Top off the tea... it lubricates the grey matter.

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

[Thursday, March 11th (Day 284)]
[Main Street in front of the Dormouse]
[Late afternoon, teatime]


Two more errands and I've completed most of them for the day.  Every day should be this good and I look up at the sunny sky, wondering if the nice weather has anything to do with it.  The Dormouse and the library are left on my list.  Should I drop off my note and maybe get lucky enough to meet Mrs. Whitman, or should I go to the library and check out a few books instead?

The library can wait and tucking the note into an envelope, I stop near the steps of the Dormouse.  Mrs. Wilson said that Mrs. Whitman's very pregnant so I don't think I'll see her today but it doesn't hurt to try.  Hopefully, she'll get my note anyway.  I heard that Romana worked here a few days ago so I'll just give it to her to pass along and maybe she'll get back to me.

I'm about to go up the stairs when I spot bright, blonde hair down Main Street.  She looks like Leah.  I wave and smile.  It never hurts to be friendly, especially to pretty women, and maybe she'll have some tea with me.


[Open to Leah, and Romana if she likes]

Comments

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

"Both actually. I asked her about the cards and about what happened with those two men. and at first she was reluctant to talk about it. What the conversation with them was about but then she changed her mind and explained."

That sounds mighty interesting and whether or not it's just gossip depends on what she found out. Leah's a smart girl and I watch her brush her long, long hair back. It looks really soft and.. I smile, knowing she's smarter than she lets on and I ask, "What did she say and why do you think she changed her mind?"

Her eyes are a light shade of blue, or maybe green, and I lean forward a little, trying to get a better view. Romana comes back and I lean back in my seat. She drops off a flowered teapot and two full cups, along with our muffins and scones.

"It was a bit confusing for everyone, and I think it was sort of private but I ended up hearing it anyway. If we hadn't been talking about stuff before it happened I think she would have told me not to ask her anymore questions about it."

I nod encouragingly as I stir sugar into my tea. "It sounds complicated." I push the sugar bowl in her direction before adding a bit of milk to my cup and stirring again. "What did you learn?"

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

What did she say and why do you think she changed her mind? Mike asks. I take a moment to think of how much to tell him. "She was very general at first just saying that it was a long story and one that might be hard to believe." I smile just a bit and then add,"I think that the reason she decided she could tell me was the things she had learned about me and my willingness to answer questions meant that I might understand or at least not be nasty about the bits other people have a hard time with."

He leans forward, really interested in my answers but has to lean back when the waitress comes back with our order. I watch him add sugar and milk to his tea while nodding at me to go on. He pushes the tea pot in my direction and I add just a little of the sugar to my tea. I won't add milk as that would make the water sluggish and less likely to tell me anything. Mike asks what I've learned and I take a sip of the tea before answering.

"It was complicated. She and her sister used to have their bodies fused together and now they are separate people. It wasn't easy though and they paid for it. The two men were shocked to see Hope by herself and very concerned about what had happened to Faith. I saw her sister at the end of things and she looks exactly like Hope but doesn't talk." I remember the way they both looked for a moment as Faith touched her sister and wonder if maybe they can talk to each other the way I pass information to Pontarlier or Nu. "Hope doesn't see." I add. "She mentioned a price had to be paid and I think it wasn't with money."

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

I ask for more information about her meeting with Hope. Leah sounds as if she's processing her observations into something clear to share with another person, specifically me. I think she'll be a good reporter in no time.

Romana brings our tea and after she leaves, Leah tells me the strangest thing: "She and her sister used to have their bodies fused together and now they are separate people. It wasn't easy though and they paid for it." Two sisters with fused bodies that aren't anymore, and she continues, "I saw her sister at the end of things and she looks exactly like Hope but doesn't talk. Hope doesn't see."

I've never heard anything like this and Leah adds, "She mentioned a price had to be paid and I think it wasn't with money."

I have so many questions but I settle for, "Fused? And they're from the carnival?" Conjoined twins wouldn't surprise me but formerly-conjoined twins that survive is something I haven't heard before. Not like this and I ask, "Besides the not-seeing and not-talking, are they okay?" Now I really want to meet them. I'm not interested in a freak show but something extraordinary's happened to them. Forget reporting it. I want to see it.

"Did she say who did it, who they had to pay?" It couldn't have been the two men. From what she's said, they sound like they were surprised too.

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

Mike doesn't react with disbelief at what I am telling him, he looks surprised and very interested. I relax a little bit, as he finally asks, Fused? And they're from the carnival? I nod. "Yes, that's what she told me."

His next question echoes those of Doc and the dark haired man,Besides the not-seeing and not-talking, are they okay? "Yes. If Hope had not told me, I would never have guessed that she and her sister hadn't always been separate people." I very briefly wonder what they looked like when they were fused. Maybe when I go to visit hope and learn to read the cards I can ask her.

Did she say who did it, who they had to pay? I have to think back to exactly what she said. "She didn't use a name just said Management. That they went to see Management and got it fixed for them. There was mention of the Tower but she only said that they didn't go there. That sight was less to pay than a soul. and that management likes balance which is why she can't see and Faith can't talk."

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

I ask if they're okay, and Leah replies, "Yes. If Hope had not told me, I would never have guessed that she and her sister hadn't always been separate people."

You can apparently pay someone to make big changes in your life and your body too. It seems so far-out. Leah says, "She didn't use a name just said Management. That they went to see Management and got it fixed for them. There was mention of the Tower but she only said that they didn't go there. That sight was less to pay than a soul. and that management likes balance which is why she can't see and Faith can't talk."

I think I hold my breathe for a second there and I repeat, "Management can change your body and it'll only cost your eyesight or your voice. For twins, one for each." I pick up my tea cup and notice my hand is shaking enough to make me put it back down and I continue, "But that's a better deal than the Tower, because that would cost your soul instead."

I'm not sure what to say next and I stir my tea to give myself a moment to stop feeling off-kilter. "Is that normal around here? I saw a walking, flaming scarecrow the other day and now you're telling me that two women made a deal to change their bodies."

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

Michael looks even more surprised than before. Maybe this is what the novels meant when they use the word shocked. Or maybe stunned. It also comes out in his voice as he says, Management can change your body and it'll only cost your eyesight or your voice. For twins, one for each. I stay silent not knowing what he wants me to say. His hand is shaking as he picks up his cup and then puts it back down again. But that's a better deal than the Tower, because that would cost your soul instead. I take a sip of my own tea.

"That does seem to fit the information I picked up from Hope and her conversation with the two men. I remember something else that was said and add. "I think that the man she called Doc may have gone to the Tower for something. He certainly seemed relieved that Hope didn't go there. and she apologized for mentioning the Tower." I frown again thinking it over. "Maybe what she was poligixing for was the way she mentioned the Tower she sounded a bit upset that he might think she'd gone to the Tower to be split apart from her sister."

We share a moment of just sitting and sipping or stirring tea before Michael asks very casually, Is that normal around here? I saw a walking, flaming scarecrow the other day and now you're telling me that two women made a deal to change their bodies.

I have to think about that one for a while. The level of liquid in my cup drops and I put it down before Reaching for a muffin. "From everyone's reactions to things like that, no. I don't think they are exactly normal for Excolo, but these sorts of things are happening more frequently. Perhaps someday it will be normal." I lean forward then and say, "I would like to hear about the walking, flaming scarecrow. Where was it walking? and why was it on fire? did anyone try to put it out?" I break off a large piece of the muffin and put it in my mouth. I really need to remember to give people time to answer my questions before I ask more of them.

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

Leah tells me about the rest of her previous conversation. It's not encouraging and according to Hope and a man named Doc, the Tower sounds like a bad place. "Well, I won't be going there anytime soon. Besides Hope, it seems like some people already have."

I ask what's normal, not sure that I understand before telling her about the scarecrow. She pauses, looking thoughtful as she says, "From everyone's reactions to things like that, no. I don't think they are exactly normal for Excolo, but these sorts of things are happening more frequently. Perhaps someday it will be normal."

More frequently? Well, at least the newspaper will always have a story to share. She leans forward and I'm almost hypnotized by her big, blue eyes. "I would like to hear about the walking, flaming scarecrow. Where was it walking? and why was it on fire? did anyone try to put it out?"

I lean forward, wondering if she's wearing perfume as I reach for the teapot. "The scarecrow was walking in front of the sheriff's office, and only the head was flaming, or at least part of it." Milk and sugar are added to my cup and even though it not as good as coffee, I like it. "I don't know why it was on fire. It arrived on the scene that way and it didn't seem to bother it any during the time I watched."

Thinking about her last question, I reply, "I saw two horse-riders go back and forth with it but how it ended, I don't know. I was inside the beauty salon at that point."

One of my lemon scones is half gone when I ask, "Besides the scarecrow and the twins, I heard most of town lost its memory for a while, and before that, one of the mayor candidates was murdered but the killer was never found." I butter another piece of scone and say, "When you said these kinds of things are happening more frequently, did you mean things like that?"

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

I'm really enjoying this. Sitting here with Michael, talking about what's happening in town and sharing what we think about it. He leans forward and I feel something, I'm not sure what it is, almost like a shiver but I'm not cold. He picks up the teapot and the feeling changes but doesn't go away. I wonder what it is?

But he's talking so I focus my attention on that instead,"The scarecrow was walking in front of the sheriff's office, and only the head was flaming, or at least part of it. I don't know why it was on fire. It arrived on the scene that way and it didn't seem to bother it any during the time I watched." He thinks for a bit and then adds, I saw two horse-riders go back and forth with it but how it ended, I don't know. I was inside the beauty salon at that point.

He's very good to answer all my questions even though the answers always give me more questions to ask. "Which part was on fire? who were the horse-riders? If you don't know how it ended, do you know who might? Besides the horse-riders and the scarecrow, I mean."

I finish my tea before I think to ask, "Why were you in the beauty salon?"

My muffin is almost gone when Michael says, Besides the scarecrow and the twins, I heard most of town lost its memory for a while, and before that, one of the mayor candidates was murdered but the killer was never found.When you said these kinds of things are happening more frequently, did you mean things like that?

I put the last bit of the muffin in my mouth and chew while thinking, is that the kind of thing I meant when I said that? I suppose so. I nod.

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

"Which part was on fire? who were the horse-riders? If you don't know how it ended, do you know who might? Besides the horse-riders and the scarecrow, I mean."

All of her questions are good and I answer, "Only the scarecrow's head, not it's body." I think back on when I first saw the two riders. "They came down this road," and I point to Main Street, "But from the opposite end, away from the sheriff's office. What's down that way? Someone from that area might know who they were."

"Why were you in the beauty salon?"

I set my cup down and smile, enjoying the view as I reply. "There was a lot of chaos in the street and I didn't want to stay out there." Gesturing to Romana, I say, "I met her in a doorway, along with a few other people and they didn't want want to stay outside either. A purple-haired woman offered to let us in and it sounded like a good idea."

We talk about strange things happening in town and I ask if that's frequent enough to be normal. She nods and I do too, not sure what to think. "Right. So, did you lose your memory too?" It sounds like as good a question as any.

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

They came down this road, he says pointing to Main Street, But from the opposite end, away from the sheriff's office. What's down that way? Someone from that area might know who they were.

What is down that way? "There's the park with the schoolhouse and the Abbey at the end of the road. People live around there too. There are also roads to some other places nearby."

Michael smiles as he explains why he went into the salon. There was a lot of chaos in the street and I didn't want to stay out there. He motions towards the girl who's doing Wanda's job, I met her in a doorway, along with a few other people and they didn't want want to stay outside either. A purple-haired woman offered to let us in and it sounded like a good idea.

I reach for the teapot asking,"Who else did you meet that day?" Reaching for the sugar, I add. "I got invited into the bakery pretty early on so I didn't get to see the scarecrow. But I did have to stop the water from coming inside through the bottom of the door."

I think about the people I know in town and those I've only seen. I don't know a woman with purple hair but I've seen her, I think. Her hair isn't always purple. It was bright red at Hermia's party and she often comes to the cafe. "I think I've seen your purple haired woman, but I don't know her name." I tell him. She sat at the other end of the table from us.

A bit later on he asks me, So, did you lose your memory too? I shake my head and hold my teacup with both hands, feeling a bit cold inside at the thought of losing all the memories I've gained since becoming me. "No. No I didn't lose any memories but others did. Not everyone lost the same amount of memories, some people lost one or two things and others couldn't remember their names but could tell you something if you asked the right question." I think of Syl and how she didn't know her name but could tell us about how to do things to memories with magic.

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

"There's the park with the schoolhouse and the Abbey at the end of the road. People live around there too. There are also roads to some other places nearby."

I rub my chin thoughtfully. "The Abbey sounds like a good place to start. It's looks big enough. The Post Office too." I smile, suggesting, "You could investigate and find out."

After I tell her why I went into the salon, she asks, "Who else did you meet that day? I got invited into the bakery pretty early on so I didn't get to see the scarecrow. But I did have to stop the water from coming inside through the bottom of the door."

I stir my tea while thinking back and I say, "I met Romana, Kate O'Hara from the General Store, Kaeli Whyte and the woman from the salon." She mentions water and I wonder how close the bakery is to the river. "Water? It was a riot, not a flood. I don't understand."

She's quiet and then tells me, "I think I've seen your purple haired woman, but I don't know her name." Didn't she tell me her name? "I think it's Verite but I didn't get her last name. She's the one that let us into the salon."

I ask about her memories and she shakes her head, "No. No I didn't lose any memories but others did. Not everyone lost the same amount of memories, some people lost one or two things and others couldn't remember their names but could tell you something if you asked the right question."

"I knew alot of people were affected but I didn't think it was different for everyone." That's interesting and I continue with a smile, "I didn't know that. It sounds like it was really confusing but I'm glad you're okay."

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

Michael rubs his chin and says, The Abbey sounds like a good place to start. It's looks big enough. The Post Office too. He smiles at me and adds, You could investigate and find out.

I smile back and ask,"Are you asking me to do that?" If he is I'm happy to do it, I just want to know first that it's what he wants me to do.

He lists the people he met that day, all women and I notice he doesn't ay the name of the salon owner. But then he notices what I said about the water and asks about it. I bite my lip as I realize that I'm going to have to be careful what I say about it. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it at all.

Water? It was a riot, not a flood. I don't understand.

"It wasn't much of a flood but yes there sort of was." I contradict him gently. "It wasn't natural. Something, or someone, caused the water to rise from the ground or maybe melted the snow in the square so while it wasn't deep it was enough to start coming under the door at the bakery." There I think that tells what happened without letting on that I know more. That I know it was Nu who called the water, or that I was able to tell it to leave.

He remembers the purple haired woman's name as Verite with no last name. I nod as I would like to meet her properly someday and ask her about the changing colours in her hair.

I knew alot of people were affected but I didn't think it was different for everyone. I didn't know that. It sounds like it was really confusing but I'm glad you're okay.

"It was. I don't think people want to talk about it much now that it's over." I know that Maryk doesn't and he didn't lose nearly as much as Syl or some of the others.

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

I mention the Abbey and the Post Office as possible places for the knights on horse-back to come from and Leah smiles, "Are you asking me to do that?"

Thinking about it, I say pleasantly, "Yes, I am. I think it would be good to know where they came from and why they decided to join the mob that way. Do you want to take on the investigation? If you do, you'll probably get to meet them and that could be fun."

I list all the people I met during the riot and when Leah mentions a flood, I ask about it.

"It wasn't much of a flood...It wasn't natural. Something, or someone, caused the water to rise...so while it wasn't deep it was enough to start coming under the door at the bakery."

Not a natural flood? Okay, I'm beginning to see that 'not natural' may be normal around here. That doesn't explain what she said earlier and I ask, "Earlier, you said that you stopped it from coming in under the door. How'd you do that?" Is she special too, like that scarecrow-person and her friend, Hope?

I tell her that I'm glad she made it safe through the confusing riot and she says something really interesting to me. "I don't think people want to talk about it much now that it's over."

I take a sip of my tea and say, "Yes, alot of times people don't talk about stuff like that because they want to forget. If no one talks about, everyone can pretend it never happened." I finish my scone while shrugging. "That doesn't always work out but people try anyway."

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

He tells me that yes he would like me to look for the riders and explains why. Yes, I am. I think it would be good to know where they came from and why they decided to join the mob that way. Do you want to take on the investigation? If you do, you'll probably get to meet them and that could be fun. I smile back, happy that I was right that he did indeed want me to. It also sounds like it could be fun to investigate stuff like this.

"Yes! Yes, I would like to take on this investigation." I tell him.

I realize I've made a mistake, said too much, when Michael asks, Earlier, you said that you stopped it from coming in under the door. How'd you do that?

"Oh!" I say, looking down a bit then up a bit so I'm looking up at him from under the front of my hair. "That. I uh, didn't do anything special. I just sat in the water and waited til Edmund gave me a towel and told me to block the door with it." I hope Michael can't tell that I'm leaving so much out. I really don't want him to think I'm unnatural and then not want to be friends anymore.

[mike-inkheart.livejournal.com]

"Yes! Yes, I would like to take on this investigation."

I smile wide and I'm glad she's excited about it. I'm excited too. "It's yours." I offer my hand to shake and I say, "Congratulations on your first official story assignment."

I ask for more information about how she stopped the water and I notice that she's acting strange. Her big blue eyes peek out from behind the curtain of her pale hair and I smile. Damn, she's pretty.

"Oh! That. I uh, didn't do anything special. I just sat in the water and waited til Edmund gave me a towel and told me to block the door with it."

Edmund? He might be her boyfriend so I ask, "Who's Edmund? I'm glad he gave you a towel because sitting in the water like that doesn't sound like it was helping too much." I think about her story and say, "If you need any help with your assignment, you let me know. This is your first one but don't worry. I think you'll do great."

[leah-pontarlier.livejournal.com]

His smile gets very big and he holds out his hand to me as if we'd just met as he says, It's yours. Congratulations on your first official story assignment. I put my hand in his hoping that's what I was supposed to do. His hand feels very warm. "Thank you." I reply almost in a whisper. I'm feeling very warm in my middle much like I did that day in the market after I almost spilled my drink on Syl.

When I try to give an explanation for the flood at the bakery I can tell he knows there's more to it because he asks another question.Who's Edmund? I'm glad he gave you a towel because sitting in the water like that doesn't sound like it was helping too much. I try to remember all the things that Maryk said about lying so I can try to not do them but it was a whole list of things and I think I may have already done one or two of them. So I make sure to look in Michael's eyes as I give my answer.

"Edmund's the bakery owner. He's the one who invited me into the bakery." I wonder what should I tell him about the water? I mean if it was anyone else sitting in the water it might not have done much except to slow it down a bit. But because it was me it put me into contact with the water so it could hear me when I asked it to leave. Is it taking too long for me to say something? I think it maybe is, so I need to say something.

"It did slow the water down a bit, but yes I suppose the towel was a better idea." I have to look away so I do, using my hand to brush my hair away from my face at the same time. I can see that he's thinking about what I just said and I hope he isn't going to ask what I'm lying about. Lying is so hard! How do other people, other liars, manage to learn to do this?

If you need any help with your assignment, you let me know. This is your first one but don't worry. I think you'll do great. I nod, and smile gratefully. "I will. Thank you again for giving it to me."