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Sequel
May 29, 2014 17:50:51 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 29, 2014 17:50:51 GMT
Sasha: So the Brinkatore estate... the mighty Brinkatore estate with all its servants, skivvies and hangers-on... is just you now?
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Sequel
May 30, 2014 14:25:39 GMT
Post by Robin on May 30, 2014 14:25:39 GMT
*Not for the first time, Serena is momentarily stunned. Although what Sasha says is, for all she knows, true, the concept is nothing short of bizarre to comprehend. All her life, it's all she's known. Whether she was born or bought into servitude, she doesn't know... needless to say she was young, as she can't remember it.
What she does remember is blurred. And, as she starts to come to a dawning realisation of the truth, it is even more so. Is she, as suggested, the last one left, by virtue of nothing more than blind luck and a man in green? Is all she has known, up until now, finally... gone?
Her head is pounding. She wants it to stop. She wants everything to be clear to her. It's never been clear.
She can practically feel the stares. Sasha, Marx, Robin and the rest of the staff are all waiting expectanlty for an answer. Serena takes one look down at the Brinkatore crest on her livery, swallows, and finally ejaculates one word.*
Yes.
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Sequel
May 31, 2014 22:05:05 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on May 31, 2014 22:05:05 GMT
Dal: Well then. If Brinkatore is dead, or wishing to be presumed so, then I suppose his room is yours.
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Sequel
Jun 2, 2014 21:12:15 GMT
Post by Robin on Jun 2, 2014 21:12:15 GMT
*Serena suddenly and unexpectedly inhales a large amount of water. She coughs and splutters for a while before there is a small scuffle between the staff to attempt to clear her airway. Robin, as the fastest, crosses the room and thumps her on the back, causing the girl to expel the water. She takes a deep, shuddering gasp of air and then looks up, her eyes swimming with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment.*
There's a... there's a ROOM?
*Robin, meanwhile, stands back and looks to the heavens.*
Thank you, God.
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Sequel
Jun 4, 2014 17:58:32 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on Jun 4, 2014 17:58:32 GMT
Dal: For some time, Count Brinkatore has kept a room here, for use when he has business... *Sasha snorts* ...in Wolfenden. Paid for in advance. Several weeks in advance. In his absence, I see no reason not to give one of his staff the use of the room. *Dal smiles.*
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Sequel
Jun 4, 2014 18:42:30 GMT
Post by Robin on Jun 4, 2014 18:42:30 GMT
*After a few moments, Robin realises that Serena isn't doing much. In fact, she isn't doing anything. She's barely breathing. In order to break the tension, he returns Dal's smile in her stead.*
Sir... Dal.
*He gently takes Serena's arm and guides her into a standing position.*
Might I be allowed to take her up to this room you mentioned? We have had a long journey, and evidently this is a lot to process.
*You're very kind, he adds in an undertone, fairly confident that Serena won't hear. Thank you so much for this.*
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Sequel
Jun 5, 2014 17:26:54 GMT
Post by Young Grimwold on Jun 5, 2014 17:26:54 GMT
*Dal nods and smiles again. He holds a key out to Serena.*
Dal: You'll know which room it is. It has the Brinkatore crest over the door. There's plenty of room for two.
Sasha: Good night!
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Sequel
Jun 7, 2014 13:00:57 GMT
Post by Robin on Jun 7, 2014 13:00:57 GMT
*Serena nods, mutely.*
Thank you. Both of you. I'll... well, I don't know what I'll do, but I'll do something to repay you for this. Hang on...
*Robin fishes the little flower out of his pocket. The flower girl had parted company with it several hours earlier, but nonetheless it still seems pristine. He tosses it to Sasha.*
Er... goodnight!
*He shows Serena the way up the stairs to the rooms. Just before she disappears into the darkness, she turns and gives a little wave to Dal and Sasha. Bemused, Robin leads Serena up... and out of sight of the bar. With no customers left, the staff are free to continue with closing up shop for the evening.
So they do.*
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Sequel
Jun 8, 2014 14:50:19 GMT
Post by Robin on Jun 8, 2014 14:50:19 GMT
*With a gentle push, the door opens for the first time since the room was last tidied up. It has been a while, but the room looks nothing short of pristine by Wolfenden standards - not to mention the fact that it's the Wolf's Howl, well known for its high quality in terms of accommodation - a fine layer of dust covers most things inside, although this has been diminished considerably by the fact that the shutters to the window are open. Through the window blows a cool breeze of crisp night air, making the room seem a little more inviting than any description could allow.
The room contains a single bed, a simple accoutrement of tables and desks and enough space to move around in comfortably. Crowning the whole ensemble, just above the bed, is a stencil of the Brinkatore crest, which looks as it if was the work of the room's inhabitants - it doesn't seem like traditional décor to Robin. As he scopes out the room, he takes a while to appreciate the view over Wolfenden that the room allows, and even sees a dot on the horizon which he identifies as Knightmare Castle. He even allows himself a cheeky smile at something slightly above the window, which looks like the remains of what was once a cloth coated in a sticky material.
Serena has been busy lighting lamps - Robin suspects that she does that automatically. Maybe that was her task as a servant; he's never thought to ask. But then again, he doesn't want to ask. He turns from the window, leaving the shutters open. Combined light from the moon, stars, and lamps give the room a homely, pleasant feel. Relief, Robin reminds himself, is one of the best feelings in the world.*
So what do you think?
*Serena turns to face him.*
Serena: I think...
It's nice, isn't it?
Serena: Yes, but... but... but it's more than that.
*Her face breaks into a smile. A real one. Throughout all her changing moods during the course of the day, Robin hasn't seen a genuine smile on her face, if he doesn't count the nervous ones. It's even slightly alarming. Is this her real self? Is she a happy person who's never been allowed to be happy? Robin isn't sure. What he's glad of, however, is the fact that she's somewhere - at least by Knightmare standards - safe.*
Serena: Much more. You came to find me. You rescued me. You helped with my wounds. You took me to Warlock, you bought me some food and drink. Twice. And you walked with me to... to this place. You protected me.
*Robin doubts she would have needed that much protection... but then he remembers the suspicious man on the path, and reminds himself that not everyone can be trusted. That's one of the things that has served him incredibly well, despite being told that he's a little naïve at points. He smiles, too.*
Serena: I'd never have dreamed about any of this. And you opened my eyes.
That's not all I've opened. You're much easier with talking to me than you are to anyone else. So I'd say that I've opened your mouth too. That sounds creepy! Say something else! Er... in terms of talking, that is.
*A beat.*
And it's no problem at all. I mean, it's just... what I do. No need to thank me. She hasn't thanked me yet, mind you... but I ought to pre-empt something like that.
*He moves towards the door.*
It's been a pleasure to get to know you, Serena. I'll be back to check that you're okay, but...
*He casts an arm around indicating her room.*
...it looks as if you'll be just fine here. I'll be in the forest if you need me.
*He turns to leave.*
Serena: "...Robin?"
Yes?
*Robin turns back around. He has a fleeting glimpse of the room, bed, lights, window, desks, design, and everything in its simple, but splendid, glory...
before Serena runs at him at top speed and throws her arms around his neck, kissing him full on the mouth.*
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Sequel
Jun 9, 2014 14:23:36 GMT
Post by Robin on Jun 9, 2014 14:23:36 GMT
*Time passes after Robin scuttles from the room, looking both abashed and rather pleased with himself. He closes the door behind him, leaving Serena alone in the confines of her room. She is still standing in the place where she kissed him, with a shine in her eyes that wasn't there before and a vague smile fixed back on her face. She has a room. She has a friend. She, potentially, has food, drink and maybe even money, depending on how much of the Brinkatore estate there is remaining. It's almost too much for one girl in her early twenties to take. But she's never known anything like this before. So why not be happy for once? Crossing the room to the bed, she strips off and clads herself in some silken garments she found in one of the drawers. They are marginally too big for her, but feel marvellous against her skin, as opposed to her not rough, but heavy, servant's livery. She notes with a degree of amusement that these also have the Brinkatore crest on them in elaborate needlework. Someone was proud of their heritage.* Thank you. *She gets into the bed. This is the first time she's known genuine comfort of the soft kind. She is asleep within two minutes. She didn't even put out the candles, and their light shines upon her as she rests. As she drifts off into a dreamless slumber, Robin quietly exits the inn and walks off into the night.* [ OOC: Robin is next seen in the marketplace for a bit of verbal.]
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