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The airy feeling– one so uplifting as the kind from his violin’s song– could never fail to render him speechless. It entranced him, left him drifting in a world so beyond his own. It was a fearless feeling, with emotional static that made his hairs stand on end as it freed itself so effortlessly. Music was unfettered by earthly weight and conversed in tongues of syrup and gold leaf. Letting out a long breath, he took it all in– the reverberating emotions sinking into his bones. Yes, Mikhail had a sweet past time, taking to the lakeside as though it were a pool of liquid luck. It made his violin’s tune resonate so clearly, flattering him with a performance that echoed like a duet of sorts.

Softly, he hummed along to the tune, low and humbled in the light of the song. It was only fair, really, to respond in pleasant conversation. To try for the love of it, strike for the uninhibited glory, tip a glass in its honor.  He swore to never just go through the motions of life, but to live it. Ever so sweetly. And if he did so, he could have sworn the world promised him a dance. For one so small as a speck in this span of the universe, he was in awe. It was beautiful to be promised anything at all.

With a crescendo– a pitch to the heavens– he perched his bow on its end and pressed it fervently. The melody raced with the cicadas, the light breeze, the leaves crackling… the pressed footsteps of someone listening in on him, even. It didn’t phase him, for even a second, as he thought the onlooker’s rustling as a welcomed part of the song itself. Summer ushered in a beautiful cacophony. And another audience member to dance with? He wouldn’t ask for a kinder surprise. Relishing in the anticipation, he didn’t take to the stranger immediately. No, no. He would respect them, without taking even a glance. Not until the curtain call at the very least. To watch but not be seen… Mikhail could understand the sentiments, he supposed. 

His strings sung in embers, as he hummed nonchalantly to the flickers of sincere warmth. It was an invitation of sorts, without the invite. He hoped, with all his heart, that it’d reach them somehow. His unlikely visitor. Swaying side to side, he began to move in a sort of sweeping dance. Like one that the world promised him. If this was his stage, he’d be graced with motion. To move and be moved. Mikhail swept the grassy area with strides, left to right. Back. To match his footing with his violin. A partner that lived so fervently.

For a while he let the music take him gently, adrift in a sea of green and flowery hues. A sway, and a twirl– and a… girl, was it? In a flurry of embarrassment, she stopped him without meaning to, waving furiously as though to wave her bashfulness away. And he stopped for her, sure, but he wasn’t quick to anger when she obviously was trying to enjoy herself. The poor girl. What was wrong, being drawn to the light? With a smile that coaxed and comforted without a sound, he motioned to her gracefully to calm down.

“It’s alright. It’s alright. 🎶 ” Humming, he moved to hold his violin and bow by the neck, so he could properly face her. “It really is beautiful, isn’t it? I think it’s only natural to be moved when music plays." 

 "You’re always welcome here.” Mikhail took in the sight of her, with scarlet curls and eyes that wanted to dance. A gingersnap wrapped in lace.  "If you were so drawn to it, why deny yourself of it? The music calls for people to answer.“

With his free hand, he offered her a soft handshake. A flag of solidarity in the light of a new day. "My name is Mikhail S. Weiss. A pleasure to meet a kindred spirit in these parts of town." 

It was as though he was offering her a dance, really.

A feeling of heat rose in her cheeks as she met eyes with the man, having spoken and broken the concentration that had been so carefully directed to the playing of such beautiful music. Embarrassment was an understatement to the emotions that she was feeling at this very moment. Yet, her eyes were entranced by this man that stood before her. Almost as if he was emitting a ray of light. Something that she wanted to follow. A foot moved on its own, closer, closer. She wanted to be closer.

He smiled. He smiled and it was if all the worry slowly began to seep to the ground, disappearing with the wind that breezed through. Just like the music that had breezed through this small lakeside, his smile comforted her heart without a single syllable spoken. Flailing arms found themselves at rest as he approached, her eyes wide. As the two of them both seemingly moved closer to each other, in a moments passing the both of them a step apart.

Entranced by the man’s existence, Katie found herself almost missing the words that came out of his mouth. His voice, almost as melodic as the violin he had played just moments before, caught her attention. “I don’t often find myself being moved by music. Yet, there was something… Something in your playing that brought me here.”

Yet, the mention of denial caused her soft, awe filled features to tighten themselves. Tighten themselves into something more of a grimace. She broke away from his gaze for a moment, turning her head slightly left and to the ground. The answer was simple, and very apparent to her. Something, however, that you didn’t tell a stranger that she didn’t know very well.  Despite the comforting aura he emitted, it wasn’t enough. He told her that she was welcome, yet it still wasn’t enough. “I…” she began, pausing as her mind searched for the right compilation of words to relay. “I don’t know…”

Of course you know Katie. It was as if she couldn’t stop the grimace from appearing on her facial features. If she wanted to, she could walk away right now, right? If she wanted to. But, that was just it. She didn’t want to. She wanted to know more. She wanted to find a reason to play again. A reason to connect with someone through the medium of music. She wanted to find the beauty in the world not just visually, but through sound. Vocally. Through the sound of that very instrument that was held in this individual’s spare hand.

Almost if minds had been read, as she felt her hand lift to reach out to the man in front of her, he offered her a hand. Features softened as she looked up at him once more, the doubt once more fading like the sound of the wind. The two shared a moment of silence. Mikhail was his name, he announced, breaking the silence. The world however, it still stood still. What was this feeling taking over her heart. A part of her wanted to run, but the other pieces felt that this was a meeting of fate. Something that was meant to happen.

“My name’s Katalina Lumaire. Although... I do prefer Katie.” she said softly, her own hand falling into place with his. As if the two were to dance under the same sky at this very moment. As if the world would stop but the two would continue to move. Katie wasn’t very sure of many things in her life, but the feeling that she felt right now felt more right than she had felt in a very long time.

The luggage Maya took from her father instantly jerked her arm downward with its weight. Geez, did Katie really need to bring so much stuff just for one week? Then again, she’s always been a little… excessive. But cute girls were all a bit excessive in their own way, Maya thought, puffing her cheeks out as she pulled another piece of luggage under her arm. Carrying her things… Sigh. It would be a long walk back to the inn. She didn’t mind that though, because the longer the walk, the more she could talk with Katie! Turning, Maya fell into step next to her cousin (leaving Jake and Colleen behind to pay the carriage and take care of anything else).

“You gotta get settled, first!” Maya said, surprised that the trip itself didn’t wear her out. Or, maybe it wasn’t so surprising. Katie always did have a lot of energy when it came to this kinda thing—they matched in that way! Maya smiled at the memories of them as kids getting into shenanigans.

“Did you even eat anything on your way over here?” The notion of Katie skipping a meal was simply unthinkable.

“If you wanna get big and strong like me, you should have at least three meals a day and never forget to bring a snack or two with you. ♡” She flashed a smile, balancing the luggage in her hands and even going so far as to lift them up as proof of her muscular superiority. But sadly, she only had two very strong arms. If she had a third one, Maya would be able to dig into her apron pockets to check for goodies. She usually had a couple of spare treats tucked away… Guess snacks would have to wait until they got home.

Crossing the bridge and following the path toward the farms, Maya craned her neck up and inhaled deeply, taking in the cool breeze and sunshine.

“How much everything’s changed…” she repeated from earlier. “Well, actually, things haven’t changed much!” As if on cue, cow nearby moo’d, and Maya let out a giggle.

“I mean, we did get some new resident farmers! And, um…” But did that really count as a change, getting new residents? Castanet was still mostly the town it’s always been. Sure, there were weird happenings here and there… But it was still quiet. Still by the oceanside. It had the same familiar shops and the same familiar fashions… The Mayor still came for dinner every Wednesday at 6 o’clock on the dot, Luke still got lost in Fugue Forest at least once a season… As for Maya herself? She still worked at the inn, still sucked at cooking, still was as clumsy as ever. A small frown etched its way onto her face. Huh. Was she really not different at all from four years ago? The thought burrowed itself into her mind like a centipede, each little leg a different insecurity tickling her brain and making it tingle all over. She hasn’t changed. She hasn’t grown at all. She’s not close to being an independent adult yet.

Meanwhile—

Maya glanced at Katie. She was the shorter of the two. The youngest. And yet she’s been alone all these years, never asking for help or running back to her family because she couldn’t solve a problem. Life pushed her down and she fell onto her two feet, not letting herself hit the ground. Between the two of them, it seemed that Katie was actually the more mature one. Even after she was orphaned, she managed to have that pretty smile on her face. Sure, it may have taken her four years to come back to show that smile again, but in that time…

“What about you?” Maya asked. “It’s been so long! Has anything special happened since we last stopped talking?” Inching closer to her, the Maya grinned as she nudged Katie with her elbow.

“You know, any new jobs, new friends… a boyfriend, maybe?” She couldn’t help the way her smile spread knowingly. Katie was always popular with the boys and it wouldn’t shock her if that were the case. Maya looked away, heaving a sigh before she could even answer.

“Oh, I should’ve guessed it was a boy that kept Katiekins so busy~” They were approaching the bridge to town now, and her eyes filled with the fake weeping that came so easily to her. By the time she looked back to Katie, her turquoise irises glimmered in the sunlight with unshed crocodile tears.

“I can’t believe that he stole you away from me~”

Katie giggled and began to tease her cousin playfully. “Maya’s got a boyfriend, Maya’s got a boyfriend!” She stuck her head in the door of the inn, looking for someone who may be working. “Excuse me? Can anyone tell me who the lucky man is that’s dating my cousin?”

A slight tugging feeling of guilt rose in her chest as she watched Maya shift the luggage between her arms, trying to get comfortable. Katie would be the first to admit that when it came to packing she didn’t exactly pack, well um, light. Anyone could visually gather that she was not someone who’s fashion choices were light clothing pieces. The skirts of her lolita dresses and the weight of the shoes she wore weren’t exactly light. She made most of her own clothes, so she knew better than anyone how heavy a couple layers of tulle could get. Turning to her cousin, Katie gave her cousin a small apologetic simple.

“H-Hey Mai! You know I can help you carry those!” Katie smiled, putting out a hand to catch one of the bags that looked like they were about to fall. Yet, as she knew that Maya was always trying to show how big and strong she was, Katie just helped her readjust the bag and the two kept on walking.

A small giggle escaped her lips. “Settled in?” She shifted her head to the side, auburn curls falling into place. “I’m already settled in! You’re here right? That’s all I need to feel at home. It’s nice to be home!”

Yet, as if her elder cousin mentioning food was a trigger, a stomach growl surfaced itself aurally. “Aha… I guess you caught me! I was a little nervous about the trip and I uh… Forgot to pack snacks.” Bashfully, the younger of the girls put a hand behind her head as she giggled awkwardly.

“We both know that I’m not getting any bigger any time soon. Hey, we both know I probably won’t get any bigger at all! You definitely won that gene in our family.”

Eyes lit up at the sight of the cow, her heart almost taking the lead and moving her body without permission. Katie moved quickly towards the nearby fence, her steps moving from a regular walking place to almost a skip. Standing herself up on a nearby fence, eyes peered over at the animal that couldn’t help but find absolutely adorable. “Cows! Aren’t they just the cutest things ever! We got a few farmers that moved into Flowerbud, and they have sooo many cows! And sheep! And some little pigs too!” Katie began recalling. Flowerbud was such a big place that every district had their own farm. Sometimes she would sit by the fences and read her books next to the animals. Yet, there had been a few times where she had seen the farmers approaching her and she ran. Didn’t wanna get caught being reckless afterall.

Yet, in comparison, Flowerbud kept getting bigger. Castanet however, it just seemed to be the same, quaint town that she had known as a kid. To some people, maybe that was a bad thing. Yet, to Katie, it was the familiarity that made her feel like she was coming home after so many years. Not having felt at home since her parents, it was nice. It felt good to feel at home once more.

“Ah, you should know me by now, I’m not that exciting! I still waitress at most of the cafes in Flowerbud, I live by myself now. I was living with Grandfather Wallace up until I turned eighteen a year ago, but it felt best to spread my wings and move out on my own, y’know? It’s been really goo-”

Her heart skipped a beat, embarrassed by even the mention of a boyfriend. Hands shielded her blushing cheeks as she turned to Maya exasperatedly. “Boyfriend? What do you mean boyfriend? Me? Have a boyfriend? That’s got to be insane!”

Katie’s tone softened a little, her voice still holding a slightly embarrassed tone. “Why would I ever let a boy come between us, Mai? If I had a boyfriend you’d be the first to know! That’s a promise.”

The two of them were now standing out front of the inn, as if the time had flown by. Despite the path itself being so long, Katie felt that time always passed too quickly with Maya. Life was always fun with her around, and it was moments like this that made her realise that she was one of her most cherished and best friends. Of course, she was her cousin too which was honestly even more of a bonus!

“Besides, we all know you’re the one who’d get a boyfriend before me! Is that why you’re bringing up boys? Mai has a boyfriend?”

@teatimekatie

The weeks seemed to drag on and on. Every hour during the day Maya found herself wishing it were tomorrow, and during the night, she dreamed about the moment she anticipated. And now, it was time. Her patience payed off. (If not that, at least her family could finally relax without her constant whining and wistful sighing.)

Katie had arrived.

Her dear cousin, the one she would spend vacations with, the one she would share secrets with, the one she wrote letter upon letter to since—well, she wasn’t allowed to talk about that. The point was, it felt like FOREVER since they last managed to spend some quality time together. And today, after years, Katie finally felt ready to visit Castanet again!

Maya could barely contain herself when she saw her carriage coming down the road toward Horn Ranch. She climbed the fence. She waved her hand high above her head. She climbed down, then up again. If it weren’t for her mother putting a hand on her shoulder, she would’ve probably sprinted all the way forward to meet the carriage halfway. Reluctantly, Maya managed to control herself until it passed the gates and parked in front of the family. But once she saw those familiar strawberry blonde ringlets, not even her mother could stop her from hopping forward and embracing Katie in a tight hug the second she stepped out.

“Katie!” she cheered, squeezing her and even lifting her a few centimeters off the ground. (Because the harder you hug, the more they know you love them!) “I’m so glad you came! We’re going to have so much fun together! I have like, a million things I need to show you and tell you about!” And that’s when she realized she hasn’t even looked at her yet. Maya released her, stepping back to take in her form from head-to-toe.

“Heh, you’re still tiny~” She added with a laugh. Hand lifting, she gave a playful pat on the top of her head, just like the old times when they were kids. (Hey, being the older and bigger one had its perks!) Her attention didn’t stay on Katie long, though. Maya turned her head and saw her father unloading the luggage, which immediately brought a huffy pout to her face.

“No! I’m going to carry all her stuff!” she insisted, hurrying toward Jake and taking everything he managed to pull out into her hands. She didn’t care how heavy it was. She was going to show Katie how much she wanted her to be here!

“See?” Maya said. Turning to her for approval, she shifted the weight in her arms. “You don’t gotta worry while I’m around! I’ll take care of anything you need~”

Home is where the heart is. Well, at least that was what Katalina’s parents had told her many years ago in her youth. Home was all about being with the people who care about you as well as supporting When it came to someone like Katie never really felt she had many places to call home after the death of her parents. Yet, in the back of her mind she didn’t believe she was deserving of a home. The pounding of the blood in her heart caused her chest to pulsate in a slight manner as her horse drawn carriage pulled down the street of her cousin’s inn.

Maya… One of her longest and closest friends that the goddess blessed her with. The best part about it was that the goddess believed they were deserving enough of each other to make them family. A true blessing definitely not in disguise.

Yet, it had been years since she set foot on the soils of Castanet. The place itself held so many memories filled with joy and happiness, however, such a place became tainted just like her heart was when she lost her parents. The positive feelings that radiated the place slowly turned darker and sullied the place to a point that Katie thought her love for the place would not return. That was all up until today.

Katie had finally opened the letters she had been sent by Maya, and felt a surge of guilt. She knew that Maya was waiting for her to return, yet she found herself ignoring the handwritten pieces. Before she knew it, her place was flooded with them. Out of sheer curiosity, Katalina decided it was time to pick one up and begin reading. Those letters were the only thing that slowly began to bring light back to her happy memories as a child. The sunshine and radiance than Maya reflected, even in her writing, began to lighten the place up again.

So, here she was, pulling up at Maya’s residence once more. Everything felt so… nostalgic. Even the smell of the salt air that filled her lungs felt so familiar and for the first time in a while Katie felt that she could breathe a sigh of relief.

She hadn’t even stepped off the horse carriage when she basically found herself almost falling into Maya’s arms. So she’s been waiting to see me… Katie had thought to herself, giving a small smile in response to the internal conversation she was having with herself. The hug felt almost constricting but it felt good. It felt good to be somewhere where she could call home.

“Maya!” Katie enthusiastically hugged her elder cousin back, trying to keep herself from forming tears in her eyes. The feeling of warm and friendship that radiated from Maya’s being made her realize how back of a cousin she had been. How bad of a friend she had been. Although she could admit that maybe it was the hug that was causing her to nearly cry from the pain. “Well, it’s been a while! We’ve got a lot of catching up to do! Show me how much everything’s changed because so far it feels the same!”

Her smile would soon turn into a playful pout when the elder of the girls made a comment on her height. “It’s not my fault you got gigantic!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest before letting out a small childish huff. “Besides, what is that saying that everyone always says? I’m not small I’m sized small, or something along those lines!”

Katie was a little taken aback when almost instantly she saw Maya rush to come and take her luggage that her mother and father had been so kind to help with. Katie couldn’t help but laugh. Maya was always so headstrong and determined, she definitely had to be more like her.

You don’t gotta worry while I’m around! I’ll take care of anything you need!