Radiant || OPEN

[Essence Newman]

Still Rockin'

Essence was feeling good. She was feeling very, very good, in fact. It was a beautiful day, she had her baby with her, the sun was shining and she was surrounded by hundreds of books. An ideal day; you might say. Kyenne was singing under her breath, nonsense words, making Essence grin and chuckle. Seems the little girl had picked up on her momma and daddy's main and most-loved hobby. She couldn't wait to tell Ryder.

Oh, and Ryder. Just the thought of him still brought blue-jays to her chest, a flush to her cheeks and a smile to her lips. She loved that boy so thoroughly. Every part of her being sang for him. Sometimes Essence thought she loved him so much she could barely breathe. And after everything they had been through, after all the obstacles they had had to get through... It was impossible for them not to have one of the strongest relationships around.

So, generally, Essence was just radiant with good cheer. Kyenne caught sight of a pretty picture book and gurgled happily, stretching toward it. Essence laughed and moved in the direction her baby was stretching, before she squirmed out of her arms. "Okay, babydoll," she hummed. "Here y' go, the one with the butterflies, right?" Kyenne made a happy noise and Essence grinned in response. While her daughter toyed with the book in her hands, Essence continued wandering through the aisles of shelves, fingers running over old leather bindings and scarred wood.

[Evangeline]

Gettin' down to business[/i]

Evan was juggling five or six books in her arms, a cup of Starbucks finest, and her cell, which was ringing. Sighing, she decided to let it go to voice-mail, whoever it was could wait for her to call back. Reaching for the doorknob of the bookstore was an exercise in itself, but she managed to open the door.

This place was one of her favorite, but, since Nic, it also has a bad memory lingering inside. Swallowing roughly, she pushed through, nearly dropping a book on her way to the counter. "Hey George." She smiled, setting the books down. "Done allready, Evangeline?" She nodded with a smile. "The students loved them." She told him, slowly pushing one of her favorites over to him. "Y'know what, is it possible that I can buy this from you?" She asked, hand over the cover of J.D. Salinger's 'Catcher in the rye'

"Sure thing, hun. That'll be twenty-five." Evan nodded, handing over the money. Turning around with the signle book under her arm she spotted a baby in a stroller, her mom standing near by. "Oh my gosh, she's adorable." She cooed over the girl as she drew closer. "How old is she?"

[Essence Newman]

The bell over the door went off but Essence barely registered it. She was wrapped up in reading the spines of books, waiting for a title to pique her interest. She was paused at the front of one of the aisles when a voice pulled her from reverie. Turning, she found a pretty young woman watching her.

"Oh my gosh, she's adorable. How old is she?"

Smiling, Essence glanced down to Kyenne. "Thanks. She's just got good genes, I guess." Laughing at her own joke, she grinned over to her daughter. "She's about three months, only." Looking up, she added, "Kyenne Rosalie."

She couldn't keep the broad smile off her face. This was the first time she had been able to brag about her little girl in public to a stranger who had complimented her. She was brimming with pride. She was a Momma and this was her baby; her daughter. She got a kick out of saying that, having it be real and true.

[Evangeline]

"Thanks. She's just got good genes, I guess."

Evan chuckled softly, crouching down and smiling at the sweet little girl. "Hi sweetie." She said, tickling her leg lightly. "She's about three months, only." Evan smiled back up at Essence. "She's gorgeous."

"Kyenne Rosalie."

Evan smiled brightly. "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Congratulations." She looked up at Essence. She stuck out her free hand then. "Evangeline Douay." She introduced herself with a smile. "Don't you love this place?" She asked with a light smile, looking around the old bookstore.

[Essence Newman]

Kyenne obviously enjoyed the attention from the pretty face with the pretty voice. She gurgled happily and stretched toward Evangeline. Essence laughed, enchanted by her own daughter. "Thanks," she said again to the compliment. "Me and her Daddy think she's pretty all right too," she added with a grin.

Essence grinned and shook the offered hand. "Essence Newman," she replied. "Nice to meet you." "Don't you love this place?" Essence nodded to that, looking around giddily. "So much," she replied, touching the spine of a Bradbury book. "I was such an avid reader as a kid. Lately though, I just haven't had the time..." she said, fairly regretful.

Yeah, no time. Between Ace/Sylar and the fuckin' apocalypse and then Kyenne.... It had certainly been a whirlwind and there was definitely no time for her to have been picking up books in between things. But now all that was over and a calm had settled over New York City. Essence had time to relax, time to be with her family and maybe, for just a little bit, time to sink into someone else's story.