I predict a riot.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

“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]

Comments

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

I can hardly hear Kate's voice fer the poundin' 'a blood in my ears. The door opens behind me and I spin 'round from watchin' the street. Miss von SacherMosch is there, lookin' harried, and the knife twitches in my hand. All it'd take would be pushin' past Kate, and a single stab could save us. It might kill her, but that's a price I'm willin' t'pay.

The shock 'a the cold water 'round my ankles stops me. And Kate, standin' there. What would she think 'f I did that? She might understand.

A man I dunt really recognize offers us cookies, and I snort 'n sheathe the blade. "Good t'know folks are keepin' safe here," I say, and I follow Kate inside, castin' a glance back behind us. Johnny was followin' us, wasn't he?

[edmund-white.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that so many people have made it in to seek shelter. If only the rest would just go home and stop this useless trouble.

After the last arrivals, I ran back to check on Rob- still doing fine in the back. Thankfully no one's come around our back door looking for trouble. I do think he could fend someone off, of course. I just think he'd feel horrible about it afterwards. Notice the other fellow nabbing cookies, but I'm not too worried about it. Doubt anyone's going to come in for a purchase after this, and they'll just go to waste otherwise.

I'm heading back out to the front when I hear the door again, this time Wanda's opening it, and I register that it's Kate and Tess Thiess about when I register that Wanda's...rounder. Suddenly her speedy marriage makes more sense. I snag a chocolate cream cheese muffin (http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/breads/double-chocolate-cream-cheese-filled-muffins/) out of a basket and hand it to her when I reach the door, "Is John with you ladies? He saw Tess earlier and took off. Probably not good for him to be out there with his temper."

[jaeresteade.livejournal.com]

It occurs to me that now might not be the best time for cookies, much as I could eat a dozen, what with the riot and the strange flooding and the proprietor looking on and all. I set the ones I’m holding down on a tray and dust my hands off. Hope sweets might play a part after in whatever victory or survival party comes after the end of this madness. Should focus on getting there first, I guess, not what might be served once we arrive.

With my hands free now, I can finish getting my coat off. I hold it out to one of the women who just came in, the one I think is Kate. The other one with the knife, who sort of snorted at me, did not sound like the voice at the door. Not sure, though. Don’t know her well enough to use her christian name, anyway.

“Here, you look cold.” She looks more worried than anything else, but I feel like I should do something. Not put the thing around her, because some women take offense to that, and I’d rather not get hit or yelled at again today, only go toward her a little and offer it.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank goodness, someone opens the door. It's Wanda, and I'm so relieved that I smile at her, despite my worries about her, and my alarm when I see how big she's got. That baby will be born soon, and then...

I'm distracted by a man with shaggy hair offering me a cookie. I shake my head and smile at him, and then Edmund is here, which gives me a sense of familiarity that's reassuring.

"Is John with you ladies? He saw Tess earlier and took off. Probably not good for him to be out there with his temper."

I shake my head.

"We lost him," I say, giving Tess an alarmed look, because I was so concerned to get her out of the way I hadn't even really thought about Johnny. "A crowd starting chasing Syl Thorn and a man from the carnival." I bite my lip. "I hope they got away. It's awful out there."

“Here, you look cold.”

"Oh," I say in surprise, and I take the coat. "Thank you." I do feel a little chilled, I suppose - and clearly the man is trying to help, and I don't want to make him feel bad by refusing. "I'm Kate O'Hara," I say. I look around the bakery, and I see some familiar faces and smile at them. "Is everyone alright?"

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

Oh, what is that look for, Tess? Shall I leave you here in the alley? Kate breaks into a smile seeing me, and I shift my attention from the scowling one to her instead, smiling back.

I would say something when a hand shoots past me with a cookie. This day is just too weird. I look over... "Oh, it's you again." I sigh, and move aside so he can offer up a coat and the two can come in.

Edmund come back to see what's going oon, and after one look at me, hands me a muffin. A chocolate one, with cream cheese. "Most sensible person in town." I grin at him, and take a huge bite, nearly swooning with delight at the taste. Oh yes, I will be taking the rest with me.

I look out the door and into the alley, seeing if there's anyone else that needs rescuing before I close and lock the door.

"Is everyone alright?" Kate asks, looking around.

"Everyone in here is alright enough." I say before taking another bite because I am hungry! and shooting Jamie an apologetic look. "Are the both of you alright?" I ask.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

A look I can't quite decipher flashes 'cross Wanda's face. I follow Kate inside and someone closes the door behind us. It feels too closed in, even with the storm 'a power outside. I'm havin' trouble keepin' my eyes from Wanda's belly.

"Is John with you ladies? He saw Tess earlier and took off. Probably not good for him to be out there with his temper." The question gets my attention, and I look over at Mr. White as Kate answers. "I think he took off with them," I add. "They might go 'round another way."

I take Kate's hand, holdin' it hard. I can feel the knife at my side like an itch waitin' t'be scratched. "Has anyone tried gettin' in here yet?" I dunt think it's likely, but who knows what folks'll try when things go bad?

[edmund-white.livejournal.com]

"They might go 'round another way."
"I certainly hope so- I'd hate to lose him for another week. But nah, mostly its been folk looking for Sanctuary from the crowd. That I can do," I try to grin, but I don't think it looks too cheerful. Today's just been horrible- bad enough that my personal life is a wretched mess, but for my town to totally go off the deep end like this....and then I notice the water seeping in...

"SHIT- Molly, the cabinet under that shelf, open it and toss me the towels. We need to block the bottom of the door or else this'll roll right into the bakeshop," I catch them and move past the women at the door to block make a door stop, "There's a few blankets in there if anyone needs them too."

When I stand up, the tension on this side of the room is almost palpable. Not sure why, but I am sure that it'd be best to break them up, "Tess, you're probably right. John'll probably come through the back- you might want to go warn Rob to keep an eye out for him," move past her and Kate to Wanda's side, "You're looking a little peaked- do you want to go upstairs and rest until the streets clear a bit more?"

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

I nod as Wanda answers my questions, smiling a little as she starts introducing her friends, starting with Mr. White but then she stops almost in mid-sentence. She excuses herself and runs for the door. I start to follow and then then I feel it.

Water. Someone's calling water out there. The door opens showing Kate and Tess. Did she call the water? No. The call comes from farther away and getting farther. There are too many people near the door at first for me to get anywhere near it.

Then after people move, I can feel the water coming in and see it too. And so can others. Mr. White is alarmed and calls, SHIT- Molly, the cabinet under that shelf, open it and toss me the towels. We need to block the bottom of the door or else this'll roll right into the bakeshop,

And people start moving again but this time most of them aren't heading for the door like I am so I get there first. Falling to my knees, I get my hands into the thin puddle at the bottom of the door. I let it show me who called it and what for. Nu. Oh. I never thought of asking any other water to do anything for me.

But I can so I do. I ask this water to go back to the other side of the door and for the rest of it to stay there. In fact I ask all the water out there to stay in the street. Not for always, just for a little while.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

Tess keeps looking back at me, or more to say, the baby, and I can feel the urge to hurt her rise up in me. It comes too easily, too naturally. I should move to the other room, or---

"SHIT- Molly, the cabinet under that shelf, open it and toss me the towels. We need to block the bottom of the door or else this'll roll right into the bakeshop."

Edmund and Molly start flying about getting towels, before he straightens up and comes to my side. "You're looking a little peaked- do you want to go upstairs and rest until the streets clear a bit more?"

I am about to answer when Leah comes to the door, kneels down in the water and touches it. Is it just me, or does it stop flowing in? I look to her, then Edmund. "Uhhh.... no. No, I'm fine. I'm going to head back to The Dormouse, I think, the back steets in that direction should be clear enough." The need to get out of here now is overwhelming.

"How about I go back and get some tea going. Tell anyone who wants something hot to drink to head over once it's safe?" I say to Edmund. "My place should be far enough away to be safe, and I think the mob is settling down." I comment, listening to the noise in my head, and noting it has lessen. "Tell Jamie and Arkady that I promise I am going straight home, they can check on me if they like." I say to the cookie hoarder who clocked me, then reach over and nab the basket of muffins.

"In case anyone gets hungry over tea." I explain to Edmund with a wink, then cautiously open the door, look about to see if the coast is clear, then slip out and hurry back to my own home, shutting out the music of violence and the roar of blood in my head.

[jaeresteade.livejournal.com]

I’m reaching for some towels to help sop up the water that’s coming in when I notice one of the girls who doesn’t seem to be anyone’s sister just kind of kneeling there in the water. Girl must be soft in the head. Must have hit mine harder than I thought, because as I look at the water, it seems to be flowing out, not moving farther in. Blinking hard, I drop my towels where the puddles look the biggest and straighten up. Time to get out of here, see what needs doing elsewhere, and do something about the blood in my hair.

Wanda has the same idea, and she’s talking to the baker about it. Turns to me when she’s done, tells me to let Jamie and Arkady know she’s going home. “Yes, ma’am,” seems like the safe thing to say to this, although they probably heard her say it directly. She makes it out the door with an entire basket of chocolate muffins and a promise of tea to those who want it.

I wait a minute after she leaves to say to everyone in general, “Think I’ll head back to the bar, see who’s there and if we’re open tonight.” I doubt it, but Mr. Laclos might be there thinking differently. Something happens in town, people like to talk about it. Some people like to talk about it over drinks, and maybe we should be open to take their money so they can do it. I decide on going out the back door. Might be damper, but also quieter. God, what a day. Certainly warrants snagging a cookie as I leave.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Tess's hand is tight round mine, though I don't think I'm imagining it that she relaxes a little when Wanda leaves. The man who loaned me his coat announces he's leaving, too, and so I take off his jacket and pass it to him.

"Thank you," I say with a smile. From what he says he must be Valmont's new barman; he seems like a dependable sort. I look at Tess.

"It's got a bit quieter out there," I say. "Do you want to brave going home? We might be able to go in the back way, by Lady's stable."