maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

[ Since his arrival Matthew has been covering all the ground and meeting all the animals of the Henrietta crew's dream house/farm, but if one were to assume that might make him any less excited to go to another farm and meet more animals and hang out with his new friend, well, that'd be silly. He takes Lucy up on her invitation at the soonest opportunity.

Now when he was little, his family's cattle sometimes made him skittish; they were so much bigger than he was and he couldn't always figure what they wanted. But now he's older, much bigger himself, so he stands comfortably close and pets the long nose of one of Lucy's horses with easy-going pleasure. ]

She's great. What's her name, again? [ He drags his eyes--though not his hands--away from the animal to give Lucy herself a smile, and then his head tilts curiously, distracted from his own question. ] You know, it kind of looks like you're glowing.

[ He didn't see it under the bright lights of their science classroom, but here in the partial shade of the barn it's more noticeable. ]

[ She finds him charming; a bear of a boy, who despite being taller than she is in stature she feels almost as though he is smaller, like she could just hold him at any moment (and she might). It's Selene who has taken to Matthew, rocking her head against his chest. ]

She's Selene.

Delilah is the one who is feisty, and so only d'Artagnan really can control her, although I do manage, she likes him best.

[ And then she pauses, and giggles, her hands covering her mouth. ]

Yes, I glow, here, look-

[ She cups her hands and it fills with a bright orange light, and then she shakes her hands and it scatters like water around them, the drops of light dancing around Matthew's head. ]

Selene. [ He repeats the name happily, and then leans in to give the horse a short, unabashed nuzzle in return, smiling into her forehead. Likely he'd be just as opposed to Lucy holding him as he is to the current horse cuddles, which is to say not at all. ]

I like this one. She's good. [ He thinks of something and tries not to be too obviously amused. ] But Delilah kinda sounds like Ronan.

[ Don't tell anyone he said that, Lucy.

He watches her, just curious at first. When she casts the light into the air his mouth drops open in astonishment and then immediately takes on a joyful curve, his eyes turned upward as he watches it float around them. This time he does take one hand away from the horse, trying to catch one of the drops himself. ] Lucy! [ He laughs her name breathlessly, light settling in his curls to create a saintly halo. ]

That's incredible! Is that your power? Can you do it in Narnia, too?

[She finds it so odd that this is the brother of Ronan Lynch, who sent her a message so rude that she could not look at it more than once, and had to throw it away far off the farm so that Athos would not find it. They are not at all alike. She is not like her siblings, she thinks, but at least they are all, in their own way, kind and generous souls. She has seen nothing of that in Ronan.]

She'll bear you well, if you should like it.

[And then they're laughing and Matthew is smiling and there's light in his curls.]

It is, as well as healing, but I can do neither in Narnia. I am quite an ordinary woman, there.

[She smiles and reaches for one of the lights, and it dances over her fingers. She's gotten better at this, as she's spent more time here.]

I've trapped them in things, as well, and they can last long periods. I will fashion you one, if you so care for one.

[ Maybe someday Matthew will attempt to explain his brother to her. Maybe someday he will beg Ronan to stop being so rude. Maybe someday more of the people he likes will like each other. Today, however, in this moment, he is perfectly content to not think about those things. ]

Like right now?

[ He gives her a funny smile. "Ordinary" is not a word he would use to describe Lucy, even before he knew she could make light waltz around within her hands. ]

No way, that's amazing. How does the healing work? Does it just work for you or can you heal other people?

[ And then his eyes widen again in gratitude. ]

Really? I do, I mean I'd like that!

[ He'll have to think of something to do for her, too. ]

I heal others. If you were injured, I could heal you, and it would be quite painless, I assure you.

[She nods though, and takes his hand.]

Here, have you ridden before? You must mount, and then I'll mount my own steed, and we'll go. Would that suit you?

[She's already putting his hand on the horn of the saddle. Her own saddle is different; she can't help but ride like a lady.]

That'd be way better than going to a doctor. You got really useful powers.

[ Not that he plans on injuring himself. ]

That sounds great! I've done this before, I think I can get it.

[ He's been to stables with some of his Aglionby friends; they'd all laughed together when he'd put the wrong foot in the stirrup at first. This time, his movements aren't exactly graceful but they aren't exactly clumsy either, and he situates and pulls himself up into the saddle in one go, leaning forward and petting the side of Selene's neck as soon as he settles in. ]

Does she know where to go?

[ He doesn't really know what to do now though. ]

[She mounts up with an ease and a casualness that suggests she does that every day., sitting just in front of Matthew, with her legs on the same side. She's small enough that she fits quite well against him.]

I'll lead, but you must keep your hands around me, on mine, on the reins. You see?

[They won't go very quickly, at least.]

[ He scoots back to make more room, and she's not self-conscious so he isn't either when he puts his arms around her on either side to reach for the reins. ]

Like this?

[ He just sounds eager and pleased, putting his hands over hers. Her intricately styled hair is in danger of ending up in his mouth so he leans his head to the side, looking over her shoulder. ]

Yes, just so.

[They're holding hands over the reins when Lucy gives her a tiny nudge with her heel, and off they go, into the forested part of the farm.]

Are you finding it comfortable here, then, Matthew?

[ Matthew almost misses the question, his head tilted back so he can watch the dappled light coming down through the trees as Selene carries them through the forest. ]

It's not home, but it's not so bad. Some people made it sound really awful the first day I was here.

[ Ahem, Dorian, mainly. But Matthew has yet to be kidnapped by Russians or forced to fight anybody, so it's been easy enough to forget Dorian and focus on the positives. ]

Getting to live with Ronan again has been great.

I am pleased-

[And a pause.]

You do not live with him? Is he married, where you are from?

[BECAUSE WHY ELSE WOULDN'T THEY LIVE TOGETHER?]

Ronan? No. [ YOU TRIED, LUCY, BUT NO. Matthew is laughing, not at her of course, but at the rather absurd idea of his brother being currently married. ] I don't think he's ever even dated before.

[ Little does he know. When his laughter subsides, he explains (sort of.) ]

Back home, I live in the dorms at our school. He lives with Gansey.

But then-

This makes little sense to me.

[She looks puzzled, and she looks back up at Matthew.]

You attend the same school? Then why do you live apart? Are you quarreling?

[ They're close enough that when she looks back he has to adjust a little as well to look at her properly. ]

No, not me and Ronan. We just can't live at home right now. And when we had to move, he moved in with Gansey.

[ There's a pause in which it seems like he might not have anything else to say, but then in something of a rush he adds-- ]

Some bad stuff happened. It's why he's hard to get along with sometimes.

[ Not much weighs on him for long, but Lucy's reaction when she first learned that Ronan was his brother isn't something he's entirely forgotten. ]

[She is quiet for a moment.]

I am sure he is a wonderful brother to you.

[Lucy doesn't like the idea of badmouthing anyone - especially a sibling - over something as trivial as a rudeness that it would do well just was easily to forget and avoid.]

[ Matthew could explain. He could tell her what it's like to have Ronan as a brother--Ronan, who never lies to him; Ronan, who was there to save him from Kavinsky; Ronan, who broke all the rules and brought their mother back; Ronan, who is an actual magician and makes his own dreams into real things.

But there are a whole lot of secrets mixed up in such an explanation and, much as he already adores her, he and Lucy are rather new friends. So he gives the short version, which somehow lacks none of the earnestness and admiration of the longer one. ]

He is. He really is.

[ A leaf falls into Lucy's hair and he briefly takes one hand from hers to pick it out. ]

You said you have brothers too, right? And a sister? [ He guessing as to whether he remembers that right. ]

Yes. I thought you looked a bit like one of them, my eldest brother, Peter, when he was your age, but the more I see the more you look only little alike. I am the youngest, you see. As are you?

[Selene keeps going along, and she tilts her head to see the leaf - ah - and beams up at him a bit, thanks him, and continues speaking.]

There is Peter, who is quite stern and a bit less inclined to smiling, but still gracious and fair, and Susan, who is the most beautiful woman in the world, and kind and gentle beyond that, but very much a lady-

And Edmund, of course, who is sensible and clever beyond reason, and quite sharp when he wishes to be. But not unkind. Only well forged, if such a saying translates. Like a sword whose blade is sheathed for the cut.

[It's a very Narnian thing to say.]

I miss them so very much.

[ Every word that comes out of her mouth, even the very Narnian ones he doesn't really understand, is so full of kindness and affection. Matthew loves it. ]

You've got so many nice things to say about them. [ He sounds pleased, refreshed, maybe a little wistful. ] Somebody told me the Porter sends people home sometimes. Maybe you'll get to see them again soon.

[ He frowns for a second, feeling a bit of selfishness. But it's a very brief second. ]

Or they might show up here, and then I could meet them, too. They sound really special, the way you talk about them.

[ He shifts his arms a little around her, readjusting his hold over her hands. ]

I'm the youngest, too. Then there's Ronan, and Declan is the oldest. He's good with people-- [ who aren't Ronan. ] I think you'd like him.

[ Declan would probably be more interested in Susan, the most beautiful woman in the world, but anyway... ]

Of course I do! Do we not all love our families?

[She clearly means it, too. Selene takes them further in, along the path.]

I saw them not so long ago. I was home for near to a year before I was brought back here. It was very good, otherwise I think I would be more melancholy now.

I hope, then, that the porter will allow you your eldest brother as well, Matthew.

[ Matthew considers the question for a moment, watching the ground pass by beneath them. ]

Sometimes families are complicated.

[ Not always, but sometimes. ]

That is good. I'm glad you could spend time with them. You shouldn't be sad. [ And he's smiling again. ] Hey, if Declan shows up I'll introduce you.

Yes-

Oh, yes, that is true as well.

[She looks up at him and smiles a bit, and leads Selene over. There's a pond this way - it's too cold to go in but it's pretty to see.]

I should like that muchly, if you think we should get along.

I think you would, really.

[ Matthew has little trouble leaving the subject of complicated families behind when he sees the pond, which is indeed pretty. The occasional gentle ripple makes for interestingly distorted reflections of the trees and sky, and it's just the kind of thing that catches his attention like a leaf on the wind. He leans over Lucy's shoulder to get a better look. ]

Wow, it's so nice here.

[ He says it with delighted admiration, as though Lucy put the pond there herself. ]

It is, isn't it?

[She leans back against him a little, and it's friendly and familiar all at once.]

I found it one day, and thought this would be a lovely place in summer, although in winter the ice freezes and you may walk on it without any fear.

[It freezes quite hard.]

[ He doesn't mind the leaning at all; they fit together on the horse very comfortably. And she's so nice, that's just how he feels around her in general. Comfortable. Happy. ]

And skate, too? I bet you could skate on it, if you wanted.

[ He would definitely be willing to try that. ]