faelans_folly | [Open - Irish Coffee]

Maggie finished the chalk easel for the front of the cafe, embellishing the announcements of specials with sunny wildflowers and scrolled ivy leaves. As she walked it out to put on the sidewalk in front of the store, she stopped to let the sun warm her face.

It had rained in Faelan's Folly for a week - starting with storms full of thunder and ear-splitting lightning strikes until tapering off to yesterday's lighter clouds and soft soaking rain to last night's light drizzle.

She'd spent most of her off time during the week near the monument, the flat stone just off the park grounds that was, for all intents, the heart of the Folly. There were rumors about it, of course, some of them right on the mark. Not that she'd ever confirm it.

The monument was also where she rechared, reset her magic and reconnected with the elements that bowed to her. At midnight last night, she knew it was time to get back to business, back to herself, and move herself forward.

Maggie pulled water from a nearby puddle, rinsed the chalk from her fingers, and settled in to help her morning regulars get the caffeine they needed to start their day.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You must be super popular then," I say.

I know what it's like to be blamed for something magic that's meant to protect people. Granted, sometimes I really do mess up and should be blamed but none of that is just because of who my ancestors are. Well, some of it is but I pissed off those people on my own anyway.

"Oh very," Maggie laughed. "Sometimes I even make it all the way down the street without someone glaring at me. Most of the DIs are pretty good about it. It's the ones like me, who're born here, and are by the nature of the place, stuck here, but some of the kids left by their parents can make life fun."

There wasn't any depression behind it. Just a feeling of accepting what is. That was when they stepped through the trees into a clearing and the house came into view.

"House looks nice," I said as it came into view. There wasn't a lot to say to her comment. She seemed to have accepted it and was making due with what life gave her. It was a pretty mature way of looking at it, not at all the way I'd go about it I don't think.

"Go ahead in and take a look around," Maggie encouraged. "See if it'll suit what you're looking for. If not, come back out and let me know. I think there are a few other vacants around here we can investigate." She smiled. "The shop can mind itself for a while longer."

I wondered if that was sort of a literal thing, like she had magical things that could look after the shop. Maybe brownies or something that would watch after it?

And once again I realize how stupid my life is that I automatically think of that.

I head up the steps and unlock the door before sticking my head in. There don't seem to be any immediately visible squatters or dead bodies, which is a good thing. I don't have many standards for free housing but "no dead bodies" is one of them.

"Looks nice so far," I say, stepping inside to glance around. I made a semi-thorough check of everything. I don't want to keep her waiting long but I don't want to miss something important. Everything checks out though so once I'm done I head back out.

"I think it will do just fine."

"Then consider it yours," Maggie smiled. "There should be a map inside of the town itself, as well as keys to the house and garage. I'd like to say we're utopian enough to not have any crime here, but I think it'd get a little boring if everyone was squeaky clean. My number's probably by the phone somewhere, so if you need anything, just call or text," she stopped, remembering the electronics thing, "or stop by the shop. I'm usually there during the day."

"I'll stop by the shop if I need anything," I told her. First thing I'll look for is an older style rotary phone since whatever is in the house is too new for me to use. I'll also need to get rid of the fridge, oven, microwave, hot-water heater and lots of other things. Then find replacements for them all. More stuff to keep me busy and prevent me from thinking too hard about certain things.

"Thanks for all the help though."

"It's what I live for," Maggie smiled cryptically, her face giving no indication that it was, in fact, the truth. "I hope you enjoy your time here, Harry. It's a lovely place to live but just like everyone else, it's also what you yourself make of it."

[Open - Irish Coffee]

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