Ayoka was lying face down on the story lobby couch. Her hair was sprawled elegantly around her, and her face was turned to the side. She had been watching her caretaker doll out raffle tickets for the past hours, very dull work. No one had stopped by, but she didn't really mind so much. It was nice to be alone in the quiet.
Merewen walked in quietly, opening the door and shutting it quietly behind her as she made her way into the room with love scant inches above her left shoulder. She smiled warmly at those already present, the warm and fuzzy feelings that love projected onto her were starting to become a part of who she is.
Slowly, almost lazily, Ayoka shifted her gaze over to Merewen and her charge. Ah, company. She was thankful for the change in scenery, but didn't feel like making the first move. They could come to her.
And they would, obviously, as Merewen ambled over to the couch where Ayoka was laying. After all she didn't get a chance to introduce herself to Ayoka the previous day when she was at the store. "Hello." She said cheerfully, resisting the urge to envelope her in a loving hug.
Was sitting up required? Most likely. Doing so, she looked Merewen over with half-closed eyes. "Hello." She said softly.
Taking a seat on the couch since Ayoka sat up, she watched her wisp for a moment as it decided what to do, choosing to swoop down and sit in Ayoka's lap. "How're you doing today, young miss?"
Pings of warmth oozed through Ayoka's thin dress. She shifted awkwardly. "I've been here all day." She said it as if it was an answer.
"Is it very boring?" She asked, looking around the shop. She knew they were having a raffle and it must have kept Suki quite busy. "Thats love, by the way.. although you probably already knew that.."
"I'm used to it." Ayoka ducked her head down, letting her hair cover her face. She began stroking the golden wisp with two fingers, enjoying the small warmth it gave her. Well, stroking as much as you could stroke something insubstantial.
Love cooed up at Ayoka and shifted to try and lean into her. Merewen giggled, "I brought something for you." She said with a nod, "Thought you could use something, since its christmas soon. I don't like waiting for christmas so.. I never make people wait for their presents." She said with a nod, digging in her rather large backpack to pull out Ayoka's bear.
Reluctantly, Ayoka brushed her hair out of her face and peered at the bear. It was a beautiful dark pink, and the fur was plush and soft. In spite of herself, she cracked a smile. A small smile, but one just the same. "It's very nice. Too nice for me, but thank you." She held it delicately, as if it might shatter, and peered into its little black eyes.
Merewen shook her head, "Why would you say something like that, little one? What good is a gift if you can't enjoy it?"
Ayoka paused, looking at the bear, but not really seeing it. "I suppose," She said, not looking up, "that I've done nothing for anyone but be a burden, and I don't exactly deserve anything like this." She looked up at Merewen. "I certainly did nothing for you. I've never even met you, but you gave me this."
"You, are always sad?" Merewen asked, pinpointing the fact that Ayoka must have been a depressed wisp. Maybe she needed a friend, "I'm sure Suki doesn't see you as a burden.. and, and, and, Christmas is for giving, not recieving." She said brightly, although the familiar line seemed overused.
"Suki doesn't act like I am, but I know I'm costing her a lot. A lot of money, a lot of attention." Ayoka felt tears sting her eyes. Oh no, not now. She sniffed determinedly and continued. "I was an accident, you know. She didn't ask for me, like you ask for this." She motioned to the golden wisp. "I just came out of...no where. No where at all."
Love fluttered away from the pair, floating up into the rafters as attention was focused elsewhere. Watching it go Merewen placed a hand on Ayoka's shoulder in silence. What could she say to that? She just sat quietly, trying to comfort the little girl.
Oh, she had already scared Merewen away, and they'd only just met. Ayoka hunched over farther, and wrapped her arms around the small bear.
Merewen watched the girl hunch over and clutch the bear something shattering inside her, she had felt like doing the same just a while before. Shifting on the couch she hugged the girl gently, "You aren't a burden, don't worry." She told her gently, trying to convince her, "Suki wouldn't see you as such."
"Okay," Ayoka agreed half-heartedly. She like Merewen, and she felt terrible pushing all this on her, but she really had no control of her feelings. Or rather, feeling. There seemed to be just the one. "But I just wonder sometimes." She whispered, still behind her hair.
Merewen smiled, "We could wonder until the day we died about the possibility of the sky being green, but it's still blue, hmm?" she responded, "Now, what are you going to name that bear of yours?"
"Rozowy." Ayoka said, with a surprising amount of creativity. "His name is Rozowy."
"Rozowy?" She said, considering, "A good choice." Looking at Rozowy she took on a stern face, "Now, you be a good bear for Ayoka, Mmmkay?"
Ayoka looked at Merewen with an undeterminable expression. "It's not real, you know." She said. Was the woman crazy?
Merewen looked at Ayoka and then winked, "Are you sure?" she asked her in a hushed voice, "I don't think it thinks so, so you may want to speak quieter, or you may hurt its feelings.." Indeed she may be crazy but she was fun.
"It hasn't got any feelings. It's not real ." Ayoka said firmly. "How can I hurt its feelings if it hasn't got any?" She asked, her lachrymose tone suddenly taking on a sharp edge.
"Oh, alright." She sighed softly, "Bu you know, a little imagination never hurt anyone."
Embarassed by her outburst, Ayoka ducked her head down again. "It's just such a waste, pretending." She sank back into her usual quiet voice.
"Why?" Merewen pressed softly, "Imagination is the fruit of life, haven't you wondered what could be out there?"
"Pretending you know is just stupid, though. You don't, and you won't." She was almost at a whisper now, but that whisper took back on its edge.
"I guess, then, we'll agree to disagree." She smiled cheerfully at the little girl and leaned back against the couch.
Ayoka sighed and leaned back as well. She titled her head back so she could watch Love flit aimlessly about the rafters. Had she been so active as a wisp? Somehow it didn't seem likely.
Merewen too watched Love do whatever it chose to do in the rafters, hopping from beam to beam cooing at nothing at all. "I wonder when it'll grow.." She commented, "If it'll grow, you could come over some time and visit." She said with a nod.
"Will he get a bear as well?" Ayoka asked quietly. "Are you going to get one for everyone?"
"Yes.." She stopped and blinked, "He? you think it'll be a he?" She asked looking at the wisp again, "That'd be nice.. a son.." She shook herself out of it long enough to answer the question, "Yes, Love and the others have bears too, I just have to wait till I see the othes next.."
"Oh, I don't know. Might be." She stroked the bear's head with a finger idly. "That's very kind of you, buying us all presents. I would, but I don't think Suki has much money to spend."
"Have you ever tried to make anything? Maybe cards?" She suggested, "If you really want to give presents cards are a good way to go.." She nodded.
"I've never made anything myself. Not even toast. Suki does that for me." Ayoka turned her head towards Merewen. "How am I to go about it? That is, if I try."
"You should start by trying to find some white paper, and some pencils for drawing, maybe markers or crayons if you want colours.. But you just fold the paper in half, and write 'Happy Christmas' or something else on the outside, and a personal message on the inside, whatever you see fit." She smiled at Ayoka, "It isn't that hard, and If you need help I'm almost always free."
"I'll try it sometime. Sukiwen likes to draw, she can probably help me with something like this."
Merewen nodded and then looked at her watch. "I have to go, Anabella is expecting me for dinner.." She sighed and then stood up, ruffling Ayoka's hair. "Have a time."
"A time indeed." Ayoka raised a hand in a half-wave. "Good-bye."
Merewen smiled, waving for love to follow and then making her way out of the shop. Love fluttered down from the rafters cooing at Ayoka before following Merewen.
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