"The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing"

[tommi-esterly.livejournal.com]

Tuesday, February 23rd
The Dormouse, mid afternoon

I sip my tea and listen to the conversations swirling about me.

"Did you go this morning?"
"No!  Did you?"

"Do you think he did it?"

"I heard his neck did not snap, and that he jerked around on the--"
"I do NOT wish to hear about that!  If you want to talk about that, you may kindly get out of my shoppe."

I arch an eyebrow at Wanda, but say nothing.  Granted, it is her shoppe and a hanging of a murderer is hardly light conversation, but her mood has become increasingly surly as she progresses.  Poor dear looks like she is uncomfortable and has not slept well in a week, and her normally sweet disposition has all but disappeared.  

As Mrs. Higgins and Mrs. Clark get up in a huff and leave, I pat Wanda's hand in a comforting manner as she drags herself over to refill my cup.   "Not much longer till the baby's here, right?  Another month?  Just gotta hold on a bit longer."  I try to say kindly, still wildly curious to know who the father really is.  She has assured us that the baby is indeed Mr. Whitman's, but he's only been in town since later summer, and I DO know how to do math, thank you very much.  "I hired a new girl, she starts Thursday.  She'll be here two days, and taking over for a bit when I get closer and for a few weeks after."  Wanda sighs, giving me a smile before heading back to the kitchen.

Due in a month?   Like HELL that baby's her husbands.   Wonder if it'll have blonde hair instead of red or black...

(Open)

Comments

[tommi-esterly.livejournal.com]

Elanna gives Valmont a appreciative look. I sigh a little, and prop my head up on my hand. I do love Jack and would never dream about straying but... Valmont is not hard on the eyes at all.

Elanna mention she's seen the carnival, but then gets to the heart of the matter. "Maybe they just don't want to travel in the winter? Roads are pretty awful this time of year." I smile now, wide, for this is such a juicy little mystery.

"Now if they had come here in say, October? I'd buy that. But they got here in June. Have you ever heard of a carnival staying in one place for more than a week, two tops in the middle of Summer?" I arch a eyebrow, and let that sink in.

"No one in town knows why they stayed here, and if anyone in the carnival knows, thgey are not talking. The murderer..." Lean in again, and whisper. "He was with the show. Him coming in with them has made it real hard for the rest of them, from what I hear. If you have any plans to go over.ake sure you take a gentleman friend with you." I add for good measure. Don't want any more of our girls to go missing.

[elanna-bailey.livejournal.com]

I'm about to argue with that last point, point out that I'm a big girl who's just been travelling for four years completely by myself, and without a chaperone thankyouverymuch, but I hold myself back. One girl dead, another injured... yeah, she's got reason to warn me.

Still not quite sure what all the fuss is about though. "So... other than that guy, what's up with the carnival? Usual stuff? Elephants dancing on little rolling balls, trapeze, hall of mirrors? Or what?"

I've met carnies before, even travelled with one for a few weeks when we were going in the same direction. They're a little rough around the edges, sure, and I learned some curses that would probably get my Ma rolling in her grave if she heard me say them, they're not bad people, not most of them. So long as we're overlooking creepy-cannibal-guy, who should no longer be an issue, what with him being dead.

[tommi-esterly.livejournal.com]

"So... other than that guy, what's up with the carnival? Usual stuff? Elephants dancing on little rolling balls, trapeze, hall of mirrors? Or what?"

I tilt my head to the side to consider the question. "You mean the whole staying thing with no good reason?" I muse, thinking about my trips there is past summer.

"It's... darker? Most of the carnivals that come through try to have an image of allure and shadows, but you can tell real quick they're slap-dash and more about the scam than the show? Not this one. The magician they have, can actually pull stuff right out of your head, and although I haven't had a reading, they have actual conjoined twins who do tarot readings. They're supposed to be real good too. And that... oh what's the word they used..." I tap my lip with a finger. "Wunderkrammer, that's it. The side show with mermaids and two headed goats and all that other stuff the other shows sew up together and pass off as 'real'... yeah, what they got in there look pretty damn real to me."

Pick up my remaining scone and take a bite, as I think. "I am an old woman, and maybe prone to stretching the truth a bit to embellish a story..." And I wink at her with that. "... but I tell you, there's something off. Can't put my finger on it, though. It's a good show, and the candy apples are to die for, but, just be careful if'n you head out there. okay?"

[elanna-bailey.livejournal.com]

Weird-sounding carnival. Definitely worth checking out at some point when I've got Pa's affairs in order. With, as Mrs. Esterly would not doubt insist, a male escort. If I find one.

I finish the last of my tea and look out the window. Sun's starting to go down. Stupid winter. I wish to hell it'd just end and be summer again so I'm not waking up in the dark. "Thanks for the warning," I say.

"Look, you've been really helpful, and thanks for the scones and all that, but I really should be getting back home. Lucky's had a long day," and I'm sure she can tell from my voice that I have too. Definitely not used to this whole waking up on the wrong side of dawn thing. "I'll figure out a day and we can do that ride-around tour together, and you can show me the sights?"

[tommi-esterly.livejournal.com]

She's trying to be polite, but I can tell she's tired and longing to get home, which she confirms. I reach over and pat her hand gently. "I understand dear. You head on home and get some rest."

"I'll figure out a day and we can do that ride-around tour together, and you can show me the sights?" I stand with her and lay money for us on the table. "Just leave a note with the milk the day before you want me to tag along, and I'll meet you bright and early the next morning." I say cheerfully, nodding to Valmont and Wanda as we head to the door.

"If you find you need anything dear, don't hesitate to call on me, alright?" I remind her gently as the door closes behind us.