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Post by Toby on Feb 11, 2009 0:52:52 GMT -5
After a great deal of time, young Tobias Ragg was proclaimed cured.
He didn't feel cured. In many ways, he felt worse than ever. His memory wasn't working right, and all those things Doctor Crane had said to him (frightening Doctor Crane, with that mask he kept in his drawer) wouldn't leave his head.
Crane had also given him something before releasing him- a razor. Toby couldn't for the life of him think why.
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Post by Toby on Feb 11, 2009 12:25:53 GMT -5
**MUCH LATER**
She hadn't come for him.
He'd remembered there was a girl named Shira- she'd had a pretty smile, and said she loved him- and somehow, he'd thought she would come to get him when they let him out.
But day had turned to night, and no one came. If she had existed, and not just been one of those things he imagine, she had forgotten about him.
Toby walked away, clutching his razor...
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 11, 2009 12:30:46 GMT -5
If Emilie had had any idea of how near to an insane asylum she was playing, she would have taken off running, probably have gone to the worst part of town, and completely forsaken Mulder so that no one would be able to find her through him, not that she would have been pleased by this. But, oblivious to the layout of Paris, she stood in what was generally considered underwear by Victorian standards and played Manic Depressive until her fingers were turning red...
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Post by Toby on Feb 11, 2009 12:34:24 GMT -5
Toby heard the violin music, and found himself stopping. They'd taken away his violin in the asylum, saing that he might try to hang himself with the strings, though they were far too short. He wanted it back even now, but it was too late.
He sat down and listened to the music, either not realizing or not caring that he must have looked like Jack the Ripper, sitting in torn clothes before a near-naked girl without hiding his blade.
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 11, 2009 12:41:44 GMT -5
The sight of the razor chilled Emilie's blood at first, but the moment the boy - he did look like a boy, like a little boy who had grown over-tall without filling out first - sat down in front of her, she felt quite a bit calmed. Tilting her body slightly towards her audience, she went on playing, this time picking a sweeter song that did not seem quite the incarnation of her own random insanity, not wanting to plague anyone.
She played as many songs as she could, managing to take up another twenty minutes; but, although she'd have liked to go on at this point - playing for someone else rather than selfishly playing for herself with the intention of frightening someone - her mad behavior of earlier had left her fingers feeling raw. She lifted them from the strings with a bit of a wince and tilted her head apologetically, kneeling to put her violin into the case and close it.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking across at him. "My fingers hurt."
She lifted her hand up as though showing him her palm, and wiggled her fingers.
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Post by Toby on Feb 11, 2009 12:46:52 GMT -5
"They do that sometimes. They- they don't like it when you make them tired. Not you, I mean- I don't know what I mean. I'm sory, miss."
He looked down, but inside him he was somewhat happy- there were other people watching her, he couldn't be imagining this."
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 12, 2009 11:07:26 GMT -5
He reminded her of the asylum rats - which would have sounded rude to most people, but was the highest compliment Emilie could really have paid a young man, because it made him endearing and helpless and valiant and wonderful. Emilie had not had many friends outside of those rats. Even the other inmates had often been turned against each other - Emilie was no exception. Under the threat of enclosed dark rooms and tests and visits from head doctors, everyone became an hysterical backstabber.
She smiled at him and reached out to pet his head, her fingertips still stinging a bit, but not made uncomfortable.
"It's all right, little sir," said Emilie. "I don't know what you mean, but it's all all right."
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Post by Toby on Feb 12, 2009 12:32:43 GMT -5
He flinched involuntarily, half expecting this gentle touch to become a slap, but smiled shyly when it was clear her gesture wasn't an attack.
"I used to play a little. Not as good as you."
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 13, 2009 13:01:09 GMT -5
Rats lifted their heads when you pet them, tilting them up so that their noses pressed into and poked the hollow of your palm. Their heads were round, and the ears stuck out a bit, and yet they were sleek, and if you fed them a little in simple crumbs, then they decided that they liked you, and it was just that easy. He reminded her a little of a rat.
"I had a lot of time to get good," said Emilie, tucked her heels in under her hips as she knelt, crouched down like she was going to play leapfrog. "Better I didn't have that time and didn't have the talent than what I did."
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Post by Toby on Feb 13, 2009 13:43:59 GMT -5
"I didn't mean to embarass you- I'm sorry..."
That was one thing that the asylums he'd been in and out of had taught him- there was nothing he did that wouldn't offend someone. Some people even got mad at his constant apologizing.
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 17, 2009 9:33:11 GMT -5
Emilie patted him gently on the head once more, smiling at him. Emilie was rarely apologized to, and although if it continued the chances of her becoming exasperated or perhaps even anxious that she might be making him uncomfortable would go up, it was not so bad the first time. He was polite for an extremely unkempt-looking young man, although Emilie did not judge as much as most people did on that account.
"I'm not embarrassed," said Emilie with a sort of mad but motherly smile. "Not every day I meet a fellow musician!"
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Post by Toby on Feb 17, 2009 9:49:05 GMT -5
"You're very kind, miss. They...they didn't like what I did much back where I came from."
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 17, 2009 10:07:28 GMT -5
Emilie had really no clue where that was, but the words, for her, had resonance. If he was speaking of music... well, hers certainly had not been appreciated at the Asylum for Wayward Girls. Aside from being something that occasionally drew in money for her particular nature, and something to study, which she did not view as appreciation at all.
"You're among better sorts," she said firmly. "Come on, you, are you hungry? Do you want to go get some nice... soup? And sandwiches?" She had cast her mind about for an option and as that was what she'd had with Mulder most recently, it was the first thing that came to her.
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Post by Toby on Feb 17, 2009 10:15:03 GMT -5
Toby smiled- he had indeed been very hungry.
"Thank you, miss!"
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Emilie Autumn
- In the Duggins -
Beware of escaped inmates
Posts: 90
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Post by Emilie Autumn on Feb 17, 2009 10:40:16 GMT -5
Emilie smiled, very pleased that she would be doing something decent with the money she'd earned - she had felt strangely guilty about it lately, as though she oughtn't be having money, as though it was dirty - and getting to like being a "miss".
Emilie tugged on her large, puffy, oddly-padded coat and stood up, stretching, reaching her hand to help him up with her.
"A'ight. Down the streety then."
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