Around Noon of Monday, October Fifth

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

Power to the one true cause, which means to me and mine.

After the rain lately, it has been nice to have such a sunny day to work. A smile comes to my lips as I patch a hole in the wall of my new building. Mine. Well, the LORD's, but He has entrusted it to me so I don't think it's really a sin to think of it as my own and address it with some small pride in God's work.

I do take some small pleasure in the reactions I can only imagine the town will have. A church on Silk Road, of all places. At least I chose the building beside the carpenter's shop and not the Tavern, I think with a grin.

Besides, do not the more loathesome of us need salvation brought to them? I believe so, now, and have realized that my old ways were not working. They didn't quite fit me, felt like a skin I'd just thrown on, and now I begin to feel myself again, but happier. I throw a silent prayer up to Heaven for Kate's presence in my life, for I know that it is she who brought about such changes in me.

The hole in the wall is patched, so I set aside my tools and gather up some of the trash I've swept from the floor and carry it out the front door. I pause a moment to breathe in the fall air and smile again to myself about how awesome our LORD is.


[OPEN.]

Around Noon of Monday, October Fifth

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

Power to the one true cause, which means to me and mine.

After the rain lately, it has been nice to have such a sunny day to work. A smile comes to my lips as I patch a hole in the wall of my new building. Mine. Well, the LORD's, but He has entrusted it to me so I don't think it's really a sin to think of it as my own and address it with some small pride in God's work.

I do take some small pleasure in the reactions I can only imagine the town will have. A church on Silk Road, of all places. At least I chose the building beside the carpenter's shop and not the Tavern, I think with a grin.

Besides, do not the more loathesome of us need salvation brought to them? I believe so, now, and have realized that my old ways were not working. They didn't quite fit me, felt like a skin I'd just thrown on, and now I begin to feel myself again, but happier. I throw a silent prayer up to Heaven for Kate's presence in my life, for I know that it is she who brought about such changes in me.

The hole in the wall is patched, so I set aside my tools and gather up some of the trash I've swept from the floor and carry it out the front door. I pause a moment to breathe in the fall air and smile again to myself about how awesome our LORD is.


[OPEN.]

there were always three drops of blood on the snow

[anushka-excolo.livejournal.com]

Voronin Manor, just after dusk

The thing that came back was not Gaueko. It was just a dog - bleeding, stinking of cat piss, wracked with a tired pain and coughing blood onto the marble. I lay in the bathtub watching it against the dim warmth of my closed eyes, but once its legs had buckled under it and it had dragged itself as far as it could manage, it did not move again.

The dog did not move for three days and three nights. Blood spread on the floor beneath it, and then dried, and then darkened. Too cold for flies. It lay as though dead, and sometimes shadows claimed it, and sometimes in the pale shafts of morning light it seemed a faded thing, like a half-developed photograph, a water stain in old wallpaper: a thing being forgotten in the clamour of the world. I could barely hear it breathing.

On the fourth day I thought it looked cold, so I gathered Gaueko's coat from where he had left it in the chair, and I put it on the creature on the hallway floor, wrestled its paws through the sleeves, tugged its massive bulk over. But it was not so heavy as one might think. Not so immovable.

I said, do you remember when we would lie together before the fire, you and I? And I would rest my head on you and sleep, or else I would pet you? But the creature did not answer. Of course, for it was just a dog. I left again, but later came back, drawn there by the sad silence and the smell of old blood and sickness. I could feel darkness calling to it. I thought, I should send him in. I sat on the bottom stair and watched the dog lie there still as a corpse in its dull-buttoned greatcoat, and the hours ticked by, and the moon slid across the sky, and the house was silent. Oh, Monster. Did you have to leave him so, lumpen and sprawled helpless between the worlds?

I could have gone with him into the darkness, but instead I gathered old broken wood from the garden and lit a fire in the hallway fireplace. I had not done so for years, and smoke clogged the room at first, where the rooks had built their knotty nests in the chimney. Five days, dog, I said, poking at the blaze with a serving spoon from the kitchen. I am beginning to think you are lazy. I thought of Gaueko laughing. I put laughter in the mouths of the men of Excolo, rough and heartfelt, spilling from houses and shops and the banks of the river.

On the sixth day I lay out photographs before his nose. Anton, and Konrad, and Anushka. I said their names. I stroked my fingers across their slick, monochrome surfaces, and they curled and died like autumn leaves with a small flash of flame. The dog opened its eyes and looked at me. I looked back. Later, when it was asleep, I washed the wound in its side. I supposed I should be angry.

At first he was too weak to eat, so I let him lick broth from my fingers. There was no man left in him, barely any godhood, a low ebb of power subsiding into shadows. Then, when he could walk, he dragged his great paws to my father's chair in the empty parlour, and collapsed into it, a man again. I brought him a rabbit, a little velvety thing, blood still trickling from its nose, and I dropped it into his lap.

[Open to Gaueko]

there were always three drops of blood on the snow

[anushka-excolo.livejournal.com]

Voronin Manor, just after dusk

[Open to Gaueko]

this strange season of pain will come to pass when the healing hands of autumn cool me down

[genny-duvall.livejournal.com]

Monday, October 5, afternoon
The Carnival

Didn't think I could cry for that long.

First day I didn't do much 'cept cry. And think 'bout how much I messed up.

baby jaguar curled in on itself, poking a paw out but finding nothing, wanting to go look for the stars, wanting to feel the earth shake but all is still

I forgot how I got food all those other days when I was too tired to go outside. Took me a couple hours to remember that it was Zann who brought it to me, and that set me off cryin' again.

Worst part was when I thought 'bout who I could talk to, who I could see to make me feel better. 'Cause the person I'd go to most was Zann. Always Zann, always fixin' things. Fixin' me when I was broke.

'Cept now she ain't gonna fix me no more.

I don't even know if I can fix what's broke. Can't not paint. Can't not help Tez. Is that what's makin' be broke?

Someone musta told Momma. It ain't like I was seein' her much on other days. But all of a sudden there she was on Saturday mornin', pickin' me up and gettin' me outta my wagon and into hers and makin' me soup like when I was a kid and I was sick, and lettin' me cry it out all over again on her shoulder.

Don't know if she even looked at the pictures I had out in my wagon. Hope she didn't.

And she kept me with her all weekend. But Momma had to go back to practice today. They got a new show goin', she said, 'cause if Management says we're stayin', they gotta keep the marks wantin' to come back. So she left me in her wagon.

Can't stay here. Just can't.

Borrow one of Momma's sweaters 'cause I didn't even bring a jacket with me and it's gettin' colder every day. Don't want to go back to my wagon, 'cause it's too empty there knowin' that Zann ain't gonna be comin' by. Don't want to go to the cooktent 'cause maybe Zann will be there and I don't want to see her.

Don't want to go nowhere. Don't want to be here.

Startin' to cry again. Start runnin'. Who's closest? The twins. I'll go to their wagon...

[Open to Hope and Faith]

this strange season of pain will come to pass when the healing hands of autumn cool me down

[genny-duvall.livejournal.com]

Monday, October 5, afternoon
The Carnival

Didn't think I could cry for that long.

First day I didn't do much 'cept cry. And think 'bout how much I messed up.

baby jaguar curled in on itself, poking a paw out but finding nothing, wanting to go look for the stars, wanting to feel the earth shake but all is still

I forgot how I got food all those other days when I was too tired to go outside. Took me a couple hours to remember that it was Zann who brought it to me, and that set me off cryin' again.

Worst part was when I thought 'bout who I could talk to, who I could see to make me feel better. 'Cause the person I'd go to most was Zann. Always Zann, always fixin' things. Fixin' me when I was broke.

'Cept now she ain't gonna fix me no more.

I don't even know if I can fix what's broke. Can't not paint. Can't not help Tez. Is that what's makin' be broke?

Someone musta told Momma. It ain't like I was seein' her much on other days. But all of a sudden there she was on Saturday mornin', pickin' me up and gettin' me outta my wagon and into hers and makin' me soup like when I was a kid and I was sick, and lettin' me cry it out all over again on her shoulder.

Don't know if she even looked at the pictures I had out in my wagon. Hope she didn't.

And she kept me with her all weekend. But Momma had to go back to practice today. They got a new show goin', she said, 'cause if Management says we're stayin', they gotta keep the marks wantin' to come back. So she left me in her wagon.

Can't stay here. Just can't.

Borrow one of Momma's sweaters 'cause I didn't even bring a jacket with me and it's gettin' colder every day. Don't want to go back to my wagon, 'cause it's too empty there knowin' that Zann ain't gonna be comin' by. Don't want to go to the cooktent 'cause maybe Zann will be there and I don't want to see her.

Don't want to go nowhere. Don't want to be here.

Startin' to cry again. Start runnin'. Who's closest? The twins. I'll go to their wagon...

[Open to Hope and Faith]

It Is Easier to Give Than Receive Love

[lugh-thecelt.livejournal.com]

Karina's Home
Deep dark night, Monday 5 October

Eris told me what Maryk asked of her. Why she didn't tell me, why she hasn't called for me, I don't understand. Trust. I've spent some time thinking. Some more time waiting to see if she would. It's got to be nearly three weeks since I last saw her. Busy busy busy.

But now I'm here. I'm here, Karina.

Soft steps, barefoot, across her porch. My fingers run along the polished smooth wood of the rocker. I feel her all over it. And the other one. Erzebet. Figures.

Which one will hear me, then. My lady or the bitch?

"Karina," I whisper to the shadows. "Erzebet," I whisper to others. One set or another will bring her to me.

[OPEN to Karina]

[CLOSED]

It Is Easier to Give Than Receive Love

[lugh-thecelt.livejournal.com]

Karina's Home
Deep dark night, Monday 5 October

Eris told me what Maryk asked of her. Why she didn't tell me, why she hasn't called for me, I don't understand. Trust. I've spent some time thinking. Some more time waiting to see if she would. It's got to be nearly three weeks since I last saw her. Busy busy busy.

But now I'm here. I'm here, Karina.

Soft steps, barefoot, across her porch. My fingers run along the polished smooth wood of the rocker. I feel her all over it. And the other one. Erzebet. Figures.

Which one will hear me, then. My lady or the bitch?

"Karina," I whisper to the shadows. "Erzebet," I whisper to others. One set or another will bring her to me.

[OPEN to Karina]

[CLOSED]

Not out to save the world, just one person

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

Monday, October 5th
Afternoon
Syl's wagon


Between one thing and another  the soonest Maryk and I could get out to the Carnival was today, Monday. I really wish we could have come sooner but since Karina got really bad Lena hasn;t been much use at her job either. So between us Maryk and i have been keeping the house. i'm glad I got a chance to learn how to do it before this happened. Today is a bright sunny day, I don't mind the sun so much anymore but I do like the warmth. Though for Karina i'd come out on the worst day.

I hold Maryk's hand in mine as we enter carnival grounds, if it weren't for how important this is i'd want to spend more time looking at the carnival, it all looks so interesting! Lots of big rooms made of  cloth and rope and lotsof little booth of wood. And the metal structures of rides. I want to try them.  But that can wait til Karina's better. We wander a little bit before finding someone who works for the carnival. Maryk asks where we can find Syl, and he takes us to another less pretty part of the carnival and points at a wagon.

I clutch Maryk's hand and take a deep breath before tugging him in that direction. Very soon we are climbing the little stairs and knocking on the door. "Syl? It's Leah.  i'm here about Karina."

I hope she's here. I hope she can help take the curse off Karina. I hope...


[open to Maryk and Syl]
[Closed]

Not out to save the world, just one person

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

Monday, October 5th
Afternoon
Syl's wagon


Between one thing and another  the soonest Maryk and I could get out to the Carnival was today, Monday. I really wish we could have come sooner but since Karina got really bad Lena hasn;t been much use at her job either. So between us Maryk and i have been keeping the house. i'm glad I got a chance to learn how to do it before this happened. Today is a bright sunny day, I don't mind the sun so much anymore but I do like the warmth. Though for Karina i'd come out on the worst day.

I hold Maryk's hand in mine as we enter carnival grounds, if it weren't for how important this is i'd want to spend more time looking at the carnival, it all looks so interesting! Lots of big rooms made of  cloth and rope and lotsof little booth of wood. And the metal structures of rides. I want to try them.  But that can wait til Karina's better. We wander a little bit before finding someone who works for the carnival. Maryk asks where we can find Syl, and he takes us to another less pretty part of the carnival and points at a wagon.

I clutch Maryk's hand and take a deep breath before tugging him in that direction. Very soon we are climbing the little stairs and knocking on the door. "Syl? It's Leah.  i'm here about Karina."

I hope she's here. I hope she can help take the curse off Karina. I hope...


[open to Maryk and Syl]
[Closed]