Comments | estdeus_innobis: It's surprising how much of memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.

glass_beddau in estdeus_innobis

It's surprising how much of memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.

May 11, 2010 20:49

[Fifteen minutes past amnesia, January 13 (day 227)]
[Miskatonic Café]I'm on the road. On a street, rather, neat cobbles and scabs of snow and buildings (in fine enough repair, low-built, a storey or two; lived in, like enough) under the grey air. Sun's overhead through dim clouds and I'm guessing it to be midday ( Read more... )

silence, iago, melania, valmont, wanda, sapphira, glass, !threadbomb, reed, benedict

Comments 110

benedict_donner May 12 2010, 01:06:14 UTC

There's a faint ghost of hunger in my belly, and even if it's gone away I really ought to eat something. It's a long walk back to my Company, after all, and as I've come into town out of uniform the locals might be friendlier than usual. No one likes having soldiers on their doorstep, after all.

I step into the Café. There's the usual scattering of locals, and so I order on my way in and look for an empty - ah! I slide across from her and smile.

"Afternoon, whippoorwill." There's a short moment when it seems wrong for her, but don't they call for the dead? She cares for them after all, and we'd have been glad enough for someone like her. I know we'll be moving on soon - I can't quite remember why the Company's here, but the Colonel has his reasons to station us here, I'm sure. "How've you been?"

It's a pity she's married - from what I remember of the party she looks quite fetching under her practical clothes.

glass_beddau May 12 2010, 01:50:06 UTC

Draw myself back and up a little when the man sits down, and mind myself I've been here a while, I needn't worry--

"Afternoon, whippoorwill." Well, then. Know him, and either talked some for him to know enough t'call me whippoorwill or else he's well-read on his own... Glance to his hands on the table and no, no ring. Aright, then.

We are not pretty birds, child; lie with me and be still, And hold me at my end of days, and be my whippoorwill. Push aside the distraction, old words chiming. "Afternoon, gweithiwr," I say companionably enough. "How've you been of late?"

benedict_donner May 12 2010, 01:59:56 UTC

She - Glass, right - sits back a bit warily when I sit down. I frown a bit, but she doesn't know me that well, but she recognizes me then.

"Afternoon, gweithiwr," she greets me. "How've you been of late?"

I smile again, and then up at the waitress as she hands down my coffee. "Well enough, though I'll admit waiting in one spot gets dull after awhile." I sip my coffee, and then grin at her. "The old complaint of the soldier, I suppose." I suppose it'd be polite to ask after her fellow, too. "And your husband, he's well?" Rather too pretty, I thought, but I suppose those ones are popular with women.

glass_beddau May 12 2010, 02:45:05 UTC

"Well enough, though I'll admit waiting in one spot gets dull after awhile," and I nod as he goes on, makes mention of... soldier, well enough. Bloody hell, did we come to winter in a town with a company in it? "And your husband, he's well?"

I thought I was wed but at the moment it's sound to hear it. "He is," I say, and a touch of the relief comes through but may be I can call that simple happiness to speak of him. Thought comes t'me, then, and I try for it. "You didn't happen to run into him this morning? Said he'd be out and erranding," I add, gesturing vague towards the door and the street outside.

Catch sight of a woman at the counter, and might note her anyway for being all in sleek black and managing to walk in boots I think I'd break my ankle in, but of the moment it's the way she catches herself and's staring at the shine of her ring sparks my attention.

Uneasy thought comes to me--What if it's only those of us are wed?--and I clear my throat and raise a hand to catch her eye. "'scuse me?" I say, and gathering my ( ... )

Thread 28

mistresswanda May 12 2010, 02:31:07 UTC

Once I regain my composure, I start to head back into the town. The buildings look familiar, so I must live here. But where? There are keys in my coat pocket, so I have a house, or apartment, or something. I ponder this as I walk and jingle the keys in my pocket ( ... )

silence_excolo May 12 2010, 12:58:42 UTC

Nothing here seems familiar to me. I wonder if it's a place not in the Real but a creation of the Master. But it doesn't seem so- there's too many details; too much here seems, well, real. And as powerful as he is, I doubt even he could make something like this. Well, not without help, I suppose.

The cafe before me (Miskatonic. Is that a joke, Master?) seems normal enough, if a bit old fashioned. A bell chimes as I open the door, but there's not one face I recognize. I stand in the doorway for a moment, scanning the place, when my stomach gives a loud rumble. Well, that's a start. I fumble around in the pockets of this jacket & find I've some money. Guess I'll eat. But where to sit...

sapphira_ststep May 12 2010, 15:45:44 UTC

...this is, this is really not something, anything, I was expecting. I heard a murmur like an audience when the lights come up all unexpected, and when I looked around a scattering of the tables were populated by people who were trying very hard to wear their own faces. There is a smooth light touch on my face and I put up my hand to find a mask there, figured leather and a subtle scroll around the back of my cheekbones. Its presence calms me, and I lift my head and look around.

There is a plate on the table in front of me, fried potatoes and sandwich crusts and a steaming cup of coffee. I wonder if I have already paid, and look around to see if I can catch the waitress. As I do so, the bell chimes (enter, stage right) and a young dark woman comes in, a Viola thrown down into this green sea. I catch her eye and motion to the chair across from me, tilting my head to one side in a questioning gesture.

What fun this could be. I wonder if she knew me.

silence_excolo May 12 2010, 22:57:25 UTC

The people in this place (well, are they truly people?) seem to be gathered from all walks of life, if their outfits are any indication. I take stock of what I'm wearing - worn jacket, faded black jeans, scuffed boots & - gloves? Fingerless, at that. Maybe I put them on to hide my scar, but I don't remember. Seem like work clothes of a sort. My fingers are clean but there's a touch of black under the nails.

I look back up & see a motion off towards the back. A masked woman gesturing. Towards me.

Master, this seems a bit obvious. But I'll bite. Something of her hair reminds me of someone, maybe one of my cabal-mates. I take a deep breath & cross to her table, not sitting just yet.

"So..." I start, but really, what should I say? The woman has a full plate before her, & the scent of it brings another low rumble from my stomach. When was the last time I ate?

"I... don't suppose you know why I'm here, huh?" I offer, the side of my mouth crooking up to a small grin. Might as well start with the obvious.

sapphira_ststep May 13 2010, 03:45:34 UTC

Smile a little as she comes over. Yes, definitely a Viola, or a Joan. "I... don't suppose you know why I'm here, huh?" she says, looking down.

Well, it's not quite a riddle, but it does make me smile. "I know some things," I say cheerfully. "You're looking for something, and this is not a bad place to try. An eating-house is a good place to speak, and it's a little early and a little bright to start with the drinking." Small strong coffees smelling of chicory, iced and sweetened for summer heat... I remember those, and ironwork lace in the tables.

I lower my voice conspiratorially and lean forward a bit. "But I think half of everyone here's not quite sure of why they're here, now, as they are, so I suppose I haven't earned myself any prizes by guessing you're looking for something like that." I smile. "I'd offer you my name, but I'm afraid that I'm a little at a loss for that at the moment, so I think I will go with Marrana today."

Thread 13

glass_beddau May 14 2010, 01:09:45 UTC

"Congratulations, Mr. Laclos," I say mild. "'m sure it was a lovely wedding, and my best to you both. To your family as well, come summer," I add, nodding to Wanda.

mistresswanda May 14 2010, 01:24:42 UTC

Mr. Laclos flirts with me a little, and I think the paler man does as well as he beams over my breakfast choice. Somehow, this helps. I think I was a flirt, and for some reason, this seems natural. Oh, his name is Benedict. Captain Donner. Alright, we all have names now. Wanda von SacherMosch

"Wanda's last name is no longer von SacherMosch as it was changed after the wedding. Fortunately, Wanda's husband is here at this table. It was a grand wedding, the talk of town and much-remembered." I don't think I could be any more shocked. I deduced I was wed, but I would think I would know my own husband!!! I look from Iago, to Benedict, and then Valmont...

"Three guesses as to who it is..."
"Congratulations, Mr. Laclos, 'm sure it was a lovely wedding, and my best to you both. To your family as well, come summer,"

I suppose, I did think I knew him, but...
His eyes aren't blue.

"Valmont? Do you ... have we....?" I don't remember my own husband, and I am pregnant. Could this day get any weirder?

benedict_donner May 14 2010, 02:45:21 UTC

Her husband's grinning as he reveals Wanda's own husband. I hadn't realized she was married in our previous meeting, but now - well, I suppose they're well suited in their fine clothes and such. I would have thought we'd have heard of such a large wedding though, even in camp.

"Valmont? Do you ... have we....?"

I smile, slowly. "I suppose we should be congratulating you on your child as well, Mr. Laclos. Children are a rare gift in these days."

valmont_vicomte May 14 2010, 14:26:09 UTC

"It was a grand wedding, the talk of town and much-remembered."

Iago is looking at me and grinning, and then Glass - what kind of name is that? Although it is as sensible as naming a boy after a Shakespearean racist villain - congratulates me. On my marriage and forthcoming child.

Sacredieu.

Oh, Madame is going to be so angry. Unless, of course, I am here because it became expedient to leave Versailles... If so, perhaps I should play my part, for now at least.

"Valmont? Do you ... have we....?"

I lean over and pat her hand.

"I do not know, cherie, but I am sure if we are wed we are very happy."

"I suppose we should be congratulating you on your child as well, Mr. Laclos. Children are a rare gift in these days."

Donner gives me a smug look. If he has that attitude toward marriage he will not make it far in the army. Everyone knows good marriages can bring military advancement.

"Twice blessed indeed," I say. "A beautiful wife and a child. What a surprising day."

Thread 20

pirate_mystic May 14 2010, 01:38:07 UTC

Ain't too cold a day, compared to how it's been. Not recognisin much of anythin in the town, but it ain't the first time we pitched up somewhere with dark comin on, so I figure I ain't had much chance to be around. Kinda funny how it seems familiar, though. Figure these small towns get to lookin alike after a while.

Gotta say I don't much like how I can't remember nothin about it. Don't seem to have near as much spit an vigor to me as I should, an I know I had that an forgetfulness from wound fever afore now. Could be it, but I ain't got my gun, neither, an I don't like that. An why'm I at liberty on my own in the middle of damn town at this time of day?

No, I don't like this any at all. See a chophouse or some such up ahead an let myself in the door, careful cause it ain't like townsfolk always like a swoddy. Overhear a fellow as I come on in: "Captain Benedict Donner, Mr. Laclos. I'm with the Company across the river."That settles me some. Don't know his face, but brass comes an goes, an it ain't hardly worth it to ( ... )