for his wallet. “They enter a jeweler’s own business and expect cheap trinkets? You should be insulted.”
“I got their money regardless, Governor,” Pax said. “30 gold please.”
The triangle paid and left with a haughty tilt in his step. The rest of the customers went just as smoothly. At last, he paid out the final one, a circle with a pair of simple silver wedding bands. It made Pax turn the gold one on his own finger. The circle bowed his head in thanks and walked out. Pax followed him afterwards, his daughter tucked in his arms, and locked the door. Then, the blinds were lowered, shutting out the dying light of the day. Just then, there was a soft tapping on the glass. It quickly grew into a war-drum pounding down onto the shop.
“Ready for bed, Eris?” Pax whispered. He glanced down at her. She was entirely asleep.
Pax let out a soft chuckle as he turned back around. One by one, he snuffed out the candles, letting the darkness consume the shop. Each piece of gold and silver, each twinkling little gem and pearl, were now invisible. With the last candle still glowing, he reached the door to the back and crossed the threshold of his livelihood.
Dozens of more candles filled the living room. Various rugs softened his footsteps on the floor, alongside the rain’s onslaught, thus he was completely unnoticed. Chairs circled a small discussion table, left empty. The whole house was silent, bar the rain’s assault on the roof. The only thing that did ek through the symphony of the storm was the metallic tink-tink in the other room. Light spilled out from under the door, and a shadow hopped by.
Pax knocked once, softly with the curl of his fingers, but there was no answer. His eye creased upward as he quietly turned the knob.
Stronger yellow light came through, and so did the sound of metal and tools. Hovering over a square mannequin, a line was still as could be. The pliers in her hand were ever so carefully folding a golden leaf into place. Releasing her grip gently, the line backed away slowly as though her own steps would ruin the symmetry. It was easy to look past her and see the fruit of her labor; a golden laurel of finely crafted leaves, bound together with forged ribbon, sparkled with heaps of diamonds that shone in the candlelight. It was like a vine of succulent grapes were cut from the vineyard and then dipped in gold.
“I take it you’re just about done?” Pax spoke.
The line flinched slightly, and then she turned to look at him. She herself was not encumbered with any sort of precious metal or jewels. She wore a plain blue dress, meant for work and nothing else, and yet Pax could feel his heart swell up at the mere sight of her. All he could end up saying after was, “I’m sorry for scaring you like that.”
“It’s alright,” Areia replied with a small sigh. She held her limbs up high in a stretch as she groaned. “I didn’t even notice…it’s night already?” The one eye peered up towards the roof, looking for visual proof through the foundation of the home.
“A whole work day, gone like the wind,” he said. Areia’s attention then turned down to Eris, holding her hands out. Pax then shifted the toddler to her mother, who mumbled softly in the transition yet stayed asleep. Areia cradled her as though she was made from glass, eye lidded with love Pax saw in her and her alone.
“Sometimes I hate those court members,” she suddenly said. Pax blinked back in alarm. “Their demands and specifications on the littlest gem keep me away from life.”
Relief washed over him just as soon as the comment made him reel back. He tisk’d at her, stroking the side of her head a bit. She let him, and closed her eye slowly as she sighed out, “I’ll demand gratuity from him for this trip. Of all times for a personal order…”
“New Year’s at the imperial capital has to be amazing, though,” Pax said. He minded his thumb when his hand neared her eye. “I’m sure you and your parents will have the time of your lives.”
Areia breathed out again. “I suppose. I miss them. I’ll miss you.”
Eris stirred in her sleep again, mumbling the same nonsense words she always had. Areia then rocked her in her arms. With the gentle rhythm matched with the rain, the child settled down back into a peaceful rest. Though all lines looked identical, it was their voices that marked the true individuality. While Areia’s voice was lower, Eris already sounded like a soprano. Pax wondered if she would be a singer in the future. Or a thespian. What role would she like to play, he mused.
“Are Astraeus and Pallas asleep, too?” Pax asked. Areia didn’t respond, her eye locked on her peaceful daughter, but eventually she hummed an affirmative note. Then, something lit up in her, looking at her husband with quiet alarm.
“Your father is coming over to help take care of them, right?” Areia whispered.
“Yes, he is, and my brothers and sisters, it’ll be our own New Year’s party,” he assured her as he put a hand on her back. “So don’t worry about anything. Even if your trip takes you away from me for a bit.”
“At least he won’t ruin it all with me there,” Areia sighed, cradling Eris closer. “I hope you all have fun.”
There was a moment of silence then. It made Pax look down to the ground, sides now hot with embarrassment. He could almost hear the shouting, the insults thrown between his wife and his father, making their new sons wail and cry. Something about Astraeus cursing the lineage with his duller point, making him weak and vulnerable. The phantom sound of the door slamming shut, his father storming outside, ringed through his ears. 1998 began with tears and almost severed ties. The crying, the yelling, discord and strife, it took over his mind, clashing with the quiet of the home.
Just as the silence started to grow too large, Areia leaned her body onto Pax. She was warm and real, still here with him, and brought her hand down to hold his. “Just give the boys a happy birthday for me. And make sure everyone gives them good presents.”
He held for a moment, and then glowed with a content yellow. “I’ll never speak to them again if they don’t.”
There, Areia laughed a genuine laugh. A beautiful sound that echoed through the room like a bell. The memory of last year’s turn faded instantly. Pax squeezed her hand and didn’t let go. They slid down onto the floor together, still holding their daughter. It stayed that way for a long time. Rain pattered down as it always did, a comfortable routine that never changed.
Pax had her, and Areia had him. Nothing, they thought in unison, would come between them.
Time ticked closer to New Year’s, the 3rd millennium. Closer to the upheaval of their lives.