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 Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:55 am
The day was a quiet one, but hot and humid. Sage thought, somewhat testily to himself that everyone else was probably too smart to try to enjoy the 'last' days of summer when it was so clear it would be warm for quite some time yet. Sighing more to himself than anything, he leaned back against the trunk of the willow tree, taking advantage of the shade that it provided and the soft grass that grew underneath its branches.
It was quiet here, at least, in this corner of the sprawling garden. Much like the store itself, it seemed to be opened to any owner, nymph, mermaid or gryphon that sought it out, so there were times when it was cluttered with others. But away from the small lily pond, tucked in the roots of what seemed, to him, like a monstrously large tree, the world was quiet except for the occasional breeze that rustled through the leaves and the rustle of the pages that he turned in his book.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:06 am
It was far too Humid for a certain female Nymph, the air thick and tough to breath under. In fact, she was unsure of her decision to venture out in the first place. Annabelle was a naturally curious creature, finding any reason at all to explore the surroundings she might find herself in.
Today was one rare day when she regretted this choice for a small moment. Hot Annabelle could deal with, hot was nice and enjoyable. Humid on the other hand was not so nice! Dragging the back of one arm over her damp forehead, she sighed quite heavily whilst walking. 'I probably could head back inside or find some shade' she thought.
Just as the Nymph was weighing up the distance back home, a very beautiful bug scurried past her. Its shell was black, but shone a dozen colours in the sunshine. It ran in a strange zig-zag movement and Annabelle forgot all about her worries. "Oooh!!"
Getting down level with her new 'friend', she crawled with the bug, watching it intently and with utmost fascination. What type was it? Did it have a family? What was its purpose?
Crawling along the earth, she felt the shade more than noticed the willow tree and didn't even look up from her new task.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:45 am
Both the bug and Annabelle were nearly on top of him before Sage even knew that they were there. The only thing that drew him away from his book was the faint sound of the scurrying beetle and the sight of the other nymph's bold red hair clashing against the earth-toned surroundings.
Rather than saying anything, at least for the moment, he moved his feet out of the way of the pair and observed for the moment. Though he was slightly disappointed that his solitude had been disturbed, he recalled Anabelle from a few days prior, and didn't mind her company overmuch.
"Fig beetle," he murmured. "Cotinus texana." Looking back at his book, he jotted another note in the margins.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:59 am
Her knees scuffed upon the ground, leaving marks, but she didn't care or even notice one bit. It was the low, inaudible comment that caught her attention. Something about a Fog Bead? She wasn't sure, and a...Conscientious something or other. Blinking her blue eyes, Annabelle realized she had stopped and watched her new friend scurry into the bushes.
"Aww, bye bye Beetle." Sitting up and taking note of her surroundings now, she saw the tree, and Sage. Smiling, remembering his face once before, the Nymph also remembered the very awkward conversation she had found herself in.
Maybe, he'll be ok since he now knew who she was. Nodding to herself, she spoke...quite loudly. "Hey, mind if I stick around? Its pretty hot out here." Climbing over to Sage, she tipped her head to get a better look at his book.
"Are you still reading about Tree Nymphs?" She asked.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 10:19 am
"Mmm, certainly." Sage cleared his throat. "I mean, certainly you may stick around, not certainly I mind." Though it was a near thing, he managed not to withdraw as she approached him, leaning over to get a look at what he was reading. The willow tree at his back helped, and the fact that he should've expected such a reaction from the inquisitive nymph.
"Ah, no, not today." Tilting the book so that she could see his scratchy handwriting and rough sketches, he displayed a book on the local fauna, with notes about if he had seen minor nymphs of their type or not. "Minor nymphs today, like herb nymphs."
He stopped himself from rambling just in time, and instead managed, "It is quite hot today. What brings you out?" Perhaps not the most eloquent conversation, but it was a start.
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 12:54 am
Annabelle was far too focused on the book to really listen to Sage, although she heard most of it her brain sort of didn't register much except the fact he was reading about Herb Nymphs. She wondered about that, about all the types. If he were reading on Tree ones earlier and now these just how many were there?
It was all too much for the female and before she could stop herself, Annabelle plopped down right next to him and said "How many are there?" Her eyes were wide, and interested. She almost looked greedy, but the young nymph would not know just what her features looked like.
Hearing his question she gave a distracted grunt, her mind buzzing now and unable to really think about what she had been thinking or doing earlier that day. It was past, over with, she had a new adventure in front of her now.
"Oh you know, the need to walk. I don't like being inside too long, everything stays the same. I like to be outside where all the animals and plants are." She sat there for a second, thinking, before realizing maybe she should ask him the same thing.
"Uh, what about you?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 2:22 pm
After a moment, Sage noted her interest and shifted the way he held his book so that she could get a better look at it. Unlike the large books that he occasionally leaved through for information, it was hand written with a few sketchy illustrations and innumerable notes along the side. Though his handwriting was a bit scratchy, it was legible.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. It seems that, for the major nymphs, there are most likely one for all types of tree. There are significantly fewer types of herb nymph, at least that has been recorded. They--we--are a fairly new phenomenon." When reciting, he didn't stutter or wonder what to say next; it was almost as if another person was speaking.
"I came out for the quiet," he told her honestly, after a moment. In a strange way, it made him feel a bit better knowing that he wasn't the only one groping for conversation. "Usually when it's this hot, I stay indoors. I can see how it would get monotonous after an extended period of time, however."
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:43 pm
Annabelle read some of the words on the book as he held it out better for her. She could read it but none made too much sense and the Nymph supposed maybe she would have to start from the beginning to understand all the notes and things. Still, the female was interested and thought maybe she would try to find out more about the different types. Maybe....maybe there were more than what people knew about currently.
Deciding to voice her own musings Annabelle said "do you think that there could maybe be more out there? Ones that are not recorded at present or even known about?" She had noticed though Sage had said 'they' and corrected to 'we'. She thought this might have to do with speaking as though he were reading.
Smiling slightly at what the male spoke about why he was out here, she thought to prod him on the comments he had made. Suddenly finding herself momentarily interested in Sage himself as he began to share a little. "Quiet? Is it noisy where you live?" Tilting her head to one side causing the blue in her hair to shimmer, she also asked "Is that why you came out today instead of staying inside?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:54 pm
Pausing, Sage took her comment into consideration. Could there be more out there that they didn't know about? Other herb nymphs, practical nymphs, that didn't come around the garden or Enchantmint? It didn't seem likely, considering the source, but maybe.
"There is a small possibility," he said thoughtfully, pulling the book back so he could look down at it. His gaze wasn't on the words themselves, per se, but it was more like a place to focus his thoughts. "Enchantmint, Tabitha, is the source of the herb nymphs from what I know, but that doesn't mean that there aren't others in the wild, somewhere. Such is the case with many creatures of lore, even more recent ones; out of sight and beyond notice. Or, in this case, a few feet under notice." He had to pull himself back out of his mental wanderings to answer his next question.
"Mmm, only occasionally. But there is usually someone around and I prefer to conduct my studies alone." Sage paused, realizing what that must sound like. "I mean, that is to say, it's easier to... Concentrating is...Well, I meant to offense."
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:08 pm
She watched Sage closely while he mused openly, taking in what he said and noticed he was only thinking on Herb Nymphs. She had to intervene, she had meant so much more than that! "Oh no I mean not just herb or Tree, maybe Flower or or...something else!" Annabelle couldn't really think too far but the idea itself was huge. She had to wonder how many, maybe even sea Plants, were there one for all types of plant?
"See I just can't imagine that there would only be Tree Nymphs and Herb Nymphs, there are many more plants and things out there and couldn't there be more Nymphs too?" Letting out a breath Annabelle flushed at her thoughts, she might seem stupid to him. Sage appeared so intelligent and she was so scattered and curious. "Sorry."
Now she felt a bit silly, and began to play with some of her pearls, and listened as he rambled off about wanting to be alone to study. And then come back to say he meant no offense. The female laughed at him then, not to be offensive herself but he sounded so worried for a second. "I suppose you would rather I leave?" Grinning, Annabelle waited to see how he might reply.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:36 pm
That was a big thought, and a notion that Sage had entertained before.
"By nature, nymphs and other lore creatures shy away from attention," he murmured, more to himself than anything. "It wouldn't be a leap of logic at all to assume that a good many, if not most, of what exists is not documented at all." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. Truthfully, if he followed her logic, nearly any kind of plant--anything with even a whisp of magic-- could be a nymph. It so happened that, in this case, Tabitha was the one to give herb nymphs a push in the direction that was needed, but what if there were something else? Something else to aid in this magical evolution.
He scribbled a few more notes in the margins. It was all theoretical, of course; after all, if it hadn't been recorded to date, it would be difficult for him to do so. Deep in thought, he didn't hear her apology (though that was, in part, due to the fact that he wouldn't have expected one in the situation) and nearly missed her next question.
"What? Oh, no." At a loss for words, Sage tapped the other end of the pencil against the book for a moment.
"You're certainly welcome to stay, if you'd like. I didn't mean to imply that you weren't welcome." He had a suspicion, judging by the look on her face, that she wasn't being serious, but he never was quite sure. Information was easier to deal with; you knew where you stood, at least.
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:45 am
It made her head spin now thinking about everything they might not know about. Not just what was in this garden, or species but anything out there in the world that might be unknown! Even things they did know about had secrets, mysteries. So much to find out and learn about, she could see why Sage enjoyed his books so much.
"Does it not drive you insane learning everything and yet still knowing so little? Having many questions you want to have answered and just sitting here in this little place and not finding them out! Not everything are in books you know."
She wondered, for a moment if that might sound too harsh and she hadn't meant to be that way at all. Books were good! "I love to read too but that's why I come out here and look around, try to learn by doing as well and find my own answers out here." Smiling a bit, she laughed thinking more on herself. "Though, I'm not surely as smart as you are. Maybe you have the right idea after all." Annabelle stretched one of her tanned arms out and started at it for a bit before letting it come to rest on one of her knees. The Nymph couldn't help it, she liked talking but then she needed to keep moving too sometimes. Just sitting here, well her mind was buzzing and she had areas to explore.
However while this male was happy to talk she would stay. It seemed to her a rare thing on his part and that was special.
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:01 am
Sage couldn't help but laugh a bit at her comment.
"It doesn't drive me insane," he told her, a small smile crossing his usually somber features, "but it does drive me. Because as you find more questions, it means there are more answers out there. Somewhere. And while not everything is in books, there's no sense in trying to find out what someone else has already learned, is there?"
Unlike Annabelle, Sage was content to sit in the same place she'd found him in when she'd arrived. He was known to sit in one place for hours, reading, thinking, drawing, writing, though his back and shoulders were often sore afterward. Glancing over at her, he continued.
"I'm sure you're quite intelligent," he said, disagreeing. "And, quite frankly, while intelligence is quite useful, that's not what's most important. Curiosity and diligence count for far more than intelligence." He nodded, looking down at the book. With its sketches, information, and all of his scribbly writing in the margins, he knew that it didn't hold all of the information that he sought. But that was, to him, exciting. Like an adventurer with a world of unknown awaiting him. Seeing her move out of the corner of his eye brought another thought, after a moment.
"I'm sorry, I must be keeping you," he apologized.
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