Diamonds, glitter and trauma tears, with an unfriendly atmosphere.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

[Late morning of Thursday, February 11 (day 256)]
[Miskatonic Café]

Wasn't planning on going out this morning. Came downstairs t'see about borrowing a roasting pan from Cookie, but ran into Thomas coming in. He asked if there was anything I was going to change about the rent, and how he should pay, and I-- well. Said end of the month was fine, I'd get it from him when I saw him, and asked him t'let me know if there was anything particular needed fixing come thaw.

Touch dazed by it all, and found myself outside. I own a home. Someone else's home. Oh spit and staunchweed...

Stepped along down Silk, hands in my pockets and shrugged up a little against the chill. Not too bad, though, and've a decent sweater over my shirt--warm enough, even if I think it'd snag t'hell and gone were I t'go gathering. Dorian misses something of the use of clothes, sometimes. Find myself coming up to the Miskatonic, and look up.

[Open to Lannie]
[Closed]

Comments

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

Breakfast rush has slowed down, and its time for a break. I don't usually take breaks, but it feels like the walls are closing in around me lately and I need some air. Its weird that the flower shop actually smells like fresh flowers even during this time of year. It helps soften the tang of blood on the street and in the air.

Taking a deep breath, I lean against the wall. I almost wish I smoked as I look across the street. He's still in there, I wonder what they're gonna do with him. An how many more times this town is going to lose its mind. Still not sure where all that water came from, but on the roof was a good spot to be.

My eyes move towards Silk, and meet another pair of eyes instead. The corner of my mouth pulls up into a small smile. "Hi Glass," I wonder if she knows how quietly she moves, even when she's not trying to be quiet. "Long time, no see. Everything all right?" I wanna ask if Iago was there that night. I didn't see him but I could have sworn I caught his scent close by and bits of his laughter mixed in with the shouts and screams.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"Lannie," I say, mild companionable as she greets me. Hands in my pockets and'm not leaning against the wall but shift my weight and settle to stand easy.

"Long time, no see. Everything all right?" and look to the Sheriff's, can't help it.

"Well enough," I say, and that sounds particular flat. "'s been worse, trust it'll be better." Shrug into my coat a little. "Came through Monday aright?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"'s been worse, trust it'll be better. Came through Monday aright?"

"Yeah," I nod with a slight smile, "The topping to a PERFECT month." I don't know about it being worse, but... "It can't get any worse, right?"

"How are things at the tavern?" Its sort of weird asking her how things are at home, but I've only been there a few times lately and haven't stayed long enough to find out. I hope Verdi's leaving her alone. Would Glass tell me if something was wrong? My head tilts slightly as I look at her and all I can think of is moving back in and waiting until that crazy bitch falls asleep.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," she says, "The topping to a PERFECT month. It can't get any worse, right?"

Mouth twists into something could pass for a smile. "Two Wednesdays left," I say soft. "'d not lay coin on that. Wish they'd gotten t'him, though," I add, and find Mab's has a weight to it leaves it hard t'draw my eyes aside.

Asks how things are going and I shrug, and oh the bed is too big sometimes but'm glad of Iago. "Well enough," I say, and smile a little easier at thought of him. "Kate made it through the riot aright, and Tess. And Iago-- Used t'live over back of the Apothecary, small rooms in Sentinel House. He--" I really have no mind for how to say this, and shake my head. "He bought it for me," I say low and sounding yet a touch thrown.

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"Two Wednesdays left, 'd not lay coin on that. Wish they'd gotten t'him, though,"

"I wish I had gotten to him," I snort, looking over there again. "What's in two Wednesday's?"

Her answer about the tavern is short but her smile doesn't seem tense and I relax a little. She mentions Kate and I'm trying to remember if I've met her. With all the deliveries going out, I must have. Either way, I'm glad she's okay. I look sharply at her when she continues "And Iago-- Used t'live over back of the Apothecary, small rooms in Sentinel House. He-- He what. My hands squeeze tight. She said he was okay. What, what did he do?! He bought it for me,"

He bought.... OH.

I don't know what to say and before I can tell whether to be happy for them or not, I'm already asking, "Why?"

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I wish I had gotten to him," and murmur agreement. "What's in two Wednesday's?"

"End of the month," I say, a little bitter. "Never had much luck with Wednesdays. Month's yet got time t'grow sour."

"Why?" and looks as if she's thinking there's something wrong, he did this for cause to cure something, no mind for why, and I shrug and'm smiling.

"I've no..." Shaking my head and rest one hand on back of my neck, and take a moment t'try and sort it. "First place in years was my own," I say. "Had it still--mean, was paying rent on't. Tess lived there a while, that helped, but..." Trail off and shrug. Lannie's travelled, and think she's seen I'm not working, and little more to be said on that matter. "And now I-- you know Thomas lives there? I own it. Needn't pay rent, needn't..." Grinning again, I can feel it. "Why'd you think?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"Never had much luck with Wednesdays. Month's yet got time t'grow sour." A smart, but not a very positive outlook. But there look where being positive got me. Positively stupid.

She still seems confused as to why Iago bought her place and I didn't even know he had the money to do that. He must've pissed her off real bad.

"And now I-- you know Thomas lives there? I own it. Needn't pay rent, needn't... Why'd you think?"

I can't help but smile at the smile I see on her face. "I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that smile you have right now is part of it." Even when he forgot her, a part of him still missed her, I saw it. "That or Verdi's finally driven him to losing the rest of his mind," I shrug. I'll need to check on that to be sure.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that smile you have right now is part of it," she says, and duck my head, lifting one hand t'wards my face. Still smiling, though. "That or Verdi's finally driven him to losing the rest of his mind."

Look back up at that. Not the matter of her teasing at Iago, but... "She's not been giving him trouble, has she?" I say, and'm not angry exact, but I c'n feel myself growing ready t'be. I've not seen her of late, but Lannie works with Iago and I don't. If he's... I'm not certain, looking to... to move out, 'r something, and she mislikes the idea for him being her follower or...

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"She's not been giving him trouble, has she?"

"She hasn't been giving you any?" Confused, I look at her a minute. " I dunno, I think she is, but he doesn't seem that bothered about it," I say carefully.

"Its probably better to stay out of her path," I say, trying to keep it neutral and failing when my lip curls. "A new place might not be a bad idea." I'd miss them a lot. Already do.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"She hasn't been giving you any?" and idea in that voice, surety that she ought be, and can feel a weight in my stomach like a swallowed stone. Hand on my belly and breathe and she's saying something of her troubling him and him shrugging it off and "Its probably better to stay out of her path," and Iago? God-trouble, please not god-trouble, please--

"What's she done--" cold and flat. Ought be a question and'm not managing that. Throat's gone stiff and sore. Iago. He'd've told me if aught wasn't aright, surely?

"What're you taking her for having done?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"What're you taking her for having done?"

"She's lost her fucking mind!" I say, eyes widening for emphasis. "One minute its all hearts, flowers and drinks, and the next she's on you and threatening to hurt everyone you care about." I lean forward and whisper, "Don't go into the cellar, no matter what you hear, and keep Iago away from her."

I don't know what she did to him, but he knew about it and it didn't seem to bother him.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

Well, then. Call this rather more'n I imagined, and shift back a touch, hands on my arms. Recall how've seen Verdi in the past, though was coming t'trust that she'd changed.

"What's she been doing?" and my mouth dry and Iago, I've seen no marks on him, but... "Keeping it t'threats, then, or... What's she-- 's she done aught t'him?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," I say quietly, "But she said he liked what she did and only Thomas and I had a problem with it." It was more that she didn't care that bothered me. That and her laughter as she threatened people I know and her fists pounded into muscle and bone. She was my friend and I wanted to kill her. I still do.

"She did something to him, but I don't know what." Where did he get metal spikes and a grip like that? I shake my head, realizing how fucked up all this must sound. "She hasn't bothered either of you so it must just be me. And you're moving, right?" But if he didn't tell her how would she know to watch out? "He hasn't told you anything?"

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," oddly quiet. "But she said he liked what she did and..." goes on but the words're distant and barring matter of whether he liked it or not what did she do? "...something to him, but I don't know what." And something on the matter of moving and "He hasn't told you anything?"

"Nothing," I say, "And've not seen her in..." turn memory of days over in my mind, and "May be once since the holidays." Close my eyes and lean up against the Miskatonic wall by the door and try'n set this out. "'m not remembering, d'you smoke? But no, not thinking we're after moving, it didn't seem like t'that, Sentinel House. Told me Verdi'd ward it for me if I cared, but... no mention of moving, only he knew I cared t'have my old rooms." Think absent that I c'n keep some clothes that've use t'them there, and Dorian'll not be after burning them, and then push away the whole miserable tangle of that.

Surely he'd've told me, were there aught of weight happening, aught t'worry for? And yet I want the sense of what Lannie's on about, cause behind these words.

"Swear t'me," I say calm, "that this is no joke, that you're telling me true. Then tell me why you're sure she did aught t'him?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

Glass goes quiet, turning it all over in her head. I can't believe he didn't tell her about any of it. What if she walked in on them?

I shake my head at her asking if I smoke. It mostly just makes me sneeze.

"Swear t'me, that this is no joke, that you're telling me true. Then tell me why you're sure she did aught t'him?"

"I swear, Glass," I say in a serious tone. Though I'm not sure why I'd need to. I wouldn't worry her just for fun. Licking my dry lips, I swallow the anger down my throat. "I'm sure, because they both told me it happened. Happened to Thomas too." A low growl rumbles deep in my throat and my head lowers as I lean closer. "She's lost her mind. She wants to kill us. I think she sent Benedict after me and there's that new news guy..."

I don't know much about the spirits or gods but I'd think if they wanted something badly enough, they'd have no problem getting it. They just make no fucking sense!

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

...all this, and told me not a word of it? And yet told her? Thought's no sense to it, none at all.

"'ve seen the dead at her hand," I say distant. "Were she minded t'kill you or him, Lannie, I'd be laying you out." Bloody well better be laying you out, any case. She takes after the thing as was in Lucien and starts not mentioning that there're unburied dead about--

Set it aside, the moment (may speak t'Azrael, now) and consider Lannie. Never known her t'lie particular, and not thinking she's lying now, and yet cannot see him not saying aught of this. I cannot, not my stormcrow, not if he had breath t'shape the words. Leaves her mistaken or mad or else him gone strange as he was when he forgot me'n'Dorian, and'd see the first had I choice of it. Though precious little chance of how I'd rather things were shaping the matter of their bones.

"Benedict," and the words still distant. "Don't know that she could shape his mind of things." Sudden shudder, then, strong and ill, and wait for its passing. Newspaper, new newspaper--right now not after bloody caring even if it's Wanda's liar god back again, though suppose if it was there'd've been some complaint over the Shuck or the face thing in the tower wears for her by now. Look to Lannie, then. "She raised a hand t'him, threatened him, then?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"Were she minded t'kill you or him, Lannie, I'd be laying you out."

Oh great. Just what I need. If I make it past Verdi kicking my ass, Glass'll be waiting to lay me out next. What did I do to her? Can feel my head tilt again as I try to remember when I pissed her off. Doesn't seem to take much for most people lately. It didn't for Verdi.

She mentions Benedict and what Verdi could do. The thought of them both makes my lips peel back from my teeth. Glass doesn't seem to like it either and I watch her closely, hoping she's alright. "She raised a hand t'him, threatened him, then?"

Who? Benedict? I wish she did... No. I wish I had another chance to. OHIago. What does she think I'm talking about? Fuck. I don't even know. "She almost killed me, and threatened to hurt Lucien. Iago not only knew, but hinted that she did something similar to him." I shake my head, " I don't know what she did, but it wasn't anything good.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

Looks confused and... worn or exasperated, maybe a touch of what I feel like when Tuesday's draining aside and I know there's yet another Wednesday coming. Suppose knowing it's no matter of Verdi falling short, that she meant t'do whatever she did, is no encouragement.

Thrown a touch by my question, and comes t'me then that I didn't make it clear I was speaking of Iago and if there's aught t'know why's he not telling me, again? "She almost killed me, and threatened to hurt Lucien. Iago not only knew, but hinted that she did something similar to him. I don't know what she did, but it wasn't anything good."

"Ought speak t'him," suppose, thought spoken aloud, and hand 'round the back of my neck. Ought speak t'him and sort the matter, and meantimes keep thought of almost killed and my stormcrow from having me chasing Verdi's blood in my teeth. If she'd harmed him...

"Said-- he said she'd ward Sentinel House for me, if I cared it done," I say, memory of kind night past sifting back. "Can't've meant-- not seeing he'd've passed along the offer, she'd done him harm, but..." Oh I have no mind for this, and cut myself off in a groan. Oh I need sort this but I have no mind for any of it. "Lucien, 've you told Lucien yet what she said?"

[melania-lowell.livejournal.com]

"Ought speak t'him," she says, looking thoughtful. Or maybe its worried? I dunno. Shit.

I snort at the mention of wards. No use in having them if they still let her in. Who knows what she's gonna do next. Actually, I should get out of Ri's place for that very reason.

I know Glass is still talking but I can't get my mind off what Verdi said. She didn't threaten or mention Ri, just ... "Lucien, 've you told Lucien yet what she said?"

That gets my attention, and its like a gun going off in my head again. "No, I... I haven't seen him," I say, slowly, shaking my head. But I did see him. I was just too busy trying to tell him and Jack that I was okay after that asshole Benedict jumped me in the woods. More like trying to keep them from seeing what might not be there as long as it should. I forgot. FUCK! "I better get back inside," I say, as lightly as I can. "See you later, Glass." Probably sooner than later. Especially if Iago hasn't told her anything. I go back inside, hoping the rest of my shift goes by quick.