Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Dec 29, 2014 14:35:45 GMT -8
"Not unless you fancy drying my hair or putting my stockings on for me." Mary didn't usually make breakfast, but felt an obligation to go with Jane today.
Elinor watched others getting ready, closing her eyes again. She lay quietly for a moment, before rolling over and curling up, sliding herself in between the bedclothes. The others barely seemed to see her, and that was fully intentional on her part.
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Post by JW% on Dec 29, 2014 16:26:38 GMT -8
Poe had already washed, shaved, dressed, and eaten by the time breakfast was ready, and was not present initially. But he did make the walk through the western wing to check on each of the children to be sure they knew what the bell ringing at this time of day meant.
He had delivered Lovecraft a platter for breakfast and left the man to it, making a comment about wanting to discuss what to do with the 'current crop', but then had made his exit in order to sweep through the western wing in time.
Despite his patrol, he didn't seem nearly as inclined towards directing the children towards the dining room this time. If they wanted to go without breakfast, so be it. It was an important meal after all, and usually the most lavish in order to fuel the activity needed throughout the day.
When Poe arrived in the room his face was in s dreary frown, eyes roaming over the area to see if Gilmen had arrived yet. His eyes moved over to de Sade and he considered for a moment. Bracing himself he addressed the man.
"Pardon me, I realize that you are eager to get to work today, but could you assist me with a small project?" Poe's eyes indicated Ryan for a moment, implying that de Sade would get to play with the boy for this project, even if it would be under Poe's rules and supervision. "I think you would be the most... effective assistance I could request."
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Post by Penny Royals on Dec 30, 2014 0:22:12 GMT -8
"Well... which would you prefer I do?"
De Sade followed Poe's gaze before snapping his attention back, suddenly eager. He sat up straight, clearing his throat before his words came out swinging.
"Of course, LeRennett, what is it?"
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Post by JW% on Dec 30, 2014 0:28:53 GMT -8
"Rather than assigning a crew to help you in the stables, I was considering assigning them to work out in the garden and to work on keeping up the grounds, at least for today, if only to see how our new arrivals can do." Poe casually said, addressing de Sade. "But, if you could see fit to take some time out of your busy schedule, perhaps you could start personally training an assistant for animal wrangling."
Poes weary eyes transversed the room again to look at Ryan. "He looks as if he will need quite a bit of attention before he can handle something that dangerous, and while I was thinking of training him myself," Poe's gaze returned de Sade, "I think you would be more effective, teaching the boy how to handle himself in a dangerous situation, don't you?"
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Post by Penny Royals on Dec 30, 2014 0:37:04 GMT -8
De Sade couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.
"Of course I am."
The blonde glanced up - suddenly realizing who this conversation was about, and thus extremely confused.
"Me? A-are you sure?"
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Post by JW% on Dec 30, 2014 0:40:10 GMT -8
"I suppose we could work things in shifts, but I don't think that would be particularly as effective as allowing for a whole day to really get focused on the exercise." Poe admitted to Ryan. "Still, if you'd rather not, perhaps one of the others could take your place for today. Which of the girls would you rather went first?" Poe studied the boy for his reaction, noting out of the corner of his eye how de Sade's own body language was providing a stimulus to Ryan to make a decision on the matter.
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Post by Penny Royals on Dec 30, 2014 0:42:20 GMT -8
The blonde shrank back then, gaze moving between the two.
"I-I guess if we're all learning this, it doesn't matter..."
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Post by JW% on Dec 30, 2014 0:45:06 GMT -8
"Well that's settled then." Poe sighed with a tone that said he was considering what the point of waking up this morning was. He seemed to want to take a nip from his flask, but it was far to early in the day for that. Besides, he'd need to fill it up, they had almost emptied it last night, and that was just Lovecraft's efforts.
"So now we're only waiting for Miss Gilman to show up for breakfast and let her now that she had some workers for today."
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Dec 30, 2014 3:30:20 GMT -8
"Well... which would you prefer I do?" Mary turned her head slightly to look at Jane with a smile. "Perhaps my hair, for now. I wouldn't want us to be later than no doubt we will be."
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Post by Penny Royals on Dec 30, 2014 11:56:20 GMT -8
Jane nodded, quickly setting to work on the older woman's dark hair.
The blonde immediately went back to breakfast, a bit disconcerted. It didn't help that the brawny man had also turned back, a permanent smirk etched across his face.
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Dec 30, 2014 12:17:44 GMT -8
Mary rolled her stockings up her legs, and applied tasteful makeup and scent, as Jane managed her hair for her. She was happy to trust her to fix her hair just fine- Jane usually took more care over it than she ever had time to. She finished her preparations as Jane finished hers, and Mary stood up, slipping her feet into the small heels she wore around the infirmary. "Right, breakfast- say, I wonder if I'll be able to have any help today. I've a few boxes of equipment and supplies that arrived last week, just sitting in the storeroom. I could do with someone to put them away." Mary took Jane's arm with a smile, walking down to the dining hall, uncoupling as they walked inside.
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Post by Penny Royals on Dec 30, 2014 12:43:56 GMT -8
The duo would be entering in on a stunted conversation....
"- Cages would be most practical, of course. They're much harder to break than glass, but still let the creatures be seen."
"...What sort of creatures are here that could break out of glass?" The blonde ventured to ask.
"Oh, plenty, Darling." De Sade didn't notice the grimace, continuing, "Besides, it'd be easier to get someone into cages."
"...I don't think I understand...."
Jane grinned, sticking close with Mary at her arm until the dining room, turning back into her softness and gliding to the table.
"It seems we're... lacking a few people this morning," She mentioned uncomfortably. "Sorry we were late."
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Dec 30, 2014 14:50:48 GMT -8
"My terrible timing, I am afraid- I hadn't left nearly enough time to dry my hair this morning. Jane was kind enough to wait whilst I readied myself." Mary took a seat, gesturing for Jane to sit besides her. "Mr. Rennett, I couldn't trouble you for an assistant today, could I? I have supplies that desperately need putting away, and I'm sure one of the youngsters would be well up to the task." Mary leant forwards, helping herself to the breakfast on offer- never one to wait around, she had a great deal to do herself today, and was now itching to get to work.
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Post by JW% on Dec 30, 2014 16:11:57 GMT -8
Poe shook his head sadly and gave a labored groan at where de Sade and Ryan had taken the conversation before turning to address Dr. Godwin. "Your in such disarray already?" He asked with a worried look before getting himself under control and straightening. "Forgive me, yes, you're quite right." He squared his shoulders and nodded. "Doctor Godwin, for today I was thinking that we could start things off with something simple, turning all the girls over to Miss Gilman to help make the gardens and grounds ready." He gestured to the girls who had shown up for breakfast. The ones that hadn't would likely be hungry later in the day, and somebody would probably have to hunt them down. He and Ryan were going to keep de Sade busy today, so that left dealing with the other children to Jane and Mary. And Howard, if the man would come out of his study or if an unlucky child slipped into that dark and dreary room.
"I don't see if there is anything wrong, however, with Miss Gilman lending you a worker or two to help you with your supplies." He nodded to Jane. "I assume that arrangement is amendable to you as well?"
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Dec 31, 2014 4:43:05 GMT -8
"Only slight disarray, as should be expected of any good doctor." Mary took a bite of a sweet pastry and swallowed, before continuing. "I'll only deprive Jane of the one, it's only a short job really. Plenty for one, not enough for two." She smiled politely at the man. "I'm sure you can appreciate the volume of paperwork involved in the medical care of both students and staff here, not to mention the work beyond that of a clinical capacity. I simply haven't the time for the pleasures of such menial work myself."
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Post by JW% on Dec 31, 2014 19:36:53 GMT -8
"I really would rather not think about paperwork, if it's all the same to everyone." Poe said, rubbing his eyes. "Though since we have broached the subject, after you have taken inventory, can I have a projected supply budget for the medical needs of the mansion for this year? I'd like to know if we'll need to order my bandages, along with new uniforms." He had noticed that several of the females were wearing male uniforms, as they had been purchased with a more diverse group of children in mind.
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Post by toothpiic on Jan 1, 2015 0:27:28 GMT -8
Perched on a low hang of the roof, feeling all too blessed she had found the window that gave her private access to her own personal smoking corner thanks to the help of Aurora. The air was crisp andd Melody had a long black sweater hanging on her and a long black skirt with wool stockings underneath to keep her warm, but the chill still crept down her neck. She had 3 cigarettes left in the pack and she began to worry what wkuldd happen if she ran out. Someone around here had to be secretly smoking, right?
Crawling off the roof and slipping back into the house she padded down the hallway in the search of some food she heard the voices of the others not to far away and decided maybe it was time she pretended to be social.
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Jan 1, 2015 3:55:18 GMT -8
"Of course." Mary smiled pleasantly. "Once the supplies are put away, I'll do a full inventory and cost projection for the year. It should be lower than last year- I've been perfecting wound-repair techniques so the tissues heal faster and more cleanly, needing fewer dressing changes and fewer stitches. Not to mention, of course, moving pharmaceutical suppliers, and the fact we are now capable of synthesising our own basic painkillers and penicillin." Many of Mary's personal projects were, after all, quite benign. "It will come with the usual, caveat, that I cannot predict the injuries and outbreaks we'll face over the year, mind. If there's a large accident, or a 'flu outbreak, it'll show in the clinic expenditure." The doctor sighed as a series of knocking patterns began within the wall, as if to validate her concerns. To feel the house so active already meant only one thing.
Elsewhere, Elinor stirred slightly, rising from the bed. The giggling had begun again. She slid off the bed and padded out, past where Johanna and Eulalia were flirting over uniform. Doors appeared and vanished again like fleeting illusions in these strange halls, and the moment Elinor stepped through one that appeared at the top of the dorm, it no sooner vanished. A long, familiar corridor lead down alongside what felt and smelt to her like the Infirmary- Elinor shuddered. Following the corridor lead to a long abandoned, dusty playroom, the door vanishing as she closed it behind her. Feeling a collected calmness, despite the vanishing doors, Elinor walked around the room slowly, careful not to step on anything. A faded stuffed bear caught her eye and she first knelt, then sat upon the ground besides it, gently picking it up. "Good morning..." she murmured, less to the bear, and more to the house itself.
The knocking seemed to end as soon as it had begun in the dining hall, finishing with the sound of a loud door slam. Mary sighed again, before quickly finishing the third cup of black tea of the morning. Rising from the table, she brushed herself down. "I'd better excuse myself- the clinic needs preparing for any accidents of the day, and I really must get these patient files completed. Just send whomever after breakfast- I am not fussy, just as long as they get the job done." Affording Jane a quick, subtle 'see you later' smile, Mary walked crisply out of the dining hall, barely having to retrace her steps once this morning to reach her clinic. The house was clearly occupied for now. What concerned Mary, however, was the thought she had as she walked into her clinic. 'At what cost?'
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Post by Penny Royals on Jan 1, 2015 9:41:37 GMT -8
The conversation, happily, had ended when Mary and Jane had entered. De Sade spent most of Mary's reply watching her, looking away after a particular phrase of 'prediction' to finish off whatever coffee he'd poured into his mug earlier. However, at patient files he glanced up much less-than-casually.
"Ah, Mary, Dear -" His voice grew to more than it had earlier, his tone sharper, as if he were speaking to a disobedient puppy, "I'll be down later to discuss what we talked about earlier. Half past eight. Sharp."
As Elinor lifted the bear, the room filled with the scent of raspberries. There were many replies to what she was doing - but in the shadows by a large toy chest there now sat a wavering figure of a little girl, hiding, covering her nose and mouth to keep from giggling.
At the series of knocks, Angel finally lifted her head up from her drawing, looking uneasily to the adults.
"What is that?" She asked, "It happened last night as well..."
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Jan 1, 2015 9:54:33 GMT -8
Elinor looked around the room at the smell, smiling slightly. "That's nice." She got to her feet, still holding the bear. "What do you think, Mr. Ted? Yes, I do think it smells very nice indeed." She had her back to the toy chest, playing along with the little girl's game. Her outline wavered slightly, and grew hazy. "What's that? You think someone is hiding in here?" Elinor began to prowl theatrically around the room, purposefully avoiding the chest, as she became less and less solid, her form growing more spectral. "I wonder where they're hiding..." She mimed searching the room, until her form lost all physicality- she was, to all intent and purpose, a ghost. It was only now that she looked around and came to the toy box, smiling broadly as she wrapped her arms around the little girl. "Hello again, little one."
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Post by Penny Royals on Jan 1, 2015 10:26:54 GMT -8
The little girl let out an excited shriek, erupting into a series of giggles. She turned around in the older girl's grasp, hugging her back.
"You found me again, Lily!!!"
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Jan 1, 2015 10:38:06 GMT -8
"Of course I did, little one." Elinor kissed the top of the little girl's head. "You've been keeping me nice and hidden, now they've let me back inside. I told you I'd come back again, like I always do." She put her hands on the child's shoulders, looking her in the eye, repeating the words she said at the start of every repeat of the same cycle that had played out here for years now. "This time, Amanda, this time is the one. We'll do it this time."
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Post by Alastor on Jan 1, 2015 16:47:34 GMT -8
Lovecraft sat in the candle-lit room of his office, staring out the window into the pale nothingness of the sky. Something had gone horribly wrong- he wasn't sure what, but he knew deep in his stomach that it was not merely the degeneracy he saw amongst the students. Something unnatural, perhaps beyond the comprehension of man even.
The headmaster turned back, looking at his bookcase- perhaps he could find one of the books by the Mad Arab again? He stumbled on one of those books, the Kitab al-Azif, many moons ago as a younger man. The ghastly book helped back then, hadn't it?
Albeit they weren't able to save that Whateley girl- maybe. They weren't sure what happened to that halfwit albino, truly.
Lovecraft paused, catching that last thought with a grimace. Hadn't there been another albino girl amongst the children this year?
- - - "I... do not think it fits..." Eulalia said to Johanna, dressed in the skirt and knee-socks of the uniform and her brassier, holding one of the tops of the uniform. Her face was blushing deeply from the situation.
"Il petto è troppo grande..." She mumbled to herself, crossing her arms over her chest.
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Jan 2, 2015 2:16:52 GMT -8
There was, indeed, a missing girl. She currently lay on a luggage rack of the train, pressed against the ceiling, watching the floor of the carriage change from carpeted wood to a seething black mass, and back again. A large looming clock- no, it looked more like a timer- was counting down from twenty four, down through the minutes and seconds. No doubt punishment for tardiness, though the girl did not know that. Her rucksack was open, the contents splayed across the seats, a folder marked ELLIS, NATALIE ASHLEY half-hanging off the seat, its's contents disappearing and reappearing with the floor. She's only been a little late getting to the station- sure, she'd missed the train home, but she'd been sure it wasn't the last. She'd jumped on the traditional-styled train without question, having decided at the time that if it was the wrong one, well. No-one would particularly miss her, or notice her absence for a day or two. Now, she was quite certain that choosing to take the long route from the city centre had meant she'd inhaled something, and that this was a huge drug trip- such was her lack of drug education. Her unsettled schooling was to thank for that. Natalie looked to the clock, pushing her fringe out of her eyes- her well-fitting hoodie was torn, with one sleeve ripped off, and her leggings were ripped to shreds. Her shorts, she noted, had escaped unscathed. "Fifteen hours, forty two minutes." Natalie banged her head against the wire mesh of the shelf. How had it been less than nine hours?! She already felt filthy, covered in a layer of grimy sweat- she hadn't showered for a day or so anyway- and she kicked the wall in frustration. She quickly regretted it, as the carriage seemed to howl and screech at her in response. Natalie went back to screwing up her eyes and counting. "Fifty nine, fifty eight, fifty seven..."
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Post by JW% on Jan 2, 2015 21:12:30 GMT -8
At the series of knocks, Angel finally lifted her head up from her drawing, looking uneasily to the adults. "What is that?" She asked, "It happened last night as well..." Poe sighed, watching everyone else shifting about the table. With de Sade's interest in Godwin, and everything else going on, he was starting to sense that he would be finding himself with more work to do. "You mean the shifting of the house?" Poe asked Angel about what she was referring to. "It happens," His face seemed to sink. "More often than it should." With a sigh he shook his head. "Miss Gilman, would you kindly take care of the girls for the day, making certain you send one to Doctor Godwin for her use?" A tired look at de Sade and Ryan. "We might have to make a detour before you get to work training the boy, I hope that is agreeable." Since it was likely that the house itself would contort and keep them from going anywhere but where it wanted them to go.
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Post by Penny Royals on Jan 2, 2015 22:40:33 GMT -8
"Of course," Jane replied with a nod. "I'll send someone as soon as all the girls are down." De Sade simply nodded to Poe's statement to him, finishing off breakfast.
"We should certainly head out soon!" His voice had returned with gusto, the sharpness with Mary replaced by grandeur. "The days seem to be so fleeting, and who knows how long it'll take us to get from the house..."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Johanna was just watching her, giggling. "Goodness, we'll fix this. Want to try on mine? It's a little big."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"You say that all the time," Amanda reminded her. "I hope it works this time... I don't like that bad man..."
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Post by JW% on Jan 2, 2015 22:47:21 GMT -8
"Lead on then." Poe suggested, intending to follow behind and keep an eye on Ryan. He wondered though... the day was only fleeting if other things interfered. Would the house be sending them to the train station for a late arrival? Those were practically unheard of, but not impossible. Or would they end up in the dungeons behind locked doors? Or find themselves walking out across the rooftops?
All this adventuring was really starting to make him weary of the life.
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Flip
Member
Probably a dragon in a previous life.
Posts: 159
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Post by Flip on Jan 3, 2015 10:28:44 GMT -8
"You say that all the time," Amanda reminded her. "I hope it works this time... I don't like that bad man..." "Of course it'll work this time. We're stronger than ever." The older girl came away from the toy chest, looking around at the nursery. "You've not been keeping your play room tidy, missy. I hope you've left my bedroom alone. My proper bedroom, I mean. Not that silly dormitory they think they've constructed in our home."
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Post by Alastor on Jan 3, 2015 17:01:53 GMT -8
Johanna was just watching her, giggling. "Goodness, we'll fix this. Want to try on mine? It's a little big." "A-are you sure?" The girl replied, blushing harder. "I don't want to intrude or anything!"
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Post by Penny Royals on Jan 3, 2015 17:10:46 GMT -8
"Go ahead," She replied, taking off her top and passing it over.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I haven't touched it!" Amanda replied quickly, bouncing along after her sister. "...Why DID they make those place anyway? They aren't even full!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
De Sade grin, standing up and starting to lead off - the younger boy quickly following suite, albeit not having taken much breakfast before having to rush off.
There were still several girls who had yet to make it down, but Jane and Angel just sat very calmly down in the dining room, waiting.
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