flattery - LYNEY.

scene i. - the young mademoiselle.

coins scatter across the bottom of the fountain, children bickering with each other about their wishes. "i wished for a cat!" "i wished for a little sister." "nooo, sisters are annoying." "cats are annoying, too!"

they chased each other around in circles and up the path, jumping and laughing, accidentally bumping into a figure nearby and knocking their own caps off. "oops, sorry, sir!"

the man chuckled, picking up their hats and handing it back to them. "no, no worries at all, young ones. having fun?"

"yes, sir!!" the first child replied, fixing her hat as she lifted her eyes to another figure standing beside the man. "ooooh... i like your outfit, madam!"

she thanked the young ones with a smile and watched them run away giddily towards the opera with their parents.

she remembered she once did the same, her small hands clinging to her father and mother's warm hands. her father would swing her forward and her mother would catch up with a chuckle, smiling at the two as they skipped up the road to the opera. the silent melodies they danced to were ones of joy, happiness, love.

but it was one day where the child's hands were empty, for her father had sealed himself away in his chamber to cry and her mother had mysteriously left the residence indefinitely.

the girl would dream of her mother coming back to her and telling her about an adventure she must have experienced, holding hands and sharing laughs for hours upon end. she would practice her dance routines, hoping to perform them to her mother one day when she returned. her father would join in, a bubbly smile distracting him from his tears.

however when the girl grew up, she was informed her mother would not be able to fulfill those dreams of hers-for her mother, long ago, had been dissolved into water.

——

tears would cascade down the fountain of lucine, for all water including the rivers of sorrowful cries will make it back to its well of clear yet emotionally obscure waters.

tears that belonged to anyone within the boundaries of fontaine would soon make its way to the fountain.

young couples would wish for a bundle of joy in their lives. but some families, now aware of the situation, return to this fountain to mourn for their lost ones who have fallen victim to the primordial waters. among the crowd, there would be a man and his daughter standing solemnly by the fountain, holding each other close as their eyes watched the water elegantly arches into its pool, in the hopes of being close to the water that used to be a mother.

foam and bubbles rippled across the surface, where a young man studied his disfigured reflection in the waves. a girl similar to his size and appearance balanced on her toes to see what he was looking at, then quickly lost interest. "brother, we can't be late to the stage. if something is on your mind, you're free to speak your mind now, unless..."

"no, it's nothing," the man replied and waved dismissively, "i've nothing to speak of." he turned on his heel, smiling at his sister. "shall we be off, then?"

before he left for the opera epiclese, his head swiveled to catch a glimpse of the crowd of people around the fountain - a peek at some of his general audience, since few of them have bought a ticket to today's performance.

and amidst the crowd, a face he longed to see.

a throat forcefully cleared to redirect his attention. "lyney."

he heard his sister's stern tone and refocused on his simple task, leading himself away from the fountain and the suddenly excited cluster of people in his path eager to know what this performance would be about.