the answers were there [TEMPY] when i stared into you

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ur Lady had always been full of an interesting cast of characters, even since Temperance had walked through the grand foyer at eighteen years old. They were among more of the eccentric witches in New Orleans, perhaps the world. They worshipped the AllMother rather than the thirdborn, and those that fell into the category varied greatly. That accounted for the great disparity among cohorts, Temperance reasoned. That was why, following her rather normal cohort (according to her own thinking), there was Estelle’s motley crew. Estelle more than the others often served as the origin for many of Temperance’s headaches, both within and out of school. It was hard to maintain an elite image when one of your students and alumni tended to eat dirt on a somewhat regular basis. But for all her idiosyncrasies, Estelle was part of the Our Lady Coven, and Temperance respected her and her passion, even as she stressed her disagreement with her methods.[break][break]

At the beginning of each school year, Temperance made it a point to meet with local alumni and ask for their help in their various talents. Some alumni, which would not be mentioned by name, had excluded themselves by deed from the process, but others, like Estelle, could provide helpful insight. Estelle’s passion made her a perfect fit for the young herbalists and their plants. The meeting would also provide her with a feel for where Estelle stood with the Robespierre Academy, a topic which Temperance spent a lot of her time thinking about. The Academy was gearing up for its first year, and something – in truth, many things – set her teeth on edge. It laid a panic in her bones, similar to the one that Estelle being late did. Charlotte, her familiar, watched her companion from atop the mahogany desk, chittering.[break][break]

Deciding that she had given Estelle enough time, Temperance made her way from her office to the grounds, where she made a beeline to the garden. She pushed open the door. If Estelle was bound to be anywhere, it was there; that was her haunt. The door was open no longer than a heartbeat before she saw the other woman, kneeling among and covered in the dirt. A headache tried desperately to start a bloom in her temple, and beside her, Charlie chittered jovially at the other witch, one of her almost human-like hands still on Temperance's immaculate trousers. “Miss LaRoux, I’m thankful that you’ve decided to lend your expertise to our garden.” There was no reason to be cross, after all. This was par for the course for Estelle. ”While we’re here, we may as well conduct a formal assessment of the garden. I’ve a feeling the students have been slacking on their duties.”

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emperance couldn’t keep the faintest flicker of a smile from her lips as Essie cycled through her name and honoraries. She was still getting used to them herself, and as good as the headmistress hat felt, it wasn’t proper to be so formal with an alum. Essie had earned her place among the coven. ”Temperance is fine, Estelle. It’s just us, and considering that you’re covered in dirt, we can hardly call this a formal meeting.” It wasn’t a reprimand, but her tone had assumed her usual dryness.[break][break]

The garden gate, so to speak, was open, and Essie made it clear that she had no intention of holding anything back. She had earned her tirade, Temperance knew, and so she let her have it. Essie had done the school a great kindness when she funneled her passion into the once lowly gardens. It was hard to see that work overturned by errant students. Temperance understood the sentiment; she had restricted access to the archives for much the same reason. ”I’ve no idea where they even got the fertilizer. They have their orders, but some of the students do not readily adapt to the standards of Our Lady. If you’ve time next week, I can clear their schedules for a training session from you.” She knew exactly what sort of ranting and raving she would be setting the students up for. It was a good experience, she maintained, that they learn from the feet of the masters, from the best of the coven.[break][break]

”I perhaps wouldn’t hex the younger students. I would wait at least until they’re second or third years for that.” With the dryness of her tone, it would take a stranger a bit to figure out if she was actually joking or not. She could be a bit of a polarizing person, despite her best efforts. Grace was easy; interaction was not. She eyed Estelle’s wave to Charlotte, who no doubt was preening under the sudden attention, and she looked down at her own companion as Estelle brought hers out. Charlotte, seeing the giant rat set off his own, followed on all fours, her rotund rump swaying gently with the movement. Temperance fought not to roll her eyes. Of all the possible familiars, she couldn’t have gotten something fierce that commanded respect. No black cat, no owl. No, it was a fat raccoon whose favorite things in the world were marshmallows and baths. Hearing the rustle of ingredients, she came back to attention long enough to take the satchel from her. ”I will unload these in my office. Thank you,” Temperance said, to refocus herself on the situation at hand.[break][break]

The flower crown that Estelle pulled out was beautiful. It was a kind gift, Temperance reflected, more than she had a right to ask straight out. Her official smile dipped a bit closer to genuine as she took the flower crown. It would be absolutely ridiculous upon her head, but the thought eased a bit of her natural tension. Aside from her own head, she knew a place it would fit. ”Do you mind if we put this on the statue?” The statue of Our Lady that stood in the fountain out front would look stunning in the crown. It would cover some of the chipping around her head as well while she repaired the wards and glamours. Her smile waned just a little at the thought, the crease settling in her forehead for just a moment. ”You’ve always done solid work, Estelle. I am glad that Our Lady can count on you.” There was a distance to the words, as though she meant both the building and the figure herself. In all the changes that were rocking the supernatural world, perhaps she did.

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eeing the red that painted Estelle’s cheeks, Temperance remembered the times where she had passed the other girl getting yelled at in the hall, for much the same reason. It hardly seemed fair to punish a girl for how she served the Lady, and Temperance wasn’t about to do it. ”You’re fine. Really, and you let me know what the young ones have been up to. I would count that as a win,” she assured her with a larger smile. She felt much better about the situation when Essie’s mood seemed to lighten. Smiles looked much better on her than admonishment, Temperance mused, heat rising to her own cheeks for just a moment. ”Uh, yes, training. You could be a good influence on them, I believe."[break][break]

It only occurred to Temperance too late that Essie might have thought she was serious, and she shifted her weight from foot to foot. She, of course, did not condone hexing as a method of discipline. The entire prospect was a little too old school for her tastes; she was traditional, not draconic. She welcomed the distraction of Charlotte’s tittering, fat form. ”She’s always been fond of Algernon; I’m glad he tolerates her,” she said, more to fill the silence than to say anything substantial.[break][break]

Temperance was a little taken aback by the force of Estelle’s question. She tended to live in a quiet world, and that suited her best, she thought. All dull sound and color, where everything turned like a neat little cog, but the dirt and smile on Essie’s face calmed her once more. She even managed a little laugh. ”I’m glad that suits you. We can put it on her later.” It was only right that Estelle got to put the flowercrown on; she had made it.[break][break]


Silence seemed to descend upon the greenhouse, except for the odd shrieking chatter from Charlotte as she chased Algernon through the dirt. Temperance once more shifted her weight, peering down at the other woman. Absently, she tucked an errant piece of her short bob behind her ear. For a long time, Temperance felt like she had only existed to go through school and earn her marks, not to make friends or be a comfortable person. But school was over, and she was still trying to find her way among others, especially in quiet moments where nothing was expected of her. It was not easy going.[break][break]

When Essie broke the silence, Temperance almost fainted with relief. ”Oh, uh, yes, of course. You’ll be there as well, I hope?” She hardly noticed the awkwardness; she was just relieved that the conversation was continuing. She wasn’t quite ready to return to her duties just yet.