estdeus_innobis | Entries tagged with iago

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

[Wednesday Sept. 10 (day 472)]
[Early evening, Tavern of Hell]

You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell

It's the fourth time today this song's been on the jukebox and were it a random happenstance, I might not think twice about it. Verdi's picked it each time though and perhaps she's trying to tell us something, an omen of sorts. I chuckle, shaking my head as I pour another round of shots.

Perhaps she's remembered that it's Wednesday instead. Another chuckle and I shrug this time before stashing away the shot group's tip. They're my last customers for the evening and now that my shift's over, the evening stretches before me with glittering possibilities. I grin at Thomas, motioning to the rowdy group. "They're all yours now."

He gives me a less-than-thankful look and I wink at him while retrieving a choice bottle of wine. I want something sweet to savor before deciding my fate for the evening. Dropping myself into an empty chair, I pop open the wine and pour myself a full glass.

[Open to Wanda]

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Location: Tavern of Hell
Current Music: Bowie

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

[Tuesday, July 20 (day 415)]
[Mid-morning, Sentinel House]

Due to Fate’s shitty timing, this has been the most regrettable case of food poisoning I’ve ever had. It’s not as if it would have been any better otherwise but did I have to fall ill so quickly after my daughter’s birth? I had Walter personally deliver a note to my love, explaining my unfortunate predicament and promising a visit as soon as possible.

I’ve forced myself to wait a full day since I was last sick before venturing over to see my love, actually my two loves, and it’s made me impatient, like a kid looking forward to Christmas. Just this morning alone, I had to stop at three cigarettes, instead of my usual one, with that first cup of coffee.

Showered and shaved to my usual best, I head out to run a few errands before visiting my beautiful girls. My tasks are quickly accomplished and gleefully, I make my way to Glass’ door. Shifting my bouquet of lavender aside, I knock gently, clutching my two bags in my other hand. Pleased as proverbial punch, I grin wide as the door opens before saying, "Hello, my sweet love."

[~~Open to Glass~~]
[Closed]

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: Sentinel House

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: Sentinel House

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

[Thursday night, July 15 (day 410)]
[Tavern of Hell]

It's been an eventful night and between the repeated rounds of free drinks and congratulatory back-slaps, this is the first time I've been able to slip away. I light a smoke and lean against the wall, grinning like a loon.

I have a daughter.

I'm certain she's perfect, an upstart to her mother's place in my heart and I laugh at the thought, as one cannot replace the other and as such, I must have a bigger heart than I imagined to easily fit both. She's, without a doubt, the most beautiful creature in existence. Any child born of Milady Glass could be nothing less and having my genes in the mix is an added bonus.

Even without seeing her yet, I'm already madly in love with her and humbled by the miracle she is. There's a new peace in my soul, paling anything I've felt before as it effortlessly lights my deepest, darkest corners. Not since the day I married Milady Glass, have I felt this much joy. Do all new fathers feel this way, or am I the only blissed-out idiot on the planet?

I don't mind if anyone believes that because I have a daughter and even if they all have daughters as well, they don't have my daughter, and that makes all the difference. As soon as I'm able, I'll go to see her and my estranged love as well. I'd rather have peace and love between us, however we can manage it. The alternative isn't possible and I'll not bother to entertain it either. Why?

Because I have a daughter.

[Closed]

Current Mood: ecstatic

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

Current Mood: ecstatic

jaeresteade.livejournal.com

Friday, July 9th
[Day 404]
Late night, around and outside Excolo

It’s not been a good week or so. Verdi’s been nothing but kind, of course, but I can see she’s hurt over what happened with Ri, too, and the fact is that all the praying in the world, to her or anyone else, won’t mend things with the three of us. Verdi’s for here and now and moving on, but I can’t help looking back on just how badly I’ve fucked up, and in how many ways.

Not often I have a Friday off and nothing to think of doing with it, with Verdi working. Mrs. Danvers did let me in her kitchen after I got up, told me to stop moping around, too, and we made some stew and muffins and a berry crumble big enough for everyone to have some. In the afternoon, I took a covered dish of the stew over to Verite, just left it with her and said I was sorry, didn’t try to start anything. It was on the tip of her tongue to say I loved her, too, but I said I wouldn’t go chasing after her. She’d have yelled at me for it, too.

It’s falling dark now, though, warm summer dusk, and my hands are itching to pack my bag and be gone down the road. I do pull my rucksack out, just to have something to be doing, put a change of clothes in it and some sundries. After that it’s easy to start out walking. Out’s out. I saw Arkady at last week’s market, and he was friendly. I know where his farm is, too, and he’ll just be putting the animals up now. I could go offer a hand, with the horses and with anything else we might get up to in the barn.

I find myself passing by the road to the Chernys’, though, and not even stopping to think of turning down it. Find also that I’d really like to be where no one knows me just now, have a fresh start, like they say. I stop walking once the moon’s risen, just to stand in the road and look up at it through the trees. I don’t know where I’m going, but it’s pulling me.

Sit down under a tree and wrap my arms around my pack, still studying the sky. It’s a nice night. I could sleep out and not even feel it. I’ve gotten too used to soft beds and people around me, I guess, because I can’t get to sleep. I get up and try another tree, then another. Spoiled is what I am. I start back down the road, think that the moonlight’s enough to find my way back to Arkady’s, and that if he finds me in the barn in the morning, at least he won’t throw me out.

There’re clouds over the moon by the time I get back that way, though, and I think I’ve missed the turn, anyhow, so I just keep walking, starting to think about how I have to open the bar tomorrow night, and how pissed at me Mr. Laclos would be if I just didn’t show without giving notice. Peter has a date out with that girl from the carnival too, and Adam said something about a high-stakes game, so it’s not like one of them could cover for me. And that’s three people in town to think badly of me who aren’t already. And there’s precious few of those left, God knows. I keep walking.

After a while I can see the lights of town and I sigh. Wonder what time it is. Near mdnight, surely. Not too late to go to the Tavern, but thinking of Arkady’s got me wanting a man, and I can’t think of any one in town who’d have me. That sets very badly with me, and I start back toward the Boy, footsore and hard and pissed right off.

[OPEN to Iago]

jaeresteade.livejournal.com

docconstantine.livejournal.com

July 3rd, Friday night
Stumbling homewards along the bank of the river

I am not sure who is helping who to walk; Iago helping me or me helping Iago. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to grab him and take him over to La Fee Verte ... but he was mopey and it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Admittedly, I don't have the best track record with good ideas. We got drunk on absinthe. Then I thought it would cheer him up ever more, so we went to see the show at The Grindhouse. Then Daiyu happened. Before I could say 'boo', we were back in her trailer, chasing the dragon. What happened next is still rather fuzzy. I am pretty sure we didn't have sex, with either her or each other, but I am pretty sure we got a private viewing of her contortion act.

But now my head just hurts, and Iago's giggling madly and stumbling over his own feet, and I may just need to sleep this off. Maybe I just want to get back inside....

Shake my head to make that crawling feeling go away. I'm being silly, it's not like I am out alone, after all. Iago is babbling something about his cousins, and I can't follow any of it. "You are an absolute mess, do you know that?" I say, half sighing, half laughing. "Granted, I am an absolute mess too." We both stumble and barely keep each other from going down face first into the river.

"We are never telling Glass about this, right?"

(open to Iago and Marbas and Kaeli)

Current Mood: anxious

docconstantine.livejournal.com

(open to Iago and Marbas and Kaeli)

Current Mood: anxious

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

[Saturday, June 19th (Day 384)]
[Early afternoon, Main Street]

Iago's having lunch at the Miskatonic Cafe, when Jarmyn stops by his table. Despite being wary of Iago's sharp tongue, Jarmyn decides to sit down anyway, along with the newly-arrived Leah. Iago gleefully takes the opportunity for what it is and needles Jarmyn mercilessly in front of their confused table-mate, and without realizing it, the rest of the cafe, as well.

Glass arrives, looking for her own meal and quickly notices the tense duo before settling at a nearby table. She's within hearing range and catches various snippets of their back-and-forth conversation, much to her amusement and consternation.

Meanwhile, Iago's practically dared Jarmyn into apologizing to Glass. The cafe patrons and Iago are riveted. Jarmyn gives it a shot but Glass isn't interested and after a tense moment, he returns to Iago's table. It only get worse from there, and after another tense exchange, Iago leaves the table and joins Glass at hers. The estranged couple agree to leave the cafe and are currently strolling along Main Street while they talk.

[continued from here]

~ ~ ~

"You set aside him beating me 'til I'd've died in our bed with my brain crushing against my skull and you'd not forgive him running afraid of you?"

I shake my head, curious as I ask, "Glass, if it bothered you so much, the beating he gave you, then why did you take him as a lover in the first place? I feel like you're angry with me for it but I didn't make that choice for you." My voice is quiet as I continue, "I won't disagree that I thought it the right thing, setting things aside so we could have the relationship I thought we both wanted." I'm regretful as I add, "If you didn't want it, I wish I'd realized it then. I wouldn't have encouraged it otherwise."

When she mentions 'running afraid', I chuckle lightly, vaguely amused as I shake my head again. "There are none that fear me, love, least of all, him. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." I scowl, recalling my conversation from the cafe with Jarmyn and continue, "As for the louse, I didn't say it was fine or right, not now and not when it happened. I've told him so as well. Today even."

I pause, swallowing my disappointment at her words before quietly asking, "Love, I'm confused. You tell me you love me but we can't live together?" I sigh, taking a long drag. "I disagree. You're not helping me by pushing me away." Curious about her perspective, I ask, "Is it helping you any?"

[Open to Glass]

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: Main Street

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: Main Street

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

[Saturday, June 19th (Day 384)]
[Noon, Miskatonic Cafe]

It's been a boring, boring day. I've been idle and that's never a good thing. It's when I feel the most mischievous and most likely to follow some long-winded multi-tiered scheme to get something I want. The issue is deciding what exactly it is I want at this moment. Other than the usual and the obvious, I'm stumped.

The waitress returns with my order, flipping her blonde hair while she laughs at my witty comment. She introduces herself and I chuckle, finding it too easy to flirt with her. It's obvious that she'd follow where ever I led but this isn't the kind of entertainment I'm looking for. Besides she looks nothing like Glass. I give the blonde, Alex she called herself, a winning smile to soften the blow of my rejection.

She takes it well, leaving me with an open offer before she sashays away. I watch her hips sway briefly before turning to my food. She's still not Glass. It always comes back to her, and I consider formulating a scheme in that vein. I may as well. My thoughts drift there often enough anyway.

Speaking of, that reminds of other people as well. I still have most of Dorian's cookware at Alessandra's house. That damn bed as well. Does this count as hiding it? And does it count as hiding if no one's looking for it? I chuckle to myself, remembering times past and hidden garlic presses. I believe I actually miss all of that, and with that in mind, I decide what I want most. I want my family back and I want to go home.

Soon enough. For now though, I just have to soldier on by being my normal charming self. Yes, isn't that always the way, and I catch the waitress' attention again to order a coffee. Black, like my sense of humor, and I grin as I watch her walk away a second time.

[~~Open~~]
[Warning: Violent Imagery]
[Closed - continued here]

Current Mood: cheerful

iago-excolo.livejournal.com

Current Mood: cheerful

glass-beddau.livejournal.com

[Later afternoon of Saturday, June 5 (day 270)]
[The corner of Main and Silk]

Three months back and it'd be growing dark, but summer on and the light's only mild and golden. The air's got a smell like garden dirt, soft and easy, and the blasted llygotwr's managing to take up the entire bed while I'm cleaning up the kitchen afore heading out.

Stop by the General Store, meaning to set hands on thread and needle; one of my shirts has a rip, and if I go by Dorian's I'd not get out without two new dresses and thirty seams that he'd go on about being for shaping. My hand's still stiff, but I can mend a tear. Open the door to the sound of the bell, and glance 'round.

[Open]

Current Mood: productive

glass-beddau.livejournal.com

Current Mood: productive

jaeresteade.livejournal.com

[Late Monday morning]
[May 3rd, Day 337]
[The Miskatonic Café]

It gets harder to leave every time I wake up in Verdi’s bed, though this morning that was partly because one ankle was still mostly tied to the bedpost. I had it untied by the time she came out of the shower, although it took quite a bit of kissing to convince her she shouldn’t tie me right back up. I managed it in the end, though, and she let me have my turn in the shower.

After I finished and was collecting my clothes, she did say she wouldn’t mind having me hang around the Tavern until I had to go to work, and someday I might, but today I made my excuses and got dress and went down the stairs. Until things are worked out all the way with Ri, I’m holding myself to having fun with Verdi once in a while, but not anything that’d look like I’ve just exchanged living with her for living with Ri.

It’s a nice day, but the sun seems just a little too bright, what with amount of drink I had last night and the sleep I didn't, so I duck into the café for some coffee to clear my head. Sitting down feels a little better than walking, though not by much. Almost regret how used Verdi’s gotten to my belt. Oh, goddess. And smile into my mug. Might take my time here, and then go see about something I’m planning for Ri before work.

~~[OPEN to Iago]~~
[CLOSED]

Current Mood: tired

jaeresteade.livejournal.com

Current Mood: tired

docconstantine.livejournal.com

Monday Night, April 26th
The yard behind the Doctor's office

The logs I've built up for the fire finally succumb with a loud crackle. the fall in on themselves, sending flames and embers up into the night sky. Get a little lost in the dancing flames, the light and color, the way makes the golden coin... Tez's gold coin, glow as it flips between my fingers. Genny came by with her Ma... more was dragged by her Ma to make sure she was truly better.

And she was. Back to the same, sweet kid she was before... and she didn't have to say anything. The look on her face, and Tez's coin in her hand, that was my confirmation. My friend.. my brother was truly gone. I asked her if he did right by her, in the end. Genny just sniffed and nodded her head. Imagine that, Tez went out making something right.

I thought I should go and raise a drink to his memory. But I never know who I might run into at the Whitechapel, and Verdi's cheerfulness is not what I need. So after I close up for the night I hang a sign on the door directing all emergencies to the Abbey. Then I collect a shit load of wood, some kindling, a few bottles of vodka, and a couple of lawn chairs I found at the market. Once the night fell, I started the fire and the drinking. Seemed the best way to remember Tez.

Take a long pull from my bottle, and stop twirling the coin long enough to chuck some more wood onto the fire. "Dammit Tez... " I sigh, and shake my head. "It's all going to hell..." Laugh a little at that. He would've laughed too, I think. "... everything's so fucked up, and you're not here to tell me to get over it, or get me drunk enough to forget it for a few hours. Miao dumped me and..." Stop and realize what I'm doing. Pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. "And I'm talking to no one. Wunderbar."

Take another swig. I am not near drunk enough to talk to the dead yet.

~~(Open to Iago)~~
(CLOSED)

docconstantine.livejournal.com

glass-beddau.livejournal.com

[Early afternoon of Friday, April 23 (day 327)]
[The General Store]

The weather's running a late spring chill, soft and damp and some time or another there's a thin seep of rain down from the sky. Jenna brought me coffee from the Miskatonic this morning, of all folk to do so.

No surprise she brought the coffee, really, as she wanted to talk. That wanting was some surprise, we've not much to say to each other, as was matter of what she wanted to speak of. Anna said that Davis said that Stolz said, this and that and the other and I'm only half listening, thinking that as it's a slow morning I may see to moving the goods 'round one of the shelves and cleaning, and then it's all down to "so what exactly did Valmont's new bartender want to make sure you didn't do?"

"I'm sorry?" I say, and for a moment I'm back out on Main last summer and she's going on about my father and my wedding. Same slow hard anger, how folk presume to pick up and pry in to what's none of theirs, turn it over and dig for the edges.

"Mrs. Whitman was down in the Whitechapel," and her nose turns up a little at that, and for a moment I'm thinking dark hair pale skin blue eyes, her and the thing when it comes as Kent and Raphael Ferdis, another's weakness spilt out for their amusement. My head is starting to ache. "She laughed at him for telling you to keep something a secret, and I thought--it didn't sound like you were keeping it quiet." She shrugs a little, and the words are spilling out of her smooth and slick as pebbles, drowning out sense with their own clatter.

"It's nothing," I say. Excolo's not the sort of town where they'd hang a man for laying with another, I know, but I'd not wish what trouble there would be on Iago, and there would be some. "Iago was at the Tavern some weeks back, and he came by. Drinking and talking, fine enough, and as we'd moved--" I gesture across the street, Apothecary and Sentinel House behind it-- "Iago made him offer of the furniture we weren't after using, something of the sort. And," and I'm looking at her, and not seeing her really at all.

Iago invited him upstairs and
and spilled out secrets it took weeks for me to hear of.
and offered to buy Wanda's services as a gift.
and set himself to pleasing another.

Shake my head a little. "Woolgathering, pardon," I say, swallowing a mouthful of the coffee. My throat's feeling raw, my stomach as well. Ought leave it at this, I know. Set it aside and swallow it up and--

"And, well, Valmont's new bartender took it as invitation to be making free. Stripped half-bare and went down on his knees to Iago, and Iago hit him for it." Can feel the edges of a smile on my face, some vicious satisfaction, too far distant to pay it much mind. Words cutting away at the shape of it until it hurts less, a clean annihilation, like tearing off bandages and sinking nails into the healing itch of a wound. "Heard tell of it and told him he wasn't welcome to let any room in Sentinel House, and he was-- he sulked, he made much of knowing the reason why if I spoke of it to another, and he left." I set the coffee cup down and push it aside. "Call us well rid of him."

Don't think she was expecting that. Not sure what she was expecting--word of some concoction or other that he'd been too 'shamed to buy from the Apothecary, may be, or his being found drunk out in the graveyard. One of a thin handful of times I'd seen her taken aback, and kept a clean face of it until she left.

And the coffee's gone, now, and the store's empty for the moment, and I'm turning the cup in circles on the counter. I feel as if I've eaten stones, cold and heavy weight in my stomach, and I don't-- I think of Kate spitting on Cary, thin foul slice of a summer, and I want to be ill.

If it's still a fine thing you have.

If it ever was. If it ever was, to turn to this.

~~[Open]~~
[Closed]