closed and complete;

[bequiet_hescreamed]

When; Saturday 6 February, morning
Rating; G
Characters; conductyourself, iactmore, moresake
Summary; The new apprentice meets the old apprentice. You might want to look deeper than that pretty face, Clef. Closed and complete.
Log;

It was raining now, huge drops that splashed into the cracks in the cobbled pavement and came down in torrents off the roofs over the alleyways. Clef strode briskly, avoiding the puddles, with a basket slung over one shoulder. He stared straight ahead of him as he walked; so intent was he on his destination that he didn't notice anyone huddled against the wall and trying to keep dry under the overhang between the dumpsters. She noticed him, however. Gwendolen had been noticing him for a while now, traversing the alleyways between Yuuko's house and various destinations around the City.

"I cannot believe you lasted even two days with that woman," came the sudden voice, pulling Clef from his thoughts. He whirled around to face a young girl about his same age with golden hair and blue eyes like his own. She had a nasty expression that matched her words - disgusted and surprised. "She isn't human."

Clef only blinked naively. She continued, "And she said she was going to teach me magic! But she didn't!"

"She does have some peculiar tendencies," he finally admitted, thinking mainly of her Saturday afternoon outings. It was still better than where he was before, though - a year ago, that would have been him huddled between those dumpsters.

"She's so demanding. Every minute it's fetch this, fetch that."

This elicited another curious look from Clef, who hadn't considered that there might be something else to being an errand boy. Still, it was apparent that he had something very important in common with this girl he had never met before, so he thought to ask, "How long were you with her?"

"A month." She sighed as though the very thought of that time in her life brought back every aching moment of tedium and servitude all at once. "It felt like an eternity."

That was it, then, he thought with a shake of his head - she hadn't waited long enough. "She didn't teach me anything for the first few months, either. Maybe she just has to wait a little while to know if you're the right kind of person or something."

That made sense, he figured - some of the things he was learning could be very dangerous if he were a more malicious sort of child, and it was right in line with something Yuuko would do. Gwendolen didn't seem to agree, though, and groaned. "It was taking ages. I couldn't stand it."

He was about to shrug it off and walk away when she had a sudden realization and caught his attention again. "Hey. Wait. She's teaching you? Why you, and not me?"

Clef shrugged. There was something about her manner of speech and her bitter scowl which struck him as odd, coming from a street urchin with tattered rags for clothes. "It took a while," he repeated, "and I'm not very good."

"I'd be good at it." She lifted her chin up, proud and confident. "I'm going to find a better mother, though. I'm pretty enough."

Clef cocked his head as though to tentatively agree on the 'pretty' part. At least, she had attractive features and probably cleaned up nicely, but there was something decidedly un-pretty about her. Then, however, she smiled, and any doubts he might have had melted along with his heart. He smiled back, and had to agree. Surely with a face like that she'd find someone to take her in. "What's your name?"

"Gwendolen." Suddenly conscious of the attention, she scrubbed at her face a bit with her sleeves. She couldn't help her damp hair or soaking clothes, but at least she could use the wetness to her advantage a little.

"I'm Clef," he replied, still smiling.

"Good luck with her, Clef." There was no bitterness or sarcasm in her voice - she really didn't think anyone could stand Yuuko for very long.

"Thanks. Good luck finding a new mother," he answered sincerely.

"I will! And I'll bring her to meet you, shall I? Perhaps she'll adopt you too," Gwendolen declared, gaining confidence in the wake of Clef's attention. If she found someone like she expected, she could afford to be generous.

He grinned, because that really was sweet of her, but somehow, that just wouldn't do. "Ah! But then we'd be brother and sister."

Gwendolen frowned, running her fingers through her hair. "I don't think I'd like that."

"Me neither," he answered. It would be hard to justify the blush on his face if the girl involved was his sister.

Gwendolen lowered her head demurely. Clef thought she was pretty, even when she was all wet. It had been a long time since someone had looked at her so nicely. Yuuko had dressed Gwendolen very well, and she'd gotten plenty of looks then, as the blonde-haired contrast to Yuuko's exotic nature, but it had more than six months since she had left the witch's service, and the boy was very sweet.

She giggled. "If you ever want to run away from her, I know some good places to stay," she said. This wasn't entirely true, or she wouldn't be standing out here in the rain. The little shelters, alleyways, and underbridges weren't very good at keeping out the damp. But she wanted to see Clef again. His smile made her feel special.

"There's a really sappy cook down that way who sometimes gives me leftovers," she continued, with a gesture. This, at least, was true; she'd been quite gratified when he'd gestured her over from her aimless wandering and offered her a warm grin and the remnants of someone's meal. She might have been proud, but she was hungry, and she knew his face. This was Yuuko's beau, the cook, though he didn't seem to acknowledge that Gwendolen was the same girl who had been at Yuuko's side for a month. Perhaps he didn't realize. Her appearance was quite different now.

"Oh. Mr. Reed?" Clef asked. He knew the way she was gesturing, and the kindness of the chef. He wouldn't be surprised to hear that the man took care of the City's orphans. Mr. Reed had his head in the clouds most of the time, but his feet were firmly on the ground.

"Yes! He's terribly nice," she said, beaming back at Clef.

"Well, um. I should be getting back, but," Clef began. He was unable to finish the sentence for the blush rising on his face, so he simply darted forward and kissed her on the cheek before running away into the crowd.

Gwendolen lifted a hand to her cheek in wonder. "I'll see you later, Clef!" she called after him. She could feel his lips on her cheek still, and the slight aura of his magic. Perhaps, she thought, perhaps... She would certainly watch out for him in the future. Maybe Yuuko wouldn't teach her magic, but she was pretty sure she could convince Clef.

There was nothing wrong with trying.

*

Clef burst into the shop with a silly grin on his face, Gwendolen a bright spark in his mind. He paused abruptly to see his employer in her accustomed place, sprawled across the divan. She hadn't moved since he'd left, but she was staring at him, one of those piercing looks that she wore that made him feel as though she was trying to read his mind.

"Bad idea, that one," she said without preamble.

"What?!" He flailed, a little self-consciously. How did she do that? She was so good at fortune-telling that it was scary.

"Also, you forgot the milk."
"Ah! How did I forget that?!" He whirled around, ready to head back out.

Yuuko smiled, and then laughed a little, though not in a particularly mean way. "You'll get it," she said, meaning it in more ways than one, as he darted back out into the street. She leaned back against the couch and stretched, enjoying the soft sound of the rain against the roof.

There was a reason that she hadn't chased after Gwendolen, a reason she'd let her go. Clef would figure it out once he could look past the angelic blue eyes and blonde locks. It would be a good lesson for him. She leaned forward and picked up her glass of wine, drinking deeply, and then set it back down.

The cold French day ticked on.