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 Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:48 am
He brushed back his hair with a sigh and a rustle of his chains, leaning against the side of the building for now as he worried his bottom lip. Technically Alice had her own suite he knew, but he still didn't feel comfortable in that space and she still needed quite a bit of watching; though honestly Dinah was still on call he really was trying to become Alice's keeper.
Dinah. ********.
Boris resisted the urge to bang his head against the bricks as he thought of his daughter, and what a mess that had been. Alice's face, dark and terrified as she called out for her cat, of all things, only... it wasn't her cat was it. And coming face to face with a young girl that there could be no mistaking...
Clenching his hand into a fist and lightly thumping the decaying bricks in frustration, he restrained himself lest he wake up Alice, finally sleeping on his bed. He shook his head and kicked away from the wall, knowing if he kept letting himself think about it he'd sink. No, there was s**t to do. Contemplating just led to guilt and despair and he could suffer when he was alone and didn't have things pressing on him. For now though, there was someone to find while he had these precious spare minutes. Especially while there was still staff at the park to alert him if Alice woke up and started to wonder around. It... didn't feel right to lock her inside. She wasn't a prisoner, wasn't sick, just...
He tugged on a chain and drew his gun, the reflexive behavior soothing and helping him chase the thoughts away. Mourn and mope later, find Mary now. Yes, that was the plan. At least having his gun drawn made sure no one stopped and ask him anything.
Though, after checking his office, his house, the workshop, the warehouse, and every place Boris could think of that he knew Mary would haunt and still no Gowland he was starting to wish for either something to shoot at or yea, someone to ask him what he was doing. Preferably with an answer to offer. Why wasn't anything easy anymore? Frustrated, Boris walked around the park, his tail twitching angrily behind him.
"GOWLAND! Where the hell are you?! I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR HOURS YOU CRAZY OLD MAN! WHAT GIVES?!"
If good old searching didn't work, perhaps causing a ruckus would. Yelling as loudly as he could, he shot off his pistol into the sky as well, not that there was really anybody around to freak out anymore. The sun was long gone and he could almost sense the pressure against the back of his skull. As if another time skip was coming. That sense that too much time had passed before something had changed.
Firing again, he called out for Mary and knocked over a garbage can with a load clatter. If this didn't work soon he'd have to go back to check on Alice and continue his hunt after that.
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:33 am
Some days were good, others were worse, and some even worse than that. Today was...well, he'd had worse. It still wasn't one of the good ones, and was bordering on being his worst in a while. Gowland hadn't been the same cheery sort since the last time Boris had seen him. Hell, when Boris had come back, Alice in hand, he hadn't even smiled, just dully mentioning they could do whatever. Hell, he hadn't seen the man so indifferent about the state of the park, or so willing to just give it up.
Of course, Boris had put a stop to that, and there was a rising demand that things be brought back to their original state, or even better than what it was, but he was simply having to push the man around. Half the time, it felt like Boris was just doing all the work, Mary couldn't be bothered.
It was surprising that sometimes the old man could hide himself away so well, especially since Boris knew the park better than even some of the faceless. Hell, there was no way Mary would have left the park at this time of day. He would be stupid to leave, especially without his violin, which had remained locked up in a lonely glass case in his office. The thing had a visible layer of dust, having been neglected for some time. It was stupid enough to leave himself defenseless in his park alone, going out would be suicide.
But even Boris' best efforts did nothing but garner a few concerned glances from the late night employees, the few whispering between each other. Oh, this again, He's gone off again, all sorts of words that seemed all too familiar with the situation. How often had this been happening?
With his efforts remaining fruitless, it wasn't until Boris finally started to head back to check on Alice that he noticed it. One single light, dim, in a building that had been abandoned even during his time before. Everyone knew that building wasn't being used, but the flicker of a candle emanated a warm glow upon the dirty glass. Had this been where he'd been hiding?
The door didn't put up too much of a struggle, allowing Boris inside without a peep. The inside was dusty, still in a state of disrepair, though the path leading up the stairs seemed less so, and well trodden. Following it, he found himself at a cracked open door, through which there was the shuffling of a few papers.
"No no, that's not right...." Mary mumbled to himself, rearranging a few of the sheets on a stand, before sighing and leaning back. Boris couldn't quite see what he was doing, though soon enough the sound of music came through, quiet. Was he just listening to tapes?
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:59 am
He kicked the can again for good measure as he turned around. Where the hell had that old goat gone? He didn't have time for this. Heh, what a concept. He covered his face for a moment, swallowing down the irony. Hell, he really should be getting back to check on Alice, Mary could wait in whatever hole he'd dug for himself until Boris sniffed him out.
Gun tucked away again as he shuffled down the nearly abandoned walkway, he scuffed his feet like a frustrated teenager on his way back until something pulled at his attention. Flicking his ear around, he looked up quizzically at the unidentified light. What in the hell? That building was pretty much boarded up, hadn't been in use in ages. Might've been one of Pierce's hidey holes long ago or something, but...
Alice could wait another five minutes, this was too out of place. He wasn't holding his breath that he'd finally found Gowland, with his abysmal luck it would be one of the Jokers up to trouble. Again. Sigh. Reaching the door, the old wood gave way quietly, probably so much rot that it muffled everything else. Ugh, this whole place would probably have to be rebuilt; but that was way down on his list of concerns right now.
The musky smell of dust and decay lay thick and cloying, making him cover his mouth with his boa as his ears flattened in distaste. s**t, he was just going to ignore this place after investigating, maybe he could get the Faceless to clean it up later. Eyes widening in the very low light, he could see disturbances in the dust, namely blurred steps up the stairs; too many marks to be a one time deal. This was someone's hang out.
Curiosity tugging at him, he stalked up the stairs to a door left ajar. Soft and flickering light spilled out into the decaying hallway, the air so thick with dust that shafts of light could actually be seen. Ears coming around to stand tall inquisitively, he crept along to the crack of light, tail bobbing back and forth eagerly. Paper rustled and Gowland's figure, illuminated in candlelight, moved about. He could hear him muttering and the sense of victory in finding his query was dulled by the overwhelming sense of inquisitive concern. This was... worrying, saddening, somehow. This was... music? Was he- no, recorded, he could hear the scratchy quality to it. His ears drooped a little, though on second thought the alternative would've been Mary -actually- playing, and he wasn't sure he wanted that.
Standing upright and doing his best to feign ignorance of the gravitas to this moment he was intruding on, Boris didn't even bother knocking as he pushed open the door and bounded in.
"Well, so here you are old man. What the hell? I've been looking everywhere."
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:19 am
It certainly didn't help that the moment Boris opened the door, Mary all but jumped, panicking slightly. He tried to hide something behind his back immediately, standing tall and firm. The room, while still retaining some of the clutter and dust of the building, had been cleaned somewhat, seeming comfortable, at least to be in for a while. Beside the man, an old record player continued to play, though something seemed off. Boris couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Mary looked tired, dark circles vaguely visible under his eyes in the flickering candlelight. It wasn't any different from when Boris had seen him last, though the darkness of the room seemed to add to it. For once, perhaps pleasantly, he seemed to have recently trimmed his stubble, looking presentable. Had he been somewhere important? Meeting with one of the others?
"Boris how did you--?" He didn't seem too happy with his friend's discovery, straightening up more in a better effort to keep the cat from seeing what he was hiding. "What's the matter, am I needed somewhere?" Nevermind asking what he was doing, just get the issue solved.
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:41 am
The Cat couldn't help but smirk, the reaction and expression was a familiar one after raising a couple of kids. He tilted his head curiously but decided not to press, he'd either figure out what Mary was hiding on his own or the old man would tell him; no sense trying to force his answer or dive behind him to see what he was hiding. Though... something was pricking at him. He couldn't tell if it was just the déjà vu of the situation or something else pinging on his sixth sense. Taking a step forward, he put his hands on his hips and looked around quizzically, letting Mary sputter for a bit while he searched for answers to his own questions.
The room had been straightened up, though it wasn't easy to tell the condition of everything in the long shadows cast by the candle. Boris snuck a glance or two Gowland's way, examining him without really staring. Flicking his tail in thought at his quiet observations. Was it important to play old and world-weary feline he'd become, or slip back into the old persona of the young and flippant cat. Which Boris did Mary need as a friend today?
He mulled over how to answer perhaps a bit too long, but finally decided that maybe familiar was better first. He could commiserate with the old Park owner later if needed.
"Eh, probably. But you wouldn't know it, hiding yourself away all the time."
It was harsh, but a good prod to see how his old friend would react. Everything was a test nowadays. Had to be.
"Anyway, I had some spare time and thought we should go over schematics."
That was only partly true. There was also the matter of telling Mary that Keris had her kids. He didn't want to really go down that path yet though, his granddaughter having children? With one of his best friends? The mind, it boggles. If he could pretend to still be what he once was, who he once was, to at least someone...
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Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 1:59 pm
Mary continued to hide whatever it was behind his back, swinging back and forth on his heels the slightest. He was nervous, that was for sure, but he wasn't about to let Boris bully him into telling him what he was doing. Well, not exactly bully, Boris wasn't that mean...
Gowland didn't look as disheveled as usual. He still had dark circles under his eyes, sure, but they weren't as bad as when Boris had first come to the park again. It was a better look for him, but he still wasn't up to par from when Alice first came to Wonderland. Mary really couldn't care what kind of Boris he got...A Boris was okay, just to have a friend was okay. There had been many a nights when he had accidentally caught Mary mulling over a glass of whiskey, staring off into the corner, just needing to talk, not that Mary ever talked about his own problems anymore...It was always smalltalk, stupid little things.
But at the end...Mary would always murmur a thank you to him...And when Boris chose to linger outside the door a little longer, he could swear he heard him break down a little and cry.
"Well...Yeah I guess. This park would be far better in someone else's hands. Someone who'd care."
He wasn't doing well today, obviously. But the fact that he seemed sad about the state of the park was the tiniest glimmer of hope.
"Oh....It's late though isn't it? Doesn't Alice need...?" Mary trailed off, looking down at the ground as he shifted whatever he was holding in his hands behind his back.
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Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 2:55 pm
Pacing around the room, stopping to examine this or that, he could almost feel Mary's shift in moods while he invaded this secret sanctuary. Nervous, anxious, tense, defeat. Self-loathing, back to anxious. Agitated.
Boris roamed about, there was less dust up here to be sure, but once in awhile he disturbed something that would send up a small whorl of motes. It was just stuffy enough that he desperately wished to crack a window and let a breeze in. Something. Even still, he refused to remove his ruff; he also refused to leave. There was this dangerous, delicate balance with the old man lately. Like holding up two cracked halves of a vase against each other. He had to apply enough pressure to keep the vase together, but too much and he was in danger of shattering him.
Not enough and Mary seemed to drift apart in himself, something he wouldn't allow to happen. Especially not after watching his own son do it and drift aimlessly. Shaking his head, he tactfully chose to ignore Gowland's first comment rather than argue. They'd already gone several rounds on the topic of the park and its fate, and the Cat was confident that given enough time his old friend would come around again. The second part, though, caught him a little off guard.
Turning towards Mary to give him an almost hurt look, Boris ran a hand through his hair, his ears folding back as his eyes grew heavy in thought.
"Y-yea, she does. But what I have no ******** clue. I'm doing my best, old man but..."
He shook his head to clear it of the thoughts. She wasn't constantly gone anymore, and when Dinah was round there was more 'Alice' there, but it was hard to tell if she was actually getting better. Or if his presence was a boon or bane. Luckily Mary's shifting had caught his attention and he narrowed his eyes with tilt of his head.
"Enough about me and my troubles, Gowland. What's with all of this?"
He spread his hands wide, indicating the entire room before jabbing his finger towards Mary himself, indicating the thing he was hiding.
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:45 am
It wasn't any less soothing that Boris was roaming around his only private abode. Well, previously private at least. He wasn't comfortable in the least having him around, he'd have to find somewhere else to have time to himself, somewhere else to....forget. Boris had just taken his security blanket away from him, and he wasn't sure how to react.
He tensed even more, holding whatever it was behind his back, though was debating things in his mind. This had been his best friend once upon a time. They had laughed together, fought together, called each other all sorts of names....And then things had changed. Boris had a family, he had found a mate, and well....It had just gone to s**t for both of them, hadn't it?
But at least Boris was doing better.
He supposed he owed it to him.
"Boris...." He cleared his throat, obviously holding back a bit. He owed it to him, he owed just a little bit of relaxation. "I....Would you mind sitting in the chair? It's dusted off I promise. Just...Sit and close your eyes for a while, and don't open them until I say so, okay?" His voice was soft, far more quiet than he had ever heard before. Meek? Mary? These two things did not mix together.
And when Boris does so, hopefully with no arguments, he takes a moment to breathe before resetting the record player, the scratchy noise starting again. Then quietly, carefully, there's something much much more added to it, something more warm and full of feeling. Surely this can't just be a recording. If the cat decides to be more curious, and perhaps open his eyes to see what in the world he's hearing....
He's playing.
Mary is actually playing his violin, eyes closed as he breathes in time. Perhaps a closer look will show he's actually crying, letting his every emotion pour in to that violin.
What the hell has happened. Roserain ((FINALLY I CAN GET RID OF THAT LINK THAT'S BEEN SITTING HERE FOREVER THANKS))
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:19 pm
His ears perked with rampant curiosity at the odd request. And not only at what was asked, but how. The urge to hit him back with some witty comment about only accepting such requests from pretty girls quickly died on his lips. Instead, his mouth set in a hard line as he fixed Gowland with a sharp, searching look; hands on his hips as he cocked his head questioningly.
Well, he did trust the old man, and this was something serious. Maybe... oh no. No. NONONO. The music. He was listening to music earlier. Was he going to try and play again?! Ugh noooooooo.
His ears and tail drooped quickly, but this would be a noble sacrifice, and he could always run if it got to be too much. Or shoot, that was an option too. Dropping into the chair with a soft sigh, he gave a pained look as his ear folded back tightly and he crossed his arms over his chest before closing his eyes. Leaning back into the chair until it tilted, he rocked back and forth precariously and nodded.
"Alright old man, hit me."
He meant figuratively at first, but he was totally prepared for an audio assault that would've made him wish for a punch to the face instead. He even winced as the record started up, though the scratchy quality quickly clued him in that it wasn't Mary. One ear even popped up out of his hair to rotate towards the-
Wait. Waaaaaait.
What.
His chair slammed down back on all fours, both ears fully up as Boris leaned forward and opened his eyes. He had to see this. There was just no ******** way.
But there he was.
And his violin actually looks right ********. And sounds right. How in the- What the hell? How the hell? When did he even-
Oh. As Mary twisted with the violin on the pull of his bow, he caught the glint in the low light. Tears. ******** old man, how long have you been keeping it all in...
Ears flopping again, he felt like the shittiest friend ever. Maybe if he poked Mary a little more. Or hadn't left in the first place. He covered his face with both his hands for a moment on that thought, overwhelmed. That was the perfect word for it, overwhelmed. All these years, and these past few months especially, and he hadn't been there enough for anyone, apparently.
He just stayed like that, face buried in his hands while Mary played on, too full of everything to move.
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