It started like many things, with a doll fretting too and fro like a leaf in the breeze. Back and forth it went with a nervous expression. It couldn't be truly lost, fresh bows in it's hair and a thick winter coat that looked barely a season old. Still it seemd to dither...
She watched this doll flitter back and forth, nervousness filling its features. Over the minutes she watch she pursed her lips, the soft glow of the shadow of a halo flickering, causing a hand to brush through it. She was just going to help, nothing more. Blasted habits.
Heels clicked on cold stone as her cloak swished back and forth, catching the wind as she approached. Her lips curled into a soft smile, a slightly pointless gesture as the poor thing was so focused it managed to run straight into her with the softest of yelps.
"S-sorry miss" it said with a lower case m, stepping back and steadying itself as it clutched it's precious cargo daintily. In one hand, between porcealin fingers it held a small purse jingling with coin, in the other a handwritten note, cursive script firm but delicate.
"Easy there little one, nothing to be sorry for" she said with a bright smile and soft tone, the same she used when soothing her own darlings. "You just seemed like you were caught on something, is aught the matter?".
Glassy golden eyes looked up with quivering stares, head torn betwen a shake and a nod. "it's just, this one... this one is" it spoke, voice firm like any little one was when it was trying to hard to be brave "this one has a very important job but it's, it's not sure...".
"It's all right darling, i'm sure your Witch knows just how very hard you are trying, may I?" she asked, eyes glancing down to the note as she held out her hand.
"Oh of course~" it replied in a sing song voice, cheek pressing into her palm and fitting like a glove.
Lips were about to open in correction, but it had such a peaceful smile while it rested. It's nervousness had drifted away into simple being, and another few minutes were lost to letting it work out it's frustrations. All good things however had to come to an end, and she coughed gently.
"The note" she spoke clearly, rousing it as eyes looked up, then down, white cheeks flushing crimson in embaressment as it uncoiled it's tightly wound hand. Her own moved to pat it on the head, keeping that smile as she took the note, trying to decipher the curly handwriting.
A simple set of errands it seemed, but the Witch had made the error of muddling locations and tasks. Especially when dealing with new experiences, she found keeping things simple and structured helped a doll keep focus, instead of losing itself to idle thoughts or distractions.
A minute of careful explanation, step by step to keep the lovely thing following along and it was on it's way (perhaps a gentle kiss on the head). It seemed much happier, a spring in it's step as it bounded off along. Good deed done the witch smiled, fixing her hat and turning right back into someone. She murmured an apology before looking up, skin of dark oak wood greeting her with eyes that had specks of starshine. Another doll was waiting behind her it seemed, and another behind it, and another, so on and so on in a quite orderly queue.
"sorry miss, this one just wondered if you could help it too?" the doll spoke, quiet but oh so innocent. The same voice she had heard when her own little ones "needed" help with their tasks. The line of dolls murmered in agreement, soft helpless sounds as they peered around.
Her eyes took a moment to fully comprehend what she was seeing, a slight twitch at the corner of her lip and the gentle buzzing of a glow above her head. She knew the faces of the some of the dolls in the queue, they certainly knew better but no good deed went unpunished.
She took a slow breath "Of course my dear, where does it need to go today?" she asked, realising her own errands would have to wait.
