#lidia merula

[pollywestgw2]

Farewell

And just like that, Lidia -- Gemma -- was gone.  Back to decisions Polly couldn’t make for her and a dangerous road Polly couldn’t help her walk.  She let out a ragged sigh and murmured for only Mavros to hear:  “Gods, good luck to her.  It won’t be easy.”  She leaned against his side.  “But it’ll be worth it.”

( @lidiamerula, @mavrosaerosrae )

[pollywestgw2]

A New Mission

Polly’s heels clicked on Salma’s worn cobblestones on the way back to Mavros’s lodgings.  A pair of ladies stopped in the street to stare at her with an expression she was seeing more and more often:  Isn’t that someone? Someone I should know?  On another day, she might have stopped and struck up a conversation, played nice for the music-lovers, but not today.

Lidia needed help.  Lidia, who was kind to her, who never demanded, never looked down on her.  Lidia, who was just so straight-up nice.  Her closest friend, damn it, and even if Polly was nothing more than an entertainer with a few mesmer sparkles to call upon, she was going to help her friend.

Lidia had no idea, sweet as she was.  No idea how easy it was to shed one name and take another, or shed one life and take another.  All right, not easy, but Lidia had money and friends, and back when Polly fled her own life, she’d had neither.  It’d go better for Lidia.

Mavros would solve it.  He made everything better, he’d know what to do.  And together they’d figure out some way to get Lidia out from under her family. Free. They’d find a way to get poor Lidia free.

( @lidiamerula, @mavrosaerosrae )

[pollywestgw2]

Overdue Letters

Dearest Lidia! ( @lidiamerula ),

It’s been far too long since we’ve spoken!  I’m sorry about my long absence -- how strange the world has been, this past year!  In any event, I would love to see you someday soon, to hear your ridiculous puns, to see what’s in fashion at the moment, and all the rest.  Are you married now?  So much can happen in a year!

Write back to me in Lion’s Arch - I promise I’ll answer this time!

All the best, Polly

Dear Ms. Braunfels ( @karla-braunfels ),

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking that note when our paths crossed that day.  If you hadn’t fetched Mavros for me, I don’t know what that bastard of a warden would have done.  I’m free now -- you name the day, and there’s a concert in it for you and yours.

In deep gratitude, Polly West

Dear Mr. Barlow ( @thefireinherveins )

I understand I have you to thank for convincing the Garenhoff officials to let me go.  You will never know the extent of my gratitude -- there are no words for it.  But should you ever be in need of a singer with a dented reputation and a bruised heart -- as well as her far more capable companion and his animals -- you might write us, and I imagine we will be of help.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Polly West

[many-voices]

To Polly: ✉️ ((Lidia Merula))

Dear Lidia,

Here’s what we’re going to do.  I’m away from town for several days - no cause for concern, you lovely thing - but when I get back, we should sit for a while and drink heavily spiked tea and talk about your ideas for concerts and the like. And every time you act as if you or your ideas are nonsensical or silly, I’m going to do something publicly ridiculous aimed right in your direction.  

And doll, performers just don’t have much fear of people looking their way.  You are warned.  Be nice to yourself.

All the best,Polly

(( pollywestgw2 ))