PLOT SHOP

Ethie

*A young couple 

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"Will you still love me when I have nothing but my aching soul"

"I know you will"

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Soft amber leaves bounced along the ash tinted cobblestones, swirling and leaping like they were a part of the extravagant orchestra of morning. Sweet songbirds littered the streets with music allowing the people to wake to an echo of grace and beauty. A cacophony of sounds rushing through the soft autumn wind. 

Knocks sounded off each sliced stone as dark plum stained shoes etched closer towards her destination. The sun's golden rays peered through opaque leaves, leaving flecks of emerald and gold upon her jaded figure, pale cotton fabric draped across her petite frame with small interweaving's of cornflower blue floating across her corset. 

The magnificent oaks encircled the morning sky creating that swirl of early dew that fell upon rosy cheeks, the daring mist led down to the small parcel encased with a crimson bow that accompanied her mother's favourite parasol.

Intricate weaving of silken ebony strands cascaded down beside her handwoven bodice, whilst the fresh scent of pure velvet pansies dipped in shades of blue and purple intoxicated the air around her. Curves in the land steered her towards the part of town where the air blew cold, where a clear sky was invaded with soft cloud and ash, smoke and smog became one. Tall narrow rows of bricked houses lined her desired thoroughfare. 

The walls stained by smoke and flame, and at the very edge of the street stood a grand stature. Imposing wheels and cogs, metal upon metal and the coughing of black fog loomed above the stained building. 

The factory. 

Daily workers never drifted their gaze upon the limped structure, like ignorant stained eyes that never delved too far into shaky corners of the house. So as many, she pushed past the foul smell of steel and turned to the familiar number of house... 186.

Her dainty gloved fingers reached forward toward the aged wooden door, it would never cease to creak. The hand hesitated. Butterflies began to hatch inside her stomach, threatening to spill, her amber eyes shooting back and forth, resting on the overlapped style of detailed architecture. Moisture gathered above her brows, her shaky hand rearranged her bonnet that donned freshly plucked peach roses, and reached for the carved bronze door knocker. 

She drew a breath, and the acquainted creak echoed. Soft clear eyes enclosed with rich eyelashes stood before her, his crooked teeth stretched into a smile as he peered down. Deep emerald covered the dark velvet vest he wore, the curves and hollows his face familiar to her adoring eye.

"Ethel, how wonderful you could make it, do come in I will be just a moment and then we shall be off" Newly leather shoes stood back upon rustic flooring.

"Of course, Arthur, I wouldn't dare to miss such an event, it's been planned for months. I bought you a gift, as a token of my gratitude" Crimson ribbon passed from one to another as rich flecks of amber melted through a steel iris. The blunt statement left a slight caress of pink across the rich apples of his cheeks.

Ethel tucked her fragile feet upon the final stony step and gazed into the home's rich décor as if it has been carved from marble by the marvellous powers of divinity. The thickly framed archway curved from the age of the wood connecting room to room, carrying the heavy knowledge of midnight stories and secret escapes.

 The newly worn dress twirled in delight as Arthur's thick coat was removed from a curved hanger. Dark patches of grey had discoloured his stiff cuffs, embers and cinders clung to the stitches from misty daylight adventures. Nearly forgotten gloves settled between course experienced hands and reached for the full picnic basket. An as the obsidian top hat touched that tamed mat of hair. He turned to her, skin shaped in a slit of a smirk, eyes marvelled in mischief.

"Shall we go Ethie"

Stitched fabrics cross over each other, dependant and strained as the pairs linked arms walked together in amongst the summer's sky. White flights of fancy drove in above the two. Two clear doves flew in serpentine, twisting and turning, circling together. Up past the smog and the grime into the crisp air, ducking and swerving through the damp misty clouds, letting out cries of delight as the sweet wind rustled each individual feather. 

Pure amazement captured her copper flecks as the ivory glove fell from warm hands, reaching upwards towards the sky, reaching towards freedom and adventure. Splattered with incompetent thoughts, her hand floated down, inspected by confounded onlookers, Arthur clasped the silent hand and pulled her along. 

Mismatched shoes laced too loose trailed behind them, small legs strained to catch up to the rest of his body. Knees knocked as speed crept up, and the cotton trim of Ethel's dress stretched out, the catching of materials pulled the small boy down against stubbly gravel, pale skin tore as ripped material sprayed open.

"Oh dear! Young boy my sincerest regrets, are you alright?" Her eyes swallowed the moon as her motherly figure reached down towards the boy. Dirty hands fell upon bloody knees.

 A frightened glance is all it took, all the information she needed from tensed muscles. This hunched figure belonged to the building at the end of the street. Charcoal rags masquerading as clothes, two shoes moulded to the curves of the left foot. Ethel knew the correct etiquette when dealing with such situations.

 Arthur helped the needy woman to her stiff standing position. Young eyes that should be encompassed by light and hope are tainted by black smoke and steel. The line that connected their eyes were cut as a crack sounded through the street, the ragged boy scattered out of the view of Arthur and Ethel.

Muddled and disordered the pair glanced around in search of the boy, as a parting apology Ethel reached into the splinted picnic basket and pulled out an apple kissed by the glittered sun and placed it down on a cobblestone. With cleared minds, the path continued on.

Curved footpaths determined their route until the stones were swallowed by the lime greenness of the freshly sprinkled grass. Silvery moss encased the tops of the crowded mushroom piles whilst the greenery battled for attention.

 Arthur paved the direction they'd grown accustomed to, stray blades of sticky emerald hugged to leather patches, glided lines of spiralled oaks clung onto the mesh of yellow and orange, leaves fell around the couple as they were partners in the intricate dance of morning.

 Arthur held open a fallen branch and as the duo stepped upon the heavy greenery, there behold them was in their minds the closest replica of the sublime divinity. Sunlit gazes gawked upon the halo of sun rays that crept past the overbearing mountains. Jade sullied vines intertwining up above them strangling through aged oak. 

The ivory glove adorned with frill reached for the delicate warmth of her partner, and once again a cold steel gaze met with her own warm tones of dawn, glittered rays struck smooth skin, sharing in this magnificent demonstration of nature, beauty and truth, they turned back towards the saintly painted sky, truly experiencing mother earth and to them, in that moment, 

they were infinite.

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This was was reasonably long aha been working on it for a lil bit 

Hope you enjoyed xx