estdeus_innobis | I predict a riot.

Current Mood: devious

Entry tags:

I predict a riot.

“The silence often of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails.”
- Shakespeare

Monday lunchtime, near the sheriff's office, on Main Street

This has proved almost too easy. The clouds are rolling in, air heavy with the promise of rain, and I stand in my Danika body wearing an old coat with the collar turned up against the cold, jacket short enough to show a few inches of a tidy, worn work dress and a calflength of wool stocking. My shoes wear the signs of good, honest farm labour, and my blonde hair is frizzing round my face in the damp air. I look very distressed.

"Did - was there really a man arrested for... for beating on a girl?" I say to an old woman gossiping with her friend on the street. My fingers flutter together anxiously.

"Oh yes," she says, "it's a horrible thing. They think also he did in a girl as worked at - well, the brothel, my dear," she says, lowering her voice over that salacious detail, eyes gleaming with prurient interest. "They think he chopped her up."

"Oh," I say, and I faint very neatly to the ground. It's not long before I have half a dozen people round me - offering water, saying they will take me to the Dormouse, fussing with my coat collar to let me breathe.

"I should've said something," I say, and I burst into tears. That gets me sat down on a bench, an old woman's arm around my shoulders, and a very handsome young man crouched at my feet. "I should - "

"What is is, dear? Do you know something about what happened to those girls?"

I shake my head tightly.

"I know - I know - him," I say quietly. "He - We went out a couple of times, and he was - he was real nice to me, and -" The old woman gives me a handkerchief. "You know, I ain't really dated much," I say, shamefaced, "cos my momma's sick a bunch and I'm busy out on the farm, and he just - he was real nice, and when he -" I turn my face away, and I can feel the vibrating tension from the boy at my feet, his desire to be a hero. "He - I thought it was my fault," I say, and then there is a furious chatter rising from the little crowd, and the conversation spreads in ripples.

"Some carnie's been carving up our girls," one man says fiercely. And there is discussion of me and of Melania - ah, yes, that explains some of what I saw in her - and how we're hard working girls, salt of the earth girls, and who is this monster and why hasn't he been strung up? What the hell is wrong with this town that a murderer and molester can be caught redhanded and he's cosseted in jail? And did you hear that he attacked that nice Mrs Beddau (I wonder if at any other time Glass has been described as nice) when she went to visit him in prison? He should be put in the old stocks in town. People would show him how they felt, alright. They'd show him very clearly indeed.

I manage a brave, trembling smile for the boy at my feet, and he springs up, ready for something, anything, if it will make me look at him like that again. And I nestle in against the arm of the old woman as the crowd grows larger and voices grow louder, and I wait for the storm to break.

[OPEN]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I did come into town this morning to take purchase of some goods, and now I wonder what kind of a place we have come to. I have never seen this in Ladon, this gathering of wrath, not even when they did drive us out.

The red-haired woman, I have seen her before. I was not sure, until she put her hand upon her belly, that it was her in truth, but now I know her. What can she be doing here, gravid as she is? Would she endanger the babe, still cradled in the egg of her belly? I am a stranger here, and some do look at me with anger, but I cannot let this be.

I edge my way through the crowd and put my hand upon her arm. "Sister," I say. She is no sister of my faith, but any woman bearing life beneath her breast deserves respect. "There is danger here. Let me take you home."

This is getting ugly fast, and with the way my daughter is reacting, her father is surely here and more than likely the one who stirred up the hornet's nest.

I nod to Lucien in passing, and it's a good thing he's here. There's gonna be bloodshed, the potential is thick in the air. I think he should be further away, so he can be a help and not a target, when his head whips back to me in alarm. Miao's in there My head whips back to the building. Oh god, why? Why? Right. Nod to Lucien. I'll watch her back and get her clear if I can.

"Sister," There is a light touch on my arm, getting my attention. A young woman, I've seen her but don't know her. "There is danger here. Let me take you home." I shake my head and give her a tight smile. "Thank you but my friend is stuck between a rock and a hard place and I need---"

Amist the commotion I hear yelling, a voice rising like a howl, then a shot. My head whips up and I see Miao stumbling to the door and crying out. "Oh God, Miao...."

I think I managed to say a "pardon me" as I head into the crowd to try to get to my friend.

The foolish woman pushes into the crowd, and I follow her. Friend or no, her duty - and mine - is to the life she carries.

"You must leave!" I shout over the noise of the crowd. I appeal to the people nearest: "Please, you must know this good woman, please help me to take her home - she cannot know her mind, to be here in her condition - please - "

I am afraid for the child, so afraid. There is no reason here, and there will be much harm. There is shouting, the sound of weapons, and I do fear that I will come to an injury but my greater fear is not for me.

Jarmyn goes off as I look to see what's happening to the Deputy. Well, it's hardly as if we have a longstanding relationship. I must get to Hermia - And then I see Wanda, pushing through the crowd. Wanda who is -

Wanda's pregnant? How have I not heard about this? A pretty and plump woman is shouting at her, telling her to get away, but Wanda is plunging toward the front. Wanda, your fiery heart is a marvellous thing, but in your condition -

I push forward and grab hold of Wanda's arm.

"My dear," I say, "what on earth are you doing?"

It's hard work, pushing through the crowd. I saw Jack grab Maio and haul her back inside. That will either keep her safe or---

I hear the windows being shattered and I groan. Hell in a handbasket, literally.

The young woman is trying to pull me back, and imploring the crowd for help to get me away. "I'll be fine, really!" I call back to her, taking out my iron baton and using it to help push people away. No need to hit anyone...

yet.

I manage to get past a rather burly man when someone strong grabs my arm.
"My dear what on earth are you doing?" Valmont. Oh god, he'll understand.

"Miao's in there! She might get trampled, or worse given this crowd!" I yell so I can be heard, and I try to struggle free of him. "Can't leave her in there, you know that!"

I think my nose is bleeding but after being shoved and punched, I've finally made it to Wanda. She's arguing with Valmont and a young woman, and I can't hear a damn thing over the crowd.

Looking back, I see that Arkady's there and I nod to him before wading forward. Yelling to make myself heard, I say, "Wanda! Damnit woman What are you doing?"

I catch ahold of her sleeve and shove back someone, I think it's Mr. Marshall, and I move closer to shield her as I yell over the crowd, "Did you forget you were pregnant?" I turn to Arkady, asking, "Do you see a clear way out of here?"

Valmont is now joined by Jamie and now he's yelling at me.

"Miao's in there!" I repeat, yelling in his ear and struggling to get free.

"Did you forget you were pregnant?" Shake my head and now try to wrench free as he's calling to someone to make a path.

"No! Did you forget our conversation???" I yell, struggling against him as I try to get closer. "I. Will. Be. Fine!!!" I grate out through clenched teeth.

Oh god, someone I considered as close to me as my sister is in danger, and I can't fight against both Valmont and Jamie.

"Lucien! I can't get to her!" I scream, loud enough to be heard by everyone I am sure.

Jamie looks so damn mad. I brace myself against the press of the crowd, trying to keep angry townspeople from running rough over us. A boy tries to shove me out of the way and I lift him almost bodily aside. There's still rocks whistlying by over our heads.

"This way," I point. Trying to keep a path through the people pressing up towards the sheriff's office is not proving easy to do. I'm reluctant to lay anyone out as they might get themselves trampled but I've had to hit back a fair few times. "You want me to help you carry her?" I ask because I don't think she's going to let us just walk her out of it.

Wanda is furious and upset, and I'm glad that Jamie and Arkady have appeared because although I'm quite strong I don't think I could wrestle Wanda into submission - certainly not without hurting her.

"Wanda," I say, putting my arms round her shoulders and pulling her in against me. "I know you're worried for Miao, but you're pregnant - congratulations, by the way - and I'd rather you didn't endanger the child. I'll go and find out what's happening to Miao, alright?"

"You want me to help you carry her?"

"If she won't walk," I say, giving Wanda a look, "then yes. Sorry, darling," I say to Wanda, pushing her towards Arkady. "I know you can take care of yourself, but not today."

"Jamie, come on," I shout. We'll be luck to get out of here in one piece at this rate. Valmont is there and he pushes Wanda towards me, so I reach out to grab her by the arm. Hopefully she's not feeling as scrappy as Molly and won't try to deck me for it.

Wanda's yelling in my ear. I may not be able to hear later but at least she'll be safe. "Miao's in there!" I look to the office and there's no way we're getting in there. The crowd's too thick to get past. Stubborn Wanda is fighting me though and she replies to my quesition, "No! Did you forget our conversation??? I. Will. Be. Fine!!!"

Ignoring her, I mutter, "You'll be fine when we're out of here." Valmont's pushing her towards us and Arkady has one hand on her as we begin to drag her out. She's angry but I'll live with it. Better this way than having to visit her grave.

"Jamie, come on." Arkady is leading us and between Wanda's struggling and the shifting crowd, I get hit again, in the face. My damn nose is really bleeding now and I'm ready to shake Wanda as I say, "Stop fighting! I'm getting hurt worse than you. We'll get Miao later."

Someday, when everything’s calmed down and we’re hopefully all still alive, I’m going to make Arkady tell me how he knows all these people so well that he needs to risk his hide getting them out of a riot. Every one of them is shouting at each other. The mob is just shouting in general, and here we are now in the middle of it. Charming. And there’s Mr. Laclos, he would be here, sort of handing a furious redhead off to Arkady and another sturdy-looking fellow. How do these things happen?

Whoever the redhead is, she does not seem inclined to be rescued quietly. Must be as crazy as everyone else here. My head is pounding and probably oozing as well, and I am in no frame of mind to put up with an hysterical woman with no clear idea of her own best interests. She is not happy about being carried out, from the way she’s carrying on, and she certainly wouldn’t be expecting a hard tap to the temple that is the bartender’s best weapon. I generally do not hit women unless they are making a fuss in my bar, and that’s sort of what you could call this if you looked at it sideways. Not sure about my aim from this angle, though. And if this loses me my job, well, I can find another one. Dying is sort of permanent, though.

I am wriggling against Valmont, trying to get free when he says; "I'll go and find out what's happening to Miao, alright?"

I relax for just a moment, just enough for him to make sure the other men get a better hold of me. "I know you can take care of yourself, but not today." "Dammit, Valmont!" I bellow, but he's gone, and I am being pulled backwards.

I am not thinking anymore, just swinging and kicking (and I swear the imp is loving this!) and trying to get free when my hand connects---

"Stop fighting! I'm getting hurt worse than you. We'll get Miao later."

I manage to focus my red-tinged gaze at the voice by my ear, and ohgod! I've decked Jamie! "'M sorry! Oh god Jamie! I'm so sorry! It's just that..."

It comes hard and fast at the back of my head, the blow. The world bursts behind my eyes, and it goes whiteblackwhiteblackwhiteblack and I stumble and

Get up Mother, do not fall here!

Groan and shake my head. It hurts like hell, but I am not disabled.

But I am pissed.

"Who. Did. THAT?" I growl, and manage to wrench myself free and turn around to face my attacker.

Edited 2010-08-27 01:02 (UTC)

I feel Wanda jerk her arm free and look over my shoulder. She looks shaky on her feet and mad as hell. Jarmyn's standing there with a surprised expression on his face and Jamie's nose is bleeding all over the place.

Then I've managed to push the last couple people out of the way. There's a path to the empty side of the street now.

It would be hard for this day to get worse. There is, for starters, a riot, still in full swing, and I am still in the middle of it with several people I would prefer not to see die, and several more that they would prefer not die either. The rescue being attempted by said people is going nowhere in the great hurry, mostly on account of the redhead we are trying to rescue, who is apparently some friend of my employer’s. Who just saw me punch her in the head. And to top it all off neatly, I’ve only hurt her, not knocked her senseless, which was what I was going for. And now she’s even angrier than she was before. And not angry at all of us in general, it seems. Just me.

She is small and furious and quite gorgeous, truth to tell, but there is a goddamned riot going on, can she not see that? I do my best to stand my ground in the push and heave of people, and look her in the eye. “That would be me, ma’am. And you can do anything you like to me as long as you do it to me over there.” And I point to the other side of the street that Arkady has cleared a path to.

Godamnit!

This has gone on long enough and as Wanda jerks herself free and tries to turn away, I do exactly what I didn't want to. Pulling her close, I scoop her up in my arms and take the clear path Arkady's opened for me.

Wanda's unhappy but if she keeps flailing, she's going to hurt me again and then I really will be angry. I don't stop walking with her until we reach the Sacred Whore's porch where I finally set her down and say, "Did you want to hit me again? I can still see through both eyes so you might want to aim for those this time."

Arkady and his friend are behind us and in a stern,angry voice, I say to Wanda, "You will sit there until you calm down." I sniff, trying to wipe the blood from my face and say, "Were you looking to get hurt? I can't understand why you went in there, Wanda. Do you have a death wish or what?"

There's legs everywhere but behind me and that could close up real quick. I dart forwards an' scramble up the nearest leg, claws diggin' inta jeans n' flesh on the way up. I pause only when I reach the shoulder. Think I know my sanctuary. Smells like that bartender from the Whitechapel. I put my nose right up against his ear and say, "Hey, Pal do me a favour n' don't try n' throw me off?"

Edited 2010-08-27 02:01 (UTC)

"That would be me, ma’am. And you can do anything you like to me as long as you do it to me over there.”

I snarl as I advance on him, throwing every bit of "Mistress" at him that I can. "You. Will. NEVER---"

I can't finish hissing at him, for I am off my feet and being carried away. "Jamie put me down NOW!" I holler, but he's got a look in his eye that I have never seen before. Any other day, this pissed off determination might be attractive. I don;t struggle anymore, just glare as he walks me over to the Sacred Whore and sets me down. "Did you want to hit me again? I can still see through both eyes so you might want to aim for those this time." I feel awful, I do. "Jamie, I didn't mean to hit you!"

"Were you looking to get hurt? I can't understand why you went in there, Wanda. Do you have a death wish or what?"

"Didn't you hear me? Miao is in there. Where the blodd thirsty mob is trying to get into!" I yell, flinging my arm towards the rabble. "She's mad at me, but I still love her, so why the fuck wouldn't I go in and try to get her to safety???" Dammit all, I am so angry, but I feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "And I told you, don't worry about me. I can be hurt..." And I stop and glare at the long haired man who it me, a glare that would send my subs to their knees in front of me, but then I look back to Jamie and drop my voice so only he can hear. "... but I can't be killed. Call it a marital perk. I was trying to get to Miao because I knew I couldn't be killed." I admit as the angry tears start to slip down my cheeks.

I try to keep an eye on the crowd, make sure no one follows us for trouble. Where is the rest of the law, I wonder. Someone's going to have to lay it down pretty hard to settle things.

Jamie is a mess and I hunt in my coat pockets for something to give him to wipe some of the blood off his face. I hope he hasn't gotten his nose broken. I feel a little sore, but I don't think I caught it too badly.

"Can you still breathe?" I ask him, handing him a clean scrap of cloth.

Edited 2010-08-27 02:47 (UTC)

Well, I wouldn’t exactly call this worse, but it certainly is different. There is now a cat sitting on my shoulder and talking in my ear. Recognize the cat, not terribly thrilled about his timing, though. Took pieces out of me climbing up, too. “I won’t throw you off, Mr. Cat,” I reassure him. Unless he claws my hair, that is. “Not the safest place for you, right now, though. There’s a riot going on, and a beautiful woman is very angry with me.”

Speaking of, need to go do something about her. She’s already tried to start in on me once, but Arkady’s friend, think his name’s Jamie, pulled her away. They must know each other pretty well, the way he’s talking to her. Hope some of it gets through. She still throws some glares in my direction, though, and for a pretty woman she can look awfully mean. Well, the problem won’t go away, and it might get worse if I ignore it.

She’s sitting on the porch of the Sacred Whore, crying a little but still looking mostly angry. I swallow hard. No way I’m getting out of this easily. I go halfway up the steps and squat down in front of her but not quite within reach, reaching up to steady Chester as I do. “If you’re going to hit anyone, ma’am, it should be me.” I’m not going to apologize for what I did unless that’s the only thing that’ll keep me my job. She was the one hitting people first, anyway. “Just ask the cat to jump off before you swing, though.” Come to that, having him on my shoulder might just save my hide.

The whole group of us end up on the porch at Dorian's. 'Us' Turns out to be me, Jarmyn, Wanda, Jamie an' some guy I never met before. Wanda's spittin' mad an Jamie looks battered. She's directin' her wrath at my current perch though. He's takin in pretty well. Goes down in a crouch out of immediate range an makes her an offer. Take me inta consideration too, steadying me against the force a gravity 'n saying Wanda should warn me first.

I look over to her. Something she was sayin is striking me as odd. But I c'n at least reassure her bout Miao. "Miaos' fine!" I tell 'er, "I was just in the Office n' she headed up the stairs. She'll be safe in Mab's apartment."

Wanda's yelling at me about Miao and the mob while she sits on the porch, and that's fine with me. At least here, she's safe. There are tears in her eyes as she says, "And I told you, don't worry about me. I can be hurt..." Her voice drops, and I'm closer, listening as I try to stop my nosebleed with my sleeve. She throws Arkady's friend an evil look before turning back to me and whispering, "... but I can't be killed. Call it a marital perk. I was trying to get to Miao because I knew I couldn't be killed."

She begins to cry and I sigh heavily before quietly saying, "The mob doesn't know that, Wanda, and if I were you, I wouldn't tell them either." Thank fuck Arkady's here as he hands me a cloth, asking, "Can you still breathe?" I sniff and reply, "Yes but it's alot of blood. Thanks, Arkady." I sit next to Wanda, tilting my head forward as I cover and pinch my nose with the cloth.

Arkady's friend squats in from of Wanda, offering, "If you’re going to hit anyone, ma’am, it should be me. Just ask the cat to jump off before you swing, though." The cat? When did a cat...how? I recognize Chester and he starts talking, "Miaos' fine! I was just in the Office n' she headed up the stairs. She'll be safe in Mab's apartment."

Relieved that I don't have to wade back into the crowd, I say to Wanda, "See? She's safe with Mab so we don't have to worry, Wanda. How about we go to the bakery instead?" The blood's slowing down and I say, "Molly and Vilena are there now and you haven't seen them in a while, have you?"

I look at Arkady's friend, and nod as I say, "Name's Jamie," I gesture to the fiery redhead next to me, "And this is Wanda. Thanks for the help." I look at Arkady and say, "You're in the nick of time, as usual. Thanks, my friend."

"The mob doesn't know that, Wanda, and if I were you, I wouldn't tell them either." I shake my head miserably. "Wasn't planning on it. figured there was so much chaos, no one would notice me." I admit, feeling even worse as Arkady hands Jamie and cloth and asks if he can still breathe.
I sniffle miserably and rub my hand over Jamie's back as he tries to stop the bleeding.

Arkady's friend has the balls to try and get close to me again. “If you’re going to hit anyone, ma’am, it should be me. Just ask the cat to jump off before you swing, though.” That would almost be absurb, but lo and behold, Chester is perched on his shoulder. "Not going to him you on purpose. I only do that to those I like." I mutter darkly, still worried as all get out for Miao. "My best friend is in that building and you gentlemen were keeping me from trying to get her out. Hello Chester, fancy seeing you here."

"Miaos' fine!" Chester interjects, and I feel slightly relieved. "I was just in the Office n' she headed up the stairs. She'll be safe in Mab's apartment."

"See? She's safe with Mab so we don't have to worry, Wanda. How about we go to the bakery instead? Molly and Vilena are there now and you haven't seen them in a while, have you?" Jamie, bless him, is trying to placate me, then introduces himself and I to the new guy.

"Oh yes, because Molly, Vilena and I and our tempers together will just help matters." I say, but I manage a ghost of a smile. "Fine, fine, I'll go. Molly'll probably kill me for hitting you though, if you're ready to live with that."

I raise my eyebrows at Jarmyn. Did he put his hands on her to try and hustle her out of the mob? I missed whatever happened that caused her to jerk away. Wonder if he has any idea what inviting Wanda to hit him might spell down the line. Thank our lucky stars Wanda's calming down though because I'm out of handkerchiefs for bloody noses.

"Anytime Jamie." I mean it too. The Kincaids are practically family. Vilena's going to have a fit that Jamie's hurt. I just hope they've stayed inside. I look back down the street where the crowd's still surging and yelling. I wonder if anyone's going to be able to restore order without bringing out the prisoner. I feel a bit sick and helpless about it but I don't think wading back out there to knock heads is going to do much good. Something's too riled to soothe easily.

"We should get off the street, before it gets any crazier than it already has," I suggest. "Jarmyn, you coming with us or do you need to get back to the Whitechapel?"

Everyone’s talking around me, and over it all I can here the noise of the crowd behind us. Don’t even want to turn around to see what’s going on. Need to concentrate on these people and making sure we’re safe. I’m at least in no danger of getting hit now, if I can take the redheaded woman, whose name is apparently Wanda, at her word. Chester seems to know her, too. Everyone here seems to, come to that. Maybe I should, too. I’ll ask Arkady who she is later.

I stand up and go down the steps, holding Chester steady and sort of scratching him behind the ears without thinking about it. Hope he doesn’t mind. I like cats, and petting one is sort of comforting in the middle of a town gone to hell. I nod to Arkady’s friend as he introduces himself,

“I’ll come with you,” I tell Arkady. “I don’t have to work until late. Not sure we’ll even open tonight, with things like they are.” I turn my head to look at Chester. “Would you like to get down now, Mr. Cat, or stay up?”

(no subject)

chester-excolo.livejournal.com - 2010-08-28 04:32 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

jamie-kincaid.livejournal.com - 2010-08-28 05:49 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only