I woke up in between a memory and a dream

[mistresswanda]

The Dormouse
Friday afternoon

I opened against my better judgment.  Mostly because I gave me something to do besides wonder where the hell my husband is, and why wasn't he looking for me.

Everything here seemed familiar when I let myself in on Wednesday.  Like a dream I could almost recall.  The main room, the kitchen, the bedrooms.  (the basement,

Comments

[tess_thiess]

I ain't bin in here much. I've figured out that folks have bin forgetting stuff, but Lord only knows what I've forgot. I dunt know that I got family 'r a lover... but other 'n that everythin' seems normal. I even know the woman servin' tea, Wanda, but I ain't sure 'f I know much 'bout her. Dint she have a husband?

The tea's hot and nice though, and the folks in here seem calmer than the folks elsewhere. At least Bl - Lord Hughes seems t'be overlookin' the other day. And Jenna's on today, and I'm glad I ain't workin' with her 'cause there's an ache when I see her, and it's bin botherin' me lots.

"Thanks Miss," I tell Wanda as she pours me another cup. "Are - are you doin' alright yourself? With how things are 'n all?"

[mistresswanda]

I smile and bid goodbye to a trio of ladies, then automatically start to refill the cup of a pretty young woman who is sitting alone.

"Are - are you doin' alright yourself? With how things are 'n all?" I look at her a bit startled, but manage a small smile as I tuck a curl behind my ear.

"I wish I could say I am doing alright but..." Shrug. "I am still piecing things together." I look at her a bit harder and cock my head. "We've met before, yes?" I ask, leaning against the counter and wrapping my arms around my waist.

[tezcatl_ipoca]

Since Iblis is off having family time, seems to me it's up to me to visit with the little woman. Someone ought to keep an eye on her, after all.

Besides, I'm intrigued to see what she's forgotten. There's plenty of entertainment to be had in town right now, but there's nothing like the personal touch.

Find her at her tea shop, serving a dark-haired girl. Overhear her say, "I am still piecing things together. We've met before, yes?"

Come up next to her and put an arm round her waist, pat her tense hand and kiss her cheek. "Hi there, honey. All going well?"

[tess_thiess]

Her eyes widen some but she smiles and pushes her hair back. "I wish I could say I am doing alright but..." She gives a sad little shrug. "I am still piecing things together. We've met before, yes?"

I nod cautiously, lookin' at her. "Yeah - I think. Everythin' is kind 'a patchwork fer me, like I've got most 'a my memories but there's pieces missin' from all 'v 'em. I met you with - the Doctor? - at a party fer Mr. Laclos and his new wife Hermia, but I ain't really friends with 'em and I ain't sure why I was there. And I think I saw..." I blush some but there ain't many folks -

"Hi there, honey. All going well?"

A man appears at her side, leanin' in close and kissin' her cheek. I look up at him, tryin' t'place him, but I can't really. He ain't real good lookin', maybe 'v an age with her though, and he smells like her could use a good bath.

"Is this your new husband Miss Wanda?"

[westin_sagert]

The man is clearly--

Alright, everyone is clearly mad. He grabs the dark woman's (wounded) arm and is accusing her of some kind of spell cast on the entire town, and she kisses his face and staggers back, stunned. I move to steady her, and then Mrs. Whitman is turning and running back into the kitchen, and really, I was hoping for something a little more constructive--

Oh.

Well.

Really.

I certainly think it might be a little early to make wild claims about curses cast on the entire town, but I can safely say that at the moment all three of them are falling well outside the norm of acceptable behavior. The dark woman does not appear to be about to fall over, mercifully, and I step forward and pull the man away from Mrs. Whitman. I am quite careful to make sure it is away."Sir," I say coldly, one hand quite firmly on his shoulder as I steer him towards the door, and I am suddenly quite sure his name was Tez, and furthermore that I should speak to Doctor Constantine about his choice in drinking companions, "the lady wishes you to

[tezcatl_ipoca]

The witch-girl presses her lips to the mirror of my eye. You didn't expect to find something look back, did you? Something that pries into your hidden guilt and - ah. There.

Perhaps I should feel jealous of that. But it's too satisfying, to feel her flinch away, and there's a sharp amusement too at the knowledge that Syl, again, found herself in such a situation. The irony of it.

I give her a long, slow smile, and I'm about to speak when -

Oh, Wanda. The metal is very sharp and cool against my neck, and my smile doesn't fade, not at all. You're making yourself look so very sane. "I may not remember much sir, for I do not remember you, and I do not recall the incident of which you speak... but I do know that I love my husband very much, and I can assure you...I know how to use this. Now, get out."I'm almost disappointed when the interfering man pulls me away. My neck stings, and I think a little blood has sprung up there. He's talking, but I don't hear his words, because: "You smell of him," I say, and my voice is

[tess_thiess]

Part 'a me sees Wanda run and return, settin' a blde t'Tezcatlipoca's neck. Part 'a me sees the second man pull him away but I dunt hear nothin' 'till he suggests Tezcatlipoca go to the sheriff, and I only realize I'm laughin' quiet under my breath at that when those terrible cold eyes have faded from my sight.

I'm breathin' too fast and too deep and I sit back abrupt into a chair.

"You smell of him," I hear Tezcatlipoca saying, and I turn my head to look, willin' my eyes t'focus on the man. He sounds real fer the first time, his voice low 'n urgent, the way a voice can sound 'afore sex 'r a fight 'n he presses his face into the man's neck - Johnny - t'scent him. "I can feel him on you."

My voice comes out strange. "Who?" They ain't even lookin' at me, but 'f I ask maybe I won't have t'give the answer.

[mistresswanda]

I register that the woman is backing away a bit, stunned; but my eyes do not leave his. He keeps smiling, and I do believe he is enjoying this. The corner of my mouth twitches up ever so slightly. I almost wish we were alone, just to see how this might play out...

but no. The gentleman pulls my prey away, and I back up a step, allowing him to do so, but I do not relax my grip on the gladious. How I know it is called that is something I shall ponder later. I am gratified at the drops of blood coming to the surface on his neck, and I get the sudden urge to touch my fingers to it, just to see how red it would be against my skin.

"Sir, the lady wishes you to leave her establishment. I am sure that-- if you wish to report anything, the Sheriff's Office will give you the hearing you deserve."

I am about to graciously offer to go along, when the friend gets a almost hungry look in his eye. "You smell of him," He leans in and inhales deeply. "I can feel him on you." I arch an eyebrow, this is getting stranger by the minute.