There is so little to do in winter--or you permit yourself the luxury of thinking so.
[Mid-afternoon of Thursday, November 26 (day 179)]
[The Miskatonic Café]Not sure if it's the weather or the unsettling of moving, but I'm not feeling particular well of late. I've not quite slipped 'round to sleeping through the days again, with neither of them quite doing it, but all joking aside I've been particular disinclined to get out of bed ( Read more... )
[The Miskatonic Café]Not sure if it's the weather or the unsettling of moving, but I'm not feeling particular well of late. I've not quite slipped 'round to sleeping through the days again, with neither of them quite doing it, but all joking aside I've been particular disinclined to get out of bed ( Read more... )
Grasping the back of the chair nearest my love, I sit down and say, "Afternoon, ladies. How's everyone doing?" while taking Glass' hand. Turning to Glass, I look at her with affection and say, "Hello, love. Enjoying the coffee?"
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I pale some, I can feel it, and look at her, my gut churnin'. I seen 'nough on the farm t'guess what it'd have looked like. "There's lots nasty as could come from somethin' like that," I say. "Was - was there anythin' ritual 'bout it?" I glance over at Lannie 'gain, wonderin' how she'll take this.
Glad 'nough t'know 'bout Lord Hughes, though I dunt know the story she mentions. As we're talkin' her husband comes in 'n sits with us, takin' her hand. "Afternoon, ladies. How's everyone doing?"I nod cautiously t'him, 'cause I know Kate's got a low opinion 'v him. Truth t'say, I know more 'bout that Dorian fellow 'r the ( ... )
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Peeled her corpse... I growl a little and then catch it covering it with a cough and clear my throat "Peeled? Like an animal attack?" I ask. Great. Just what I need. A town looking for wild animals running about. Then, just as I'm thinking of what Verdi said and that there might be a couple of ideas of who the bastard might be, Tess asks "Was - was there anythin' ritual 'bout it?" I look at her when I notice her glance at me. I know I must look confused. I don't know if, like me, she's hoping it was. Considering I know who and what her brother is and I've seen our kind do it before. And what the hell kinda ( ... )
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"Could've been," I say, the thought still stirring slow cold anger inside me, and then Lannie asks her own question.
"Peeled? Like an animal attack?"
Shake my head, and that at least I'm sure of. "The bones were stripped neat, and she was wired up all in order, as if she'd been cut fresh out from her own meat. And a bird scratched on her skull, though I think that was more've a personal note." And isn't that a lovely thought. "But there was nothing about her resting uneasy, for what it's worth, after she was laid out aright."
Hear "Afternoon, ladies. How's everyone doing?" and glance up to see Iago, blue eyes and easy grin, and his fingers slide through mine as he sits down. "Hello, love. Enjoying the coffee?"
"Tea today, cariad," I say, smiling a little as Lannie gets to her feet. "Fine as always." My smile flickers stronger for a second, old memory of words ( ... )
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Tess offers her hand and introduces herself, and I think of how odd it strikes me to know of someone before actually meeting them. She's not entirely comfortable either and I imagine all the tales she's already heard of me, the despoiler of Glass' virtue. There was that night in the opium den as well but I refuse to be ashamed of loving Glass however she'll let me. "Well 'nough, Mr. Beddau. And yourself? I ain't sure we've met yet, proper. I'm Tess Thiess."I chuckle, noting the last name she uses for me. My father wouldn't like it at all and that pleases me to no end. Shaking her hand, I grin, happy to be with anywhere my love is as I say pleasantly, "Just Iago, please and I'm doing well, thanks. And no, I don't think I've had the pleasure. It's ( ... )
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Mrs. Beddau shakes her head. "The bones were stripped neat, and she was wired up all in order, as if she'd been cut fresh out from her own meat. And a bird scratched on her skull, though I think that was more've a personal note. But there was nothing about her resting uneasy, for what it's worth, after she was laid out aright." I nod slow, 'cause that's t'the good, but I wonder who'd send her a note like that. It makes her anger make more sense.
Lannie must know Mr. Beddau from the Tavern, and she's grinnin' as she leaves t'get his coffee. He thinks something's funny too, and I get it when Lannie goes "Here's the coffee you ordered Mr. ( ... )
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Glass said it could have been a ritual but not an animal attack because of the way the bones were stripped neat and laid out. Good point. The one's I knew weren't very neat. Just the thought of the tasting human flesh makes me feel a little sick. "Where did you find her?" I ask. Figure I can nose around there ans see what scents I can pick up. Probably best if I'm not hungry when I do it too.
Tess goes red and Glass explains Beddau is her last name. Now I feel bad, wasn't trying to make fun of her, just pick on him a bit. He's laughing too though, saying its okay. Not much gets to him it seems, though I think I have a couple of times. "And don't you forget it, Lannie. Iago Beddau. It has a nice ring to it and since more than a few have already assumed it,""I like it," I shrug, smiling Tess' way. Easy enough mistake to make. Hope I didn't offend her though ( ... )
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"Wired up on the east fence of the graveyard,” I say, “you know where it stands, behind the Abbey? Fortnight and a day ago.” I shoot Iago a knowing look and add “Wednesdays.”
"Miss you too, sweet girl,” he says, grinning gently. ”That's why I'm here." Rain dripping from the ends of his hair and a quick wink and I move my other hand over t’his, rest my fingers light along the back of his hand and his wrist. The smell of rain’s rising from his jacket, and I’m wreathed in fine memories a moment.
Tess and Iago make introductions, and he’s courteous fine, for all that the mistaken name pleases him. "Beddau's a fine name. If it's good enough for my love, then it's good enough for me," he teases Lannie afore turning to me. "Iago Beddau. It has a nice ring to it and since more than a few have already assumed it, I believe we shouldn't fight it."“I’ll ( ... )
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Everyone goes on 'bout Mr. Beddau's name 'n I guess I stumbled on t'somethin' regardin' his family, 'n I wish they'd just drop it 'stead 'a goin' on 'bout it. I'm happy when he asks me 'bout the weather in town, 'cause even if it's borin' at least it's somethin' else. "It's dry - there ain't much snow, but you get a fair wind if you ain't right new the trees 'r sheltered by a ridge. That's why they built the wind farm way back. I dunt think it gets so cold here as it does up north," I add, lookin' over at Mrs. Beddau, "but I can't say fer certain since I'm so used t'it here."
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Trying not to grin at that, recalling the first time I ran into John at the Tavern. Hell of an early morning for us both. "Ah cariad, you ever bestirred yourself to Saturday market, you might've seen them," I tease. Near to sure the Thiess family came in a time or two over fall.
And "You've already named me, love," and our fingers close on each other's. Can feel the blood rising to my face a touch, and find as well I'm not minding. Well enough his changed name's something that'll be set out for others. "Coll ti, brân tymestl," I say soft as he turns back to the table as a whole.
"And as both of you are long-time residents, certainly longer than me, what's the weather normally like?" Weave of words and gesture to draw everyone in, and I'm glad of him again, his gift for speaking.
"It's dry - there ain't much snow, but you get a fair wind if you ain't right new the trees 'r sheltered by a ( ... )
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Tess still seems a little bristly about the name thing so, still feeling kinda bad, I don't add anymore to that. Just because her brother or brothers are what they are doesn't mean she's like the rest. And I know she's not one just from her scent.
I'm glad when Iago changes the topic to the weather and I stop fidgeting with my hands and smile, looking up with a quick nod. "Yeah, good to know what to expect. Verdi suggested I see that Dorian guy for some clothes." Think that was mainly cos, I only had one bag and just a few outfits to my name. One of which already got ruined several nights back. "Mind, if you need travel, I'd do it by daylight--and with cautious measures.""You're not the first to mention that," I say with a small smile. I know she goes out at night from time to time, I ( ... )
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"Yeah, good to know what to expect. Verdi suggested I see that Dorian guy for some clothes." I nod to Lannie, agreeing, "He runs the Sacred Whore, the clothing store and I'm sure he'd enjoy helping you out." I chuckle as I light a cig, taking a deep, first drag before blowing the smoke up.
Glass continues on, saying, "Mind, if you need travel, I'd do it by daylight--and with cautious measures." Lannie adds, "You're not the first to mention that."
"It's good advice. Nights in Excolo can be full of misadventures, if you're not careful."
"And sometimes trade's slow in coming. Ought make sure you've cigarettes enough to last, case of them not coming into town one fortnight or another. And ( ... )
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Lannie smiles. "You're not the first to mention that," she comments and I add "Same. There's plenty out at night as you wouldn't want t'run into."
They're all talkin' 'bout this Dorian, and I guess they're comfortable 'nough with everythin' t'speak like that in public. "Does the river ice up," Mr. Beddau asks as his wife tells him 'bout gettin' heavier clothes, "or is it too warm in the winter? I'd not mind some ice-skating or such." I shake my head. "The river dunt freeze up like that, not 'less there's bin a drought 'n it's real shallow, but there's some big ponds out 'a town that go solid 'nough t'skate. There's parties 'n such sometimes too, with skatin' and ( ... )
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"He's like to have something tart t'say about whatever you go in wearing," I add. "Just humour him, really."
Matter of travelling by night gone over, and I was meaning more on the roads as I'd not count walking about town travelling exact, but it's sound advice so I'm hardly minded to dispute. Iago, meanwhile, 's seeming a touch on edge over the thought of not having his cigarettes. I'd honestly not thought to mention it afore; glad I did now.
On to ice-skating, and "The river dunt freeze up like that," Tess says, "not 'less there's bin a drought 'n it's real shallow, but there's some big ponds out 'a town that go solid 'nough t'skate." My mouth twists a little at the thought, but really, suppose there's little enough to worry about there ( ... )
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Sipping my drink I pause and snort "It'll all depend on his sense of humor, I guess," I say with a shrug and grin that I'm sure Iago knows by now. I don't care about what anyone think of my clothes and even less about what they have to say about them. Heard enough about that Dorian guy to have the thought that he's losing anything of his that touches anything of mine in the wrong way.
Iago and Tess add to the warnings about being out at night and sighing deeply I nod, " I know." And I do too. That one night and the surprise. I handled it well enough, no one got hurt or killed and though it was seriously fucked up, we both walked away. But then they don't know I ( ... )
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