Keeping open weary eyes

[samuel_durand]

Sunday, June 13
The Whitechapel, Front Desk

Sometimes it seems that I've spent half my life traveling under the open sky, sleeping under trees, in rocky overhangs, in clefts gouged from the rocky ground with the heel of a boot.  It's always an adjustment, coming back to civilization, and the lack of continuity from settlement to settlement doesn't

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[valmont_vicomte]

It's a quiet afternoon. Hermia has Glass visiting, and after getting up late I realise I am meant to be manning the reception. It seems unlikely anyone will check in today, and so I sit in my little office near the front desk, leaving the door ajar so I can hear anyone come in, and I turn to my paperwork.

"Hello?"

I step out to find - well. It's not often men like that choose to stay here.

"Good afternoon," I say cheerfully. "Can I help you?"

[samuel_durand]

A man steps in from the back, and I compose my face in tired friendliness as I take in details. Well dressed. Close to my height and age, though he seems far less weathered. Well dressed, handsome. Dignified manner. Something in the voice I cannot place as yet. Simple Brother Samuel might be too humble and dull a face to wear for this one. No matter. I have many.

"Can I help you?"

I extend a calloused hand, and when I speak, I allow my voice to be touched with the flavor of Central Europe. "Samuel Durand, sir. Late of the Franciscan Order. I've only just arrived, and the Whitechapel Inn was recommended to me by Deputy Hollow. Have you any rooms?"

[valmont_vicomte]

"Samuel Durand, sir. Late of the Franciscan Order. I've only just arrived, and the Whitechapel Inn was recommended to me by Deputy Hollow. Have you any rooms?"

He has an unusual accent, one I do not recognise.

"Valmont Laclos," I say, shaking his hand. "I'm afraid, Brother Durand, that the Whitechapel is not as quiet a place as an abbey, but we do indeed have rooms to rent." I wonder why the deputy sent him here instead of to the abbey. "We have one private room with a bathroom free, or there is a bed available in the dormitory room." I name the prices for him. "How long would you like to stay? We always ask for the first night's fee upfront, and the rest to be paid on check out."

[samuel_durand]

"An entire ocean and many long years lie between me and my own Abbey, Mr. Laclos," I say with a smile. "I didn't come all this way to sequester myself with the heavenly-minded."

"We have one private room with a bathroom free, or there is a bed available in the dormitory room."

I consider for a moment. "It's been a long time since I had much in the way of company. The dormitory will serve for now, if you can answer for the security of my things. I have many books that are quite priceless," I explain apologetically, "and I would hate to see them lost or damaged."

"How long would you like to stay? We always ask for the first night's fee upfront, and the rest to be paid on check out."

"At least a week." I fish in my belt pouch and come up with a suitable amount of gold from the hill country, crudely minted but pure, and heavy in my palm. In places that lack a common scrip, the gleam of gold usually makes for a welcome sight. It makes a deep and satisfying clack when I lay it gently on the desk. "After that, we shall see. Might

[shards_of_alice]

I had pancakes for lunch, not breakfast today. Normally you eat them in the morning time, I told my dolls - their name is Alice too, except they aren't me - but I wanted them instead of sandwiches. That's part of being an adult, deciding things for yourself. My dolls laugh at me, when I say that, but I don't care. I like pancakes

[jaeresteade]

Seemed like Ri didn't want me hanging around for all of her day off, so I came over a little early to open the bar. I come in the back way and find Alice with her head round the corner into the front room, carefully balancing a plate of cookies and milk behind her back.

"Is something burning?"

I sniff, not smelling anything but what she's baked. "I don't think so, sweetheart. Are those for me?" I don't really think they are, since I can hear Valmont at the desk talking to someone. Might be able to get her to give me one, though.

[shards_of_alice]

"I don't think so, sweetheart," Jarmyn says, coming up behind me. I turn a little quicker than maybe I should, because I didn't know he was there. "Are those for me?"

"No!" And maybe that's too fast, too. Hmph. "I mean, um, not really. I made them- I made them for Valmont." My face wants to get red at that, even if I don't know why, and I pretend that everything's okay. "For a present."

[jaeresteade]

Can see it must have taken her some doing to make the cookies. I'll just let her give them to Valmont and then I'll have one when he offers. "All right, sweetheart. Go on."