estdeus_innobis | After the snow has fallen

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]

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I think it's going.... well. No one is dead yet, although I did have a moment of panic when Iago's head nearly met the table. Iago is handling to well though, still trying to talk to him, still supplying drinks.

Lannie however, not so much. She can't keep her mouth shut and I swear I have a heart attack every time it opens. And Gaueko implies she canine. What the fuck...?

"Wait... did I miss the part where something was done to you?! Far as I've seen its Glass who's lost a husband and Iago a wife. Do you have to be double jointed to get your head stuck that far up your own ass? Or is it a god thing?"

Okay. I really need to have Kaeli check for this internal brain bleed that keeps happening. Lannie is motion for drinks, Iago is talking, but Gaueko is looking right at her...

I am up out of my chair, I have one arm slipped around her waist, the other hand over her mouth, and I have her up and out of the chair. "Pardon me."
I say placidly, trying to smile at Gaueko and Iago, but I am sure it is not working. "Lannie and I will be right over at the bar of you need us." I say, starting to drag her away before we all get killed.

Lucien grabs me and puts a hand over my mouth and I let him pull me away. "Lannie and I will be right over at the bar of you need us."

I probably shouldn't drink anymore. That conversation has probably killed enough brain cells as it is. I give Lucien a grateful smile and order us a couple of drinks. Still keeping my eye on them though. "Thanks. Sorry about that, Doc," I say over my glass and try to smile. He probably just saved my ass. Not a good thing that this God guy can push my buttons like that. Especially when I know I can't do a fucking thing if this goes really bad, but I still want to try. I was fine when Iago had it under control.

But its not looking so bad, even if Iago is out of his seat now and the god guy is still pissed and glaring at me. As much as I want to, I don't bare my teeth but I don't look away either. Haven't wanted to hurt someone this much since I ran away. Only this one I probably have NO chance of doing anything to. Except for pissing him off.

"Lannie also belongs to Verdi. What was the term Verdi used? Oh yes, priestess."

..... Huh? I belong to her? Priestess? What the fuck is that about? Either that's what she meant when she made my employment permanent and said keep doing what I already am doing, or Iago's puling it out of his ass. Mr. Badass seems to get it though. Gonna have to ask her about that too. If I'm still breathing when we finally leave. I take another drink and bite down on my tongue when the god continues his bullshit.

I get Lannie over to the bar before I set her down and remove my hand. Before I can reprimand her or ask any questions, she orders us some drinks. Good, I need one, bad.

"Thanks. Sorry about that, Doc," I nod and sip my vodka as we watch the goings on. Iago has the sense to move out of hand shot range, which ultimately means nothing, but its a smart move. She seems shocked by the priestess comment. Does she not know that Verdi is a goddess? Huh, oh well, not my story to share at the moment. I look to her and see she is still ready to rip Gaueko's throat out, and it is taking all her willpower not keep her mouth shut.

"He'll kill you without a second though." I say to her quietly, giving her a dead serious look. "My fianc--" Damn. "Some one I know was having a... 'thing' with him." I can't help it, I still shudder at that. "I saw first hand the damage he inflicted... and he liked her. You piss him off there might not be enough left to bury... and I like you, so please? for me? Don't do anything that will get you killed." I ask her, pleading with my eyes before I take another drink.

"He'll kill you without a second thought. My fianc-- Some one I know was having a... 'thing' with him." he says and I see him shake. Can't say I blame him, I feel bad that he's stuck in this mess. This god guy must be one hell of a charmer when he wants to be, otherwise why would anyone even want to talk to him let alone have a 'thing'?

"I saw first hand the damage he inflicted... and he liked her. You piss him off there might not be enough left to bury... and I like you, so please? for me? Don't do anything that will get you killed."

That look in his eyes...Now how can I say no when he puts it like that? I'm not even half as aggravated as I was anymore. I'm a little worried about the word he almost said though. "fianc-- Some one I know" "I'll do my best," I say with a smile and nod, "Promise." I look over at Iago and wonder how I can keep that promise and make sure no one gets hurt.

I think I got through to her... she's still looking to Iago, worried, but she nods. "I'll do my best, Promise."

"Thank you, I appreciate it." I smile at her, taking a drink. Apparently, I relax enough, for something occurs to me. Part of the conversation.

"So... ummmm, Lannie? Is there... something I should know about you?" I ask her quietly, but keep a grin on my face. "You were making the neatest growling sounds the other day..." Canine?

He's smiling now and I smile back. I don't like seeing sadness or worry in his eyes. "So... ummmm, Lannie? Is there... something I should know about you?"

I wince slightly. I was hoping he missed that part. Thanks a lot, Gaueko, you fuckhead. "You were making the neatest growling sounds the other day..."

...Was I? Shit.

I'm afraid to look at him. I don't want to see fear or disgust in his eyes. Not when he's looking at me and knows what I am. But I do look up, and he's grinning and not scared at all.

Its strange, but in a good way. I shake my head, and shrug. "Ummm...not sure, Doc. You think you missed something during the exam?" I ask in a quiet tone, smiling still. He almost looks like its not such a weird a thing to him, and its nice, but I'd rather have this conversation in a more private place.

Obviously, whatever makes her special is a secret, and one Lannie did not want out. I feel a little bad that I brought it up, for she looks... scared? Wary? Oh honey... if you only knew....

"Ummm...not sure, Doc. You think you missed something during the exam?" I shake my head and smile, just for her now. "Nope, told you, you're healthy." Finish my drink in a swallow. "But we can save further questions for another time, when a mauling is not imminent." i comment with a raise of the eyebrow and a look over to Iago. Time go so soon, I think.

"And hey, Lannie? Please believe me when I say, there is precious little you can tell me that will freak me out. Okay?" I say softly, touching her arm.

"Nope, told you, you're healthy."

Well some would disagree with that, I think, but its sweet to hear. He's smiling but he's still nervous. He obviously knows what Gaueko is, but its no good to show fear. Even when you're scared shitless. I'm more than a little relieved when he lets go of the questions about me and I follow his gaze to Iago. He's got that calm polite smile and tone now but I can tell he's still annoyed.

"And hey, Lannie? Please believe me when I say, there is precious little you can tell me that will freak me out. Okay?"

I look back at Lucien and smile when he touches my arm. "I believe you," I say just as softly and give him a real smile. I do believe him, I do. But I don't think he really knows what he's asking and I don't want him to be afraid of me. Even if maybe he should be.

I down my drink when I hear Iago say "Lannie, time to go. We're expected elsewhere. Bring Lucien if you'd like."

Grabbing Lucien's hand I smile and gently tug him out of his seat, "Time to go (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/326621.html?thread=8531933#t8531933)."

After the snow has fallen

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