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Post by RisuChan on Oct 4, 2003 9:38:07 GMT -5
[This thread is for people who are from the Count Cain series to do interactions with each other on their own floor. Other people can come in, of course, but this thread is for action that stays on this floor rather than traveling between the floors.] [This particular bit of Cain's-floor interaction continues on from thread #20 in the "God Takes a Vacation" topic. It's Cain interrogating Riff about what led up to the music video scene. If you haven't read that far, here's a link to the conversation that leads directly into it:] sakuracrisis.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=yukiverse&action=display&thread=1064964629&start=20^^;;;;;;;;; when I start translating again, more people are going to have to do a lot of jumping in to keep the ball rolling 'cause I just will NOT have this much free time left! Okay, 37 minutes, let's see how fast I can brainstorm...
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Post by RisuChan on Oct 4, 2003 17:05:21 GMT -5
"Which would you like to start with first. Today's delivery of the letters....or how you somehow came to the decision that sending Merryweather to that apartment was a safe place for her to be. Because, I for one, would certainly love to hear it."
I of all people can hear through the sharp edge of the anger in his voice, because the same note that has been sharply plucked among the harpstrings of his soul is still resonant in my own.
But this is not the time to explain to him why I hear it, and why I can hear beyond it; much as he tries to hide it, he's been shaken past that crystalline clarity of his logic into a raw and still-bleeding place in his heart.
Some people cannot seem to resist the urge to poke around in open wounds... whether someone else's or their own. But I have no time to spare the thought to wonder what of that singer's life brought that song to his lips and his mind.
If this were anyone else, I could take a bit of space to walk a bit, to try to settle my nerves; before my lord's fierce gaze, though, I must be still. I must make my report to him as his servant, as though this were just like any other information he requires on a daily basis; but I must also balance it with compassion for his fear for his sister and himself. Too much impassive objectivity could be seen as cruelty, particularly by him, when he expects so much of me...
I have quite a tightrope to walk, and close my eyes for just a moment before I place my first step upon it.
"Master Cain... if I may, I would ask you to think of how this would have been if Yuki-sensei were here."
His eyes narrow. "This entire ludicrous situation is occurring precisely because the woman is not here. There would have been no envelopes for Merry to deliver if she were."
"Yes, sir, I understand," I reply, very gently. "But I ask your indulgence, to take one step back from the immediacy of this morning. If Yuki-sensei were here, and if Miss Merry had taken it into her head to follow that woman through this building, I assure you that Miss Merry would not have ended up practicing her harpsichord with a group of long-haired goth-rockers. Yuki-sensei would have found a way to make it much more bloody and painful for everyone involved. Think of the history here. Yuki-sensei brings Miss Merry an instructor whose other student is a bloody-minded psychopathic collector who would have gotten along quite nicely with the necrophiliac prince on the upper floors. And then when that entire scandal is somehow resolved, Miss Merry needs another friend, and so Yuki-sensei introduces her to a girl with a pathological obsession with her appearance who dies screaming and leaves Miss Merry in the grasp of Dr. Disraeli..."
"And so you felt compelled to take up where that woman left off?" he asks, quite bitterly.
"Yes," I reply, as calm as I can make myself.
I believe it has actually startled him into listening to me, rather than to the still-clamoring voice of his own fears.
"Yuki-sensei assigned me the task of seeing to it that the house continues to run," I tell him. "I am to stand in her place through her absence. Therefore, I asked myself what Yuki-sensei would do -- and, well aware that Yuki-sensei would choose the most devious and torment-filled option possible, I discarded each of the options that would have occurred to her."
He's still listening, though his eyes are no gentler. I take silence for a form of consent and continue my blindfolded path across the tightrope.
"If I had ordered Miss Merry back to her rooms without going to supervise her and be certain that she remained there, then the chances are quite high that Miss Merry would not have remained there. The thought of Miss Merry creeping behind me through this building, through the various war zones and torrents of divine and demonic wrath, was the single thought more appalling than the thought of Miss Merry walking at my side through those places. I could not send her back without either my supervision or yours; you were greatly distracted with your own affairs; and I could not bring her with me. Therefore, I chose to send her to the place I considered most likely to hold her interest and prevent her from wandering further."
"With a group of wild-eyed bohemians who pretend that popular music is an ethically and financially respectable lifestyle?"
"For a small part of one afternoon, yes. She was sent with messages. The recipients of those messages would realize that someone had deliberately sent her. If she and the messages were to come to any harm, they would know that they would be the first to suffer for it. I am not sure if that dreaming-eyed singer is sufficiently cognizant of this world to recognize that -- but the violinist certainly seemed aware of who you are, and of who she is. He actually missed a line when you walked in. Your reputation is something of a protection for her in and of itself -- when she faces someone who is sane enough to be mindful of it. Again, I do not vouch for the singer's sanity -- but someone in the group of them must be sane enough for them to have had such success in independently marketing their CDs since they fired their manager in that horrendous scandal a few years ago. And in any case, it is hardly good press for a band to allow one of their young and innocent fans to come to any harm when delivering gifts to their own door."
"...Damn you."
I do know how to translate this. It means that I have made more sense than his sense of injury and outrage might otherwise wish. I bow my head quietly, and wait for him to decide whether he needs anything else in the way of assurance. There are some assurances I cannot provide, however much he needs them from me; usually, he recognizes that. Usually, he doesn't ask me to change the world in ways that are too far beyond impossible.
Master Cain takes a breath to say something else, then lets it out with a frustrated sigh at a meek but familiar tap on the door.
"What have you got to say for yourself, Merry?" he asks even before she opens the door, rubbing his temples.
The door creaks open just enough for her face to peer around the edge. "I... um... wanted to say thank you... --I mean, it's going to be a spectacular music video! The conservatory's so creepy with all the candles lit and everything, normally it gives me the chills when that old hag is droning on at me about key changes and so on, but Die says it's exactly the sort of atmosphere the song needs and..."
Miss Merry hasn't had as many years of reading Master Cain's expressions as I have, but she's been learning quickly.
"...And never mind about the music video," she finishes hastily. "Just don't be too mad at Riff. I didn't ask permission before I went and called them. That was my fault."
"Riff is three times your age and twice your height and fully capable of preventing any mischief you see fit to get yourself into, young lady."
Privately, I am far less certain of that than Master Cain sounds.
It's rather embarrassing to notice that Miss Merry is just as skeptical about that assertion. But she knows better than to voice it aloud; the slight roll of her eyes is as close as she comes to it.
Master Cain notices it too, and his glare sharpens for a moment. "Not to mention that if he hadn't sent you with those ridiculous envelopes, you would never have encountered them in the first place."
"I know! I can't believe my luck -- Riff, thank you, they let me play harpsichord for them and everything! This has been the best day ev-..." She clamps a hand over her mouth hastily, realizing that this has been absolutely the wrong thing to say; I close my eyes again, bracing for Master Cain's outrage.
"What is it about him?" Master Cain asks, tiredly. "What is it you see in that skinny redheaded goth boy who seems to prefer nothing better than musically tearing a victim's soul open and baring the bloody mess of it to the world?"
Miss Merry thinks about it for a sober moment, chewing a fingertip.
"I think he reminds me of you a little," she says, quite seriously. "There's something that... I mean... it's like he knows things. It's like I know what he's singing about because it's happened to us... and I want to let him know I understand... and that he doesn't have to hurt so much..."
Master Cain turns away quickly, clutching at the drapery of the window.
"Big Brother...?"
"I'm sorry," he murmurs. "I'm sorry you have to recognize that kind of pain when you hear it, that you've had to suffer so much because of our damned father..."
He cuts himself short, and passes a hand down his face, and says, "Make your video. Enjoy yourself, if one can possibly consider such a thing enjoyment. Go on."
Miss Merry flies across the room and clasps him around the waist, and startles him.
Hugging him tight enough that I'm sure she's impaired his breathing, she says, "Thank you, Big Brother!"
Then she dashes out again, and we can hear her calling in the hallway: "Die! Die, it's okay, we can make the video, he said so..."
I stand, and listen to my lord's silence, and wait.
"Reminds her of me, is it," he says, with a short, dark half-laugh.
I brace myself to lighten my voice a bit. "You are rather too thin, sir, if I may make such an observation."
He scoops a pillow out of the window and flings it at my head. "You impudent wretch!"
Which, in his own language, means that things are closer to normal again; I can finally breathe once more.
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Post by Carole on Oct 4, 2003 23:31:27 GMT -5
[Character POV: Cain]
I may be waiting for Riff's explanation, but I'm only half listening. My mind is elsewhere, that...that song is still drifting in my mind, the words whispering into my ear. Taunting me.
He speaks, and I block out the whispers as best as I can manage.
"Master Cain... if I may, I would ask you to think of how this would have been if Yuki-sensei were here."
I narrow my eyes. Why is he bringing that women up now?
"This entire ludicrous situation is occurring precisely because the woman is not here. There would have been no envelopes for Merry to deliver if she were."
"Yes, sir, I understand," [Note: Didn't feel like coping and pasting the entire thing XD]
Hmph. Such wonderfully, pleasant memories he chooses to bring up. Just where exactly is he going with this?
"And so you felt compelled to take up where that woman left off?" I ask, bitter.
"Yes."
The voices stop completely. Did...did he really just say yes?
I remain silent as he continues with his explanation. It's not quite what I was expecting....
"Therefore, I chose to send her to the place I considered most likely to hold her interest and prevent her from wandering further."
I hold back a snort of disbelief and ask, "With a group of wild-eyed bohemians who pretend that popular music is an ethically and financially respectable lifestyle?"
He continues again. It doesn't matter that I'm positively furious, ready to lash out at the closest object. Because what Riff is saying...is actually making sense. It's true. My reputation scares quite a few people. Why else would I work so hard to keep everyone familiar with it? People stay away from what frightens them. And many know that by laying their hands on Merryweather, that they'll feel the full force of my rage.
"...Damn you."
Why does he always have to make sense? Because he is, I no longer have a reason to stew in my anger. It would have been so much easier that way.
I'm ready to drop the subject of the singers. That song is starting to come back to me. I take a breath to ask about the other letters when...
It's Merry taping on the door. I sigh and rub my temples. I know what this is about.
"What have you got to say for yourself, Merry?"
She looks around the corner of the door.
"I... um... wanted to say thank you... --I mean, it's going to be a spectacular music video! The conservatory's so creepy with all the candles lit and everything, normally it gives me the chills when that old hag is droning on at me about key changes and so on, but Die says it's exactly the sort of atmosphere the song needs and..."
She obviously notices my displeasure because she finishes quickly.
"...And never mind about the music video," she finishes hastily. "Just don't be too mad at Riff. I didn't ask permission before I went and called them. That was my fault."
"Riff is three times your age and twice your height and fully capable of preventing any mischief you see fit to get yourself into, young lady."
She rolls her eyes and I sharpen my look. "Not to mention that if he hadn't sent you with those ridiculous envelopes, you would never have encountered them in the first place."
"I know! I can't believe my luck -- Riff, thank you, they let me play harpsichord for them and everything! This has been the best day ev-..."
My heart sinks. The refreshing effects of the sauna leave me, and a wave of tiredness washes over. This is another blow, however unintended, chipping away at my last reserves.
"What is it about him? What is it you see in that skinny redheaded goth boy who seems to prefer nothing better than musically tearing a victim's soul open and baring the bloody mess of it to the world?" I can't even muster up enough strength to even sound angry.
"I think he reminds me of you a little," she says, quite seriously. "There's something that... I mean... it's like he knows things. It's like I know what he's singing about because it's happened to us... and I want to let him know I understand... and that he doesn't have to hurt so much..."
I clutch the drapery and look away quickly. I don't want to hear this. Especially from her. I'd give it all away. Everything I had, even my life, to have kept my precious sister from understanding such things. No one, especially a child, should have to.
"Big Brother...?"
I'm a horrible Big Brother. One who has to rely on band members to bring joy to my little sisters life.
I still can't look. So she can't hear the emotion creeping into my voice, I murmur, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you have to recognize that kind of pain when you hear it, that you've had to suffer so much because of our damned father..."
I stop. I can't talk about this anymore. I change the subject. "Make your video. Enjoy yourself, if one can possibly consider such a thing enjoyment. Go on."
Suddenly she's hugging me fiercely, thanking me. She rushes out the room, shouting to one of the band members.
"Reminds her of me, is it," I say, with a dark laugh. I failed to see it.
"You are rather too thin, sir, if I may make such an observation."
What...?
I grab the nearest object (luckily for Riff, it's a pillow) and fling it at him. "You impudent wretch!"
Riff manages to catch the pillow before it hits him, or knocks anything down. He places it down on a chair.
"Anything else, sir?" He asks quite seriously.
Annoying it is. How he can go from joking one minute to being so serious the next.
"If you don't have any pressing matters at the moment, or letters to deliver, why not go keep an eye on our guests in my absence? I'd rather if they didn't break anything," I suggest slyly.
It's cruel, I know. But he's the one who sent Merryweather up to their floor in the first place. If he hadn't, then I wouldn't have had to send her back, and Merryweather wouldn't have called.
Besides, I'm still reeling from Merryweather's remarks. I'm feeling anything but social at the moment. My anger is all but gone. The hurt, though...
"You're...absence, Master Cain?"
I look out the window and pause for the dramatic effect. Slowly, I look at him out of the corner of my eye.
"As much as I would love to stay and listen to the rock fiasco being played in my conservatory, I have a certain problem that I can't put off any longer."
I turn my head to look at him completely.
"And afterwards, you're free to do as you see fit."
I stop and wait for his answer and any other questions or words he has to say.
[note: Free time, eh, Risu-chan? Don't worry. We won't lynch you XD Pretty soon I'm going to be juggling a job, school, editing, and the RPG.]#nosmileys
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Post by RisuChan on Oct 6, 2003 9:37:41 GMT -5
"If you don't have any pressing matters at the moment, or letters to deliver, why not go keep an eye on our guests in my absence? I'd rather if they didn't break anything."It's logical. It's also deliberately cruel. Both halves are very like him, when he's been hurt. To someone whose entire life has been molded by pain, pain returned is the swiftest response to pain given. And since I am aware that I deserve it -- I was too slow to prevent him from hearing that song, in my own shock, and therefore I feel an aching responsibility for this pain -- I bow my head to his rather vengeful whim, much as I dread it. But something else has caught at my mind. "Your... absence, Master Cain?"For a moment, he gazes out the window, lost in some dark and private contemplation; then, slowly, he looks back at me. "As much as I would love to stay and listen to the rock fiasco being played in my conservatory, I have a certain problem that I can't put off any longer." I take a breath to respond, but find myself trapped by the full force of his gaze. "And afterwards, you're free to do as you see fit.""A problem, Master Cain? Might I be of some..." "You stay right here," he replies swiftly, sharply. "Merry's already spent too much time unsupervised around those bohemians as it is. I'll take care of this myself." I bow my head again, twice rebuked. "My apologies, sir." He nods once, sharply, and then takes his cane and his cloak and brushes past me to stalk down the hall. My feet drag a bit as I walk back to the conservatory. Somehow, Merry's managed to corral a number of the servants into taking Die's orders through the process of turning the conservatory into a wire-tangled spotlight-and-microphone-dripping sound stage. At least they're not singing, and everyone's clothing is perfectly in place. I quietly take a chair and resign myself to a few hours of sweet-voiced pain. It is my place to bear this for him, especially since it is my fault to begin with. Much as I wish I could, I cannot be everywhere at once; I cannot solve all their problems at once; and sometimes my best efforts are not enough. Sometimes he is hurt regardless; and that hurts me as well. This afternoon will be my penitence. This evening will be my preparation. In a way, it's almost convenient that Dr. Disraeli gave me that list of medical supplies to be acquired. I plan on basically doubling his order, and then some. Because in Yuki-sensei's absence, I have the sinking feeling that I and everyone else with medical training in this building will find ourselves in need of as many bandages, sutures, and painkillers as we can reasonably lay hands upon in order to survive the next few months. Another thought nags at the corner of my mind. A few floors above us, there is a young woman in a certain delicate condition. I'm quite certain that the progress of that condition cannot possibly be delayed until Yuki-sensei returns. I'm not accustomed to dealing with the insurance paperwork and the layers of official tracking which fuel modern hospitals, even for an ordinary person -- and since she is here, I know better than to assume she is simply ordinary. For all I know, she might not even have a human blood type. One can never assume, around here. Something else to be added to my list of things to be tracked, then. Test her blood; ask whether she is human enough to admit to a hospital, or whether she is in any danger of becoming less human at an inopportune moment; if not, begin to make arrangements to see to her delivery here, and to deal with any potential complications... The violin speaks in the voice of my heart, and I wish that someone would simply strike me unconscious for the next few hours. Friday night's gathering at Mr. Sakura's bar cannot possibly come too soon for me... [note:] To follow Riff, keep reading this thread; to follow Cain, go to: sakuracrisis.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=yukiverse&thread=1064964629&action=display&start=22
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Crystallyne
Junior Member
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
Posts: 71
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Post by Crystallyne on Oct 7, 2003 1:38:27 GMT -5
[Character POV: Luccia] [Arriving from Cruel Fairytales floor: sakuracrisis.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=yukiverse&action=display&thread=1065508377&start=0]The doors to the elevator swish silently open, and I step out into the grandeur of Merry's home. It rivals the sheer decadence of my own suite, and again I'm slightly uncomfortable. Suddenly the door in front of me opens and Cain steps out. My dream, my fantasy. I can't believe it! How wonderful to see him first thing after I arrive. As I wonder what to say to him, he strides right past me and into the elevator. The doors close as I stand in shock, lamenting my lost opportunity. How did he not see me? I turn towards the door myself, belated realizing that I'm standing almost in the potted tree by the elevator. No wonder he didn't see me. The fronds from this plant are the exact same shade as the material on my dress. I knock on the door softly, then repeat the action slightly louder when no one answers. Finally, I open the door myself and peek my head inside. My mind goes blank as I take in a jumble of cords, some sort of electrical equipment, and all the band members dressed up and talking animatedly about sound and camera placement and... My mind whirls in alarm. I am really not comfortable with all the modern technology utilized here, and I decide to just slip right back out again. Unfortunately for me, that's when Merry spots me. "Luccia! Oh, this is fantastic! come in, come in, you have to see this!" I allow her to latch onto my arm and drag me into the room. The band members all turn and look at me, as well as Riff. Even though I don't know him very well, I can tell that he is not feeling like his usual calm collected self. I sigh, wondering what on earth is going on here to upset Riff that much while at the same time putting Merry into hyper mode. I also wonder if it's worth finding out the answer to that question. [Okay, I'm tossing the ball to someone else now. Merry, Riff, or any of the band members feel free to reply.]
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Post by RisuChan on Oct 7, 2003 13:55:47 GMT -5
[character POV: Merry]
I'm having the best day ever. I'm getting to try to impress Kaine and Die both! Kaine seems to be kind of living in his own little world, but I'm used to people who wander off inside their own heads for hours on end; it's more rare for Big Brother to stay focused outside his head through an entire conversation than it is for him to wander off to someplace he's the only one to see.
And Kaine's so gorgeous sitting there in the windowsill with the sun pouring over him like fire...
I wonder if I could convince Big Brother to let his hair grow out... or to dye it red...
somehow I doubt it.
My own hair's light enough to dye though...
The image of the shouting match likely to be provoked by Big Brother's first sight of my re-colored head puts the stopper on that train of thought. A couple of the sound techs are arguing acoustical points and feedback rates; I look around for someone else to pester, and spot a flash of green.
"Luccia! Oh, this is fantastic! come in, come in, you have to see this!"
I grab her arm and drag her into the room without giving her a chance to protest. Luccia's a very nice, polite, and dutiful girl. Big Brother and Riff approve of me hanging out with her, unlike Rion or Sara.
It's like nobody ever explained to Luccia that you don't get to do anything interesting if you're that nice, polite, and dutiful...
I am firmly in the middle of a one-woman quest to correct this oversight. Well, two-and-two-halves-woman quest anyway. Rion's an enthusiastic co-conspirator, whenever she's not busy getting herself into scrapes even I couldn't imagine getting myself into. Sara's afflicted with the niceness thing too, but she's a pregnant teenage runaway who married her brother, so sheer force of example has got to provide some illustrative benefits to Luccia's re-education. So that's why she's both of two halves; she's only half-hearted about going out and finding adventures to get into, but then she's obviously gotten herself into all kinds of adventures already.
Luccia is looking a bit overwhelmed by all the cables and lights and things. To tell the truth, so am I, but there's no way I'm ever going to admit it! You get a lot further in life when you charge in acting like you know what you're doing. By the time anyone finds out otherwise, everyone's in so deep they don't have time to yell at you.
So, how to get Luccia into this so deeply that she can't get herself back out...
hmm...
Die, over there, looks like some dark angel. The scowl doesn't hurt; he's trying to lecture Kaine into peeling himself out of the windowsill and making himself useful with the sound checks.
Dark hair and a scowl...
Luccia's got a thing for Big Brother...
Some days I'm so brilliant I amaze even myself.
"Die! What this music video needs is a more complex plot."
He has the skeptical look down fairly well. Not as well as Big Brother, but then I haven't been giving him as many opportunities to practice it for as many years as Big Brother has.
"More complex than a Victorian time loop and Goth vampires and reincarnations and a haunted harpsichord?"
"Yeah! I'm the harpsichord player, I'm the one in red, I match Kaine's color scheme and everything -- so you need someone who matches your color scheme! Luccia's right here wearing green and I'll bet she'll play flute for you if you ask her nicely and don't you want to get some footage of wooing the maiden with your mournful violin and all that? You've got a solo in the middle, it's fabulous to listen to, let's make it more interesting to watch -- now, location: up on the roof in the moonlight, people wouldn't be able to see red from green so it'd just be our hair color, and..."
Luccia looks about like she's ready to faint. So does Riff. He's trying to get his knees to hold him up, probably to march over here and try to stop me before I sign us all up for a midnight video shoot in the rooftop garden, and I charge right on ahead with my plans as fast as I can talk.
After all, the more I get said before anyone gets the chance to interrupt me, the further I've gotten with the opportunity to try to run straight over any obstacles which might be so foolish as to present themselves.
"Don't worry about it," I tell Luccia firmly. "Just pretend Die is Big Brother. You need to practice, right? Practice makes everything better. So practice on Die. And just keep thinking like he's my brother. And it'll all be fine."
Luccia is starting to wander off into one of her private little worlds where Big Brother walks her through a garden with roses or something. Die is much less easy to distract, and he's been getting the hang of dealing with me. I'm going to have to work harder to keep him off balance.
"If we go up to the roof," I tell him, "we'll have to go through the host guys' area since the elevator doesn't go up that far. And one of them could really pass for Kaine if he wanted to, and if another of them reorganized his hair a little he could pass for you. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Instant stunt doubles! And they even make a living acting like vampires and stuff, that's like the theme of their club. So I'll bet we could get lots of cool trick shots if we dragged them into this..."
"Miss Merry," Riff says weakly from behind me, "the electricians have only now gotten the lighting configured for this location!"
"That's why I said to make it a night-time shot instead of a daytime one!" I reply briskly. "I've got it all figured out. --So in the meantime, what are we waiting for? Come on, people, time's wasting!"
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Post by Carole on Oct 8, 2003 15:46:16 GMT -5
[Character POV: Cain] [From Kitchen & Jezebel/God…Vacation - previous post in this sequence: sakuracrisis.proboards22.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=yukiverse&thread=1064964629&start=29 ] Luck is once again on my side, as I am able to make it back up to my floor without any sort of trouble (except for that damned meeting with Jezebel). How am I ever going to explain how I ended up looking like this…? Riff certainly wouldn’t pester me about it…but Merryweather…she wasn’t easily dissuaded. I reach the door and pause for a moment. I shift my coat onto the arm that has my splintered fingers. The coat covers those nicely. There’s nothing I can do about the dust and dirt…it’s not like I carry a change of clothes with me where ever I go. I sigh and open the door. "Miss Merry, the electricians have only now gotten the lighting configured for this location!"Hmm…sounds like I arrived just in time. And in the middle of a conversation. Quietly, I shut the door behind me. "That's why I said to make it a night-time shot instead of a daytime one! I've got it all figured out. --So in the meantime, what are we waiting for? Come on, people, time's wasting!" From what I hear Merry saying those band members must not have left yet. Night-time shot? I roll my eyes. What is that girl planning this time? I make my way into the conservatory, taking extra care to stay out of the brightest lights. No one has yet noticed my arrival so I take a quick survey of the scene. Nothing broken…no one’s dead…although Riff looks like he might collapse at any moment…except for the enormous amount of lights and technical equipment everything seems to be the same-Wait. There’s an extra person here. Isn’t that…Ah, it’s only Merryweather’s friend…Lucy? No, Luccia, I believe. My observation only takes a few seconds. Normally I might have slunk by and into my study, but since it seemed Merryweather was planning some sort of outing… “B-Big Brother!?” Here we go.All conversation stops at Merry’s outburst. And everyone’s staring at me. If I wasn’t in such a hurry to get these wood chips out of my hand and some ice on my head (not to mention take a bath) I might have had time to relish the varying expressions on their faces. Poor Riff appears to have had a heart attack. Before anyone can bring up my appearance I lay my gaze on Merryweather, “What’s this I hear about a… ‘night-time shot’?” Merryweather opens her mouth, but no words come out. I raise an eyebrow slightly. Somehow, Merry gains control over herself again, “I was just saying that the roof of the building would make for a wonderful night shot.” Hmm…she’s conveniently leaving a few things out. And by the look she’s giving me, she fully intends to find out my reason for looking like I just crawled out of a dustbin, while being attacked by the broom. Which means if I want some peace and quiet, I should get this entourage out of my home as fast as possible. Riff’s words from early come back to me. “Therefore, I chose to send her to the place I considered most likely to hold her interest and prevent her from wandering further.”I suppress a sigh. Yes…but why does that place have to be with them? “You can go to the roof, but when you’re finished come straight back. No little stops along the way. Do I make myself clear?” I doubt I look very stern or serious standing here in the shape I’m in, but I give it my best anyway. Merryweather rolls her eyes, but answers with a “yes”. I turn to Luccia and give her a charming smile, “Oh, and Miss Luccia…please make sure my darling little sister stays out of trouble, would you?" Turning around I exit the conservatory and out of the corner of my eye I manage to see Merryweather putting her hands on her hips in a huff and sticking her tongue out at me. “Maybe you should try to stay out of trouble for once, Big Brother!#nosmileys#nosmileys#nosmileys
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Crystallyne
Junior Member
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
Posts: 71
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Post by Crystallyne on Oct 8, 2003 19:34:42 GMT -5
[Character POV: Luccia]
"Yeah! I'm the harpsichord player, I'm the one in red, I match Kaine's color scheme and everything -- so you need someone who matches your color scheme! Luccia's right here wearing green and I'll bet she'll play flute for you if you ask her nicely and don't you want to get some footage of wooing the maiden with your mournful violin and all that? You've got a solo in the middle, it's fabulous to listen to, let's make it more interesting to watch -- now, location: up on the roof in the moonlight, people wouldn't be able to see red from green so it'd just be our hair color, and..."
I listen in horrified fascination as Merry rambles on. What could possibly have given her this idea? Me, in a music video with all the band members? Besides, I don't even play an instrument! I wouldn't know what to do with a flute even if I had one. I feel faint, and my knees tremble slightly as I stare at Merry. She obviously notices.
"Don't worry about it," Merry says firmly. "Just pretend Die is Big Brother. You need to practice, right? Practice makes everything better. So practice on Die. And just keep thinking like he's my brother. And it'll all be fine."
How did Merry know about that?! I thought I had managed to keep it a secret. But it does inspire an interesting daydream of mine... Merry rattles on nonstop over Riff and Die's objections, while I try to think of a reason not to do this. All of a sudden Merry stumbles to a halt, an odd expression on her face.
“B-Big Brother!?”
It's Cain! When did he get back? I stare at him, taking in the dust and dirt all over his clothes. His hair is mussed, and his pants are rumpled. What has he been doing?
I stare at him some more as he gives Merry permission to do her little night-time video jaunt, wondering what he's been up to. I may seem polite and shy, but past experience with my own brother has taught me to observe everything for analyzing later on. And Cain just didn't look at all like his smooth, aristocratic self at that moment. In fact, he almost looked like he was in pain.
Then he turned to me and gave one of his sinfully charming smiles, momentarily driving the thoughts right out of my head.
“Oh, and Miss Luccia…please make sure my darling little sister stays out of trouble, would you?"
Ohh, the look in his eyes almost erases the concern I feel for him. For just one second I feel like I am a valued and treasured person to Cain. Then he turns and walks away while I try to phrase a question for him. Merry obviously has no such trouble.
“Maybe you should try to stay out of trouble for once, Big Brother!"
I am still sometimes in awe of Merry's audacity. I am just getting to know my brother again, and he's been through so much. I just can't backtalk to him like that. I want him to find whatever happiness is available. As Cain exits the room, I notice a small bottle fall to the floor right by the door.
What's that?
I glance around, then go quickly over to the doorway to see what it is. Riff is attempting to reason with Merry and the band members are all talking about Cain's surprising permission for the midnight video (which seems to be firmly agreed upon now).
As I pick up the small bottle, I notice some smudges on it. Upon closer inspection, I realize that it's blood. I would recognize that scent anywhere, faint as it is.
Cain's bleeding?! Oh no, what happened?
I glance around again, and then slip out the door after Cain, satisfied that no one is paying any attention to me. I clutch the angel pendant at my neck to give me the nerve to speak to him alone.
Maybe Cain needs my help. I can at least find out how he got hurt.
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Post by Carole on Oct 8, 2003 21:01:17 GMT -5
[Character POV: Cain]
I’m making my way down the hall, when I hear footsteps behind me. They’re much too soft to be Riff’s. If it had been Merry she wouldn’t be sneaking around behind me.
Please…do not let it be one of those band members…
I stop and turn swiftly, giving a piercing glare at the person standing behind me. I soften my gaze when I see who it is.
Poor Miss Luccia seems to be frozen on the spot.
“Is there something I can do for you…” My voice trails off a bit as I notice something odd. With one hand she seems to be holding something around her neck. In the other is…
Shit.
It’s a bottle. One of the bottles that I had just filled in the kitchen. How could I have been so careless as to have dropped it? I have to get it back…
Miss Luccia seems to be rooted to the floor. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out at first. Finally she says, “Cai- Count Cain…you seemed to have dropped this…”
She opens her hand, revealing the bottle further, but she makes no move to offer it to me. I take a few steps forward and hold my good hand out.
“Thank you, Miss Luccia.”
She puts the bottle in my hand and says something…I don’t quite catch it…
“Pardon?” My hurt hand and pounding head are telling me that I’m a fool, and that I should screw the formalities, grab the bottle, and run!
“Blood…on the bottle…are you all right?”
I glance down at the bottle. Seems my splintered fingers left a few prints on it. I’m becoming quite sloppy.
“You have no need to worry, Miss Luccia,” I smile, and the pain on the back of my head sharpens. “It’s only a paper cut.”
She looks doubtful…I better smooth this over.
I bring her hand to my lips, giving it a swift kiss, and I look up at her.
“Now Miss Luccia…if I could ask you a favor…please keep an eye on Merryweather. She has a knack for getting into and causing trouble.”
I take her silence as a yes. I flash another smile, placing the bottle in my coat pocket with the others. I turn, giving her a slight wave, and continue on to my study.
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Post by RisuChan on Oct 8, 2003 22:43:55 GMT -5
^______^ I was going to take a night off, but I SO cannot resist this image...
[character POV: Riff]
Just when I thought I might possibly have some kind of grasp on the situation, the Hargreaves clan between them manage to blaze another whirlwind of chaos through my frantically-clutched-at attempts at organization.
I thought I'd almost convinced Miss Merry that it really would be better to have Miss Luccia pose with rather than actually play an instrument she professed no knowledge of, and that Miss Luccia would be perfectly happy with just appearing in the video rather than also contributing sounds. We were also in the process of tooth-and-nail renegotiation about what to do with the midnight filming proposal.
The next thing I know, Master Cain has reappeared, looking like he's been on the losing end of a barroom brawl. I know I can't afford to take my attention off Miss Merry for a minute, but it still pulls at me terribly. Where did he go? What happened to him?
What was it that he couldn't rely upon me to do for him?
How have I failed him this time...?
"Yeah, but we see the garden all the time! Now that we've got permission I want to make sure we really USE that permission--"
This is not a phrase I can ignore, despite my desperate concern. Hastily, I turn my attention back to Miss Merry.
In the commotion, Master Cain slips away; a moment later, so does Miss Luccia.
Unfortunately, Kaine is getting inspired by Miss Merry's vision. From the very little I know of this band, this is never, ever a good sign.
A minute later, a loud thump from the hallway startles all of us.
I am more familiar than I would like to be with the sound a body makes when it hits carpeted flooring. My knees have carried me out into the hall before the rest of my mind can even react to the blind reflex.
Miss Luccia is sprawled on the carpet; apparently she's fainted dead away.
I never go anywhere without a packet of smelling salts in my pocket. It's old-fashioned, I know; but between my erstwhile medical training and sheer years of experience around corseted women, it's a habit I've never seen a need to break. I crack the packet open by her cheek and waft the fumes toward her carefully.
"Miss Luccia...?"
"...he kissed my hand...!"
I blink through both the sting of the ammonia fumes and complete bewilderment. "I beg your pardon...?"
"He... he kissed my... hand..."
Approximately now is when Miss Luccia realizes she's actually awake and speaking aloud, as opposed to lost in her reverie of one of Master Cain's more lethally genteel behaviors.
She turns bright pink and gasps and chokes apologies; I try somewhat vainly to settle her down, gather her up, and arrange her in a position approximating "vertical" and "supported by feet and wall and anything else convenient." At the moment, the "anything else convenient" includes my arm.
I'm accustomed to this as well, and try to make polite small talk while carefully coaxing her through small steps back towards the door. If I can get her settled inside with Miss Merry, then maybe I can find out what happened to Master Cain, and--
"So it's all settled, then!" I hear Miss Merry proclaim in far too much delight for my sense of self-preservation. "Midnight Sunday at the top of Tokyo Tower! It's going to be incredible! All the spotlights, and the leaves blowing around this time of year, and--"
I clutch at the doorframe, and suddenly Miss Luccia is supporting me as much as I'm supporting her.
"Midnight," I repeat, faintly. "At the top of Tokyo Tower."
"Yeah! And if we get a helicopter cam there'll be the most amazing angles to shoot from and everything--"
"Midnight. At the top of Tokyo Tower."
Miss Merry nods so enthusiastically I wonder if her head is securely attached.
Dear God in heaven, what have I done to deserve this...?
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Post by Carole on Oct 9, 2003 21:01:57 GMT -5
[Character POV: Cain]
I’ve just stepped through the door of my study when I hear the sound of something hitting the floor.
Fantastic…one of those lights must have fallen…
I close the door behind me and pull the bottles out of my coat and then drape it over a chair. Sitting at my desk I unlock the drawer containing my ‘list’ and place the bottles inside. My fingers are turning a bit red from the imbedded splinters. I frown and look around on my desk for something to use to get them out. It would probably be a good idea to disinfect them as well…
I really need to keep first-aid supplies in here…
I rummage around the top of my desk and search through drawers. The closest thing I could find that might be useful is my letter opener…and I’m not about to try that.
“What I really need is some tweezers…and ice…and a bath…and a boss who doesn’t run off leaving her employees to fend for themselves…”
I lean back in my chair.
And a sauna built into my study…
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Post by RisuChan on Oct 9, 2003 22:34:38 GMT -5
[Character POV: Merry]
I think I broke Riff. I didn't mean to; I think his brain just kind of snapped somewhere around the Sunday midnight expedition to Tokyo Tower. Good thing I haven't told him about my plan to recruit the host club's redhead and sulky brunette for stunt doubles. I can break that to him when he's feeling better.
He actually begged me not to plan anything else until he got back, saying that he had to go check on Big Brother. I figure I can indulge him for a little while; I owe him one for letting me meet up with Kaine and Die in the first place.
And besides, even if I can't plan anything out loud, that gives me more strategy-making time.
Now, aside from the music videos -- and I think I can manage to make myself indispensable to Kaine somehow or other; Die hasn't figured out how to put brakes on my ideas yet -- there are all kinds of matters which still need my personal attention. Luccia, for example.
For heaven's sake. Big Brother kisses her hand and she faints? As in, actually faints?
I understand the martial art of delicacy. I only faint when it's the best possible way to get myself what I want. I wanted an excuse not to hand over the envelopes and head back; fainting on Die served quite nicely.
Luccia hasn't even gotten that principle down. She needed to faint about fifteen seconds earlier, if she was going to. That way Big Brother would have seen her falling and tried to catch her and been all hovering and romantic and dashing and all that balderdash.
All right, that's another thing to add to my checklist: teach Luccia how to end up in Big Brother's arms instead of on the floor next time...
Maybe I should practice on Kaine, just to make sure I have the technique down solidly before I go instructing someone else in how to work the timing...
Die's watching me a little too close... hmm...
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Post by RisuChan on Oct 9, 2003 23:28:05 GMT -5
[Character POV: Riff]
I give up.
I just give up.
I've given Miss Merry to the care of -- and to caring for-- Miss Luccia. And I've sworn Miss Merry to a temporary cessation of aggressive video maneuvers until I can return to renegotiate later. I doubt she'll be able to restrain herself that long. But right now I don't care.
This is all too much for me to handle. I've had less than one day of dealing with the aftermath of Yuki-sensei's leaving, and in that fraction of a day, Miss Merry has gotten herself attached to a Goth-rock music video, Dr. Disraeli has me running his lethal shopping errands for him, and Master Cain --
Out of all of this, what's happened to Master Cain bothers me the most. Because I don't know what's happened. I can't even guess. Dirty and bruised and too careful with his hands, as though he's hurt them somehow, and...
it's too much for me to handle. Even under the best of circumstances, it taxes the limits of my abilities just to keep pace with the combination of Master Cain and Miss Merry.
These are far from the best circumstances.
So I give up. I can only handle so many crises at once.
Right now, the crisis calling most loudly to me is Master Cain's bruised cheek and dirtied clothing. If I still were capable of caring, I would try to chalk this up as one of the lesser hazards of the day. He's still alive, conscious, walking under his own power, not visibly bleeding, and not sunk into one of the dark and silent morasses of some unspeakable grief or pain -- so this is hardly the greatest catastrophe we've ever faced, and hardly even the greatest catastrophe of the past eight hours.
But he wouldn't even tell me where he was going, and then he came back looking like that...
I pull myself straight and press my hands together for a moment to stop them from shaking, then take a careful breath to assemble the shards of my composure before I knock lightly on his study door.
I'm sure he knows it's me; he's known the pattern of my knock for years, just as I would know the sound of his footsteps anywhere, or the sound of his breathing. But he doesn't answer at once; silently, I reproach myself again for the failure to control the situation in a way which would have permitted me to assist him earlier.
"Close the door behind you," he calls, finally.
I let myself in and close the door, and try not to hurry too visibly as I cross the room.
There are an assortment of peculiar implements on his desk -- of course, peculiar being a highly relative term around Master Cain, I should be more specific. It is not usual for Master Cain to have an assortment of small tools and blades and pen tips scattered across the surface of his desk. He's glowering at a pen knife with particular ferocity, and at...
"Your hands...!"
Master Cain transfers his glare from the penknife to me. "There were... circumstances. Never mind. I don't suppose you know where the tweezers are kept around here?"
"Yes, of course, sir -- if you'd pardon me a moment--" I hurry down the hall to the linen closet with my small first aid kit, and run back.
His poor hands are scratched and scraped and riddled with splinters. I take one of his hands very gently, and thank my college pre-medical training for the ability to keep my hands still through a delicate procedure.
It hurts me every time he winces, but he doesn't make a sound of protest as I carefully remove the splinters one by one.
The antiseptic, on the other hand, is a different matter completely; he jerks his hand away from mine and says a word I hadn't realized he knew.
"It's important to disinfect your hands as well, Master Cain."
"I know! But, Christ, are you using straight vitriol?"
"Iodine, sir."
"Haven't they invented anything better than that yet?"
"I'll investigate the alternatives available in this country, sir. If I may -- your other hand...?"
He gives me a sigh and a glare, and gives me his left hand for treatment. I concentrate all my attention on removing the splinters as gently as possible, and bite the inside of my lip to prevent myself from saying what I wish I dared say.
What were you doing? What happened to you? Why couldn't I do this for you...?
"I suppose it's far too much to hope that you've locked Merry in her bedroom to prevent her from compounding her mischief with those bohemians in your absence?"
"She is in Miss Luccia's supervision at the moment, sir."
Master Cain can make even small wordless sounds convey a vast world of skepticism.
I restrained myself from mentioning Miss Luccia's overwhelmed response to Master Cain's own devastating gallantry a few minutes earlier, under the uncomfortable awareness that it would provide far more support for Master Cain's skepticism than for my own tenuous position.
Even after the last of the splinters has been removed, I hesitate at the prospect of applying more iodine to these raw and open scratches.
"You'd have been a terrible doctor," Master Cain says.
I can't help flinching at that. "I'm sorry that my clumsiness has hurt you, sir..."
"I mean that you'd never be able to do half the things medicine requires to be done to patients," Master Cain clarified, with an oddly wry quirk to the corner of his mouth. "You're too bloody tender-hearted. Now, that sick bastard Disraeli -- I dare swear he's never had a moment's hesitation over making a patient scream at a bonesetting or cautery... but you're just too damned gentle. Give me that bottle."
"Master Cain--"
He takes the bottle of iodine, pours some of it onto a folded corner of a bandage, and dabs at his hand, swearing through gritted teeth as he does so.
When the stinging has faded enough that he can breathe and speak normally again, he says, "I want another bath. Badly. Go see to it, will you?"
"Yes, sir." I bow my way out of the door and close it behind myself again, to leave Master Cain his privacy while the bath is being prepared.
As Yuki-sensei's replacement house-manager, there are thirty other things which I should be doing instead. I should be compiling a list of the servants who work on each floor, any law enforcement types, any investigative types, the past histories and motivations of any suspected or convicted criminals, the ordering schedules and quantities for supplies and food, the house accounts, any vendors with whom we have particular arrangements...
I don't care right now. I'll care later. After Master Cain has had a bath and is settled for the evening. After Miss Merry has wreaked whatever havoc she plans on wringing from the upstairs garden in preparation for her Sunday night misadventures in Tokyo. After my own charges have been dealt with, then I'll return to taking care of someone else's abandoned mess.
Right now, I need to focus on one thing at a time. Focusing on Master Cain's needs is, for once, far, far easier than focusing on my own.
I never thought I would live to see a day when my devoted service to my sworn lord could be a distraction from the task that has been given to me...
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Crystallyne
Junior Member
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
Posts: 71
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Post by Crystallyne on Oct 10, 2003 2:07:37 GMT -5
[Note: I'm doing several posts one after the other, so it's easier to tell when I switch characters ^___^ )
[Character POV: Luccia]
I'm so humiliated. Not only did I miss the chance to talk to Cain like an intelligent human, I fainted after he kissed me! At least he didn't see that. That's one extremely tiny good thing about the situation.
And damn that fire-haired hothead, he's laughing at me! Kaine hasn't stopped grinning since he found out that I fainted due to a single kiss on the hand from Cain. Right now Die is sitting next to me on the couch, inquiring about my health as Merry pretends to be watching me. I can tell she's plotting something. And she seems faintly disdainful of my actions, as well. I sigh, knowing that Merry will be getting me into more trouble very soon. Well, at least Riff is helping Cain and not having to see her plotting so soon.
"Well, Die, is our faint-hearted flower recovered enough?" a silky smooth voice interupts my thoughts. It's Kaine, and he's still highly amused at me. He strolls closer and gives me (what he obviously believes is) a "lady-killer" look. My hands ball into fists in my lap at that look. Laying his hand atop mine, he smirks and adds, "I have to wonder if you'd be able to handle posing in the video, Miss Luccia, because Die would have to embrace you in the shot. An embrace is far more intimate than a kiss to the hand, though. Can you overcome such a challenge, dear flower?"
That does it. I am a lady in my own right. My pride in my family as well as my indignation at having fainted revive my spirit. I rise quickly from the couch.
SMACK
The sound of flesh striking flesh echoes in the deathly quiet room. Everyone stares at the hand print forming on Kaine's cheek.
"How dare you. How dare you insult me like that?" The words come out passionately before I can stop them.
Kaine looks at me with interest, as does Merry. Apparently it never occurred to her that I knew what a slap was. Die has a very odd look on his face that I can't fathom at the moment.
As Kaine opens his mouth, a slight sound from the doorway distracts me and I glance over, only to gasp in shock.
"M-Martin! What are you doing here?"
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Crystallyne
Junior Member
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
Posts: 71
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Post by Crystallyne on Oct 10, 2003 2:09:19 GMT -5
[Martin arrives from: sakuracrisis.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=yukiverse&action=display&thread=1065508377&start=1][Character POV: Martin] As I approach the doorway to the first floor, I notice it's already open slightly. Well, here's a chance to do exactly what Yuki-san wants me to do. Snoop. I ease through the door in time to see Luccia stand quickly and slap the man leaning over her. My eyes widen. I thought Luccia was still asleep! That must have been her leaving this morning."How dare you. How dare you insult me like that?" Insult her? That man insulted my beloved sister?! I must have made some slight sound because Luccia glanced over at me. I see the blood drain from her face, but I don't care right now. I will not allow anyone to insult the sister I searched for for so long. I wonder if his blood is as red as his hair? I'd love to find out. "Miss Luccia. Your brother requires your presence. And I have a message for Mr. Riff." Luccia obviously can now read some of my emotions, because I'm sure they don't show on my face. I'm very good at keeping them hidden.
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