"Why is there a hole in my garden?" He smiled conversationally and shrugged. "I wonder." They stopped at the edge of the hole, and Tessa gazed down in trepidation. And then, Jem continued, "But, don't you know? If there is a hole, you simply must jump in."

The sun was a bright golden disk in the sky, akin to a gold doubloon shining bright in a chest, and the sea sparkled, its waves playfully clinging to the ship's smooth sides for only a moment before they fell away like a teasing wench, and the ship- oh, the ship! It was the most beautiful piece of the picture- Needless to say, Will was feeling particularly poetic on that day.

His eyes opened. Will stood, a sudden urgency compelling him to move, just...to do something. He couldn't tell what or why exactly, but there was something...something familiar in the air, something from long ago. It reminded him of...? Will frowned and stood again, making his way back to the spot where he'd been waiting patiently for—how long exactly? And why couldn't he remember?

Uncomfortable silence, and Jian regarded him with steady silvery eyes. He had an unusual coloring, his hair floated around his pale face in silvery-white locks, like an untarnished shilling. It made him miss the dark backways of London, and Gideon, even that brat Gabriel. His eyes were the same color, slightly lighter. Argent, Ella would have said, was the color.

Alec had never liked parties of any sort, but then he saw those eyes. They were ringed in liquid gold and black, greenish-gold pools of mischief, half-lidded. They were glowing in the dim light, and the way he was gazing at Alec made him flush and glance away.