|
Post by Emily on Dec 29, 2007 14:19:13 GMT -5
*Emily had found a quaint little stone cottage for rent just outside of Paris. Set back against dark, spicy fir woods, it sat in a charming little fenced garden with a vegetable patch and rosebushes. An arch covered over with climbing honeysucked shaded the little picket gate, and a twisting cobblestone path led to the front door. Ivy grew thickly over the walls and up to the thatch roof, but all was kept in good repair, and it was warm and snug inside. Emily set everything to rights and soon made herself at home. When it rained too hard for her to work in the garden, she would go indoors and work on the room she'd turned into a nursery, painting the walls a cheerful yellow, and finding a lovely wooden cradle and little rocking chair and sturdy dresser at an antiques sale. Somewhere she'd acquired the talent of knitting and sewing, so she'd sit in the rocking chair, wearing blue maternity jeans and a comfy sweater and knit.*
What happened to your quest? *her mind whispered.*
"Shut up, I'm nesting," *she would tell herself.*
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 3:22:40 GMT -5
*A long fall through darkness, and then, a timewarp and a shift to an elsewhere. For death had claimed him, but he was returned to life, for what purpose, only the powers-that-be can really say.
He appeared on the grassy lawn of a pleasant little cottage, not a sign of injury upon him. Unconscious, but very much alive*
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 3:25:50 GMT -5
*Emily was puttering in her garden, transplanting a purple polyanthus when she glanced up to see a young man lying on her lawn. She glanced up at the sky, where not a cloud was to be seen.*
"It's raaaaining men..." *she sang flatly under her breath before she got up and went to help the man to his feet.*
"Hello. You must be Rudolf. Sarah told me you were coming."
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 3:29:13 GMT -5
*Rudolf blinked in the sudden brightness of the day, staring blankly at his surroundings as tried to figure out what the hell had just happened. He'd last been...well, dead. Or, in the arms of death, in any case. Echoes of a gunshot rang through his mind as the stared at Emily*
"What happened? Where...where am I?"
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 3:34:45 GMT -5
*She shrugged.*
"As far as I know you've had a rough time of it and tried to kill yourself. And I think you succeeded. But then you failed, well, because--here you are. You're in Paris. Does that sort out all your issues or shall I put the kettle on?"
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 3:53:42 GMT -5
*A nasty tremor went through him, and he put a hand to his head as though expecting to find an injury there...but nothing.*
"But...he came. I remember very clearly."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 3:59:56 GMT -5
"Of course you do. You were entirely in your right mind up until you blasted it out the side of your skull."
*She patted him on the shoulder as she led him into the house to have a seat in the comfortable living room in a plushy floral-upholstered armchair.*
"Can I get you anything?"
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 4:09:43 GMT -5
*He didn't sit in the chair so much as simply fall into it, trying to still the shaking that had started*
"I need...I just need a moment. To collect my thoughts."
*Though, if the way he was feeling was any indication, it was going to take more than just a moment. Perhaps never*
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 13:36:12 GMT -5
"Right..."
*Emily disappeared into the kitchen and returned in a few minutes, carrying a tray with a teapot, cup, milk and sugar. She set it down on the low coffee table.*
"It's still steeping, give it a moment."
*Going back to the kitchen, she came back with a plate.*
"Ham sandwich, grapes and a cookie. In case you're feeling snacky. It happens when you're re-animated." *she said with an air of experience in these matters. And it was true. In another time and place, she'd directly supervised the resurrection of her friend Sammi following an electrical accident. Sammi had ravaged an entire pot of mac n' cheese on her own once she'd had a shower to wash off the stench of brimstone.*
"The, er...privy is upstairs. Second door on the right. I'll be in the garden if you need me."
*With a sunny smile, she went back outside.*
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 14:39:10 GMT -5
*At first, he started to protest that she didn't have to make anything for him--he wasn't hungry. However, not long after she'd gone outside, he realized that she'd spoken the truth...his stomach growled at him and demanded attention.
Wondering how is it that she'd known what to do for someone...back from the dead...he set to devouring the food she'd set out with gusto. It felt like he hadn't touched anything in ages, though that was hardly the truth. His mind was a wild spin of thoughts as he finished up, though the one that stood out the most was the fact that he was alive.
Alive...perhaps, a second chance?
Musing over the turn of events, he took the dirty dishes and set them on the counter in the kitchen, then went outside to find her...right where she'd said she'd be.*
"Miss, thank you, for your hospitality. Might I have your name?"
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 14:43:23 GMT -5
*Emily got to her feet and stuck out a filthy hand.*
"Emily. Feeling any better?"
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 14:47:40 GMT -5
*He gave her hand a firm shake*
"Rudolf. And yes, thank you. You were right about the hunger--I was famished."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 14:55:45 GMT -5
*She beamed.*
"Glad I could help. It's tough to re-adjust. But not to worry--I've seen worse cases."
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Jan 1, 2008 14:59:27 GMT -5
"I can't imagine what worse is..."
*In the distance, he caught sight of the strange skyline of VerseParis.*
"I wonder what this Paris is like? I'm rather curious...but perhaps you could tell me of anything I should watch out for before I go?"
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 1, 2008 15:02:51 GMT -5
"Sues...they're everywhere. And you're in no condition to fight them off OR give in and fall in love...but...they're strong. What can you do?" *she said with a shrug.* "There's not much to be done and it's hard to say which is going to hurt more--fighting them off or falling for them."
*She gave him a sad smile and squeezed his shoulder.*
"Just remember this, Rudolf--there are NO happy endings, here. --Do you want me to pack you a lunch?"
|
|