Out on the London Town, Rena, Henry, Leti
开云体育They made plans?to meet with Oliver at Henry's
the next evening so they could call upon Reynolds.? Oliver thenwalked them
out to the handsome cab he'd had waiting for their ride back into
London.
"So," rena asked once they were settled inside and
riding away.
"Do we go home or make a night of it," she
wondered, gaze resting on Henry mischievously.
?
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"Probably should go home, lass," Henry reluctantly
chose. "Far it be from me to take the responsible route, but we should probably
stay sharp for my associate, to make sure he doesn't stick us into a machine
when we are distracted.
?
And you, my dear, are most distracting," the good
doctor happily confirmed.
|
开云体育"But we aren't going to see your friend until
tomorrow evening," Rena protested, then sighed.
"But if you want to be good, who am I to get in the
way?"
Leti looked relieved but kept silent until they
were in the cab.
?
"I should give you my address," she
said.
"But...But you can't leave us," Rena
protested.
"I need help with stupid clothes and things and
I...If you're working for Henry now you should be close."
She looked to Henry for support and Leti looked at
him?as well.
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"Well you know how I am. Once I start having fun,
it is awfully difficult of me to stop within one day," Henry spoke with?a
small measure of regret.
?
"Leticia, she is not wrong. We can work something
out. My butler, Poole could make arrangements for your?accommodations. You
met him, didn't you? My memory is overwrought just now.
?
He is the stern looking one, but gentle as a lamb
inside. Or at least, gentle enough to tolerate the difficulties I present,"
Henry chuckled in mock self deprecation.
?
"You don't have to quit your regular work right now
either,?if you don't want to. Giving it a trial period, with references and
all the like, we can settle all of that. Most importantly, you won't be bored,
as you have witnessed.?Well, that is the most important thing for me. So
what do you say, come along then and put poor Rena's mind at ease?" Henry
casually offered.?
|
开云体育"I already quit the other job...I just didn't know
I"d be living with you...I should nip home and get some things if you
insist...and you could meet my brother," she suggested hopefully, glancing over
at Henry.
?
"And yes I met Poole...I woke him when I came to
speak with you about my wrist this morning...Oliver you know..."
?
Now that they knew the entire story with Oliver it
seemed odd that she'd been so worried.? Hind sight and all that
though.? She still had to process the vampire bit.? It was good he
wasn't after them for anything, so it nearly made the vampire bit not seem so
threatening.?
?
"I wonder if it makes him dead...or
worse..."
She couldn't decide what to think about it but
being a doctor Henry would have more of a valid view.
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"Oh, right, rightright," Henry agreed,?his
left arm?occupied with clutching Rena, making his right hand assume
the?onerous duty of separating in the effort to wave itself.
?
"You know how the day went. It was all a big
jumble. Left right, up, down. Kill, don't be killed. All the good stuff.
A?fellow gets confused in all the excitement. You know, it is how you go
about your?affairs, you get excited too, you know?
?
Good then, so you met Poole. Now it is only fair I
meet your brother. I assume he doesn't know about your little hobby, eh? Not to
worry, I will keep it to myself, promise!" the good doctor solemnly
reassured.
?
Now that his right hand has done the job of
gesturing, it could be rewarded once more by allowing it to go around Rena's
slender waste, only to remember the need for propriety a few seconds
later.?
?
"I am good again," Henry announced, his
voice?suddenly drunk, unexpectedly even for himself. Perhaps the excitement
of the evening creating a more exhilarating?effect on his senses than he
could have anticipated.?????
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开云体育Leti blinked. He'd had drinks a while ago but he
was still feeling them. She tried not to smile.
"Yes, don't say anything to make my brother feel
that it is dangerous for me to be in your company, please," she said, lips
twitching as she struggled not to laugh.
"I really don't think Victor should know
either."
At last she chuckled when Rena
snickered.
"I don't think the name Victor is a good one," Rena
said suddenly.
"My grandfather was made by a Victor who I truly
believe was crazy and evil."
?
"Wait...I did tell you my grand father was the
person in the Frankenstein novel, right?"
?
The day had been so long, sleep was lacking and
everything was unreal. She honestly couldn't remember by this
point.
Leti settled back after giving the driver her
address.
?
"Um...If you did I missed it between the time
travel and your family doing dream work, but...somehow after discovering that
vampires are real, I'm not too surprised...Well perhaps a little."
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"I would never, I am as good at keeping secrets as
you are, well, almost," Hyde spoke with a sense of affronted
dignity.?
?
"The name Victor is clearly the result of parents
overcompensating for the lack of certainty in their bloodline," Henry happily
offered, the ingratiating manner of the young scientist and his repeated mention
of being fortunate, never fully forgotten.
?
"No, we should not let him know anything we do not
wish him to use against us later, I am of the opinion that he might, should it
serve his needs.
?
No, I would have thought?I could remember the
most important character of our time being related to you.?But then again,
the day has been long," Henry skeptically allowed.
?
"That vampire bloke was just as I imagined. Thin,
grumpy, prone to violence. Now dream work, I don't know what to think?of.
Something tells me it might be harder to?punch in a dream then it is in
real life. What if the target vanishes before my punch reaches them, that would
be a disappointment," the good doctor suggested, feeling mostly in a jovial
mood, which has been?scarce of
late.?????
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开云体育Leti giggled, the sound uncharacteristic but
obviously one she couldn't suppress.
"You really hate him," she said of Victor, hazel
eyes sparkling with amusement as she shook her head at the doctor.
When he mentioned the vampire being violent, one
hand dropped to her other wrist, where he'd grasped her the night
before.
?
Rena's expression remained serious and
thoughtful.
"Sorry. No he's not a character. Frank is my
grandfather. Quite real. The story was given to Mrs. Shelly through the dream
demons, Damons rather, whom my family works for and from whom we gain our
power.? As for how to punch someone in a dream if they move, you move
first. You will yourself to appear where least expected. You change the
scenery."
She sighed, frustration growing.
"I would offer to show you, but I can't dram
here...Not a good thing, not a thing I am easy with and not a thing I can
explain."
She bit her lip.
"And trust me were I lying I'd make up something
better than that which I could likely prove."
"You've proved enough," Leti said, meaning
it.
Rena couldn't help but grin at the red head's
open?implication that she perhaps couldn't take more proving at the
moment.
?
Rena allowed herself to enjoy the cosy warmth of
the cab, and not to focus of fears or worries.? Instead she allowed herself
to wonder what Leti's brother would be like.? When the cab drew up to a
small house in a block of small tightly placed similar houses.? There was
only one lone light on in a window, causing Leti to frown.
"He'll be reading...likely ready to sleep.? He
won't be pleased I'm here so late with company but what can one
do?"
She sighed as they got down, and asked the driver
to wait.
?
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"Really hate him?" Henry considered with mock
severity. "Well, that is a little harsh. A real man does not hate a bug under
his feet. Or under his horse's hooves. Or under...well you get the picture from
here on.
?
The bug does not necessarily get spared due to the
lack of hatred. It can get squashed all the same. For being so...pathetically
weak and bothersome at the same time.
?
The bug happens to crawl, or fly, at the wrong
time, at the wrong place, to cross paths with?its
betters.?Happens?to draw their attention with its uncontrollable
antics.
?
Life is?after all a pyramid of sorts. At its
apex are the strongest. One must never draw their attention unless one knows how
to handle it properly.
?
To be perfectly charitable in Victor's defense, he
has some ideas to recommend him. He is not the worst kind of bug.
He?doesn't even bite that much, only makes one's hand itch a bit, which is
still most?irritating, I must admit.
?
Hate him, I probably cannot, yet. But it would be
nice if he acquired better manners. That is not to say that everybody should
need good manners or social graces. No, I am not that hypocritical, I do not
always seek to cultivate fake civilities either.
?
But should one be bothersome, they?should be
able to decide on such an approach consciously. And they should be strong enough
to handle the aftermath. Something tells me that Victor is full of ideas, but
his physique is not on part with?his mental capacity and would not
withstand?the required stress on the system.
It takes...courage to be strong, it is far easier to flow with the circumstances
and give in to them. Not everybody has such strength, and Victor certainly
doesn't.
?
I should be humble and state such a view as limited
by my limited impression. But in truth, my impressions are fairly adequate most
of the time, and I trust in them a great deal," Hyde happily
elaborated.
?
"Change the scenery, I like how that sounds. I
might not be half bad at that," Henry reasoned, imagining the possibilities of
such dream brawls.
?
"Dream demons, that sounds promising. I would make
a bargain with them to make me big and strong, but then I already am...there is
this one thing I could use though," Henry admitted, wishful thinking getting the
better of him for the first time in a while.
?
"You could always craft a scenario where you being
late is actually the better option. Say if you were accosted by ruffians, and we
helped you out, won't your brother be only too glad you are still in one piece,
to worry about the lateness," Hyde curiously wondered, his mind briefly
distracted from what his wish for the dream demons could have been if given the
chance.?
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开云体育?
?
?
Leti listened to Henry speak of Victor and his
feelings and opinions on the man in open fascination.
"You are something else, Dr. 'Enry.? You know
that?"
She chuckled, giving her head a baffled
shake.
"But I like your observations. They seem
right."
Rena had listened to Henry speak about Victor with
a small amused smile on her lips.? She lit with interest when he spoke of
wanting something from the dream demons.
"What is it," she demanded eagerly when he suddenly
switched the topic to Leti's brother.
"He won't need to be told a story,"Leti said with a
shrug.
"It's easier to tell him like it is...minus the
vampire and dream demons and time travel, that is," she added, then wondered how
much of the bloody story would be left. Well mostly the parts her brother would
care about, being her working for Dr. Henry and living with him.
?
?
?
"I suppose I won't make a good lady's maid but I'd
better help Rena anyway, cause other people won't understand her crying over her
clothes every day."
?
"I won't cry every day," Rena grumbled as they got
down from the cab. Again she allowed Henry to assist her, mainly to be close to
him, but also because the stupid dress made it hard to climb or jump down
without hurting the stupid thing.
?
?
?
Leti moved up to the front door first and realizing
she'd left her key when she'd slipped out in the morning, she knocked.
?
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"I am something else? I used to think that way and
agree with you. That I am the odd one out. That I am different and that is
abnormal. But now, I am of the opinion that it is everybody else who is
something else.
?
Everybody who fails to see what a singular man used
to be once. What made humanity great and allowed it to conquer the physical
world as well the mental realm.
?
I believe I am true to my inner beast, as all men
were once. Uncivilized, and wild, yes indeed, but cultivating the spark of
greatness inside that others have lost.
?
Of course my observations are right. I read all the
histories. Of East Near and Far. Of the Holy Land and what came before it. Of
Greek barbarians that were lauded by their compatriots as heroes, justly or not,
but I saw where they were coming from.
?
Every time in every epoch it seems like the same
development. Or perhaps devolution. From a man's natural state, to his eventual
downfall. Mainly because such men lose the will to fight aggressively for what
is theirs. They devolve and degenerate, but never in the best of ways, I tell
you," Henry concluded with a smirk.
?
"Oh, what fun is it without the time travel, the
vampires and the dream demons, the story utterly loses its heart. It's like
reading about Caligula but ignoring his horse. It's just not the same, but as
you wish, I suppose," Hyde?sadly affirmed his readiness to?adhere to
the rational parts of their as yet unfinished tale.
?
"I take no joy in tears I did not cause, and no joy
at all
at Rena's tears of any kind. But then, a maid who
does her job exceedingly well will ensure that no tears would be deemed
necessary by?her mistress. A little fainting here and there,?I am
equipped to handle. But tears, no, never ask me to deal with tears," Henry
concluded with mock admonition at Leti,?simultaneously trying to picture a
male version of Leti on the other side of the door.?
?
It took some effort on his part not to laugh at his
own imagination. Male Leticia simply refused to be a regular human male to his
mind's eye, but for some reason was reimagined by him?with a butcher's
knife.??
? ----- Original Message -----
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开云体育Leti stared at Henry with a vague fixated
expression as he spook of the devolution of humans, and one's inner beast.
Rena's gaze was on him as well, a hand on his arm, and an openly lustful look in
her eyes under the dim street lamp's vague glow.
?
"I never cry as a rule, but these clothes...you try
wearing them," rena told Henry, in all seriousness.
Leti sighed and knocked on the door.
"George, it's me," she shouted.
"I forgot my key this morning and a lot has
happened, but I'm fine."
?
"Go on and tell all the neighboursabout it, then,"
he answered, mildly enough, yanking the door open.
The inside of the front room was dim and smelled
vaguely?of chicken soup.
"
The young man, a few years older than Leti of
average build wore a sleep robe and night cap. Dark red hair peaked from under
it and his eyes were brown where Leti's were hazel. His face showed open
startlement when he at last caught sight of Henry and rena.
"These are my...friends.? I'm going to start
working for Dr. 'Enry," she explained excitedly, pushing her way inside and
forcing him to step back.
She gestured Henry and Rena inside before closing
the door.
"Would anyone like tea," she asked as her brother
gaped, blinking and obviously trying to take it all in.
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"Alas, you look so much better in them than I
would, but I am sure I shall not shame any suit of clothes I wear," Henry
eagerly pitched in, growing quieter again lest he scared Leticia's brother with
his jokes.
?
"I suppose tea would not go awry," he happily
accepted, trying to sound as civilized as he could, under the circumstances. He
did interact with sufficiently high echelons of society to know how to fake the
niceties. He may not relish them, but he could fake them, for the savage man
knew best how to blend in to avoid detection.
?
Somehow, Hyde realized, he was thinking more
clearly under the lasting effects of alcohol than he was, as a completely sober
man.
|
开云体育Leti opened her mouth to ask if anyone wanted
brandy?in their tea, then closed it again.? Then opened it and at last
simply held up the bottle questioningly.
"Sure," Rena said dryly and Leti gave a nervous
little laugh, deciding to have a bit herself though this was a first. The kettle
began to boil and she went ahead and added brandy to the waiting
cups.
George arched a brow at her had she returned the
gesture.
"Yes or no," she asked and he gave a short
laugh.
"Well it's late so I suppose a nightcap is Alright.
And you,Dr?"
"Of course he'll want it," Leti said with a slight
eye roll and pored a shot into all 4 cups.
"So you're working for a doctor all of a sudden,"
George asked.
"I was talkin' to he and his lady, and they are
needin' the extra help.? He's willin' to let me learn.? I want to
learn. I want more...for both of us."
He shrugged."Alright then."
?
Turning to Henry he asked,"You don't want to find
someone already trained, though?"
His expression was more concerned than
suspicious.
Leti wondered if he feared she'd be fired if she
didn't learn fast enough.
Rena looked amused and hastily glanced away toward
the boiling kettle.
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"When you're right, you're right," Henry easily
agreed with Leticia's estimate of his interest in the brandy.
?
George's question was somewhat more difficult to
answer. It was made more difficult by the need to restrain himself and avoid all
jokes of her savagery, as he'd promised. But, being a talented man, he could do
so, he knew it. He would only have to be boring
and honest about it.
?
"I am not sure if you have followed the results of
the recent elections, I would not have myself, on the account of them not
mattering to?most people who are not working for Her Majesty.
?
The?Prime Minister had encouraged?certain
fields of education, poured more money into them and promised rewards. More
medical practices opened in my time than those in the previous generations,
making this field fairly saturated.
?
With me having occasionally odd hours due to the
more urgent necessities of my patients, several requiring instant?treatment
of unusual kinds...at any rate, the long hours of the?evening are not to
everyone's pleasure.
?
Most of the trained assistants either demanded more
than I was willing to give, or did not?have sufficient flexibility of the
mind when dealing with people.
?
I found myself at an impasse and realized an
unorthodox solution may be required. Your sister exhibited her ability to work
with?several kinds of people which I found reassuring. Because my kind of
patients from physically to mentally unwell, are not always the easiest to get
along with, without being offending by them or offering unintended
offense?to them.
?
And her requirements for salary are truly
reasonable, by the standards of the medical field. So I am having all of my
needs met. Flexibility of approach, of hours, willingness to learn, the evident
ability to do so quickly. I feel in the very least this arrangement is worthy of
trying, unless you happen to have some objections as a concerned member of the
family," Henry idly wondered.
?
"You have the right, of course. I am never one to
glorify a sometimes thankless job. I am used to it and am good at it. Well most
of it, sometimes not so much the bedside manners, as you could probably guess
by?my frank demeanor. At any rate, feelings can be easily hurt there, if
that is your concern, it is valid at that.
?
Otherwise, I can assure you of safety, stable
income, all necessities met, and ensuring that the more unpalatable customers
would not be?ones Leticia will be dealing with. So, how do you feel about
that," the good doctor inquired with some curiosity. In part the answer could
give him an indication if the brother was radically different from the sister
and what the manner of?difference may have
been.???????
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开云体育George was hard working and mild, studious and
intelligent, though not always as observant as Leti.? Her instincts were
sharper, but he did see what she saw in the doctor.? Not the wilder streak
or the lack of self restraint at inopportune times, ut the honest good nature
and frank forthright way about him.? He nodded to Henry as Leti passed
around brandied tea to everyone.
"I appreciate you giving my sister this opportunity
and you're a wise man to see her worth.? She is...different."
Leti frowned at her brother who grinned
back.
"She hated that job, I know she did, but she's a
good girl and did what sle felt her job should be to maintain this
household."
"I'll help still.I can share my wages," she told
him quickly and he shook his head.
"With me supporting just myself, I"ll be fine," he
promised.
Though she remained silent, Leti vowed the help
anyway.
?
"Miss Rena is new here from America so I shall also
be helping her out with clothes and customs and such," she said, struggling not
to cringe.
George noticed, arching a brow as he sipped his tea
thoughtfully.
"Everything is different here, and though Henry is
worth it, it's a bit...much at times," Rena explained, smiling at Leti in
amusement.
"Your sister is a bit of a saint."
George choked on his tea.
"Well...If you think so I'm sure she's found a
grand fit," he said honestly.
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"In truth, it might be indirectly related to my
occupation. Seeing what constitutes the normal for each person, and what stands
out to make an anomaly...no I suppose, it is where my professional interests
combine with my selfish ones.
?
Understanding what makes one tick, while
appreciating the normal kind different has to offer. Yes, a combination of the
two. And yes, one has to become wise to be successful in such a cutthroat
society.
?
I believe your sister?also to be wise in her
own way. She knows how to handle herself and is quick on her feet. In some
sense, though it is not as necessary to be?meticulously careful with the
patients themselves, many requiring the smallest of care and are grateful to
receive any attention.?
?
The families of the patients can be
a?field?filled to the brim with?dynamite. So demanding, and not
as consistent in their needs. Some require brutal?honesty, and would
respect nothing less.?
?
Others?would be offended and must be traipsed
around as if one were the ever so gentle ballerina serving a French
Nobleman.?You learn eventually, you develop the sense for it.
?
But, what reassures me, and what I hope can
reassure you as well as concerned brother, is that your sister is so quick to
learn. That is what I meant when expounding on her skills. I did not wish for
you to be in the dark in regards to my expectations. It is always easier to know
exactly what is expected, I always say.?So that you can do the exact
opposite, of course," Henry concluded with a friendly smile, deciding he covered
enough somber matters for the time being and could relax once
again.
?
"Well said, Rena. Leticia may have the aptitude to
pretend being a saint. As do I, basically. More or less. Depends on who is
looking. Again, pretending to be a saint is indispensable in London circles,
where pretense is the true monarch," Henry happily agreed, spinning Rena's
statement to suit his own needs as was his way.
|
开云体育George studied the doctor for a careful thoughtful
moment.
"So if you aren't a saint, Sir, what do you
consider yourself to be?? Granted I doubt anyone is a saint," he added
quickly.
"It is just a point of curiosity."
?
With an effort, Rena did not glance at Leti for her
reaction. Instead she kept her gaze supportively on Henry, a slightly amused
smile playing around her mouth.
Monsters stuck in your head (We are, we are, we are) Monsters under your bed |
开云体育"A saint is essentially somebody who... did not
make it all the way. Show me a living saint, and I will show you a
bridge?leading from London straight to Avalon. It happens to be very
inexpensive too, and anybody can pass it," Henry happily explained.
?
The brother was as welcoming of a?good
conversation, it seemed, as ever the sister was. That was nice to know, for the
future.
?
"I am more of a...survivor, I suppose. Whatever it
takes. Whoever?toes get stabbed, I will do it. Unless of course I like a
person, in which case I wont. But it takes a?true?self interested
pragmatist to tell the difference anyway. Between those needing?help and
those being in the way.
?
Survivors are the ones to stay alive. To do well,
to triumph.You see, I have this theory. That human kind only succeeded because
it was driven by the need to survive. Evolution itself made sure that we were
naturally ruthless.
?
That is why we exist, to be our best selves.
Until society decided to change our ways, to
feign them. But we are not meant to be saints. Saints are the animals we eat,
because they have no choice but to be taken. We are not saints, no saints at
all, nor should we be as a whole.
?
But it is important to feign, lest we not stand
out. Your sister is safe with me, because my unusual ideas would never be aired
for the public to hear. I know how to protect myself and others. Rest assured,"
Hyde emphatically stated, realizing that in his excitement he may
have?overstated his case. Not many ordinary people?could take the
truth, after all.??
?
?
|
Hugin
Ishamael Moridin