Lark (Timi) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
reachforthesky) wrote2011-05-11 10:50 pm
reachforthesky) wrote2011-05-11 10:50 pm
[MEMORY # 6]
* The Emperor awarding her the emerald button. (significant neutral)
A platform had been erected, and on it sat the Queen, with her ladies behind her, and the Emperor. The courtyard was full of people--courtiers, attendants, and soldiers; there were more ladies at the windows; villagers crowded by the Great Gate and a row of little boys were sitting along the top of the wall.
Timi had had no sleep, and saw nothing but a blur of pink faces. As she was carried up the steps of the platform she looked for the Chinese Dragon, but he was not there. The Emperor began to speak.
"The Imperial Dragon," he said, "was at the point of death when this small, but honourable Griffin performed a miracle. She persuaded the Imperial Dragon to eat again and thereby saved his life. I, the Emperor, am deeply grateful to the honourable Griffin, and wish not only to thank her but to publicly present her with a symbol of my gratitude."
At this point the Emperor looked up at the battlements. Timi, following his glance, saw that the Chinese Dragon was perched on the highest of the high chimney-pots. The Emperor continued.
"The Imperial Dragon and I cannot talk together in the language of men, but each understands the wishes of the other. It was the Imperial Dragon himself who indicated this way of honouring the already-honourable Griffin. He himself wished to watch the ceremony from the roof of the Palace." The Emperor paused and glanced again at the chimney. The Imperial Dragon was showing no interest whatsoever in the ceremony. He had reared up on top of the chimney and, with his nose to the wind, was scanning the April sky.
"In China," said the Emperor, "we have Mandarins--honourable counsellors--distinguished by the buttons in their caps. These are the ruby button, the coral button, the sapphire button, the blue stone button, the crystal button, the white shell button, the wrought-gold button, the plain gold button and the silver button. The Mandarins are wise but the wisdom of this honourable Griffin is equal to theirs. So I have created a tenth Mandarin button for her alone--the emerald button, to be worn round the neck on a scarlet thread."
The Emperor leaned forward and hung the button round Timi's neck and wild cheers swept across the courtyard.
+ This memory is pretty heavy! It's a blurry haze of FFFFFEEEEEEEELINGSSSSS and hits her hard--she was exhausted and confused and completely unhappy and sort of clinging to hope here re: the Dragon helping her out--and she doesn't have all the context for it.
+ She will not want to talk about it.
+ She will try to find an alternative way to wear her Tiger's Eye key because the collar now feels constricting. But the key itself will have an added layer of symbolism for her.
+ Large crowds now give her bad feelings. SUCKS TO BE TIMI IN A GAME MINGLE!
+ She is generally going to hide under beds and try to be alone more for a while.
A platform had been erected, and on it sat the Queen, with her ladies behind her, and the Emperor. The courtyard was full of people--courtiers, attendants, and soldiers; there were more ladies at the windows; villagers crowded by the Great Gate and a row of little boys were sitting along the top of the wall.
Timi had had no sleep, and saw nothing but a blur of pink faces. As she was carried up the steps of the platform she looked for the Chinese Dragon, but he was not there. The Emperor began to speak.
"The Imperial Dragon," he said, "was at the point of death when this small, but honourable Griffin performed a miracle. She persuaded the Imperial Dragon to eat again and thereby saved his life. I, the Emperor, am deeply grateful to the honourable Griffin, and wish not only to thank her but to publicly present her with a symbol of my gratitude."
At this point the Emperor looked up at the battlements. Timi, following his glance, saw that the Chinese Dragon was perched on the highest of the high chimney-pots. The Emperor continued.
"The Imperial Dragon and I cannot talk together in the language of men, but each understands the wishes of the other. It was the Imperial Dragon himself who indicated this way of honouring the already-honourable Griffin. He himself wished to watch the ceremony from the roof of the Palace." The Emperor paused and glanced again at the chimney. The Imperial Dragon was showing no interest whatsoever in the ceremony. He had reared up on top of the chimney and, with his nose to the wind, was scanning the April sky.
"In China," said the Emperor, "we have Mandarins--honourable counsellors--distinguished by the buttons in their caps. These are the ruby button, the coral button, the sapphire button, the blue stone button, the crystal button, the white shell button, the wrought-gold button, the plain gold button and the silver button. The Mandarins are wise but the wisdom of this honourable Griffin is equal to theirs. So I have created a tenth Mandarin button for her alone--the emerald button, to be worn round the neck on a scarlet thread."
The Emperor leaned forward and hung the button round Timi's neck and wild cheers swept across the courtyard.
+ This memory is pretty heavy! It's a blurry haze of FFFFFEEEEEEEELINGSSSSS and hits her hard--she was exhausted and confused and completely unhappy and sort of clinging to hope here re: the Dragon helping her out--and she doesn't have all the context for it.
+ She will not want to talk about it.
+ She will try to find an alternative way to wear her Tiger's Eye key because the collar now feels constricting. But the key itself will have an added layer of symbolism for her.
+ Large crowds now give her bad feelings. SUCKS TO BE TIMI IN A GAME MINGLE!
+ She is generally going to hide under beds and try to be alone more for a while.