lt_safe_house | (no subject)

Current Location: Park of the Manor

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(no subject)

Date: May 6th, night to 7th
Place: Outside
Status: Public
Summary: Dustfinger comes back.

Dustfinger started to wonder if the money he had taken from Arty had been cursed. Oh but he should have been more careful when talk had started of magic. Instead he stupidly took the large amount and went away...

...and for the third time now he was walking this way again.

He shook the head. What did money help him if he could not get away from here when he had it? He hoped if he returned it to Arty he would lift the spell. Otherwise he would never get home. Never.

Now it was too late to ring the bell and he still did not think they would likely let him inside very gladly. He did not need to go inside either. Like Gwin he could just sleep outside when it wasn't raining.

The sun would wake him up surely. Then he could ask for Arty and give back the money. For now, he laid down near to the building were he would stay dryer even if it started to rain at night, rolled up and tried to sleep.

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Primoris may have been defeated, but when Gabriel tried to sleep, his unconscious mind replayed the nightmares he had faced. There were new ones, too, and so he now spent his nights awake.

He did not feel like reading tonight, however, and he had checked on Michael to find him peacefully asleep. Pulling his robes on, Gabriel left his room, padding silently down the garden. The cool night air would be a welcome relief, he thought.

Moving amongst the bushes, Gabriel inhaled deeply, enjoying the light breeze on his skin and the faint sound of crickets and other nighttime noises. There was a distant rumble of thunder, and Gabriel smiled slightly. He half-turned, frowning a little; he could sense someone there, but he could see noone. Hmm.

Whoever it was, they were very near the house. Probably just someone inside. He made to move away -

- and nearly tripped over someone lying curled up on the ground. Surprised, Gabriel knelt by the person, touching his shoulder and taking in his appearance. He bit his lip.

"It will rain soon," he said softly, soothingly, trying not to scare the man. "Would you like to sleep inside?"

Edited 2010-07-13 15:34 (UTC)

Dustfinger woke because someone or something was shaking him awake. Whoever it was, it was not Arty.

He jumped to his feet and dislodged a sleepy Gwin from where he was curled up against him as he did so.

"I'm sorry." He said. "No one was up anymore when I came I think. I must speak with someone who lives here please. I'll be gone right away then."

He looked at the ground in front of the other man's feet and hoped he would leave it at a scolding for being on the grounds without permission. His experiences with the police were not the best. He would have ran away if the other did not stand between him and the exit of the park.

He was so wary, seemingly so scared of Gabriel's reaction; it tugged at the angel's heart. He touched the man's shoulder again.

"You know someone in the Manor? I'm sure you can talk to them in the morning. If you don't have anywhere else to stay, come inside and I'll get you a room. I mean you no harm." He kept his tone soothing.

"I have no money for a room", Dustfinger muttered. "Or I have money but it's cursed. I have to return it. I didn't steal it", he quickly added. "I got it for my show. I told him it was too much but he said take it. And every time I try to walk away I walk back here again."

He realised he had to sound like a madman to the man. "His name is Arty." He said. Then he fell silent and stared at the ground by his feet.

"Cursed money?" Well, that was something Gabriel hadn't come across. "Do you mind if I have a look at it? And I can pay for a room for one night, I'm sure."

Everytime he walked away, he came back? Gabriel studied his face. "Do you mean that you are drawn back to this place somehow, against your will? I'm afraid I don't know who Arty is, but I can find him easily."

Dustfinger nodded. He was wary of the offered room. On the one side, why not take what he was offered? On the other, what if it was like the money?

"I don't really need a room." he said.

Another distant rumble of thunder could be heard. "It's going to rain soon," Gabriel pointed out. "If you won't sleep in a proper room, at least come inside so you won't be caught in the rain. In the morning, I'll help you find this Arty."

He smiled. It was an angel's smile, soft and gentle and merciful. "I give you my word that I only want to help."

He really didn't need to get drenched again. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he or Gwin fell sick. He really didn't.

"Okay", he said. "Out of the rain is better."

Gabriel moved to the entrance, holding the door open for him. "Come in, then. Would you like any food?"

He went to the door and inside. There he stopped at once.

Saying he couldn't remember the last time he had really eaten would have been a lie. It had been in exactly this house.

"Maybe for Gwin", he said and pointed at his companion.

The sight of the animal made Gabriel smile fondly. "He's adorable. Is he friendly?"

"No", Dustfinger said quickly. "He doesn't like to be tickled or anything. He's likely to take off your finger if you try. I'm sorry", he added quickly. "He isn't bad. It's just how he is."

And if he was told to leave Gwin outside now he'd stay out, too. Rain or not.

Gabriel quickly pulled his hand back. "That's alright," he laughed. "I have a cat who's aloof with others; she hates my closest friend Michael and attempts to claw his face off if they're in the same room. Aren't you coming in?"

"In where?" Dustfinger asked. He was still standing right inside the door and uncertain which direction to go to now.

"Come to the counter and I'll get you a key to a room," Gabriel suggested.

"I can't pay a room", Dustfinger repeated. "If I can just sit somewhere and wait?"

"I'll pay," Gabriel offered. "Don't worry, I don't expect anything in return. Or if you don't like the idea of my paying you, you could just use my room. I don't sleep much these days."

"I could just wait here", Dustfinger suggested. "It's inside and it's dry."

And of course the man had already forgotten about the food. But that was okay. It was nice enough of him to let them come inside. He could hear the rain outside now. Every time it rained he hoped that his bag wouldn't get drenched down to his book. He took great care with it. For all he knew it was the only copy existing now. If it was destroyed or illegible from water, he would have no way of returning.

When he thought that, he held on even tighter than before to his bag.

"It's hardly comfortable," Gabriel said. "Come on upstairs. You can sleep in a soft bed and I'll see if I can get you and him," he nodded towards Gwin, "some food."

He wondered what was inside the bag, if he seemed so protective of it.

"I can't. - " Dustfinger started. Then he wasn't sure how to do on. He didn't need a soft bed to sleep in, and nothing would change that he was dirty and smelly and so where his clothes. Even if he got a bath there was no way he could wash his things and dry them quickly enough. That was never even thinking of the fact that he had no place to wash them. In this world you couldn't even strip to wash the only set of clothes you had in a river.

"What's the problem?" Gabriel asked, gently.

"My clothes... and I ... and Gwin - Everything needs a wash", Dustfinger admitted unhappily.

"I have a bathroom you can use, then," Gabriel offered.

"I... it's okay." Dunstfinger said. "I'll just wait here. I don't think I'd be able to get my things clean anymore anyway. Just,please - if you have some leftovers for Gwin, maybe?"

Gabriel nodded. "I don't mind if you dirty the sheets, though. And I would feel bad for simply leaving you here. What does Gwin eat?"

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