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Chocolate Pollution Captain
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 Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:11 am
((Glad to have you back pizzasage ^^))
Bri glanced up and stood, she offered a hand to Arielle.
"Thank you miles, if I could have a small glass of water, that would be fine."
((Sorry its so short sweatdrop )
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:12 pm
((WB hun! ^^))
Confusion clouded her eyes as she watched Bri stand. What did getting lost have to do with being here? The gears in Arielle's brain clicked over for a moment, till she realized her friend was holding out her hand to her. Shaking herself, she accepted the aid in rising to her feet, before turning a sheepish smile on the butler. She had always felt oddly about treating servants like...well, like servants. Being waited upon would always make her feel a tad strange.
"I wouldn't turn down some hot tea, if you're sure it's no trouble..."
When he gave his assent, the woman beamed.
"Thank you Miles!"
Turning to Bri, she linked arms with the woman and began following the manservant towards the dinning room. The bard tossed a glance over her shoulder at the pair following them, then leaned in conspiratorially.
"So, what's the tale of the Twins of Silence back there? Are they Lord Barlow's guests also?"
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Chocolate Pollution Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:57 am
Bri shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not entirely sure. They haven't revealed much about themselves," She said just as quietly. Bri grinned as the smells of dinner reached her nose, she was quite excited about the main course.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:00 am
"Of course. You're welcome, madam Bri, Madam Arielle." With a smile, Miles withdrew to the kitchen to fill the two ladies' orders. The smile took on a worried edge as he left the sitting room. Eva, the cook, was busy in the kitchen, and a savory and delicious aroma filled the air. She turned around as Miles entered.
"The fish is almost ready," she declared, "and the salad and soup can be served as soon as everybody is seat-" Just then, she saw the look on Mile's face. "What's wrong?"
"Master Barlow has left the house," Miles answered. His usual crisp, polite tone was tinged with concern. "He's gone after a guest who's dealing with a walker."
Eva nodded as she carefully arranged the spread of thinly sliced radish on the last salad. She took great pride in her cooking. No dish left her kitchen until she was sure that, not only was it delicious, it was a work of art. Once she was done, she turned to Miles. "I know you worry when Barlow is gone, but I've known him for a very long time. I honestly don't think there's anybody who's better equipped to go out into the void than he is. He'll be fine. Now, what are you here for?"
With a very slight grin, Miles switched his attention back to the present. "A glass of water and a cup of tea," he answered, walking to the teapot. It was an old pot, and Miles used a separate strainer to keep the leaves out of the cup. Barlow always preferred to keep things in his house that had a great deal of personality or history behind them. Miles had always appreciated that. He set the cup on a saucer and poured water from a frosted pitcher into a glass. "Thank you, Eva," he said softly as he added some ice. She nodded, preoccupied with preparing the soup to be served, and Miles walked out of the kitchen, holding the water and tea in their respective cups on a tray.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:06 pm
Kenzie wandered around quietly looking at all of her surondings. She smiled and began to hum to herself quietly.
Alec looked around the main part and smiled. He stood up and began to pace back and forth.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:31 pm
((Thank you for the information.))
Blake's silver hair had a bit of frost on the tips. He knew he had to think of a question that would give him broad information. Blowing out a cold mist, he glanced around then looked directly at Mr. Tollheit. He kept his face content, he knew what he should ask first. His hands remained in his coat's pockets, sometimes moving his fingers around a peculiar object in one of his pockets. "How did you come to be? Meaning, what is your life story."
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:42 am
Tollheit's head cocked to the head slightly. "The sum of my life's story? From the very beginning until the point at which we met? Interesting." He seemed to consider this for a moment. Also, he was obviously unaware that Blake was doing anything in particular with his hands in his pockets. Or, if he did know, he gave no indication of it. "Very well," he said. "I said that I would answer, so I'll start at the beginning." He turned and put his hand against the wall nearest to him, resting his palm flat against it. "Although it would be much easier to show you."
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:57 pm
Arielle selected a seat close to the center of the long dinning room table, settled herself into it with little fuss. Her tawny eyes gleamed golden in the light provided by the slim white candles set in silver holders around the table, wandering around the rooms length. The paintings adorning the walls fascinated her with their masterfully executed scenes; the furniture was ornate and obviously old, though well cared for; other strange odds and ends stood about on sideboards or in glass-fronted cabinets. The bard shook her head slowly, smiling.
"What strange taste Lord Barlow has...good, mind you, but strange."
When Miles appeared to hand her a cup and saucer, she smiled gratefully at him. The cup was warm against her palms as she cradled it in her hands, and the liquid slid deliciously down her throat as she sipped. The heat seemed to reach all the way to her toes, which she wiggled inside her boots with pleasure as the remaining tension seeped slowly out of her frame. There was nothing like a good cup of tea. Unless it was a good meal and a hot bath, two things she was greatly anticipating at the moment.
Her words of gratitude came out on a windy sigh of contentment
"Absolutely fabulous. Thank you Miles."
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:40 am
"You are quite welcome, madam Arielle," replied Miles warmly with a smile and bow. His face showed a hint of worry and care, although it did not taint his tone or his manners.
"Guests of Master Barlow," he said, addressing all those assembled, "Thank you for your patience. The first course of dinner will now be served. The master will doubtlessly return presently, but he asks that his guests not be forced to endure the pangs of hunger any longer than necessary."
As he spoke, a member of the kitchen staff entered the room with a large serving tray, on which were four plates of salad. Each one had been carefully arranged into an artistic composition of its own. Olives, tomatoes, red romaine lettuce, artichoke hearts, and other marvels from the garden all made their contributions. But, as much as the salads may have appealed to the eyes, there could be no mistake about it: They were made to be eaten. A number of small saucers containing various sorts of dressing were placed next to each guest's salad. "Please feel free to begin," Miles invited.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:32 pm
Bri grinned and accepted her salad graciously. Eva's cooking had always astounded her. Once, Bri had sat with Eva in the kitchen for hours, watching the woman bustle about creating beautifull and deliscious delecatesens. Bri had begged the woman to share her secrets but she kept them all for herself, and still she wondered if Eva's cheerfull smile held a smirk that day.
Bri shrugged the happy memory off and poured a little dressing ontop, forked lettuce, and a bit of artichoke heart and daintily put it in her mouth, nearly melting under its absolutly delightfull taste. She savored the bite for a second more before continuing eating it.
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Chocolate Pollution Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:15 am
As Tollheit's hand came down on the wall in front of him, it parted like a curtain. Whisps of what the wall had been fluttered down like shreds of cobweb before dissolving and fading away. In place of where the wall stood was... nothing. Simply a swirling void. Blake would be reminded of the instant where there was nothing in the doorframe back in the hallway, it looks very similar. "In the beginning, I drifted through the void," began Tollheit. "I knew nothing of space, or matter, or even time."
As Tollheit spoke, Blake would become aware that he no longer felt cold. He wouldn't feel warm either. It would be more like the concepts of hot or cold had become meaningless. The walls adjacent to the one Tollheit tore down also began to break apart slowly, revealing more shapeless void.
"Gradually, I came to understand that I existed, and that I was not infinite in scope. With the realization that I existed in some medium or another, I began to imagine that there might be other things that existed apart from me. And of course, there were." As he said this, Blake would be able to pick out semi-distinct forms in the void. Distance is difficult to judge without any landmarks, they could be small and fairly close by, or enormous and far away. "Most of these other forms existed without any awareness at all, but occasionally I would encounter others like myself. I shared the perspective of my existence with them, and they shared theirs with me."
At this point, it begins to get very hard to breathe. The concept of air seems to be going the way of temperature, and the walls. Tollheit's voice still comes through clearly, though.
"Now that I'm removing the assumptions that you came here with, I encourage you to create an environment more conducive to your survival," he said flatly. "I already gave you a hint as to how to do this, but you might find trying to breathe where there is no air rather stressful. A reminder might help. Envision a place you are familiar with. Feel the texture of the ground under your feet. Breathe in the scent of the air. Feel the warmth of the sun or the chill of the rain. Listen to the old familiar sounds. Put yourself there, and make it real." Tollheit's suit began to blur a bit at the edges. "Your only alternative is to die, gasping in the void."
...........................................
Barlow hated looking for Walkers of the Void. They were almost impossible to pick out of their surroundings unless they were doing something. Still, though, he thought he would at least be able to track Blake. But he was finding nothing. Which was either very good, in that nothing had happened yet, or very bad, in that Blake was no more...
Suddenly, with a start, he felt it. Something was changing, he could feel the ripples through the void. No... not just changing, breaking apart! He dashed in the direction of the disturbance as fast as he could, praying he would not be too late.
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:14 pm
As Miles began to step back from her, the silver-haired woman caught his arm gently. When he looked over, it was to see a face filled with openness touched with concern turned up to his. Arielle could read emotion when it was plain to see; and it was clear to her that the older man had something worrying his mind. Still, to respect his privacy she kept her tone light and her words soft-spoken.
"Is everything well, Miles?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:30 am
Miles reflected some surprise back at Arielle when she took his arm, but when she asked her question, the lines of worry on his face grew more pronounced. Now that they had been noticed, perhaps there was no need to hide them any more.
"Please forgive me, madam," he said softly, "I... worry when the Master is gone from the safety of the house. There are terrible things in the night of this place. I know that master Barlow knows what he is doing, but still..." he trailed off. His composure returned after a moment and he smiled at the bard. "I am touched by your concern, madam Arielle, but there is no need to worry. Master Barlow will doubtlessly be back soon. I know he would be sorely disappointed if he were to miss dinner with guests."
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:20 pm
Bri looked up, it must have been something terrible to keep Barlow away, especially at dinner. Her own concern grew but she brushed it away, knowing he could take very good care of himself, instead she looked to Arielle and asked, "Arielle, would you please grant us a story or a song?" she smiled and sucked on a tomato.
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Chocolate Pollution Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:51 pm
Slowly, the woman nodded and released his arm enough to pat him lightly on the shoulder. It was nice to find servants who were truly loyal to those they served; it spoke well of her host that Miles was so concerned for his well-being. At Bri's request, Arielle nodded a second time. Wondering what to select, she opted for an old melody that was a favored in some of the taverns she had played in. It felt appropriate.
She took up her harp case, undid the clasps with a synchronized snap. The wooden frame gleamed up at her like the smile of an old friend, and she removed it with loving care from it's velvet lining. Pleased as always to find it needed only minor tuning, she strummed lightly, building the song in silvery notes before adding her voice:
"As we go marching, marching
In the beauty of the day
A million darkened kitchens
A thousand mill lofts grey
Are touched with all the radiance
That a sudden sun discloses
For the people hear us singing
Bread and roses, bread and roses
As we go marching, marching
We battle too for men
For they are womens children
And we mother them again
Our lives shall not be sweetened
From birth until life closes
Hearts starve as well as bodies
Give us bread, but give us roses
As we go marching, marching
We bring the greater days
For the rising of the women
Means the rising of the race
No more the drudge and idler
Ten that toil where one reposes
But the sharing of lifes glories
Bread and roses, bread and roses..."
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