The exercise:
Write about: a renovation.
Work is underway on the office renovations that will allow me to move to my new space. Not sure when exactly I'll get to do that, but it was nice to see the contractor getting started on the major work this morning.
2 comments:
Hmm, that mention of a contractor brings this to mind... are you eyeing up the sledgehammers again and channeling your inner Max to sidle up to the contractor and offer to help? I hope the renovation isn't too noisy while it's happening!
A renovation
Although Fabian wanted to sit and look through the security footage with the team the Head of Security for the New Imperial Museum was quite firm that his team knew what they were doing and didn't need any help, no matter how well-intentioned. Even when Fabian gently pushed on his role as Director to see if pulling rank would work. So Fabian, feeling a little dejected, trudged back to his office with his head down, staring at his feet and wondering what the world was coming to, and walked into Rystin without seeing him. The Rust-elf, slight and slender like most of his race, oof-ed a little and staggered out of Fabian's way.
"I'm sorry!" said Fabian, his face flushing red as he realised what he'd done. "I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" While Rystin sought a polite answer the memory of his ex-wife, in the last years of their marriage, elbowing him, side-swiping him, and on one occasion just punching him, flashed into his head and his guilt intensified.
"I'm fine," said Rystin who was watching the confusing playing of emotions on Fabian's face with wonder. Elves were taught from a young age to keep a neutral face, not least because it gave police forces least excuse for taking an interest in them. "I wasn't expecting you to be so... preoccupied. I can come back later when you're less busy." He started to move away.
"No," said Fabian, reaching for the Rust-elf's arm and then pulling away from contact as more memories of his ex-wife surfaced. "No, my fault completely. I'm at a bit of a loose end, actually, I was going to help the security guys but they don't want me." He thought about that and decided that it sounded a little pathetic. "I mean, they don't need me. So if you've got something you need me for, then that's important, obviously." He didn't much like the way that ended either, but Rystin was smiling so he shut his mouth and waited.
"When you have time," said Rystin, "I would like to take you to the Forest of Four Elves for a visit."
"Never heard of it," said Fabian. He shook his head, racking his brains. "How far away is it?"
"You might know it better as the Forest of Sorrows," said Rystin.
"Yes! I know that, that's over on the other side of the city! It's a heritage site, isn't it? A National Park or somesuch?"
Rystin's smile wavered a little. "It's historical," he said. "But it's left alone really because no-one knows how safe it is."
"...and you want to take me there?"
Rystin's smile vanished completely and he raised his hands, waving them a little frantically. "No! Not like that! The magic there happened centuries ago, but no-one really knows what happened. So no-one wants to risk disturbing it unless there's no other choice. It's safe, it's just that it's not known to not be... unsafe. If you see what I mean."
"No," said Fabian firmly. "That was too many negatives in that sentence. But it sounds like you're telling me it's safe enough for a visit? Why should we go and see it though?"
"Because it was a wisp-elf forest for a long time," said Rystin. He sighed. "And the disaster that happened there was the result of wisp-elf magic. I thought you might be interested."
"Very," said Fabian, checking his watch. "How about we go now?"
Greg - it's been pretty noisy, but generally happening far enough away from where I'm sitting that it doesn't bother me too much. Plus I know it's for a good cause, so that helps.
Ah Fabian and the wounds of his failed marriage. This is an interesting development with Rystin though, even if I suspect this field trip won't go as planned.
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