Role-playing Page for pg 172!

Disqus
 Home
 Notifications
 kcolled
The Role-playing Scientists
Following
Role-playing Page for pg 172!
 550 Comments
Mz.Hyde
Mz.Hyde 
@disqus_NnFUI30kih 7 months ago
Swiggity Swoogity guess who passed their driver's test?!
Me!
Keep an eye on your phones and TVs for Presidental Alert messages about when I'm on the road!
Gas pedal cat (:
This video was uploaded from an Android phone.
https://youtu.be/DHUPZMkp2Ic
 Recommend 7  Share
Best
Newest
Oldest
Back to Top
Comments
The Role-playing Scientists
Sort by Oldest
Avatar
Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Helen Jekyll Tairais • 18 minutes ago
“Please—”
The single world rattled so much in her throat that she couldn’t continue, though her eyes conveyed the message well enough.
Please don’t hurt me, please stay away, please leave me alone, please, please, please let me go.
A sob came, unbidden, and fists turned to hands raised to shield herself as she sank lower, going down to her knees with her entire form tensed for a blow.
“Please,” she repeated, eyes squeezed shut against the tears threatening to well within them.
Jekyll1886
"I... Hela..."
Unsure what to do, what to say, he sank to his knees as well.
He felt the urge to hug her, to bring her into an embrace gentle and warm and firm and loving.
So he...did, heedless of the fact she might very well strike him in her state.
"I love you," he whispered close to her ear, his hand rubbing her back reassuringly. "Nothing will ever change that."
((Tairais ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Charricthran gave a wordless snarl, only halfway listening to the conversation burbling like a stream beyond him.
Kid, calm down. We're fine. You're fine, I'm fine- our body wasn't even real, it wasn't even there! Don't do something we're both going to regret, xsiol!
Jaciv ornla krikvlic ekik hesi wilad!
Well f*ckin' obviously we did something ta startle her, malai! You don't bloody well stomp on someone's windpipe in a friendly spar now!
Wux renthisj svabol ui ti vis!
I'm not! What do I possibly have ta gain by lyin' to us?
There was only silence in the wake of his question as realization set in. Wer'Vemud was no less angry, no less terrified, but it was refraining from trying to unleash itself upon the world, for the time being.
They went still once more, each waging their own internal war on their own, now.
(( Helen Jekyll ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Tairais • 7 months ago
A shudder ran from the back of her neck to the base of her spine at the touch, but the fight seemed to have died within her for she made no move to shake him.
Instead, Hela curled forward into a ball as best she could manage, low, ugly sobs wracking her form.
All the emotion she’d gone numb to in the heat of the fight was crashing down on her now in a tidal wave.
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"There, there, Hela," he said quietly, stroking her head. "There, there. It's over now. It's over. You're safe."
He exhaled a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
"We're all safe now."
((Tairais ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Yth re ti. Yth re loaw.
Now who's tellin' lies?
Wux vucot lae algbo lae si tir batobot si shilta ti wharac.
Truth is only ever someone's perception of it, kid. Are you going to be calm, now?
Geou wux?
Nup, but someone's gotta take responsibility here an' you don' bloody well speak their language, now do ya?
Thric... Si mi bivai.
Yeah, well. Me too. Let's jus'... sit a mo', okay?
Axun.
Oh, but how his heart ached for both Lewis and Hela in that moment. None of this was fair to any of them, really, but Charricthran was having difficulty believing he couldn't have known better.
Imperfect pieces in an imperfect mosaic, all of them.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Tairais • 7 months ago
Over time, her cries gradually quieted until there was only the occasional sniffle as she remained curled against him.
“I’m sorry,” She managed to rasp past the burning tightness in her throat, swallowing audibly, “I didn’t want—”
Her breathing hitched; it was too soon.
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Shh, it's alright. I know," he reassured her. "I know. We'll sort it out later."
He continued to stroke her hair, her back.
"For now, just...breathe."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Hela inhaled deeply, letting the air out in a shuddering exhale a moment latter.
She repeated this several times, eventually tugging off her bracers and setting them aside as her distress was replaced by a bone-deep weariness.
The idea of simply allowing herself to drift off and escape it all was quite tempting, especially with Lewis’s soothing touch.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"There we are," he said softly, once she'd quieted into a calmer state.
"Here, let me walk you to your room," he offered. "You can rest. I'll make you some tea."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Hela nodded her assent and stood up, wincing as she straightened out her legs from the kneeling position she’d been in.
Briefly, her gaze landed on Charricthran and a stab of remorse hit her like a punch to the gut.
She looked away then, head bowed.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis shifted to look more his usual self as he put an arm round Hela's shoulder to guide her back to her room.
"I'll be right back," he mouthed to Charricthran as they left.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Charricthran couldn't see to hear the words, so they reached Wer'Vemud instead.
He felt the brush of feathers against his shoulder as it gingerly asked for his attention.
Hm?
Wer sargt geou confn spical ihk wux.
Oh. Did he say somethin'?
Coi Selthisja
Ah. Point me towards him?
Charricthran's head half-turned to face Lewis then, one eye his and red and cat-like, the other split between the bright-blue white of lightning and the darkness of rich decay.
They gave Lewis a smile and a nod towards where they'd emerged onto the roof.
"Don't worry about us. You both have our apologies. Take your time," he mouthed back.
Then they turned their gaze back to where they had been staring before, tracing patterns that only they could see.
(( Helen Jekyll ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Tairais • 7 months ago
Hela wrapped her arms around her stomach and allowed herself to be led without complaint, eyes downcast.
When they reached her room, she went straight to the bed, crawling underneath the covers with the comforter pulled over her head.
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis nodded to Charricthran, then left with Hela.
Once she was settled in her room, he fetched some tea and biscuits from the kitchen and brought them to her.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
((Tairais ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Nald'su?
Hm?
Si mi... tesantamaso
Why?
Tepoha si sventa coi?
I'll point out you've not done anythin', really. We kept each other in check, see?
Shar yth tira ti vucot, vur jaciv tepohaic ouith ihk coi.
Sometimes, kid, all you can do is accept ya screwed up an' try ta do better. Can't dwell on it too much now- memory's enough ta keep at bay.
Silence. Penetrative silence, that which sank deep teeth into bone and gnawed, ached with things left unsaid but understood between the both of them. It was enough to drive a man to drink, really.
They turned to memory, instead.
Remember the lullaby mum used ta sing?
...Axun.
Sing it for us, will ya? You remember the instrumental bits, an' I don'.
Music filled their mind, soft and soothing under a blanket of heat and the memory of dreams beneath a desert sky. Here, all things were still and safe, calm amidst the rush of reeds, calm amidst the sound of bronze strings and bone flutes.
They would remain calm.
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
Afterward Weir'd brought Hela her tea and biscuits and the latter had settled down to sleep, he made his way back to the roof to check on Charricthran.
Lewis made certain to open the door quietly but audibly--he wished to give Char some warning of his presence without startling him.
"Charricthran?" Weir called softly as he poked his head through the doorway.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
"I'm all right," came a voice that suggested the statement was only partly true.
Tir yth zhaan?
Nah. All's well. Help me stand up?
Wer'Vemud gently nudged the two of them to a standing position, wings flickering back into a semi-solid existence as shadows parted and the ritual from earlier began to wear off. Three of the four pairs vanished as if morning mist burned away by the sun, while the familiar iridescent black of his original wings folded against his back as if they were hewn from delicate china instead of obsidian.
Charricthran looked to Lewis in a half-state that was growing more familiar than either he or Wer'Vemud had anticipated. Neither of them were particularly bothered by the fact in the moment.
They nodded to the door.
"She all right? Relatively speakin'."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
Lewis slipped fully into view and shut the door behind him.
"Yes. She was exhausted and a wee bit shaken, but fell asleep before I left her room."
He shrugged.
"I think things simply escalated a bit far before anyone realized, is all."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
One of those laughs that wasn't really a laugh so much as it was a bubbling sound of half-amused regret hiding under a thin veil of humor bubbled out of his throat.
"Ah, yeah. Tha's one way ta put it. 'M sorry I didnae realize things were runnin' lose so quickly."
A pause.
"You okay? Tha' cannae have been pleasant ta watch."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
"It happened quickly. 'Tis a fine line with Hela between simple frustration while letting the moves flow, and pure, unthinking instinct. It wasn't till I saw her lift her foot to stomp your throat that I knew for certain. Apologies for not catching it sooner."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
He waved a hand to listen to the play of the wind shift with motion and intrigue, the matching wing on his back gesturing likewise, unfolding like the snap of a sail.
"'Tain't nothin' ta worry about, Weirmrith. Least not on my end."
His shark-like smile bloomed across his face, and things began to settle into solidity. Sharpness, if only a little bit--no longer did everything have the faint feeling of motes of dust travelling through sunbeams.
"Glad your reflexes are as sharp as the rest o' ya, though."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
He fell into a slouch as he exhaled, some of his own tension draining even as weariness crept in.
"So am I."
A chuckle.
"Needless to say, if you and Hela should decide to spar again, I had better supervise."
A pause.
"Sorry for snatching you up, by the by. 'Didn't see any other way to separate you two in time."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
He snorted, huffing out a tired chuckle as he walked over and gently clapped Lewis on the shoulder while he was still solid enough to do so. It was as much a gesture of support through the weariness they both felt as it was taking advantage of a situation while it lasted.
Namely because he was about to have a headache the equivalent of getting half-molten glass squeezed through his eyes and out the back of his skull.
"I prefer gettin' "snatched up" ta causin' irreparable harm ta Hela--like I said, don' worry about me. Supervisin's definitely for the best, though."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
Lewis smiled with a nod of approval at the gesture.
"Agreed.
"For now, all's well that ends well, I suppose."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"S'pose so, yup! Now... I've gotta go find somewhere dark an' quiet ta have this headache, else Wer'Vemud might actually try ta eat someone."
He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled sheepishly, eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Wouldnae be the first time, mind."
Si ergriff tira zyak huena, vur wux tepoha nurti origato ve hawg wer siofmea.
It was half a dozen times, an' I ain't lettin' ya forget as such because it was bleedin' rude!
Kah. Svabol'rinov.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
"That's wise," returned Weir. His tone, beneath its customary layer of courtesy, betrayed the sentiments of "I wish you well/Take care" and "You'd better/There will be no eating" simultaneously. He'd have been lying if he'd claimed the day's events hadn't taken their toll on him as well. Still, Charricthran was his friend, and Lewis hoped Char and Hela both would make speed recoveries.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
The two of them smiled, the expression softer from Charricthran than from Wer'Vemud, who found the warning amusing more than anything.
Be a little more serious, would ya? I don' fancy bein' told off jus' cos ya cannae decide whether ya wanna be terrified or a right terror yourself.
He received only a smug half-glower in response.
Typical, he thought with a roll of his eyes before nodding again.
"Take care, Weirmrith. I'll... seeya 'round an' all."
With that, he spun on his heel and ducked into the nearest shadow like a pebble into a pond, rippling, falling, and still in the span of seconds.
The ritual wore off approximately two seconds later.
How he wished he could still take asprin.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
"See you later," returned Lewis just before Char left.
Weir let out an enormous sigh as his head bobbled forward to face the floor.
"Nothing's ever simple, is it?" he said to himself as he straightened, absent-mindedly stroking the tear in the seam of his waistcoat.
I need a bloody drink.
He resolved to go home and get one, as well as change his outfit.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais • 7 months ago
(( Congrats! ))
3  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Tairais • 7 months ago
(Thanks!)
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
((Mz.Hyde Continuation of Mz. Hyde's and Lewis's Underworld trip))
Mz.Hyde Mod Jekyll1886 • 24 minutes ago
Spin around!
Jekyll1886
"Are we to do some type of devilish dervish dance?" asked Lewis as he cocked his head.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Nah, this is just a creepy little thing. Completely harmless! Just spin around a few times! You'll see!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Alright. Clockwise or widdershins?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Widder-whats? Um, just whatever you feel like!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Unsure what the result of spinning widdershins in the Underworld would be, Weir opted to turn clockwise.
"How long do I keep this up?" he asked.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Stop!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
He halted immediately.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Ok, notice that you're facing right towards those big gates. Now, try spinning again!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"So I am," noted Lewis.
He entered another bout of spinning round.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Stop!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
He stopped and, again, beheld the gates before him.
"Why do you tell me to stop when I'm facing the gates?" he asked. "Is there something I'm supposed to notice about them?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
I'm not! Those gates over there are the Gates to Hell. Everyone with a mortal soul can feel its pull in the Underworld. It also totally screws up your sense of direction if you're not careful, otherwise you will end up over there.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Oh," he said with a look of surprise.
He cleared his throat.
"Has any mortal ever gone in and come back out to tell the tale?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I mean, there was Dante and Jesus. That's about it.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Ah. Right." He gave a little laugh. "I'll try to steer clear, then."
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Yeah! So, anywhere that tickled your fancy?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"What's that castle on the hill?" he asked as he turned to look at it.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
That's Lady Death's castle.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Is that where the Death's Guard is concentrated, then?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Yes, their headquarters is up there.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Let's just go the other way, then," he suggested with a chortle.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
That's a good start. Straight ahead, there's the Lake of Eternal Suffering, which is a lake of fire. To the East, there's a movie theater, and a market to the west.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Why don't we hit the market first and make our way to the others in turn?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
That's a great idea! 
*She grabs him by the hand.* 
Let's go!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
He gave her hand a squeeze.
"Let's!"
They soon reached the marketplace.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*The marketplace was full of monsters of various shapes and sizes selling their wares. Shrunken heads, various illicit drugs, cursed items, monster food, and other such wares.* 
And here we are!~
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"I love it," declared Lewis, eyes wide, as he gave Val a squeeze round the shoulders.
"What do they use for currency here?" he asked as his gaze flitted from one fascinating find to the next.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Really anything. Pounds. Euros. Dollars. They take anything. As far as the Department of Greed is concerned, the more money in different currencies you have, then you can literally own everything.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"That's fair enough, I suppose," said Lewis with a shrug. He couldn't fault the logic.
As it was, he had pounds in his pocket and felt like nothing so much as a kid in a candy store.
"Are there any booksellers?" he asked with an eager gleam of curiosity in his gaze.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Of course! I think I see a stall just ahead! 
*And there was! The movable shelves and tables full of a variety of choices. From issues of common magazines to banned books. A cheerful blue oni noticed Lewis browsing and headed over to him.*
"Fuck you!~ Can I help you find anything in particular?
*She smiled.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Weir straightened and blinked.
"F*ck you, too," he returned, incensed, before he could stop himself. Don't give me that shit-eating grin after you insult me! he thought.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Um, excuse me for a moment!~ 
*Mz. Hyde pulls Lewis over to the side.* 
I thought I should tell you, everybody says 'F*ck you' for 'Hi' down here.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"What? Really?"
He paused as he thought about why that might be.
"Do they mean it as an invitation?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
To actually f*ck you? No! Well, unless they're a prostitute...but not usually! But just let anything that's usually a cuss-word slide off. Everyone and their Grandmother has a toilet mouth here. You have to do better than a f*ck you bitch to piss off someone down here.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"So cursing would actually help us blend in? Interesting...
"Are there any words I shouldn't say, like 'God' or 'angel' or 'holy'?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Nope. Especially if they're in vain.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
He broke into a smile.
"Very well, then."
He turned to face the sales-oni.
"Do you have any goddamn books on souls and metaphysics and other shit like that?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh course! I have a couple of those!"
*She goes through her books and comes back with about five books.* 
"I think this is all I have! 'Posession for Dummies'...my old high school textbook from Demonology 101...and THESE."
*She holds up three ancient tomes.*
"Are these what you're looking for?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"You bet your damn horns they are!" he enthused.
"How much for the lot?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"How about 20?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"I've ten pounds Sterling," he countered as he pulled out the cash.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yeah, I'll take it." 
*They exchange the books and the money.* 
"Hope you enjoy them!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Thanks--I'm certain I will," he said with an anticipatory glance to the pile.
"That was fun," he said to Mz. Hyde once they'd moseyed away from the shop.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I'm glad you liked it! What are those old books about? I cant read what language they're written in.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Latin and Greek--well, this one's in hieroglyphics," he corrected himself. "I'll have to brush up on that last one, but it's something to do with the...it's either "powering" or "disempowering", perhaps both...of gods and souls. The Greek one is by far the oldest copy of the Emerald Tablet I've ever seen. And the Latin one's a treatise on the economy of souls in the Underworld from the time of Pluto's reign."
His grin spread from ear to ear.
"Well worth ten pounds.
"These two," he continued as he moved them to the top, "appear to be primers on demonology and possession. 'Tis very convenient they're in English; they look far more recent."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Well, we ARE underneath Great Britain!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Very true.
"Needless to say, I can't wait to read them all," he asserted, unable to stop smiling.
"But not before we see more here. What takes your fancy?" he asked, the whole of the marketplace arrayed before them.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Well, I've been here before, I know this stuff. So what takes YOUR fancy?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
He looked from street-food vendors to jewelers, clothiers to mushroom-sellers...and found himself turned toward the Gates to Hell.
She was right about that, he thought with chagrin.
Gazing that direction, however, he spotted a stand in the distance. Its glass jars and myriad crystals caught his eye.
"I'd like to see what that one is," he said, pointing to it.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Ooo! Yeah! 
*They go over to the stand, where an elf with silver hair was overseeing his wares.*
Greetings! And welcome to my stall!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Some of the crystals glowed with inner light. The glass jars held strange contents like Hell-grove moss and powdered unicorn horn. All was neatly organized, however.
Lewis experienced an odd, niggling sense of familiarity before he realized what this felt like: an apothecary's shop.
"Greetings," he returned with a smile.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Ooo! These are so pretty! 
"Thank you. I enchanted them myself. The red ones are for physical healing, the blue are for mana regeneration, and the clear ones are for focusing magic." 
Are you a wizard?! 
*The elf chuckles.*
"No, though I am flattered that you think so! I am an apothecary, hence why I have my jars of herbs.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"This is remarkable," put in Lewis as he looked from jar to jar. "You've such variety here! I've never even seen some of these ingredients before, much less have any idea what they do."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I come from the land of the fairies in Northern Ireland. I can explain the herbs you don't recognize if you'd like!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
FAERIES! thought Lewis with the internal equivalent of a small child's squeal of delight.
His face lit up with a beaming smile.
"I'd love that!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Which ones would you like me to tell you about?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"How about this pickled dragon's tail-tip?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"That is the tail of a Lindworm. A Lindworm is a wingless snake with two claws on its upper body. It is also called a Wyvern in some parts of the world. Every spring, it sheds its skin and tail, which have healing properties and can help treat nervpus ailments such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and osteoporosis."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"Amazing!" Childlike wonder combined with a physician's studied care as Weir's wheels turned.
"What about this?" he asked, indicating an unusual, purple-and-black flower with a soft luminescence.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"That is a Phantom petunia. It produces a deadly poison."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Does the poison have any medicinal or magical applications?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yes! It makes a very powerful antiseptic!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"How useful," he replied with a nod.
"What about these wee little black pellets or seeds here?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Those are the seeds of the Black Cumin. You can extract an oil from it and use it in cooking. It is said to be high in antioxidants and provide relief to ailments for certain allergies, asthma, diabetes, headaches, high blood pressure, digestive disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis. Its native to south Asia, but I grow it in my greenhouse."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
It looked like cumin, but I thought it couldn't be because...well...this is the Underworld.
Ah, well. Live an' learn.
"That's quite the wonder-herb there."
Another jar caught his eye.
"Oh, say, what's this..." he made out the faded label, "'starflower rose' used for?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Its of the rose family. It doesn't really have much medicinal use. But it smells wonderful!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Oh," he said with a chortle. "I see."
"How about this 'cheese of the Overgoat'?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"That is cheese made from a goat-demon. Tastes great!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Oh, do you eat it often?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yes sir! Here, try a sample!"
*He holds out a piece.*
"Its sinfully delicious!" 
*He chuckles.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
She did say we didn't have to worry about Persephone's folly... reflected Lewis.
"Thank you."
He tried the cheese.
"Oh, that is good," he agreed, licking every last morsel from his mouth. "'Must be a sin," he seconded with a laugh.
"I don't suppose you've a recommendation of which wine to pair it with?" he half-jested.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I'm afraid I don't drink alcohol that often, I apologize."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"Oh, not to worry--I was only joking," Weir waved it off.
"You wouldn't happen to have any books on non-mundane herbology, would you?" he queried. "Between that and this cheese, I'd be set," he said with a smile.
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I think I have one with me. Let me check..." 
*He goes to the back of the stall and rummages around before pulling out a book.* 
Aha! Here we are!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Wonderful! How much for the book, the cheese, the lindworm tail, and the antiseptic flower--and a bag, if you have one?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"50 of whatever currency you possess."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Would you take twenty-five?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I'm sorry sir, but this price cannot be bargained. I put a lot of time into raising my plants and harvesting my ingredients. I assure you, it is well worth the money!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Ah, I see. Apologies--I wasn't aware the price was non-negotiable."
He pulled out fifty pounds, leaving him with only five remaining.
"Here you are, my good fellow."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Thank you, sir!" 
*The elf bags Lewis' goods and hands it to him.*
"I hope these help you in your pursuits."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"I'm certain they will," Weir returned with a smile.
"That was rather enjoyable," he told Mz. Hyde once they'd bade the apothecary goodbye.
He added the other five books to the bag, careful not to crush the ingredients he'd just purchased.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
You're like a kid in a candy store aren't you?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
He put a hand to his mouth as he giggled.
"I suppose I am, at that.
"It's all so fascinating--I've never seen the like!
"I'm afraid I've been a bit of a spendthrift, but I've probably still enough left for us to sample some street fare, if you care to.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Ah, so you think you're brave enough to sample the food of the Underworld?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"You did say we no longer needed to beware of Persephone's folly. I don't see what the harm is."
He paused.
"Is there harm?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Nah. Except maybe an evil twin growing inside you and popping out of your chest! Haha!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Though her tone was light, she wasn't entirely joking.
He blinked at that.
"Let's just go on to see the lake, then," he said with a nervous chortle.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Good idea. 
*She takes his hand and leads him to the ake of fire.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Knowing he'd only five pounds in his pocket, the only shopping he did along the way was window shopping.
It wasn't long before they reached their destination.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*The Lake of Eternal Suffering AKA the Lake of Fire was just that. A literal lake of fire. There were benches and stalagmites surrounding the lake. All around there were monster couples hanging out and moms taking walks with their kids.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
The medium-sized lake was composed of magma; fire burned at its surface.
"Oh, how lovely--it's so warm!" remarked Lewis as they found a bench. "Like being before a magnificent bonfire."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
And bright! I wish I brought my shades! 
*Mz. Hyde says as she shields her eyes.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"We could always sit behind the bench, if you'd like some shade. It'd still be warm, I think."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Eh, yeah we can sit there. Everything is hard rock anyways. 
*She knocks on the ground before sitting down.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
He set his bag behind the bench and joined her there.
"Thank you, by the by," he told her after he'd settled down beside her, "for showing me...all this. It means a lot to me, Val."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I'm glad you're having fun!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"I truly am," he enthused with a smile.
"Are you?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Yes! 
*She smiles.* 
I'm glad that you're not weirded out by anything. Or well, you at least don't SEEM to be weirded out!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"I find the whole place positively fascinating!
"Thanks for warning me off the street food, though," he added with a chortle.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Yeah, I don't think fried tiny humans on a stick would be up to your pallet.
*She laughs nervously.*
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"What?" he asked, his tone somewhere between amused and confused. "Is there a kingdom of Lilliputians down here?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
((Mz.Hyde ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
No, they're upstairs, but monsters hunt them like pigs hunt for truffles.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Do they taste like pork?" he quipped without missing a beat.
"Seriously, though...there's truly a kingdom of Lilliputians? 'Upstairs', you said. What does that mean?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Upstairs is slang for the human world. And yeah, I've heard they taste like really sweet pork.
*She throws a confused and kind of worried glance.*
How did you know that?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"I've traveled," he answered. "Certain cultures have different practices when it comes to such matters. Not to partake would have been the height of rudeness. I hope you'll not think less of me for it," he said, undertones of apology and nervousness to his voice.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Wait...so, you've eaten PEOPLE before?!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
He went red with embarrassment.
Say it a little more loudly, why don't you?
"I didn't know for certain what it was until after the fact," he clarified. "There were strangers around a fire, and I'd wandered into their territory deep in the jungle. I had to appear nonthreatening. To refuse their hospitality would've meant my head. I had my suspicions, but I forced myself to swallow them back so I could live."
He winced at the memory.
"Desperate times. I'd prefer not to dwell on them."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I see....well, as long as you didnt really want to do it and were in a bad situation, I'm ok with it.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
And what if I had? Would you disown me? Turn me in to the police? came the unbidden thought.
He set it aside with a heavy sigh to focus on the present.
"I certainly have no intention of being in such a situation ever again," he answered honestly. "I'm very glad you warned me off the fried Lilliputians. 'Would've brought back certain memories. Let's move on from them, shall we?" he more stated than asked.
He stretched, his neck giving an audible POP, the only tension he was able to release as he strove to tamp down a growing sense of irritation.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Oof! That must've felt good. Am I making you feel tense?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"Some of my memories certainly are."
He turned to her.
"Want to make some good ones?" he suggested playfully. "Well, more good ones, I should say--today's been amazing!"
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*She hugs him.* 
I would love that!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
He returned the embrace and leaned in for a kiss.
"Careful, lovey--you'll get me started," he very nearly purred, smile at once coy and salacious.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*She giggles.* 
Sorry, I didn't mean too. Y'know you have a very...how can I put this...active sex drive!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"'Tis simply the way I'm wired, I suppose," he said with a shrug and a smirk.
A chuckle.
"If you think this is bad, you should've seen me in my youth."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
On a scale of normal to 'dog humping everyone's leg' what level would you describe your younger self?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"It varied a bit, but...
"I suppose on a good day, just able to pass for normal thanks to strategically situating my textbooks or overcoat, or my father giving me a right fright.
"On a bad one...not fit for company, that's for certain. In need of a night or three in Old Town, one might say." A laugh. "Hell, a week or two, if I'd had my own way."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Wow, that bad?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
A chuckle bordering on rueful.
"My adolescence was...a bit late arriving, compared to my peers'.
"When it, did, though...it came with a vengeance. My parents didn't quite know what to do with me--aside from the rod, in my father's case, and inflicting shame, in my mother's."
He shook his head.
"It wasn't until the advent of more modern science that I learned about, for example, testosterone. Back in my day, behavior like mine was condemned as nothing but the product of willfulness, ingratitude, and severe moral turpitude. The folly of youth, too, granted...but that only allows one the occasional slip-up--not habitual, flagrant violation of societal norms, as I did."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
So how did you get better?
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
He laughed.
"I got a...partner of sorts, you might say. I still had the same energy and drives, but at least they had somewhere to go--and someone who'd be discreet about things.
"Heh. My parents thought I'd finally seen the light. And I let them think that. It was simply...better for everyone that way."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I see...
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"To be fair, part of it was mere youthful exuberance. Things calmed a bit as I got past my twenties, so that I'm...well...to the place I am now: 'active', as you phrased it, but no longer the 'dog' you mentioned."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I never knew that puberty could be that miserable. I never went through it and I've heard some stories about it...but holy shit! That must've been awful!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"I was so angry I hardly had time to think on suffering," he admitted. "Not the best period of my life, I own, but it beat the earlier melancholy-bordering-on-suicide I'd felt all to Hell," he said with a shrug. "I didn't have to think on morose matters if I lost myself in physical activity, anger, or drink."
He held Mz. Hyde's gaze.
"I tell you all this not to scare you off, by the by, but to let you know what I was like. I was no angel in my youth."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Oh no, I'm not scared. I'm just sorry that you went through all of that alone!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"You're a kind soul, Val," he said with a fond smile, moved by her compassion. "Thank you for understanding."
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Thank you for thanking me! Haha! Oh look! 
*Some mud phoenixes had landed near them.* 
Damm, wish I had some bread right now.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Oh, mud phoenixes!" Lewis smiled to see them.
"I'd always wondered where they came from."
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Oh, they're native to upstairs, but sometimes they get down here from cave systems.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Oh. I didn't realize. Huh."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Yeah, they're amazing little creatures. 
*She watches a mother phoenix nuzzle her baby.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"They're simply adorable," agreed Lewis. His fingertips touched his lips and palms came together as he looked with a schoolgirl's bliss at the little birds. His expression made him seem akin to a wee little pup himself.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I KNOW right?!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Just look at their little wings and their--oh, she's grooming the baby! Look at thaaaat!" His voice rose in pitch even as it fell in volume.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
EEEEEEEEE!~ 
*The bird duo look at the human couple like "WTF?!"* 
OP! Shush! They're looking at us!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Ohp! Sorry! Sorry." Lewis hunkered down and hushed.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*Lewis and Mz. Hyde and the bird duo, which was now joined by a bigger male, just stared at each other. Mz. Hyde whispers.*
I think he's establishing his dominance...
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"He's a beautiful animal, isn't he?" Weir whispered back.
In deference to the birds' peace of mind and his and Val's continued ability to witness the little avian family, he looked away from the three mud phoenixes.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
He's coming over! 
*The Father bird begins to walk over to them.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Haaa," the faint sound of elation slipped out before Lewis quieted himself.
He observed the bird without making direct eye contact.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*The Father bird swoops in front of Lewis.* 
I think he's challenging you!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Why me?" asked Lewis as he put his hands up to shield his face. "I've been perfectly deferential. And I'm...not a bird."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
I don't know! I'm not Jasper! This is not my area of study!! 
*The bird squeaks at Lewis.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Fair enough."
Lewis imitated a sound he'd earlier heard the chick make.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*The Father bird squeaks back at him, flapping his wings.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
It became apparent the male was defending its family, quite unmoved by Weir's chick impression.
"I suppose we could mosey along," he said with a shrug as he overrode the momentary temptation to grab the bird by its loud little throat.
He stood and offered a hand to Mz. Hyde.
"Shall we?" he asked with a pleasant smile.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Yeah, let's leave him and his family alone.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
The two made their way to UnderLondon's cinema.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*The theater appeared to be a regular movie theater, but outside was a little eyehole slot.* 
We can look through here and watch trailers for the movies! Let's see...oh! 'Candyland'! The fun family game is now a movie! 
* She puts her eyes in the hole. After a few seconds she pulls back out, her eyes a little harrowed.* 
That's...not what I expected...what else is there? Oh! "Dick and Jane!" Sounds like a romantic comedy! 
*She watches a few seconds of THAT trailer...and immediately pops out looking like she's holding back puke.*
No...F**K NO. 
*She looks at the list of the other movies.* 
Ohhh! I get it!~ The titles are the opposite of what the movie is actually like! So that means I MUST love "Cannibal Toddlers on Crack!"
*She watches that trailer. She pops back out like she just saw a dog get run over by a car.*
Nope. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. 
*She repeats this as she leads Lewis away from the theater.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Wait! Even if we don't take in a picture show, I want to at least have a look at the adverts!" he asserted, pulling away.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
NO LEWIS! 
*She pulls him harder, actually crying.* 
Trust me, you DO NOT want to see those! 
'Hydey?!' 
*A worried voice rang through the air.* 
Velma! 
*A half-spider-woman with raven hair, pale skin, green eyes, glasses and braces.*
'What's going on here?!'
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis had just managed to free himself when Velma made the scene.
"Oh, hello," he greeted her, surprised but managing to pull himself together in time to be pleasant.
He caught a glimpse of Mz. Hyde.
"Val, goodness! Why are you crying?" he wondered, voice full of concern as he came back to her. "They're only movies, aren't they?" I'm not going to melt like a snowflake on a summer's day.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh my Lucifer, you weren't thinking of actually WATCHING a movie were you?!"
YESSSS! HE WASSS!! 
"And YOU watched a trailer didn't you?"
YES! I DID! 
"Girl, you know that whatever Underwood makes is always f**ked up shit that would make even Adolf Hitler vomit, cry, and want to break out of the theater from the psychological torment! It's why they use it in police interrogations!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Weir cocked his head, befuddled.
"Then why is it entertainment?" he asked, not knowing any better.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Because there are a lot of PSYCHOS down here who like watching that kind of shit! And come on? Does a movie titled 'Cannibal Toddlers on Crack' really sound GOOD to you? Who ARE you anyways?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"I thought perhaps it was a farce," he said with a hapless shrug.
"My name is Lewis," he introduced himself. "You're Velma, I take it. Val's spoken of you before--all good, not to worry," he added with a winsome smile.
"I'd no idea the films were serious," he said with a note of consternation as he turned to and knelt down in front of Mz. Hyde.
He took out his pocket square and dabbed her cheeks.
"There, there, love. It's alright."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yep! That's me! But yeah, don't go in there."
I'm sorry, Lewis! I didn't want the trailers to ruin the fun you were having! But...I guess I ruined it anyways...
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"On the contrary," he asserted, "you saved me from what would likely have been a series of indelible images no amount of therapy could have expunged from my mind. That's hardly ruining the fun.
"And our little drama attracted the attention of your friend, whom I've now also had the pleasure of meeting," he said with a pleasant smile and a nod to Velma.
"Things worked out very well indeed, Val. I'm only sorry to have upset you."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
It's not you're fault, it's just-
"Alright Hydey, everything's ok now! Here..."
*Velma helps Mz. Hyde up from the ground.*
"Take a deeepppp breath..."
*Mz. Hyde does so.*
"And outttt..."
*They do this a few times. Eventually, Mz. Hyde's breathing evens out.*
"Better?"
Better.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Weir, too, rose from the ground. He put away his pocket square.
"I'm glad," he opined once Mz. Hyde was back to normal.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"You haven't changed a bit, Hydey."
What're you talking about?
"Sometimes you get a little worked up on stuff." 
No I don't! Do I Lewis?!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"Well...sometimes, I suppose--like just now, for example, with the movies and the pulling and the crying. But what of it?" he asked rhetorically. "We all have our quirks, don't we?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yeah, it's just one of your unique quirks. Trust me, it's very refreshing for someone to actually care about something outside of themselves down here!"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"Certainly I'd not wish to see the sights with anyone who made those regrettable films," Lewis agreed. "There's something to be said for caring."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
*Mz. Hyde smiles.*
Yeah, I guess you're both right...
*Silence falls for a moment.*
"Soooo, tell me about your new friend over here!" 
*Velma cheekily nudges Val with her elbow.* 
Oh! Lewis is my boyfriend!
"Oh!~ So you mean you finally broke up with Edward?! The guy you always complained about on Mahjong night?"
Yep...
"Good. I honestly did not like that guy."
*She turns to Lewis.* 
"I better not here about any funny business from YOU, ok?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago • edited
"Not even to crack a joke?" he jested.
Good God, Val, what the Devil did you tell these people about the blond Edward?
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Mz.Hyde Mod A Passerby • 2 hours ago
I dunno. What do fancy people eat?
Helen Jekyll Mz.Hyde • 2 hours ago
“We can’t just pick some fancy appetizer for the fellow, there’s no telling whether or not he enjoys that sort of thing,” Helen said with a touch of surprise, “Not to mention we may appear as though we’re trying to show off if we take that approach.”
Jekyll1886 Helen Jekyll • 2 hours ago
"Think nothing of it," returned Lewis as he rose with a smile and shook George's hand.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Weir asked with a glance at the door. "I don't know what's taking Dr. Jekyll and Mz. Hyde so long," he apologized with a chortle.
A Passerby Jekyll1886 • 2 hours ago
He waved aside the apology.
"It is no matter," He said, his tone friendly enough, "If... I am perfectly honest with you, it is likely for the best that they had not yet arrived."
"I've yet to meet a soul who has reacted kindly to... criticism from another, well intended or not."
((Mz.Hyde ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Then what do YOU suggest we feed them with Helen?! 
(Helen Jekyll)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
“Perhaps some tea and biscuits? It’s a common enough combination, and you can never have teatime too early here,” She suggested, then tilted her head in thought. “Unless you think that’s too common of an option that it could reflect badly on us...”
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Quite right," agreed Lewis.
"If you're still interested in that tour--or something to eat--we could go find them," he suggested. "I fancy they're still in the kitchen, knowing Helen," he said with a good-humored grin borne of familiarity with her.
((A Passerby ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I think that would be a splendid idea," George said, making for the door. "That way I will be able to give Dr. Jekyll my thanks for allowing us to utilize her office."
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago • edited
Just pick something Helen!
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
“I just offered you a suggestion,” Helen said, sounding a trifle hurt, “All I asked was for your input on whether I should proceed with making it.”
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Very well."
Weir locked the door to Helen's office after he and Handson exited.
Lewis then guided him to the kitchen, giving a tour of the main hall en route.
The kitchen door bore a sign that said "No science in the kitchen," though someone had inserted the word "rogue" before "science" with a pen.
"Here we are," announced Weir before he opened the door, just to give Val and Helen some warning.
"Oh, and there you are," he observed at the sight of them.
((A Passerby ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Greetings again, ladies," George said as he entered the kitchen, "Would you mind terribly if we grabbed something to nibble on before proceeding with the tour?"
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
Helen here can't make up her mind on what to make and I have no experience in serving h'ordivers!
(@Helen Jekyll)
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Helen broke into a relieved smile at the sight of them.
"Oh, not at all," She replied to George's query, turning to Weir, "Lewis, what do you think about having tea and biscuits?"
((Jekyll1886))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I think that sounds lovely. Shall we use the striped tea set?" he suggested.
((A Passerby ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Is...Is there anyway I may be of assistance?" George timidly broke in, a sheepish grin twitching to life.
He felt terribly awkward standing there, and he wouldn't be a decent guest if he didn't at least offer.
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
I don't see why not! 
*Mz. Hyde chirps to George.* 
Do you have any experience with bread? 
(@Helen Jekyll)
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
"A marvelous idea! I'll go see if I can locate it," agreed Helen as she went to the cabinets.
It took a minute, as things were always being rearranged in the kitchen, but she'd soon found and set out enough dishes for them all to use with a tasteful, blue-striped pattern.
((Jekyll1886))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis located the various tea tins and asked the group if Earl Grey would be amenable to them.
((A Passerby ))
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I don't have much," George replied with an uncertain air, "Are we to make the biscuits from scratch?"
When Weir inquired as to their preference of drink, he agreed to the Earl Grey.
((Mz.Hyde))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  A Passerby • 7 months ago
((Mz.Hyde ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
Earl's good with me too Lewis!
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Helen arranged the tea set on the kitchen table, putting a spot for each of them.
"Should I start the kettle?" She asked, turning to Lewis once she'd finished.
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Yes, thank you," Lewis answered Helen.
He got out the ingredients needed for the tea biscuits and began measuring out the proper amounts of each.
((A Passerby ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"You really do plan on making them from scratch," observed George, sounding impressed.
He looked around at all of them moving about, wondering whether he should seek to contribute or merely stay out of the way.
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
Of course! Nothing's better than made-from-scratch biscuits! 
*She begins putting the ingredients together.*
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Helen filled the kettle with water from the sink, then placed it on the stove, adjusting the temperature to eventually bring it to a boil.
This done, she waited patiently nearby to retrieve the heated water once it finished.
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis prepared a baking tray for the batter and got the oven hot.
"You're free to have a seat, by the by, Mr. Handson," he encouraged their guest.
((A Passerby ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh."
A beat of uncertainty.
"Very well, then," He said, pulling out one of the chairs so that he could watch the proceedings and taking a seat.
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
*Mz. Hyde begins to knead the dough.*
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
“You both have my apologies for not preparing anything sooner,” said Helen with a faintly embarrassed look, “We would’ve joined you in the office, had it not been for my indecision.”
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"'Tis water under the bridge," replied Lewis.
"So, Mr. Handson...what brings you to the Society?" he asked, making pleasant conversation.
((A Passerby ))
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Ah, well, you see, I'd come here on a previous occasion when things were hardly as pleasant, seeking directions," He relayed with a shiver as he recalled that night. "I'm afraid my curiosity demanded that I return to witness what this marvelous building looks like while not under the influence of some... ghastly fog."
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
You came on Halloween?! Oof! That's some bad timing right there!
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Helen took the kettle off the stove as it came to a boil, giving George a sympathetic look.
“Everything tends to be a little worn at the edges around that time. It’s unfortunate your first experience wasn’t a good one.”
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"'Tis," agreed Lewis.
"I steered clear, myself. Halloween is...odd, in London," he opined with a measure of stifled distaste.
"I'd wager the building looks a bit better today, though, eh?" he asked on a brighter note as he set to cleaning up the measuring spoons and cups.
((A Passerby ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
A Passerby  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Most certainly, yes."
He breathed a faint chuckle.
"It is absolutely splendid, with so many marvelous discoveries inside... I am quite eager to explore what I can."
((Mz.Hyde))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  A Passerby • 7 months ago
Glad to hear that! 
*She puts the batter in the oven.*
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Mz.Hyde • 7 months ago
Helen finished up preparing the tea and carried it to the table.
"If anyone would like a cup, the tea is ready," She said, setting down the pot. "The biscuits may be a bit."
((Jekyll1886))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Ah, thank you. I'd like one," put in Lewis as he placed the supplies back in their cupboards. "Just as soon as I'm done with this."
((A Passerby ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
((Continuation of the Other Rp!
Jekyll1886:
“Ducks and steak it is, then," declared Weir.
Helen Jekyll:
Maximus giggled and turned on the spot to start playfully pushing Lewis in the opposite direction, so he’d be walking backwards.
“Back this way! To the duckies!”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis chuckled at that.
"Very well."
He moonwalked backwards for the sheer fun of it.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Maximus laughed quite happily and darted about Lewis with delight as he moved in reverse, even trying to mimic his walking on occasion.
Desdemona could be caught every so often watching them both with a look as if she wanted to join in.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Like this," said Lewis with a giggle as he showed Maxi (and, surreptitiously, Des) how to do it. "See? This leg does this..." he demonstrated, "while the weight actually goes on this one."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Maximus intently watched Lewis’s example then did his best, almost backwards hopping version of it—in the wrong direction.
Desdemona rolled her eyes and quickly grabbed him by the shoulders to turn him around.
“Like this,” She told him firmly and—with secret delight—tried her hand at her own wobbly moonwalk.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"That's the ticket!" Weir enthused.
"Do it just like your sister, alright, Maxi?"
He continued to demonstrate as they all moonwalked along with varying degrees of success.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
It wasn’t long before Maximus practically tumbled back onto the park grass when they reached it, in a proper fit of giggles by that point.
Rather than join her brother, Desdemona instead set about searching for a tree to climb, soon nearly halfway up the trunk with the speed at which she moved.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Oh, there's the pond," remarked Lewis as he helped the boy up.
"Let's find a bench."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Maximus hopped up with Lewis’s help and began darting about excitedly, occasionally going so fast that he managed to vanish from human sight.
“Here’s one!” He called to Weir from almost the other side of the pond, beaming.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis waved and made his way over.
When he reached the bench, he took a seat and set down the steaks.
"This is lovely, Maxi. Thank you for finding it."
He wagered Des would join them if she felt like it.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“What can the duckies eat?” asked Maximus as he plopped down beside Lewis, kicking his feet slightly as they hung off the bench.
Desdemona was trying to slowly, subtly make her way to them without appearing as if that was her intent.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I...hadn't thought that far ahead," admitted Lewis--he'd been so caught up in teaching the children to moonwalk that he'd forgotten to buy bread on the way to the park.
"If you like, I can call them and see if they come, though," he offered.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“Okay!”
Maximus pulled his legs onto the bench and sat very still, watching the birds in the distance with curious delight.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Weir put a hand to his mouth and made a duck call.
At first, the ducks didn't respond, save to stop swimming. They seemed, if anything, confused, or perhaps startled.
At his second call, two ducks actually swam away.
"Dammit," said Lewis quietly.
"Sorry," he apologized to Maximus. "It's been some time since last I did this."
He tried again, altering the position of his hand slightly.
Riotous quacking ensued, from the ducks and from Weir in return. Within a few minutes, they'd come ashore and surrounded the bench. They seemed to be looking for something--perhaps another duck--and simply milled about in an excited state.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Maximus placed both hands over his mouth with a gasp, thrilled by how close the ducks had come.
"Hello, duckies," He said quietly with a little wave, not wishing to startle them as he smiled in wonder. "Quack, quack!"
Desdemona caught sight of the crowd of ducks that had gathered around Weir and her brother and tried to join them both on the bench, moving closer with painstaking care.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Every now and then, Lewis would do the call again, just often enough to hold the ducks' interest.
The waterfowl were so distracted they didn't notice Des approach.
The three of them had a lovely evening at the park until, at last, it was time to go home.
They approached the door to Hela's house, and Lewis knocked upon it.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Hela cracked open the door, peering out at Lewis through the narrow gap.
"Oh," She said in a deadpan tone as she realized the twins were with him, "You brought them back. Fantastic."
There was beat where she simply stared at the three of them in displeasure.
"Give me a moment."
The door closed as she vanished back within the house, then slid partially open again when she'd returned.
"Here." She shoved a sheet of paper listing nearly another two dozen chemicals into his hands. "Take the brats and go shopping."
Pressing one hand against the back of the door, she prepared to shut it once more.
"Have fun."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis took the list and looked it over.
"Thanks," he said with a chipper smile as he turned to descend the steps.
"Let's go shopping, children."
When Weir and twins returned from shopping, Hela begrudgingly allowed him to work on the chemical compound meant to make one more death-resistant. At the end of the day, she and Weir finally stopped working in order to eat and sleep.
This cycle continued for the next few days.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
And then the cycle came to a halt.
The morning began as the previous had, with the twins waking before Lewis and waiting until he had woken to move the beds out of the way so that the three of them could leave the room. However, this time, they were not the first ones up.
Downstairs, a weary Helen Jekyll sat elbow deep in their days long experiment, working so intently that she didn't hear the activity upstairs.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Weir had just finished moving the bedroom furniture when he noticed her energy.
"How now," he said, given pause.
"I'll be damned." He broke into a smile.
"Children...Helen's downstairs."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Maximus perked up with a smile.
"Let's say hi!" He said, starting for the door, but Desdemona grabbed him by the arm
"The doctor can hurt, too," She reminded him firmly and her brother's excitement died at little at that.
"I know," He mumbled glumly, looking down.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I'll say hello first, if it'll make you feel better," he offered.
He opened the door and headed down the stairs, loudly enough to ensure Helen would hear him, but not so noisily as to startle her.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Helen lifted her gaze at the sound, breaking into a tired, but earnest smile when she spotted Lewis.
"Dr. Weir! I was wondering when you'd awake."
She carefully set aside her tools and slipped off her gloves, standing away from the table to speak with him.
"How have you been? I've no clue how long it's been, since we last spoke... Has Hela been treating you well?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Well enough," he answered with a smile. "It's been...three-and-a-half days, I believe. Perhaps four."
He shrugged.
"How are you, though? And what are we up to, here?" he asked, looking from her to the ongoing experiment and back.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Her smile brightened considerably as Weir shared the time that had passed--it was a drop in the bucket compared to the weeks or months she'd been out of consciousness before.
"I am doing as well as I can," She replied, in rather good spirits considering her situation, "I wasn't expecting to be allowed the chance to speak to you again."
"And, this here is my new job," Helen said with gallows humor, half turning to the table as she gestured to it. "I'm to finish up my miracle cure for the she-devil."
"The final processes are rather.... delicate, and she would rather not risk mistakes. Never fear, though," She said, meeting his gaze with a meaningful look and a brief tap of her temple with her pointer finger, "She's still around and watching."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I see," returned Lewis.
"I take it you and she are unlikely to reach any sort of rapport beyond this type of arrangement," he more observed than asked, expression neutral.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"She already has everything she wants, doesn't she?"
Her tired smile was the expression of one long defeated.
"There's no sense in changing her ways when it's already suiting her just fine."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
He nodded.
"I understand it from her perspective," he acknowledged. "I was simply curious about yours."
He shrugged.
"I suppose I can't help wanting to know both."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh, there's no sense in worrying about what I want," said Helen with a slight slump of her shoulders, "There's nothing left in this world for me anymore, except my usefulness to her."
A soft, bitter laugh.
"It's funny...I once sought to contain evil and now it contains me..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"There's the irony," agreed Lewis. "Although, I understand some sort of body-splitting contraption was involved. I do wonder sometimes why either of you doesn't use it again and let the other go her own way, never the twain to meet again. But perhaps that's just me," he said as he turned to the experiment in progress.
When, about to say something further, he looked back to Helen, her expression stopped him cold.
"I-I'm sorry," he stammered out immediately. "I didn't mean to upset you. I know it's not my business--I'm just foolishly curious at times."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen had frozen in surprise at Lewis' comment, her face falling at once, a twitch of a smile trying to form when he turned to her.
"It's alright, I..."
Her head bowed with remorse.
"I... I'm afraid something has gone quite wrong with that machine," She said quietly, wrapping both arms around herself, "It... it never worked as it should, and now... It's taken the life of a mother..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"I...
"Oh. Oh, my.
"I... I'm sorry," he said, lightly resting a hand on her shoulder, if she would allow him.
"Have you or Hela told Alicia's children yet?" he asked quietly.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen gave a bit of a start, but didn’t move away from his hand, though it was difficult to tell if it was due to acceptance or a fear of offending him.
“The children won’t listen to me,” She said in a hushed whisper, “They believe I’m only Hela in disguise, trying to trick them. Anything I say would be considered a lie.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
He took his hand away as he gave a nod of sympathy.
"Perhaps when we've finished with this," he looked briefly in the direction of the scientific apparatuses, "I can break the news to them. Or Nyx can, assuming I ever manage to get home and she can find her way back."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“You... how could you...”
Helen fumbled slightly as she moved backwards to the table, leaning her weight against it as she pressed a palm to her forehead.
“Nyx... Hela said she...”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"What, died? No, she's quite fine--well, aside from being in mourning, I suppose. But there's nothing physically wrong, at least that I know of."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh thank God..." Helen said all in one exhale, pressing a hand to her chest, "Then where did she...?"
A quick shake of her head.
"No, no, never mind, you shouldn't tell me, I..."
She swallowed, giving a somewhat watery smile.
"I'm happy she's alive."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Weir nodded.
"She is. 'Keeps to herself, for the most part, but she gets on well enough. 'Even met another somewhat-feathered friend."
He glanced to the equipment and back to Helen.
"Shall we?" he prompted, aware Hela was likely growing impatient.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Of course," She replied, taking a moment to breathe and compose herself.
"If you'll just slip on your gloves there, I'll show you where to start."
Over the next few hours, Helen instructed Lewis with the same level of information Hela had on previous days--that is to say, practically none.
However, as a few hours crept closer to nearly have a dozen, the looming presence of the Hyde's energy within Helen began to fade and she grew gradually more liberal with what she shared.
Finally, it had been about an hour since Hela gave even the slightest stir when Helen chuckled at a thought, pausing in her work.
"Is there any particular reason why you two have half a laboratory's worth of chemicals here?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"There's some sort of not-easily-dying potion we were to take for a risky endeavor, but there was only enough for one dose, and neither of us wanted to go without," he explained with a chortle. "I'd have worked on it myself--perhaps even been able to save her time--but she was rather unwilling to share the details of it with me." He shrugged. "Her loss."
A sound between a sigh and a laugh, chagrined as anything.
"And the world's, I suppose," he muttered, seemingly to himself. "Had she let me, I'd've taken it back to my dimension with the hope of saving a life or two million."
He fell quiet then, apparently lost in thought, his face a study in concern and muted sadness.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
"I see," returned Helen quietly, her tone echoing the sorrow she saw in his expression.
There was a moment where she struggled with herself internally, hesitating.
"You know, you... really don't need all of this to make it," She finally said, carefully avoiding his gaze as she turned back to her work once more.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Really?" he asked in a quietly astonished tone. He'd turned to look, but noticed she wasn't making eye contact. Following her lead, he averted his eyes and returned to his portion of the task.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"You have here, what, nearly a hundred different compounds?" Helen commented with a bit of a laugh, "This whole process requires merely a fifth of that to create the, ah," Another chuckle. " 'Not-easily-dying potion of mine."
"You see, the way it works is you take the worst possible poisons known to man and..."
She went on to explain the intricate process of turning the lethal chemicals into a substance capable of promoting rapid healing and recovery when taken, with the effectiveness climbing steadily the more consistent one was with taking it.
Other than brief pauses in which Helen had to ask for silence so as not to break her concentration on particularly difficult sections, her passionate explanation remained uninterrupted by even Hela.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
I knew it could be streamlined! he silently exulted at the vindication.
He was careful to keep at his work, lest Hela rouse...but committed every detail Helen said to memory--a feat made much less difficult because her research dovetailed nicely with his own.
"I... Thank you," he said, sincerely grateful, when she'd finished. "This will help... You don't know... You've a brilliant mind, truly."
He was careful to keep his eyes on his work, but continued, "For what it's worth...I'm sorry things turned out the way they have for you. Your heart's in the right place. I wish things could've been different.
"I want you to know, at the very least, that you've done some good for my world here today. If there's anything I can ever do for you...just name it."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen had to still her hands for a moment, closing her eyes as she fought to breathe past the sorrow suddenly crushing her chest.
"There is nothing left in this world that I can want," She finally answered, a touch unsteadily, "I lost what choice I had long ago."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis was silent, though he kept to the task at hand.
"I'm sorry to hear that...but I understand," he said at last.
"Would you shuffle off this coil if you could?" he asked in the way only one who'd considered the option himself could.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
There came no response from Helen...but her quiet was all the more telling.
The air rattled painfully in her throat as she exhaled and placed her hands flat on the table.
"I think now would be a good time to stop and eat...Once we reach a certain portion of the process, we won't be able to stop for awhile without risking the quality of the potion."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I understand."
He moved toward the kitchen, those his words bore a double-meaning.
"I'll do that for you."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen utterly froze, struck by the meaning of his words.
No one had ever offered her such a thing. For him to even suggest it...
She shook her head to dispel the thought, all too aware of the danger present now.
If she lingered too long on the matter, Hela could catch on, and there was no telling what she'd do.
With a spark of newfound determination, she followed Lewis into the kitchen, attempting to relax her mind so there wasn't a risk of giving herself away.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis set about making eggs and toast. The kitchen was better stocked, now that he'd been in this dimension for a bit.
"The children get on fairly well with me," he mentioned--seemingly casually--as he prepared the pan and got the burner going.
"How do you like your eggs, by the by?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“Scrambled would be just fine, thank you,” Helen answered, taking two cups down from a cabinet.
“It is good to hear they like you. I do not believe they have had any real companionship other than each other for quite some time...”
As she spoke, she began to prepare water for boiling.
“Would you prefer tea or coffee?”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Tea, if you don't mind," he replied as he cracked the eggs into the pan. "Too much coffee might render my hands a bit shaky--'can't have that."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“No, I suppose not,” Helen returned with a light smile, “Particularly when a drop too many of this or that could result in... just a bit of an explosion.”
She went to the pantry, looking through what options they had.
“Is there any certain kind you’d like? It seems we’ve an abundance to choose from now.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
He chuckled at her "explosion" comment.
"Indeed."
As to the tea, he answered, "Earl Grey or Darjeeling, if there is any. If not, any black tea would do."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“As you wish,” said Helen rather cheerily, pulling down one of the boxes and returning to the stove.
“It’s been quite some time since I’ve prepared tea.” She smiled down at her hands as she worked. “It’s... one of the few things I know how to make. Quite relaxing, too.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"There is a bit of zen to it, isn't there?" agreed Weir.
He scrambled the eggs about in the pan.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Helen nodded, then found her attention wholly captured by the food being cooked.
Catching this a moment later, she shook her head with an embarrassed laugh.
“Oh dear, I think I got lost for a moment, forgive me.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Think nothing of it," replied Lewis as he put the eggs aside and began to make toast.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen cleared her throat with the slightest bit of nervousness, bearing a subtle look of wanting to say more.
However, instead, she returned to prepping their tea, head ducked low.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"You alright?" he asked as he turned to her.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“Oh, yes, I’m fine,” Helen said with the grace of someone who’d used that as a ready response for years, the smile paired with it rather convincing.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"No," he replied, tone matter-of-fact as he looked at her sidelong. "You're not."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
She blinked in surprise at his response, caught off-guard.
“I beg your pardon?” asked Helen, more stunned than offended.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"You're not fine," he clarified. "I'd ask why, but it's your prerogative whether to tell me or not. You're better at assessing the risks than I."
He warmed the plates in preparation.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“I... had thought I appeared foolish to you, just now,” Helen admitted quietly, laughing softly, “So I suppose the only risk is wounding my own pride.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Ah, have no worries as to that. I'm known to get lost in thought or the moment myself, sometimes."
He put the eggs and toast on the plates.
"Do you fancy having sausage?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“Only if you don’t mind making it,” came her rapid response. “I don’t want to take anymore of your time.” Even if it has been... years, probably, since I’ve had it...
Oh well.
“And besides,” She added with an amused smile, “I don’t know if I’ll even be able to eat, with how out of practice I am.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I don't mind at all--I could do with some myself, as a matter of fact."
He kept the plates near the heat, though not near enough to crack, and threw some sausage in the pan.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen observed him for a moment before pouring them each a cup of tea, her expression quietly thoughtful.
I wonder what I should try and talk about…
I can’t ask him much about himself…but it’d be awfully rude to ramble about my own life.
‘What will you be doing after Ayato is kill—No, no, mustn’t ask that, it's best if I don’t know.
Hm…
“Would… you care for anything in your tea?” She asked, glancing to Lewis. That was technically conversation, though perhaps not the most entertaining.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Milk and sugar, thank you," he replied.
"Do let me know if you'd like any other food besides this, would you?" he requested in a pleasant tone. "I aim to please."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh, I could hardly ask you to prepare a feast just for me, Dr. Weir."
She laughed gently, going to fetch the sugar.
"Though your offer is a very generous one."
There was a brief pause as she seemed to really considered it.
"Would it... make you happier to do so?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Aye," he answered. "It would. And the children could have some, too, if they liked."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen thought on that for a long moment.
A rare opportunity to have a nice treat for the twins and herself while also allowing Lewis to feel good for providing it.
Surely there was nothing to lose?
"What else are you able to make?" She asked, coming to a decision with a smile.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Oh, a fair range of things. I can do shepherd's pie, chicken curry, various stews, fruit salad, fried fish, and a whole range of baked goods. Used to work in a bakery, actually. I'm no French chef, but I'm no slouch, either," he said with a smile.
He flipped the sausage, using only the pan.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
"Perhaps we've enough ingredients around to prepare... a few of those things?"
Helen gave the cups of tea a spoonful of sugar each.
"You could try your attempts at teaching me, as you did with the cakes."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"'Sounds good," he agreed.
"Any preferences?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"The children would likely enjoy something sweet? Beyond that, I'm afraid I'm not much help, as I'm unfamiliar with the time and ingredients necessary to make much of what you've mentioned."
Helen located the milk and splashed a small amount into one of the teacups before offering the latter to Lewis.
"Unless I step away to continue working while you cook, the amount of time it'll take to prepare everything will be... very important."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Would you prefer dishes that take less time to make?" he queried, reasoning Hela might grow impatient otherwise.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yes, that would be best," Helen agreed with the slightest tremor in her voice, smiling nonetheless.
No sense in unnecessarily provoking a sleeping Hyde.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Weir finished with the sausages and added them to the waiting plates.
He opted to make a variation on shepherd's pie, incorporating the eggs and sausage in addition to the regular ingredients, with a side of Brussels sprouts cooked in herb butter.
"Bon appétit," he pronounced as he set Helen's plate before her. He served the children next, then himself, and took a seat.
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
((MillieGriffin Red Death Redemption, continued!))
MillieGriffin Helen Jekyll • 21 hours ago
Millie narrowed her eyes at Helen as she gave her a sideways glance.
". . . Very slightly better than yesterday at least..." she finally answered, again trying to be as neutral as possible, "Why do you ask...?"
Helen Jekyll MillieGriffin • 15 hours ago
“It’s rather important for me to monitor how all of the Lodgers are doing,” Helen explained with a dip of her head, “And asking is simply the polite thing to do.”
“Not to mention, I know this whole Red Death situation has been stressful for you,” she continued, her gaze sympathetic.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie turned her back to Helen again as she rolled her eyes.
There was so much should wanted to go off on Helen over; namely the heart condition her "lesser half" neglected to mention when Millie was trying to treat her yesterday and then threw a fit when Millie asked for specifics, and then there was Helen herself disregarding her request for Extension to work under her supervision. She wanted to rant all this at Helen but she was trying her best to stay calm, she remembered what her anger could make her do and she never wanted that again, besides that was supposed to be yesterday and the latter half of the problem was being resolved she wasn't supposed to be bothered now, she thought. 
However, the more those memories replayed in her head the more her anger grew.
Ohh, so you think after putting me through all that sh*t and giving me nothing but disrespect, you can just turn around and act all sympathetic and that will make me not be p*ssed at you!? Oh look who I'm talking about, of course you bloody well do—! her thoughts went on like this but she stayed silent.
She folded her arms to hide her trembling hands, closed her eyes for she was certain they were glowing, and started taking deep breaths but every other exhale had a deep growing in her throat.
By then she was grateful to hear her uncle coming towards the room. In another moment the doorknob turned and in walk Griffin with the cases.
"Here you are!" He escaimed, "I've been looking for you!"
As Millie turned to greet him he held the cases out at her.
"Here, these are yours now."
The pungent smell of the incense, rubbed all over the cases caused Millie to rear her head back.
Whoa!
"*Ah-hem*, Thank you..." She said taking the cases.
(Helen Jekyll)
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Helen watched Millie turn her back with more than a little concerned, especially considered she hadn’t yet given a reply. The low growling sounds she heard from her didn’t do anything to ease her worry either.
“Ah, hello again, Griffin,” She greeted when he’d entered, smiling politely, “Are you prepared to give your report now?”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Griffin's stomach growled as she asked him that.
"May I eat while I give it?" He asked.
In the background Millie was inspecting the cases.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Of course,” returned Helen with a nod, stepping aside to allow him access to the desk, “Take all the time you need to tell it while you do so.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Right." Griffin said as he sat at the desk and started unpacking the food and pored himself a drink.
"Where would you like me to begin?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“The moment I left you and Lewis alone, if you don’t mind,” Helen answered and pulled a small notebook from her pocket, pen held at the ready.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Griffin glanced at her as he washed a month full down with some whiskey.
"We discussed somethings of a private matter." He told her plainly, "The topic of which had nothing to do with the Red Death, therefore has no place in your report." He took another sip then continued. "Moments after our discussion Weir lead me to the spice shop where they were distributing the red death, it took a little under an hour and a half to get there by cab."
He paused to take another mouth full of food.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Helen nodded her understanding when Griffin explained Weir’s and his conversation was not to be included.
She wrote in the notebook as he spoke, glancing up every so often to look at him.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Weir offered a distraction as I slipped in, invisible of course, and looked for the case he discribed, that I'm sure he told you about." He took another month full before pointing at the case Millie was holding, "That's the one."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Helen paused in her recording and looked up.
“Does it still contain the Red Death samples?” She asked with evident concern.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Well I never took them out, that's why I wanted to find Millie first, to give them to her. The other two cases contain even more samples of the stuff as well." He plainly explained.
Millie gathered up the three cases carefully, "I'll just put them in the same place as the other samples then."
"That's what I was hoping you'd do."he said "I was hoping you'd already still been down there when I got back."
"Well I'm going now." She replied before leaving the room.
Griffin sighed with an air of relief as soon as the door closed behind her, "But anyway I'm getting ahead of myself, I didn't get the other two until later." He casually spoke before another sip.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“I see. I suppose there’s no harm done, so long as they’re being taken care of now.”
“How did you manage to find the other two cases?” She asked, turning her gaze back to the paper.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Griffin held up his his hand as if to tell her to wait as he swallowed another mouth full.
"I'll get to that point soon enough. While I was looking for that first case a found that the shop was also selling opium." He pulled out one of the bottles of opium and set it in front of Helen. "I found it in a crate of incense in the back of the room and the first case was in the crate next to it."
He went on to explain what happened after that and revealed Airadien as the master mind behind the whole thing puppeteering a group of Indian radicals to do her bidding.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Helen noted it all down dutifully, only offering the occasional question to clarify things.
“Well then,” She said as she’d finished, closing the notebook, “I best go see if I can share this with the co-founders.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"What are you going to do with the report after you show it to Jekyll and the other one?" Griffin asked curiosity.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“I’ll keep it on hand with the Society’s other records, for if we need to reference it again in the future,” Helen explained, tucking the book under her arm.
“Well, thank you for your help with the Red Death,” She said with a grateful smile, “You’ve saved a lot of lives.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
A big grin formed on Griffin's face, as a great deal of pride whaled up in his chest.
"Aheheh, You're quite welcome."
Just then Millie re-entered the room. "I'm back."
"Oh, I just finished the report," her uncle informed her, " to cut it short, the thing was a success."
"Hm... Guess we're lucky," Millie said before turning to Helen with narrowed eyes, "That Mr. Hollis is actually a decent enough person to point out the seller for Weir as the first thing he does. Instead of buggering off to some third-world country and try his experiments again where we couldn't reach him in time to fix any accidents he'd make... Right?"
Griffin frowned it Millie's comment at Helen.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Never fear, Mr. Hollis has been included already in the report," Helen assured without flinching, offering Millie a smile as well.
"Now, if you'll please excuse me, it is vital that I give this new information to the co-founders."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
Millie quickly opened the door to let her out, she was glad to see Helen leave as she quickly closed the door behind her with a lot of emphasis.
"What was that about?" Griffin asked a bit confused.
For a moment Millie didn't answer, just glared at the door before turning to him, "Nothing." She quickly changed topics, "Why did you get this whole jar of ginger?" She said pointing at it.
"It was free."
"Free???"
"As in 'nobody was there to say otherwise' free."
"Oh, that 'free'... But seriously, what are you going to do with all of it?"
"I don't know, but it's mine."
Millie rolled her eyes. Just another thing she's learned to except from him.
★ ★ ★
Later that evening Millie snuck out of the society to the Bedford to check up on Ezekiel.
(Pyrogue)
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
(Pyrogue)
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Ez heard the knock at his hotel door, and closed his book that he had been reading.
He stood up and answered the door. “Millie. Um... Hello. What brings you here at this time of night?”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Pyrogue • 7 months ago • edited
Millie stood in the doorway.
"I just wanted to check on how you're doing, and thank you for helping Lewis in locating the Red Death."
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Oh.”
He was relieved that it hadn’t been anything worse than that.
“I’m fine, I suppose. Listen, Millie... I...” He hesitated for a moment.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"Before you go on, I also want to report that because of your help, Lewis and my uncle tracked it down to the source and have already did away with it, so good for you."Millie add quickly with a smile, "now you can go ahead with what you want to say."
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Oh.”
Despite his reaction, Ez was glad that the Red Death samples had been contained.
“W-well... I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but... I don’t think it’s wise for me to use your lab, seeing as I’m not supposed to actually be in the Society anymore. I’d rather not break anyone’s trust twice over.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"Oh that's all right." Millie said still with a positive look on her face, "I'm not going to force you to use anything, but I would like to remain in close contact with you to make sure you're doing well. And who knows, they may give you a second chance after all, if not now then soon because this is certainly a marvelous start at the very least." Her words came out quickly but calmly as she spoke.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
He nodded. “Where were the rest of the virus samples found?”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"I wasn't able to hear the full report, but I did hear that they tracked it down to a spice shop, and my uncle came back with three cases of the stuff. It's all contained now." She explained.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Right.”
There was a pause.
“I’m really sorry about the other day.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"I know..." Millie assured with a sympathetic look and a nod, "I know you've done what you could to prove that to the society."
She started to step back from the door, "Well, I'm glad you're doing fine, I bid you good night."
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Goodnight.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Pyrogue • 7 months ago • edited
With that said Millie went back to the society for the night.
* * * 
{Millie watched herself walk along a ceilingless hallway in the society, random pages of books were framed along the walls, above her was a sky blanketed with crimson red clouds that moved like the surface of an ocean and angrily thundered constantly. She approached a door and tried to open it to find it was locked. She jiggled the handle more and more, harder and harder, growing more angry by the second until she had enough and started banging on the door, the rumbling of the thunder drowned out any of the noise. Finally she just punched through a chunk of the door and grabbed ahold of something and pulling it in. Helen’s head and shoulders burst a wider hole through the door as Millie had grabbed the collar of her shirt. the wood of the door quickly regrew around her torso and it seemed crashing her head through it didn't phase her one bit because she just smiled that polite smile of hers. The other hand of Millie joined it's twin in grabbing Helen's collar and yanked her up close, her face centimeters away from the face of the monster Millie was that fateful Halloween. The monster was just screaming incoherent words in Helen's face as she just remained politely smiling even though the spit that sprayed out of the monster's mouth, the constant roar of the thunder still drowned out the monster’s voice and the louder she screamed and roared that her throat started to hurt the louder the thunder grew until it shook the hallway, and through all this Helen remind politely smiling—}
Millie's eyes snapped open with a small quick gasp. She was laying on her stomach in bed in the dark, the covers only partially covering her. She could feel her uncle's fingers still poking her before she rolled over on her back and look at him.
“Yes...?”she asked horsley.
“You’re growling in your sleep, it's keeping me up.” he grumbling.
“Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.”
With that Griffin went back to his bed still grumbling until he fell back asleep.
Millie however laid on her back now wide awake, as she pulled the covers over her a little more she just stared blankly at the ceiling and silently did so until morning.
see more
3  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
The next morning found Lewis at the Society and in a remarkably chipper mood.
He knocked at Hela's door, as per usual.
"Hellaaa," he called in a tone bordering on singsong. "Time to wake uuup~."
((Helen Jekyll ))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
A low grumbling noise came from within as Hela stirred, followed by an irritated huff.
"I don't wanna."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Then make Helen do it," he said with a chortle and a shrug.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Another groan of displeasure, though this time she heeded his words, shifting to the doctor's form as she allowed her counterpart to surface.
Helen awoke as she usually did, blinking back disorientation and in nightclothes several sizes too big.
Lewis is here, Her Hyde mentioned with all the charm of a starving bear freshly woken from hibernation.
Oh, thank you.
There was merely a grunt of acknowledgement in her mind before Hela's presence faded.
Helen stood and slipped on a robe that appeared more dress than house-wear, covering past her wrist and ankles and, partially, her throat.
"Good morning, Lewis," She greeted as she opened the door to allow him in, "What brings you here so early?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Well," he said with a cheerful yet apologetic smile as he entered. "I realized last night that I'd lost all proper track of time, so I decided to go home and get a good night's sleep rather than wake anyone at the Society.
"That said, I thought I might make up for lost time by popping in early," he explained. "I trust Griffin made it back here to give his report?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Yes, he filled me in on all that happened, and I in turn took the information to the co-founders that same hour," She confirmed, closing and locking the door behind him as she returned the smile, "I was very happy to hear that all of the Red Death and its distributor have been taken care of."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Indeed so," said Lewis with a nod, smile widening to a grin.
"Would you mind telling me what he told you?" he asked, stroking his chin. He was of the mind the co-founders could do without certain details, but was unsure what information Griffin had included or omitted.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“Not at all.”
After taking a moment to step into her room and retrieve the papers containing the report from the locked box she kept, Helen relayed all the events of the previous day as Griffin had told them to her—that is to say, with all of the more private matters either worded very tactfully or unmentioned all together.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Ah, excellent. I see everything's in order," he observed cheerily.
"What did the co-founders have to say about the matter, by the by?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Only a bit of thanks to those who helped," Helen answered, "They wanted to take some time to process the information, so I'll be meeting with them again at nine this morning."
A pause as she looked at his quizzically.
"Is there any particular reason you're so chipper this morning?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"I got in a good amount of physical activity yesterday--I slept incredibly well. And I'm extraordinarily glad to wrap up all this Red Death business--every last loose end."
He nodded to himself, satisfied with the way things had turned out.
"It's as if a cloud has lifted, to be replaced with resplendent sunshine," he enthused with a smile of sheer elation.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Her quizzical look turned more searching, then flat out questioning, an eyebrow raised subtly at his answer.
"You'll have to tell me about the routine sometime," Helen said without a change in tone, smiling in return, "Perhaps it'd cure Hela of her morning grumpiness."
Hey, I'm not grumpy.
Oh, sorry. Do you prefer the term irritable?
Hahah, you're hilarious, doctor.
It's a genuine question, Helen thought, though she was unable to hide her amusement within her mind. Does bad-tempered suit you better?
You know, I'm starting to think you're the one who needs lessons in niceties.
Unfortunately, my treatment requires exactly the opposite. I'm simply trying to have fun with it... and you.
Hmp. You're almost as bad as Lewis these days.
But you care for him, don't you? Is this your way of admitting you've grown fond of me as well?
Don't push your luck, doctor. That's a step too far.
Helen chuckled softly to herself, but let Hela be after that.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Oh, I fancy it might just," he opined, a slyish look about his eyes. A knowing chuckle followed. "For a little while, at least."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
...Can I have a brief turn?
Why do you need it?
I want to punch him.
What? Why?
He's doing the thing again.
Helen shook her head to dispel her thoughts, pointedly not responding any further to her counterpart.
"How about you write down the steps while I'm changing in the other room? I could fetch us breakfast afterwards from the kitchen," She suggested, holding his gaze with an intent look of puzzlement and the slightest bit of worry.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Hm. I could, at that," he agreed.
When Helen returned, he handed her a note reading:
Step 1: Track down the source of the Red Death/an opium ring and talk one's way in.
Step 2: Befriend one of the fanatics, turn him, and get him to turn on his superior.
Step 3: Learn said 'gang boss' is none other than Ariadne Radcliffe.
Step 4: Allow Griffin to interrogate her.
Step 5: Allow Griffin to find the other two cases of Red Death while one antagonizes Radcliffe.
Step 6: Shoot Ariadne in the leg.
Step 7: Participate in cleanup of site.
Step 8: Bid adieu to Griffin and new Indian friend.
Step 9: Have one's way with Radcliffe and end her.
Step 10: Tidy up the site and oneself, and dispose of any remaining evidence.
Step 11: Go home with a skip in one's step.
Step 12: Get a good night's sleep.
see more
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Helen read over it once, then twice, nodding thoughtfully once she'd finished.
That explains a lot, She thought with a touch of relief, but Hela was not pleased.
That's not fair! Why couldn't I get a turn?
Helen simply ignored her again.
"I'll leave this where Hela can find it," She said fondly, folding the note and moving to place it into the same locked box she used for the Society's reports....only to pause when she noticed the shift in Lewis' expression.
"Or.... not?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"The only reason I wrote that note is because I intend to burn it," he explained, expression serious with muted panic. "It goes nowhere but the fire. Show it to Hela if you like, but I'm afraid I must have it back."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I-I never intended to place you in danger, I can assure you," Helen said, near frantic with the need to atone for her slip-up.
She held out the note.
"I was simply going to lock it away where only myself and Hela could access it, but if you would rather I not, then of course you may destroy it."
Her hand betrayed the start she'd felt at hearing his sudden shift in tone with its unsteadiness.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"I'm...sorry to put such a demand on you," he apologized, placing an arm round her shoulder as he took the note. "I know your intentions are good.
"I just...can't afford the risk," he revealed as he crumpled the note. "I've worked too hard to jeopardize it all with the merest slip of the pen, even though it's written to someone I trust. Any lock can be picked, given the proper tools."
He put the crumpled paper in his pocket.
"It's no reflection on you, love," he assured as he embraced her. "You, I trust fully."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Perhaps you shouldn't," She replied with a quiet laugh, more upset at herself for the slip-up than his request, "I wasn't thinking, I'm sorry. I thought the box Charricthran gave me would be locked enough...but you're right, there's no telling who would be able to open it."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Charricthran gave it to you?" echoed Lewis, looking a bit relieved. That being the case, he supposed it wasn't far-fetched to presume the box might have some special kind of lock, perhaps involving magic.
"That's something, at least."
Then again, he reasoned, Charricthran wasn't the only person at the Society who could do magic...meaning the box might not be quite as secure as he hoped.
"If it were anywhere other than the Society, I'd not give it a second thought," he said with a sheepish smile. "One just...never knows, here."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen bowed her head briefly.
"I understand," She said, giving a small, hopefully reassuring smile in return.
"Now, how about I grab breakfast?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Breakfast sounds wonderful," he readily agreed.
"Shall I wait here?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Sure, make yourself comfortable," She offered as she went to the door, "And... feel free to use the fireplace."
Helen left the room, heading down to the kitchen. On the way there, she happened to run into Dr. Jekyll, the co-founder, who pulled her aside to share some news.
Apparently something had come up and they'd no longer be able to have their previously scheduled meeting. Instead, he handed her a folder containing his and Hastie's decision before heading off to attend whatever engagement required his attention.
She returned to the room about ten minutes after she'd left, bearing a tray of food with the folder held just underneath.
"Here we are! Breakfast for two."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
By the time she returned, a steady fire was going, the last remnants of the note burnt to ash.
"Ah, excellent! Thank you," Weir replied as he rose from where he'd been sitting on the bed.
He looked as if he wanted to help her.
"Anything I can lend a hand with?"
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"If you could take the food, that would be splendid," admitted Helen with a sheepish look, "I'm not sure how well I'll be able to set it down."
The tray was quite crowded and likely would end up a mess if one wasn't careful.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
As Lewis relieved Helen of the tray and set it down on the desk, he noticed the folder still in her hands.
"What's that, by the by?" he asked as he poured her a cup of tea.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
“Oh,” Helen said with a glance down at it, shifting the folder so she held it in both hands. “Dr. Jekyll—the co-founder one,” She clarified with a bit of a chuckle, recalling how many there were in the society, “—said he couldn’t make our meeting, and gave me his and Lanyon’s decision on the Red Death.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Ah," said Lewis as he slid her tea over to her.
"Have you had the chance to read it?" he asked as he poured his own.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Not just yet, I didn't want to keep you waiting," Helen responded, picking up her cup, "Ah, thank you."
She took a sip, then, leaning against the wall, opened the folder to read its contents with a curious expression.
"Huh. An interesting choice," She said to herself, tipping her head to one side.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis had just finished adding the milk to his cup when Helen spoke her opinion.
"Hm?" he cocked his head, curious.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
"It seems that, after some consideration on the events taking place after the Red Death breakout within the Society, the co-founders have decided to allow Mr. Hollis a second chance," Helen relayed with a note of surprise, speaking up, "They're offering him a position as Junior Cryptovirologist under Millie, who would then become the Senior Cryptovirologist."
She set her tea down and took a sheet of paper from the folder, flipping it over.
"She'll have to supervise him any time he's working in the lab and report to Mz. Hyde or myself every week, then we'll pass the information onto the co-founders every other week."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis straightened in surprise.
"That's...unexpectedly generous of them. To be fair, Hollis did do his best to help after his expulsion, but..."
He shook his head and exhaled.
"In any case, it is what it is. At least he'll be supervised, I suppose," he reflected on a more positive note.
"Oh!" he said as the thought occurred. "Given everything Mz. Hyde perceives is known by Lady Jekyll, might I strongly advise against Millie reporting anything to her?" he suggested with a pointed look. "Heaven help us if Val's counterpart should get her hands on something like the Red Death," he enunciated every sound in the last two words.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen's expression darkened briefly as she nodded.
"You're quite right," She answered, recalling the conversation they'd had before on the matter, "I will have to inform Millie that she's to report only to me, then."
She tucked the paper back within the folder and picked up her tea once more.
She paused, however, before she took another drink.
"Uh, speaking of Millie..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Yes?" prompted Lewis after sipping his tea.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I don't believe she cares for me very much," Helen admitted, sounding somewhat embarrassed, "Earlier when I went to her and her uncle's room to wait for Griffin's report, she seemed very... displeased. Turned her back to me and everything, and I swear to you, it sounded like she was growling under her breath..."
She fiddled nervously with her teacup.
"I-I don't know what to do about it... Do you think I should go and talk to her?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Oh, dear. What do you think is the matter?" he asked. He was aware the Red Death outbreak had been stressful for everyone, Millie included, but he'd rather thought she'd gotten it out of her system by yelling at everyone in Ez's room.
"Do you think she's still stressed over the whole Red Death incident?"
A thought occurred.
"Or that she may simply have been worried about her uncle going to investigate with me and found you a handy target for her nerves? Not that that would make it any more acceptable, mind. But it certainly would make it more understandable."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I'm not certain," Helen said, sounding all the more nervous for it.
"She seemed... tense from the moment she saw me... Shut the door a touch too loudly when I entered and left the room... Tried to conceal the fact that their underground lab exists."
She forced herself to take a sip, to take a moment.
"I'm not sure how best to approach the matter. I hadn't thought I'd done anything to offend her."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Ah, that's where she's been going--her energy signature was in a rather odd spot, I do confess," he said with a chortle. That makes sense.
"As to the matter at hand...why not ask her what's wrong?" he suggested. "You're no telepath--how are you to know otherwise? She may even want to get it off her chest, whatever it is. It can be good to get things out in the open."
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen drank the remainder of her tea as he spoke and nodded.
"You're probably right," She said, setting down her cup, "I'll see if I can arrange a meeting with her in private, after I've eaten."
A breath left her shakily, then she smiled.
"Thank you for the advice, Lewis."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Anytime, Helen."
He finished the last of his tea, poured a fresh cup for each of them, and sat down to breakfast himself.
"By the by," he remarked after practically inhaling a piece of toast, "I could go with you when the two of you speak, unless either of you don't want me there. Millie's a friend, and you're...well, you know," he said, never sure who might be listening. "It wouldn't hurt, at the least, I should think."
He drank his second cup and poured himself a third.
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I would greatly appreciate that."
She smiled in between bites of food.
"It would likely help to have a mediator such as yourself to look after both sides of the matter," Helen mused almost to herself, "Millie might even feel more comfortable to speak in your presence than in just my own."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"Then it's settled," he returned with a smile.
I should probably speak with Griffin at some point, too, just to let him know the spice emporium is clean.
When they'd finished breakfast, Lewis ran the tray down to the kitchen.
He and Helen then ventured to the Griffins' room.
"Griffin's still asleep," Weir said quietly to Helen.
Lewis rapped softly on the door.
"Millie?" he whispered.
((MillieGriffin))
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie hadn't moved since she was awakened from that dream, she was still staring blankly at the ceiling when she heard through Griffin's snoring Lewis's voice muttering to someone, then a light rap at the door and her name being whispered to her.
She turned her head to give the door the same vacant look she was giving the ceiling before flinging the covers away. She got up and put a dressing gown over her night gown and slipped into her slippers before going to the door.
When she answered the door she looked about as tiered as one would after such a night.
"Good morning." She said trying to sound a little cheerier then she felt.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
"Ah, good morning, Millie," Lewis answered, keeping his voice low so as not to wake Griffin.
"The co-founders gave Helen their decision this morning. She has something to discuss with you. I'm here to facilitate, if you'll have me," he said with a hopeful smile.
"There's no rush, of course. Feel free to have breakfast first if you like," he offered.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I can go buy my breakfast later." She said closing the door behind her as quietly as she could, "What decision? What's to decide? The Red Death Scare is over isn't it?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Now that the three of them were out in the hall, at Millie's words, Lewis turned to Helen.
He gave the day manager a nod of encouragement.
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"After reviewing the events of this whole Red Death situation from the beginning, the co-founders have decided that Mr. Hollis may return to the Society if he wishes, but only if he does so as a Junior Cryptovirologist," Helen began explaining, her tone pleasant, "You, Millie, will be the Senior Cryptovirologist of the Society and have to oversee him anytime he's working in the lab and, once a week, give a report to myself on what took place during that time frame."
"If Mr. Hollis is willing to accept these terms, then this can be considered his second chance at being a Lodger."
((MillieGriffin))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Millie's eyes widened as Helen gave the news, a wave of shock and disbelief came over her that was quickly replaced with giddiness and overwhelming smugness but she tried her best not to show it. As Helen still spoke Millie put her fingers tips together and rested her lips on them.
"....Could you exuse me for a second..." She said a moment after Helen finished speaking.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Of course,” Helen said, nodding her head.
“Would you like to go ahead and get dressed and fed as well? Or will you simply be stepping away for a moment?” She asked with only polite courtesy.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"it's just going to be a moment." Millie said daintily before disappointed behind the door again.
Once she'd closed the door behind her and was back in the room her poker face morphed into I big ear to ear grin. She started fist pumping, noislessly mouthing out triumphant yeses that rang loud in her mind. She then started nimbly dancing around on her tip toes, clapping her finger tips together repeatedly and whispering a maniacle laugh that sounded more like a hiss in the back of her throat. Meanwhile Griffin's snoring masked what little noise she didn't make. She felt as if she won the lottery at Helen's expense and she couldn't help but revel in it. After a minute of getting that out of her system she came back with a more dignified manner.
"Alright, I'm back." She said with her poker face back on.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Would you care for some breakfast?" Lewis offered with a vague gesture in the direction of the kitchen.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie was about to say 'yes' before Weir gestured towards the kitchen then clammed up, suddenly her mood faltered considerably.
"I-I don't go in the kitchen anymore..." She informed them.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Ah! Right, sorry. Sorry," Weir quickly apologized, chagrined at his faux pas.
"How about the greenhouse? I could bring a tray out," he suggested.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie nodded at the more agreeable option, "I'll just get dressed real quick."
She went back into the room and a few moments later came back in usual garb.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
“Wonderful,” Helen said once Millie had finished.
“Lewis, do you think you’ll need help carrying enough for all three of us, or shall I go with Millie to find a good spot?” She asked, looking to him.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago • edited
"I'd appreciate it if you could help me with the tea, actually," put in Weir, "while I get the food."
He turned to Millie with a pleasant smile.
"'See you in the garden shortly."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie gave Lewis a smile and a quick nod, "Alright, see you in the garden."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Helen and Lewis went off to the kitchen, efficiently preparing a bit of breakfast and tea for the three of them in tandem.
Before long, they both found where Millie had settled down, each of them carrying a tray.
“Hello again,” Helen greeted, setting the tea down very gently.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis nodded his greeting as he set down the food tray.
"I wasn't certain what you might like, so I got a bit of everything." Over two plates spread eggs, sausage, french toast, a waffle, syrup, toast, jam, beans, and pan-fried potatoes.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Oh, thank you." Millie said to Lewis as she sat up and put away her book, "this will do just fine."
She pored herself a full cup of tea with a little more sugar then usual for her to make up for the the bad night, and took a little of everything except the eggs.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Lewis sat down on the loveseat between the two chairs, the coffee table parallel to him and in-between Helen and Millie. He enjoyed spending time in the greenhouse, and would often take afternoon tea on the padded wicker furniture here.
Though he'd had morning tea with Helen earlier, he poured himself another cup when Millie had finished with the pot.
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen patiently allowed for Millie to eat her fill, all too aware that some people did not take kindly to being interrupted during a meal.
Hands folder in her lap, she stared out at the luscious plant life that filled the greenhouse and collected her thoughts for their coming talk.
She hoped it would go well.
((MillieGriffin))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"I'd like to make something clear about this arrangement," Millie said after washing down a bite of pancake, "if I'm going to be called a senior crypto-anything, I'd much rather be called a 'cryptomicrobiologist'. Cryptovirology is after all computer viruses and even though most of the Lodgers won't know anything about that, there's still the ones that time traveled or dimension hopped over here and I'd rather not confuse them about my field." She explained while cutting a piece of sausage before eating it.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Helen turned her gaze to Millie when she began speaking, listening intently.
"I will have to ask the co-founders about changing the names, then, if you'd like," She said, making a mental note to do so, "Although, I'm afraid it may be some time before I can arrange a conference with them, as they're both very busy people," She added with an apologetic smile, "But I shall do my best."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Lewis listened as he sipped his tea.
((MillieGriffin ))
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie simply nodded since her mouth was still full and started to sipping on her tea.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Oh, there's no rush, by the way," Helen began, addressing Millie as she seemed to suddenly recall something, "But after you're done eating, I was hoping we could talk."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Millie stopped sipping her tea as she side glanced at Helen the calmly set her cup down.
"Talk about what?" She asked in a neutral tone.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"I'll wait until you've finished to get into the specifics, but I understand that these past few days have likely been very stressful for you, so I was hoping we could have some time to speak before the next big disaster hits," Helen said, ending with a soft chuckle. "There's truly never a dull day at the Society, so I feared I may not get another chance."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Millie didn't really answer but took a deep breath and let it out through her nose. She had a feeling she wasn't going to enjoy this talk. She pored herself another cup of tea, same as the last, then resumed eating and took her time with it (partly to put off the talked for as long as she could).
* * *
After a while she finally finished her meal.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Noticing that Millie had eaten the last of her food, Helen returned her attention to her.
"Would you like me to return the dishes, so they can be washed?" She asked, dipping her head to indicate them, "Or shall I wait until we've spoken?"
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
"Thank you, Please." Millie politely said holding up the empty plate still wanting to put off the talk.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Ah, I can get that," Lewis volunteered.
He set down his empty teacup and took Millie's plate to the kitchen.
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Helen nodded to Lewis with a smile, settling back in her chair now that she didn't need to get up.
"In that case, I suppose we can begin now," She said as she looked to Millie in attempt to gauge her reaction.
((MillieGriffin))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
Millie felt disappointed that her attempt at postponing the talk further had failed as she slumped back in her chair and let another sigh out through her nostrils, ". . . Okay..." She said unenthusiastically.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Lewis returned from the kitchen, took his seat, and poured himself another cup of tea.
((Helen Jekyll ))
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll • 7 months ago
((How would Helen know that Millie's underground lad exist? It's supposed to be a secret, Millie told ez that only her and her uncle know about it, the only exception is the founders and that's just because she had to pitch the idea to them and even so she'd have them promise not to tell anyone else about it because she doesn't want anyone who might know how to pick a lock know about it.))
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue • 7 months ago
((Congratulations on passing the test! :D))
3  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
((Hooray! Well done! :-) :-) ))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
Thanks Wiz!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Thanks Pyrogue!
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
((Awesome! Congratulations! :D))
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Mz.Hyde Mod  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Thanks 86!
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Setae • 7 months ago
Congrats on the test!
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
-Kitchen Meetings-
[Rose, Jamie and Oscar]
It was the middle of the day and the two sexologists had finished up another unsuccessful experiment in Dr Pendry's quarters. Now they were hungry.
"We should get something to eat, then we can relax for the rest of the day. Is that okay, love?" Jamie softly said, the two of them sitting upon the brunette's bed.
As if in response, Rose's stomach growled.
"Uh...yeah." She muttered, blushing, while Jamie chuckled and gently pressed a kiss into his blonde lover's hair. It wasn't long after that that they were off to The Society's kitchen.
(Pyrogue Your move! X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
Oscar had just finished helping with lunch preparations, and he was sitting on one of the countertops eating a sandwich.
As the two girls entered the kitchen he waved.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Rose had never seen him before, but her natural curiosity quickly had her dragging Jamie towards the mysterious man.
'Not again.' Jamie thought, her stomach silently weeping.
"Hi!" Rose exclaimed, waving her hand.
(Pyrogue Your move. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
“Hey! I guess you’re in here for lunch, then?” he asked.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"Yeah." She answered with a nod, before extending her hand out to the man.
"I'm Rose. It's nice to meet you." Rose said, smiling, while Jamie stood quietly beside her.
(Pyrogue Your turn. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
“Oscar. Nice to meet you too, miss.” He shook her hand.
“Now there are sandwiches over there—” He pointed to the bench opposite him. “—or I can fix you something else if you want.”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Rose looked around to stare at the sandwich, thinking, while Jamie wasted no time grabbing one of the sandwiches, happily eating it.
The blonde sexologist giggled, blushing, before she looked back at Oscar with an apologetic look.
(Pyrogue:disqus Your move. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
He shrugged. “Food’s there to be eaten; don’t feel guilty about it.”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"And it's great food too!" Jamie proclaimed through a mouthful of sandwich, smirking.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago • edited
“Thanks,” he smiled. “So... I guess you two study something here? What would that be?”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
At Oscar's question, the young blonde blushed. It had been awhile since she had had to explain her profession to someone.
"Well..." She said, nervously rubbing the back of her neck, before quietly trailing off.
Thankfully, Jamie saw what was happening and hastily returned to Rose's side, placing a reassuring hand upon her shoulder.
It's alright now, I'm here with you. That was what the gesture said.
Rose smiled up at her lover, before she took a deep breath and composed herself.
"We're sexologists." She finally answered.
(Pyrogue Your turn. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
The answer caught him off-guard for a split second before he answered. “Oh... okay.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"Relax, we're not going to do anything to you. We much prefer consenting test subjects." Jamie calmly reassured.
(Pyrogue Your move. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
His face went pale pink for a moment. “That’s good.”
He hopped down from the kitchen counter and began to prepare some boiling water. “Tea, or coffee, or...?”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"Coffee for me." Jamie answered.
"I'll just have water. I'm not a coffee or tea person." Rose explained.
(Pyrogue Your move. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
The water finished boiling and he went about making a cup of coffee.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"You alright?" Jamie cooed in Rose's ear.
The blonde quietly nodded, a small smile upon her pretty lips.
"I'm fine, Jamie, don't worry." Rose whispered back, before quickly pecking her on the cheek.
(Pyrogue Your turn. X3)
3  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
The coffee finished brewing and he poured it into a cup. “Sugar? Cream?”
3  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
"Two sugars, please." Jamie answered, pecking Rose's cheek and making her lover blush a pretty shade of pink.
(Pyrogue Your move. X3)
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
Oscar stirred two sugars into the cup, then filled a glass with water. He handed the coffee to Jamie and the water to Rose.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Both of them thanked Oscar, before taking sips from their respective drinks.
"So do you like working here, Oscar?" Rose curiously asked.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
He nodded. “Sure! It’s great here. I mean, I don’t know that much about science or anything like that — but it’s interesting. I’d like to learn something here, maybe. I don’t know what, though.”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Jamie couldn't help but smile a bright smile at Oscar's words. She fondly remembered when she had been the same; young, curious yet unsure.
"You'll figure it out eventually. And when you do, it'll be great." She calmly said.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
“I hope so.”
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
RBDECEPTICON17  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Rose smiled at Oscar, and with her remaining hand, she gently patted him on the shoulder.
"Trust us, as long as you have the passion and the tools, you can be a great scientist!" The blonde happily proclaimed.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  RBDECEPTICON17 • 7 months ago
He smiled back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
A Passerby  Guest • 7 months ago
[Are you, perhaps, open to alternative messengers, my good friend? I seem to have an abundance of time on my hands.]
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
A Passerby  Guest • 7 months ago
[You are very kind to do so, considering I've nothing for you in return. Thank you.
They likely won't wish to hear it from me, but I'm certain they will know regardless. May your sleep be quiet and peaceful, friend.]
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
A Passerby  Guest • 7 months ago
[I have a going-away present for you. I hope you like it.]
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
A Passerby  Guest • 7 months ago
[Nothing for you, anymore. You will crumble before you can be saved. A very unfortunate waste, that. I will miss your company.]
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
A Passerby  Guest • 7 months ago
[On the contrary, your antics have always brought a smile to my face.
Take now, for instance.
You've taken a simple promise and turned it into lawman's debate.
If that's not terribly interesting enough, then I'm afraid there's nothing in the world that is.]
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
A Passerby  Guest • 7 months ago
[When words collect on one's tongue as rapidly as raindrops, it is quite difficult to count them before they fall. I must have forgotten myself in my excitement, friend.
I shall enjoy the dance immensely and its retelling perhaps even more so. Until I see you in the End.]
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Guest • 7 months ago
((The thing you asked for is ready now. Or ready enough. Perhaps it has been quite ready enough for a long time and I only needed telling it was time to leave off. I am always too uncertain.
I can send it or I can carry messages for you, or both. Though I am not too sure what place you're talking about. Or there is the Passerby. You seem to be doomed to a feast or a famine...
Let me know.))
•Share ›
Avatar
This comment was deleted.
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Guest • 7 months ago • edited
((I don't entirely understand you, but is this a last-minute something that needs to be put in the picture? Or if you're simply asking whether I've put in any of what is described in the other place, I have. But I can't guarantee I haven't missed something that you would think important, since I'm having to guess at a lot of what you meant!))
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Guest • 7 months ago
((Can I do anything for you?))
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
Mz.Hyde
YES, I have been here before! But I'm not a walking directory! 
*She takes a deep breath and thinks for a moment.*
Maybe we can start at the Infernal Library?
_________________
MillieGriffin
"Alright, sounds like a good start, right Millie?" Griffin said looking down at his niece.
Millie nodded and quietly agreed, "Y-yeah..."
(Mz.Hyde)
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
Wizardblizzard Pyrogue • 2 days ago 
*Isabella is about to give her habitual response along the lines of "Precious little". No, she suddenly decides, there's no need to sell yourself short.*
Chemistry, mostly. Both the alchemical and the, haha, 'legitimate' kind. As a 
matter of fact, I've got an idea just now that I'm rather eager to look 
into further.
---------
Pyrogue Wizardblizzard • 2 days ago
He tried to act like he knew anything about chemistry. “Yeah? What’s the idea?"
---------
I'm fascinated by the effects of light on living things. The more you look into it, the more there seems to be going on.
Pyrogue
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
“Okay...”
At that point the pair had arrived outside the Society.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
D'you mind opening the door for me, please? The bicycle's in the way.
*once inside, she looks round with a smile.*
Nice to be back. Hello, skellington. *She bows playfully to the skeleton.*
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
Oscar held the door open so she could walk past, and chuckled a little as she bowed to the skeleton.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago • edited
What was I saying? Oh, yes, that we're one of the living things it has an effect on. Humans sleep at night and wake up in the day and it's not just a matter of habit. Oh, you can eventually train yourself to rise at night and sleep during the day, if you're working night shifts, but it'll never be as good. The human body knows what it expects and it wants to go back to it! I know what I'm talking about there," she adds with a groan. "I'm part-time here, you know, and my day job's as a nurse over at St. John's. Believe you me... anyway..."
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
“Huh. I never thought about it like that.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
I've been wondering for a long time about possible uses for
luminous substances - what would happen if you had one that was safe enough to
be taken internally, for instance? I've been reading about an interesting new
one that I could try out, as soon as one of the labs is free.
*She props up the bike against the nearest exhibit that looks as if it can take it.*
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
Oscar nodded. “What would that do? Consuming luminescent stuff, I mean?”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
The girl turns evasive. "I'm not too sure, when you put it like that. It was just an example. Oh dear - as soon as I try to explain my ideas I always think they don't sound any good. Perhaps they aren't." Changing the subject: "What do you do at the Society, I mean what's your job, if any in particular?"
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
He felt a slight pang of regret that he’d upset her, but answered the question nonetheless. “I, um, work in the kitchens.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Good! Now that's a worthwhile 'field of study' *she grins* Everyone needs their eats! How have things been at the dear old place 
recently?
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Pyrogue  Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
“Alright, I guess. Every now and then I have to remind someone not to do rogue science in the kitchens, but I don’t mind it. I’d like to get more involved in actual science, maybe.”
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard  Pyrogue • 7 months ago
Oh, really? So would I!
*She laughs sheepishly.*
That sounds silly, I'm supposed to be here as a scientist... but I talk, and read, and grumble, more than I actually do, you know! Maybe we should get together some time...
*Her glance falls on a bag that was strapped to the back of the bicycle, and has miraculously stayed on.*
Hang on, I clean forgot, there was something I was going to take to the library.
((I think we may have got nearly all we can get out of this, unless you have something up your sleeve yourself. D'you think?
By the way, Oscar hasn't a wiki page. Would you like me to put one in? If so, if there's an intro or questionnaire for him anywhere, you'll have to point me to it please - by scrolling down a long way I found a few words of description for him in somebody else's RP but that was all.))
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  • 7 months ago
Lewis took a breath...let it out...and fixed Charricthran with a sober look laced with pity and care.
"You...should probably sit down for this," Weir said softly.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"... I don' like the sound o' tha'," he said, equally as softly as a distant ringing began to build in his ears.
(she couldn't be dead--he hadn't said goodbye yet. she'd promised)
He sat. On the floor, rather than in a chair, simply because somewhere slowly growing farther away, he knew he'd prefer 'solid' ground in a moment.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis joined him on the floor.
"Harry's scans took time--like looking for a needle in multiple haystacks, so I understand. But, eventually, he calibrated his equipment for a particular dimension and, well..."
He sighed.
"His machines--before the feedback demolished most of them--registered a collapse of...I believe he called it an 'isolated multiverse'-- several universes related to each other but cordoned off in their own little group, was the gist I got.
"At any rate, this collapse--and here's the baffling bit--happened only as his instruments detected it and, simultaneously, fifty-thousand years ago. The universes collapsed into nothing, as if they'd never existed."
He shook his head before meeting Char's gaze again. Weir's look was one of pity and sympathy as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Nald'su..." spoke Lewis just above a whisper, "I regret to inform you that he also detected, at the very heart of this collapse...your danthe-kornari."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Danthe-kornari
The title fell into the air and rang like little shards, shivering, shattering, gone.
Ringing, ringing, ringing, gone.
As if they'd never existed.
Ringing, ringing, ringing.
Gone.
As if he'd never existed.
He was aware of the tears on his face- how could he not be? They bubbled and burned like tar and they were so, so distant to his hapless smile because no, it couldn't be- she couldn't be dead.
he hadn't gotten to say goodbye. she'd promised.
Denial, came the thought, unbidden and bitter, The first stage of grief is denial.
He wasn't denying it, though.
She was gone and ringing, ringing, ringing. He could hear what her laugh had been like, high and floating and ringing, ringing.
Everything was ringing.
He did not move. They did not move, for there was no difference between himself and the magic simmering, snapping, sparking and biting at his skin and it felt too much like her, this all-but-faceless presence he'd been searching for for so, so long
she was gone and ringing, ringing.
he was not.
he would remain.
"Tairais,", they said with a voice that cracked and pulled like splinters extracted from the heart. They could not look up, eyes black with grief, the color of mourning.
'Why', asked these silent eyes, brimming with tears the same color of their soul, 'why this? why her? why now?'
"Her name was Tairais. Time."
she was Time and ringing, ringing.
they did nothing but weep, no breath escaping them. to give voice to the wind of life would be to give voice to the broken howl scrabbling under his throat and they couldn't- not here, with everything so malleable, breakable, broken and ringing, ringing.
(except they were breathing, slowly, at first, then rapidly, ringing, wheezing, panicking because this very core of their being the need to be home the need to have a family, something, anything to call his after it all decayed and fell apart and they were panicking and ringing ringing ringing-)
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis never knew Tairais. He never breathed the air of Char's home realm or felt the crackle of magic under his skin.
But he knew grief. And he knew his friend.
That was enough.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he leaned over and caught Nald'su in a strong embrace.
Hold fast, came the thought as he shut his eyes; tears wet his own cheeks in sympathy.
Hold fast, my beloved.
Hold fast.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
they couldn't hear they couldn't speak couldn't do anything as their eyes screwed shut of their own accord because every part of them burned in aching colors, the whole soul one living bruise on the bone.
they couldn't hurt him too, not with tear or word or tooth or nail or heartache, no, they couldn't do this to anyone how could they?
she was gone and ringing, ringing. shrill and high against the night, scattered like the stardust she was made of.
Keldra had to have been with her at the center of it all. they had no room to be jealous but oh, they knew past the ringing, ringing (she was gone and ringing, ringing, ringing) that she was finally at peace and it hurt, it hurt so much to know she would be happy that they would both be happy because they just wanted her
back.
they opened their mouth past the ringing, ringing on a sob that moaned like the cry of wind across the moor.
as if a child, they curled themselves closer to Lewis- Weirmrith Viofdioenel- folding every limb closer and burying their face in their arms against his everything as they quietly howled their soul into the fabric of both their clothes.
how could they hold fast? their one anchor, gone and ringing, ringing.
They were alone.
No more would the Well of Stars Sing with harmonies- there was no one but they.
(would that they could crawl into someone else's skin and stay there biting, caring, free)
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis remembered holding fast to someone he loved in the wake of losing a different beloved. Holding on for dear life as the sobs racked him and all sense of meaning faded--every loss taking a piece of his heart, his core, his very essence with it. The anchor-chains, the ties that bound him to someone still alive, being the only tethers keeping him from following the dead to the grave.
"I know," he got out in a half-sob, grief all too familiar.
All he could do for now, for this beloved, this anchor, was provide the only anchor he had to give--himself.
He held as fast as he could for Nald'su.
I know.
His arms, his body, enveloped the smaller man.
I'm here for you.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
"I'm sorry," went their litany of chants, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I left her behind, I Fell and I left her behind and she-"
the litany was ringing, ringing, loud in its softness and half-muttered English- they would speak in English when speed was necessary because their tongue meandered oh gods they'd meandered they were too slow, too slow by every year of their continued existence.
"-she left before I woke but she promised I would get to say goodbye if I Fell she promised she promised she's gone- what do I do? What do we do?"
the questions echoed and started ringing, ringing, and he would hardly be able to hear even if Lewis had an answer, babbling as they were. words clamored over words and sobs and gasps for air clawing, scratching, screaming their way past his aching throat.
Then they remembered, or truly realized, and turned to creaking stone with the revelation.
"I'm all alone," came the quiet, keening cry, "There are no more like me."
They closed their eyes and shuddered to a halt. What was once a being of endless, constant motion went horrifically, perfectly still for several awful moments.
They relaxed their spring-coiled tension with a sigh, slumping like a puppet with its strings cruelly cut.
Their last half-worded thought was that they felt about as brittle as a porcelain doll anyways, so it fit.
there was white and ringing, ringing.
grief sharp and bright and ringing, ringing.
nothing, ringing, ringing,
ringing,
ringing.
(throughout it all, taloned hands remembered to be gentle as their vice-like grip held on for everything--they folded at the first joint so that nails dug into their own skin rather than that which was likewise beloved, the only one to bear witness)
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
"Nald'su Welun."
Lewis tipped Charricthran's chin up with one hand, forcing their eyes to meet as his gaze arrested Char's.
"You. Are not. Alone."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
it hurt to look at him. bright eyes, reassuring, full of life-and-death, green-chasing-brown-chasing-black.
it hurt less than knowing, though, and it did make the ringing ease off just a little bit. more gray, less white, less bright.
they could think instead of know, frown slightly, smile slightly, confused- they were confused, wobbling at the edges with tears and so much feeling it was too much, too much, how to get rid of it?
"'Course no'," they said in a voice bubbling with hiccups and hysteria, "You've your hands on my face an' I'm awake, fair certain, an' I've not died, she has. No wings, no heart, no Song. All dead, gone, dust, less than. No one ta Sing."
(family wasn't quite gone because Richard was still there but he'd never been much for the affection he constantly craved and Tairais was all hugs and laughs and playful nudges because their people had touch as a language and it was the hardest thing he'd ever had to unlearn and he was drowning again, quietly now though. enough to think)
they leaned into the touch because there was nothing else to do, now.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis placed his other hand around the back of Char's head where it met the neck--a simple, human gesture of comfort.
"As long as you exist," Weir whispered, "the Song will never truly die. You've shown me vistas of a bygone world--worked magic I never dreamed possible."
The kindest smile.
"Teach me what you know, and you'll always have someone to share it with."
A decision, made.
"I promise."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
A blink. A pause. Tears trickled into stillness, as surprised as they were.
Hands like brands, full of promise, of Intent and so close, so close to a Song of their own- could Lewis feel it? Was it something in their mind, this bittersweet hope of change and renewal?
everything hurt. too much emotion--too much griefhopemourninglossdisbelief, too much everything, too much eye contanct, too much rawness, more vulnerability than he'd ever willingly given past the Fall (and past those who had taken it from him unwillingly, who did not count and did not speak).
He couldn't mean that.
"Tha's... a big promise ta make, Weirmrith. Why... what- why?"
There were a lot of questions they could ask that they didn't.
Why do you care? Why do you care so much? What would you gain? What would you go and do something like this for?
Why would you offer us one of the things we've wanted the most?
They were too confused to grieve, for a while.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
"Because I choose to," stated Lewis, the assertion laced with love and pride.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Shrill ringing abated, leaving silence in their thoughts. They were still, trying to process that which they had never encountered- or, if they had encountered it, it was so far buried it had long since become dust.
The Song was an eternity, was every part of every thing they'd ever been. Wings shifted under skin, bringing to mind the scales they'd once worn like gemstones over every inch of them.
To offer to learn it, to Sing what had been shared between three souls intertwined as strands of rope--did he know that's what he offered?
"You-"
They huffed a laugh, shook their head gently (not enough to dislodge the hands holding them).
Then their lip wobbled and they were holding back tears for the second time because they really, truly, desperately didn't want to hurt him, didn't want to lose him too- they were so tired of losing.
"You can't. Shouldn't? It hurts-"
One shuddering breath, two, then three, or else everything would crash to the floor ringing again and they couldn't handle that, not yet, not yet.
"Ya cannae jus' give me the one bloody thing I've wanted for fifty-six thousand years so.. so..."
They giggled, a fresh wave of tears burbling up.
"'Course ya can. 'S you.
They kept giggling, hiccuping, wheezing.
It was probably an improvement from babbling incoherently?
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
"I don't know if the learning will take--I'm from my own dimension; I don't know if that would affect it. But the least I can do is try."
A small chuckle.
"And I'm a quick study, if I do say so myself."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Quick an' sharp," came the muttered agreement.
They closed their eyes against it all.
tired.
so tired.
"Hurts."
there wasn't an inch of them that didn't. wings covering skin could only do so much for things rooted in the heart.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis remembered how Char sometimes had trouble with foods, with liquids. Had it not been for this, Weir'd have offered him some medicine to help him sleep.
As it was...
"This...may sound rather silly, so feel free to disagree with the suggestion," offered Lewis, "but...would you like me to knock you out so you can get some sleep? I find things tend to look...not as awful...after a good rest. The hurt will still be there, but it won't feel quite as sharp as it does now."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
They both nodded, shadow following what cast it a half-second later.
(they wanted her back, but feeling nothing would be just as good for now)
Then they hesitated.
"Can I jus'... sleep here? Don' wanna go to the attic."
They had little reminders of her within that they wouldn't be able to be near for a little while--and wasn't that unfair, that just when they'd started to make peace with waiting, they had to tear it all down and start with never having.
Hold still, hold still, so still- they didn't want to start screaming.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
"Certainly," agreed Lewis. "I can lock the door behind me so you're not disturbed, and you can slip out through shadow when you wake."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"Please, then."
hold still, hold still, so still--they didn't want to stop screaming.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago
Lewis nodded. He remembered the sparring session between Char and Hela, including which blows had been most effective against his friend.
Bearing this well in mind, Weir socked him right under the chin with a sudden uppercut.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Tairais  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
To which the natural response was that Charricthran went suddenly still.
Wer'Vemud, however, resisted the call of slumber for a time. Unlike its other half, it had precious little trouble falling asleep when it truly desired as such, and so it allowed itself a moment to speak with Lewis on its own, borrowing the last vestiges of their voice as their shadow rose up against the wall like a bloodstain.
"Thank you. I- he- we, thank you."
It tilted its head, uncertainty written in so simple a gesture, then said nothing more as it hid within the skin containing it.
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  Tairais • 7 months ago • edited
"You're welcome," returned Lewis with a dip of his head. "I hope it helps."
After slumber claimed them, Weir rose and affixed a note to his door saying, "Out for a bit." Thus assured no one would disturb his friend, Lewis left and locked the office.
Sleep well, beloved. May you wake to less pain, and a sure way through it.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Wizardblizzard • 7 months ago
Ραεδ Σιυυ,
Ιρροσ ροφ ιαλεδ. ιμ δραζιυυ σιασ τι "δεδηην οτ ηβ δεννακσ", ρεφεταυυ ταθ σνηxαμ.
Σ'τι ερ νυυω τλυαφ... ησ σι ηρανιδροαρτξε, δνα ταθ τναεμ ιμ δραζιυυ τογ ηρανιδροαρτξιλι δειρρακ ιαυυα!
Σρυοι, Ι. Υυ.
 Thumbnail
see more
2  
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
((Continuation of the Tin Man/Grounding Exercises RP.))
MillieGriffin Jekyll1886 • 11 days ago
Millie nodded with a very subtle smile, feeling a little bit better, enough to speak intelligibly again.
Jekyll1886 MillieGriffin • 11 days ago
"Good," he said with a smile.
MillieGriffin Jekyll1886 • 11 days ago
Despite the progress they made there was still some guilt...still some shame left.
She looked away pensively.
". . . I'm sorry..." she finally said, "for making you feel the need to do this for me... I know these are supposed to be my problems, I should've tried harder and not burdened you with this, too. I understand that you have your own life with your own issues and I noticed how busy you are with other people who come to you to ask you to help fix their problems... I'll do better this time not to drag other people into my messes..."
Jekyll1886
"Millie," said Lewis. "There's no need to apologize. You've helped me when I needed it most."
He gave her hand a light squeeze.
"This is the least I can do for a friend like you."
MillieGriffin
Millie looked up at him and tried to give him a smile but failed and hung her head, shaking it.
he's sweet but I know better... I can't rely on him... Or anyone to always help me solve my problems... It's just me... she thought hopelessly.
She felt a lump in her throat and swallowed it.
(Jekyll1886)
see more
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
"Rest assured..." he told her in a quietly reassuring tone, "everything I do, I do of my own free will. I choose to offer what aid I can. Just as you'll choose to take it...or not...according to your will. But understand that I will be here for you; you have only to ask. Alright, Millie? 'Tis no badge of honor to suffer in silence."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I d—" Millie put her fingers to her forehead, they slid up into her bangs, "I don't know..." She finally muttered.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
"Look..." said, his tone kind as he leveled with her, "I know all too well how hard it can be to ask for help--I'm guilty of it myself more often than not. But I can't help but pick up on emotions--it's the way I'm wired. If you're unhappy, if something's amiss...I'll know. And it's my nature to ask after you, because I do care--'can't help that, either. So, if there's something on your mind...just say it. I can't force you, and I may not know what it is, but I'll know it's there whether I like it or not."
A chortle.
"You'd actually be doing me a favor to get it off your chest, else I shall die of concern and curiosity both," he said with an open smile.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"I..." She hasitated and swallowed another lump in her throat, "I-I can't rely on other people— not to help fix my problems..." she tried to explain, "I know you can't always be here for me, Dr. Rosy left, they're gone, I can't— not even Griffin... It's— it's selfish of me to expect that anyway... You all have your own lives, your own problems... I just..." She swallowed another lump, "I just have to deal with it... I-I don't know..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Millie," said Lewis in all seriousness, "I'm not leaving. I'm here for the long haul, do you understand? I have roots here now that I've not had in...well, a rather long time. It took the likes of Moriarty just to get me to leave for Glasgow...and I came back.
"Deal with what you can, if that's your wont. But with what you can't...ask for help. Seek me out. I'll be here."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
"M-maybe...?" A half hearted chuckle left her at the drop of hope she'd begun to feel but was quickly being buried by her deeply ingrained pessemisum, "M-maybe i-if I wasn't s-so r-reliant on Hal—" she trailed off, started taking deep breaths again, trying to force herself to finish the word between breaths, "Ha—Hall—ow—een....." She put her other hand to her head as she kept breathing deeply.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Halloween wasn't your fault, Millie," said Lewis as he took her hand in his to give it a reassuring squeeze.
"Halloween happened to us. Not because of us. Everyone's nerves were raw and ragged--particularly after all those Mz. Hydes made the scene. And you had more to deal with than perhaps anyone there."
He held her gaze and spoke the next words with every fiber of his being:
"What happened was not. Your. Fault."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Millie had been looking at the ground until Weir squeezed her hand which made her look up at him. At the mention of the Mz. Hydes she put her free hand over her mouth completely covering it, her eyes widened and she started to shiver again. She continued to breath deeply but the lumps in her throat became harder to swallow and tears started to well up in her eyes. Finally when Weir told her 'what happened wasn't her fault' it broke her. She took her hand back from him and placed it over the other, she shook her head as the tears started to flow, she couldn't stop them now as her breathing turned to sobs and she crumpled over resting her forehead on her knees.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Let it out, love," he encouraged, patting her gently on the back. "Let it all out. Let it flow over and through you, and it'll be in you no longer." It was a terrible situation, and terribly unfair to you.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Millie's hands clinched into fists which if Millie was sitting up straight would show gritted teeth. She tightly closed her eyes, despite Lewis's words of encouragement she was still trying to stop the tears but couldn't, no matter how much she mentally protested the rest of her wouldn't listen anymore and she wept.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
She needs this, thought Lewis. Whether we like it or no.
"Stop fighting it, if you can, and it'll pass more quickly," he offered the advice borne of experience. "If it's any consolation, the walls of my office are well-insulated."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Even still Millie's mind stubbornly kept trying to fight against the tears, but after a few minutes even that finally relentled as the entire tsunami of negative emotions crashed through her walls and fluded her senses; self hatered, sorrow, disgust, horror, guilt, and as they finally flowed freely so did the tears.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
Lewis stayed with her through it all, offering advice and comfort where he could. More than that, he simply...was with her, an empathetic friend and confidante who understood all too well what she was feeling.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
* * *
After a while everything finally calmed down. Millie's handkerchief and the knees of her trousers where she laid her head was completely tear soaked.
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
Lewis offered her the square of cloth from the breast pocket of his waistcoat.
"Chemically," he remarked, voice hushed so as not to bother her sensitive hearing, "tears enable us to shed excess emotion, as a snake does its old skin. Tears of joy, or sorrow, or from cutting an onion all look different under the microscope, as I'm sure you know."
A gentle smile.
"There's no shame in being human and taking full advantage of this outlet nature has so graciously provided us."
A soft, knowing chuckle.
"I should think we'd all go mad otherwise."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie nodded as she took the cloth and tried to chuckle at his humer, she just felt so drained now.
"True..." She finally said wiping away what was left of the tears on her face with the cloth, "still— i-it's not so easy to unlearn what is ingrained in your mind... Despite coming back from the twenty-first century, I'm still a Victorian raised child, 'stiff upper lip' is basically burned and chiseled into my psyche..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago • edited
"Ah," said Lewis. That little bit of information was the missing piece to make sense of the puzzle.
She was raised the same way I was.
"You've my sympathies," he commiserated. "It's...not exactly the easiest way to grow up, is it?"
'Took me years to unlearn what I have, and I'm certain I've still more to go.
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
She shook her head, "I suppose not... Not that I really had any other way to compare though... Unless you've watched the Brady Bunch—ah, but that was obviously so fake..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"True," he agreed. "The worst that ever happened was jealousy of Marcia or a little schoolyard bullying. Nothing...real. Nothing of import."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago • edited
Millie nodded, "... Never went to school... Too busy with research to do that, so I paid another girl to go as me..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Huh, that's handy. To be fair, I'd wager your research is rather more interesting than some dry text."
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie chuckled dryly as she nodded, "Well I was able to make gunpowder at the age of four... And then the nanny blew up the kitchen with it..... And then I was sent to my uncle and met him for the first time..."
1  
•Share ›
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Oh!" said Lewis. "How precocious. A pity about the nanny, I suppose, but...impressive, nonetheless.
"How did you and your uncle get on, at first?"
•Share ›
Avatar
MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886 • 7 months ago
Millie looked up at him, "She didn't die!"she clarified, "she had just a little frightened… and maybe a tad bit singed." She paused and went back to the subject of Griffin, "Griffin and I got about as well as one would expect him to get along with a child he'd never met before but was supposed to be paid to watch while my parents went away on their 'business trip'... At least they said it was a business trip, I never did find out if that was an excuse to get their precious little terror off their backs... Couldn't really blame them if it was though." She took another pensive pause, "Griffin's look did fascinate me at first— that was my first time seeing an albino, I didn't know young men could have white hair... definitely didn't know anyone could have, what I used to called, 'candy eyes'..."
1  
•Share ›
−
Avatar
Jekyll1886  MillieGriffin • 7 months ago
"Ah, that's good, then," Weir said, as to the nanny. Your parents gave you up over a bloody messy kitchen? For shame! Some people... he thought with the mental equivalent of rolling his eyes.
Millie spoke further.
"If they abandoned you over so little, they weren't proper parent material for you to begin with," he asserted when she'd finished.
"I know Griffin isn't exactly the...'warm-and-fuzzy' sort, but...was he better about things, at least?" he asked sympathetically.
•Share ›
Load more comments
Powered by Disqus
Subscribe
Add Disqus to your siteDisqus' Privacy Policy