[EP/GP] Today is Check-In Day

[st_illunsmeared]

When the fifteenth of the month came and went without any new arrivals, most people logically supposed that there would be no new arrivals that week, or that the pattern they believed they'd found was false after all.

Kitty Pryde, Caroline Forbes, and Phryne Fisher were decidedly not most people.

Between them, they agreed it would be best to keep a watch for a few days following the fifteenth, on the grounds that, often enough, holidays interrupted regular schedules, which would reassert themselves again at the next instance. If "keeping a watch" had required them to do anything out of the ordinary, they might have been somewhat less sanguine about it. Might have, as they were not, after all, most people. Yet since their routines, almost invariably, had them in public places, working and people-watching, it required no special effort on their part to be alert for new arrivals.

So it was that Phryne had taken up a table in the lobby cafe to read and hold court, while Kitty took an extra shift tending bar, and Caroline tidied up and labeled the boxes of decorations from Valentine's day "for next year's residents" on the morning of the sixteenth and again on the seventeenth--and not one of them were surprised when, in early afternoon, newcomers began to arrive.

Comments

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Sword secured in his far hand, Vax set his feet wide and bent to lift with his opposite grip just under the lad's shoulder. That would give him some leverage to steer the slender frame where they needed to go. Vax'ildan wasn't a large man, very lean and a bit on the short side, but he pulled Alcuin onto his feet with a fair measure of strength and a keen sense of balance.

"Don't be a hero," Vax suggested, as he started them out of the cafe area towards the registration desk at the front of the building. There was a wide expanse of groomed greenery and quaint fixtures beyond the windows, and more pink buildings with ornamental white trim. "You've one less hole in you, but you've been through an awful lot. We can rest as you may need."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin's time for heroics that day was over. As ineffectual as they may have been. He had killed a man, and what good had it done? He had not saved Anafiel, and apparently had not even saved himself.

"It will not be nearly so bad as the last time," he said. He did not know if Vax had noticed the other scar he bore or not, but it was fairly close to the new wound. "It took me weeks to recover. I could hardly move. Whatever you did to help... it's remarkable, this is nothing like that."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Vax was perceptive enough to have noticed - but he'd also seen it was an old scar, which didn't seem so relevant as the new.

"I could've done a cleaner job of it." Pike would have, he knew, having given him a whole new toe and all. They all had to make due here, didn't they? "But you'll feel better still with a soak and some fresh clothes." And some time to begin to think on all this. "I'll see what they've got in your size around here after you're settled in."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin was not convinced he would feel better. It was hard to imagine feeling better ever again, right at this moment. He was also somewhat concerned that the moment he was left to his own thoughts his grief would overwhelm him. But perhaps that needed to happen. Right now, he felt numb.

"Thank you," he said. "You've been so kind." And he should show his gratitude... but not right now. Not covered in blood, and barely beyond half dead.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

"We have to help one another when it's needed, don't we?"

It was the sort of question that didn't expect answering. And the trip to the registration desk wasn't so long that the resulting silence would feel a burden - not when there was so much that needed attention, perhaps better left unsaid for now.

"Darryl," Vax greeted the aggressively nondescript, though assuredly male figure that manned the front desk. Later, if one tried to list his specific features, they'd be at something of a loss without quite knowing why. But someone had gone to the trouble of hand-writing him a nametag at the least. "Another for check-in."

The entirely bland innkeep checked something on a boxed-in scrying glass of some sort, then slid a rectangle sheathed in paper bearing the inn's sigil and a room number across the desk to Alcuin. He was not the least bit concerned about the bloodied state of the guests. "Alcuin no Delaunay - Building Three, Room 155. Enjoy your stay."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin was increasingly convinced that this was some extremely unexpected version of the afterlife. He took the item from the innkeeper (looking at it oddly, as he was expecting a key), and then looked up at him. "Is... there anyone else here by the name of Deluanay?"

The innkeeper shook his head. "There are no other guests checked in by that name."

Alcuin nodded again, not sure if he had expected something different. Then he looked back to Vax. "Can you lead me here?"

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

"Sure," Vax'ildan agreed, marking the name. "Turns out you'll be just down the hallway from mine."

"Are you looking for a sibling? Or a parent?" Vax asked more quietly, leading Alcuin outside to traverse the quaint little footpaths that would meander them to the far building where they needed to be.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin's relationship to Anafiel Delaunay was, Alcuin thought, too complicated to attempt to explain in the answer to what should be a simple question.

So he only said, "As far as I know, my entire family was killed. I thought... well, I thought they might be here, too." Anafiel, or Phedre.

He was also relieved to hear that he would be near Vax. Right now the only soul he knew here.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Vax had almost got to where every thought in his head wasn't about Scanlan, or Grog, or Pike, or Percy, or Keyleth... Though he couldn't stop thinking about Vex, not ever really. But the boy's honesty about his own hopes reminded him of them with a pang of sharp longing.

He'd be tempted to tear his own wings out, if he thought for a moment that it would give him any one of them.

Not that anyone had asked for such yet.

"The Inn is full of mysteries - but some of them are kind enough to be called surprises. There's no way of knowing exactly who will arrive here and when, and it goes both ways. We may very well never see our loved ones again," he admitted. "But truthfully, some kin and loved ones have been reunited here already. I will keep an ear perked for you," Vax promised.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

"Thank you," said Alcuin, less for the offer and more for that bit of comfort. "After all, what do we have if not hope?"

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Vax'ildan had determined by now that the boy was an absolute sweetheart. He would have felt bound to help him even if he'd been an asshole, but he probably wouldn't have felt a familiar protective twinge.

He led the boy across the tidy green lawns and the whimsical paths to the last of the three pink buildings that housed the residents. After a moment of internal debate, Vax decided the kinder option for someone so recently returned from death's door was to take the potential strangeness of the elevator to the second floor rather than make him climb the stairs. He guided them into the open doors, then turned to push the necessary button.

"Hold on, it'll only be a few moments," he promised. The compartment played a bit of an obnoxiously cheery tune as they slowly rose. They made something of a picture, one light and one dark, still streaked with blood, Alcuin's shirt torn apart, feathered and armored Vax'ildan carrying his blade.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

As they walked, Alcuin paid attention to their surroundings, creating a mental map of the grounds in his head. It all looked very strange to him, so many small things. And the metal box that they walked into was no exception. Alcuin startled visibly as soon as it started to move, and unconsciously stood a little closer to Vax'ildan.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Fortunately, they didn't have more than a couple of minutes to wait before the doors reopened for the next floor.

"It's alright. This is our floor." Vax reached to cup the boy's shoulder for guidance, knowing just which door they needed. He'd had little else to occupy him but working out where everything was. You know, when all of the residents weren't madly scrabbling at one another.

He stopped them outside of 155, and gestured at the card Alcuin had been given. "Here we go. You stick that into this slot, and it acts as a key."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin took the card somewhat hesitantly, but put it into the slot and was surprised to see something light up. He turned the handle and opened the door.

The room was large, and... well. Ostentatious. The floor was dark red, and furniture and trimmings red as well. Large red flowers adorned the white walls, a pattern that put Alcuin mind of marques, of the flowers of the Night Court. There was a large bed, adorned in white and red as well, and a couch that appeared to be made of red velvet. It had an air of... an attempt at romance, but just too much, far too much.

The room felt a bit like what someone who did not think much of Servants of Naamah might think would be an appropriate place for them to entertain.

He looked back at Vax. "Are... all the rooms like this?"

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Upon the opening of the very red, very floral room, Vax'ildan squinted against the force of the decor.

"Yes, they are," he reported grimly. "Some better, some worse. But all of them overdone by half." He bravely forged ahead, a man used to helping himself where he hadn't been invited. Vax moved into the bathroom to start Alucin a bath and see about cleaning off the bloodied blade. "At least yours only has the one bed."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

"Why?" Alcuin asked, stepping inside and having a closer look at the trappings of the room. It was truly hideous. It also made him think that this is the sort of thing someone outside Terre d'Ange would imagine would be appealing to a D'Angeline.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Vax'ildan had got the tub stopped and hot water flowing, giving the blade a splash in one of the stone-accented twin sinks to rinse off the worst of the red. Then he slipped his black blood-scrubbing rag from its place on his person to buff off the remainder. And yes, of course he had a blood-scrubbing rag for his weapons on him at all times. He was a professional.

Because every time I wake, I stare across the foot of my bed to see the mirror image of my side left painfully bare where my sister ought to be.

He looked up into the mirror of the second sink to observe Alcuin in the larger room beyond as he answered. "The empty beds seem to attract restless spirits. They haven't done any outright harm, but it's one less thing for you to worry over."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin decided that now was not the time to question that too much. There were too many questions. "I see," he finally said, and then joined Vax in the smaller room.

"This is... remarkable," he said, seeing how the water simply came out of the wall.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

It was as well, if Alcuin didn't ask more about the spirits. Vax really couldn't have said much more about them, save for his own limited experience.

"Isn't it a fucking marvel? They call it indoor plumbing," Vax shared as to the water fixtures, laying aside the cleaned blade on the counter to rest. He turned on one tap of the sink, and then the other. "It brings your water either hot - or cold. Here, for hands or small jobs - there for bathing," he nodded at the shower and tub.

He moved to push the lever on the toilet. "The toilet is for your waste, ones and twos," he didn't bother mincing for delicacy. "Flush it away when you're done and it's like it never happened."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin's jaw dropped. He looked truly stunned. "That is... yes. Remarkable."

He leaned over and ran his hand under the faucet. The water was indeed warm.

He looked up and saw his reflection in the glass. He looked... well. He looked as if he'd nearly died. He gingerly pulled his shirt up and then off, the blood soaked mess of fabric falling the floor at his feet, leaving his back and the marque covering it to Vax'ildan. But he was currently concerned with the thin white line that remained where the stab wound had been. He ran his fingers over it in wonder.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

Vax'ildan wondered if his own expression was similar to the awe Alcuin had shown for the plumbing, as he stared at the massive, elaborate tattoo that had claimed Alcuin's fair back. He'd had a brand of his own on his back, until not so long ago, to show whose property he'd been. But that had been crude and small and ugly in comparison to the stunning tree the boy wore.

"I should leave you to your rest," he said after a few moments. Yes, Vax was curious about the tattooing. No, he didn't think it was fair to make Alcuin answer such gawky personal questions when he was still a mess that looked as if he could fall over at any time. "But most of the residents here are friendly enough. And I'm in 204, only a couple of doors down. If you need anything at all."

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_unning]

Alcuin turned then and looked at him, his face awash in gratitude.

"I... I cannot thank you enough," he said. Even those words seemed inadequate. He nearly reached out to touch him, embrace him even, but was having trouble reading how the man might react to that.

"I look forward to seeing you again when I'm a bit more myself," he added, and offered him a small smile. The words were a promise, as much as anything else. He felt he owed him a great deal, and he hoped that what little he had to give in return would be welcome.

Re: for Vax (Greeting)

[st_abby]

The blonde was well and truly beautiful, but Vax'ildan didn't confuse Alcuin's good fortune in the looks department and gratitude for not being dead back in the cafe with anything owed. He had done his duty, and would have done even if it hadn't gone to such a gentle soul.

"I'd like that," is what Vax ended up answering. "And Alcuin," he offered with a bit of his own rueful smile, as he moved to leave. "Welcome to the Madonna Inn."