|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:17 am
 Ⅱ. Solo: The Study of R's and L's
Ⅲ. Journal: Garden of Bears
Ⅳ. Journal: There's No Such Thing as Peace
Ⅴ. Journal: Mother + Son
Ⅵ. Solo: A Brief Reunion
Ⅶ. Journal: Shrove Tuesday
Ⅷ. Solo: A Lesson of Science
Ⅸ. Solo: A Pest from the Past | META
Ⅹ. Solo: What "Honor" Is | META
Ⅺ. Journal: Lady and the Tramps | META
Ⅻ. Solo: Raining, Melting Parchment
ⅫⅠ. Solo: The Lot of Swine
ⅩⅣ. Solo: A Dirty Trick
ⅩⅤ. Solo: Under Different Circumstances
Feel free to post if you have any plot/rp ideas you'd like to share! 8D
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:46 pm
Ⅱ. THE STUDY OF R'S AND L'S | ► Agnes Obel - Wallflower
In which Lulu Rogers finally perfects the distinctive pronunciation of the letters from hell. Oh, and a bit on Alfred. That poor soul.
“Aaawwwwwwweeeeeerrrrrr,” A small woman exaggerated as she expressed animosity towards her pupil. Well, not animosity per se, but more of a frustration that was beyond frustration yet not hate. Not that it made any difference. "It's not--" Miss Potts paused for a moment, "...Goodness, I don't even know how you do it."
Lulu Rogers wasn’t dumb. She knew what the letter was, and how to pronounce it. It was just infuriating to see how she couldn’t exactly say it the way that was desired by Miss Potts--and therefore, the rest of Panymium. It was understandable, in such a case, for her tutor to be reacting this way--but it was not helpful in any way. They had spent the last three lessons practicing the pronunciation of the letters r and l and Lulu was getting tired. However, she endured.
She wanted perfection and nothing less was acceptable. It would have been what her mother had wanted--and perhaps even Alfred.
Oh, Alfred.
If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be living in this mansion of a house, nor would she be having Panymese lessons with a private tutor--not to mention, even study the language. Okay, well, that's a lie. If it wasn't Alfred, it could have been Robert Hayes, George Peabody, or even Scott Wilkinson. Who knew. They were all the same to her. He just happened to be Alfred Rogers, owner of a cloth factory, who visited her little tea shop off the cost of West Yirui and, like the rest of them, had the desire to whisk her away. One could call it fate, but Lulu believed in self-fulfilled prophecies. Lulu wasn't dense. She had plans of her own, and Alfred simply...stopped being a part of them.
Panymese was utterly essential for the migration--the grand escape. Ah, the much discussed adventure she were to share with someone one day. They all wanted to be him--the one she brought along with the ride, the one next to this nymph of a woman--not a girl, but not yet a woman. It was an awkward time for many.
She was brought back to the present when Miss Potts finally found the words she had wanted to say. "Curl your tip of the tongue without touching the top of the mouth. Don't exaggerate it, but don't under do it either."
"Aawwhlll" Lulu muttered out. She knew it was wrong, she knew she her tongue hit the back her two front teeth, and to be honest, she wasn't quite sure why she said it so blatantly wrong. Maybe it was just her being stubborn. Maybe her tongue was refusing to cooperate with her. Maybe there's someone out there who simply wanted her to get things wrong--to have no chance in attaining one of her short-term goals.
"How many times...." At this point, Lulu had already zoned out. Miss Potts was giving her, once again, another lecture about effort and success and all that. She was getting paid, so Lulu didn't know why Miss Potts always got so frustrated. After all, if a student was to be failing now, wouldn't that simply mean that more time would be spent on a lesson? And that leads to more personal income. If Lulu was a private tutor, she'd take her sweet, sweet time to be able to milk out every dime possible.
"Alfred would not be pleased to hear this." Once again, dragged back to reality. Lulu opened and closed her mouth, before opening it once more. "Excuse me?" She asked in almost disbelief. She was getting paid, and this woman found it suitable to bring up a dear, dear person in Lulu's life...and even referred to him on a first-name basis. Who did she think she was! Yet, she continued on. "If Alfred was here, he'd want to hear how, by the end of two weeks ago--that's right, two weeks ago, you were able to maste--."
"If I were you..." Lulu interrupted, with a very, very serious tone, "I'd reevaluate your choice of words, Miss Potts." Lulu saw her briefly open her mouth before immediately closing it. Good. She knew her place. Alfred, after all, was supposed to be a touchy subject--at least, in the eyes of everyone else. Is it sad to say that Lulu was over his death already? In fact, it was a bit of a drab. Surely there were more important things to mull over than dead people. Even plants were more interesting than them, and had more use.
The potentiality to manipulate and use for her own selfish needs. That’s all that mattered to Lulu. If they didn’t better Lulu’s life in some shape or form, they were better off dead. Or, well, at least, out of her way. Why else would she keep up with Miss Potts’ lessons? Oh, speaking of which…
“Ah…” Miss Potts let out a soft…sound before continuing. “I think it’d be best if we ended the lesson short today.” She cleared her throat. Lulu rose an eyebrow toward the disheveled young woman. Had her words really affected her this much? Lulu felt a smirk forming, and as the awkward silence elongated, Miss Potts took it upon herself to make the first move.
“Until next time, then!” Miss Potts abruptly stood up and made her way towards the door that would lead to another room to which she had to open another door—which would finally lead to the main exit—before she somehow tripped over the corner of the table. She stared in aghast at her scattered belongings for quite a while. Lulu simply watched with amusement as she took another sip from her tea.
Miss Potts proceeded to randomly stuff papers and notebooks and pens and other things that she had dropped back into her bag. Feeling Lulu’s expressionless gaze, she left a few seemingly unimportant papers behind and fled.
“Ah, Miss Potts!” Lulu called out with yet another amusing tone. Her eyes were mischievous before she finally read what the papers actually were. Log entries? About her?
What on Profugus did Alfred see her as?
She scanned the material and furrowed her eyebrows. And just when she thought her eyebrows couldn’t furrow any more—they did.
She looked towards the window as she saw the departing Miss Potts and back at the papers. Apparently there were things about Alfred that she didn’t know. Even in death, Alfred managed to beat her at her game—or at least, this round.
Quite interesting. Interesting, indeed.
A few more seconds of pondering and then Lulu cleared her throat. "R." She pronounced.
"R." A pause. "L." She smiled.
► pronouncing L vs R
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:47 am
Ⅲ. GARDEN OF BEARS | [PRP] COMPLETE
In Gadu, Imisus, in an industrial area; a beargarden is nearby. It is here where Lulu meets Miss Felicity Wilkes and Claudia.A Bear Garden is an intriguing place that allows for the beating of various animals. The ones that lasted longer than others were given human names such as "George Stone" or "Ned Whiting". Curious, really. To give an angered beast such regular names. As if, by being outstanding in such a brutal sport would promote them to something they obviously weren't.
Of course, before the show there would be a display of flowers, as I call it. I suppose they do it to display the women in a metaphorical way, but I sense that it's simply pure entertainment and gives an excuse to dress in silly costumes. It's also a justification toward the name of such a place. Perhaps if officials were to come by and question the activity, they would walk in to see a rather...sophisticated set of males enjoying a night show where women would walk around the stage and magic tricks would be displayed. Then again, I doubt officials really did come regulate the area.
Meeting Felicity Wilkes and the flower Claudia at Gadu Garden was interesting to say the least. I resisted the urge to pluck at Claudia's petals just to see if it was possible and to see what was underneath all that puffy material. I reckon it was also to see what type of reaction she'd emit. If it was a reaction emit, at the least. I do hope I see the two again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:22 pm
Ⅳ. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PEACE | [PRP] COMPLETE
Lulu Rogers and Herve Staun have their peace disturbed at a local cafe.I toyed with the idea of peace and self-fulfillment. After Alfred's death, this allowed me to wander as freely as I saw fit. The bear garden was interesting enough, but I suppose I wanted to try my hand at a new type of breakfast. What Susan provided was bland, or at least, it was getting tiring. That and I wondered what sorts of men will be out and about. Besides the swines of course. Herve J Staun was an interesting character, though I was handling the situation well. I believe it was of most intrigue when the rude man at the bar was sizing up Mr Staun. The punches were exchanged, and they were intriguing. Oh how silly men were. I would never understand them.
What confused me the most, however, was Mr. Staun's disappearance. If the man didn't want to accept my invitation, he could have at least told me upfront.
-------
I want Yiruian tea. Though that'd be impossible if I wanted the ones that were of quality. Perhaps I should walk the market tomorrow. Maybe there will be herbs that I can experiment with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:25 pm
Ⅴ. MOTHER + SON | [PRP] INCOMPLETE
Lulu Rogers runs into Toshua Green, who strangely enough, reminds her of her brother Wei. Hilarity ensues.xxx
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:27 pm
Trent Reznor + Atticus Ross - The Gentle Hum of AnxietyIn which Lulu Rogers goes out for a nice walk and comes across...an old acquaintance? Months passed since Alfred's passing. Lulu made the best of her time with what she felt satisfied with and worthy. It included a fateful meeting at the bear garden, where Miss Felicity Wilkes and the flower Claudia entertained her. There was a run-in at a local cafe, and here Lulu ponders for a moment as she walks by, wondering whether Herve J. Staun (proclaimed author) would be sitting in the far left corner with a cup of warm liquid in his lonely company. A fleeting moment later, she walks by the alley where the Farmer's Market was however long ago that was. She thinks back to Toshua Green, that teenage boy who reminded her of her younger brother Wei but turned out to be nothing like him at all.
Feeling a slight wind creep up behind her, she hurried her steps and tugged on her cloak as she attempted to warm her hands by rubbing them together. Somehow, she managed to walk by the old church she and Alfred used to attend every week. Upon Alfred's death and his funeral, she stopped. Occasionally, there'd be visitors with simple requests of having her join them in mass, but Lulu would feign grief. She needed her time and nothing was going to stop her. That and she found the idea of church to be silly anyhow. Why would she entrust her own fate into something that wasn't physically or even mentally there? Lulu already had her own beliefs from when she was in Yirui.
Oh, Yirui. Back at home, she'd have walks such as so and would somewhat admire her surroundings. Who was she kidding? She was more interested during that time in scouting the man who would whisk her away.
It's been years since she left, and she never thought of Yirui as much as she did now. She wondered why her home country haunted her so. She was happy, but perhaps it was because she wasn't actually doing anything that made her a bit homesick. Sure, she loved her freedom, but she knew that the money Alfred left behind would disappear eventually. The factory was being tended to by Alfred's right hand man, who was receiving a share of the pay. Lulu didn't want to begin to comprehend what they did there. That, and the place was stuffy and always filled with smoke. She never did understand what Alfred found in the place.
Lulu shrugged off the thought of being homesick. It disgusted her, to be frank. There was nothing in Yirui except for a tea shop and a herbalist. She'd just want to escape again.
She had no idea where she was walking to now, but suddenly a thin-framed man bumped into her. "Watch it now, lad." She spat out. "A lady's trying to walk, are you blind?" She reached into her purse for her handkerchief to wipe where he bumped into. Otherwise, she would have felt dirty.
"E-Excuse me...Mrs. Rogers?" The young man awkwardly recalled her. She seemed different now. Which would have made sense if they knew each other from before. After all, whenever Alfred was around, she had to be modest and shy in front of others.
"Are we acquainted?" Lulu was not hesitant to ask. Rarely did she remember people by their faces--it was even harder to remember names.
"Oh, yes! I've dropped by your estate on multiple occasions, Missus." He scratched the back of his head. Upon giving him a quick scan, she guessed that he couldn't have been older than 20.
He leaned in as she leaned away. "I'm from the church." He whispered before fixing his posture. She patted down her dress. "Oh, I see. Then you already know I'm not interested in going back."
"Oh, but Mrs. Rogers! You and the Mister have barely dropped by!"
An awkward pause. Why, did this boy not hear the news? Perhaps it was presumptuous of her to assume that everyone heard of Mr. Alfred Rogers’s death.
She almost wondered what he would think if no one remembered him. Not that it really mattered. “We’re busy, boy.” She scooted her way past him and sashayed away.
“Please, Missus. At least attend tonight’s mass? I won’t bug you again.”
She clicked her heel down. Well, that got her attention. Although lately the boy hadn't been by her estate, she imagined him coming by now that he remembered her. She shook off the predicted pain that she would have to endure. Swiftly turning and walking towards him, she fixed here hair and simply stated, "Lead the way."
The young lad, who Lulu still didn't recall, happily obliged and she almost thought she saw him skip along the path. He turned left and right, and right again. Then, an abrupt two left turns, and another right, and another left, and two right turns later, Lulu was lost. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" She couldn't help but call out.
"Of course, m'lady! I attend every evening mass!" Lulu slowly rolled her eyes. Of course he would. Finally, she found herself standing in front it. She never understood why churches had to be so...huge.
Either way, she stepped in after the boy and mimicked him halfheartedly during the pre-rituals or whatever. The two then made their way towards the...mass...area...and Lulu sat next to the boy. She placed out her handkerchief on the seat before putting her bottom down, however.
"Perhaps you'd like to have Confession soon, Missus?" The boy turned to her innocently. Confession. Lulu paused for a millisecond. "No, of course not." She simply said before readjusting herself. The seats in the nave were rather rough--it made her want to get some pillows.
"O-oh." The lad sat up straight, almost forgetting who he was talking to. Actually, he didn't recognize the woman at all. Was she always this...callous?
The mass started, and evidently, droned on. As soon as the priest let out his first word, Lulu regretted ever coming here. She turned to the boy next to her, who she still didn't recall, and saw his eyes gleam with...inspiration? determination? She didn't know--she couldn't relate.
She was rusty with the rituals and the activities. Whenever Alfred brought her, she really just sat there or stood there and smiled daintily and tip toed her way around places, following Alfred's lead. Here...she didn't know what she was doing.
"Praise the Lord!" Sudden cries of desperation rang throughout. Lulu stood there awkwardly, wondering why she would have to look up to something that didn't help her at all. She wondered why the people would succumb to such an unstable lifestyle--why they would be dependent on empty promises and lost hopes.
"Now, we must..." Lulu drowned out his voice. Was it time for prayers--or were they going to consume something? Why is he holding out wine--or is that bread? When everyone else stood up, Lulu was pushed up by the boy beside her, who encouraged her to go up to the altar just as everyone else was. She accepted the...soggy piece of bread and, when no one was paying attention, threw it to the side before she wiped her hands against her second handkerchief. A lady can never have too many handkerchiefs.
She sat down again, and stared with aghast at everyone who determinedly ate the pieces of bread, with smiles for that matter. She briefly wondered if they would still be so happy if the bread was molding. Then, after a few more glances around the room, she realized that...yes, they would be. No matter what the priest gave them, they would accept it without a second thought. She didn't know--she couldn't begin to fathom--what that was like. Actively giving yourself up for some other being. It didn't even have to be higher. Being so dependent on something or someone other than yourself. Everything she did, everything she striven for, was for ultimately for herself, and only herself.
For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she was broken, before she deduced that it was obviously them with the issues here.
She looked up at the sound of a man approaching the front where the priest was standing. He cleared his throat as the woman, up above, was beginning to play the organ. He let out a first note, and Lulu noticed the people around her closing their eyes. Someone almost had tears running down their face.
Lulu simply sat. She sat there as the man began to waver his voice--she thought she saw his eyes water as well.
She sat, for another thirty seconds, before she promptly picked herself up. Lulu Rogers was done with this nonsense.
The boy, who she will probably never see again, frowned a bit upon hearing her dainty and careful steps--something that she had to train and endure for quite a portion of her life. His eyes were still closed, but he knew those steps from anywhere.
Click. Clack. Click. Clack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:49 pm
Ⅶ. SHROVE TUESDAY | [PRP] INCOMPLETE
Lulu Rogers and Ellison D. West two meet by fate, or coincidence, at a Shrove Tuesday festival--particularly, the c**k throwing event.
March 3rd, this year, revealed the gluttony in all of us. Before the community is to make sacrifices on Ash Wednesday, they simply splurge the day before--letting out all the sinful desires out of the way and getting forty day's worth of playtime in one afternoon to make up for their losses. Rather disgusting, if I may say so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:43 pm
Ⅷ. A LESSON OF SCIENCE
In which Lulu Rogers makes a special request for a last minute change in regards to today's tutoring session."Miss Potts, what do you know of science?" Lulu interrupted her tutor from the current lesson. They were now discussing sentence structure, but Lulu had passed all that last week. Perhaps Miss Potts was forgetting. "Pardon me?" Miss Potts was caught off guard.
"Dear woman, just because it was Shrove Tuesday earlier doesn't mean you have permission to be unprofessional in this house. I simply asked of your knowledge in science." Lulu repeatedly tapped her foot on the floor, waiting for an answer. Miss Potts usually came by the estate three times a week. Last time Lulu saw her was last Sunday. Due to Ash Wednesday, Lulu allowed for Miss Potts to cancel a couple sessions for her to be with her family. Lulu didn't celebrate much of Shrove Tuesday nor Ash Wednesday.
It was now the tenth of March. Another Tuesday meant another week came and gone. Another week spent wondering where to go or how to go about with her life. Perhaps this was why she was asking Miss Potts now. After all, she had spent the last week at home, pondering on what else there was to do. After all, once you've hired out others to take care of your responsibilities, what is one to do? Lulu read, but Alfred's idea of "fun" usually consisted of tormenting those at his factory. Back to the subject.
"Why...Well...." Miss Potts stammered here and there. "I have...some knowledge in the subject, yes."
"Tell everything you know about it, then."
Miss Potts shuffled through her parchment. She was, after all, an English tutor. Not that Lulu cared. A tutor was a tutor, and that was it. And so, Miss Potts began to ramble, about plants and trees and the waters and some animals here and there. Then, she began to make stuff up. Lulu didn't know the difference.
And it was after this particular lesson, that Lulu began to think that Miss Potts was, perhaps, worthy of her post. Lulu did enjoy toying with the older woman, pulling pranks here and there that were of no harm. Sincere, practical jokes. It would only be after this day when Miss Potts began to see a different side of the young woman. She let her guard down just a little bit, and for a second, Miss Potts thought that they could one day be good friends, that they'd sit here one cozy afternoon, sipping tea and simply chat.
If Lulu Rogers would allow for it, of course.
Miss Potts encouraged Lulu to go read on her own about the sciences--as there were plenty of information out there, especially now that there's some sort of rebirth in the sciences. So, she led her to Mr. Darling's book store---which was conveniently near by, and Lulu simply read. Books about the human body, about various poisons and its effects and suddenly, Lulu wanted to try them out. She had background knowledge in botany and she knew about herbal medicines thanks to working at a teashop--and that herbalist whose name she still won't mention always blabbered about it.
If she became interested in herbal studies, then there wouldn't have been a point for her to come to Gadu, Imisus, Panymium. After all, she came here for better opportunities and for more knowledge. Why bother migrating if she could have learned more about herbal medicines back in Yirui?
It didn't hurt to use it as an advantage. And here, in Mr. Basil Darling's book store, Miss Potts smiled as her pupil's eyes twinkled at the sight of a toxicology book. It was then, when Miss Potts knew, where Lulu Rogers was supposed to be. Did she feel safe about knowing this?
Well, no one should really feel safe around Lulu Rogers in the first place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:11 pm
Ⅸ. A PEST FROM THE PAST | META SOLO "Personal Challenge"
In which Lulu Rogers receives a letter.Lulu was still trying to understand what Miss Potts was trying to tell her. Their psuedo-science lesson last session obviously didn't go to well. But it's only been a couple days. Perhaps next session, Lulu would prod on animals and whatnot. It was night at the Rogers estate in Gadu. The next day would be Sunday, March 15th, she noted. At the time, she couldn't recall why this day would be considered important.
A slow evening, Lulu decided to go to the Alfred's old office. She went here whenever she wanted to be left alone. If she was to go to her bedroom, Susan would bother her. That, and there were some drunk men outside who were making a scene. She couldn't bear to have to deal with that. So instead, she ignored it.
Sometimes, Susan reminded her of mother, back in Yirui. She wondered if her mother would be proud of her, knowing that she was making a life of her own in Panymium. Gadu, nonetheless.Lulu wondered what it'd be like if she lived in a port city again. Would she have to find a job? She never really did worry about what would happen after all her funds from the Rogers estate was sucked up.
She heard a slight tapping on the window and looked up. A black bird, tapping on the window, cawed as it try to make its way in. The grandfather clock that resided here gonged. She looked at the crow with a curiosity, its eyes staring deep into her very soul. She didn't dare to blink her eyes, but she did.
"Grimm."
At the same time, the grandfather clock rung again. She thought she heard the crow speak. She couldn't tell if she was imagining this or not. When finally, it spoke again--or rather, the letter it was holding did.
Quote: " Lulu Rogers, Lulu Rogers, Lulu Rogers... what a terribly familiar sounding name, is it not? My, even my scouts tell me that your presence is strikingly similar to someone they've seen in the past, I wonder why. Ms. Rogers... Ms. Rogers, ah! Might it be that the mysterious little lady you are are familiar with us, the House of Obscuvos? Why don't you come back to us? We'll treat you quite well. I would say, though, a lack of cooperation might mean an end to our... chivalry. We await our reunion."
What was left was a simple black ribbon. For once, in a very long time, Lulu felt panic. She felt unsure of herself. These unwelcome feelings made her feel even more uncomfortable. She thought she heard faint laughter--deep, a man's voice. The door to the office closed. "Alfred?" She hesitantly asked the darkness. It was out of character of her to feel this way. Would she really let some pest from the past haunt her like this? No regret, no remorse. She repeated to herself as she mustered up the confidence to open the office door once again.
Nothing.
Lulu eyed her surroundings before rushing downstairs.
"Susan?" Lulu called out as calm as she could. She began to look all over the Rogers estate. The maids and cooks were gone. It was eerily empty.
There was an urgent knock on the front door. Lulu hesitated before looking through one of the windows. It was Miss Potts. She swiftly opened the door, letting in the woman, before closing it again.
"Miss Potts?" Lulu stared at the bewildered woman. "M-Ms. Rogers." The latter was out of breath. "I-I'm sorry to be a bother. My family, you see..." Lulu never did recall Miss Potts having any type of kinship. "...I couldn't think of anywhere else to go." Lulu stared at the woman's shaking hands. Lulu was known to be heartless--but Miss Potts was an exception. After all, she was her tutor. "Yes, we must go." There was no way she could stay here.
Lulu eyed all the rich belongings and the family heirlooms that Alfred had placed throughout the house. She could already see that some were missing. I knew I couldn't trust that younger maid. She sneered to herself. Was she going to leave all that she fought for? The richness, the freedom--the safety of her future? Well, for the safety of her present self, she was going to have to. "Quick, Miss Potts. Stuff whatever jewelry and goods that you can carry in you."
"W-what?" Miss Potts questioned her. "We don't have any other types of funds." And Lulu calmly stepped back into Alfred's office and grabbed the journal logs that she had been reading, she grabbed a few tokens here and there, and went into her own room and began packing whatever she could. She proceeded to stuff some of her belongings in her bosom. Finally, the two were ready.
The Ides of March, she finally recalled. The night of a full moon. A rather important detail, you see, as it was the ides that allowed her to see one faithful night in October. Lulu took a pause and wondered if this was Alfred trying to tell her something, deep in his grave off in the distance. Those dark and cold months weren't so kind to Alfred--Lulu made sure of it.
Is this some sort of sick revenge? She stared on, with the hideous feeling of hopelessness growing within her, as she noticed the mob grew closer and closer towards the Rogers estate. Even Alfred himself wouldn't dare to hurt his home--it was all he had, after all. It was his trophy, his recognition of his success. Lulu knew--even Alfred Rogers himself wouldn't dare to wish upon his own house to be burnt down, no matter what.
At first, she found it simply reckless and silly for the men to cause up such silly riots--but as she stared on, as she watched them march closer and closer, she began to think of all the assets she would potentially lose, all those years she worked up for, wasted. And then she decided to act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:30 pm
Ⅹ. WHAT "HONOR" IS | META | ► Philip Glass - 100,000 PeopleMore on Alfred Rogers and Lulu attempts to calm the riots.
The first thing anyone should keep in mind when they want to understand the late Alfred Rogers is that he was a winning man. He strove for success and only success in any and every opposition that attempted to block him.
He was raised in a predominantly male family, as the pristine Albert Rogers only looked after sons, not daughters. His poor mother gave up multiple children--used as a baby making machine untill she died shortly after Alfred's birth. The Rogers Textile Factory was Alfred's second home. His father would take him, as well as his four older siblings, there often, citing quotes from his father, and constantly yelled at the workers there. "Disgraceful Maggots" he'd call them. They were all pawns in his game to beat out a neighboring factory, and for his own success. At a very young age, Alfred learned quickly about social hierarchy and purpose. And that's when he strove to be like his father as well.
His older siblings could barely give a slight interest in the textile factory--they were more interested in shinier and better things. Alfred, on the other hand, fell in love with the business. He couldn't really explain it, but something about choosing specific threads and specific patterns and something else he couldn't quite explain.
But his father didn't need an explanation, he only needed a successor. And that's exactly how he treated Alfred--as a business partner, an apprentice, someone who was going to take over the legacy and that was it. To Albert, none of his children were actual sons. They were simply tools. And that was how Mr. Alfred Rogers was raised. A tool that was to be used until it was deemed ready to be the one using.
But nonetheless, Alfred Rogers still looked up to his father. His father was always intimidating, always alert, and never afraid to do what was deemed necessary for the success of his business. Now, the Rogers Textile Factory wasn't a well-known factory. In fact, it wasn't even locally known at this point in Alfred's life. It provided jobs, if one could call it that, to immigrants and the poor who were desperate to support themselves or their families. That was all that was really known. The material, while of decent quality, wasn't bad--but it wasn't the best either. It wouldn't be Albert Rogers who improved the quality of the materials, but rather, the tool that finally became the toolsman. And it wasn't just the quality of the material that he improved. The techniques as well--and even the location. Or, well, the factory stayed. Alfred simply relocated the Rogers estate to Gadu as a young man.
Suddenly, Albert C. Rogers died. Unlike his father formerly predicted, there wasn't much of an outcry. After all, Albert C. Rogers was not a favored man. He spent most of his last days at home, muttering about the late Mrs. Rogers, and random nonsense. Sometimes, Alfred would find him in the kitchen, muttering on about them maggots in the factory, not doing what they were supposed to. And Alfred would leave him alone. Albert C. Rogers died alone, not with a huge crowd, not with the whole world staring at him.
He realized now, at this commemoration, what his father lacked. It was simply...a realistic vision. His father went in, head on, with no hesitation--strove only for success, and did whatever he could in his power to achieve it. He thought that the fame and glory would come and stay forever. And they did, momentarily. But Alfred had a plan, and took the time to think things through. And he was honest about himself--he made it clear what he wanted, and did what he could to achieve it. This is what made Alfred Rogers a man who succeeded. He lived this vision until the very night of October 15th, 1411.
This is what would help lead Lulu today. No matter how much she wanted nothing to do with the man, no matter how much she denied Alfred Rogers was some scumbag waiting to be used, it was without a doubt that his ways made an influence on her. In fact, many people influenced her. She just failed to acknowledge it.
At a very young age, Lulu began to realize people's motivations. What they wanted, and how they achieved to get it. She wasn't exactly cynical at this age--she was simply jaded by the idea of doing without expecting something back in return. Her mother would always tell her how men wanted things. How childish they were at getting what they want. It was a phase men went through during their entire life--an endless phase. Lulu never doubted her mother. Despite how much she grew to despise the woman's antics, she never felt doubt--and strangely, her words seemed to always pop up in her mind when she least expected it.
Money--it was all about money. The only way to survive was to have money. It was how Lulu grew up. That's all her parents ever talked about. Money money money money. It was their second language--it was everyone's middle name. Perhaps, this was why the swines were making their way to the Rogers estate. While it wasn't a household name, Alfred Rogers wasn't exactly a favorable person. He was more favorable than his father, but that wasn't saying much. To fight for honor, her mother told her, really meant to fight for the riches and the fame and glory. That's all there really was to it.
"M-my husband..." Wait, Miss Potts was married? "...and told me to get as far away as possible." Lulu didn't exactly pay attention to her tutor's words. She did, however, feel kind of ill thinking that a man would leave his family such as so. "And he left you with nothing?" She slowly nodded her head. "Where do you expect to meet up with him?" "Oakbourough, he said." Oakbourough. How on Profugus were they to get to Oakbourough in this riot? Two women, left defenseless, with absolutely nothing but stuffed bosoms and extra luggage. Upon seeing Lulu's somehow calmly frustrated face, Miss Potts almost wished she could take back her words.
"We'll make mends." Lulu finally let out. "Now, do you know anyone else who would be of aid?"
Miss Potts thought for a moment. "Yes, a friend of mine knows someone with a bookstore, you see. I'm sure they could help. His name's Mr. West." Lulu paused for a slight moment as she prepared for their leaving. The name wasn't foreign to Lulu Rogers. In fact, she met this man before earlier this month. What a small world Profugus must be, if her tutor was to know a man that she simply met not even a couple weeks ago. Perhaps Gadu wasn't as big and bright as Alfred saw it. "We'll make our way towards this bookstore, then. And figure out a plan to get us to Oakbourough. In the meantime, we have to distract the men to go elsewhere." Miss Potts nodded. "Perhaps we can ward them off with some of the smaller belongings?" Lulu hesitated before nodding. After all, most of the homely significance of the items were long gone. Now, they only truly represented net worth. Lulu and Miss Potts grabbed whatever they could to face the mobs.
Lulu took a step back inside to grab Alfred's cloak and stuffed it in her basket before walking back out again.
The men finally reached the front of the estate. The two women were suddenly bombarded with generic questions and accusations. Lulu rarely paid attention to any of the news, so she would be the last person to know exactly what they were talking about. "Mr. Rogers must have known something!" "Where's Simon Rockland!" "He was a murderer!" "We riot for honor and knowledge!" "For the truth!"
Lulu was beginning to get a headache with the growing nuances. "Men! Please!" Miss Potts cried out at the top of her lungs. "No one is here! We know nothing!" The men simply roared louder. It didn't help that half of them were drunk. Men. They were simply the bane of Lulu's existence and at the same time, what she needed to succeed in her own challenges. "Mr. Rogers has been dead for quite a long time now! I know nothing." Lulu held out golden necklaces that seemed to light up the men's eyes. "Let us be, and I will give you a portion of my wealth." The men stared at each other and back to the shiny, pretty gold that seemed to seduce them in. Lulu resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
If any of the men were true to themselves, they'd be fighting each other for gold. And this was what Lulu used to her disposal. One by one, she drove the mob away by handing them heirlooms and pointless materialistic objects that once belonged to Alfred. She simply threw them into the air, and the men would fight each other for it. It caused enough distraction for them to go elsewhere.
For honor, they said. It'd be true if honor was equivalent to gold.
With this, Lulu left behind the Rogers estate for once in a very long time. She wasn't sure when the next time she'd see it--but she hoped that it would still be intact the next time she saw it.
Lulu turned around and followed suit behind Miss Potts, as they made their way to Mr. Darling's Bookstore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:01 pm
Ⅶ. LADY AND THE TRAMPS | [META PRP] INCOMPLETE
Lulu Rogers runs in with Basil Darling and Ellison D. West.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:03 pm
Ⅻ. RAINING, MELTING PARCHMENT ► Philip Glass -- String Quartet No.5 II It only gets worse.Just as she thought it was impossible for things to get worse, they did. She got crow droppings on four spots of her cloak now. Her cloak as in the one that wasn't the one Alfred left her. But yes. Things got worse by the minute, and she was growing sick of Mr. Darling and Mr. West's exchanges of words. It was as if they were both competing to outwit each other. Lulu found their childish behavior to be distracting--and she wondered how Miss Potts got to know the two. Granted, she was probably the last one to be able to cry out seniority in regards to who lived here the longest, but Lulu still felt a tad bit offended that Miss Potts was also tutoring Mr. West--of all people. She regarded seeing Mr. West at the c**k throwing event, but didn't think much of it before.
Now, she recalled his arm--that was the most distinguished feature of Mr. West, you see. Only because Lulu noticed his arm, and only his arm, when he threw the rocks at the pathetic cocks.
Plop. "If another crow dares to poo--" She then looked on her shoulder where it was simply...the remainders of a seemingly burning parchment. It was disappearing, just as before, and when she looked up, she saw the crow once again. That dastardly bird was beginning to anger her. It had been a while since she saw it. Well, it was just a day ago, but nonetheless.
Lulu Rogers was separated from the other three--which included Ellison D. West, Basil Darling and Miss Potts. She didn't recall at the time as to why she was separated from them, but she knew she was. And she had her guard up--or most of it. What Lulu Rogers didn't know was that there was someone following her, watching her. Lulu Rogers did, after all, stand out incredibly compared to others. It wasn't safe for an upperclassman to be wandering about--especially a woman, alone.
More parchment was falling on her shoulders, and she wondered for a moment if this was happening to anyone else. Lulu reached to the parchment that landed on her hair and the moment she was about to reach it, it melted into nothing. She continued wandering aimlessly--she didn't want to deal with more mobs after all. Suddenly, she heard a footstep from the right.
"Who's there?" No response, naturally. Lulu Rogers took a step forward, looking towards the corner of her eye to see if anyone would move. Another footstep was heard.
She swiftly turned around to find.... "Mr. West!" He startled her as he informed her it was time to meet with the other two and be on their way. "Indeed, we'll be on our way."
She made one last look toward the alleyway in which she assumed the sound came from. Nothing. When she turned around to accompany Mr. West, she seemingly left more parchment on the floor, as the crow hopped towards her, and cawed.
Briefly, a man stepped out of the shadows just momentarily, before stepping back in again.
Pitter, patter, pitter, patter. The sound of his shoes meeting the puddles. He chuckled a bit as he pulled up his own cloak--also as red as blood. He got onto his own carriage and followed the crew closely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:04 pm
ⅫⅠ. THE LOT OF SWINE
Lulu makes her own observations of the men raiding the streetsShe didn't understand what made them so...angry. Perhaps it was because she wasn't in trouble such as them. The commoners always had plenty to complain about. It didn't help that half of them were always drunk. Lulu never understood what it was about beer. It smelled ghastly and tasted just as bad. Alfred also only drank the finest wines.
If she, a woman from a foreign country was able to live peacefully in Gadu without any complaints and was able to..."work" her way up the ranks, then surely, these beasts would be able to do the same? Lulu watched as a man came tumbling into the main street where she was standing at alongside with Ellison D. West and Basil Darling. She watched as the man, obviously drunk, tripped his way towards their general direction, as more men followed suit. They were carrying empty bowls of some sort--she hoped they weren't planning on what she--
Too late. They threw them into the abandoned shops just across from the group. Lulu didn't understand the idea of throwing things--and how that was supposed to make anyone feel better about themselves. Destruction without a purpose was meaningless, and as she watched this mob of men wreck the abandoned butcher shop on this street corner, she wondered what they thought this would accomplish. It sickened her that typical men would assort to violence as their first option. She thought back to Herve those long months ago and for the first time in months, thought back to when he punched that fat chef to his place--and the disappearance. While that occurrence was completely unrelated, it still scared Lulu...now that things have been strange in Gadu.
She turned to Basil Darling and Ellison D. West and wondered if they had this side as well. She only needed the men to ward off other men who may attempt to harass her. If they were to turn and be like the lot of swine, well...she'd have no choice but to simply leave them behind and move forward. Lulu didn't want the extra weight or the extra mouths to feed. If possible, she would have traveled alone. But seeing as Imisus was slowly transforming into a bear garden itself (or at least, Lulu assumed that Imisus would begin to bleed), she didn't want to risk it.
It made her think back to Felicity Wilkes--a woman whom she hasn't crossed paths with since that fateful evening in Gadu's bear garden. She wondered what she and Claudia were up to now, and, for some bizarre reason, hoped that they were okay.
Lulu, for goodness sake, compose yourself! She had better things to focus on than a woman whose companion was more reliable than the woman herself. She was waiting for more circles of men to draw out towards open areas and to throw fists at each other. She anticipated the moment when yet another mob would run around drunkenly and yell in anger--smelling like vomit. Lulu needed to mentally prepare herself for this long journey, and she hoped that the people outside of Gadu wasn't as bad. She hoped, if there really existed a higher being, for a hasty journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:10 am
Kenji Eno - Sketch # 5 ~ Fear Theme In which Lulu Rogers's cloak gets stolenLulu wanted to scream--wanted to turn into a savage beast and tear the world apart. Someone dared to go through her belongings. Hers--Mrs. Lulu Rogers. Granted, her name wasn't a household name of any sort, but that didn't change things. She thought she had her guard up, but apparently not high enough. Miss Potts didn't understand what was so significant about that silly old cloak anyway. It was dirty--and no matter how hard she tried to wash it, the filth didn't go away. It bothered Miss Potts to no end, even if she wasn't a house maid.
But now it was gone. And Miss Potts was the first person Lulu accused of. "You took it, didn't you!" She screamed. "You were always sick of it--and so you took it and threw it away!" Miss Potts was slightly offended. "Now, it's true that I disliked the cloak, but Mrs. Rogers, it's yours and I would never raid through your belongings!"
Lulu walked away into the next room furiously. It wasn't that she really cared about the cloak because it was Alfred's. It just...drew her in. After circling around the room about five times, she then noticed it. On the floor, over there, in the far corner, there was..."A man's souliers...?" Lulu rose a brow curiously. They weren't in good condition either. In fact, if Lulu could have guessed, they appeared to be those of a peasant's. And Lulu knew that Miss Potts's husband was very picky about his shoes--and Miss Potts wouldn't have left the gift all dirty and muddy and out of their box. When she looked outside, she saw carriage marks that were different from theirs. And those strange footprints. No one in the tavern had those types of shoes--and she wondered why the thief would leave the shoes behind. She grabbed her belongings, got Miss Potts ready, and they were on their move.
And then she thought back to the days before. Earlier in the week, they made a pit stop in a rather nice looking tavern. The travel from Gadu to Easton was difficult after all. This was when the group got separated with Ellison, for his plague got taken in by the military. She would have assumed it was easier for both Ellison and herself to hide their plagues--as they were normal objects...unlike Mr. Darling's item, which was an icicle. In the dead of spring as well. Lulu simply kept her cloak with her other belongings, and when asked about it, she would mention how it was on her way to her husband's funeral and it was his favorite cloak and a couple tears would roll down her face and the questions stopped.
It wasn't exactly lying...
And it was decided that Basil Darling, Missus Potts and Lulu Rogers would help save him. Why Basil wanted to save him she didn't know--but it was agreed upon anyway. And then they traveled some more, with constant stops and delays.
Mr. Darling's item was much more difficult to hide--and it was quite suspicious, you see, that a man was carrying such an item--and it was red as well. And she didn't know exactly how he hid it, but it was obviously to no avail. Mr. Darling was now gone as well. There was a brief note left behind, and she sighed. "Men." She had agreed to go with these two with the idea that they would protect her. Now it seemed like she was the one who would have to save them. What a bothersome duo! That and Miss Potts continued to mumble and whimper and look at Lulu with worried eyes about the two men. And so, Lulu insisted that she would help Miss Potts save the two. That, and she needed their help in getting her own belonging back. Oh and also to find the key to the bookstore--as Lulu, for some bizarre reason, went back to to Gadu to see if Darling was there, but it was, as it was, locked and left alone. If she wanted to get the book that Darling had mentioned before they left on the trip, she would be required to get the key to the bookstore--and to get a worker.
So, she started with Ellison. It made sense in her mind. After all, she assumed he was taken to Easton--as that was where the military was now according to word of mouth, and he was probably much closer. Lulu also didn't have a clue about the cultists, and Basil's note was rendered useless to her. Secretly, she hoped that Ellison had the key to Darling's bookstore, knew what book he was going to give her, and would help her find her plague--just so she didn't have to save Darling.
After a while though, she began to feel slightly regret. Just a tad bit. After all, Basil still had good use to him. He hadn't been used to his potential. That and Miss Potts kept turning to her. What really mattered to Lulu Rogers was that she got her cloak back. She hadn't the slightest where to look, but she would follow the road, and hope to see any sorts of clues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:11 am
ⅩⅤ. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES
In which Lulu Rogers meets with the dastardly crow once more."We meet again." Lulu Rogers commented as she accidentally stumbled over a black crow. Well, this was strange. It wasn't dead was it? She kicked it over on its back, and lo and behold...it was! She wondered what sort of omen this was supposed to represent, but threw it in the back of her mind for now. While Easton was nearby--Lulu did go back to Gadu and came back. She had to make a plan, you see, as Ellison was in a rather...difficult place to be. And for once, Lulu finally made a poison of her own. The toxicology book that was given to her by Basil Darling was incredibly useful--and she almost wished that she had this knowledge back in October. Then again...if she did have this book back then, she wondered if she'd be here today, with this cloak--well, with the cloak she's now looking for. She shook off her thoughts. In the past, way before Alfred's death, Lulu would only look towards the future, to what she would do to continue to better her life. Yes, she's still doing so, but...Dear woman, why do you always think of bad times? Lulu asked herself. It was quite bothersome--and distracting.
Ellison D. West was somewhere in this...military headquarters of sorts--and dead crows continued to pop up. She didn't dare to pick one up, but she noticed an odd...quality of these dead crows. They were incredibly hard to move. She thought she had a nice firm foot to kick with, but that first bird she tried moving aside was so heavy she thought she would break her foot. But she disregarded them for now, simply walking past them, and occasionally looked up towards the sky to see if any would aim for her head.
But yes, this military-type headquarters thing. The only real type of headquarters hub she ever saw was a Science one, in Gadu. She didn't realize today, that it was the main one. But in due time, Lulu Rogers. In due time. Lulu's first plan was simply sashay in there and...divert their eyes towards other places before she would use her Yiruian knowledge in fighting and kick butt. Then, she remembered she lacked Yiruian knowledge in fighting, as she was a young woman who was working in a tea shop. She almost wished she paid attention during Wei's training.
It's funny, really. She never expected she'd be in a situation such as so. Going out of her way to help someone--even if it really was for her own beneficial needs.
She just wanted that darn key. Finally, after what seemed to be years, she found him--locked in some sort of prison room. The guard was...distracted by other means, which only made things easier for her. She was surprised how little protection there was around the area (but she would soon find out as to why on this particular day, there was barely anyone to see).
Finally, she made her move when the guard looked both ways before making his way towards the door. Ah ah ah...trying to make an early shift change, hmmm? Lulu snook from behind and after kicking him below--placed one of her poison handkerchiefs to his nose and mouth for him to breath in. She choked him around his neck and piggyback rode him to administer the poison. He was out cold.
As to whether or not the guard would die...well, Lulu didn't quite know the answer to that. All she knew was that Mr. West would be free now. "Mr. West! Please tell me you have the keys to the bookstore!" She exclaimed as she opened the door. When she saw a shake of head instead of a nod, Lulu let out a breath of frustration.
All that, for absolutely nothing. "Either way, come with me. I must get that key! We must get Mr. Darling--you can do whatever you'd like to him. I just need access--" Lulu stopped midway when she looked down and noticed yet another dead crow. Another fell from the sky. One almost hit her. "What..." She screamed when she looked up and one was falling straight for her before she dodged it. She felt like she was burning up.
"I...I don't understand..." She looked at her fingers and her skin. She screamed in anguish at the pain she was feeling--and at the sigh of her body. "We...must get out of here, quickly, Mr. West."
Lulu feared she had the black plague. Lulu needed Alfred's cloak back. She didn't understand what sort of magic (if it was magic) it possessed, but regardless, for some unbeknown reason, she felt safer with it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
