The interior of Gina Wittle O’s home is every bit as fairy fantasy as the outside of it.
All of the walls are made of the same red-purple tree trunks (literally, obviously); but, instead of seeing bark, the internal structures of the tree—including the rings (or, at least, a cross-section of them)—are laid bare. Probably: the house was designed with various logs cut in half and then built with the barks facing outward.
Fairly standard—and Jarl would know as he used to be a carpenter and helped build or repair houses once—but the interior of aforementioned trees just so happens to be various shades of Manus approved PINK.
Trying not to worry about the possibility of loosing his own
magician to this new one’s hot pink décor (admittedly not hard now that he’s
come to accept how much Manus truly cares for Jasey—and him Áesta), Jarl
notes that pretty much all of the furniture carry on this theme of reddish purple
and various pinks since they’re all made of the same things: some kind of
magical wood. From the couches and chairs to the mantle and coffee table—even the
kitchen uses this strange wood in the form of bowls, utensils, and cupboards.
The fireplace’s shock of white brick and the matching kitchen counter are probably the only normal things abounded and that actually makes them stick out alienly and unnervingly; like bones exposed.
Jarl shivers. There’s something eerie about normality being here.
Or maybe Jarl just doesn’t like how similar it is to his own home.
Wood: everywhere.
(But this isn’t Oak.)
~
Manus seems perfectly at home here.
Jarl isn’t sure if this is because the place reeks of magic (not that Jarl would really know what that smells like) or if it’s because almost everything here has a touch of his much beloved pink, but the mage literally squeals and plops himself down onto one of the red-purple and pink wood chairs (it’s not even upholstered!) in front of the fireplace (which randomly lights up as though Gina weren’t cold prior to their arrival in the tail of winter while living in a literal tree trunk of a home…) before grabbing some strange pink skinned fruit (bizarrely, it looks spiked like a pineapple) and biting into it, revealing black seeded white meat.
Somehow, it does not hurt, stab, maim, or kill him.
Instead, it just makes the magician purr.
~
Áesta’s sense of being at home is, surprisingly, a lot more relatable.
The moment Gina’s unique purple eyes lock with Áesta’s hidden orange-lime, they share a grin and a squeal before rushing to hug each other. Excitement further spills from their lips as they express joy and happiness in seeing each other, pulling back from their embrace to touch each other’s faces and check each other over. They both touch the same places at the same time, giving Jarl the feeling that this is actually a much done and well practiced routine—almost like a special handshake between long friends.
He isn’t sure how that makes him feel: comforted or alarmed.
He knew this person was going to be from Áesta’s past/history; but knowing that and actually seeing it—seeing how much love and care they have for each other—is very different; especially when this is the person JASEY’S KIDNAPPER KNEW, TOO.
~
“How’d ya know they’re ‘ere fer Jasey?”
It’s Cael the Boathand that voices the question Jarl has wanted to since first hearing the old witch’s entrance. He seems just as lost and confused as the out-of-town priest, blinking owlishly from his stop beside Jarl. They’re both still in the doorway, aliens to this reunion of friends and family and faeries.
Gina laughs, “The Trees told me.”
Jarl’s eyes widen, breath hitching, while Cael just grows confused. “Trees??? Like the forest???”
Áesta giggles from his new/old spot beside Manus whom looks sympathetically at the Boathand.
“No,” the witch answers, unique purple eyes gentle but highly amused. Jarl feels a prickle of old anger, and even older anxiety, as it begins to feel like he’s in the presence of someone whom sees themselves as better than everyone else—even God. It, perhaps, makes him unnecessarily guarded against her.
Which is bad as he really needs her help.
Remembering this, Jarl breathes deeply. He then reminds himself: he’s here to find out information; information about Jasey’s kidnapper; the one called Red.
Suddenly, he and Gina lock gazes.
She smiles at him as though she knows—all of that and (hopefully) more. Or like she just heard him think it. As his anxiety/anger over this possibility spikes, Gina’s smile turns impish—if not downright mischievous (strongly resembling the smiles Áesta shoots him)—and she continues without explaining anything to Cael, “Yer eyes are the same, boy.”
“… They aren’t.”
It’s defensive but true: Jasey’s eyes are much lighter. Even if you tried to argue that they’re both blue eyed, the difference between ice and sky would be obvious and never allow you to truly say they’re the same.
Gina doesn’t seem deterred by this, however.
She simply laughs, “I meant their SHINE, child.”
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