Comments | estdeus_innobis: There is so little to do in winter--or you permit yourself the luxury of thinking so.

glass_beddau in estdeus_innobis

There is so little to do in winter--or you permit yourself the luxury of thinking so.

Nov 01, 2009 00:05

[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... )

iago, melania, glass, tess

Comments 49

tess_thiess November 1 2009, 22:55:47 UTC

I thought I'd meet Johnny here - I've bin thinkin' 'bout tellin' him 'bout Kate and me, 'cause I got t'tell someone, and out 'v everyone in the Family I think he'd understand. He really is a good kid when he ain't makin' bad friends 'r lettin' himself get carried away by stuff, and I wonder sometimes if he just likes girls. I wouldn't even suggest it t'him 'a course, but there's times I've seen him lookin' at a well-turned-out fellow 'n wondered if it was just him admirin' him.

Still, that'd be a whole other talk. Right now I just want t'share how happy I am. He eats his lunch in the cafe lots 'a the time, and if he ain't there I can get some food 'n bring it over t'Kate.

When I get in the Miskatonic Johnny ain't there, but Mrs. Beddau is, lookin' out the window at the rain. I push my damp hair back 'n walk over t'her table. She 'n Kate are real close, and I've got t'try makin' friends, even if we seem t'rub each other just the wrong way. "Afternoon, Mrs. Beddau," I say politely t'her.

glass_beddau November 2 2009, 00:20:46 UTC

Water running cold down the pane, and the ceaseless slip of it's pleasant to watch as the heat seeps into my fingers. I'm feeling a little more awake, now, if not exactly in the mood to set myself to any work of note.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Beddau," and I glance up to see Tess Thiess standing by the table, cool as fall air. Consider her a moment and find myself smiling faint, remembering Kate as she set it out.

"Afternoon," I say mildly, and seems she's well, which is to the good. "How've you been?" I gesture to the chair across from me; she's welcome to't if she'd care for it.

tess_thiess November 2 2009, 00:33:04 UTC

She looks up at me in that considering way that bugs me so much. It always feels like she's judgin' me instead 'a just answerin'. "Afternoon," she says with a hint 'v a smile, and I try t'take it as it's given. "How've you been?"

I sit down in the chair she's offered, and order coffee and food t'be kept warm fer take-away. "Well," I say, and can't quite help my smile. "Real well, really." I sit back and glance out the window, glad I dunt have t'walk anywhere far today. "And you?"

glass_beddau November 2 2009, 03:16:59 UTC

"Well," she says in answer, and her smile leaves me thinking of Kate's. "Real well, really. And you?"

"Decent enough," I say. Feeling a touch unwell, yes, but that's nothing worth remarking on. "Quiet week, mostly. Moved out, but hear the construction on the Tavern's going fair quick, so ought be home soon."

Hesitate a moment, then, as her coffee comes, and don't speak again until Lannie's gone. "I trust Kate's judgment," I say careful, and that's true, I know it, "and yet there's something I'd hear from you. If I may." It's the strangest thing, somehow. Know Kate's a fine sense for folk, and guards herself well in particular matters, and minds her words, I know all this. And yet find myself wanting t'have it set out for myself.

Starting to think Kate took the summer with particular grace.

Thread 19

tess_thiess November 3 2009, 14:46:40 UTC

Mrs. Beddau gets my meanin' 'bout strangeness, and well she might considerin' her Pa. "Sense to that," she says, and then "How's Syl been?" I think back 'n I ain't sure I knew the two 'v 'em had met, though I suppose it makes sense with Mrs. Beddau bein' herb-wise and all. "She was good last time I saw her," I say. "She and some friends were workin' on somethin' that had her pretty worried," and I'd best not say more 'n that. I remember us talkin', and give her a quick look. "Who was you worried 'bout Johnny bein' 'round?"

Lannie comes back in a coupe 'a minutes, carryin' two plates 'a fried potatoes 'n lookin' a bit friendlier. "Here you go," she says, settin' the food down in front 'v us. "I must've wrote the ticket wrong and put in an order for two," she says with a smile, and that's nice 'v her though I ain't sure why she's doin' it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare before, you just seemed familiar somehow. Maybe I've seen you here or at the tavern before?" I shake my head. "It's no problem. I ain't bin 'round the ( ... )

melania_lowell November 3 2009, 19:16:57 UTC

Glass thanks me for the tea, and Tess accepts my apology for my odd look at our introduction before. Good. "Had to have been here then" I smile, nodding in agreement. "Looks fine, Care t'sit, Lannie? If we're not keeping you from your customers." Glass asks.

I pause, thinking on it a minute. I know I'm new to town and they don't know me well. I don't wanna crash their chat or be a third wheel. Then Tess shifts over, making room for me, even pushing the plate to a place in the middle. "Sure, thanks," I say, taking the seat next to Tess. "Was about due for a break," I smile and my stomach rumbles again as if to emphasize the point. Glad I live with people. It gives a good excuse for all the food I buy for 'the roomates,' wouldn't make sense if it were just me. Grabbing a fork, I smile at them both and pull a bite of hash browns from the plate.

glass_beddau November 3 2009, 21:50:39 UTC

"She was good last time I saw her," Tess says. "She and some friends were workin' on somethin' that had her pretty worried," and I tilt my head sideways, memory sparking off memory.

"The casting out of her?" I say, remembering talk in Kate's kitchen back and ago. "Well, long as Tez's keeping himself sober." Although with Verdi around, perhaps not long odds on that.

"Who was you worried 'bout Johnny bein' 'round?"

"Only the Shuck," I say thoughtful, turning my tea in circles as Lannie's back. It seems a small thing to worry about, now, given what I saw a week and a day ago. "He--" I shake my head again, trying to put it all aside, and take another sip. Even now it makes my eyes sting to think of it.

Lannie hesitates over the question of sitting with us--spit and staunchweed, is she shy? 'd not have taken her for so--and then Tess moves over to give her space to sit and eat and it's done. Poke absently at my own plate a moment. "Surprised you don't bring a book, 'r something of the like," I say mildly. Always had one for ( ... )

tess_thiess November 4 2009, 01:23:52 UTC

Mrs. Beddau turns her head a bit aside, thoughtful. "The casting out of her?" I nod. "'S why I was askin' after your worries. I'd know Kate, but - well, it can't hurt t'be sure."

Lannie nods. "Had to have been here then," she agrees, 'afore takin' Mrs. Beddau up on her offer. "Sure, thanks. Was about due for a break." She picks up a fork as she digs into the potatoes. Girl's got an appetite, and it makes me think she's a bit younger 'n I did, more t'Johnny's age. He's always eatin' like that. "Surprised you don't bring a book, 'r something of the like," Mrs. Bedau says, 'n I glance at Lannie. "Her 'r me? I ain't much fer readin', really, 'cept fer some family records 'n the like."

Thread 9

iago_excolo November 4 2009, 04:50:27 UTC

Entering the cafe, I look around for my sweet wife. Spotting her and I make my way over to her table, ordering a coffee for myself on the way over. She's seated with Tess, Kate's Tess, and Lannie, the new barmaid from the tavern. I give both women a pleasant grin. Tess didn't hurt my love and as such I have no problems with her, and Lannie, from what I've seen of her, can take a joke. Good points in both their favors.

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?"

tess_thiess November 4 2009, 05:33:09 UTC

Mrs. Beddau lays out the reason fer my question, 'n I nod. "I heard 'a her, though I never met her, not that I knew. There's at least tone other though that might walk 'round with a different face though." I glance over at Lannie. "Sorry if it's a bit much." Mrs. Beddau's face turns cold then, as she says more. "Near as can tell, some bastard peeled her corpse and left her bones hung on the graveyard fence."

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 ( ... )

melania_lowell November 4 2009, 07:49:50 UTC

I nod my head as Glass explains. Though, I'm not really sure what a mockingbird bitch is exactly, I think I kinda get the point. Can't help but feel a little relieved when I hear that she's dead though. From how Glass looks, I think its a good thing. Then her tone changes grows dark and I can't help but tense a little in response. "Near as can tell, some bastard--"peeled her corpse and left her bones hung on the graveyard fence."

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 ( ... )

glass_beddau November 4 2009, 08:00:58 UTC

Tess goes white, but her voice keeps steady. "There's lots nasty as could come from somethin' like that," she manages. "Was - was there anythin' ritual 'bout it?"

"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 ( ... )

Thread 21