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Post by Charlie Dudox on Nov 23, 2004 13:17:10 GMT -5
Charlie half walked, half skipped through the crowded market place. Most people who knew her would be a bit aghast at her cheery mood. It wasn't that Charlie was not happy most of the time, it was just that she rarely acted like a little school girl out on holiday, especially this time of year. The weather was certainly getting colder and the days far longer. She found the change of seasons always to be a bit depressing. She loved the long sprawling evenings of summer time, when you could lie outside in the setting sun long after dinner. In contrast, the short cool autumn and winter days seemed somehow prudish. She dressed comfortably for the weather in pair of pants and a lined leather jacket. As soon as the weather dropped below about sixty she began to yearn for more tropical temperatures where she could wear next-to-nothing all year long. But not even sleet could do much to ruin her good mood. She had mail!
Growing up she had always watched her parents get over excited over a banged up letter from civilization. It had always seemed like a lot of fuss over nothing in those days. Who the heck cared what the outside world was doing? Deep in the jungle she had always felt like she was in the center of all that really mattered. It was only when she left the jungle to attend the University that she began to hover anxiously around her mail box. It was months and months between ever hearing from her parents, and the longer it took, the more she ached that something might have gone terribly wrong. Tropical diseases, poison snakes, piranhas... they all seemed to creep more prominently into her nightmares with each passing week. It had been nine months since she last had word for her parents and despite her usually cool facade, she had been just about ready to crack.
Mail always came in impressive bundles. Her parents wrote her diligently, at least one letter a week, allowing the letters to pile up until they found a boat or traveler who was heading back towards civilization. Then, unless that traveler was killed in a freak accident or his boat sank, the letters would pass hands time and time again. The only thing that Charlie was ever certain of was that they would be dropped in the mud, stepped on, and generally beat up before she ever got a chance to decipher the damaged text. With it there was invariably the newest draft of their manuscript which it would be her job to clean up and send off to the publishers. Then it would be her turn to gather up her pile of envelopes, package them to sustain any amount of damage, and send them off with the hope that somehow, they would reach her folks.
Most of her letters were on the dull side. When Charlie had come from the dig site, she had not expected to be left behind once again. As expected, she had moved in to Daniel's apartment and had settled on the couch, but down time made her anxious and barely a morning passed before she found herself searching for someway to be useful of someone to amuse her. Luckily, there was much to be done. Maggie was more than happy to put Charlie to work, though she soon found the girl's skills to be a bit lacking. For most of her life, Charlie had lived with dirt floors, no plumbing and cooked outside on a fire. This was the sort of life she knew how to keep in top running order and it involved no sweeping, mopping, window washing or baking. Half the time she found herself simply trying to amuse the injured workers. This was a feat that Charlie seemed to excel at. She had jokes, stories, dirty songs, dominos and cards. The men all liked Charlie and she was fond of them, but when it came to stimulating conversation, she found herself very much at a loss. There are no doubt her parents would be thrilled that her daughter had left a perfectly good Aon dig to play poker with laborers in Invernis. Any news of thieves or cave-ins had been omitted from these letters. She doubted either of her parents would to well, hearing about how their daughter had nearly died when they were too far out of reach to be contacted, and while she loved and worried about both her folks, she would absolutely hang herself if they suddenly were struck by an urge to move back to civilization and "parent" her.
Perhaps the most thrilling thing that had happened to her had been the news that a package was waiting for her in Emain Macha. She had set off that day, a bag full of her belongings and a bounce in her step. It felt like a breath of fresh air to be away from Invernis. She desired change, perhaps a little adventure, but most of all she desired to see Daniel again, and perhaps rail him for leaving her behind. Now with her errand finish, and days of letter reading before her, she set off for the castle, intent on finding the handsome young archeologist that she had somehow let get away.
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Post by Dr. Daniel Carter on Nov 24, 2004 15:49:33 GMT -5
The young archaeologist sat at the edge of his bed, head hung down contemplating the crumpled piece of parchment within his hand. How could this have happened? He did everything right, he thought he had all his cards in order, and yet... The note was as clear as day. He could not hate Theoren for it. The words were clear. The shock of such a revelation was so harsh he could not even cry for it.
Dr. Carter- I am writing this to inform you that I am no longer in need of your services. I am sure that the thought of having me gone has already put a smile on your face, but before you tear this note up and toss thoughts of me out the window, there are more things you should know.
Your fiance is with me. I found her wandering the castle two nights past and followed her on her melancholy stroll across the grounds. We talked, and I noticed the amulet you had gifted her with as an engagement present. Did you know all along you held the second stone of the Madripoor Set? Did you give it to her for safe keeping? I suppose I have you to thank for sending it straight to my hands. She gave it to me on the condition I leave you out of my plans and take her in your stead. In fact, she was quite adamant about it. To such a pretty face, how could I have said no?
I don't suppose she told you of our other meetings, but I won't trouble an already heavy mind with the details. You are a bright boy. I am sure you have the sense to not love so blindly as I once did, many years ago. She is a bright girl, as well. She sees things that are not always clear to our physical eyes. Everything she told you (and I am sure that she did) was the truth about me. But remember this, Daniel- most often times the mind's eye sees only what it wants to, and the heart sometimes nothing at all. Tell me, Daniel, what does your mind's eye see?
I promise to take care of her, but what she does after I escape the temple is her choice. In the meantime, perhaps you ought to do some thinking about choices of your own.
Regards, Theoren Phoenix Roullier
The scripted handwriting was perfect, and Daniel had no trouble reading the words on the pages loud and clear. He didn't even want to know how Theoren had come in and out of his room so easily. Such thoughts sent shivers up his spine to think his space was so easily violated. He could not hate Theoren, however. If what the letter said was true, then Amariette had gone willingly, perhaps even blindly alongside a fallen angel, possibly to her death. And what had the letter meant, other meetings? He didn't want to think about the implications of the phrase, but he knew in the back of his mind very well what it meant. Theoren was not a liar. He played games, he twisted words, and played on the heartstrings of the merciful... but he was no liar. The only other question was- why did he tell Daniel all of this?
Did he have pity on the young man, or was it out of some kind of malice that the letter was written? Or some sick mixture of both? Daniel couldn't answer any of these questions. All he could do was rest his forehead on his hand and try to quell the dull ache in his mind. Amariette was gone. Theoren was gone. Perhpas both forever. He did not know how to feel about such news.
Since he had received the letter two days prior he had done nothing, seen no one, hardly eaten and hardly slept. He looked like how he felt- dishevled and disjointed. The three day beard he always took time to shave grew wild on his face, his glasses lay on his endtable unpolished. His clothes were rumpled and unchanged in days. He had thrown himself back into the translation of the Tamil text that Charlie had given him, thinking of little else but the language, the cultural implications, anything to keep his mind off the small stone temple in the middle of the Metrenagne River where his finace and the most loathesome creature he had ever met now battled for their lives against a set of impossible odds.
What killed him the most was to know that not only had the girl he gave his heart to left him to follow someone like Theoren, but now, Theoren was her only hope of survival. How cruelly ironic, he thought.
Pushing the thought from his mind again he stood and stumbled to the desk, grabbing his glasses along the way. He nearly collapsed in the chair before fumbling through the pages to find the one that he had marked for himself to pick up research at. The journal beside him was nearly full, notes on the text outlined brilliantly among the pages. In his helplessness it was all he could do to continue on here instead of going after them. Though his leg had healed enough to walk, he was in no condition to be trapsing around the temple, not without Am-Tuat with him. All he could do now was work... and wait.
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Post by Charlie Dudox on Nov 24, 2004 22:31:48 GMT -5
Dr. Carter was not taking guests? Charlie had laughed and brushed off the guards. The man worked too hard to begin with. He needed a break whether he knew it or not. There was a presence about Charlie, a strength of presence and character that kept people from arguing with her too much. She was used to get what she wanted. Many of her collegues admired her for her attitude, most of her teachers found it annoying. No one so young and green in the profession should be right so often or know it. Still, this attitude worked easily on the young guards who knew that this young woman was certainly no threat to let enter.
She wrapped loudly on Daniel's door, waiting only a moment before swinging it open. Perhaps she ought to have better manners but half of the places she had lived didn't have doors and waiting, well, it always seemed like unnecessary effort on both people's part. She burst in the room with a wide smile on her face. "Hey there Danny-Boy, did you plan on leaving me in Invernis forever?" There was nothing accusatory about her tone, just a playful sparkle in her eye. She was glad as hell to be here, to have mail and to see him again she almost seemed to glow.
Seeing Daniel, dishevled and depressed was a shock to her. It might have been a shock that she even noticed a difference being that he rarely shaved as often as he should, or pressed his shirts or combed his hair. Still, the distress he was in hit her like a ton of bricks. The smile faded and she gave a soft sigh. "What's wrong Daniel? What's happened?" If she didn't know better, she would have assumed that someone had passed away. She moved quickly about the room, opening the curtains some to let in the light of the day. No matter what was wrong, sitting and trying to read in a cave was not going to make him feel better about anything.
It was amazing how Charlie managed to adjust to any situation while always being herself. She could be loud and dominering and steam role anyone who got in her way, but the minute someone who she really cared about (and the list was not long) was in pain, she was just about the sweetest person you could go to. Those who had known her growing up had said that it was what happened when she want from being her mother's daughter, to being her father's daughter, but that was not exactly true. No one had ever bowed as willingly to her mother's wishes as they did for Charlie, and while her father had been a quiet man, it had never made him the greatest of listeners. No, Charlie was something completely of her own creation, a lovely combination if you could stand to put up with her.
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Post by Dr. Daniel Carter on Nov 26, 2004 7:29:34 GMT -5
As the sunlight filtered through the window Daniel squinted out of reflex, lifting a hand to shield his eyes while they adjusted to the light. His appearance could only be described as haphazard and uncharacteristic for a man so normally enthused and full of life. Sluggish to react and almost confused in mannerisms, he looked up at Charlie through puffy eyes that showed his lack of sleep. The desk was littered with pages and pages of work, scrawled handwriting running across the parchments, his open journal and the Tamil scripture sitting pretty at the corner near the oil lamp.
He said nothing for the moment, simply blinked and tried to reorient himself to what was going on. He forced a small smile but it faded quickly. He looked down to the letter nearly crumpled in his hands and offered it up to her with an expression of a man who had been wandering lost in the jungle for days. He let her read the majority before even attempting to speak, and even then his voice was dry and cracked.
"You know, the... the first time I was engaged she... left me. I... was stupid. I worked through our anniversary. It was a mistake, and I thought I'd learned, you know? Thought I'd got it right this time." he paused to allow himself a small laugh at the irony, though it was also half hearted. After a few moments of thought he parted dry lips again, "I don't know what happened, Charlie. Do you... do you think it's me?"
The thought had dawned on him once or twice, the reason his relationships never worked out was simply because there was something wrong with him, something in his head that skewed his priorities and simply made him unable to function in a romantic situation. But he had tried so hard this time. He thought... "I thought I'd got it right."
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Post by Charlie Dudox on Nov 26, 2004 13:08:16 GMT -5
She took the letter without a word. It was easy for him to see her eyes drift down the page once and then again. Engagement? Was it possible Theoren was speaking metaphorically? She began the letter once more from the top. It was not that it was hard to decipher, Daniel had given his heart away to Amariette and then she had gone and given herself away to Theoren. It was just hard to believe. Before now she had always just been jealous of the girl and of the place she seemed to keep in Daniel’s heart, it was nice to have a concrete reason to dislike her. That wasn’t right. She should not think that way. She sighed softly, looking back to Daniel’s face and pursing her lips. “Oh Daniel, gee, I didn’t even know you two were to serious.” She grabbed a chair and pulled it next to his to sit down. Carefully she smoothed the letter, folded it up and set it on the desk within the mess.
“Is it you Daniel?” She gave a small smile and shook her head. “No… well… I dunno.” She quickly pushed a black curl out of her face. “You’re more of a catch than I’d ever turn away. You know that.” She wasn’t sure if he really did know that. She had done her best to make it clear to him but he had certainly never reciprocated the feelings. It made her feel a bit awkward, and feeling uncertain and a bit vulnerable had never been good for Charlie. She picked up the tendency to blurt out the first thought that came to her mind; no matter how bad it may sound. “Maybe it is you. Maybe you just go for the wrong girls.” A nervous laugh issued from her lips and she hugged her arms across her chest. “Sorry. That was stupid.”<br> She sat back and for a moment she opened her mouth then shut it tight again. There were things about Charlie that she kept very close to herself, secrets that she had wrapped so tightly around her heart that it nearly ached to share them. “It’s not just you Daniel. I was engaged once. I mean, I know what it’s like to feel dumped like that. It’s… a little like having your whole life stolen from you. It was because of me. I couldn’t be who he needed.” She clammed up tight and looked away from him. Why the hell had she just said that? It had been four years and it was still obvious how much it still tore her up inside. But she was strong and she’d get over it. This was supposed to be about him anyway. “Whatever, that was different. It is water under the bridge. Daniel, anyone who doesn’t appreciate you, doesn’t deserve you either. I know, that probably doesn’t make you feel any better.” Charlie was struggling here. How was she supposed to help anyone else through pain that she herself seemed unable to fully face. "The truth is Daniel, I think you can do everything right and still have it all turn out wrong."
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Post by Dr. Daniel Carter on Nov 28, 2004 12:35:09 GMT -5
He laughed. He wasn't sure why he did, but for some reason, maybe the shock of it all, he now found the situation funny. It was a chuckle that seemed to say he had completely given up hope that this was going to resolve itself without a big mess. He reached out and took her hands, still laughing quietly, looking at the floor. "On the bright side, I totally have you beat, Charlie." He said with a very forced smile. "I was left by my fiance twice." It was a strange attempt at humor.
He stood up then, scratching his head and slipping his glasses back onto his face, moving to the window. He looked out over the rolling fields and hilltops that lead towards the mountains and towards Invernis. "Who the hell am I kidding, Charlie. There's something wrong with me. I sometimes feel like... I just don't get it." He sighed and sat on the window sill and looked back at her. "And for what it's worth... any man who would leave you has to be out of his head. I know I never said anything but you're a very attractive woman, and I don't just mean on the outside." he shook his head and cleaned some of the sleep from his eyes. "What you have that I don't is a good sense of priorities. If I could ever let something compare to the thrill of my work, I might actually be able to hold someone down."
He was beginning to ramble, maybe think outloud was a better term for it. "I don't blame her, you know. Theoren is a handsome, danger seeking, rich man. If she wanted adventure, he would be the man to go to. But then why would he send me the letter? Why not just get the hell out of dodge and let me piece it together later? What the hell was the point of telling me what he did? Maybe he wanted to rub my face in the point that he ruined my life." He laughed again and pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off the oncoming headache. "That I ruined my own life, more like it."
There were a few moments of silence that followed, thinking moments. He let his head fall back against the cold stone of the windowframe and somehow felt refreshed by the drop in temperature. When he finally spoke again, it was when he was standing to gather the meager possessions he had strewn about the place. "I suppose there's no use in staying here brooding about it, right?" He ran a hand lovingly over the Tamil text Charlie had given him with a smile. "It will take them days to get to the jungle, days to ge through the temple, if they even survive. It will be weeks before I can even hope to hear anything from them. I've got classes to teach and a job to do." Another road weary sigh. He had been neglecting his job at the Academy for too long now.
Periodic leave was given to him, as he was one of the tenured professors, when he needed to go on digs or missions to the jungle, but he had been gone simply far too long. His classes would be running out of the supplimental material he had left for them. Charlie had been a wake up to that. Somehow her presence was just... heartening to be around. With a small smile he took her hands. "Thank you, though. At the very least for listening." Pulling her into a hug a kiss was laid upon her cheek and a gentle embrace followed. "I don't know what I would do without you sometimes." He was of course referring to the number of times during their correspondence where she had solved some puzzle, found some missing piece for him that he had overlooked. He might have been a famed and brilliant man, but like the old saying said, behind every successful man was a woman to match him.
"I have to go back to the Academy. You're more than welcome to join me." he smiled and chuckled again, trying to push the former topic out of his mind. "We could use more professors, and it might be a good place for you to finish that PhD dissertation."
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Post by Bella on Nov 28, 2004 19:55:43 GMT -5
Bella had spent the better part of a day and night to get as far as Invernis. Theoren Roullier had told her that is where she might find this Dr. Carter. It had taken a day to plan and gain access to a map of Ulster. Thank Tempus that the two Kingdoms were allies!
Now her fists are clenched tight around the reins of a dappled mare, all feeling practically gone from her legs. Her eyes, half lidded, dare to close as she wishes for nothing more than sleep at this point. When she spies the town of Invernis her hopes rise but that doesnt bring the feeling back to her legs. Bringing the horse to a trot, Bella winces as her body is jostled about in the saddle. Long ago she had shed the dainty side saddle riding technique for the traditional riding style.
Despite her long journey and only about an hour or two of sleep on the cold ground, Bella looks almost exquisite. Tousled chesnut and caramel hair falls in curls and waves about her face. The half lidded turquoise eyes make her look almost mysterious. Her skin is the color of fresh cream with a touch of rose which adheres stubbornly to her cheeks from the chilled wind.
Once in the town proper, Isabella asks someone about Dr. Carter. She is promptly told that the man is at the academy. When she gets directions to the place, she nods her thanks. To her dismay, when she gets to the Academy she finds that he isnt there. Her look must have stirred something in one of the professors for he hurriedly adds, "Do not fret Madam, you might find him at his estate outside of town!" When she smiles brilliantly the man seems to simply melt.
She leaves the man with a sweet 'Thank-You' ringing in his ears as she rides off towards the estate. When she is outside of town she pulls the cloak closer to her body and huddles inside it for a moment, trying to glean some hint of warmth for herself when she feels absolutely frozen to the bone. Full lips tremble ever so slightly as she shivers, looking out over the expansive landscape before her she ponders if the man had given her true directions. Urging the horse into a trot she looks down into her lap, head hanging slightly so that a single lock of hair dangles between her face and the rest of the world as if it might become the barrier she needs.
Before cresting a hill, Isabella notes inwardly that she was not meant for riding horses. She wasnt bred for any sort of long journey on the back of a horse. Granted she did give the beast a grudging respect for the warmth it exhuded which worked in her favor. When she crests the hill she spies a lonely estate, praying to Tempus inwardly she hopes that it is Dr. Carter's estate.
Driving the horse full out down the slight incline of a hill, Isabella's hair flies about her face smacking her every now again and leaving a stinging reminder of what she is prepared to do. Just in front of the gate she brings the horse to an abrupt stop. Grit flies around in the air about her, Isabella finds it in her to slide off the horse and touch her feet to the ground.
A cry of dismay rises as she falls heavily to the earth in front of the gate. The sound was audible, hell would have heard the cry had she yelled it straight down. The scene would be pitiful if the door were opened at the right time. Bella has a hand outstretched to grab the gate and pull herself up into a half dignified seated position. Gritting her teeth against the pain due to the sudden rush of blood to her lower extremeties, Isabella muffles a small cry into her cloak.
Never again! No more horse riding! When she is finally able to sit up she does. The hood that had once covered her face served only to keep her hair free of sand and dirt. Like a newborn fawn, Bella tries to stand but to no avail, her legs are like jelly, she would need some help up.
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Post by Charlie Dudox on Nov 28, 2004 20:26:29 GMT -5
Never one to be out done, Charlie shook her head. “You’re right, about that maybe, but you weren’t asked to be the maid of honor at your own wedding.” That had been the most painful day of her life, standing there, watching the man she loved with every fiber of her body, binding himself to another woman, sealing the fact that they could never be together again. Yet the remark came easily around Daniel, she would have to be careful around the man or she would end up spilling even her deepest of secrets. She shrugged at his compliment. Sure any man would be out of his head to leave her, but Daniel certainly seemed in his right mind and she might as well be a fellow man in his eyes, it seemed. She shrugged her shoulders “Maybe I’m just nuts for the crazy ones. And in all fairness... Becks, it wasn’t his idea to leave me like that. He just had obligations beyond the both of us. If you like sad stories, maybe I’ll lay it all out to you one day.”<br> She listened to him speak and shook her head. “I dunno why he told you, and really, I can’t quite wrap my head around why she would go for Theoren. The man’s all show, no substance and well... he’s kind of old, I think.” She made a bit of a face and shook her head. “I think he would pour the charm on just about anything with boobs and a pretty face.” It was obvious that he was at least not her type. Perhaps it was because she had never faced the power of Theoren’s charm full on but that seemed doubtful. The girl had a strong head on her shoulders and knew exactly what she wanted. Was true, ever lasting love really too much to ask for? “Daniel, you are an intelligent, very handsome, loyal, passionate man. Where I grew up you would be worth” She paused appraising him carefully “at least five goats, six necklaces, a breast plate, a full kitchen set and half a home.”<br> She raised her eyebrows as he talked about returning to the university. The idea of her teaching was almost laughable. “My oh my Daniel, you must have been elsewhere when I was taking classes there. I gained quite a reputation for being a pain in the ass to all my professors. It seems that they always preferred blank slates to fill with their own opinions to over-read and over-opinionated children of their colleagues. I’m not sure how many of them would be that happy to see me.” She was obviously proud of her reputation, and for every teacher who found her to be incorrigible there had been one who admired her for her spunk. Few others had started their education late and had decided to earn their bachelors and masters degree in a four year period.
She held up her packet of letters which had, until this moment, sat unopened on her lap. “A Letter from home, perhaps this can decide my fortune.” She pulled back the brown paper to reveal a stack of over one hundred pages, handwritten. She thumbed through it for a moment and pulled out the only colored sheet, a light purple. She set down the rest and unfolded the letter. “It takes so long between deliveries that they always write the last letter in a hurry, right when the messenger arrives. They are scientists and this is their abstract. That way if something awful happens in letter 22 it wont be a week of reading before I find out.” She sat back in her chair and began to speak aloud.
Dear Charlie, This a lavender letter for my Lavender. Everything is fine. We found our tribe and, as you may have guessed, they were not as lost as they were just not found. Your mother and I are well. What we are learning will be lovely in our discussion on the “speciation” of jungle tribes. We hope that your dissertation is going well and I want to remind you that now that the weather is getting colder, you need to watch your health. If you begin to feel achy go straight to bed. Watch for a temperature and any dizziness.
“On and on that goes, my parents are relatively hands off in their parenting accept when it comes to my education and my health, then they are nearly obsessive, my father especially.” She scanned to the bottom of the letter before beginning to read out loud once more.
Enclosed are two articles ready for submission and publication and the draft for the newest book. Please be a dear and see that the university receives these, and that they are given the wide acclaim that your mother feels they are due. Let them know that we will be here at least another year and that they should feel free to dock our stipend as needed. We plan to stay with the Tumbis before returning to the “uncivilized” world of Ulster. You should send us letters to pass on to them in your next package. Be kind, Lavender.
Much love Your Parents, Bruce and Elaine
Charlie shook her head and shrugged. “The Tumbis... geez... uh, they mean, what nice things do I have to say for Becks and his family." It was obvious that that was not a letter that she was looking forward to writing. "I suppose my mind has been made up for me, I've got business at the University” It did not seem as though she was at all unhappy with going with him. “I’m all packed, how about you?” She motioned to her bag on the floor. The woman certainly knew how to pack light.
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