There was no such thing as silence at the edge of a river.  Even on a night such as tonight, with only the faintest wind, when no rain had fallen in days, the rushing of the water dominated.  Garthe had never intended to go to Saint Louis or even to be seen near it, but his hand had been forced.  He hadn't ended up in the city even now but stood ( Read more... )

Her hands were on his back.  Layers of fabric were between her palms and his skin, but still she touched him.  His shoulderblades, shoulders, down along his arms.  He pulled away as she neared his elbows ( Read more... )

A lesser man would have been embarrassed.  Perhaps even frightened.  He laid on the table with his face settled in the intended crevasse.  His eyes were closed.  He was covered from the small of his back to his thighs by a carefully-tended towel, his arms prone at his sides, and the devices monitoring his heart rate and blood pressure registered no ( Read more... )

He was a tall, lean streak of black amongst the lighter shades of the formally casual dining room.  The room was lit warmly, full of shades of ivory and brown with furniture of wicker and plump cushions.  The aches that webbed through him were eased by the light alcohol of the champagne and the softness of the upholstery, and were easily hidden ( Read more... )

"We've both had our interviews with him by now."  Lowering himself to sit at the table, Doctor Nelson found himself grunting softly with the pain that came with age.  He managed to settle himself, though, after his partner - one of many in this godforsaken place - had already opened the can of soda he'd bought to accompany his institution lunch.  " ( Read more... )

Time had been kind to him. He still stood tall, chin lifted proudly as he stepped from the limousine. It was one of many in this town, on these streets - and it was one of the least ostentatious. No stretch Corvette or Hummer but a classic Lincoln that made barely a sound as it drove away, sleek and black against a darker night. The hotel he ( Read more... )

The house in the desert was elegant, spacious and carefully laid out with entire stretches of windows to take in the amazing span of the desert that stretched for miles.  The touch of a fingertip could darken those panes to ease the viewer's eyes, or pale to take in the night's silvered gleam against the sand.  The furniture was plush and sumptuous ( Read more... )

It's been a very long time since I've been able to come to Livejournal and my reasons are such that there is no reason for me to go into them without inquiry.  Needless to say, I have understandably been dropped from Theatrical Muse, and I don't know if I could offer steady posting to any community, but I am still fond of Garthe and want to go back ( Read more... )

Garthe was silent as he stood in the hallway. There was much for him to think about as he waited and at last heard the footsteps leave the library ( Read more... )

As he sat in the plush suede armchair, he looked at the wall opposite.

Hanging there was a staff. Carved wood, carefully painted, with long hairs from the tail of a cow bound to one end.

"My brother - what you have given me and what I have given you - it is not even between us."He remembered its weight in his hands, what it had meant when it was ( Read more... )