Back on the Doghouse Again...

[velesdonnersen]

 [The doghouse in the backyard of 1126 Taylor Road is turning into Tarvek's personal little corner.  He sits on the roof, with just enough shade from a shade tree, and just enough sun, and the doghouse has a flat peak, so he can sit comfortably cross-legged. He's there, today, far more sober than he's been in awhile, in more senses than one.]

[The

Comments

[ooeeooahah]

[ She notices him on the doghouse from the street, and enters by the gate. ]

[ When he pauses in his drawing, she speaks. ]

Please tell me you haven't moved out here.

[velesdonnersen]

Hello, Ilsa! No -- but it is a nice place to sit, considering.

How are you, today?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She shrugs, ] I've not had any haints climbing out of the drains at me today.

[ Ilsa notices the subject of the sketch. ]

How are you holding up, hon?

[velesdonnersen]

[Looks, and sighs, then shoots her a sardonic grin.]

Well enough. I... I did know it was likely. But it's really the first time I've seen Mayfield's teeth.

[Grim]

I don't like the fact that everything here is treated as disposable. The place has no respect for any sort of integrity, does it?

[ooeeooahah]

No. It doesn't... and I'm afraid, from what I've been hearing, what we got was just a friendly nip.

[ She's watching Catherine draw happy little trees. ]

Did you get a census form?

[velesdonnersen]

[He's not ignorant of the games government plays with things like this... oh, no. Not in the least.]

Oh, yes. I got it. What's worse, as near as I can tell Mayfield made me fill it out.

[Imagine a cat forced to walk through cold, icy puddles... for a long way. Such is the peeve expressed.]

If this town insists on playing petty bureaucrat, we're going to have troubles.

[ooeeooahah]

Ah.

The timing is not that far off, seasonally, but the questions?

[ She shakes her head. ]

I was never a valid precognitive, but I don't like the feeling I got from the form.

[velesdonnersen]

[He's actually helped write the Sturmhalten census. He knows rigged questions when they club him over the head like a baby seal.]

You shouldn't. If this place does what we've been told, prepare to be put through hell.

[Grim]

I don't even know where to begin preparing for a place that has all the power. It's not like I know what sort of challenge they'll hand us. Getting weapons may be superfluous -- or, worse, it may simply provide Mayfield with the tools to hurt people.

My people.

[Yes. THIS calls to the Prince in him. His family, Ilsa, Agatha... they're his to protect... and he has no idea how to protect them, any more than he knew how to protect The Betty.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa rolls her head, sighing. ]

The problem with seeing storm-clouds on the horizon without having adequate radar - do you go to high ground to avoid the flooding, or shelter in the basement from the tornado?

[ She huffs in exasperation. ]

And right now, I'm making myself tense up for something that might be tomorrow or next month... or it might even wait for fall.

[velesdonnersen]

[He's got experience with waiting without knowing what he needs to know... The next morph or two may be unsettling to Ilsa, particularly without her talent to draw on. There was the flash of The Prince just now...but it will give way to a moment of serious Dim Fellow....]

Well, gee, why borrow trouble? After all, no one would ever hurt us, would they?

[And, then, the disingenuous court optimist morphs again, to something mild, good natured, but... prepared.]

Seriously? We can't plan for what we don't know. I get so tired of people planning ahead of their data. No data? No plan. In the meantime we enjoy what we can, and...

Keep.

On.

Learning.

[On those words, The Prince again flashes out, like a glint of light on the blade-edge of a Bowie knife. Then mild again.]

You haven't taught me to drive, yet. I think if trouble is coming, I want to learn to drive.

[Turns to kids.] Catherine? Perry? Go tell your mother I may be out for awhile, but not to worry.

[ooeeooahah]

Yeah, good idea. I need to know how the cars here handle, because I am never sure when the jeep's going to be in the garage.

[ She heads to the garage door. ]

[velesdonnersen]

[The Spark and the Boy conspire. It really is a love-relationship: a man and his car.]

They gave me two cars! A family car -- a Cadillac sedan -- and a convertible!

Look, here's the sedan: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1950-1959-cadillac-4.jpg

And here's My Convertible! I want to learn to drive this one to work!http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1950-1959-cadillac-3.jpg

[Again, the Spark and the boy combine, as he says;]

I've been reading about them. They have a V-8 Engine!

[Forlorn] I tried to look inside, to see the engine, but I got a headache.

[ooeeooahah]

Convertible is better for cruising, but the sedan probably would survive ramming actions better.

[ Ilsa checks the cars over quickly ]

Not that the people inside would fare well, without some modifications. No seatbelts, airbags or crumple zones, but they make great missiles.

[ She realizes she's frowning furiously, and then grins. ]

You also don't want to know how many ways I can disable one of these, either.

[velesdonnersen]

[For one brief moment he lights up with excitement as he starts to think of what HE could do to disable a car... then Spark-loss kicks in and he's in serious, serious pain.]

Ow-ow-ow, fire-and-hail, OWWWWWW!

[Miserable...]

You're going to have to be the one to do any sparking, for better or worse. I'm not allowed.

[Scowls.]

[ooeeooahah]

Augh, sorry hon.

[ She moves towards him, and stops, uncertain. ]

It's not anything spectacular, just juvenile delinquency on my mentor's part.

You sure learning to drive will not make it worse?

[velesdonnersen]

{Scowl]

No... Learning to use it isn't like designing it. I'm going to learn.

Fire and hail, I am NOT letting this place steal that. Stupid isn't an option.