estdeus_innobis | We work to become; not to aquire. --- Elbert Hubbard

Monday, June 4th
The cafe', afternoon

The waitress drops off another soda, and I flash her a smile and take a gulp before going back to my sketching. Spent the morning in my office, talking over the prospective ideas for expanding the school house. Now that the town is growing, there really is a need for more than just the one room. The question is; do we build on to the existing school, or build a whole separate building?

I've already sketched out the general idea for building the addition, and set that to the side. But there's a old barn not more than half a mile past the Dormouse. With the right floor plan and enough work, I think it could be converted into a beautiful school, probably for the older children. I find a clean piece of paper in my bag, and start tracing out the general shape. A large, open room, plenty of light, yes.

Besides the school expansion, I also have a meeting later this week with the Abbey. The Titus family just moved out of town, leaving behind their old mill up the river. No one has bought the property yet for it needs work, but if the abbey is looking to expand their cider production, I am sure a arrangement can be made all around. My mind is whirling as my pencil moves across the paper, the soft scratching of the graphite making a pleasing sound...

"Another soda, Kent?" What...? I look up at the waitress, only to realize a good hour has passed and I finished off that glass. "Yes, and may as well bring me a sandwich, too." I say as I sit back a bit to study what I've come up with so far. Not bad, not bad at all. I almost cannot wait to start actually building it.

Open

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"May I?" Nod as they reach out. Their touch feels no different to me, but it's enough that they sit back and the harsh look softens a bit.

"So Rose made you? Guess she's youah mother as well as daughtah in a way then, ayuh? Must say, I ain't missed this town, but its oddities do keep ya on your toes."

"Rose as my mother... now that's a thought I did not need." My eyebrow goes up a bit as well, but so does my smile. The thought of little Rose bossing us around, more than she tries to. It is amusing. "Can't speak as to who made me. Rose, Wanda... the other one." Hate the thought of that, and my smile fades. Shrug it off.

"So. If you haven't missed Excolo, what brings you back? I would think this would be the last town the show would want to come back to. Wanda was talking about walking out and if you were still there. Maybe talking to your managers."

"Can't speak as to who made me. Rose, Wanda... the other one."

"You got strangah parents than some, ayuh," I agree, nodding.

"So. If you haven't missed Excolo, what brings you back? I would think this would be the last town the show would want to come back to. Wanda was talking about walking out and if you were still there. Maybe talking to your managers."

Snort.

"Doubt Management would talk to Wanda. Nevah know, I guess. Just tell her not to expect easy answers, you ken? They ain't straight talkahs." Sip my drink. "As for why we'ah back..." Shrug. "Wasn't told we was coming heah. Not sure why now." Pause. "Suah it ain't for no good, though."

Nu mentions my parentage and I can only shrug and forget it. Thinking of Wanda in any sort of parental way... just no. \

"Doubt Management would talk to Wanda. Nevah know, I guess. Just tell her not to expect easy answers, you ken? They ain't straight talkahs. As for why we'ah back... Wasn't told we was coming heah. Not sure why now. Suah it ain't for no good, though."

Mutter a small curse under my breath and shake my head. "Wanda's mayor now. She has a lot of people coming to her, scared." I explain as the waitress passes by and hands me my glass of soda from the other table. "And if you had no warning about returning, and think it's not for the best..." Trail off because my mind is racing in a million directions, none of them good. "If you don't think it will do any good I'll try to dissuade Wanda from talking to your management." I sigh. "Try being the operative word." I think Nu has a good idea of how pig-headed she can be.

Look down at their swell as I take a gulp of my soda. Remember that Nu is something more, He knew exactly what, but I only have an inkling. "How much longer do you have to go? Anything you need, or Wanda can do for you?" I ask, and wonder if their being here in town right near the time of Nu giving birth is a coincidence.

"Mayor?" Raise my eyebrows. "Things have changed. Good for Wanda," an' my voice is warm. "You can tell Wanda our Management ain't like folks you can reason with. They is... different. In a lot of ways. An' I know she thinks she knows different, but not like them. Theah ain't no one like them."

"How much longer do you have to go? Anything you need, or Wanda can do for you?"

"Soon," I say. "Wouldn't want to put a date on it," specially not to someone I hardly know, "but it's not long. An' I'll do just fine, don't you worry."

Finish off my drink and heave myself up.

"I'll see you around - wait," I say, and laugh. "Don't even know your name. They still calling you Kent?"

Nu fills me in a bit more on the show's management, and I make mental notes to relate it all to Wanda. And if they are even more different than what she is accustomed to... well. Shit.

"I'll let Wanda know I ran into you, if that is alright? See does want to see you and Zann." I ask as they finish off their drink and stand up. "And wait till you see Rose..."

"I'll see you around - wait, Don't even know your name. They still calling you Kent?"

Laugh a bit myself and stand as well. "Kent. Mr. Whitman. 'Ent. That jerk that Wanda took back, depending on who you ask." I make light of my odd situation with a joke.

"Ayuh. You give Wanda a kiss from me. No tongue, though; she'll know that's your idea," I say, an' smile. "Will be glad to see Rose." Curious, too, though I don't say that. "I'll see you around, Kent. Glad you'ah a bettah man than the thing that had your face first."

I laugh out loud at the tongue comment. It certainly seems like this conversation is ending much better than when it started.

"I'll see you around, Kent. Glad you'ah a bettah man than the thing that had your face first."

"Thank you, I do try." I respond warmly. "If you need anything, look for the blur of red hair running about, or the purple house." Shouldn't be too hard to find either; Wanda tends to be everywhere, and we have the only purple house in town. "Have a good day, Nu. Nice meeting you, properly." Nod my head to them a bit, then remember I have my designs all over the other table and turn to gather them up.

We work to become; not to aquire. --- Elbert Hubbard

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject