The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
|
Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Sept 3, 2015 19:46:36 GMT -8
"My Good Knight, I do not see your noble steed.""I suppose we must make the journey on foot."
She extended her hand towards him shifting off his tree Aiden reached out and took her hand in his causing his heart to palpitate frantically. He noticed the dance in her step and her otherwise joyful demeanor as if theprevious nights incident had never happened at all. It was funny how she referred to his noble steed given the thoughts that were on his mind, he looked down at himself his shirt a dark grey in colour only slightly more colourful than the faded black of his jeans. If this was a fairy tale he surely wouldn't know how to ride a white horse yet she seemed to like his darkened motorized steed. He linked his fingers in between hers, a perfect fit like it was meant to be.
"I'm not going to complain about being hand in hand with one who is as pretty as a picture or how she is like a golden ring. I certainly wont complain about how she makes the the forest appear like its glimmering with diamonds or how she encircles me with love and laughter and grants me more than I deserve."
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 27, 2015 11:48:09 GMT -8
As they walked, she marveled at how something as innocent as holding hands felt so intimate. She'd never had her hand held in this way with fingers interlaced but it felt right, the way his hand fit hers and how it made her feel as if a missing piece was neatly and perfectly put into place.
"I'm not going to complain about being hand in hand with one who is as pretty as a picture or how she is like a golden ring."
Charlie felt another blush as his words sent butterflies flittering around in her stomach, causing her to giggle. She felt self conscious at how his compliments made her blush and giggle like a ninny. "Oh stop," she said, playfully bumping into his side.
"I certainly wont complain about how she makes the the forest appear like its glimmering with diamonds or how she encircles me with love and laughter and grants me more than I deserve."
Charlie felt a sadness at his last comment. It wasn't the first time he'd suggested he was undeserving. She stopped and gave their linked hands a tug to get his full attention as she moved to stand in front of him, her expression full of sadness and concern. "You are just as deserving as anyone else." She searched his face, seeing in his eyes something that haunted him from his past. She'd seen it lingering there before. "Whatever happened in the past, it's in the past and should remain there. You're a good man, Aiden." Gingerly, she placed her free hand over his heart. "You have a good heart."
|
|
The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
|
Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Oct 2, 2015 20:54:00 GMT -8
"Whatever happened in the past, it's in the past and should remain there. You're a good man, Aiden.""You have a good heart."
Aiden looked away from her she said it, he knew he had to tell her as he removed her hand from his chest. "Charlie..." He wanted to look into her eyes but felt too much shame to gaze upon those beautiful sparklers of hers so instead he gazed down and away feeling completely unworthy of her "I've done, did, do... things... bad things... I'm not a good guy. My heart..." Aiden now looked at Charlie knowing he was completely blowing his chances with her "Wants you, needs you but hates myself." Aiden turned and took a step away placing his hands on her hips "I know I shouldn't love you and you see something in me and I..." gingerly he place his hand on her heart "I feel you, my pain escapes through you, you healing me while you course through my veins." His head now hung low as a lump caught in his throat. "I want nothing more than to breathe you in every day, but dont... All I do is hurt people, I am nothing but a thug and you deserve more. I want to be that more, I spent all night watching you sleep so I could dream of you. Just give me the word and I'll leave today..."
Aiden poured his heart out, he had to tell her the truth, he wanted to declare the truth about their meeting but the words would never come out, but admitting this was something he had never been able to do before and to him that was proof she was good for him. Aiden hoped she wouldn't want him to leave yet would understand is she gave him the word , he felt cold to the core as he fought back the tears knowing that he would be helpless without her.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Oct 3, 2015 0:10:28 GMT -8
Charlie covered his hand with her own, shaking her head in disbelief. The sadness she felt over the pain and self inflicted punishment reflected in her eyes. "I've never seen you do anything the least bit wrong. You've come to my rescue twice, the first time when we were strangers on the street. And even when we happened to cross paths again in the forest, still as strangers, you took that little injured bunny to the vet for me, no questions asked." She raised his hand, kissing his palm before resting it against her cheek as she looked up at him, the sadness in her eyes replaced with love and conviction. "You have never done anything to hurt me and I can't believe that you ever would."
|
|
The Jester Of Tortuga
Ready Player One RPG
Cashy-money: $53,400
A Batman Who Laughs Is A Batman Who Wins
Posts: 2,739
Ready Player One RPG:
- Morrigan Ashen
_________________________
X-Men RPG:
- Hope Summers
_________________________
Lost RPG:
- Lillian-Rose Craven
- Stu Miley
_________________________
Once Upon a Time RPG:
- Oogie Boogie/Ken Calloway
_________________________
|
Post by The Jester Of Tortuga on Nov 4, 2015 19:08:12 GMT -8
"I've never seen you do anything the least bit wrong. You've come to my rescue twice, the first time when we were strangers on the street. And even when we happened to cross paths again in the forest, still as strangers, you took that little injured bunny to the vet for me, no questions asked.""You have never done anything to hurt me and I can't believe that you ever would."
"I would never hurt you Charlie." Not even if he commanded me to Aiden thought to himself regarding Mr. Gold. That was a situation Aiden knew he would have to resolve and today seemed as good a day as any. Her touch warmed him she was proving more and more to be the silver lining to his dark cloud. "For you I would march every road, climb all hills even upon my knees when I lacked the will to do so, but hurt you... I could never."
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Nov 29, 2015 14:07:39 GMT -8
She smiled as her heart warmed. "Well then," she began, trying to lighten the mood, "it's a good thing I'm not the kind to ask you do to such things. Come on now," she laced her fingers with his and began walking again. "I have a lot of baking to do and if we dilly dally any longer, my aunts will catch up to us."
***Charlie and Aiden exit to Storybrooke Country Bread***
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 10, 2017 17:45:06 GMT -8
Several hours pass and it is now the evening after the clock started moving.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 5, 2018 21:13:19 GMT -8
The night passes and it is now Tuesday morning,
two days after the clock started moving.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 13, 2019 19:35:54 GMT -8
***Charlie enters from Storybrooke Country Bread***
Charlie found her usual favored spot and laid out a blanket, then settled the basket, her satchel, and herself onto it. She was famished but her hunger to explore the book outweighed it so she first went for her satchel, resting the book on her lap, then reached into the basket for her sandwich while turning the intricate cover over to the very first page. She took a bite, reading over every little thing and not giving into the temptation to quickly flip through for any images or words that may point to Callie or herself. A small feeling of excitement mixed with trepidation over the thought that this book may be facts rather than fiction helped keep her at bay.
She was only a couple pages in, learning about a fantastical world when a little ball of fur crept up to her side, pulling her attention from the book. Charlie glanced over and smiled fondly, giggling at the bunny's little twitchy pink nose as he pushed onto his overly large back paws and tapped one as he watched her expectantly. "Good morning, Thumper," she said, retrieving a carrot for one of her lunch companions. Thumper hopped closer to her side and began nibbling at the carrot. She watched him for awhile, the name she'd given to the rabbit along with the other animals that would sometimes accompany her suddenly making her wonder if her subconscious had always been connected to a fairytale world long before she'd met Henry.
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Apr 14, 2019 11:58:43 GMT -8
Ken had been watching the young woman and somehow he knew she would be taking a walk in the woods. He had been planning on it himself to be honest. The fact that she decided to take a little lunch break was just an added bonus. The house could wait, it was not going anywhere.
With the stealth of a shadow under the shady tree's he crept along. Finally the pretty little thing settled down on the ground with her blanket and a large very interesting tome. He certainly would have liked to get a closer look, but then that blasted furry troublemaker showed up. It was her guardian angel? A talisman again him? Calloway almost laughed out loud. Hardly, if he simply walked over it would surely lose its nerve again. It would be amusing but also counter productive. Maybe if he offered it something to win its affections? Or maybe it would just go away.
The man waited for another minute or two but it started to seem like an eternity as the creature was now nibbling on a carrot and was not showing any signs of leaving. He would just have to take his chances. "These days are better spent under the tree's. No oppressing... heat, to stop one from enjoying the smell of the flowers. It seems like we have that in common!" He proceeded casually out from behind his cover as if he had been strolling along.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 14, 2019 13:22:54 GMT -8
As Thumper was distracted with the carrot, Charlie hummed a soothing tune while she checked over his stitched up leg, happy to see he was heeling nicely from his unfortunate run-in with the trap.
"These days are better spent under the tree's. No oppressing... heat, to stop one from enjoying the smell of the flowers. It seems like we have that in common!"
Charlie wasn't sure which had startled her more; the sudden voice breaking her solitude or the speed with which Thumper took off like a bolt of lightening into the nearby bushes. Her hands quickly caught the book that nearly teetered off her lap with her jolt of surprise.
She placed a hand over her racing heart and looked up to see the very person she'd seen when last she'd been in Thumper's company. "Oh, it's you," she said with relief in her tone for discovering the voice belonged to the man who'd been kind enough to stop and help her collect her things when she'd dropped them but had just as quickly taken off. His words finally registered and she smiled fondly as she took in her surroundings. "I do love it here in the woods. I thought I was alone in that but lately, it seems a few others have taken a liking to it." She'd happened across several people recently and hoped her aunts wouldn't find out or she might lose her privilege of venturing into the woods on her own. So far, none had seemed the type to have set traps so there was definitely at least one other that she hadn't come across yet. Based off how he'd reacted to Thumper yesterday, praising how precious he was and wanting to hold him, Charlie had already cancelled him out as the person who had set those traps. She didn't hold Thumper's reaction to the man against him. He was, after all, a wild animal and Charlie understood that her ability to bond with the animals was a special gift, one which she assumed was due to spending most of her life in these woods accompanied with treats and helping them when injured. "What brings you out here?" she asked curiously.
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Apr 20, 2019 18:30:13 GMT -8
As he expected, the small Leporidae raced off into the brush. Ken's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. But the moment passed and he painted that content smile back on his face. "Oh, it's you," the young woman said with relief, "I do love it here in the woods. I thought I was alone in that but lately, it seems a few others have taken a liking to it."
She seemed to be scrutinizing something, him perhaps? Or it could be the general situation as her eyes wandered. A myriad of emotions played across her features in those few seconds. Concern and worry foremost on her mind. "What brings you out here?" she asked curiously. "Oh I love to walk in the woods around this time of day, the animals are so active. If you play your cards right, you can capture them at just the right moment. It's amazing what you can learn."
He let that hang for a moment and then produced his camera from the bag that hung from his shoulder. "One of my many hobbies." Occasionally he took pictures of the furry denizens of the woods as well. There was something to learn, he had to be honest. They all had something in common. Calloway's eyes strayed momentarily towards wear the rabbit had fled. "I do hope your companion is feeling somewhat more himself today?"
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 20, 2019 20:26:03 GMT -8
"Oh I love to walk in the woods around this time of day, the animals are so active. If you play your cards right, you can capture them at just the right moment. It's amazing what you can learn."
"Capture?" she repeated in a frail voice. Charlie's eyes widened, paling slightly as shock overcame her features. Had she assumed wrong when she'd thought he wasn't the one setting traps? She was frozen to the spot as he began to reach into the bag slung over his shoulder. For a terrified moment, she was afraid he was going to pull a small, recently trapped victim out to show off to her.
He pulled a camera from the bag. "Oh, 'capture'," she said on a nervous laugh, embarrassed at what she'd assumed and hoping she hadn't offended him, knowing that her expressions tended to be as easily read as a book.
"One of my many hobbies." "I do hope your companion is feeling somewhat more himself today?"
"He is, thank you for asking," she said, easing back into comfort. Charlie glanced toward the bushes again. "He's just not comfortable around people," she said as an excuse on Thumper's behalf. "I've been bribing him with food for years," she explained modestly, her eyes going back to his camera. "I'd love to see some of your pictures some time." Manners finally kicked in and Charlie gestured to the plentiful room on the blanket. "Would you like to join me?"
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Apr 27, 2019 20:27:14 GMT -8
Her expression and tone of voice as he went to produce his camera spoke an awful lot about where her mind was wandering. Incidentally he did open his eyes in shock before she had a chance to back-peddle with her comment, "Oh, 'capture'," and one could not forget the nervous laughter that followed. He had little interest in the wildlife as their skittish nature was more of a knee jerk instinct rather than anything real... like fear.
She slowly shifted back into her normal state. "I've been bribing him with food for years," she explained as her eyes went to his camera. "I'd love to see some of your pictures some time... Would you like to join me?" He looked down fondly as she extended the invitation. As yes it was nice when they welcomed him right in. "I would be happy too, and perhaps I can show you sometime. It is a shame I did not think to bring anything with me, I might have been able to get you both on camera. That would have made for a lovely shot." Ken took a seat nearby Charlie. "So is it just the animals that bring you so deep into the woods? I feel like this place has few secrets that I'd be just dying to know. I am a curious sort I suppose," the man said with a smile.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 4, 2019 17:14:11 GMT -8
"I would be happy too, and perhaps I can show you sometime. It is a shame I did not think to bring anything with me, I might have been able to get you both on camera. That would have made for a lovely shot."
"Oh, I'd love that!" she said, excited at the thought of a picture with one of her forest friends. As he settled himself down, perhaps a bit closer than normal propriety, Charlie shifted the basket of snacks more toward him in invitation. "Help yourself, if you'd like."
"So is it just the animals that bring you so deep into the woods? I feel like this place has few secrets that I'd be just dying to know. I am a curious sort I suppose,"
"I love spending time in the woods," she said. It sounded better than admitting that it was the only place she was allowed to spend time outside of work and home, especially to someone she'd just met. The odd looks the few people she'd told had given her had her holding that information back for now. "The animals are sweet and adorable. Little pure souls that brighten my day." The admission sounded a bit corny, even to her own ears. She smiled shyly and dropped her eyes to her lap where her hands still held tight to the book. Welcoming a topic change, even though it might also be on the corny side, she dove in. "I've actually been looking forward to taking some time to read this book," she said, angling it slightly toward him. "Henry lent it to me. He's got this wild notion that this collection of fairytales are actually facts." She looked down at it and smiled fondly with memories of Henry's enthusiasm. "Not just facts," she said, turning her grin back to him, "but our, the townspeople's, facts." She gestured in a circle indicating the whole town with her free hand. "I know it sounds silly, but it's fun to imagine," she admitted.
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on May 4, 2019 18:38:24 GMT -8
"I love spending time in the woods," Ken listened intently as his companion had a lot to say. She offered him a treat from her basket and he absentmindedly reached out and took one. He scrutinized it as if it was something of interest but he dropped the charade as soon as she drew his attention to the book in her lap.
"I've actually been looking forward to taking some time to read this book," Charlie said, "Henry lent it to me. He's got this wild notion that this collection of fairytales are actually facts." Now he seemed to be getting a similar level of enthusiasm. Like a child he hung on to her every word as he munched on the snack. "I know it sounds silly, but it's fun to imagine," Calloway realized she was finished and might be waiting for a reaction. "This is news to me but honestly I don't think its silly at all. I don't know why but I guess... I trust that admirable imagination Henry must possess. There is nothing we can't do when we embrace it. What does your heart really tell you?" He made a mental note that he would have to talk to this Henry. Could it be the Mayor's child? He didn't know any other...
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 5, 2019 15:16:20 GMT -8
"My heart?" she repeated, looking distant as she searched it. "My head is trying to tell me it's crazy, but my heart wants to believe." She smiled, liking the fact that he trusted the heart as she tended to do. Her aunts always revolved all their actions and decisions around the mind and have tried in vain to instill that same sense of responsibility in her.
Charlie stared down at the book, still only at the beginning which spoke of a different world existing outside of this one. "It opens by painting a picture of this magical world. I find myself reading the same passage over and over. I'm having trouble concentrating because I'm so tempted to flip through the pages to see if there is an illustration of someone I know, but at the same time, I'm almost afraid to find out it is all true." Charlie looked down at the picture of a forest with a castle in the distance, trying to imagine herself there. "Eventually, I may turn a page to find myself looking back at me. I wouldn't mind learning other people's history but I'm almost afraid to find out my own." Charlie looked at Ken, her brows furrowed with inner turmoil. "I must sound crazy," she said on a nervous laugh. Then an idea struck her. "Would you mind looking?" she asked, carefully transferring the book from her lap to his. "Maybe if you tell me what pages I'm on, I can avoid those pages and read about everyone else until I'm ready to learn my own truth."
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Jun 23, 2019 6:55:42 GMT -8
Ken listened with bated breath until suddenly he found the book sitting in his own lap. She chittered a nervous laugh as she looked at him with hope. That laughter... it was only a stones throw away from something else, fear... He could sense it.
The man closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, slowly, in and out. When he opened his eyes he looked down at the book, running his hands over the cover and proceeded down its spine... "You offer me a powerful responsibility freely". His eyes snapped up to hers. "I shouldn't disappoint!" He smiled then to put her at ease but his eyes sparkled with anticipation. This book was something special, he believed that now more than ever as it sat in his grasp. Slowly he turned back that heavy cover and began turning the pages, one at a time... It was like having the weight of the world in your hands, or the lives of those whose stories unfolded right before his eyes...
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 6, 2019 9:03:49 GMT -8
"I'm certain you won't," she said with easy confidence. If the context meant not only believing, but the lengths gone to to make use of the information, she had no idea how right she was in her assessment.
She also had no idea of the grave error in judgment she'd made. Charlie only felt relief that Ken was embracing this whole fanciful notion. She was sure practically anyone else would have laughed or teased her, making her feel silly and embarrassed. Her aunts would have tsked and reprimanded her, warning her to not to speak of it because people may think her crazy.
Charlie watched him as he began flipping through the book as if she could get a hint of what he was reading but much like the book at the current angle, his face was unreadable. Charlie leaned a bit closer, only able to make out writing or illustrations but not clearly seeing the words or pictures as he turned the pages.
"What does it say?" she asked, the silence and anticipation gnawing at her. "Do you recognize anyone?" 'Is it real?'
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Jul 7, 2019 6:10:42 GMT -8
"I'm certain you won't," the young woman said with enthusiasm as he went about his task. It may not be the strangest thing he'd noticed so far but this book seemed deceptively thin. Inside it contained a wealth of information. A whole new world... It just didn't end.
"Snow White and her Prince Charming... Little Red Riding Hood... Ah the Sleeping Beauty herself. It seems they are all here in vivid detail. And many more... I dare say you could learn almost everything you wanted to know about these people's lives, just as you said. Let's see if we can find one to dig into in depth..." To his eyes nothing seemed to speak to him with remembrance. But his heart yearned for it all. Lingering on the last one, known as Aurora, for a moment longer he moved on in the hopes that something would click as it had for the young Henry.
Ken began paging through faster and faster, not even sure why he moved with such haste, only that he needed to find it and then he stopped. There in the bowels of the book (which seemed the best description for it) was a face no normal person would want to see. It was wrapped in what looked like canvas and burlap and it was filthy and... old. Ancient as the mountains and the dirt. Behind the layers two yellow eyes pierced out from the darkness and through his skull. Sitting there under the tree's he recognized this face. And then Calloway's head started to hurt fiercely. It was splitting open as if suddenly overfull. Something dripped on the back of his hand, was that blood? It seemed to run from his nose... And then he felt himself falling backwards from his seated position. The book falling closed to his side as he knew no more.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 7, 2019 19:49:12 GMT -8
"Snow White and her Prince Charming... Little Red Riding Hood... Ah the Sleeping Beauty herself...
Ken's voice faded away as something about one or all of those names triggered something in Charlie. Or maybe it was simply the fact he was reading aloud from the book. It was something she might ponder later. At the moment, her mind was filled with flashes so hazy they were hard to make out. They were like snippets of dreams, though they oddly felt like memories that weren't her own. Faces were too blurry to make out and the scenes went by so fast it was impossible to know what was going on. Charlie continued to stare off in a daze as her mind tried to fit the pieces to a puzzle they didn't seem to go to.
The sudden quiet and an abnormal movement pulled Charlie's attention. The book, once angled slightly upward toward him, had fallen flat and the enthusiastic flipping of the pages had come to a stop. "Ken?" There was worry in her voice. She caught sight of something on the page that looked horrifying, even from her angle. Her eyes focused on Ken just as he was falling backward, blood streaming from his nose. "Ken!"
Charlie rushed toward him, the book had fallen closed to the ground and she pushed it aside. She settled behind him and put his head in her lap to keep it angled up. Charlie leaned toward the picnic basket and grabbed a napkin, holding it to his nose. "Ken, are you alight? What happened?" Was this a medical problem? A bad reaction to something? "Do you need something? Some sort of medicine?" She started patting his pockets for something that resembled a pill box or a syringe. Something. She wasn't sure what to look for. A cell phone. She found his cell phone. Charlie picked up the fancy device, looking it over. "It's okay. You'll be fine. I'll call for help." Having the sheriff and emergency crew rain down on them meant revealing herself but there was no way she'd let someone suffer, or worse, just to avoid the wrath of her aunts. She turned the cell phone in her hand, pushing buttons on the sides but couldn't figure out how to access the screen that allowed her to dial a number. "How does this darn thing work?" she asked in panicked frustration.
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Jul 7, 2019 21:22:37 GMT -8
*Ruby enters from Storybrooke Country Bread*
It had barely been five minutes since Ruby entered the woods and already she had managed to get herself all turned around. "Oh come on," she groaned, exasperated. Apparently forest navigation was not her forte. As Ruby stood, trying to get her bearings, a faint voice caught her attention. It sounded panicked.
Ruby focused on the sound, following it further into the woods until a familiar blonde came into view. "Charlie? What-" That was when Ruby realized the woman wasn't alone. "Oh my god, what happened?"
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Jul 15, 2019 16:08:58 GMT -8
Ken's world swirled in a black haze. There was no up or down. Waves crashed over him. They were not the kind you experienced at the beach though. There was nothing soothing about them, they were dry and hot... Oppressive. He heard a feminine voice, or voices? But they were unpleasant. As if they were off key, far away. Something held him, tried to comfort him, but it was a lie. His head was still pounding. It was excruciating.
"Kenneth..." It was a whisper. Not quick either but it sounded slow and drawn out. Unlike the women, this was close. Like right over his shoulder. He spun around but he still couldn't see anything. How could he be sure he even turned? "Who's there?" He wasn't sure if it had been a man or a woman. "Kenneth..." There it was again. It was starting to sound deeper, more substantial. And familiar. "Don't play games with me! No one does that to me?"
Calloway realized the crashing and hissing sounds had stopped. But there was something else. A horse sort of raspy breathing? "What about me?" The hair stood up on the back of Ken's neck. He had never felt like this before. He was terrified. He swung around one last time right in the direction of those taunted words and he saw those yellow eyes. He saw the maggots crawling from the darkness that would have been its mouth and he screamed.
He screamed as he found himself awake with his head in Charlie's lap. He was sweating profusely. He had no way of knowing how much time had passed. Or that his words that he had spoke to the darkness were out loud. As one usually does when having such a vivid nightmare. How could he? This was his first. "What was that?" He panted out loud to no one in particular... His eyes could not focus on anyone. He wanted to close them but he couldn't let himself do that. Not now.
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 28, 2019 11:40:03 GMT -8
"Charlie? What-" "Oh my god, what happened?"
Charlie was flooded with relief over hearing one of the few familiar voices in her life. "Ruby, thank goodness. I don't know!" she said, panic coming into her voice again. "One minute he was fine and the next, his nose began to bleed and he passed out. I tried calling for help but I can't figure how this thing works!" There was frustration in her voice as she held the phone up to Ruby.
"Who's there?"
Charlie's attention whipped back down to Ken but his eyes were still closed. "It's Ruby. She's here to--"
"Don't play games with me! No one does that to me?"
Charlie looked stricken at the thought. "I--I'm not. I wouldn't." With realization, Charlie looked back up at Ruby. "I don't think he's talking to us."
"What was that?"
Again, Charlie's attention was drawn downward and she breathed a sigh of relief at finding his eyes open now. "You passed out," she said in a calm soothing voice. Charlie pulled the napkin away to find his nose no longer bleeding. "I think you had a nightmare." There was a note of perplexity added in that last part. Did people dream when passed out, especially for such a short time? Her eyes wandered toward the book and she looked at it in a new light. There was a bit of trepidation added with the fascination now.
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 24, 2019 17:40:28 GMT -8
"Ruby, thank goodness. I don't know!" "One minute he was fine and the next, his nose began to bleed and he passed out. I tried calling for help but I can't figure how this thing works!"
Ruby looked down at the unconscious man, her own panic building as she heard the panic in Charlie's voice. She was not built for handling emergencies, especially not medical life or death ones. But no one else was coming. The solitude of the forest was oppressive. It had only been by sheer luck that Ruby herself had happened by. She grabbed the cell phone, fingers fumbling as she dialed the familiar number to the sheriff's office.
"Who's there?"
The voice nearly made Ruby jump out of her skin. Still holding the phone, she quickly glanced down at Calloway but he showed no other signs of consciousness. The sound of ringing echoed in her ear. One, two, three.... C'mon Graham, pick up.
"It's Ruby. She's here to--" "Don't play games with me! No one does that to me?" "I--I'm not. I wouldn't." "I don't think he's talking to us."
"No...he's not." Ruby confirmed with trepidation. What the hell was going on? And where the hell was the sheriff? Ruby hung up, about to dial again when Calloway's scream made the phone going flying from her hands. But at least he was awake.
"What was that?"
"You passed out," "I think you had a nightmare."
"A pretty horrible one at that," she chimed in, her heart descending from where it had firmly lodged itself in her throat. "You feel okay? Should I still call for an ambulance?" She leaned down to pick up the dirt covered cell.
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Aug 24, 2019 18:20:28 GMT -8
"You passed out," said a calm soothing voice. "I think you had a nightmare." Charlie... He saw her face come into focus as he kept his head still in her lap. "A pretty horrible one at that," another voice chimed in, Ruby. He knew them well. "You feel okay? Should I still call for an ambulance?"
Ken's eyes shifted to her, "No!" He blurted out a little too quickly. Slowing his voice and calming his tone he tried again. "I'm fine, thank you." He lifted himself gently up with his elbows and raised his head away from Charlie. He pushed his weight to his right side and held himself up in that position on one elbow as he looked at Ruby again. "See?" He let out a soft chuckle.
With his free hand he wiped at the remaining blood around his nose. "Fascinating..." He dropped his eyes from the woman's face and then looked at the book. "What an odd thing to happen..." He remained fixed on it for a few moments longer. "I'm fine, really. Thank you both though, you have no idea how much. He finished pulling his legs in and got himself into a sitting position. He had been genuinely afraid but the more time passed he also felt... whole? "Everyone has their little quirks I suppose. No sense in letting it ruin a day like this."
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 24, 2019 23:34:40 GMT -8
"You feel okay? Should I still call for an ambulance?"
"I think you should," Charlie chimed in, sitting there, feeling helpless as she watched Ruby at the ready to so easily operate the maddening device that passed for a phone.
"No!" "I'm fine, thank you." "See?"
Charlie just watched him, flabbergasted over how he was making so little of something that had scared her nearly to death. "But, you passed out. Your nose. It was really bleeding..." She watched him wipe away the last remnants of the blood.
"Fascinating..." "What an odd thing to happen..."
Facinating? she mentally repeated. Charlie looked up from her seated position to Ruby, thinking the only odd thing was his reaction to what had happened. Since she was looking up toward Ruby, she didn't catch Ken's drawn fixation to the book.
"I'm fine, really. Thank you both though, you have no idea how much. "Everyone has their little quirks I suppose. No sense in letting it ruin a day like this."
His voice pulled back her attention and she eyed him with concern but as soon as he'd labeled it as a 'little quirk', Charlie looked up at Ruby again in question, silently mouthing 'quirk?' in question. She knew she didn't get out much but had that really been an occurrence that most would have seen as a 'little quirk'? Switching her attention back to Ken, she said, "Are--are you sure you're okay? Can I get you anything?" she glanced around her, grabbing a bottle of water and held it out. "Water?" The offer felt so weak in comparison to what had just happened. Goodness, surely there was something more they should do.
|
|
|
Post by Storyteller on Aug 24, 2019 23:52:33 GMT -8
"I'm fine, really. Thank you both though, you have no idea how much. "Everyone has their little quirks I suppose. No sense in letting it ruin a day like this."
Calloway had always been a little off. But now Ruby was pretty sure that he had more than a few screws loose. She caught Charlie's unvoiced message and shrugged slightly in response, making sure that Ken didn't see as she used her right pointer finger to make a little circular gesture next to her head.
"Are--are you sure you're okay? Can I get you anything?" "Water?"
"That's probably a good idea. Maybe you're dehydrated and that's why you passed out?" Ruby suggested, feeling more uncomfortable by the second. Calloway always gave her the heebie jeebies. Not in the way that Mr. Gold did but in that 'creeper who would mail you dead animals' kinda way. How did Charlie get in with him and why was she out here alone with him?
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Aug 25, 2019 8:16:11 GMT -8
Neither one of the woman seemed to be taking him seriously. Perhaps he was downplaying this too much? What he was doing couldn't be considered quite normal? What to do...
"Are--are you sure you're okay? Can I get you anything?" grabbing a bottle of water Charlie then thrust it in his direction. "Water?"
Smiling politely he held out his hand and accepted the offering. That would do nicely. "You read my mind. Honestly, this is all I need. Quirks are not always something pleasant but an ambulance wouldn't be able to tell me anything I don't already know." He produced a bottle of "medication" from his pocket and sliding off the cap he popped two into his mouth. "I have a rather severe problem of being allergic to... most everything. Untreated its an issue but with these it will pass." He took a swig of the water to wash down the caffeine tablets and then sealed it up again and deposited it into his pocket. "I'm not about to shut myself up into a bubble, I'd miss out on all the fun!"
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 25, 2019 14:06:32 GMT -8
"That's probably a good idea. Maybe you're dehydrated and that's why you passed out?"
Charlie perked up at that logical line of thinking, feeling a little better about her weak offer.
"You read my mind. Honestly, this is all I need. Quirks are not always something pleasant but an ambulance wouldn't be able to tell me anything I don't already know." "I have a rather severe problem of being allergic to... most everything. Untreated its an issue but with these it will pass."
Charlie's eyes filled with sympathy as she watched him retrieve medication. "Oh, you poor thing."
"I'm not about to shut myself up into a bubble, I'd miss out on all the fun!"
'Of course not," she said, shaking her head emphatically. She knew all about missing out. Putting on an encouraging smile for him, she said, "I completely understand. You'll be just fine." She gave his knee a pat and though her lunch break was nearly over, she was resolved to take a risk and remain until things were in the clear. "I'll stay until you're feeling a hundred percent. Ruby?" she said, looking up at the pretty, outgoing waitress. "Would you mind knocking on the back door of the bakery and asking Callie to cover for me? If my aunts ask where I am, she can say... hmm..." Charlie paused, fairly amateur with the fibbing thing but what she thought was a good idea popped into her mind. "She can say I decided to run home to look through my recipe books to think up some new items for our menu. Yes, that sounds good." She nodded her head, pleased with her white lie. She gave Ken a quick reassuring glance before looking back at Ruby with pleading eyes.
|
|