Richard's Return

An echoing 'THUD' reverberated through the hall
as the door slammed shut behind him, managing to hit his ankles to send him
falling over his trunk onto the cold tile. Richard swore softly as he slowly
picked himself up, dusting off his apron and picking up his cane before turning
to evaluate just how to get a very very heavy leather and wood trunk all the
way to his quarters. Fortunately they were on the ground
floor, but even so, it was proving difficult to move the trunk further than a foot
at a time. Mentally, he made a note to put wheels on the blasted thing for the
next time he chased down a precious metal.
It then occurred to him that he hadn't told
anyone he was gone, and given the rarity of his jaunts outside his room, it was
likely no one had known he was gone. The thought bothered him perhaps a bit
more than it should have.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, the good
doctor sat down on his trunk, leaning forward on his cane, brows furrowed in
thought as he watched the play of light over the many many curiosities
displayed in the front hall.
Catt
Hatter: *Catt was crossing the atrium, idly shuffling a deck of
playing cards on her way to the kitchen for a snack when she spotted the scarf
wearing fellow on his trunk. 
Who-? Oh right, Rick! I gave him some quartz a while back. She
stopped shuffling the cards and walked over to him.*
Hey, you're back! Where've you been?
Tairais:  Richard
blinked in surprise and relaxed when he spotted Catt's familiar face, offering
a smile that was only ever seen in the eyes and the sudden fluidity of his hand
gestures when he began talking in earnest, the depths of his green-yellow eyes
sparkling with excitement and enthusiasm.
"O-oh! Hello, Catt. I w-was on an expedition t-to the Alps! A..
c-colleague of mine found some samples of iron-nickel m-meteorites that also
had high c-contents of iridium! I h-had been wanting to conduct s-some
e-experiments on the m-metal for s-some time a-and s-set out to assist her in
h-her own research i-in exchange f-for s-some o-of the samples!"
Knowing Catt was fond of minerals and metals as well made it less of an
embarrassment when his excitement made it difficult to speak properly, the
three parts of his accent fighting for prominence as he stumbled through the
English language, consonants and vowels feeling like molasses on his tongue.
That being said, he still muttered an apology afterwards.
"M-my apologies if I w-was not easily underst-t-tood. English is not i-in
my first f-few languages, so it is difficult to speak when I am excited.
Still!" He clapped his hands together before quickly grabbing the support
of his cane. "I h-had quite the adventure!"
Catt
Hatter: Iridium, cool! I'm glad to
hear you had a good time, things have been pretty, uh,exciting here
while you've been gone. *She wasn't sure if he cared to know about all of the
chaotic and hazardous events that had transpired in his absence. At least he'd
probably like to get settled back in his room first.* And don't apologize for your English, it was quite easy to understand. I should be apologizing for only speaking English! *Catt chuckled, thinking she really needed to learn more languages.* How did the quartz work out? Was it helpful?
Tairais:  "E-exciting? Do tell! I've n-need to catch my breath at any rate. Also, if you would like, I
could teach you t-the basics of a few of the languages I know! I'm n-not that
great of a teacher.. as for the quartz, it was i-immensely helpful!... Even if I d-didn't use it for what I originally intended." He was genuinely curious, and Catt was one of the people who seemed to invite friendship, in a laid-back, subconscious manner that made it hard for the shields around his
mind and heart to want to block her out. Not that he wanted to in the first place, mind.
Catt Hatter:  Are you sure you wouldn't rather get settled back in first? *Catt smiled somewhat sheepishly.* I used the word"exciting," but it was truthfully more chaotic and traumatic than anything. Or, at least it was for some... *She murmured, subconsciously rubbing
her forehead. Would he really want to know about that, and would he still want
to be friends with her once he did? Perhaps that story was best saved for
another time.*  I'd love to learn another language, thank you for offering! *Catt said brightly, giggling as she tucked the cards into her pocket. She seemed much
less subdued in her reactions than the last time he had seen her. She must have
grown more comfortable around people.* So what did you use the quartz for?
Tairais:  "I'm
sure. My associate was delightful company, but not particularly fond of
socializing. As for the subject matter.. well." He seemed to choose his
next words carefully. "Let us just say this: There is very, very little
that would traumatize or surprise me at this point in my life." He offered
a somewhat self-deprecating and sympathetic smile. "And I ended up using
the quartz in a clockwork experiment involving a semi-sentient teakettle, electrical
currents, the quartz itself, certain kinds of acidic solutions, and the
reactivity of sodium. Quite enlightening, though I wouldn't recommend
attempting it again any time soon. Quite messy. I'm still cleaning bits of
metal from the ceiling all these weeks later." He chuckled sheepishly,
slight hints of a wicked glee in his eyes.
Catt
Hatter:  *Catt
was sure there was more to that smile than what she could see, but she thought
it best not to ask. It wasn't any of her business to pry at other peoples'
scars.* That sounds like quite the experiment. A semi-sentient teakettle, you
say? Wow. And it all ended with shrapnel in the ceiling. Heh, yeah. 
So the past excitement is a bit of a long story, do you mind
if I sit down? *She asked gesturing to the empty space on the trunk next to
him.*
Tairais:  "It
really was! And p-please, by all m-means." Richard patted the space next
to him while chuckling softly, eyes twinkling with mirth. It was one of the
rarer times when he could speak with minimal effort; most likely a side effect
of the company rather than any grand development on his part.
Catt
Hatter:  Thanks.
*She said taking a seat on the trunk, which creaked slightly at the extra load.
Catt drew a breath before beginning, her voice steady and even as she did her
best to summarize the past few months.*
Let's see, where should I start? You've really been gone a
while.
Um, well Dr. Helen was kidnapped for a few months by Elaina. Rei and I managed
to find her at Elaina's house and now the both of them live here. 
Then there was the fiasco on the Summer Solstice, which was apparently also Mz.
Hyde's birthday. When I tried to create another Space Fold it opened into some
kind of, monster penitentiary in a different dimension? I guess, and all of
these strange creatures came pouring out. This dude with wings named Wakari,
eventually was able to round up the dangerous ones and get them back to his
institution.
After that, everyone found out that Dr. Helen's Hyde had been impersonating her
ever since she was, uh "rescued"? Anyway, Hela, that's her name, went
on a bit of a rampage. Assaulting everyone she met, and she nearly killed Rose
too. Fortunately Alli (Not-Allison) was there and got Rose to Dr. Hen in time,
so she made it okay. 
I tried to talk to Hela, but... *Catt paused, distractedly rubbed her forehead
again. Once Richard knew, there was no un-knowing. Would he really be okay with
it? While she wasn't afraid to talk about it, she knew some things made people
uncomfortable, and if they were uncomfortable enough, they would leave. She
didn't want that.
Catt sighed heavily.* It, didn't go so well.
Tairais:  "Goodness.
I really have been gone quite a while, it seems. I'm glad that for the most
part everything was resolved, but how do you mean, your talk did not go so
well? Do I need to be worried for your safety? And for that matter, is there
anything I can do to help?"
Richard sat in silence for a few moments, pondering the many events that had
transpired in his absence. Truth be told, he knew very *very* few of the names
mentioned, and for half a second, he cursed his reluctance for socializing, and
his difficulty with social cues.
Catt
Hatter:  No...
no, there's nothing to help. And, as far as my safety goes... it's a, bit late.
*Catt gave a wry chuckle, there was no avoiding it now. What would he do?*
She shot me. Right here. *She pointed at her forehead.*
Tairais:  Richard
blinked in surprise, remembering to speak 'properly' this time. "Well, now.
I'd say you've r-recovered q-quite splendidly!" He hummed in thought
before continuing. "You r-remind me of a-an old friend of mine. C-captain
Jack Harkness. Curious m-man. W-walked from the face of d-death like it was
nothing, multiple t-times, I may add. At any r-rate, I suppose it w-would be
redundant a-at this point for me to talk t-to her, yes? I am glad you are
well." His hand twitched with the urge to do something, anything to be
comforting or helpful.. or perhaps the circuits were shorting. That was also
likely.
Catt
Hatter:  That
must be convenient for him, but I didn't just "walk away" from it.
*Catt stared off into her memory, a serious expression etched into her features
as she recounted the event in a steady monotone.* I died at my friend's hand,
terrified and in tears. If Sozo hadn't been there, if he hadn't owed me a life
debt, I would've been gone. *She turned to watch Richard's reaction.* I still
have some bullet fragments in my head. They used to cause lapses in memory, a
lazy eye and a speech impediment. Now all they seem to do is block my fear.
*She closed her eyes and leaned back on her hands with a sigh.*
*So that's why she was so expressive.*
Tairais:  Richard
took a few moments to stomach the words, humming in contemplation before
offering a small smile, seen in the warmth of his eyes crinkling at the
corners.
"Well, I am g-glad things seem to have t-turned out for the better, as it
seems. I am grateful w-we didn't lose such a f-fine scientist, and a personal
f-friend. We are friends, yes? I am not being t-too presumptuous in saying
s-so?"
This time he was fairly certain the hand twitching was due to faulty circuitry.
Catt
Hatter:  *Catt
turned to meet his kind eyes. Huh, he wasn't kidding about not much
surprising him. She offered a smile of her own.* Of course we're
friends! I'm glad for that too, if I hadn't made it I would've missed your
return. Speaking of, should we get this back to your room now? *She asked,
drumming the trunk lightly with her fingertips.*
Tairais:  His
eyes brightened with a warm twinkle before he remembered he had to get up to
move the trunk.
"O-oh! Yes, that would be a g-good idea."
He rose in a slow but graceful movement, leaning on his cane with one hand and
grabbing one of the handles on the ends of the trunk with the other, nodding at
the other end for Catt to get.
Catt
Hatter:  *Catt
grabbed the other handle.* Lead the way!
== Obtained From ==
Dr. Prince Returns!
Category:Main Plot
Category:Normality