(no subject)

[fiery_ring]

The school hall is crowded with parents. Carlotta approaches the back door to it and turns back to Teja and Demeter.

"Remember, you're my aunt and uncle Fernandez from Spain, on my mother's side so not really communicating with my grandmother and father, who are also here. Have you chosen first names?"

Comments

[fiery_ring]

At the end of the play, Carlotta carefully sees her grandmother and father off, though not before getting a stern private lecture from both of them. Then she comes back through the hall to Teja and Demeter.

"I'm awfully sorry." she says. "I should have been more careful to explain things to you both instead of expecting people to follow my web of lies. It means a lot to me that you came, really it does."

[wheatencrown]

Demeter gives her another hug, she at least knows where she is with those,

"Don't apologize, I'm glad we were able to come and sorry that we caused trouble. Its clear your father loves you, but I think he's still learning how to be a father. Next time if there is a next time, we'll just keep things simple. You were wonderful, its clear to see how much you thrive on stage."

[ostro_goth]

"You did well indeed," Teja says. "The play was actually funny at times! Indeed, as Demeter said, you father loves you -- he is confused, out of his depth, and clings to talk of entitlement and sneer out of his fears, but he would be sensible man."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta cringes.

"Thank you, but the last time I gave a performance that badly was when I was suffering from food poisoning." She hugs Demeter anyway.

"Of course father loves me! Why ever would you think he didn't?"

[wheatencrown]

"You might have been doing badly but you still were comfortable up there. That's something that can't be taught, how to make things work even when your mind isn't on the performance."

Teja really brought up the other point and Demeter gives him a bit of a look,

"I never doubted it at all, I think he just is figuring out how to be a good father to you. At this point he only has your grandmother's advice to rely on and she means well but she doesn't seem to know you."

[ostro_goth]

"He is a good man, at heart," Teja says, "and you can trust the choices he makes for you; but your grandmother seems afraid of unseemly connection much more than he is; she seems to thin about propriety more than about people. Do you know who her parents were?"

[fiery_ring]

"I'm not sure." Carlotta says to Teja. "But I know they were borderline aristocracy."

Looking at them both. "Is it okay if I take you back, I have to go to bed?"

[wheatencrown]

"Of course, you must be tired."

Then she pulls from her sleeves a small package,

"Here, a loaf of cinnamon bread to share among your cast."

[ostro_goth]

"And I need a potion; my brains are getting cold," Teja says, rubbing the short hair at the nape of his neck. "It was good to see you in your world, Carlotta, and to put faces to all the names you mention."

[fiery_ring]

"Thanks awfully." She hugs them both. "The door is this way."

She takes them both to the wood shed, where the door to the bar awaits.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter gives her one last hug before walking back through the door.