Cold this wind, cold this rain,/Cold these outstretched hands

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

[Midday on Sunday, August 30 (day 91)]
[Miskatonic Café]

The rain's held steady, grey sky and wet earth and the air between running for the horizon. I've my own jacket now, but I borrow Iago's regardless; it's morning when I leave, and he'll not be going out afore I'm back. And if he's going to be abed--and I'll not begrudge him that--I can at least have the smell of him and his jacket 'round me.

Headed up through the park to the Abbey to catch service, and my jeans were soaked from midcalf down from the slow grasp of wet grass. Stayed for a little afterwards to pass time and words with Oya. Nothing of detail or import--I've no mind for where to begin on those--more a chance to greet her again. Interesting times, indeed. Head out into the rain again, and the wind's catching loose strands of hair across my face and the rain's soaking them down and I catch myself laughing a little trekking through the park to Main Street, light and passing delight. Love this weather, the wet bite of wind and the stroking patter of the rain and the light as grey as rock-dove feathers.

See the Miskatonic up ahead as I come out of the park, and wander across the slick cobbles of Main, long slow lope down the center of it and no worry for traffic, not on a Sunday midday of this weather. Music sounds low and clear as I open the door, get myself a coffee and take a seat in the window to watch the street--easy enough to do, the weather's kept the usual crowd rather down and I've my pick of tables. Drape Iago's jacket 'cross the back of an empty chair and take my hair down, start untangling it as best I can. Coffee here, I think, and maybe a sandwich, and then I'll bring something back for Iago, get home, sink into a hot bath... Going to be a fine day.

[Open first to Lucien, later to others]

Comments

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

I turn over what Glass and Lucien say about the Tower.

"So your former employer is in league with darkness? Splendid," I say drily. "I'm sure this will all end marvellously well." I sigh. "At least that fire you had at the carnival didn't turn into something worse - after Kaeli was attacked I was surprised there wasn't more uproar in town. I was rather piqued myself." I think of how I went out with a pistol to find Tez, but I do not think I should mention that.

"White fluffy thing, one blue eye and one green? Chester. Talks a bit much, likes his Baileys with cream."
"Wanda says his voice and appearance do not maych whatsoever. And I've never actually talked to a cat before, so there's an oddity worth looking foward to."

I laugh.

"That's the one. He showed up at the Whitechapel one day." I have decided to leave Hermia's involvement out of it. "I don't think he cared for me overmuch. He talks like one of those old hardboiled detectives whilst being one of the fluffiest cats imaginable. It is quite peculiar." I sip my coffee. "But I'm guessing from your reactions that you don't think the creature's not to be trusted. Though I can't imagine myself ever confiding in a cat." I wonder what Hermia talks to Chester about. I do hope she does not really mention me. I hardly want a cat knowing my business.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I think..." Lucien says, setting his words out careful, "that the Management of the Carnival Diabolique is connected to the Tower," and that's about when I settle for myself that no, much as I love Tulzcha's coffee I can't breathe the stuff. Set my cup down coughing a bit as Valmont says "Splendid. I'm sure this will all end marvellously well."

"Remember May?" I say to him. "April? When the worst Excolo'd get was bad weather and brawls?"

"I'd lay money that the Tower thinks it's a tool.... that and keeping them here's causing chaos and tension. And thats always fun." Lucien grimaces and I sniff disdainfully. Messes. I hate messes.

"At least that fire you had at the carnival didn't turn into something worse - after Kaeli was attacked I was surprised there wasn't more uproar in town. I was rather piqued myself."

"I near to missed the whole of it," I confess. "Heard she hadn't seen Mab to set charges against them?"

"That's the one. He showed up at the Whitechapel one day. I don't think he cared for me overmuch. He talks like one of those old hardboiled detectives whilst being one of the fluffiest cats imaginable. It is quite peculiar. But I'm guessing from your reactions that you don't think the creature's not to be trusted. Though I can't imagine myself ever confiding in a cat."

"I wouldn't do that, no," I say drily. "He talks a little much, and lets things slip sometimes. If you can set store by what he says, he's not a cat; he's a spirit of air that contracted with a mortal soul, and that contract left him shaped as he is. Came to Excolo for... well." Smile a little and shrug. "We all come to Excolo, don't we?"

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

"So your former employer is in league with darkness? Splendid, I'm sure this will all end marvellously well. At least that fire you had at the carnival didn't turn into something worse - after Kaeli was attacked I was surprised there wasn't more uproar in town. I was rather piqued myself."

The problem when you have a sentient being sharing mind space with you? Once he decides to start talking, it gets really hard to keep up with the conversation. We need to go see Kaeli soon Lucien, she has much to learn yet. Marbas rumbles through my mind. I nod an assent, both mental at him and outwardly towards my companions.
"You're right, the retaliation could have been much worse. Thats why I think it wasn't townies.." Smile apologetically at my use of the term, guess I've been with the whow long enough to still consider myself family. "...who set the fire. It was little, non life threating, and deliberate. Someone was sending a message. To who or for what....?" Shrug and drain another cup of coffee. Coffee and cigarettes, a doctor's diet, truly.

I get lost in my thoughts again as they talk of the gruff voiced, fluffy, white Chester. "If you can set store by what he says, he's not a cat; he's a spirit of air that contracted with a mortal soul, and that contract left him shaped as he is." Now that catches my attention. "Because a talking cat isn't strange enough. An air elemental..." Memory hits me, and I shudder a bit. "I'm trusting he's nothing like the other elemental we ran into at the Tavern, 'fiery death come to play'...."
Something about that also perks up Marbas too. "Fiery Elemental? Here in town? Oh, does my Lilith have her pet Djinn here as well?"
Wunderbar. Another thing I'll be linked with somehow. When did my life get so complicated? Oh, yeah... right.
"Yep, we all come to Excolo. Pardon me if I'd really like to leave it some days."

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"Because a talking cat isn't strange enough. An air elemental... I'm trusting he's nothing like the other elemental we ran into at the Tavern, 'fiery death come to play'...."

Laugh a little at that. "The worst I've seen him do is get a touch rude when troubling Thomas for service. If he could do more, he's at least got sense and perspective to keep it to himself on light matters."

"Yep, we all come to Excolo. Pardon me if I'd really like to leave it some days."

Pick up my cup and discover it's empty, and think I ought to be heading back rather than getting another refill. "Wonder if you could leave when you were dead?" I muse, catching Tulzcha's eye and mouthing special? to go? Grin at his expression. "'s purely academic, I trust," I add cheerfully. "In any case, I ought really be heading back," I add when Tulz brings my order over. "I'll catch you both later? My best to Wanda, Miao, and Hermia."

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

Lucien looks a little distracted as we speak, although he manages to keep up with the conversation.

"I'm trusting he's nothing like the other elemental we ran into at the Tavern, 'fiery death come to play'...."

"Chester like that?" I laugh. "I sincerely hope not." My eyes narrow. I may have to question the cat further about his origins. If there is anything dangerous in his elemental state, I should know about it. Hermia's safety is at stake.

Glass finishes her coffee and stands.

"I'll catch you both later? My best to Wanda, Miao, and Hermia."

"And my best to your husband," I smile. "Enjoy your Sunday."

I look back at Lucien, who still seems preoccupied, almost as if he were listening to someone else's conversation.

"I should probably head off too, Lucien," I say. "But it has been good to see you. Perhaps you and Wanda should come over to dinner some evening? It's pleasant to have good company," I say, "and I'm sure Hermia would be glad to see you both."

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

"Wonder if you could leave when you were dead?" Startle a bit at that and blink a few times to clear my head. "Why Glass, so sick of me already that you're suggest I try that?" I say rather dryly, but in good humor and she humors me back, before excusing herself.
"Later Glass." I wave at her with a smile. still a little lost in my thoughts.

"I should probably head off too, Lucien, But it has been good to see you. Perhaps you and Wanda should come over to dinner some evening?" Valmont suggests and I nod in agreement. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. I need to get out more and socialize with people who are not sick." I say with a laugh, and throw enough money down to cover both our orders. Atcually, I'm thinking it would be good to get Wanda out to interact with more.... well... normal people than gods, monsters and immortal fops.
Bid goodbye to Valmont with a smile and with a long sigh, dash back into the rain towards the Dormouse. Hopefully I won't be called out again today.