AN: A concept used for character development. Work on two characters in my upcoming story, Cloud Castles, Cogs and Reluctant Heroes. Inspired by a piece of artwork found at Lorelai dot com.

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A young girl , no older than sixteen, sat on a park bench overlooking a beautiful botanical park. The sakura blossoms were in bloom, she observed, as her eyes strayed to gaze at the patch of flowering trees. She came here often, for tranquility. Her hi-jink prone older brother would most likely be the cause of her latest headache, and she enjoyed the time away from her celebrity sibling.

She wore a cloak of the lightest periwinkle, even though the weather was scorching, and the season was summer. A book was clutched to her chest, her nimble fingers covering up much of the title. The letters C-R--D were visible, making people wonder what such a young girl was reading. Her brother dismissed it as a books of fables and fairy tales, and she smirked at his ignorance. ‘Idiot.’ she thought.

With her free hand she held an umbrella up high, although there was no sign of rain at all. Not a gray cloud in the cloud filled sky. There hardly ever was one, but sometimes the cloud castle builders made mistakes. After all, almost everybody does.

But never her. Oh no, never her.

She thought of herself as special, as she could right every wrong, premeditate all pitiful mistakes, mend any moment…

A strong breeze of wind caused her light brown ponytail to sway, and her bangs to cover her eyes. Setting down her book, albeit turning it over so the cover was unreadable, she flicked the bothersome hair out of her face.

“Stupid…” she muttered. Her voice had a slight whine to it.

“Then cut it, if it’s so annoying. Must you makes things so complicated, Kanist?”

Startled by the voice, she looked up to see the handsome face of her brother. He was without his jester hat, which he almost always wore, and his straw-like blond hair seemed somewhat lonely and barren with the absence of it.

He chuckled, as he leaned his elbows on the curved back of the wooden bench. He tapped on her upright umbrella, resulting in a soft ‘bonk’ noise.

“Why do you carry this around? It’s not going to rain. Probably not for months.” He pointed to his temple to emphasize his so called knowledge, and beamed at nothing in particular.

She responded with a mocking smile, and replied, “It’s going to rain. And soon, too. I’m sure of it.”

“Of course it is!” he said in a jeering tone. He stretched his arms and sighed, “Stop with the nonsense, Kanist.”

She sniffed, rather miffed, and sneered, “Nonsense, Malvern? Who’s wearing a cape and saying he’s a great magician?”

Malvern looked towards the sky, and smiled. “Because I am one.”

She laughed, and continued, “It’ll rain.”

“Forget it…sheesh…I‘ll be at home…” He walked off, muttering to himself what nuisances little sisters were.

Kanist, meanwhile, looked up the clouds in the sky. An airship was circling a rather large cumulus, which meant it would soon become another cloud castle. She searched for a cloud that wasn’t being made into a cloud castle, and spotted a medium sized one.

Gazing at it dreamily, smiled, then stood up. Folding up her umbrella, she set off towards home.

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The next day, Kanist again sat on the same park bench overlooking the botanical gardens, and Malvern rested his elbows on the bench’s curved back. Kanist had her umbrella open and upright, but Malvern paid it no mind. She also had a book clutched to her chest again, never once cracking it while he was there. He suddenly noticed there was a lone tear upon her cheek, and wondered what she could possibly be crying about.

His cheek then felt a soft impact, as a raindrop fell to rest. Before he knew it, raindrops were coming down at a fast pace, soaking him. Kanist had a whimsical like smile on her face, as she stared out at the gardens. Malvern hastily scampered onto the park bench and under the cover of her umbrella as the downpour intensified.

Glancing around, he saw numerous people ducking under awnings and trying futilely to shield themselves with their light jackets. They were the only ones with an umbrella in all of town.

Kanist closed her eyes in satisfaction as she smirked, and cocked her head at him.

“Never doubt me.”

Malvern was speechless as shivered in his wet, freezing clothes, the frigid rain hailing down upon the city.

-end-

AN: Interested in seeing more? Be on the lookout for more character development one shots, some featuring different characters, and look forward to my upcoming novel from which these characters originate from, Cloud Castles, Cogs and Reluctant Heroes!