brooch

Title: The Brooch

Author: Starlaces

Episode: Born to the Purple

Rating: Suitable for all forms of life. Mainly fluffy.

Disclaimer: Don't own nothing, don't got nothing, don't know nothing.

Words: 511

Notes: Who was Londo's matriarch? No beta. Comments welcome.

Spoilers: None.

Aria held the gem in her hand.

"Really for me?"

"Of course for you."

"It's beautiful." The one she loved smiled. "It's just..."

"What is it?"

"It is usual for a gift like this to be in some sort of setting."

"I thought you might want to make that yourself."

"Me?"

"Well you're always fiddling with jewellery." 'Fiddling' was a way to put it Aria supposed. The extra income her mending provided was the only way her family managed some cycles. Her face fell, her eyes studying the telltale marks on her dress that showed her as what she was. Kiran lifted a hand to her chin and gently raised her face so that her eyes met his. "The work you do is amazing."

"I just mend things." Aria said trying to ignore the intensity she saw there.

"Shush." He moved his hand slightly so the thumb was against her lips. "I want you to see what you can do Aria. I want you to be as proud of it, and of you, as I am."

Of course that had been a long time ago. Kiran was dead now, and Aria, Aria knew that the end was coming. She had seen it, like many of her people, and this year as the flowers began to bloom she knew it was almost the end. The business they had built had turned their House into one of the most respected artisans in the city; their children's future was secured. Aria wondered if Kiran had believed as much as she had wanted to, as much as he had seemed to, that this would be the result of their union, and their hard work. She liked to think he had. She liked to think he was well pleased with what they had accomplished together even though he was no longer here to assure her, and cast away her doubt.

Aria placed the brooch in its ornate metalwork case. She smiled; she had made that as well. Much later, when the business she had built with her husband no longer needed her work and their social status demanded that she give it up in any case Kiran had built her a workroom attached to their home. Gifts for family members with the business's stamp on them often came from her own collection, specifically made for them. "It's just her hobby." Kiran dismissively told those who cast a disparaging eye on her stained fingers or dishevelled appearance when visitors arrived unexpectedly, or when she was in the middle of something she could not drag herself away from. Neither of them cared that this was not entirely the truth.

Aria shut the lid and placed the case back in the drawer. She sighed. Everything was getting more difficult these days, even shutting a drawer. She was sure it never used to be that stiff. The last high rays of sun glinted off the golden case as she shunted the drawer closed. Aria lay on her bed and gazed out of the window, watching as the sun finally set.



	Title: The Brooch Author: Starlaces Episode: Born to the Purple Rating: Suitable for all forms of life. Mainly fluffy. Disclaimer: Don't own nothing, don't got nothing, don't know nothing. Words: 511 Notes: Who was Londo's matriarch? No beta. Comments welcome. Spoilers: None. Aria held the gem in her hand. "Really for me?" "Of course for you." "It's beautiful." The one she loved smiled. "It's just..." "What is it?" "It is usual for a gift like this to be in some sort of setting." "I thought you might want to make that yourself." "Me?" "Well you're always fiddling with jewellery." 'Fiddling' was a way to put it Aria supposed. The extra income her mending provided was the only way her family managed some cycles. Her face fell, her eyes studying the telltale marks on her dress that showed her as what she was. Kiran lifted a hand to her chin and gently raised her face so that her eyes met his. "The work you do is amazing." "I just mend things." Aria said trying to ignore the intensity she saw there. "Shush." He moved his hand slightly so the thumb was against her lips. "I want you to see what you can do Aria. I want you to be as proud of it, and of you, as I am." Of course that had been a long time ago. Kiran was dead now, and Aria, Aria knew that the end was coming. She had seen it, like many of her people, and this year as the flowers began to bloom she knew it was almost the end. The business they had built had turned their House into one of the most respected artisans in the city; their children's future was secured. Aria wondered if Kiran had believed as much as she had wanted to, as much as he had seemed to, that this would be the result of their union, and their hard work. She liked to think he had. She liked to think he was well pleased with what they had accomplished together even though he was no longer here to assure her, and cast away her doubt. Aria placed the brooch in its ornate metalwork case. She smiled; she had made that as well. Much later, when the business she had built with her husband no longer needed her work and their social status demanded that she give it up in any case Kiran had built her a workroom attached to their home. Gifts for family members with the business's stamp on them often came from her own collection, specifically made for them. "It's just her hobby." Kiran dismissively told those who cast a disparaging eye on her stained fingers or dishevelled appearance when visitors arrived unexpectedly, or when she was in the middle of something she could not drag herself away from. Neither of them cared that this was not entirely the truth. Aria shut the lid and placed the case back in the drawer. She sighed. Everything was getting more difficult these days, even shutting a drawer. She was sure it never used to be that stiff. The last high rays of sun glinted off the golden case as she shunted the drawer closed. Aria lay on her bed and gazed out of the window, watching as the sun finally set.