Tales of a Synsuous Nature #12 - The Gift of Charm
One day, as Synsuous was walking through the Ossan Quarter, she decided to stop at a book cart. As she was looking through the books, she felt someone bump into her and heard a slapping sound. She spun around! 'Wha-?'
She saw a young woman who jumped back hurriedly and fell down. 'Not take! Put back!'
Synsuous said, 'If you didn't take it, how can you put it back? Are you trying to steal a book?'
The woman (Erin) says 'Must take! Shelves empty! Can't sleep!'
Synsuous: What must you take? What shelves? Why can't you sleep?
Erin: Shelves empty! Must fill! Can't sleep!
Synsous: Yes, the shelves are empty. Why can't you sleep?
This conversation goes on like this for several moments until Erin suddenly starts to hit herself upside the head!
Synsuous tries to grab Erin's wrists and she freaks out, flailing her arms wildly! Synsuous is hit and lets go of Erin's wrist. Erin stops flailing and cowers saying 'No hit! No hit Erin!'
Synsuous: I am not going to hit you.
Erin: You nice. Why?' Synsuous responds, 'I am nice to everybody.'
Erin: You pretty!
Synsuous: Why thank you.
Erin: Nice and pretty. Prettier than Ellin.
Synsuous: Who is Ellin?
Erin: Ellin was nice. Erin kiss. Ellin mad. You nicer than Ellin.
Synsuous: Dear, you simply -must- talk in complete sentences. It is all the rage, you know?
Erin: Nnnn...can't.
Synsuous:Now, back to the shelves. What are you filling them with? Books?
Erin suddenly reaches out, grabs Synsuous' hand and tugs. Synsuous follows along, perplexed by the woman's behavior. The woman keeps walking and Synsuous keeps following. Soon they are outside the city. They walk through Shaemoor and up along the river. Eventually, they get to a gloomy corner occupied by a dismal hovel and a few oversized bats. Erin walks in and Syn follows. The shack is empty except for a bedroll and several shelves along one wall. The shelves are full of various trinkets, charms, shiny objects and gems. Some are quite valuable and others are completely worthless. Syn looks at the shelves and suddenly understands a little more about the woman's behavior.
Erin: Must fill! Can't sleep.
Synsuous: Well, you can't just 'take' things from people. You might get hurt or worse.
Erin points to a barely visible bruise on the side of her neck, 'Not nice.'
Synsuous: "Exactly. You could even get arrested or killed." She rummages through her pouch and pulls out a shiny charm. "Here take this".
Erin: No! Can't! Must take or be present.
Synsuous: Accept it as a gift them.
Erin: No gift! Must take or be present!
Synsuous: A gift is a present. They mean the same thing.
Erin: No! No gift! Not count! Must be present.
Synsuous: Fine then it is a present.
Erin takes the charm and places it in the last empty spot on a shelf. Now all of the shelves are full. She smiles happily and sits down on the filthy bedroll.
Synsuous looks around. "And this is where you live? All alone?"
Erin nods.
Synsuous: Where are your parents?
Erin points to the ground. "Dad is sleeping in ground".
Synsuous: Dead. My parents are dead as well. Well, you shouldn't live here. Would you like a new place to live? A nice place?
Erin: New place? Nice place? Have shelves?
Synsuous: Yes, the place has shelves. But you must promise not to 'take' anything if you are going to stay with me.
Erin nods and packs up her belongings in her filthy blanket. Synsuous leads them back to her place. As soon as they enter, Erin brushes past her and starts looking around.
Erin: Shelves?
Synsuous: "I will show you to your room, it has plenty of shelves." Synsuous leads Erin to a room and Erin immediately arranges all of her items on a shelf.
Synsuous: You should go take a bath now. I will find you a suitable change of clothes.
Erin: No bath. Clean on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. Not Saturday.
Synsuous: Well, you don't have to bathe if you don't want to, but your clothes are filthy. Would you like to change them?
Erin makes a face and storms into the bathroom, muttering 'Clean on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. Not Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.'
Synsuous fetches a change of clothes for her and then answers the door. It is her close friend, Rizak.
Synsuous: Hello, Rizak.
Rizak: Hello, Syn. How have you been today?
Synsuous: I rescued a waif who tried to pick my pocket, I think. She is upstairs, bathing. I think she is touched. And she likes to 'take' things. I am worried about her.
Rizak: Well, I am sure we can help her. I can protect her with my contacts.
At this point, Erin emerges wearing the clean clothes, her hair still wet. She is visibly upset when she sees Rizak.
Erin: Boys not nice!
Synsuous: Rizak is nice. He won't hurt you.
Rizak: I am a friend of Syn and if you are a friend of Syn, then I will not harm you.
Erin: Syn?
Rizak: Syn or Lady Dulcia.
Synsuous: I am Syn.
Erin still glares at Rizak. 'Boys not nice!'
Synsuous: I don't think she trusts you. Not yet, anyway.
Synsuous pulls Rizak aside and whispers in his ear. As they are talking, Erin walks over to a chest of drawers and starts going through it. Rizak notices it.
Rizak: Hey, what do you think you are doing?
Erin: Syn say I can have new clothes.
Syn: I did say she could have new clothes.
Rizak pulls out a hefty coin pouch and tosses to Erin.
Erin: Must take! Don't count!
Synsuous looks at Rizak, 'See? I am worried about her. Erin would you like some food?'
Erin: Can't afford. Only eat on five days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and an apple on Sunday. Healthy.'
Synsuous says to Rizak, 'Well, I am going downstairs to lay out some food. I doubt her affliction can overcome her stomach.'
Synsuous goes downstairs and lays out the left-overs from lunch: ham steaks, mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie, green beans and apple pie. She calls for Erin to come down and Erin does so. Synsuous fixes up a plate and offers it to Erin.
Erin: No! Can't afford!
Synsuous: Eat, please. It is a present.
Erin sits down and begins to eat with great abandon, foregoing any manners. Synsuous sighs and shakes her head.
Synsuous: Erin, do you think I am pretty?
Erin: Nice and pretty!
Synsuous: Would you like to be pretty?
Erin: Erin not pretty. Boys say so.
Synsuous: They were wrong. Would you like to be pretty? I can help you.
Erin: Help?
Synsuous: Yes, watch what I do. If you do it, you will be pretty too.
Synsuous demonstrates the proper use of a knife and fork. Erin looks at her and then at her silverware, obviously confused.
Synsuous: Here, let me help you.
Synsuous walks around the table and gently grabs Erin's hand. Erin starts to freak out, but controls herself, her breath ragged. Synsuous hums soothingly and waits for Erin to become completely calm. Synsuous then puts a utensil in each of Erin's hands and guides her through cutting a piece of ham. She then slowly guides the fork up to Erin's mouth. Erin squeals happily as the food enters her mouth.
Synsuous: There, now you try it!
Erin clumsily cuts the ham with the knive and fork then takes the piece of ham off the fork and pops it into her mouth.
Synsuous: Very good! Try it again but don't use your fingers this time.
Erin does as directed, but she is still chewing with her mouth open. Synsuous sighs.
Synsuous: "Erin, watch me." She puts some food into her mouth, chewing with her mouth open and letting some food fall out. "That is not very pretty, is it?"
Erin looks at Syn, clearly confused. Synsuous shakes her head again and takes another bit, this time chewing with her mouth closed. Erin mimicks her and the meal proceeds normally. When they are finished, Synsuous clears the table and they start talking. Erin is still glaring at Rizak and ignoring his comments, so Rizak falls silent.
Erin: You nice and pretty! Erin feel fuzzy.
Synsuous: Fuzzy?
Erin touches her chest. "Fuzzy. Erin kiss?"
Synsuous smiles and walks over, kissing Erin on the cheek.
Erin shakes her head and touches her lips.
Synsuous: Oh, dear. Erin, I cannot kiss you like that. It would hurt someone.
Erin gets a sulky look on her face and turns her back to Synsuous. Synsuous walks over to Erin, hugs her and kisses her cheek again. Erin is not swayed. Suddenly there is a loud thump followed by a knock on the door. Synsuous walks over and answers the door, "Oh, hello, Vain. Do come in." As Vain enters, Erin turns around and looks at her. Erin's eyes light up! "Pretty! Very pretty!". Erin walks over to Synshous and whispers into her ear, "Vain pretty, Erin kiss?" Synsuous replies, 'You will have to ask her'. Erin walks over to Vain, "You pretty! Erin like! Erin kiss?" Vain smiles down at Erin, "You are pretty too. Yes, you may kiss me and I will kiss you".
Erin stands on her tip-toes and closes her eyes. Vain leans down and kisses her. As she does so, Erin's knees buckle and Vain wraps and arm around her. When they finish kissing, Erin is beaming widely, "Erin happy! Erin likes Vain like Vain likes Erin".
Just then, there is -another- knock at the door, and Synsuous goes to let Whisper in. She then introduces everyone.
Vain smiles at this, "Yes, I do like you." Erin looks between Synsuous and Vain, a worried expression on her face, 'Where I stay?" Vain looks at Synsuous who replies, "You may stay where ever you like". Vain looks at Erin, "Where would you like to stay?" Erin looks at Vain, "Shelves, you have shelves?" Now Synsuous looks worried, "Oh, dear. Vain, can I have a word with you in private?" As Synsuous walks upstairs, Vain indicates to Erin that she will be back in a moment and follows Synsuous upstairs. Synsuous relates everything that has happened to her so far, including the stealing, and the only eating and bathing on certain days.
As they come downstairs, Syn notices Erin pocketing a spoon.
Synsuous: Stop that! Put it back.
Erin: B-but...
Synsuous: Put it back, you can't keep stealing things.
Vain: I will tell you something that someone told me long ago - never steal from someone you know. Only steal from strangers and bad people.
Synsuous: Oh, dear. If she steals from bad people, she might get killed. She is not very skillful at it.
Vain: Ok, no bad people.
Erin: Bad?
Synsuous: Not nice. Bad is not nice.
Erin: Bad is not nice.
Vain: Now, Erin have you ever been outside of the city? I have many places we could live.
Erin: Only Shaemoor and city.
Vain: How do you feel about the portals? The big, purple swirly things?
Erin: No! Big teeth, hurt and poke! Hurt and poke! Vain comes over and hugs Erin, soothing her.
Vain: Ok, no gates. We will stay in the city.
Erin runs up to gather her belongings.
Synsuous: Vain, you are going to have your hands full.
Vain: I always do.
When Erin comes back downstairs, Synsuous asks Erin if she will come visit her, to which Erin replies, 'Erin visit'. The two hug and then Vain and Erin leave.