Writing Excuses - 6

 

Homework: Take three different characters and walk them through a scene. Convey their emotional states, their jobs, and their hobbies without directly stating any of those. The scene in question: walking through a marketplace, and they need to do a dead-drop.

The marketplace hummed with life as Emilia wrapped her dark green shawl around her, stepping forth between the stalls. The smell of crushed herbs and sizzling meat caught her attention, only briefly, while she focused intently on the sight of her target. The laughter of children running past her was lost to her ears. Even the lively chatter of bartering, the clatter of coins, and sounds of goods exchanging hands blended into a distant murmur.

Something white flashed in her peripheral. Her eyes shifted to the sight of a giant blooming white rose. She reached out, mesmerized by the morning sunlight dancing brilliantly on the petals. Light moved in form with her fingers as she tenderly traced along the top.

“Beautiful,” she whispered. Breaking the spell, her eyes flickered to the bright blue of the bluebells as they bounced joyfully in the gentle breeze.

With practiced fingers, she measured and clipped the stem. She looked a moment as it lay in her open palm, sometimes the most fragile must carry the heaviest burden.

~

Two stalls down, Pearl sat at a small table in black velvet robes, shuffling cards. Just like her, the cards' edges were worn with time. She turned a card over, and a slight smile spread to the corner of her lips.

The World, message received. It’s now in motion. A scrawny man sat in front of her, looking blankly at the card she placed, but it was not meant for him. She placed two more cards. This time, her smile, withholding all emotion, was for him. “The Seven of Pentacles followed by the Devil.” She studied the cards again, pausing, head slightly tilted, as if listening to an unseen voice whisper in her ear. “There’s a warning about greed here, my dear man.”

“Excuse me?” He stammered nervously.

“Greed, the intense and selfish desire for something that isn’t yours.” She tapped her finger on the Devil and turned it around to face him. He stared in horror.

A floral scent filled the air, a flash of dark green, and the World card was gone. The man didn’t notice, and Pearl didn’t acknowledge. She smiled again and nodded. That girl was like the Seven of Swords; quick hands, quiet steps, and no one ever noticed until it was too late.

~

Alec leaned against a wooden cart, stacked high with oranges. He casually twirled a coin between his thumb and forefinger, pretending not to notice the young boy watching him. With a quick flick of his wrist, the coin vanished, and the boy gasped. Alec raised his eyes in mock astonishment at him.

“Ah, you caught me, did you?” Boundless joy sparkled in his eyes as he leaned forward, plucking the coin from behind the boy’s ear. The boy squealed with excited laughter.

Alec grabbed an orange, pretending not to notice the vendor’s eyes narrow in dismay. “Alec, not again!”

“My boy, watch this.” He rolled the orange down his arm, bumped it gently with his elbow, and caught it with his other hand. “More?” The boy, his mouth already wide in amazement, nodded eagerly. Alec took two more oranges.

“Alec!”

Alec couldn’t hear him. He juggled the oranges, grabbing a fourth and tossing it to the boy. “Go ahead, toss it back to me.”

The boy’s throw went too high, and Alec took a step back into the orange cart to compensate, knocking several oranges to the ground.

In the midst of the chaos, a flash of dark green passed and deft hands lifted a small brown satchel.

Alec threw his hands up as the satchel disappeared beneath his cloak. “And a mighty fine morning to all!” He helped the grumbling vendor pick up his oranges.

Hearing his words, Emilia, continuing into the crowd, couldn’t help the knowing grin leaping to her face, and Pearl, deep in conversation with a customer, gave a small, secretive smile.

Alec turned the corner away from the busy center of the market, a coy smile tugging at his lips, as he glanced once inside the satchel at the bluebell and tarot card sitting snug within.

The game was always more enjoyable when played well.