notions.
" B etween mythical voices a nd imagining men as falcons, it ' s a wonder I can get out of bed in the mornings. What a ninny I am. " With a shake of her head , she made her way to the wall with the looking glass and wash basin . She looked at her reflection and frowned. M ost of her impossibly straight hair had slipped fro m the pins. What was worse, the quill to her feather had bent and only two of her starfish remained whole. The rest were a crumbled mess . With a sigh, she plucked the accessories free, leaving only the gold and black striped hat with the matching black netting . " Pitiful. "
" Pitiful, indeed, " a tiny voice replied.
A bright yellow insect buzzed about her he ad. If it was a bug, it was a very strange bug. Why, the creature resembled a miniature human. Shocked, she froze. A mist gathered along the edges of her vision . T he counter tilted .
A pixie , no bigger than her pinkie finger, flew in front of her. " Y ou are about to discover your true love and here you are, looking quite shameful. Your skirts are too short. No bu stle and hardly any petticoats . And bloomers of all things. What manner of dress is this for your Coming-Out ball, the place where you are to meet your future husband? "
Nicola ' s stomach somersaulted as if she were falling out of a tree. " Not real. " Blinking hard, she tried to dislodge the strange creature from her vis ion .
As dragonfly-like-insect hovered close to her face, she saw the creature had a nose with a mischievous tilt. Yellow wisps of hair fell about his pointe d ears. His wings were like a rainbow in motion, all bright light as he hovered in the air. He wore a golden dress coat with a waistcoat underneath, sported a white cravat, snug-fitting breeches made of deep chartreuse velvet, and gilded shoes that curled at the toes. " You d on ' t believe in your own grandmother ' s teachings about the Diderots , " he said. His miniature face puckered with disapproval. " This is the first time in centuries a daughter has questioned the Way. What is this generation coming to? I must te ll Glissando . Glissando ! Where are you? "
" Over here. "
Nicola jumped at the sound of another tin y voice. Close by, a wiry, diminu tive figure with tufts of silky-orange hair covering its small head , sat on the edge of an abandoned wineglass. Pastel wings the colors of a fading rainbow, fluttered behind his back. He wore similar clothing as his companion , but his coat was silver w ith a green waistcoat and matching breeches.
Had she been whis ked to a fantasy world? A make believe world her mind had c onjured up?
The one called Glissando g la nced over his shoulder. " Don ' t scold her so, Allegro. Surely you noticed all the ladies were dressed as she. Some adorn themselves with even less of a bustle . It must be the fashion now—which is an improvement, in my opinion, just as the food. The true question is , has the liquor gotten better? "
" I mu st be coming down with fever. " Nicola rubbed her eyes . Carefully, she opened them to look again, disbelief washing over her.
The pixies remained.
The pixie called Allegro h overed about a foot from her. He beat his wings to twirl and face his companion. " First it ' s books, now it ' s spirits. " He shook his finger at the other pixie. " If you think you can do a better job at this mission, then g et yo ur nose out of the wine and have a go. "
Glissando waved a dismissive hand and continued to stare into the abandoned wineglass. " No thanks. You ' re doing fine. Carry on. "
Allegro flew toward his co mpanion, his posture rigid. " Glissando! "
" Very well. " Glissando sighed and lifted from the rim . Wings whirring, h e halted midair and gave Nicola a perfect bow. " Good evening, Miss Diderot . "
She couldn ' t bring herself to talk to the creature her mind had conjured up.
Glissando cocked his head, then turned to his accomplice, and held his hand up
" B etween mythical voices a nd imagining men as falcons, it ' s a wonder I can get out of bed in the mornings. What a ninny I am. " With a shake of her head , she made her way to the wall with the looking glass and wash basin . She looked at her reflection and frowned. M ost of her impossibly straight hair had slipped fro m the pins. What was worse, the quill to her feather had bent and only two of her starfish remained whole. The rest were a crumbled mess . With a sigh, she plucked the accessories free, leaving only the gold and black striped hat with the matching black netting . " Pitiful. "
" Pitiful, indeed, " a tiny voice replied.
A bright yellow insect buzzed about her he ad. If it was a bug, it was a very strange bug. Why, the creature resembled a miniature human. Shocked, she froze. A mist gathered along the edges of her vision . T he counter tilted .
A pixie , no bigger than her pinkie finger, flew in front of her. " Y ou are about to discover your true love and here you are, looking quite shameful. Your skirts are too short. No bu stle and hardly any petticoats . And bloomers of all things. What manner of dress is this for your Coming-Out ball, the place where you are to meet your future husband? "
Nicola ' s stomach somersaulted as if she were falling out of a tree. " Not real. " Blinking hard, she tried to dislodge the strange creature from her vis ion .
As dragonfly-like-insect hovered close to her face, she saw the creature had a nose with a mischievous tilt. Yellow wisps of hair fell about his pointe d ears. His wings were like a rainbow in motion, all bright light as he hovered in the air. He wore a golden dress coat with a waistcoat underneath, sported a white cravat, snug-fitting breeches made of deep chartreuse velvet, and gilded shoes that curled at the toes. " You d on ' t believe in your own grandmother ' s teachings about the Diderots , " he said. His miniature face puckered with disapproval. " This is the first time in centuries a daughter has questioned the Way. What is this generation coming to? I must te ll Glissando . Glissando ! Where are you? "
" Over here. "
Nicola jumped at the sound of another tin y voice. Close by, a wiry, diminu tive figure with tufts of silky-orange hair covering its small head , sat on the edge of an abandoned wineglass. Pastel wings the colors of a fading rainbow, fluttered behind his back. He wore similar clothing as his companion , but his coat was silver w ith a green waistcoat and matching breeches.
Had she been whis ked to a fantasy world? A make believe world her mind had c onjured up?
The one called Glissando g la nced over his shoulder. " Don ' t scold her so, Allegro. Surely you noticed all the ladies were dressed as she. Some adorn themselves with even less of a bustle . It must be the fashion now—which is an improvement, in my opinion, just as the food. The true question is , has the liquor gotten better? "
" I mu st be coming down with fever. " Nicola rubbed her eyes . Carefully, she opened them to look again, disbelief washing over her.
The pixies remained.
The pixie called Allegro h overed about a foot from her. He beat his wings to twirl and face his companion. " First it ' s books, now it ' s spirits. " He shook his finger at the other pixie. " If you think you can do a better job at this mission, then g et yo ur nose out of the wine and have a go. "
Glissando waved a dismissive hand and continued to stare into the abandoned wineglass. " No thanks. You ' re doing fine. Carry on. "
Allegro flew toward his co mpanion, his posture rigid. " Glissando! "
" Very well. " Glissando sighed and lifted from the rim . Wings whirring, h e halted midair and gave Nicola a perfect bow. " Good evening, Miss Diderot . "
She couldn ' t bring herself to talk to the creature her mind had conjured up.
Glissando cocked his head, then turned to his accomplice, and held his hand up
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