[Beta Round] Discovery, Doors, and Dolls

[beldam_buttons]

It would seem, to the outside observer, that it is a day without anything to lend it particular significance - but, curiously, in basements and attics, in kitchens and closets, something a little bit peculiar is going on

Comments

[tendollaftlong]

Finally excusing himself from breakfast with his family, Alex tiredly made his way to his office to begin his day's work.

Not far down the hall from the office door was what appeared to be a cabinet. Or at least, it was too small to be the door to a proper room. He nearly walked right on past it, though his eyes caught onto it just as he strode past. Like most (especially those with as keen eyes as the lawyer) are wont to do when a door that was not there before appears in a house he or she has lived in since Goodness-Knows-When, Mr. Hamilton crouched down in front of it. He tugged gently at the little ivory knob but it failed to yield.

His expedition fruitless, he proceeded to his office. There on the desk central to this room sat a small toy. It seemed to change the character of the whole room, though he wasn't sure how. The little doll leaned against one of the bookends and its black, button eyes appeared to be staring right at him.

My eyes aren't black, Hamilton thought to himself with a haughty grimace, They're amethyst-cerulean-sapphire azure! But otherwise the doll was perfect. He picked it up to admire the craftsmanship (the unmistakable contour of his perfectly sculpted jaw, and an exact mimicry of the suit he was wearing, and the wig) but was interrupted by the clatter of metal on wood.

The third diagnostic incident of the day, a black key. Curiously the torque of the key was not your typical shape, instead, it was a button made out of some strange, hard, artificial material.

Disturbed, he tucked the doll and its key into the bottom drawer on the far side of his desk. No use anyone else of his household being disconcerted by the little thing.

[ooc: I'm totally stunned by how adorable those dolls are, Lady DX~]

FFFF okay I fucked up >___> *plays it cool*

[tendollaftlong]

But throughout the morning and into the afternoon, he couldn't resist the curiosity of the door, the key, and the doll. After a longer period of contemplation than it should've taken a man of his intelligence, it occurred to him: Why not try the mysterious door with the mysterious key? After all, it was the only lock without a key in the house and vice versa.

So, once the hallway was clear, he knelt in front of the door and carefully inserted the key into the little lock and, lo! It opened into a dark-- well, a dark I-don't-know-but-I'm-certainly-going-to-figure-out. Alex crawled on his hands and knees (a rather humiliating position for a man of his stature and natural grace) through the door and into the darkness only to find himself...

Back in the hallway. He felt silly, and returned to his office only to find that it was neater, and the sunlight filtering through his windows was brighter, and it was somehow altogether spruced up.

Well, this was pleasant. Alex indistinctly wondered if the maid would be prettier, too.

No worries, and sorry for slow. Fail night was FAIL. Also niiice book ref.

[beldam_buttons]

The maid, who was indeed no maid, was just outside of his office, dusting a table that sat in the hallway. She hummed a little, waiting for Alex to walk out of his office.

It's cool bb! ...what book ref? XD

[tendollaftlong]

Well, obviously, the reason for this rejuvination was a simple one: While he was degrading himself in that snug excuse for a hallway, the maid had popped in and done a quick dusting (As un-domestic as he was, he understood that a little dusting goes along way towards tidiness). That cheeky little woman mustn't be far, he thought, leaving the better than ever room, she was probably just outside...

"Good lord!" he exclaimed. "Whom might you be?"

In the books it's suggested the Other World is more subtle. Maybe I was reading in?

[beldam_buttons]

She turned to him and smiled. With the exception of two very large button eyes and paper white skin, the woman looked exactly like Alexander's mother in the spring of her youth.

"You don't recognize your own mother, Alexander?" she asked. "Well, I suppose it's understandable. I haven't seen you for a very long time."

Ah! Unfortunately, I've only read the graphic novel.

[tendollaftlong]

Alex didn't know whether to be terrified or delighted. At any rate, his heart nearly stopped.

"W-well then. Hmm. Er." It would be decidedly undignified for him to hug her tightly or to give in to the temptation to bury his face in her skirts.

...Bugger to indiginity. Oh, god, she even smelled like Mother. (It would've been doubly undignified for him to cry. Luckily, this only very nearly didn't happen.) He suppressed the thought that it was too good to be true although, clearly, it was.

[holy crap d'awww]

Btw taco night - 5.30, I rented some movies too including Iron Man

[beldam_buttons]

In one swift movement, she gave him a tight hug, and then stepped back, her hands resting on his shoulders. "You've grown."

I know, because of this wonderful thing called 'Reading'.

[tendollaftlong]

Something wasn't quite right, but again Alex pushed those feelings away. "It's been... more than thirty years, Mother. So much has changed... but I'm so glad you're here now."

Bah, curse my habit of reiteration. Also we're breaking out twister.

[beldam_buttons]

"I know, my dear, I know." She looked wistful for a moment. "You've done me proud though, I can certainly say that."

*Naked* Twister?

[tendollaftlong]

That was exactly what he wanted to hear, exactly what he'd wanted to hear his whole life. If his Other Mother was looking very closely, she could see his deep blue eyes mist over with tears-- but they were gone in an instant.

Do you really trust Archer and naked twister? I don't.

[beldam_buttons]

She stroked his cheek gently, "Don't cry, dear. Tears do not become you."

Re: Do you really trust Archer and naked twister? I don't.

[tendollaftlong]

He swallowed the lump in his throat and broke away from the hug. His eyes roamed over her, drinking in the image of his long-past mother, until they rested on the one glaring inaccuracy.

"It's just one thing, mother..." he shifted somewhat uncomfortably.

[beldam_buttons]

"What is it, Alexander?" She frowned at him.

[tendollaftlong]

"Well, it might be a flaw of my memory... but I don't recall you having buttons in the place of your eyes. And besides that, ought you be a lot older by now?" He asked, placing each word in order delicately.

[beldam_buttons]

The Other Mother stumbled for a moment, but then gave him an indulgent smile, like one gives a school child. "Always such a clever boy. I'm your Other Mother, Alexander."

[tendollaftlong]

He didn't know what kind of an answer he had been expecting, were it not for his great sense of chivalry, he would've then slapped her cross the face. "An other mother? How dare-- how could you even attempt to replace--?" He floundered for the words that could articulate the rage that surged through him.