Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 15, 2009 0:27:33 GMT -5
Lots of typos, lots of guest appearances. >_> I'm pretty sure the last two chapters won't fit into these. I have commentary, but... you know if you're still reading at this point more power to you.
Family Ties
+Simple little things
"What's with the symbol that you doodle?" Ez asked abruptly as he stood behind his father taking books off the various shelves.
"What symbol?" Theofilus asked as he looked up from what he was reading.
"This one," Ez said as he turned the page in one of the books he was holding. He presented it to the older man with a curious look. It had a Diamond on its side with an X through it, and a horizon line. Faintly there were small semi-circles that looked similar a sleeping set of eyes. The image had been clearly drawn throughout some of the books.
"Oh, that," Theofilus said with a note of disappointment. "You know about masonry marks, family crests and all that I suppose?"
Ez nodded.
"That's the Giovanni's family symbol. It was passed down from generation to generation. Though I believe my Great Grandfather was the one who stopped using it. I only found out about it from rooting around in my Grandfather's attic as a child." He was content on going back to reading, but Ez prevented him from doing so.
"That's not like you, keeping interesting information from us," Ez said with a shake of his finger, nearly dropping the books in his arms.
"I didn't think something like that mattered, I suppose."
"Heritage doesn't matter?"
"Not to me."
"But Family Does."
"Don't start."
Ez stuck his tongue out. "Fine, I won't. I'm going to share this little tidbit though."
"Feel free too." Theofilus said before going back to his book.
His son rolled his eyes. The sparrow in the pink corset was amazed by the sheer volume his father could read. Frankly, as interested in learning and languages he was, personally Ez couldn't sit still long enough to learn it all properly. That's why he stuck with planning parties, he could focus on that sort of thing. Maybe one day he would pick up another hobby that would focus more on magic.
Or maybe one day he would join the courts. Of course for that to happen his father couldn't be the Queen.
Theofilus turned his head to look at his son properly. "You seem to be lamenting over something."
"Ack! Sorry Dad!" Ez said waving his freehand. "I'll get going, thanks for the books!"
"Bring them back this time."
"I will! I promise!"
***
"So..." Zane said as he stared down at the numbers in the book. "I still don't see the problem as to why things aren't adding up."
Theofilus looked over his son's shoulder, eyes wandering down the column. "You're adding everything right, that's the problem."
Zane refrained from cursing in front of his father. "I'll figure out who skimped out on who. Thanks Dad."
"Don't thank me, I should be thanking you. After all, you're the one who is helping at the firm while keeping another job."
Zane shrugged. "You are paying me."
"True," Theofilus said with a smile. He got ready to walk out in the cold weather, but Zane stopped him with a touch on the shoulder. The older man turned to look at his son with a questioning gaze.
"Dad, there's something I need to tell you."
"What?"
"I uh... I..." Zane looked down at his father's rank very briefly before looking back at his face. The Queen of Diamonds had a lot to worry about, should he give him one more thing to add to the pile? He took a deep breath, "I'm sorry I never told you that I went to see Grandfather and Grandmother."
"It's perfectly all right," Theofilus said with a smile. He clutched the watch in his pocket as Zane looked at him with a questioning gaze. "Yes, its really that simple, now go do your work so I can pay you for real."
Zane smile. It was a wonderful sight. "All right Dad, see you later. I might visit for dinner tonight."
***
Theofilus sipped on the tea that Eilwyn had given him. It was hard for his believe that one of his youngest son's had a family. And yet he was there, not being the "cry baby" he used to be.
Well no, that was a lie, he was just better at hiding it sometimes. Theofilus smiled as he watched his son try to calm down one of the babies.
"Daaaad," he whimpered as he picked up the mouse, eagle hybrid. The child had rather strange mutations. Among them were his lack of eyes, a crown of thorns and his strange coloration. The worst part, however, was the fact when the child got emotional. They weren't regular tears.
Eilwyn still couldn't stand the sight of blood. He handed the baby to his father who managed to hush the child rather quickly. None of his children were very cuddle...able. Glass, ivy, and thorns covered them. It was strange and he knew full well that other parents didn't have these problems.
"Dad, I don't know if I can do this."
"Do what?"
"You know... be a Dad."
Theofilus snorted as he tickled the child in his arms. "You'll do a fantastic job. And if you ever have any doubts, you have Elyse, me, Calia, Kelasia and the rest of the family."
Eilwyn sighed. It wasn't really that simple, was it? He looked up in surprise when his feathers were ruffled on his head. "Wha?"
"You've made it through being blind, you've helped Elyse through a horrible pregnancy, you managed to get this far and now you have doubts? Eilwyn, you may not have confidence, but all of us have confidence in you." Theofilus smiled.
Eilwyn blushed.
And then Khloris started crying.
"Eurwen! Stop trying to eat your sister's ear!" Eilwyn eclaimed as he tried to take the two siblings apart.
***
He loved his daughters more than life itself. He was not willing to accept the fact that there was someone out there good enough for them. Iria may have been Ceren's mate, but that didn't mean anything to Theofilus. She still wasn't good enough for his daughter. It didn't matter who they were, they would never live up to his exceptions.
And then Ezekiel dropped that Mori might have someone.
The very thought was enough to make him murderous. His little girl had someone? And he knew full well that Asha was going to look for someone in the future.
He was losing his babies.
"Mori," Theofilus said as he slipped into his flower shop.
She looked up at him, bright eyed with a smile on her beak. "Dad! What are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to visit. We haven't talked in a while." Theofilus said as he moved towards the counter. There weren't that many people in the shop at the moment. He knew that she was quite sucessful at what she did, even learning magic to compliment her job.
"Well, it looks like something is on your mind. Anything spefic you want to talk about?"
A lot of things. But he was planning to keep his mouth shut.
"I suppose I could ask you how life is treating you, but that probably wouldn't be as fun as asking about flower arrangements." Theofilus said with a smile. "You're keeping healthy, I hope?"
"Dad..." Mori sighed before walking around the counter to hug him.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie, I'm just being a silly old man."
***
"Don't you dare give her sugar!"
"Foiled," Theofilus muttered as he slipped the candy back into his coat pocket.
Kaiesha pouted quietly as she looked over to Ceren.
"It's bedtime anyway," Ceren said sternly as she looked at the pair, arms crossed in typical fashion. She was a disciplinarian through and through when it came to bedtimes and care taking. Theofilus had to choke back a chuckle as he tried to return her serious expression.
"But I'm not tired! And Grandpa doesn't have time to play a lot!"
"She's right you know."
"No rebelling against me, Grandpa," Ceren said quietly as she picked up the squirming child. "If Kaiesha doesn't sleep now she'll be pestering me at the odd hours of the night. And where will you be? In your room sleeping."
"So harsh, can't even let an old man spoil one of grandchildren."
"Oh, don't give me that puppy dog look."
"Oh, but I get some wonderful reactions out of you."
Kaiesha giggled.
Ceren rolled her eyes. "Just this once. Just don't give her any of that sugar packed stuff you did the last time."
"I promise I won't."
"Yaaaaay! Grandpa's my favorite!"
***
"Neil?" Theofilus asked as he knocked on the door.
The young boy, man really, opened the door with a smile on his face. His tail was wagging frantically behind him. "Your Majesty!"
He said it out of habbit, Theofilus was pretty sure. Sometimes addressing people in the palace changed. He brushed it off as he looked at the man in front of him. "Has everything been going well for you?"
"Yes of course! Everything's fantastic! Thank you so very much for all that you've done for me!"
Happiness was a wonderful sight. It made Theofilus forget. It made him forget the horrible things he had seen in the future.
"Oh, do you want me to play something for you?" Neil asked, his tail wagging a mile a minute as he opened the door completely.
Theofilus nodded, "That would be fantastic."
***
"Pick up strays again?"
Theofilus looked up at his grandfather. A small dog was sitting in a box in front of the young boy. "I can't just leave him here."
"It's just a dirty stray, leave it alone. I don't want you to get flees or anything." The older man reached out to grab at the young boy's wing.
"But he'll die!" Theofilus exclaimed as tears streaked down his face.
The old man stopped. He sighed and slowly shook his head. "You are your father's child, I swear it." He said as he squated next to the boy. The little dog yipped happily, licking at the man's talons. "Listen, Theofilus. You can't save stray you see. One day you're going to realize that."
"Why can't I?"
"Just because. Even if you were The Queen of Diamonds, you couldn't save everyone no matter how hard you tried."
"Grandfather... One day I'll prove you wrong."
Connections
+Unconvergence
They parted ways after tea. At least that's how it should have been. Conway found himself staring at the Queen of Diamonds. He didn't know what to say or do. This was the man who had helped him so many years ago. He could never forget the weird bird that had talked down to a noble not because of his suit, but because of the circumstances.
"Conway, if you don't have a place to stay, you can come with me."
The Queen of Diamonds was offering him a place to stay.
"I... I'm not sure. Do you really want me to stay with you. I'm just a weird boy that you met so many years ago. A stranger. A dirty and broken stray." Conway's voice was nothing but a whisper.
"Stranger or not, you can stay with me for the night, can't you? At the very least I can pay for a hotel if you're uncomfortable." It was only a temporary solution of Conway was stealing people's wallets off the street. Theofilus, however, couldn't let him sleep out on the street in this cold. He'd probably done it many times before but...
"I couldn't just take your money like that."
"What's the point of having money if I can't help people?" Theofilus said crossing his arms. "Now, would you like to stay at my place or a hotel?"
Conway blinked. Maybe it would be Okay if he left in the early morning hours? As nice as the man was, it was dangerous.Conway didn't want to end up someone's puppet. "A hotel I guess."
Theofilus nodded. "There's a nice place no too far away."
Conway simply nodded.
***
"That boy was strange," Peaches said as she sat on the bed. Xiven was in the bathroom, brushing her fur back into order. Peaches sighed as she flopped backwards on the bed. Funny how she ended up in the same hotel room as her daughter.
"I guess so."
"Didn't you notice that he didn't have a shadow?"
Xiven fumbled with the brush for a moment before sticking her head out the bathroom door. "What?"
"He didn't have a shadow. He also didn't make sound when he moved—with the exception of that charm thingy he wore."
Xiven blinked. She had thought her mother was focusing on the conversation with The Queen of Diamonds. Honestly, she should not have been as surprised as she was. It made perfect sense that her mother would pick up on such simple things. "I noticed the sound "problem." The bracelet he wore seemed to be made of... vertebrae. At least, from the glance I got of it."
"Hisstors always have interesting things about them. I wonder if it was part of his spine or someone elses." Peaches mused aloud as she rolled off of the bed. "But speaking of odd things, why are you in Capital City?"
Xiven's ears drooped. She really hoped her mother wouldn't have asked that. "No reason."
"You're quite horrible at lying, you know that?"
"I heard a rumor. About you. I thought I would investigate it."
Peaches narrowed her eyes. A rumor about her? What could this be about? A large variety of things that she could worry over. Of course, there was absolutely no proof that any of them were real. For the most part. "You could just ask me about it."
"No. No I really can't," Xiven said flatly before returning to the bathroom to brush out her fur.
Xiven found herself staring at the ceiling. She had heard rumors about her mother on a regular basis. They were small and insignificant things. But ever since she had found out the truth about Fluffy she couldn't help but wonder what else her mother had been keeping from her.
And now she had disappeared yet again. It was a cycle with her, but this time she had left a note. She had traveled back to Torquehelm for an unspecified reason. It wasn't cause for alarm, for the most part, but it was odd. Her mother went to her home region once a year, and only then. Xiven never knew why, and was far too afraid to pry in her mother's business. Going there more than once a year, however, was extremely odd.
And then she had heard a rumor from one of the staff members. They hadn't known she was listening around the corner, but she heard them loud and clear. One of them had said, quite plainly, that her mother had been pregnant shortly after Xiven was born.
It was an odd rumor. She figured if that was the case her mother would have used the pregnancy to let Eldy wander around safely as another one of her children. It made sense for her mother.
But then again, why would anyone say it. People called Peaches crazy on a regular basis. In whispers, out loud, in just about every form and way—but everyone knew that she was a little "unhinged" compared to a regular Card. Why would they need to start a rumor concerning illegitimate children?
Everyone knew full well that very few people in the Court of Hearts had planned children. Many of them were a production of scandals and other shocking things.
So why would her mother hide a pregnancy? It didn't make sense, even for someone who was crazy.
"Fluffy," Xiven said quietly as she walked over to sit by the cat bed. "Maybe I'm over thinking this?"
"Mer?" The Ace said looking up from washing her paws.
"You think Mommy Peaches had some other children besides me and Eldy?" Xiven asked.
The Ace tilted her head in question.
"Silly Question I suppose. Mom didn't want any children in the first place, even if she got pregnant again she probably had an abortion."
But her mother wasn't one for letting Corvies touch her with surgical implements. If she had gotten pregnant again she probably had the children. Why wouldn't they be at the palace though?
"Mistress all right?" Fluffy asked as she licked Xiven's hand.
The woman's ears flicked back as she reached up to scratch the cat lightly under the chin. "I'm fine. Just being silly." She sighed.
Was she?
***
There was absolutely no proof. That was the only thing that really saved her mother from being found out. Even if she had illegitimate children with someone that she wasn't supposed to have children with, she had covered up the tracts completely. It was like trying to find out that Fluffy was related to Xiven. It could only be through idle speculation, there was no physical proof. Only a Corvie who specialized in DNA could prove the case without an admission from the guilty party.
This was different. There was no proof of existence. Nothing to test.
So her mother wasn't a horrible person. What did that make Xiven for doubting her though?
Xiven sighed.
***
"Empty." Peaches repeated quietly. The police were sitting across from her in the small cramped house that the Undertaker lived in. She had revealed her title and rank to the officers, and was now speaking with them about a possible investigation.
It wasn't going as well as she had planned. They didn't seem to understand the concept of grave robbers being horrible people who needed to be hunted down and caught. "I'm afraid we might not be able to do anything," said the one officer.
The Corvistowneian had been sitting next to Peaches, drinking tea like a chimney. They had dug up the grave he had come to visit, and had found it equally empty. Both of them were affected by the police. "Are you serious?" He growled, "These people stole dead bodies! That's a crime you retards!"
Peaches just continued to stare at the three men across from her. Her eyes narrowed into a glare.
"We don't have any clues as to who dug up the bodies. How do you expect us to do anything when there isn't a single clue?" said the oldest of the three men. He was a rather strange horse with bindings that laced the back of his neck.
Peaches growled. "Perhaps you should ask the Undertaker?"
The three men were of an average rank. Peaches did have a bit of sway because of her court title. They, however, were fulled with more bullshit than most of the court members. "We asked him, Ma'am, and he said he hadn't seen anything."
"Any idiot would know that he's lying. Ask him. Don't politely go up to him and ask him out for tea. I mean ask him what he has seen." Her words were slowly coming out as hisses because of her exasperation. If she had claws in her human form, she surly would have destroyed the table that she was clutching.
"What are you implying?"
That was it. Peaches had enough. She stood up and stormed towards the door in fluid motion. Kicking the door open she grabbed the man who was standing outside by his bindings. Slamming him against the wall of the house she hissed up at him.
"Who dug up the bodies?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
He was a Spade. She noted the mark on his chest and smirked. She activated her pain ability.
The expression on his face was one of confusion at first. It continued to change as he felt his arms slowly moving into an awkward position. "What? I-I don't know who took the bodies."
Peaches didn't need to say anything. She continued the focus on the spell. The Corvie was standing in the doorway, the police were behind him staring blankly.
"You might as well tell her the truth," The Corvie said with a smile as he watched the man grimace.
The pressure was building. The discomfort that she had lived with for her entire life was showing on the man's uncomfortable expression. Pain. Suffering. He wore bindings but he didn't know the half of it. Being beaten for taking her jacket off, getting her jacket tightened as punishment. As much as she hated it, she loved it.
And this man could only hate the pain.
"I swear, I don't know!"
"Lies," she hissed, not letting go of her concentration.
"Your arms are going to kill you pretty soon, might want to think of answering her quickly." The Corive said as he kicked one of the police back. He may have been a low ranking card, but he had enough spunk to startle them.
"I-I don't know their names! They just come to me and offer me money to keep me quiet!"
She kept the spell activated.
"I swear to the Highland Hills I don't know anymore!"
She didn't let go of the spell until he started choking. He fell the the ground sputtering when she released him. She looked to the police, all of which had startled and horrified expressions on their faces. "I think you should ask him some more. He might appreciate a soft touch after that."
The said nothing as they filed past the man to arrest him.
"Wait," Peaches said. "Do you happen to know if there's anyone else who can take care of the graveyard?"
They all looked at her in confusion.
"Don't give the lady those looks. She's obviously asking because she's concerned about the grave robbers. What would happen if they came back tonight, for example? You should have someone here and a new Undertaker to protect the graveyard."
The police weren't fond of the Corvistowneian sprouting directions and "suggestions" to them. However when Peaches nodded they agreed. "There's a woman in town willing to do the job, I'm sure. We'll also get an office out here soon."
"Good," Peaches said quietly as she wandered back into the small cramped house.
She sat down, staring at the tea. This really was happening. Her brother's remains had been stolen... and there was nothing she could do about it. What could someone want to do with a body that was decomposing like that anyway? She shudder to think as she put her head on the table, wrapping her arms around herself.
She felt a soft hand pet her on the top of her head. It was the wolf dear with the silly mane. "Everything's going to be fine."
"You're good at lying," she muttered through her sleeves.
It was a lie he had created for himself. That he was alone in the world. He had met people though. Many of them he wanted to see again, but he had always been afraid. What if they found out, what if they learned his secret? Everything would fall apart in front of him like it did in his childhood.
He sighed as she sat in a tree. Tulgey Woods was a strange place to end up, but he found himself there. He had heard plenty of rumors about the inhabitants hatred of outsiders—and rumors that all the inhabitants were mad. To avoid any of it, he changed his appearance to match the region. He really wasn't fond of all the white, but he wasn't about to complain when it prevented him from dying or having any sort of hassle.
Well, he still had the hassle of where he was going to sleep for the night. He didn't want to deal with people or a hotel in the gloomy little town in Torquehelm.
This really sucked. No place to go, no one to stay with. All alone. He would ever be able to have a normal life no matter how hard he tired, so why was he sitting here and moping over it. That was stupid. He should just go out there and find someone.
He sighed shifting in the tree to get more comfortable. Would he be safe here if he spent the night?
He wondered what that girl Thyme was doing. She was a wonderful person, he just hoped that she didn't end up like her horrible aunt.
Why in the name of all the suits did that come up? What had made him think about her all of a sudden.
Conway made a frustrated noise, fiddling with the bracelet that was around his wrist. Even if he changed his appearance to match that of a Tulgey, he normally didn't removed the bone bracelet. The spine disconnected, yes, but the bracelet would definitely remain. It gave his hands something to do.
He couldn't just sit here and do nothing. The man shifted so he could jump out of the tree.
He stopped in mid-motion, however, when he found that someone was watching him. His eyes widened as he looked down at the figure. It was human, black hair, and...
It was George.
He let out a small sigh of relief. However, it would probably be difficult to explain to him why he looked the way he did.
Staying up in the tree seemed like a better idea.
He shifted again so he could sit properly out of the Torque's view. As much as he appreciated George, at the moment he didn't feel like coming up with an elaborate explanation. He really hoped that he hadn't completely seen him. That would have been terribly awkward to explain.
But from what Conway was hearing he was still standing down there, probably staring up at the tree confused as to what he was seeing. Not everyone would climb up a tree in this part of the wood, he was sure.
Oh fine. FINE. He would deal with people. Stupid fate. Why couldn't it just leave him alone for once.
He shifted back to his normal coloration before making his way down the tree. Even when one of the limbs snapped while he was getting down, he had somehow managed to land on his feet without breaking anything.
"Hi," Conway said with a small wave as he took a twig out of his pants.
***
Who didn't have nightmares? Things that were horrible happened to him over the years, but very few of them ended up nightmares.
Tonight, one of the rare nights he got proper sleep, he had woke up crying and choking.
It was a time he never wanted to recall. It was as bad as his mother's suicide and his father's murder, but in a drastically different way. He shook his head, trying to ignore all the horrible thoughts.
What was today? What was yesterday?
He made a frustrated growl as he tried to calm himself down.
It was all his fault. His uncle had said it clearly to his face. It was his fault for being born a monster then? He didn't ask to be someone's pet for two years, he didn't ask to be someone's play thing. It wasn't his fault he was different. He was born that way.
But those words wouldn't go away. They had rang true in his for years on end.
It wasn't his fault. He knew it wasn't his fault. A distressed noise escaped his mouth again. This was stupid. He was falling apart over a dream.
His heart shouldn't be pounding because of what an old man had said. His Uncle had been wrong. Conway deserved to live. It wasn't his fault his mother had died or his father was a child molester. It wasn't June's fault either. They were only children, they didn't have control over the people who gave birth to them.
They shouldn't have had.
But his mother had done everything for him.
Stupid. Stupid. Get over yourself. It isn't all your fault.
The knock on the door caused him to snap his head around, eyes wide.
Right. It was morning. No need to panic.
***
In a tree again. There he sat staring at the other tree tops, debating what to do with himself.
Why did he like high places so much anyway? He sighed as he pulled out a small ball of yarn from his pocket, along with a set of needles. He might as well do something else with his hands while he was up here.
He still had no plan on what to do. He didn't want to be a hired assassin anymore. He couldn't have a normal job because of his problem with talking around people. He couldn't do what he loved for a job because people would know him that way. He was at a complete and utter loss. He was just another stray in the world with no place to go.
And yet there were so many people he wanted to see. Maybe he should go back to Hisstor. Javaid would be there no matter what. June would be stuck where she was for a long while. George was always in the Wood, as far as Conway was concerned. That girl named Thyme was up in the air. He paused his his knitting to contemplate why she kept coming up in his head.
She was an interesting sort of Highlander. Not the typical Highlander who swaggered out of the Highlands to make a point. Elitism just didn't seem to be in her. She was strange. Not as strange at that crazy sister of hers who destroyed just about everything she touched.
Wait. Her sister was a Tulgey wasn't she?
He raised an eyebrow as he looked into the Wood.
"I could try it. It just depends on how badly I want to die today."
Keeping a record of the past was customary for things that needed remembering. Scrapbooks, albums, journals, were all things used to keep the traditions alive on paper. Words of mouth kept things alive too. Legends. Everyone wanted to leave their mark on the realms. Even the people who claimed to disappear were afraid to die. They were afraid of being forgotten.
Memories were skewed. Even the written word was proof of that. No matter what a moment in time could never be relived, no matter how strange or horrifying.
It was all just a lie. Time didn't matter. Life didn't matter. None of it mattered in The End.
But there never was an end. It was forever a paradox of continuing time, but when you were dead how would you know if time continued?
And yet Peaches was sitting and having tea with a Joker and a Rabbit.
It was a moment in history all her own. A secret that she would keep with her until her dying day. Was it a sin to keep it all to herself. Her private and skewed little world that she held so dear?
She took a sip of the tea. It was a new blend that Hatter had come up with. He looked at her with hopeful and excepting eyes, awaiting her reaction. Marchie had already given his approval. Even he was waiting for her response. She was the center of attention in a room of impossibilities and legends.
Being the center of attention was still a nightmare. "It's fantastic! I do enjoy how you used a hint of strawberry to compliment the flavor of the other fruits."
He did his typical Hatter response.
The Perfect Stranger who Shouldn't Exist.
Was this another skewed memory?
***
She didn't like days when the palace became a drudgery. She had joined the courts to have fun and do a bit of paperwork on the side. Today she was buried in a mountain of the paperwork. Peaches growled to herself as she buried her head in her arms. It wouldn't have been so big if she hadn't run off to find out about her brother's grave.
Which was still an unsolved mystery.
She wanted to talk to someone about it. Her Perfect Stranger, but when she had opened her mouth to do so she had found the words were stuck. She couldn't bring herself to speak such horrible words in front of him. She had spoken to him in more confidence than anyone, and yet she couldn't tell him about this.
He was one of the few people who knew how her brother had died.
He didn't know the whole truth, but she didn't want him to know the whole truth. What if he did something stupid? She didn't want him to get hurt.
But didn't that concern make him more than a Perfect Stranger?
She gave a frustrated growl into her arms.
There was knock on the door.
"Go away!" she called out. It was childish but at the moment she didn't want to deal with people.
"Your Excellency, I have some more paperwork for you," said the servant without opening the door.
"Go away!" Peaches repeated.
He opened the door anyway. She shifted so she could watch him with narrowed eyes, flopping the paperwork on the already massive pile. She continued to glare at him when he hovered there.
"Are you all right, Your Excellency?"
"Go. Away." Peaches said flatly, still muffled by her arms.
The man sighed, obviously he thought her childish actions were ridiculous. What did she care what he thought of her? She was the one with a title—and what was he? He was just some servant who through paperwork at her time and time again. He was a jerk for judging her.
He closed the door behind him, leaving the Jack to glared at the door and paperwork that she had been given.
This was utterly annoying.
Sighing she stood up to stare at the massive pile. It was almost as tall as she was when it was sitting on the desk. Why wasn't there someone else to do this paperwork. Sure she got some of the weird stuff that needed approving, but this was just utterly retarded. Surely one of the other Jacks could do it, she wasn't that bloody important.
Oh screw it. She'd slack off some more before doing some real work. If she wanted to she could do everything in lightening speed and have it done before the next morning's light.
She walked out of her office and down the hallway, looking for someone or something to pester.
A Corvie light bulb would have appeared over her head as she stopped in mid-motion in front of Bernard's door.
Her usual smirk appeared on her face as she slowly edge towards the door. She placed her head on it to make sure he was alone.
She knocked briefly, she didn't await a response as she opened the door and popped her head in.
"Hiiiii! What's the old man up to today?" she said cheerfully awaiting his usual 'I have no idea what to think of your crazy' face.
Family Ties
+Simple little things
"What's with the symbol that you doodle?" Ez asked abruptly as he stood behind his father taking books off the various shelves.
"What symbol?" Theofilus asked as he looked up from what he was reading.
"This one," Ez said as he turned the page in one of the books he was holding. He presented it to the older man with a curious look. It had a Diamond on its side with an X through it, and a horizon line. Faintly there were small semi-circles that looked similar a sleeping set of eyes. The image had been clearly drawn throughout some of the books.
"Oh, that," Theofilus said with a note of disappointment. "You know about masonry marks, family crests and all that I suppose?"
Ez nodded.
"That's the Giovanni's family symbol. It was passed down from generation to generation. Though I believe my Great Grandfather was the one who stopped using it. I only found out about it from rooting around in my Grandfather's attic as a child." He was content on going back to reading, but Ez prevented him from doing so.
"That's not like you, keeping interesting information from us," Ez said with a shake of his finger, nearly dropping the books in his arms.
"I didn't think something like that mattered, I suppose."
"Heritage doesn't matter?"
"Not to me."
"But Family Does."
"Don't start."
Ez stuck his tongue out. "Fine, I won't. I'm going to share this little tidbit though."
"Feel free too." Theofilus said before going back to his book.
His son rolled his eyes. The sparrow in the pink corset was amazed by the sheer volume his father could read. Frankly, as interested in learning and languages he was, personally Ez couldn't sit still long enough to learn it all properly. That's why he stuck with planning parties, he could focus on that sort of thing. Maybe one day he would pick up another hobby that would focus more on magic.
Or maybe one day he would join the courts. Of course for that to happen his father couldn't be the Queen.
Theofilus turned his head to look at his son properly. "You seem to be lamenting over something."
"Ack! Sorry Dad!" Ez said waving his freehand. "I'll get going, thanks for the books!"
"Bring them back this time."
"I will! I promise!"
***
"So..." Zane said as he stared down at the numbers in the book. "I still don't see the problem as to why things aren't adding up."
Theofilus looked over his son's shoulder, eyes wandering down the column. "You're adding everything right, that's the problem."
Zane refrained from cursing in front of his father. "I'll figure out who skimped out on who. Thanks Dad."
"Don't thank me, I should be thanking you. After all, you're the one who is helping at the firm while keeping another job."
Zane shrugged. "You are paying me."
"True," Theofilus said with a smile. He got ready to walk out in the cold weather, but Zane stopped him with a touch on the shoulder. The older man turned to look at his son with a questioning gaze.
"Dad, there's something I need to tell you."
"What?"
"I uh... I..." Zane looked down at his father's rank very briefly before looking back at his face. The Queen of Diamonds had a lot to worry about, should he give him one more thing to add to the pile? He took a deep breath, "I'm sorry I never told you that I went to see Grandfather and Grandmother."
"It's perfectly all right," Theofilus said with a smile. He clutched the watch in his pocket as Zane looked at him with a questioning gaze. "Yes, its really that simple, now go do your work so I can pay you for real."
Zane smile. It was a wonderful sight. "All right Dad, see you later. I might visit for dinner tonight."
***
Theofilus sipped on the tea that Eilwyn had given him. It was hard for his believe that one of his youngest son's had a family. And yet he was there, not being the "cry baby" he used to be.
Well no, that was a lie, he was just better at hiding it sometimes. Theofilus smiled as he watched his son try to calm down one of the babies.
"Daaaad," he whimpered as he picked up the mouse, eagle hybrid. The child had rather strange mutations. Among them were his lack of eyes, a crown of thorns and his strange coloration. The worst part, however, was the fact when the child got emotional. They weren't regular tears.
Eilwyn still couldn't stand the sight of blood. He handed the baby to his father who managed to hush the child rather quickly. None of his children were very cuddle...able. Glass, ivy, and thorns covered them. It was strange and he knew full well that other parents didn't have these problems.
"Dad, I don't know if I can do this."
"Do what?"
"You know... be a Dad."
Theofilus snorted as he tickled the child in his arms. "You'll do a fantastic job. And if you ever have any doubts, you have Elyse, me, Calia, Kelasia and the rest of the family."
Eilwyn sighed. It wasn't really that simple, was it? He looked up in surprise when his feathers were ruffled on his head. "Wha?"
"You've made it through being blind, you've helped Elyse through a horrible pregnancy, you managed to get this far and now you have doubts? Eilwyn, you may not have confidence, but all of us have confidence in you." Theofilus smiled.
Eilwyn blushed.
And then Khloris started crying.
"Eurwen! Stop trying to eat your sister's ear!" Eilwyn eclaimed as he tried to take the two siblings apart.
***
He loved his daughters more than life itself. He was not willing to accept the fact that there was someone out there good enough for them. Iria may have been Ceren's mate, but that didn't mean anything to Theofilus. She still wasn't good enough for his daughter. It didn't matter who they were, they would never live up to his exceptions.
And then Ezekiel dropped that Mori might have someone.
The very thought was enough to make him murderous. His little girl had someone? And he knew full well that Asha was going to look for someone in the future.
He was losing his babies.
"Mori," Theofilus said as he slipped into his flower shop.
She looked up at him, bright eyed with a smile on her beak. "Dad! What are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to visit. We haven't talked in a while." Theofilus said as he moved towards the counter. There weren't that many people in the shop at the moment. He knew that she was quite sucessful at what she did, even learning magic to compliment her job.
"Well, it looks like something is on your mind. Anything spefic you want to talk about?"
A lot of things. But he was planning to keep his mouth shut.
"I suppose I could ask you how life is treating you, but that probably wouldn't be as fun as asking about flower arrangements." Theofilus said with a smile. "You're keeping healthy, I hope?"
"Dad..." Mori sighed before walking around the counter to hug him.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie, I'm just being a silly old man."
***
"Don't you dare give her sugar!"
"Foiled," Theofilus muttered as he slipped the candy back into his coat pocket.
Kaiesha pouted quietly as she looked over to Ceren.
"It's bedtime anyway," Ceren said sternly as she looked at the pair, arms crossed in typical fashion. She was a disciplinarian through and through when it came to bedtimes and care taking. Theofilus had to choke back a chuckle as he tried to return her serious expression.
"But I'm not tired! And Grandpa doesn't have time to play a lot!"
"She's right you know."
"No rebelling against me, Grandpa," Ceren said quietly as she picked up the squirming child. "If Kaiesha doesn't sleep now she'll be pestering me at the odd hours of the night. And where will you be? In your room sleeping."
"So harsh, can't even let an old man spoil one of grandchildren."
"Oh, don't give me that puppy dog look."
"Oh, but I get some wonderful reactions out of you."
Kaiesha giggled.
Ceren rolled her eyes. "Just this once. Just don't give her any of that sugar packed stuff you did the last time."
"I promise I won't."
"Yaaaaay! Grandpa's my favorite!"
***
"Neil?" Theofilus asked as he knocked on the door.
The young boy, man really, opened the door with a smile on his face. His tail was wagging frantically behind him. "Your Majesty!"
He said it out of habbit, Theofilus was pretty sure. Sometimes addressing people in the palace changed. He brushed it off as he looked at the man in front of him. "Has everything been going well for you?"
"Yes of course! Everything's fantastic! Thank you so very much for all that you've done for me!"
Happiness was a wonderful sight. It made Theofilus forget. It made him forget the horrible things he had seen in the future.
"Oh, do you want me to play something for you?" Neil asked, his tail wagging a mile a minute as he opened the door completely.
Theofilus nodded, "That would be fantastic."
***
"Pick up strays again?"
Theofilus looked up at his grandfather. A small dog was sitting in a box in front of the young boy. "I can't just leave him here."
"It's just a dirty stray, leave it alone. I don't want you to get flees or anything." The older man reached out to grab at the young boy's wing.
"But he'll die!" Theofilus exclaimed as tears streaked down his face.
The old man stopped. He sighed and slowly shook his head. "You are your father's child, I swear it." He said as he squated next to the boy. The little dog yipped happily, licking at the man's talons. "Listen, Theofilus. You can't save stray you see. One day you're going to realize that."
"Why can't I?"
"Just because. Even if you were The Queen of Diamonds, you couldn't save everyone no matter how hard you tried."
"Grandfather... One day I'll prove you wrong."
Connections
+Unconvergence
They parted ways after tea. At least that's how it should have been. Conway found himself staring at the Queen of Diamonds. He didn't know what to say or do. This was the man who had helped him so many years ago. He could never forget the weird bird that had talked down to a noble not because of his suit, but because of the circumstances.
"Conway, if you don't have a place to stay, you can come with me."
The Queen of Diamonds was offering him a place to stay.
"I... I'm not sure. Do you really want me to stay with you. I'm just a weird boy that you met so many years ago. A stranger. A dirty and broken stray." Conway's voice was nothing but a whisper.
"Stranger or not, you can stay with me for the night, can't you? At the very least I can pay for a hotel if you're uncomfortable." It was only a temporary solution of Conway was stealing people's wallets off the street. Theofilus, however, couldn't let him sleep out on the street in this cold. He'd probably done it many times before but...
"I couldn't just take your money like that."
"What's the point of having money if I can't help people?" Theofilus said crossing his arms. "Now, would you like to stay at my place or a hotel?"
Conway blinked. Maybe it would be Okay if he left in the early morning hours? As nice as the man was, it was dangerous.Conway didn't want to end up someone's puppet. "A hotel I guess."
Theofilus nodded. "There's a nice place no too far away."
Conway simply nodded.
***
"That boy was strange," Peaches said as she sat on the bed. Xiven was in the bathroom, brushing her fur back into order. Peaches sighed as she flopped backwards on the bed. Funny how she ended up in the same hotel room as her daughter.
"I guess so."
"Didn't you notice that he didn't have a shadow?"
Xiven fumbled with the brush for a moment before sticking her head out the bathroom door. "What?"
"He didn't have a shadow. He also didn't make sound when he moved—with the exception of that charm thingy he wore."
Xiven blinked. She had thought her mother was focusing on the conversation with The Queen of Diamonds. Honestly, she should not have been as surprised as she was. It made perfect sense that her mother would pick up on such simple things. "I noticed the sound "problem." The bracelet he wore seemed to be made of... vertebrae. At least, from the glance I got of it."
"Hisstors always have interesting things about them. I wonder if it was part of his spine or someone elses." Peaches mused aloud as she rolled off of the bed. "But speaking of odd things, why are you in Capital City?"
Xiven's ears drooped. She really hoped her mother wouldn't have asked that. "No reason."
"You're quite horrible at lying, you know that?"
"I heard a rumor. About you. I thought I would investigate it."
Peaches narrowed her eyes. A rumor about her? What could this be about? A large variety of things that she could worry over. Of course, there was absolutely no proof that any of them were real. For the most part. "You could just ask me about it."
"No. No I really can't," Xiven said flatly before returning to the bathroom to brush out her fur.
Dreadful Truths and Lies
+She isn't a horrible person
+She isn't a horrible person
Xiven found herself staring at the ceiling. She had heard rumors about her mother on a regular basis. They were small and insignificant things. But ever since she had found out the truth about Fluffy she couldn't help but wonder what else her mother had been keeping from her.
And now she had disappeared yet again. It was a cycle with her, but this time she had left a note. She had traveled back to Torquehelm for an unspecified reason. It wasn't cause for alarm, for the most part, but it was odd. Her mother went to her home region once a year, and only then. Xiven never knew why, and was far too afraid to pry in her mother's business. Going there more than once a year, however, was extremely odd.
And then she had heard a rumor from one of the staff members. They hadn't known she was listening around the corner, but she heard them loud and clear. One of them had said, quite plainly, that her mother had been pregnant shortly after Xiven was born.
It was an odd rumor. She figured if that was the case her mother would have used the pregnancy to let Eldy wander around safely as another one of her children. It made sense for her mother.
But then again, why would anyone say it. People called Peaches crazy on a regular basis. In whispers, out loud, in just about every form and way—but everyone knew that she was a little "unhinged" compared to a regular Card. Why would they need to start a rumor concerning illegitimate children?
Everyone knew full well that very few people in the Court of Hearts had planned children. Many of them were a production of scandals and other shocking things.
So why would her mother hide a pregnancy? It didn't make sense, even for someone who was crazy.
"Fluffy," Xiven said quietly as she walked over to sit by the cat bed. "Maybe I'm over thinking this?"
"Mer?" The Ace said looking up from washing her paws.
"You think Mommy Peaches had some other children besides me and Eldy?" Xiven asked.
The Ace tilted her head in question.
"Silly Question I suppose. Mom didn't want any children in the first place, even if she got pregnant again she probably had an abortion."
But her mother wasn't one for letting Corvies touch her with surgical implements. If she had gotten pregnant again she probably had the children. Why wouldn't they be at the palace though?
"Mistress all right?" Fluffy asked as she licked Xiven's hand.
The woman's ears flicked back as she reached up to scratch the cat lightly under the chin. "I'm fine. Just being silly." She sighed.
Was she?
***
There was absolutely no proof. That was the only thing that really saved her mother from being found out. Even if she had illegitimate children with someone that she wasn't supposed to have children with, she had covered up the tracts completely. It was like trying to find out that Fluffy was related to Xiven. It could only be through idle speculation, there was no physical proof. Only a Corvie who specialized in DNA could prove the case without an admission from the guilty party.
This was different. There was no proof of existence. Nothing to test.
So her mother wasn't a horrible person. What did that make Xiven for doubting her though?
Xiven sighed.
***
"Empty." Peaches repeated quietly. The police were sitting across from her in the small cramped house that the Undertaker lived in. She had revealed her title and rank to the officers, and was now speaking with them about a possible investigation.
It wasn't going as well as she had planned. They didn't seem to understand the concept of grave robbers being horrible people who needed to be hunted down and caught. "I'm afraid we might not be able to do anything," said the one officer.
The Corvistowneian had been sitting next to Peaches, drinking tea like a chimney. They had dug up the grave he had come to visit, and had found it equally empty. Both of them were affected by the police. "Are you serious?" He growled, "These people stole dead bodies! That's a crime you retards!"
Peaches just continued to stare at the three men across from her. Her eyes narrowed into a glare.
"We don't have any clues as to who dug up the bodies. How do you expect us to do anything when there isn't a single clue?" said the oldest of the three men. He was a rather strange horse with bindings that laced the back of his neck.
Peaches growled. "Perhaps you should ask the Undertaker?"
The three men were of an average rank. Peaches did have a bit of sway because of her court title. They, however, were fulled with more bullshit than most of the court members. "We asked him, Ma'am, and he said he hadn't seen anything."
"Any idiot would know that he's lying. Ask him. Don't politely go up to him and ask him out for tea. I mean ask him what he has seen." Her words were slowly coming out as hisses because of her exasperation. If she had claws in her human form, she surly would have destroyed the table that she was clutching.
"What are you implying?"
That was it. Peaches had enough. She stood up and stormed towards the door in fluid motion. Kicking the door open she grabbed the man who was standing outside by his bindings. Slamming him against the wall of the house she hissed up at him.
"Who dug up the bodies?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
He was a Spade. She noted the mark on his chest and smirked. She activated her pain ability.
The expression on his face was one of confusion at first. It continued to change as he felt his arms slowly moving into an awkward position. "What? I-I don't know who took the bodies."
Peaches didn't need to say anything. She continued the focus on the spell. The Corvie was standing in the doorway, the police were behind him staring blankly.
"You might as well tell her the truth," The Corvie said with a smile as he watched the man grimace.
The pressure was building. The discomfort that she had lived with for her entire life was showing on the man's uncomfortable expression. Pain. Suffering. He wore bindings but he didn't know the half of it. Being beaten for taking her jacket off, getting her jacket tightened as punishment. As much as she hated it, she loved it.
And this man could only hate the pain.
"I swear, I don't know!"
"Lies," she hissed, not letting go of her concentration.
"Your arms are going to kill you pretty soon, might want to think of answering her quickly." The Corive said as he kicked one of the police back. He may have been a low ranking card, but he had enough spunk to startle them.
"I-I don't know their names! They just come to me and offer me money to keep me quiet!"
She kept the spell activated.
"I swear to the Highland Hills I don't know anymore!"
She didn't let go of the spell until he started choking. He fell the the ground sputtering when she released him. She looked to the police, all of which had startled and horrified expressions on their faces. "I think you should ask him some more. He might appreciate a soft touch after that."
The said nothing as they filed past the man to arrest him.
"Wait," Peaches said. "Do you happen to know if there's anyone else who can take care of the graveyard?"
They all looked at her in confusion.
"Don't give the lady those looks. She's obviously asking because she's concerned about the grave robbers. What would happen if they came back tonight, for example? You should have someone here and a new Undertaker to protect the graveyard."
The police weren't fond of the Corvistowneian sprouting directions and "suggestions" to them. However when Peaches nodded they agreed. "There's a woman in town willing to do the job, I'm sure. We'll also get an office out here soon."
"Good," Peaches said quietly as she wandered back into the small cramped house.
She sat down, staring at the tea. This really was happening. Her brother's remains had been stolen... and there was nothing she could do about it. What could someone want to do with a body that was decomposing like that anyway? She shudder to think as she put her head on the table, wrapping her arms around herself.
She felt a soft hand pet her on the top of her head. It was the wolf dear with the silly mane. "Everything's going to be fine."
"You're good at lying," she muttered through her sleeves.
Falling to Bits
+He's left No one, no where
.+He's left No one, no where
It was a lie he had created for himself. That he was alone in the world. He had met people though. Many of them he wanted to see again, but he had always been afraid. What if they found out, what if they learned his secret? Everything would fall apart in front of him like it did in his childhood.
He sighed as she sat in a tree. Tulgey Woods was a strange place to end up, but he found himself there. He had heard plenty of rumors about the inhabitants hatred of outsiders—and rumors that all the inhabitants were mad. To avoid any of it, he changed his appearance to match the region. He really wasn't fond of all the white, but he wasn't about to complain when it prevented him from dying or having any sort of hassle.
Well, he still had the hassle of where he was going to sleep for the night. He didn't want to deal with people or a hotel in the gloomy little town in Torquehelm.
This really sucked. No place to go, no one to stay with. All alone. He would ever be able to have a normal life no matter how hard he tired, so why was he sitting here and moping over it. That was stupid. He should just go out there and find someone.
He sighed shifting in the tree to get more comfortable. Would he be safe here if he spent the night?
He wondered what that girl Thyme was doing. She was a wonderful person, he just hoped that she didn't end up like her horrible aunt.
Why in the name of all the suits did that come up? What had made him think about her all of a sudden.
Conway made a frustrated noise, fiddling with the bracelet that was around his wrist. Even if he changed his appearance to match that of a Tulgey, he normally didn't removed the bone bracelet. The spine disconnected, yes, but the bracelet would definitely remain. It gave his hands something to do.
He couldn't just sit here and do nothing. The man shifted so he could jump out of the tree.
He stopped in mid-motion, however, when he found that someone was watching him. His eyes widened as he looked down at the figure. It was human, black hair, and...
It was George.
He let out a small sigh of relief. However, it would probably be difficult to explain to him why he looked the way he did.
Staying up in the tree seemed like a better idea.
He shifted again so he could sit properly out of the Torque's view. As much as he appreciated George, at the moment he didn't feel like coming up with an elaborate explanation. He really hoped that he hadn't completely seen him. That would have been terribly awkward to explain.
But from what Conway was hearing he was still standing down there, probably staring up at the tree confused as to what he was seeing. Not everyone would climb up a tree in this part of the wood, he was sure.
Oh fine. FINE. He would deal with people. Stupid fate. Why couldn't it just leave him alone for once.
He shifted back to his normal coloration before making his way down the tree. Even when one of the limbs snapped while he was getting down, he had somehow managed to land on his feet without breaking anything.
"Hi," Conway said with a small wave as he took a twig out of his pants.
***
Who didn't have nightmares? Things that were horrible happened to him over the years, but very few of them ended up nightmares.
Tonight, one of the rare nights he got proper sleep, he had woke up crying and choking.
It was a time he never wanted to recall. It was as bad as his mother's suicide and his father's murder, but in a drastically different way. He shook his head, trying to ignore all the horrible thoughts.
What was today? What was yesterday?
He made a frustrated growl as he tried to calm himself down.
It was all his fault. His uncle had said it clearly to his face. It was his fault for being born a monster then? He didn't ask to be someone's pet for two years, he didn't ask to be someone's play thing. It wasn't his fault he was different. He was born that way.
But those words wouldn't go away. They had rang true in his for years on end.
It wasn't his fault. He knew it wasn't his fault. A distressed noise escaped his mouth again. This was stupid. He was falling apart over a dream.
His heart shouldn't be pounding because of what an old man had said. His Uncle had been wrong. Conway deserved to live. It wasn't his fault his mother had died or his father was a child molester. It wasn't June's fault either. They were only children, they didn't have control over the people who gave birth to them.
They shouldn't have had.
But his mother had done everything for him.
Stupid. Stupid. Get over yourself. It isn't all your fault.
The knock on the door caused him to snap his head around, eyes wide.
Right. It was morning. No need to panic.
***
In a tree again. There he sat staring at the other tree tops, debating what to do with himself.
Why did he like high places so much anyway? He sighed as he pulled out a small ball of yarn from his pocket, along with a set of needles. He might as well do something else with his hands while he was up here.
He still had no plan on what to do. He didn't want to be a hired assassin anymore. He couldn't have a normal job because of his problem with talking around people. He couldn't do what he loved for a job because people would know him that way. He was at a complete and utter loss. He was just another stray in the world with no place to go.
And yet there were so many people he wanted to see. Maybe he should go back to Hisstor. Javaid would be there no matter what. June would be stuck where she was for a long while. George was always in the Wood, as far as Conway was concerned. That girl named Thyme was up in the air. He paused his his knitting to contemplate why she kept coming up in his head.
She was an interesting sort of Highlander. Not the typical Highlander who swaggered out of the Highlands to make a point. Elitism just didn't seem to be in her. She was strange. Not as strange at that crazy sister of hers who destroyed just about everything she touched.
Wait. Her sister was a Tulgey wasn't she?
He raised an eyebrow as he looked into the Wood.
"I could try it. It just depends on how badly I want to die today."
Discord
+Memories are a Burden
+Memories are a Burden
Keeping a record of the past was customary for things that needed remembering. Scrapbooks, albums, journals, were all things used to keep the traditions alive on paper. Words of mouth kept things alive too. Legends. Everyone wanted to leave their mark on the realms. Even the people who claimed to disappear were afraid to die. They were afraid of being forgotten.
Memories were skewed. Even the written word was proof of that. No matter what a moment in time could never be relived, no matter how strange or horrifying.
It was all just a lie. Time didn't matter. Life didn't matter. None of it mattered in The End.
But there never was an end. It was forever a paradox of continuing time, but when you were dead how would you know if time continued?
And yet Peaches was sitting and having tea with a Joker and a Rabbit.
It was a moment in history all her own. A secret that she would keep with her until her dying day. Was it a sin to keep it all to herself. Her private and skewed little world that she held so dear?
She took a sip of the tea. It was a new blend that Hatter had come up with. He looked at her with hopeful and excepting eyes, awaiting her reaction. Marchie had already given his approval. Even he was waiting for her response. She was the center of attention in a room of impossibilities and legends.
Being the center of attention was still a nightmare. "It's fantastic! I do enjoy how you used a hint of strawberry to compliment the flavor of the other fruits."
He did his typical Hatter response.
The Perfect Stranger who Shouldn't Exist.
Was this another skewed memory?
***
She didn't like days when the palace became a drudgery. She had joined the courts to have fun and do a bit of paperwork on the side. Today she was buried in a mountain of the paperwork. Peaches growled to herself as she buried her head in her arms. It wouldn't have been so big if she hadn't run off to find out about her brother's grave.
Which was still an unsolved mystery.
She wanted to talk to someone about it. Her Perfect Stranger, but when she had opened her mouth to do so she had found the words were stuck. She couldn't bring herself to speak such horrible words in front of him. She had spoken to him in more confidence than anyone, and yet she couldn't tell him about this.
He was one of the few people who knew how her brother had died.
He didn't know the whole truth, but she didn't want him to know the whole truth. What if he did something stupid? She didn't want him to get hurt.
But didn't that concern make him more than a Perfect Stranger?
She gave a frustrated growl into her arms.
There was knock on the door.
"Go away!" she called out. It was childish but at the moment she didn't want to deal with people.
"Your Excellency, I have some more paperwork for you," said the servant without opening the door.
"Go away!" Peaches repeated.
He opened the door anyway. She shifted so she could watch him with narrowed eyes, flopping the paperwork on the already massive pile. She continued to glare at him when he hovered there.
"Are you all right, Your Excellency?"
"Go. Away." Peaches said flatly, still muffled by her arms.
The man sighed, obviously he thought her childish actions were ridiculous. What did she care what he thought of her? She was the one with a title—and what was he? He was just some servant who through paperwork at her time and time again. He was a jerk for judging her.
He closed the door behind him, leaving the Jack to glared at the door and paperwork that she had been given.
This was utterly annoying.
Sighing she stood up to stare at the massive pile. It was almost as tall as she was when it was sitting on the desk. Why wasn't there someone else to do this paperwork. Sure she got some of the weird stuff that needed approving, but this was just utterly retarded. Surely one of the other Jacks could do it, she wasn't that bloody important.
Oh screw it. She'd slack off some more before doing some real work. If she wanted to she could do everything in lightening speed and have it done before the next morning's light.
She walked out of her office and down the hallway, looking for someone or something to pester.
A Corvie light bulb would have appeared over her head as she stopped in mid-motion in front of Bernard's door.
Her usual smirk appeared on her face as she slowly edge towards the door. She placed her head on it to make sure he was alone.
She knocked briefly, she didn't await a response as she opened the door and popped her head in.
"Hiiiii! What's the old man up to today?" she said cheerfully awaiting his usual 'I have no idea what to think of your crazy' face.
