After the snow has fallen

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

Wednesday, early evening; after the snow has stopped but the power is still out.

It seems that I missed some excitement last night. When I came through from the apartment to the inn proper in the late morning, I found a note from Adam.

Boss -
There was a bit of a ruckus here last night. Some girl took her clothes off and got offended when Billy Hogan got fresh. A fight broke out - just the usual broken glasses. Will tell you more about it when I'm in next. Don't believe everything any of the regulars tell you - I was the only one who wasn't drunk.
A.

I would, perhaps, have got to hear some of those stories, and I must say I'm terribly curious, but then it started snowing. It has been a long time since I saw snow fall like it did this afternoon; since I lived in New London, I think, for Versailles was warmer. The Whitechapel is quiet enough during the early afternoons anyway, so we locked the front door, Cora and Peter soon settled into a high stakes game of gin rummy, and I went to make sure that Hermia and Alice were alright. Luckily we have plenty of food and firewood, and the apartment is well furnished with candles.

The snow has settled down now, but it is very dark outside and the power is still out. So I come back into the bar and Cora - cheerful for once, having managed to take most of Peter's wages for this week - and I get the fire banked as high as possible and line the windows with candles so that passerby can see that we are open, and I unlock the front door. I imagine that many people's homes will be very cold and very dark this evening, and what better cure for that than company and alcohol?

[OPEN]

Comments

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

The whole of the storm I spent inside my building, hoping my friends and the members of the church are alright. By the time the wind has settled, I decide it is really not safe to be checking on anyone, with the power still out, but I feel an immense need to be out of this small place. I bundle up and head out into the streets, wandering a bit until I see candlelight in the Inn. Alcohol is more easily avoided there, I think, and that makes it a better choice than the Tavern. After all, I feel the need for the sounds of people about me, even if I am sitting on my own. I resolve, then, to enter and find myself at a table along a wall of the Inn, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dim light. It's assuring to be around people, to know that there are indeed townsfolk that made it through alright--even if I don't recognize them all.

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

Holy fuckin' hell, pardon my language. I ache. I ache all over, and the only reason I came out this far was because after I took care of everything at home, I wanted to go check on what we'd gotten done at the Tavern. Stick my head in and some-freakin'-how it's all absolutely fine, nothing froze, thank you God. Verdi gave me a shot of something hot and by the time I get back out the cold isn't bothering me nearly so much, it really really isn't, and I'm giggling a bit.

And oh, this place looks fine, all candles and glow against the glass-cold of the snow, and I'm looking in on the way by when I see a familiar face, I think, and decide to duck in. "Larry!"

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

I don't jump outwardly, but the moniker does surprise me. Only one person calls me by that name. I turn with a smile and stand to motion for her to join me.

"Zann!"

[gaueko-erebus.livejournal.com]

The door bangs open, letting in a rush of cold air and setting the candleflames a'flutter. Snow swirls briefly in the air. Bloody annoying. I take a swallow of my whiskey and turn around, ready to tell whoever it was to shut the fucking door.

Takes me a minute to place her. It's not like I see her terribly often. But the girl does make a hell of a first impression. "Well, well. If it isn't Popcorn," I say, smirking at her.

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

"Zann!" and I grin and bounce over and hug him, 'cause hey, I haven't seen him in ages. "Hey, Larry! I heard you've gotta church going now, that's great! Me, we've got all the rides packed, except the Carousel 'cause my baby's running, and I got some spare work on the Tavern, it's gonna reopen real soon now--you coming to the opening? They've got a space you could use for a dance floor now and everything, and I fixed that little hitch the jukebox was having, it's gonna be great." I'm grinning up at him when one of the people who turned to look at us starts talking and I kinda freeze.

"Well, well. If it isn't Popcorn."

--oh, Jesus. God. I mean... God. Turn to look at him and it's him, I remember that, and somehow I don't think You don't look nearly as scary indoors is a good opening, and I open my mouth and the words come out:

"Oh, hey! Gaueko, right?" Wait, am I supposed to be careful about saying that? Shit. Oops. "How've you been?" I say, turning to face him. "I'm Zann, Tereixa Zann. Hey, do you know Larry? Father Laurence?" I've got one arm around Larry's back, and I realize that and drop it and step forward a bit, 'cause jesus Anushka's werewolf god-guy is... uhm... well, he's scary, but I don't wanna put Larry between us. That might hurt.

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

I just smile and hug Zann back as she bubbles and bounces in speech if not in body.

"Well, well. If it isn't Popcorn." Zann goes tense, but keeps her arm around my back until she starts to introduce the man that spoke. It's dim in here and my eyesight isn't the best, so I mostly see shadows in his direction. I eye her, but she seems alright and while I'm not the scariest guy in the world, I know my size can discourage some people. I extend my hand in greeting and smile at the man.

"Hello," I offer.

[gaueko-erebus.livejournal.com]

I slept through most of the storm, which suits me fine. At night, blizzards are more fun than the damned carnival. During the day, they're dull as all fuck. I burrowed under the blankets and didn't move until I felt the darkness rising.

I only realize that the power's out when I come downstairs (I don't tend to use the lights in my room). But there's the innkeeper, setting candles in the windows and stoking the fire until it blazes high. The snow is still ticking off the window, but it's just the occasional flake and sweep of blowing snow. Judging from the drifts outside, though, it must have come down like all fuck this afternoon.

Well. Might be nice to warm up before I head out. I sit down at the bar and signal the barman. By now he knows me, and he brings a double measure of whiskey without having to be asked. Good lad.

[simon-klavec.livejournal.com]

Took my time closing up after the snows came down.

Killed the fire and covered the meat, washed my knives and saws. Swept up. Then I walked the length of Main, to make sure no one had got caught out. Hardly noticed the cold, didn't lose my way. Don't know why I went out. Suppose it feels a bit like my time, this cold white blankness.

Like death, out there.

Felt like a drink, and so I walked down Silk. Just fine in my jacket, my hair whipping around my head. Snow's piling up when I step into the Whitechapel. It's like stepping back into the world, and I nod to Laclos and order a brandy.

Lots of folk huddling here. And there's Zann, and Tillerman, and my brother's dog. I nod to Zann, and the preacher, and find myself a seat near the window, so I can look out.

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

Snow! Lots of it! I was stuck in the Miskatonic when it started really falling hard. We gave out free soup, coffee, tea and hot cocoa to everyone who came in to take shelter.

Of course my shift was over as soon as the snow started to let up. So I ran to the salon to check on Ri before running to the tavern. Took two spills onto my ass to remind me snow is even harder to run on when you have worn sneakers and no paws. Glad the people I slid into thought it was funny though. Maybe it was my apology and offer of a couple of free drinks when the tavern reopens that made them so forgiving.

By the time I got to the tavern, Iago was already there and up to his knees in painting and drink samples. So I grabbed a paintbrush and a drink and joined in. With the power out, we had to stop when it started to get dark. At first we were gonna go drop in on Kate, but then decided she's probably busy and it might not be a good time. Tomorrow then.

Iago's standing in the street looking at his grandmothers house and I laugh when the snowball I threw hits him dead in the middle of his back and explodes. "We can go to the White Chapel, drinks are on the last one through the door!" I yell, taking off towards the door. I'm almost there and laugh, reaching towards the knob. My foot slips out from under me and I yelp as my back hits the ground. That's three times today. I really need new shoes.

"Shut up," I growl, hearing the crunch of snow and a chuckle off to my right.

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

It was all fun and games until she hit me with that damned iceball. At least that's what it felt like. That girl has no notion of her own strength. Silently declaring war, I hear her call out, "We can go to the White Chapel, drinks are on the last one through the door!"

She's got a head-start and I take off quickly, trying to catch up to her. I'm close when she slips and falls, and I barely step back in time to avoid her tumbling body. She's laid out, flat on her back and growling, "Shut up." Chuckling, I offer her a hand up while reaching off to the side and scooping snow into my free glove.

Grinning widely, I say, "I think not," as I pull her to her feet and shove the scooped snow down her shirt. Laughing, I shove her back hard and turn, opening the door as I run through. Entering the Whitechapel in a flurry of activity and whirling snow, I declare loudly, "I win!" She's not taking it quietly though as I get hit with yet another snowball. I stumble further in, doubling over with laughter as I see that she's covered in snow from head to toe, snowflakes dripping from her eyelashes as she glares at me.

I give her a wide grin as I say, "Looks like drinks are on you, Lannie," before bursting into another round of laughter.

[shards-of-alice.livejournal.com]

It's so wonderful, all the snow on the ground, and I could see it from my window, beautiful and white and swirling in the air in the nighttime sky. I've been there most of the day, nose pressed against the cold glass, watching it tumble down from heaven. I can almost feel it on my tongue already, all sharp cold and then melting all the way down my throat.

Of course, getting outside is not so easy, not at all. It's snowing too hard and I'll get all cold and it's not fair, not at all, that no one will take me out to play in it when tomorrow's sure to come with the sun making all the fun go away. Not fair.

I stay by my window a long while until the best of all ideas comes. Everybody is busy and no one's paying me any mind, so it's real easy just to tiptoe down the hall, peek my head into the dark room where I can still feel his shadows curling and waiting. It smells like him, the air all tingling with him, but he's not there. Off somewhere else instead of taking me outside to play, which only makes me pout even more, finally stomping down the stairs to the sound of a bunch of voices.

There's a whole ton of people down here, most of them I don't know at all. I don't like strangers - all the colors get too jumbled - and I'm ready to go back upstairs after a cup of cocoa but then the darkness is there, the shadows where none of the colors make it through, standing angry by a table with words coming out too loud. I don't like it when that happens, it makes me have chill bumps, but I don't go back upstairs. Even though I want to, with the idea of him being grumpy giving me shivers, I go over instead, standing quiet as I can by his side and watching everybody with narrow eyes.

[gaueko-erebus.livejournal.com]

The innkeeper looks up from behind the bar. "I'd rather no one got thrown through a window; glass is expensive. Feel free to throw each other about in the yard if need be. Try not to scare the horses." before going back to his cleaning.

A reasonable man. I can respect that. I grin. "Understood."

In the meantime, the girl steps in front of him and bares her teeth. Is she fucking growling at me? What is it with the women of this town and bloody suicide? I catch a whiff of her scent...oh, for fuck's sake. Apparently we've hit our limit for new oddities and are starting to repeat. "Little wolf," I say, pointing at her, "unless you want me to rip your skull free of your flesh and turn it into a fucking hand puppet, I'd suggest staying out of my way."

But at least whoever took the bartender's memory didn't take his brains. "Lannie, that's Gaueko. Don't challenge him. We can settle this another way. Stop growling and think about what we should be drinking instead. Let me handle this," oh, so he remembers me, but not Glass? Isn't that fucking convenient?

He steps around her and says carefully, "I don't know what you believe I may have done but as it's upset you, I offer my sincerest apologies and as soon as you tell me what I did, I won't do it again."

Goddamn right you won't. I'll make sure of that. I'm about to expand on that out loud when Popcorn gets involved. "Yeah, no need to scare the horses, right?" I feel...is she touching my arm? We've gone from popcorn carts to touchy-feely time now? "Come on, I'm sure he didn't hurt your girl, he's a nice guy, he really really is. Let me get the next round and I'm sure you can sort this out, right?"

The next round sounds good, but I'm not done here. "God damn right you won't do it again," I bellow at the bartender, jamming my finger into his face, "first you marry my daughter, then you let some asshole, I'm betting that maggot-infested horse turd you call a father, get a curse over you. And now you've forgotten her, you shitstained little whelp. We'll see how forgetable she is once I'm done pounding her name into your fucking skull."

...oh, hell Ninia. When did you get here? I squeeze her shoulder briefly, not looking away from the bartender. She moved right to stand with me, like a good priestess.

[valmont-vicomte.livejournal.com]

Gaueko understands the rules. I don't think he will kill Iago, so I am not too worried about trying to stop the fight, and I am glad Gaueko is clear I don't want my furniture or fixtures broken.

But then Alice comes in, and goes straight over to Gaueko, and I feel my hand tighten around the glass I am holding. I put it down on the bar and move quietly across the room. I leave the space between Gaueko and Iago clear, and move to Alice's free side.

"My dear," I say softly. "You know you aren't meant to come into the bar in the evenings. Did you get lonely upstairs? Hermia's at home if you want to go to the apartment," I say.

[simon-klavec.livejournal.com]

Lots of folk getting excited now. The dog's still barking at Iago, the doctor's walked in, and now Laclos has rushed over to a child standing near the dog.

There's a sudden moment of dead silence, like a great bell has rung out quiet, muffling everything. In the moment that follows I speak. "Why don't we all calm down some."

Could do with another glass of this brandy, me.

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to giggle and then I swallow it down and choke it off and everything goes quiet, quiet and still, unwound and silent, lying in pieces with dust sifting down, and I gasp a little for breath and it's isn't a sob, not quite, but it could have been in another time. Put down my drink and run both hands through my hair and try to sort it all out, look at Iago (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/326621.html?thread=8458717#t8458717).

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

Goddamn, the blizzard I was hoping for is five days too early!

I thought I was stir crazy enough in my little office, but then the power shut out, and that tore it. Threw on the coat and hat and decided to head to Wanda's. Figured she'd be alone, and then I could try again to get her to see some sense or reason...

but instead my feet take me elsewhere, either from cowardice, helplessness, or just a sense of now was not the right time. I am not even sure where I am heading, my head turned down away from the wind, until I slip on the ice on the Pontailer bridge and I land on my ass.
Cursing under my breath, I realize the Whitechapel is nearby, and is a good a place as any to get warm. And hey! Perhaps Tez playing at Citali is there, and we can have a drink or four. Just as long as we don't leave, I should be okay.

I all but get blown into the door and stumble into---

"Bloody Hell." I breathe as I get a good look at not only who's here but what seems to be going on. Perhaps I shall be needed here in a professional capacity...

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"Lannie, that's Gaueko. Don't challenge him. We can settle this another way. Stop growling and think about what we should be drinking instead. Let me handle this,"

"Little wolf, unless you want me to rip your skull free of your flesh and turn it into a fucking hand puppet, I'd suggest staying out of my way."

Gaueko? This is Gaueko? I was growling?

Sonofa....

Who the hell is his daughter then?!

Iago steps in front of me, trying to reason with the guy --- god --- whatever. Good going, Lannie, lead Iago right to the worst possible place. My eyes don't move from him even when Zann comes up and tries to help.

I'd smile at how nice she is, but I'm too busy watching, waiting for a muscle twitch. Maybe I can at least pull Iago out of the way and run to the tavern if need be.

I see movement next to the god and feel a small pair of eyes on me. The scent of a young girl. In here? What the hell? "Verdi's trying to fix it," I say, even and low, though my heart is hammering like a drum. "She doesn't want him hurt." She also said she wasn't sure if that would matter to Gaueko or not. Its worth a try.

The door open and I whip my head around just in time to see blonde hair before I'm knocked into Iago. I grab for his waist hoping to keep him from falling into...

"Bloody Hell."

Yeah, that about sums it up.

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

Gaueko threatens Lannie, calling her little wolf and with all the growling, I'm beginning to have a notion regarding her. There's no time to consider it further though as I make my apologies. Surprisingly, Zann steps in and I give her a small grin in thanks but Gaueko's not having any of it, puffing himself larger, if possible, before the yelling begins again, this time with the added bonus of close-quarter threats. Why does this seem familiar? Fortunately, I'm able to glean which affronted daughter is his.

Glass.

In the furor, a small form slips close to Gaueko and I recognize the young miss, Alice, from the masquerade. Gaueko and Valmont notice her as well, and the innkeeper's immediately trying to gain her attention.

Lannie, never one to keep silent, softly says, "Verdi's trying to fix it. She doesn't want him hurt." It's in that moment that the door bursts opens, bringing in more of the weather as I catch sight of bright hair and hear a male voice cursing, "Bloody Hell." If only he knew how right he was.

There's a moment of silence and I tense, unsure before another voice rings out, "Why don't we all calm down some." Ah, the butcher and he's calling for peace. I could do with some of that right now but instead I can't let Gaueko's words hang without a response.

Screwing up my courage, I take a deep breath and reply, "Again, I apologize for my part in this and rather than beat me to a pulp, why don't we have a drink instead?" I pull a flask from my coat and offer it to him, adding, "It's Verdi's firewhiskey. I'm sure she'd be pleased to know you shared it with me."

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

This, I think, is why I rarely venture outside of the warm arms of my building. Somehow I always find myself in the midst of a mess.

"Why don't we all calm down some." I nod at the butcher, thinking that's a very good idea, though I don't believe alcohol will be fixing anything. I send a silent prayer up to God that the fighting is over and shift so that the group can press closer to the table.

At least there's no more mention of me sleeping with Zann?

[tereixa-zann.livejournal.com]

Oh good God. "You married his daughter?" I say in slightly strangled tones and oh, whoops, if his daughter's pissed about all this then Iago, you are pretty and you were fun but I think you just got a huge "No Touching" sign stamped across your forehead. Or your ass. Or--

I swallow down the giggle again, and oh, he's talking--really talking, and honey, if you couldn't mix those drinks you could have made a killing on some midway. "Verdi probably would," I say soberly, except not soberly, and I swallow back another giggle at that. "See? Nice calm quiet. And a drink." Drinking seems much better than how quiet it could get, given whose calling for it, but I'm sure he wouldn't and anyway there's no way to say that properly without explaining a whole lot of things. Shake my head and look down to Alice. "Honey, what are you doing here?" I think things are moving a bit too fast, just gotta find the way in, the pattern, the trick...

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

Gaueko doesn't like what I have to say and rather than adjust his sensibilities, he attempts to re-adjust mine. Continuing with my piece, Lannie jumps in and although I appreciate her need to defend me, this is the wrong target to shoot at. She's a good girl though, ordering two bottles before Lucien drags her away.

I give Lucien a salute for bravery and push my chair back from the table, not rising, but remaining well back from Gaueko's arm reach. I consider him thoughtfully before saying politely, "If want me to acknowledge your physical superiority, you need only ask. There truly was no need for you to lay hands on me. I belong to Verdi, not to you."

My drink's empty but I hang onto the glass, wondering how far Gaueko will take this altercation of his choosing as I say in an even-tone, "Lannie also belongs to Verdi. What was the term Verdi used? Oh yes, priestess." I smile pleasantly, not wanting to insult him as I continue, "And I'm her priest. I was under the impression you and Verdi had an agreement regarding that. Was I incorrect?"

This man is Uncle Montano after a vicious bender, with the same smile, the same temperament and the same warnings as usual. "However this evening goes, I'll be going to see Verdi afterwards, even if Lucien has to carry me there. Would you like me to tell her we had an pleasant evening here with you, enjoying your company?"

I take another drag before continuing, "Or would you like me to tell her the truth? Either way, I'd very much like to leave and find my wife. You've greatly impressed upon me that's the best way to sort this mess out."

[gaueko-erebus.livejournal.com]

...somebody has no survival instincts whatsoever. The Doctor (who I'm noticing smells a lot different now) does, however, and he immediately grabs her and starts dragging her out the door. Suits me. The Innkeeper asked that we take this sort of thing outside anyway. He can drag her at least that far before I come and teach her that it is a very bad idea to insult a god in his home...

The Bartender's put himself at least marginally out of reach, in the meantime. "If want me to acknowledge your physical superiority, you need only ask. There truly was no need for you to lay hands on me. I belong to Verdi, not to you. Lannie also belongs to Verdi. What was the term Verdi used? Oh yes, priestess. And I'm her priest. I was under the impression you and Verdi had an agreement regarding that. Was I incorrect?"

...oh, and when did he figure this out? Wasn't he terrified of me ripping his head off and shitting down his neck not ten minutes ago? I'm tempted to do it anyway at this stage...but a promise is a promise. To Verdandi and to Glass too. I won't touch him.

"About time you figured that out," I snort. "You could have saved me one hell of a lot of effort if you'd done it sooner." I glance at the wolf-girl, still being hauled away by the Doctor.

"However this evening goes, I'll be going to see Verdi afterwards, even if Lucien has to carry me there. Would you like me to tell her we had an pleasant evening here with you, enjoying your company? Or would you like me to tell her the truth? Either way, I'd very much like to leave and find my wife. You've greatly impressed upon me that's the best way to sort this mess out."

"You should tell her she needs to train her priestesses better. That one's going to get herself hurt if this continues." I don't encourage the Doctor to bring her back, either. Frankly I'm not sure I could keep my temper if he did. Not to mention that I do not appreciate the veiled threat in his words. "Verdandi and I aren't on the best of terms right now, so don't push me, boy." I won't, not to him, anyway, because of Glass and because I swore. There are no such promises regarding the wolf girl, on the other hand, but she is another god's property, and it would be bloody disrespectful. Of course, I'm not sure anything I did to her could make Verdandi angrier at me than she already is...but it's best to stop that train of thought before it even gets started.

But if he's come to that conclusion then I suppose the effort wasn't entirely wasted. "Never occurred to you to seek her out before, then? No matter how many people told you she was your wife?" I snort again. "Better late than fucking never, I suppose." I claim the two bottles the extremely lucky wolf girl ordered. "Get on with it, then. I'm sure she'll be pleased to see you." I pause shrugging as I refill my glass. "Or she might hit you with a shovel. You never can tell with my girl."

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

"About time you figured that out," I snort. "You could have saved me one hell of a lot of effort if you'd done it sooner." I nod at him, agreeing before I continue to speak. Gaueko's not done though and suggests, "You should tell her she needs to train her priestesses better. That one's going to get herself hurt if this continues."

Another nod and I say, "I assure you that I'll let Verdi know you said so." He's not pleased that I brought up Verdi and says, "Verdandi and I aren't on the best of terms right now, so don't push me, boy." I take the warning to heart and reply, "Understood, sir." I'll let Verdi know about that as well but truly, there's no need to poke this bear with that tidbit. Besides, he sounds as if he already knows. Too many words on my part will only prolong this conversation anyway and that's not what I'm hoping for.

"Never occurred to you to seek her out before, then? No matter how many people told you she was your wife? Better late than fucking never, I suppose." I look at him for a moment and then say, "I was under the impression it was a joke. I've been informed otherwise, most compellingly by the town clerk but you're correct; I shouldn't delay any longer."

I neglect to add that the last time I saw my wife, she was in tears but that's neither here nor there and I smile politely as he adds, "Get on with it, then. I'm sure she'll be pleased to see you. Or she might hit you with a shovel. You never can tell with my girl."

I grin, feeling vast relief as I rise and offer, "My thanks and I'll keep that in mind. Shovels don't bode well and I'd rather she be pleased to see me instead, than brain me senseless." I give him a short half-bow, setting my empty glass on the table as I continue, "Have a good night, sir."

I turn, motioning to Lannie and Lucien at the bar as I head for the door. "Lannie, time to go. We're expected elsewhere. Bring Lucien if you'd like." Hurry, Lannie. I want to leave now but being calm is the order of the moment.

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to make him leave, but don't think Lucien wants to stay anymore than we do. I also don't need to be told more than once that its time to go and its not long before I'm at Iago's side gesturing towards the door, "Age before beauty. Lead the way."

It might be best if he goes out first. If the god is gonna hurt someone, better its me than either of the guys. At least it might give them a chance to run.

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

"Lannie, time to go. We're expected elsewhere. Bring Lucien if you'd like." Right, leaving I am all about leaving, even if the statement made me sound like Lannie's personal possession. I have no issue with that. Lannie rises and I smile and rise with her, looking back to see Alice being herded upstairs by Valmont, which is another relief.

The three of us leave The Whitechapel, Lannie bringing up the rear. I never thought I would be so glad to be outside and cold in my whole life. I retrieve two cigarettes from my coat and light them up, handing one to Iago.

"So... how the fuck are you doing?"