Too Much of a Gold Thing [Harps]

[Lucca]

In the perpetually dim light of Torquehelm, a bright figure of white and gold and red stood out for miles. A red top hat with a white bow was atop his head, and his cane hit the ground at a steady pace just slightly out of sync with his webbed feet. Pausing at a street corner and glancing around at the houses, some of which had windows glowing with a soft, unsteady light, as if hesitant to really make an attempt at chasing away the gloom, he drew a rolled, well-worn piece of parchment out of his pocket and consulted it.

With a confident nod, he rolled the paper back up, pushed his spectacles further up his bill, and turned to continue in the direction he'd already been going. "Shouldn't be long, now!" he said cheerfully to himself, looking for all the world as if the gloom of his surroundings wasn't affecting him in slightest. The few Cards that were out wandering the streets stared openly at him for a moment before lowering their heads again, as if the sight of him pained them.

Eventually, he came to what he presumed to be his destination...a small shop with a sign that read 'Paige's' and had a picture of a book on it. He raised back his hand to knock, and then...chuckled at himself and his silliness and pushed the door open gently, making his way into the shop and between the towering shelves of books, looking for the Rat that had invited him here.

[Harpsdesire]

The cluster of bells above the door rang with a subdued cheer that seemed to fade too quickly in the oppressive air of Torquehelm. It was an overcast day, as most days were, mild and somewhat humid, with a few shafts of weak, pale sunlight struggling through steel gray clouds with no apparent effect on the dim atmosphere or the struggling window box greenery that tried with little success to bring cheer to the facade of the shop.

Dania looked up from her book, moving slowly so as not to be dislodged from her precarious perch on a tall three legged stool behind the cash register. (As a child, she had thought such seats would sympathetic to her plight, as they too were a little funny-looking and existed with one less leg their 'normal' chair counterparts. Yet, sitting on one was a struggle at best, even now that she was older and more graceful in her binding. Stools were unfeeling types, apparently.)

A slow smiled spread across her features at the sight of the Duck. Graeme was back! He had taken her invitation to heart, it seemed. She felt a curious pleasure at seeing him again, a lightening of her mood and a sudden sense that this was likely to be a more interesting day than she had anticipated.

"Graeme!" She shut the book and hopped down from the stool rather awkwardly to greet him. "It's nice to see you again." Her own enthusiasm surprised her, and she made an attempt to tone it down. She spoke softly, as a few locals were browsing or reading nearer to the back of the store. It wouldn't do to disturb them... or arouse their interest in the newcomer.

Her father was in the back room, which was both office and storage, and Dania hoped he would stay there. She wasn't eager to explain how she knew the high-ranking Duck. It wasn't that her father would disapprove; in fact he might be happy to see her socialize above her rank and economic class. It wasn't even that he was likely to embarrass her or monopolize the Jack's attention.

It was a not-so-simple matter of the significant pile of gold that was currently secured in a prepaid safe deposit box in the local branch of First Bank of Torquehelm, a princely sum that her parents had no knowledge of. It would stay there, hidden and protected, until such time as she was able to find a dealer who would buy the coins at above face value, for sale to collectors. She wasn't such a fool as to spend the relics directly, and thus attract unwanted attention. The proceeds of the sale would allow her four years at a good Esterberry college with room and board in the lowest-priced student dorms (so as not to arouse suspicion) and enough left over to... what? Start a family, she hoped, or, failing that, a business. Maybe both if she was careful with her money and lucky in love.

The former was a virtual surety, the latter seemed most unlikely.

Even with the potential for complications, she was suddenly in an unusually upbeat mood. Her previous meeting with the Duck had been a harbinger of many good things, and this visit had an equally auspicious feel. There was an inexplicable air of luckiness and adventure about him that was quite unknown in the dismal land of Torquehelm. At least, so it seemed to Dania.

"How was your trip? Can I get you anything? Cup of tea?" If he was hungry, she could always take him home, where her mother would be delighted to have a visitor, feed him well (more like excessively) and most likely not have her wits about her enough to ask too many uncomfortable questions. After he was comfortably settled and she had satisfied the requirements of hospitality, she had something to show him.

[Lucca]

Graeme tapped his cane idly on the floor as he went into the shop, looking around with curiosity at the book that filled the shop. He stopped, though, as he heard his name. His familiar name. He could count on one hand the number of Cards that actually called him that instead of a more formal address. Of course, following the sound of the voice, he smiled as he saw the Rat. And didn't she look happy to see him! That was a rather refreshing change (it was one of the reasons for him choosing this time to get away...but he didn't want to dampen his good mood now that he was far enough away from his personal problems to have gained a good one!). "G'day t'you, Dania," he said in his normal, thick accent, covering the remaining ground between he and the counter rather swiftly. "Ah must say, it's quite pleasant t'see you a'gin."

He sighed at the question, though the smile on his bill never wavered. "Aye, a cup o'tea would be most welcome. It's been a long journey indeed." He broke off here to mumble something about the ridiculous prices of Ace-drawn carriages and look for somewhere to sit, but finding nothing close (other than the stool behind the counter that Dania was already occupying) he settled for leaning on his cane.

[Harpsdesire]

Dania's smile almost always appeared to have a bit of sadness to it, regardless of her mood, and today was no different. Still, there was a bit more spring to her step than usual as she departed from the stool, mercifully without incident, and came around the counter. "My house is only a few minutes walk away, and you can meet my mother. She'll probably have something coming out of the oven soon." A glance at the wall clock showed it to be nearing tea time. "Just a moment." The older rat wasn't one to ask inconvenient questions, and her isolation from the outside world probably meant that, like Dania, she didn't have any real concept of McDuck's fame, and hence would have no cause to be awkwardly enamored or fawning.

Sticking her head into a curtained door to the left of the counter, she called to her father, letting him know she was going home for tea. A gruff voice responded with a request to bring something on her way back. She agreed, and returned to face Graeme.

The Duck looked just a little tired, or troubled perhaps? Nothing that a rest in her living room's shabby-comfortable easy chairs and a bit of her mother's blueberry crumble (or apple turnovers, snickerdoodles or cinnamon rolls) couldn't fix. "Once we've had some tea, I have something I think you'd be interested in seeing."

Her smiled turned secretive. Dania couldn't wait for Graeme to get a look at what she'd found! She hated to admit it even to herself, but she was looking forward to the approval and praise she was sure her discovery would elicit. It was nice having at least one adult that didn't think she was entirely useless... Dania was still young enough and insecure enough to sometimes forget that she was technically an adult herself, and should probably try to give up her desperate and usually fruitless seeking of approval.

[Lucca]

Graeme nodded, though the Rat's words brought a slight rush of nostalgia. It had been a while since he'd had tea with his own mother. Perhaps he should remedy that. She could be a bit annoying at times, and she had a too-knowing look in her eye whenever Graeme would change the subject away from something awkward, but he still loved her dearly in a way he could say he'd cared for few others in his life. He waited politely for her to tell someone in the back (her boss, he was sure, for the young Rat didn't seem to own the store) that she was leaving, and then he made to follow her out the door.

The Duck's eyes widened behind small spectacles at the promise of after-tea surprises. "Oh aye? Ah'd like to see it for meself, then." But he could wait for a bit, especially as that rare look from the rather meek Rat must truly mean it was something extraordinary. Despite the aching weariness he could now feel in his limbs at being forced into so much movement, there was a spring in Graeme's step as well as he followed Dania back to her house. And though what he was to be shown after was a very exciting prospect, the tea itself was starting to sound better and better with every step. It would be just the thing to chase away the gloom that seemed to permanently hang over this place.

[Harpsdesire]

It truly was a quick walk to the modest cottage that Dania and her parents called home. Just a few minutes walk down the street they turned onto a smaller dirt lane and passed a couple twisted thorn trees to see a white wisp of smoke rose from a brick chimney into the grayish sky.

The house wasn't especially remarkable in size or style, but every window in the large main room glimmered with votive candles, as if someone within was trying to chase off the gloomy air of nightfall. Dania led the way up the path and through a small garden, which was neatly kept, though not by any means flourishing. As much a gardener tried, the flowers in this part of the realm always seemed to grow pale and stunted, the vegetables leggy and shallow-rooted in the filtered light. "This is it." Dania said, with a faint edge of nervousness in her voice. It probably wasn't anything like the Jack's house, which she imagined to be grand and formal, filled with doting servants.

She entered the home and beckoned Graeme to follow. The room they entered was rather large, making up a good deal of the first floor. A large fireplace sat at one end, with a pair of slightly shabby armchairs arranged before it, each with a ruffle-edged footrest. In the center of the room a dining table stood, made of wide planks and scoured until it was perfectly smooth and almost white from years of energetic cleaning. Every other flat surface glinted with small votive candles, and the air smelt of cinnamon-sugar and burning logs.

Dania's slight air of tension relaxed as they entered, as if the very place had the power to ease the realm's pervasive depression. When she called out, it was in an almost cheery voice. "Mum, I brought a guest for tea!"

At that, a slight commotion was heard in the kitchen, and a purple-coated rat emerged, wearing a frilly homespun apron and a gracious smile on her almost ageless-looking face. She kissed Dania on the cheek and spoke to Graeme with a genuine hospitality of manner. "How delightful! So pleased to have you. We don't have near enough company." She gave Dania a playfully reproachful look. Smiling far more brightly than was natural for one of her realm, the lady introduced herself, offering Graeme her paw in a rather girlish manner before she turned back to her daughter. "Where are your brothers, dear? Not getting into any trouble, I hope."

Dania's smile twisted suddenly into a sort of grimace for a second before she replied. “They're... playing in the park.” It never got easier, lying to her mother. Although the strain her voice was barely below the surface, the older rat didn't seem to notice a thing amiss, perhaps because of how strongly she didn't want to. “Dad's staying at the shop; I'll bring him something later.” the younger rat added. Dania's mother nodded, still beaming, and after insisting that her child and guest take a seat until she brought out the tea, the petite woman vanished back into the kitchen amidst a wave of cooking smells and the whistle of a teakettle.

“So... um... That's my mum.” Dania smiled crookedly, shifting on her three paws a little uncomfortably, then going to seat herself at the long table and gesturing for Graeme to join her. She could have been a lot smoother about that, she thought. For a diamond, Dania was a truly terrible liar. She braced herself for the sort of questions she hated most.

[Lucca]

Truthfully, if Dania had never actually been to the Highlands, anything she was imagining probably fell short of what Graeme's mansion actually was. It was indeed large, grand, and very well kept up by Graeme's few, but dedicated staff. (He would have hated to pay more servants than he needed to, you see). But he had a gardener, a butler, and his maid, Mrs. White, who also did most of the cooking. Someday he might see fit to hire more, but at the moment the three of them worked out fine.

Despite this, Graeme never forgot his humble beginnings. He'd grown up in a house even smaller than Dania's, and small, homey places never failed to bring a nostalgic smile to his bill. He was a bit amazed at the number of candles they had burning (wasn't that a bit of a fire hazard?) but he supposed one couldn't blame them, considering the perpetual dimness of their Realm. He nodded his thanks to Dania and entered, looking around the interior and letting himself relax a bit, as well.

He decided he liked the girl's mother...she was very friendly for someone who'd just had surprise company thrust upon them. "Hello. It's a pleasure t'meet you," he replied in his Highlands brogue. Of course, he blinked, a bit puzzled, when she asked Dania about her brothers. Dania had never mentioned any siblings to her. And that was certainly an odd expression on her face when she spoke of them...

As the older Rat shuffled into the kitchen, Graeme let the smile fall from his bill to frown thoughtfully. He sat down in the offered chair with a sigh, and closed his eyes for a moment. "She seems like a nice lass," he said, and then looked at Dania again. She had the look of someone who knew they were about to do something unpleasant. Graeme knew, then, that it would be more polite of him not to ask, but the silence was hanging heavy in the air, so he sighed, rubbed at the top of his bill, and saved them both the anticipation.

"Brothers?" He had his suspicions already, which made him feel quite bad for Dania's mother.

[Harpsdesire]

"She's wonderful." Dania agreed, fondly. As standoffish as her father was, the young rat's mother did her best to make up for it with the amount of love and attention she showered on her daughter. She was sweet natured, generous, pretty, an amazing cook and more than a little off her rocker.

She frowned at the inevitable question. "Ah, no." When she answered, she seemed unable to meet Graeme's eyes, and spoke softly enough to ensure that her voice didn't carry to the kitchen, where her mother was humming and rattling teacups. Although she was tempted to let the subject go, it seemed unlikely that Graeme would be satisfied with so little information. "Not any more, that is. She... forgets." Dania mumbled, by way of explanation. She sighed, staring at the floor and looking the very stereotype of the downtrodden Torquehelm.

Dania was trying very hard not to resent the question. It was natural to wonder, of course, but questions about her missing siblings seemed to somehow threaten the fragile facade of normalcy that kept her more more or less functional.

Of course, some days were more normal than others. Some days were so normal that Dania could almost ignore the fact that her mother was crazy. Some days the older rat was a sobbing mess, having wakened unusually lucid and realized that her sons were gone, years of delusions entirely forgotten. From time to time she frantically searched the house for baby sons that seemed to have disappeared. Usually, however, she was happy in the false belief that her boys had grown up alongside Dania and were happily off at school or play. When they never did show up for dinner, or bedtime, or anything else, she would frown sometimes, as if aware that something about the world was a little off, but unable or unwilling to identify exactly what.

[Lucca]

And that...was, sadly, one of his suspicions. His voice was quiet too, but all he said was, "Ah see." Golden eyes glanced toward the kitchen, briefly, and then moved down to the top of his cane, which he fidgeted with a bit. This time, he couldn't bear to say anything else, even to break the awkward silence punctuated by the clink of china and the humming from the kitchen.

He didn't know, of course, what exactly had happened to Dania's brothers, but he wasn't going to ask. Wasn't going to say he understood, because he didn't. Wasn't going to offer empty words of comfort. He couldn't even imagine how hard any of it would be...siblings you lost, a mother who wasn't quite all there...his mother was old, but still sharp as a tack, and Graeme had never had any siblings.

The Duck felt tired, suddenly, and felt an old, heart-deep sympathy for the land of Torquehelm. Often times, their physical bindings were the least of what weighed the Cards of this land down. He often didn't understand it, didn't understand why anyone would continue to live in such a place, to raise their children there. He would try to do his own part the best he knew how, in trying to find the spark of ambition in every Torque. Everyone, the Duck believed, should be able to make something of themselves in the world.

[Harpsdesire]

((Let us just gloss over the teatime a little, as it will surely be awkward and NPC-heavy. XP ))

The silence lengthened almost painfully, but just as Dania was about to force herself into uncomfortable small talk, she was saved from this awkward fate by her mother's reappearance with a steaming teapot and a tray containing scones, strawberry jam and Devonshire cream.

"I hope you like a nice cream tea, Mr. McDuck." The rat said with a smile. She set the things on a doily-covered side table and joined her daughter and guest, perching on a footrest with her own teacup held nimbly in rodent paws. For all her intermittent oddness, she was a charming hostess, and seemed (at least at the moment) unaffected by the apathy and depression that haunted most of her kind. Dania was relieved at how normal her mother was acting.

She was even more relieved when her very delicious tea was finished, and she could show Graeme upstairs to the small, tidy guestroom that served doubly duty as a library. It was time to show him what she had been saving. She went to the room's small oak desk and indicated a small book bound in faded black cloth, the gilded letters long worn off it's brittle spine. "Remember that story I told you about, the one with the Torquehelm Queen bound in pure gold? Well, it seems it wasn't just something my grandmother made up. It is very old, though, passed down verbally and rarely committed to paper." She she glanced at Graeme, gaging his reaction to her words. "You wouldn't believe what I went through to get this." She said, whiskers pricked forward in excitement.

She lifted the front cover carefully, and on the first page the title was revealed, printed in ornate script on yellowing paper. Tales of Torquehelm Once Lost, it read.