estdeus_innobis | The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.

It's one of those days where you just have to get out of the house and be around people. Seems everyone has the same idea, and it makes me smile. Sun shinin', people walking, people talking without a blessed care in the world.

It's going to be a good day.

I head over to The Dormouse, wondering if Nellie is already there, only to see a rather fancy lady sitting on a chair outside, taking her tea.

"Now that is a wonderful idea, my dear!" I say cheerfully, smiling at the woman from under the brim of my hat. "If you'd care for some company, I'll go wrangle myself a chair and join you."

"Now that is a wonderful idea, my dear!" An older lady in a...quite remarkable...hat is smiling down at me. "If you'd care for some company, I'll go wrangle myself a chair and join you."

"Oh, please do. It's quite lovely out here this morning." I'm sure I've seen her in town before - one couldn't forget that hat, for one thing. "I don't believe we've met? I'm Parras Desmet."

The fancy lady invites me to sit with her. I trot up the step, open the door and holler in; "Romana, pass me a chair and bring me a cup of that vanilla chai stuff!" The sweet thing does, and I join the other woman.

"I don't believe we've met? I'm Parras Desmet."

"Thomasina Esterly, but everyone calls me Tommi." I say, offering my hand. "And if you haven't been here much, then a good chance we haven't." Romana pops out and hand me cup. "Thank you, dear." I say to her, then turn back to Parras. "I've been tellin' Wanda for years she should have tables outside in the nicer weather, maybe now with us out here she'll finally get the hint." Laugh a bit and sip my tea.

"'Parras' is a pretty name, but a touch unusal for Excolo. Where you from, dear?"

She chatters on, but I find it rather restful. I can tell from the feel of her hand in mine that she's worked hard in her life: her skin is harder than mine, her grip firm. She gets herself set up with a chair and a cup of tea, then asks me, "'Parras' is a pretty name, but a touch unusal for Excolo. Where you from, dear?"

"Kemptown, originally," I say. "But I've travelled a lot. You've lived here all your life?"

She's a proper one, this Parras. Betting she's a kept woman. Too soft to be a farmer's wife. Nothin' wrong with being kept, as long as you keep kept.

"Can't say I've heard of Kemptown, but then again, I haven't really traveled more than a fifty mile radius." I admit with a grin. "Been here for just about forty years, moved here when I married my Jack." I say fondly, sipping my tea.

"You married, Ms. Desmet?" I ask casually, waving to Mrs. Thomas as she goes into the general store. "Or are you a free spirit who wandered in, like the owner of the tea shoppe was?"

"You married, Ms. Desmet? Or are you a free spirit who wandered in, like the owner of the tea shoppe was?"

"Oh," I say, smiling over my tea, "I was married. But that all ended a long time ago. And I've spent rather a long time travelling - I wanted to find somewhere I could settle down. Excolo gave me that chance."

...I've never been ashamed of what I do. Back in Kemptown I was celebrated, and while some of the places we passed through with the carnival had rather horrid attitudes, we always had one another. Here, though, almost every time someone finds out where I work they seem to...back away a little, put some distance between us. Not Kate, of course, but so many of the other ladies in the town. And so I don't mention it, not yet: "Do you live in town, then, Mrs Esterly?"

What a charming and mischevious grin! Married but no longer, travelling but ready to hang her hat up. "Oh is it a tragic tale? Did he break your heart?" I ask, thinking I can always embellish a bit if it's something dull like he died. "Or was he a cad, so you picked up your bag and never looked back, head help high as you travelled the road of life?"

Realize I am being a tad melodramatic, and checkle to myself. "Sorry about that dear, my mind tends to go on a bit. Excolo's nice enough. Growing to be sure, the electricty helps with that. All sorts coming in, bring new blood and new ideas. Some new problems too, but I guess you take the little bit of bad to offset the potential of good." Not as quiet as it used to be, not that I mind lively, but we certainly don't needs cannibals, or murderers...

"Do you live in town, then, Mrs Esterly?"

"Yes, I do. Jack keeps the farm outside of town, but we have a nice home over in the victorian district behind main. Maybe you've seen it? It's the one with the nicest garden." Beam a little bit, seeing how my tulips came in a full week before Nellie's. "Where are you living my dear? Over at the Whitechapel, or have you found rooms at the Sentinal house?"

"Oh is it a tragic tale? Did he break your heart? Or was he a cad, so you picked up your bag and never looked back, head help high as you travelled the road of life?"

I laugh a little. "Oh, no, nothing so dramatic, I'm afraid. We parted amicably enough. And as I say, it was a long time ago." I didn't mind telling Kate why, but a stranger is different. Though she seems entertaining, certainly.

I listen to what she says about the town. "New problems," I say a little drily, "yes, I'd noticed some of them recently. I've seen some very lovely houses there," I add tactfully, because what do I know about gardens?

And then, of course, she asks where I'm living.

I sigh a little inside, and for a moment I wonder if - no. When I left the Carnival I promised myself I was never going to use it again, that little ability (http://excolo-ooc.livejournal.com/514610.html) I have to make myself appealing. "Actually I room where I work." Perhaps she will leave it at that, but I find myself doubting it.

"Oh, a mutual parting?" I sigh and sip my tea. "Not very dramatic. Tell everyone you left and broke their heart. Femme fatales seem to do well here." I chuckle, enjoying this conversation immensely.

Her response to the problems is as dry as a good wine, and I smirk. "I mean, brawls and rowdiness is one thing, cannibals and riots quite another... but it does makes for the most interesting conversations." I add in a conspiratorial tone.

Parras pauses for a moment when I ask where she lives, then admits to living where she works. Well, she didn't strike me as a working woman. Not a farm, no. Nor nothing too labourous... not a maid at the Whitechapel, or a waitress at the cafe or...

"Oh my heavens!" I exclaim, thinking I just have figured it out. "No wonder I haven't see you about. You... ah... work for Madame Lei, yes?" I ask quietly, but grinning. Fancy that. Nellie never would converse with the prostitute, but she always seemed happy and polite enough. "Miss Lei used to come here quite a bit before... say!" I exclaim, wondering if she knows. "Miss Lei and the lady who runs this place apparently were the best of friends, but had a huge falling out. Do you know if it was over the doctor leaving Miss Wanda for Miss Lei?"

Nellie will just die if I get to find out before her!

"Oh my heavens!" Inwardly I sigh and resign myself, but then she's smiling and going on: "No wonder I haven't see you about. You... ah... work for Madame Lei, yes? Miss Lei used to come here quite a bit before... say! Miss Lei and the lady who runs this place apparently were the best of friends, but had a huge falling out. Do you know if it was over the doctor leaving Miss Wanda for Miss Lei?"

...well, that's a somewhat different reaction than I was expecting, I must say, but I can hardly complain. I smile back at her, but of course I can't gossip about Miao either.

"I don't believe so, no," I say. Even if I'm not sure I entirely believe what Miao told me about Wanda's husband, Miao was certainly very concerned that I should know he isn't safe to be around, so I don't believe that it was about any love affair of her own at all. "I couldn't say for sure, but I do believe it was about something else entirely. But I suppose you'd really have to ask one of them." I smile to show I don't mean it unkindly, simply that I cannot talk behind my employer's back.

"Miss Lei is a very good person," I add, a little more quietly, "and so very kind to us all at the 'Boy. I find it difficult to believe she would break off a friendship over anything that wasn't of - well, that wasn't of the gravest importance."

"I couldn't say for sure, but I do believe it was about something else entirely. But I suppose you'd really have to ask one of them."

Well. If one of them would tell me, then I wouldn't have to ask around, now would I?

"Miss Lei is a very good person, and so very kind to us all at the 'Boy. I find it difficult to believe she would break off a friendship over anything that wasn't of - well, that wasn't of the gravest importance."

Nod in agreement. "She always seemed pleasant when I saw her here. It's such a shame, they were always laughing about something or another. Wanda doesn't laugh nearly as much anymore. Not since she got married in a hurry." Shake my head sadly. "Wonder if it was over Mr. Whitman instead of the Doctor..." I ponder aloud, wondering if I can get amy more information.

"Wonder if it was over Mr. Whitman instead of the Doctor..."

I seem to have found one of the town gossips, I think to myself, amused. "I don't believe Miss Lei has much to do with Mr Whitman," I say, which is as far as I'll be drawn on that subject, but she can make of it what she will. I'm certainly not denying it outright.

I sip my tea; it's very pleasant indeed. "How sad, though, that Mrs Whitman is less happy. I've seen her here, of course, but we've not really spoken.... Do you think she is unhappy in her marriage?" Marry in haste, repent at leisure: an old theme. "Of course, she is a new mother - perhaps she's simply tired." And from what I've heard, there's no chance that child can be her husband's, either.

Edited 2011-08-09 23:30 (UTC)

"I don't believe Miss Lei has much to do with Mr Whitman," Oh, so not a regular at the 'Boy. Interesting.

Parras asks if Wanda is unhappy in her marriage and I can only shrug my shoulders. "Could be, it seems he's rarely here... but when he is, they seem so.... involved with each other. One day, back in Winter, she practically threw me and Nellie out. Could see through the curtain he was already half naked. And what they were doing with that boysenberry jam I am sure I don't know, but he was covered in it." I add with a raised eyebrow, remembering the dark red stain of it on his chest, and the almost hungry look in her eye.

"Of course, she is a new mother - perhaps she's simply tired."

Drain off my tea, and debate a second cup, but this is too juicy to get up just now. "Oh, she's thrilled with that baby, loves her to pieces. Rose is such a sweet little thing..." Look up and down the street then lean in a bit. "And here's the really interesting thing. I was damn sure that baby was going to come out looking like the doctor... but except for her mother's eyes, she's the spitting image of Mr. Whitman. Wanda must've been carrying on with him in secret since the beginning of last summer and no one knew it. Maybe thats why the doctor left her."

Grin a bit and sit back in my chair. "The one thing you'll learn about Excolo Parras, it's never dull." Nod to her cup. "Shall I holler for Romana to get you a refill, dear?"

I laugh at her story about the jam. "Boysenberry? Well, it certainly sounds like they enjoy themselves. I just hope that they were careful with the pips." It's hardly the most exotic pursuit I've come across, of course.

"And here's the really interesting thing. I was damn sure that baby was going to come out looking like the doctor... but except for her mother's eyes, she's the spitting image of Mr. Whitman. Wanda must've been carrying on with him in secret since the beginning of last summer and no one knew it. Maybe thats why the doctor left her."

I don't raise my eyebrows. "It's certainly possible." But I've seen how much babies can change as they grow, and a passing resemblance as an infant is hardly a confirmation of paternity, after all. Miao, when she warned me about him, told me how Mr Whitman looks, and dark hair and fair skin are hardly unusual --

-- don't I recall something about the tea shop owner carrying on with that insufferable man Dorian? Now there's a thought. If it is his child, I can see why Wanda would rapidly find a more suitable father figure, even one who seems to be absent most of the time.

"The one thing you'll learn about Excolo Parras, it's never dull. Shall I holler for Romana to get you a refill, dear?"

"How kind of you; that would be lovely." I wait until the second cup arrives. "There does seem to be enough gossip in this town. Men complain about women, but you wouldn't believe," and I lean forward confidingly, "how much some men gossip in bed."

Parras is laughing at the jam story, and I find I really do like her. "I am sure they were." I chuckle, they were seen out dancing later that night, so it's safe to assume there were no major injuries."

My charming companion agree's to a second cup. I get up and pop my head in the door, asking Romana for two refills. Wanda see's me and asks what I am doing with an exasperated sigh. I inform her I am merely expanding her business and rejoin Parras before she can complain. I know she will thank me later.

"There does seem to be enough gossip in this town. Men complain about women, but you wouldn't believe, how much some men gossip in bed."

Now that is interesting. "Really? Now, my Jack is rather enthusiastic in the bedroom, but not overly talkative." I admit, grinning. "Would you say they talk more in the bedroom then... say, over a couple of drinks? Or maybe because they know you won't repeat?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Really? Now, my Jack is rather enthusiastic in the bedroom, but not overly talkative. Would you say they talk more in the bedroom then... say, over a couple of drinks? Or maybe because they know you won't repeat?"

She does seem curious. "Oh, mostly the last, I think. The way I prefer to work, it's not just about the - physical act. My patrons know that they can trust my discretion. And you would be surprised how lonely some them are, the ones who come to me." Even when I was working at the Carnival, there were men - and women - who seemed to be seeking company as much as release. "And," and this is more serious, "there are some who have things that weigh on their conscience. Small things or terrible ones, and they need to - confess them, I suppose, to someone who will never tell."

"Of course," I add with a laugh, to lighten the mood, "quite a few of my patrons have had a couple of drinks, before or with us."

What Parras explains to me makes quite a bit of sense actually. "Any relationship works better with communication. Jack and I are very open and honest with one another... but I know many married folks that aren't. Weeks seem to go by, without a word between them." It's sad, really.

Ms. Desmet also explains how sometimes her clients unburden their secrets onto her. Well lord, if I knew that was a way to get... too bad I am way past my prime. And happily married. "It seems like your.... profession is more serious a line of work than I thought. Have you ever been in danger because of what you knew, or might have known?" Who knew sex work was so interesting?

"Of course, quite a few of my patrons have had a couple of drinks, before or with us." Her laugh is quite lovely, and her mirth softens her some. Not as prim and stuffy as I thought when I first walked over. "You are quite the charmer Ms. Desmet. I bet you break hearts left and right." I laugh, sipping my tea. "Bet Ms. Miao is quite pleased to have you in her employ."

"Oh," I say more quietly, "I have been in danger quite often, but rarely from what has been said to me."

I do find I'm enjoying myself, though. "You are quite the charmer Ms. Desmet. I bet you break hearts left and right. Bet Ms. Miao is quite pleased to have you in her employ."

"I think it's a long time since I broke any hearts," I say. Other than my own, of course. "But thank you. Though I must say sometimes I envy you married women - to have a helpmeet and companion through your days must be so pleasant."

It's all I have not to lean in and ask her of the dangers of her way of life. What may seem exciting to me may have been quite fearsome for her. "There used to be picketers outside the 'Boy, but it's quieted down quite a great deal. The bored housewives of Excolo had a bit too much time on their hands, but the fact that most of the other business owners stood behind the 'Boy helped that a great bit." I inform her, patting her hand.

"Though I must say sometimes I envy you married women - to have a helpmeet and companion through your days must be so pleasant."

Is there something wistful about the way she said that? I wonder what a ... a lady like her does once the work dries up, as it were. "I consider myself very lucky, Ms. Desmet." I say. "I am not sure many marriages can boast the same." Consider her a moment. "Most of us find passion, at some point or another. Some go onto find love. The real lucky ones? At the end of the day, the lucky ones are those that are blessed to pass the quiet time with a friend. If you're looking for companionship, look for the friend first."

Blink a moment, then shake my head.

"Listen to me prattle on. You must encuse an old woman and her ramblings." Look about to see some time has slipped away. "Am I keeping you from yuor work, or would you like a tour of the R'lyeh District? It does have home of the prettiest houses." I offer with a smile.

"If you're looking for companionship, find the friend first."

I look down at my tea for a moment. I keep thinking I've found that, over the years.

"Am I keeping you from yuor work, or would you like a tour of the R'lyeh District? It does have home of the prettiest houses."

I shake the melancholy off and smile. "That would be quite lovely." Friendship alone is a good thing, too, isn't it? And she's offering me a little of that, this woman.

Parras goes quiet for a moment, and I think I overstepped my bounds. Maybe it's not fashionable to be see walking about with one of the town gossips?

"That would be quite lovely." I admit, I am a little surprised, but pleased.

"Well then, dear. Give me that cup." I take her teacup and return it to the banister around the porch at the top of the stairs, leaving a bit of money underneath it. Return to Parras and open my umbrella. "Shall we?"

She stands and smiles, and I start leading her back down main to the side road that will lead to the houses. "Tell me dear, do you like cats? Because my darling George will just want to curl up in your lap and claim you as his!"

What a lovely day it's been. Can't wait to tell Nellie about it!

The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.

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