[Writing] Jesper talks about his first owner
Not really trying to "write" anything right now, just scrambling down some vague scribbles of dialogue to get a scenario out of my head. So, this is a bit rough but whatever.
Jesper is bathing in the stream by the house, just beneath the small waterfall. It rains down over his face. He's sat on some rocks, legs splayed out comfortably in front of him. It's too shallow for any fish to come near. It's raining softly.
He hears a familiar voice that causes his ears to perk up. Sol bashfully greets him.
"Hi! Sol!" Jesper is confused. Happy to see her, but confused as to why she is such a distance from her home. Jesper opens both eyes to survey the area, looking for other imps.
"Kena is here." Sol points into the distance. A bush moves, but it's hard to tell if it's the wind, wild animal, or actually Kena. "Other imps too." She smiles. "Our bond is very small. Jesper is a great distance to travel to, so we had to bring other imps."
"Imps know where friend Yarrow lives?" Jesper's mouth is gaped open.
"Yes. Imps know where the sprite lives. We do not usually come up this way, but have before."
Jesper spots Kena out of the corner of his eye. Kena gestures politely, before flying into the canopy of the forest overhead with the other imps.
"Is he home? Yarrow?" Sol asks. Her attention directs to the small cottage nearby.
"Yes. Is sleeping!" Jesper is calm and less animated than usual.
"The sun has been up for awhile now..."
"Yes! Yarrow visited town yesterday. Is tired! Long trip! Had to talk to many persons! Is tired now---hehehe. Imp too. Am tired." Jesper closes his eyes, and rests his head carefully against the rocks behind him.
"Job imps are tied to vessels, right? What kind of vessel is Jesper attached to?" Sol seats herself beside him.
The waterfall hits her wings too roughly, causing her to move in closer. The contrast between their skin tones is very visible side-by-side. Jesper is a dark, ashy gray, and Sol is a deep burgundy.
"Bag! Imp has bag! Does need to go back to bag soon to sleep... Is tired." Jesper rubs at his eyes with his wrists, clearing the water from them.
"Is..." Sol begins, hesitating to bring the subject up. "...Yarrow a nice owner?"
"Oh! Is very nice! Is friend! Yarrow is Jesper's friend! Says Jesper is 'companion' to Yarrow!" A smile crosses his face proudly. "Yarrow is not imp's original owner. Is much... um... more patient! Good friend to imp."
"Yarrow didn't conjure you?"
"No." Jesper peeks at her, smiling. "Did not."
"Who was your first owner?" Sol checks to see if Kena is watching. When she sees that he's too busy with the hunting party across the way, she places her hand on Jesper's leg.
"Um... person named Olen. Was wheelwright."
"A what?" Sol furrows her brow, inching closer. Partially in interest of Jesper's story, to get out of the rain, and simple curiosity of being close to him.
"Um... Makes wheels! For wagon! For carts, yes! Hehehe. But---um, was not good help." Jesper checks to see if she's still listening. She is, but is clearly waiting to hear more. "Imp was not good at helping Olen. Did not learn job well. Was hard job! Was very bad at job! Lots of work with, uh, saws and smoothing wood! Scary for Jesper!"
"That does sound hard." She pauses. "Were you told Jesper was not good help?"
Jesper bites his bottom lip.
"Was told not very helpful and to move and let Olen do job. Tried many times! Is not job for Jesper. Yes, was told to go back to bag lots! Was not needed! Told could teach apprentice faster than imp."
"That person doesn't sound very pleasant."
"Person was okay! Olen frustrated---was frustrated with Jesper's tries! Did many tries, yes! Imp does not like to keep eyes open that long, too! Is not good job for closed eye!"
"So you were told to go back to your vessel?"
"Yes."
"How did you end up with Yarrow?"
"Uhh!" Jesper leans forwards. "Is not sure! Imp not sure... Before friend, before Yarrow, was told maybe imp's name means Jesper was meant to be jester! Had Jesper become jester for shop! But, imp not good at jokes, and cannot even juggle! Not good 'job imp' for Olen."
"Well." Sol chuckles, drawing back. "I think you're a funny imp. Kena, too, but will not say."
Jesper's eyes dart open.
"Kena thinks Jesper is funny?" He grabs her hands excitedly. Sol's tail beats against Jesper's leg.
"Yes! Jesper does not need to be real jester to be funny. And, um..." She looks away. "I do not know, but it seems as though the sprite must find you funny too, and good help."
"Yes!" Jesper squeals, his feet kicking up out of the stream. "Imp is told... Does very good job! Is good learner! Friend Yarrow likes what Jesper likes! Gives slug at night, and is not scolded!" Jesper laughs, and then suddenly hushes his voice to a whisper. "Sometimes is told... maybe is not best time when sleeping to show slug to friend, but, hehehe, says that slug is 'appreciated'! Will tell Jesper about slug in morning!"
"Did Yarrow teach you about the slug?"
"No." Jesper looks to his toes, seeming disappointed. "Was last night! When friend wakes up, will remind about slug!"
"Ohh." Sol watches Kena and another bond of imps dive through a couple bushes. "Have you known Yarrow for a long time, then?"
"No!" Jesper laughs. "Does not... some time, but not very long time. Imp woke up from bag in friend's home! Hehehe---was with merchant for small amount of time. Did not meet merchant. Only came out of bag after closed! Did look around---hehehe---do not think merchant knew of Jesper."
"Olen gave you to a merchant?"
"Yes! Imp thinks so..." Jesper sticks his head beneath the waterfall above him so that it splashes water over his head. It wakes him up a little. "Is okay! Found by friend! Friend Yarrow!"
"And the sprite wasn't aware of you when buying Jesper's bag?"
"No!" Jesper pushes his forehead into hers playfully. They briefly rub noses, and Sol surprises him with a small lick as he pulls away. "Imp did wait for night, come out of bag and look around! Many books around, hehehe. Could not read the books. Slapped one book too hard! Fell over off table, woke Yarrow! Yarrow found imp, hehehe."
Sol watches as Jesper settles back down, pulling his feet in towards his body.
"Can I ask how Yarrow reacted when he found you?" Sol laughs as she asks.
"Oh! Friend thought imp was very silly! Did wonder where Jesper came from! Did not know how to explain... um... imp said, come from bag!"
"Can imagine it was very unexpected for the sprite!"
"Yes! Hehehe---Friend said... um... could stay! Imp could stay! Was not expecting imp, but was, uh... word. Um." Jesper opens his eyes, as if searching physically for the right phrasing. "Friend said," He pauses, huffing in frustration. "like when good thing happens, but did not expect! Was not expecting imp, but happy!"
"Oh! A 'pleasant surprise', maybe!" Sol suggests.
"Yes! Yes!" Jesper laughs. "Sol is good at words! Imp thanks."
"Of course." Sol smiles. "The imps have overheard and spoken to persons long enough to learn. Has taught each other for a generation or two."
"Imp has heard..." He tilts his head. His ears are battered by the water falling on them. "other job imps, but speak better than Jesper. Is not as good as them!"
"That is not true!" Sol pushes her horns into Jesper's arm, chuckling. "Imps speak differently! Kena does not speak like Sol does! Ona and Nia do not speak like Jesper, Kena, or Sol!"
"Imp likes Sol." Jesper snickers, indirectly showing his gratitude.
"I like Jesper!" She beats her tail across his leg softly. "And Kena likes Jesper, too! Do not let him fool you!"
Jesper hard blinks at her a few times, smiling. He turns his gaze to watch the nearby bond of imps chasing down a few different wild animals.