She didn't understand a lot of things, but Kristen sure made it seem like it'd get better. Honey popped open the box and emptied it into her hoodie. Poptarts~. "I'm lo'king forward t' the snow."
The woman's smile was gentle, looking over Orrin her gaze summing him up in a few short seconds. He wasn't the kind to need her talent, but he was certainly something special. But that wasn't her department, his kind worked best with Clio. And then to Gren, she smirked- that one was Euterpe all the way. Leaning her weight on her cane, she cooed, "Hello and thank you very much. I'm Melpomene Thalia, editor and manager for Mnemosyne Publications. I'm looking for Mr. Degas?"
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:55 pm
(So much for the new day. rolleyes )
"Um...he's probably upstairs, if anywhere...shall I fetch him for you?" offered Gren.
Charlotte giggled. "No, no. I know! If you're going keep something, it might as well be a bit more meaningful, don't you think?
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:03 pm
Melpomene looked at the stairs then back to the handsome fellow. Smiling sheepishly, "If it wouldn't be a bother, I would be very grateful. Stairs and I aren't exactly the best of friends."
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:08 pm
"Certainly..." he agreed, getting up and strolling up the stairs. After a bit of thinking, he found Kiran's room and knocked on the door.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:17 pm
There was a deal of shuffling, a heavy thud, the sound of seething, a click of the door being unlocked and finally Kiran opened his door. A burst of heat swelled out of the room room of the bed-raggled man. Kiran looked as though he'd been dressed by a blind man. He squinted, right ear catching the beat and smiled shyly at the innkeeper. It took him a moment to find his voice, "G-G-G-Gr-." Left ear twitching, his eyes grew wide, the completely blue lenses giving no feed of light back, "M-M-Mel is h-her-re? F-f-f-forg-g-gi-giv-ve m-me b-b-but w-w-woul-ld y-you p-p-p-p....pl-pl-l-lease h-hel-lp m-me d-d-dow-wn the st-st-tairs?"
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:32 pm
"Uh...sure..." he smiled, quite concerned for the man, offering an arm.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:17 am
Kiran missed the arm the first time. He flustered a moment, before finding it and holding on tightly. His tremor was in full bloom, shaking as if he were freezing cold despite the heat of his room. He stammered about being blind without his glasses, doing his best to look away; he didn't want to upset anyone with his eyes. The process down the stairs was quick enough as Kiran only had to follow Gren's lead. Once at the bottom of the stairs, Kiran thanked Gren softly as Melpomene made her way over and took the role as guide.
"Seems I've arrived just in time." She took Kiran's hand and led him to a table in the corner for a small amount of privacy. They fussed over one another for a long moment, politely warring over who would sit first. In the end, Kiran submitted and sat first. Opening the her bag and digging around she produced a notebook, a bottle of pills, a new inhaler and a pair of glasses.
"I swear you'd fall apart without my help, Mr. Degas. Honestly, you look a mess and how did you break your glasses," the woman sighed, putting the lenses in his hand. She began fixing the buttons of his shirt. Kiran put them on and bowed his head blinking, "I h-had a d-d-disag-gr-reem-ment."
"You were running your mouth from exhaustion weren't you," she sighed, fixing his tie. He said not a word, his ears drooped slightly admitting his guilt. "Mr. Degas, there are only so many times we can have this discussion." He nodded, "I kn-know." "I hope you apologized at least." Melpomene grunted softly as she slowly sat, stretching out her right leg and hanging her cane on the tables edge.
He shook his head, looking to her, "S-s-somet-thing is w-wr-wrong w-wit-th th-these g-g-gl-glasses." "The customs you had before are no longer available. The parts are rare and have been bought by collectors. When Mr Claus passed away, he apparently never wrote the schematics down. He kept it in his head, the dear man was so secretive." Kiran seemed confused a moment, tilting his head to the side, "C-C-Claus is d-d-dead?" Melpomene bit her lip, her voice taking on a worried tone, "You were at his funeral, Mr. Degas. It was a Sunday." He frowned, ears glancing the tops of his shoulders, " I w-wor-re the b-bl-blue asc-cot." She patted his hand, sympathy and worry, "Yes, that is correct." His ears twitched, realization dawning slowly, "I-it w-w-was r-r-rain-ning-." Melpomene relaxed slightly, cooing, "Yes." He fussed at the gold rimmed lenses. "It's not so bad, Mr. Degas. You did well enough before without them, you'll just have to-."
Reading the label on the pill bottle, eyebrows furrowing, he set it down with a decisive clack. He interrupted,"I d-d-d-don't w-w-wan-nt the n-n-nit-trog-gen." Her turn to frown, "You will take them and not give me any sass about it. Your doctor said you have to do it everyday from here on out. Please so not force my hand on this, Mr. Degas. I am not above calling Mr. Arthur and bringing him here to mother you. The last thing anyone wants is for you to have a heart attack. Especially him." "N-n-not so l-l-loud," Kiran insisted, holding up his hands. She cleared her throat, her voice raising, "What was that, Mr. Degas? You won't take your nitrogen pills? They don't know? You mean to tell me not a SINGLE person, after all this time here, knows about your WEAK HEART?" He fretted, the tufts flaring, "P-p-pl-please, M-M-Mel. D-d-don-n't m-mak-ke a sc-cen-ne." "Are you going to take them? Or shall I continue?" He glowered, "Y-y-yes. I w-will t-t-tak-ke th-them." She smiled, crooned, "That's my, Mr. Degas." He blushed deeply, "St-t-top p-p-pat-tr-tron-nizing m-me." "Then act like an adult and not a child."
She scrawled in a small notebook, humming softly. She looked up, golden eyes glimmering with mournful affection. " Are you out of the red?" He nodded yes. "How long?" "A m-m-mont-th," he braced himself. Melpomene sat up straight, snapping her book shut, "A month?" He nodded, swallowing, "Th-they m-m-mak-ke m-my t-t-tr-trem-mor w-wor-rse." She sat back, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, "Mr. Degas, we have been over this extensively. You have to take them. They keep you stable, they keep you focused, they help you sleep and they keep you from talking to Her." He chewed his lip, bitter, "H-h-her n-n-nam-me is Elen-nor. Sh-he is m-my w-wif-fe." Pinching the bridge of her nose, "Was your wife, Mr. Degas." "I-is," he argued. Exasperation touched her tone, he hadn't gotten better at all, "I am sympathetic, Mr. Degas. Ms Elenor was a wonderful woman with a big heart but it has been five very LONG years. She is long passed and your cannot continue to mourn like this." "I d-d-do n-not n-need the m-m-med-dicine. I sh-should-." "No, Mr. Degas. You do. Or did you forget what the psychologist ordered?" He said nothing, only wheezed with anxiety. He had. "You know I won't stop for an asthma attack, Mr. Degas. I am used to your anxiety fits, long used to them and I expect more from you. A lot more considering your age." Kiran used his inhaler, watching her as she watched him. He hated how her pleasant expression never changed. Hated how she was right. Hated that she was here. Hated that she kept speaking loudly as to be overheard. "If I go up those stairs am I going to find paper covered walls and notes to her?" He looked away, didn't answer. "Mr. Degas?" He mumbled. "Come again?" "Y-yes. Sh-she l-l-lik-kes th-them."
Adjusting her glasses, she reached into a pocket of her bag. Producing a bottle and sifting out a red pill into her palm, "Here." He looked at the pill, looked at her pleadingly, he whispered desperately, "Sh-he'll g-g-go aw-way a-ag-gain." "Let me remind you, Mr. Degas, that your being here is contingent on your compliance. You signed a contract. As your editor and your friend- I insist." He shook his head no, "Th-they m-m-mak-ke m-me t-t-tir-red; I c-c-can-not th-thin-nk." Melpomene warned, "I'm not here to play games. I don't have to do this for you, Mr. Degas. I could be like every other editor and cut you from our roster because you are a hopeless case of wallowing sorrow." He trembled, setting his jaw, muttering inaudibly and raising a hand as it glimmered that sickly yellow of his magic. Fearless, Melpomene grabbed his wrist with empty hand and squeezed. They both stared at one another- battle of will. She purred, amber eyes narrowing impishly, "Don't you take that tone with me. I'm not afraid of you or your self- destructive magic. We've had this battle before. I win. I always win and always will. You know I am right and you know I only want the best for you. Now cancel the spell." Melpomene sighed heavily, tightening her grip until he winced and ears drooped. Kiran ground his teeth, chewing his words as he stared at the pill in her hand. A long moment passed and he submitted. The glow dimmed, Kiran seethed, just the summoning of it causing some damage. The woman kept her grip and his gaze drew up to her.
Melpomene rumbled coldly, her gentle disposition holding, "My primary reason for being here is to check on you, to see if you're doing better. Mr. Degas sending you so far away was a risk I was willing to take because I value your health. I have been here for you through thick and thin and you will NOT treat me like the enemy. If you want that I will have you recommitted. Do you want that?" He pleaded, suddenly timid, pulling his arm back, "P-p-pl-please, n-n-no on-ne n-n-needs t-t-to h-hear th-this." "And why not?" He flushed, "I h-h-hav-ve b-b-been en-nough of a b-b-burd-don." She sighed, "I sent you here to give you a break and all you've done is break. Mr. Degas, do I need to make arrangements for you to come back to the city? Back to Yates?" Kiran stood up, shaking his head, "N-no." She ordered, "Sit." And he did.
"My job is to encourage and motivate you. If I must do it by threatening your ability to stay here then so be it. That amazing mind of yours needs produce another best seller and keep your following alive. You owe it to your fans, publisher and yourself. Now take the pill." He swallowed, sniffling, "I-it's so l-l-lon-nel-ly." Melpomene set the pill on the table, sugar spun poison on her tone, "I will not force you." He glared at her, bullied into it as tears welled in his eyes. He whimpered, "F-forg-giv-ve m-me, Elen-nor." He picked up the pill, putting it in his mouth and swallowing. He grimaced at the taste, at the act of obedience and the oncoming loss.
She smiled cooly, "See that wasn't so bad, was it?" He glared at her sourly, eyes heavily lidded as the numb sensation washed over him. "Now to business. The publisher is getting worried about deadline." "I w-w-will h-hav-ve it f-for y-you soon." "The day before print is not acceptable. Soon means soon, Mr. Degas." He nodded, "I d-d-do. I h-h-h-hav-ve a f-f-few ch-ch-chap-pt-ters." She smiled, "How many?" "F-f-f-four." "Four," "I w-will g-g-get th-them f-f-fin-nish-hed." She nodded, "I know you will." He wheezed softly, bowing his head, and shoulder's slumping, tone a little confused, "I p-p-prom-mise."
"Mr. Degas, would you mind getting me some water please?" He slowly rose, "Y-y-yes o-of c-c-cour-rse."
Kiran walked to the kitchen to fetch her some water. Melpomene sighed, pulling out a small leather book and writing in it as she waited.
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:43 pm
Gren, having overheard snippets and raised voices, gave the pair a worried look at a distance. Quietly coming over, he murmured to Melpomene "Is everything all right..?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:49 pm
Looking up, Melpomene smiled at Gren gently, looking up from her notebook- the works written in Greek. "I am sorry to cause such a ruckus. Mr. Degas has always been standoffish. I'm afraid I didn't catch your name, Mr?"
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:52 pm
"Gren. Gren Eckener." he smiled crookedly, offering a hand. "May I call you Melpomene?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:00 pm
She laughed, taking it and giving a firm shake, "Call me, Mel, Mr. Eckener. Everyone does." She let go, waving a hand to the seat Kiran hadn't been in. "To your query, the answer is not really."
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:32 pm
((Sorry...we can jumpstart something new.))
"More meaningful...? What did you have in mind...?" Orrin asked, leaving Mel and Gren and Kiran to their antics.
"Snow is nice," Kristen echoed, setting out a freshly made waffle for Honey as she made one for herself. "The cool weather feels good, too..."
Tyler woke with a slight start, taking a moment to breathe and get his bearings again before sitting up and adjusting his glasses. A blanket...? When did he-- "Sol, obviously."
"Mel is it, then, if that's your preference." he agreed with a smile, though it fell at the confirmation of his worries. "...Is there anything I can do to help, whatever it is?"
"Something that actually matters to me, of course." she said, rummaging in her pocket and producing a stone with a hole in it. "Like this."
(No no, no worries! biggrin)
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:47 pm
Kiran entered the kitchen and dithered about aimlessly, taking his dear sweet time. He stood, staring at the drinkamajig- what was it he was doing?
Honey stood next to Kristen, humming and offering her a poptart. "I usually do my traveling around now. I'm won'ering if I s'ould stay 'ere a w'ile yet."
Melpomene sighed, " I sent him here to relax, refresh his batteries. He never calls or writes and now I find out he's not taking his medicine. Mr. Eckener, would you by chance be able to tell me how he's been doing? Has he been interacting? Any problems?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 6:06 pm
"Erh...well, I actually wouldn't be the one to ask...the one who's been spending the most time with him is Malachai. He hasn't...well, he's been a littel trouble, but not intentionally."
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