Miranda Wandering: Valentine in the Garden

Wendy: Man, this total lack of motivation is starting to get to me. Maybe a walk outside will help.

Wendy: Except I find myself feeling guilty about the state of the garden, but without any motivation to DO anything about it. (sigh)

Wendy: Oh! Another garden enjoyer! Valentine?

Valentine: Hey, Wendy!

Wendy: Wow, Val. Like the hair! You look great!

Valentine: Oh, thank you. Nyx suggested it. Do you think perhaps Perigrine might notice?

Wendy: I think anyone with EYES will notice. You look terriffic. May I join you?

Valentine: Yes, please.

Wendy: So what's a nice fae like you doing in a garden like this, eh?

Valentine: (Laughing). I find it peaceful here. I go for a walk every day, to watch the birds and the animals. There are mourning doves here. I love to watch them. Mourning doves at a house means there's a couple in love living there.

Wendy: Yeah? So are they here because Trygve and I are in love, or because of you and Peri? Hmm?

Valentine: (blush) There are TWO pairs of mourning doves that occasionally visit...

Valentine: That is a grackle. A member of the corvus family.

Wendy: Yep... grackle....

(comfortable silence... watching grackle)

Valentine: Forgive me. I must ask. Is it true?

Wendy: Is what true?

Valentine: Are you getting rid of us, the dolls?

Wendy: It is absolutely NOT and... wait... you... er....

Valentine: Peri told me you were not sure if we knew we were dolls, but we do. It just seems easier for you to relate to us as fae, so we all have become pixies and fae. Dolls are really very versatile at that kind of thing. I just think none of us wish to be rehomed.

Wendy: I don't want to "rehome" anybody. Who keeps spreading this rumor, anyway?

Valentine: It has been whispered for a while now. Rumors that even your friends knew you would grow tired of us eventually. And then you stopped updating the blog and, well... we all felt it was just a matter of time.

Wendy: Oh. I had no idea. I haven't been updating the blog because... something happened that kind of sucked all of the joy out of it for me. I've just been sitting around in this weird limbo, but I still talk to you guys, don't I? I still interact with you all, even if it doesn't end up on the blog.

Valentine: I suppose that is true. It is just, some of us are a little worried about what would become of us away from the Treehouse. Myself for example. I have no illusions about my appearance. I am not a popular, pretty, or sought after doll. I am an ugly Notdoll. And I know that I was purchased that a friend might take my body to put a pretty head upon. (shudder)

Wendy: Well, that might have been the original idea, but I knew better the first time I saw your picture. You are so beautiful, Valentine, and I knew I loved you right off. I couldn't have let you go. I can't let ANY of you go!

Valentine: Well, maybe you just need a break from the blog then?

Wendy: I dunno... people have been e-mailing me to see if I'm dead because I haven't updated. I didn't mean to make people worry. I didn't mean to make YOU worry. Or anyone else in the house.

Valentine: I know that was not your intention. And I do not mean that you should abandon it all together. Maybe you just need to let Emi take it over for a bit while you do something else.

Wendy: Something else, like what?

Valentine: It has been quite a while since I've seen you pick up a crafty project in my sewing room. What about something crafty? Creating with your hands? That always made you happy, did it not?

Wendy: Yeah, I suppose it did. How do you know that?

Valentine: (smile) I think it is not the dolls who do not understand what we are to you. (smiling and shaking head) Come, shall we walk?

Valentine: Peri told me what this is called. (giggle) It is so soft.

Wendy: Oh dear, did he REALLY tell you?

Valentine: Yeah, it is a "lamb's ear". Isn't that sweet?

Wendy: (phew) That is sweet... sweeter than the name I thought he might have told you.

Valentine: This is one of my favorite places to stop in the garden. I love looking at him. I wonder sometimes if perhaps he is real, and under a curse. Perhaps he is a fairy prince, trapped as a gargoyle and he is forbidden to move when any look at him.