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Title: A New World (pt2)
Number: 92
Date: Jun 25, 2008 at 11:48 PM
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Divinatas – Jun 25, 2008 at 11:48 PM
[bg=#0e1938][padding=10px][so=#67708c][bg=#202d54]NEW AMSTERDAM: A NEW WORLD[/bg][/so][/padding][/bg]
[bg=#2d2623][do=#283762][imga=right]http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=1825[/imga][b][i]Cheyanne Fowler[/i][/b]
Morning came all too soon, but Cheyanne didn’t care. She was curled up warm and snuggled under a thick layer of covers, wrapped around a pillow. She was [i]so tired[/i]! It must have been all that excitement from yesterday, with the train going hay-wire and ended up in an unfamiliar side of town, and getting home, and-
Wait, she didn’t go home. Cheyanne blinked open one eye to look around. This wasn’t home at all! That’s right she was at a fashion designers home. Mr. Daupre? He was a kooky man with a snowy white owl and very fussing staff. Cheyanne buried her face in her pillow. It wasn’t just an unfamiliar part of town, but an entirely different [i]world[/i] all together. At the moment she wasn’t feeling as brave and adventurous as she was last night. Maybe if she stayed in bed the world would go back to normal…
[/do][/bg]
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Azul Morag – Jun 27, 2008 at 5:44 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=155][b]Marie[/b]
Marie got up at the usual hour (before dawn!) but seeing their new guest was fast asleep and faintly snoring, she decided to let her sleep. After all, Cheyanne seemed to be going through a most disconcerting time of her life. Marie fixed her bed, got changed and left the room for her daily chores.[/dashed]
[dash]Mrs. Keane didn’t share Marie’s views. She had decided on her own accord that Cheyanne was showing all the signs of a lazy peasant girl just out of the streets. Mrs. Keane had also decided that Cheyanne needed to drop some weight and grow some hair on her head, for which she prepared a special shampoo in order to make Cheyanne as hairy as possible! Well, at least a fuller head of hair wouldn’t do her any wrong.
Mrs. Keane also prepared some spare clothes for Cheyenne, considering she ought to have more than one dress (and more than one set of underwear), which she could pay little by little… Maybe not with her whole life, but reasonably! She knocked on the ladies’ bedroom door.
“Good MORNING!”[/dash]
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Divinatas – Jun 27, 2008 at 10:11 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Oh god, I’m late for work..!” Cheyanne sat up quickly, having had fallen asleep again only to be awoken by the sudden banging on her door. Oh yeah. Not at home. Well, she wasn’t going to show up for work today. She wondered how long it would take before someone noticed her gone?
Mrs. Keane was giving her a wicked look. That same look her mother would always give her and her sister, especially when they were teenagers. Cheyanne tossed off the covers and hopped out of bed. “I’m up, I’m up! And I [i]am[/i] ready to work.” She didn’t want to be known as that lazy stupid girl Mr. Daupre picked up, and if that meant running around in circles while she figured out how to do things all over again… well… she was going to do it! The only alternative was… not very pleasant!
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Azul Morag – Jun 28, 2008 at 1:44 AM
[dash]Mrs. Keane handed over the bundle of clothes, neatly wrapped in a sheet.
“Good Morning, Miss Fowler,” she said with a dignified air. “It is already late, and you must make your own bed when you wake up every morning. You shall make yourself presentable and since you need some training to be a model, you will also have to help around here till Mr. Daupre decides your specific work. Since you seem lost, I have some suggestions for you, starting with a lighter diet and some special growth shampoo for your hair and…”
The woman went on and on. She was like one of those dolls that talk when you pull a cord hard enough; this was a lady full of ‘suggestions!'[/dash]
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Divinatas – Jun 30, 2008 at 1:47 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Y..yes ma’am!” Cheyanne said, getting herself moving quickly to make up her bed. She fluffed her pillow, tucked the sheet corners and smoothed out the coverlet so not a wrinkle could be seen. Cheyanne listened dutifully while Mrs. Keane spouted off her suggestions, rules, and regulations. Most of which sounded almost evil to Cheyanne, but she wisely kept her comments and opinions to herself. Mrs. Keane didn’t seem like the sort of woman that liked to be talked back to or corrected, and Cheyanne really didn’t want to get smacked with a wooden spoon either.
Getting bathed and dress was also a bit of a fiasco. A bath was easy enough and the special shampoo Mrs. Keane practically forced on her didn’t smell to horrible. Though she hoped it wasn’t filled with black magic or was going to make her hair [i]fall out[/i] instead. Getting dressed involved more elaborate underwear and more corset tying. Cheyanne wasn’t sure how the women here found time to so anything else when they had to get tied up every morning!
Once dressed Cheyanne was afraid to ask what else Mrs. Keane had in mind for her. She clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her heels. “Now what will you have me do, Mrs. Keane…” she asked warily.
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Azul Morag – Jun 30, 2008 at 4:15 PM
[dash]Mrs. Keane’s eyebrow shot up. She fixed Cheyanne’s dress a little and made her don an apron.
“Mr. Daupre has not come down yet, so you will come to the kitchen for your breakfast and you will help washing the dishes. I dare not let you set foot in the sewing rooms till Mr. Daupre allows it…” She affectedly fanned herself, as if the mere thought of Alphonse’s divine wrath were too much to bear. “The rest of the staff has already arrived, but you woke up so late. I will let Marie introduce you. Meanwhile, you will be at the kitchen. There’s not much to do there, really.”
So Cheyanne was led to the kitchen, which had a low vaulted ceiling with smooth patches of soot and clean, pretty walls with complex mosaics. In fact, yet the colors seemed perfectly coordinated, the mosaic designs were different here and there, making the room look like the sample walls of a tile factory. There was a huge stove and chimneys, brick ovens and a large sink with piled up dishes. Stools were neatly lined along a long working table in the middle of the space, with covered baskets. Cupboards and stoking closets with glass doors and dark woods were not lacking. There were five steps down to a back door, probably to some patio. The glass windows were closed and the outside shutters were still drawn, leaving the kitchen dark. A mew informed about the presence of a housecat somewhere. Ms. Keane gave Cheyanne a cleaning rag.
“Don’t feed the cat,” she warned before leaving.[/dash]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
When Mrs. Keane closed the kitchen door, Little Peter appeared behind it, holding a large tabby which was holding a mouse. The mouse looked quite dead. Little Peter walked up to Cheyanne entirely as if he had not been at risk of being splatted to death a second earlier.
“Hi Miss Flower,” he greeted. “This is Lady Keen. She’s in charge of the kitchen.”
He carefully put the cat down. Lady Keen casted Cheyanne a head to toes look and seemed to gravely ponder a bit before dropping the mouse at her feet.
“She likes you,” Peter informed with a delighted smile![/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jun 30, 2008 at 8:04 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne took a huge step back from the dead mouse! “Ack..! Um, I’m… glad? Thank you, Lady Keen for the gift. But I’m not really in the mood for mouse today.” Mrs. Keane said she needed to lose weight now Lady Keen the lady apparently thought she needed to eat more! She wished they’d make up their minds!
She pointed over her shoulder at the mound of dishes. “I have a lot of work to do, or I’m pretty sure Mrs. Keane will come in here to clobber me with something and call me a lazy girl. I think I’m already on her bad list for waking up so late.” Cheyanne sighed as she moved over to the dirty dishes to start scrubbing. Casting look over her shoulder she grimaced at the dead mouse. “Maybe Mr. Daupre’s owl would like the mouse.”
[/dotted]
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Azul Morag – Jun 30, 2008 at 9:12 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter chuckled.
“I had never met a lady that talks like you do,” he said with a grin. “Where are you from?” He picked up the mouse and pocketed it. “I will find some cord and make lady Keen a toy later. The Master doesn’t really like his owl to eat mice. He says they give Alba bad breath… Actually, I never knew birds have any breath – well, I guess they do because they breathe! But the Master said mice breath is not very nice to breathe.”
Little Peter climbed on a chair and looked into one of the covered baskets, picking up a piece of bread which he nibbled on, and shared with Lady Keen. Lady Keen seemed to eat bread with the same daintiness she’d eat meat. Peter walked up to Cheyanne and patted her skirts.
“You shouldn’t worry; Mrs. Keane doesn’t really clobber people… She’s rather nice, but a bit hysterical.” He eyed her. “You didn’t hear me say that!” He chuckled again and ate more bread, patting the bulk of the mouse in his pocket looking pleased.[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jun 30, 2008 at 9:51 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“I guess dead mouse would give anyone bad breath.” Blech! He just stuck it in his pocket! Little boys were gross in every universe, it seemed! Cheyanne put a load of the dishes in to some hot soapy water to soak, and started on her washing. She was really glad she decided against that expensive manicure last week, for all of this scrubbing would have made a waste of hard earned money. How did they get so many piled up dishes in just one morning? Did Mrs. Keane cook for an army?
Cheyanne glanced over at Peter who was thieving a snack of bread. Was she supposed to guard the kitchen from hungry boys too? Well, Mrs. Keane only said not to feed the cat, and she sure wasn’t feeding it, even if Peter was sneaking it bread crumbs. “What about Mr. Daupre? She and Marie act like he’s going to go on a wild tangent and bring down the roof with his shouting if he gets mad. Is he really temperamental?”
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Azul Morag – Jun 30, 2008 at 10:01 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Peter laughed. He seemed to find the idea of the roof coming down incredibly funny. Lady Keen came too and rubbed against his legs, then tried to find Cheyanne’s legs but desisted and simply rubbed against her skirts. She pawed at Peter’s pocket. Peter kept her at bay and patted her while answering to Cheyanne.
“The Master is very nice, when he’s not stressed. He knows strange stories and he likes to train his owl, and draw stuff. He knows an awful lot of useful things. He doesn’t usually yell, he has to be very mad or super annoyed to yell. I doubt he could bring down the roof, though. Besides, one time he got into an argument with a drunk driver on the street and he was so mad Alba worried, escaped from the house and attacked the driver. That was very exciting.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 1, 2008 at 6:03 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne tried to imagine Mr. Daupre getting in to a fight with a driver. But it was a taxi cab driver from her own New York, and Mr. Daupre in his fancy clothes… and throwing in a flying attack owl, the whole scene just became far too ridiculous. She laughed out loud as she scrubbed down one of the pots.
“I didn’t know owls could be so protective of adoptive owners, but I bet she’s pretty impressive when she gets mad at someone.” She supposed that was why Mrs. Keane and Marie were so startled by her flying around loose. A mad angry owl was probably pretty dangerous with those claws and beak.
“I wonder if Mr. Daupre is too uptight for his own good. Not that I have any room to judge. I suppose people call me all wound up. Well, at least when at work. …not that I really went out for fun all that often. Most of the time I would spend weekends with my sister and her family.” Cheyanne was rambling again, but it wasn’t so bad! Talking to a little boy with a rat in his pocket was a pleasant way to be entertained while scrubbing dishes!
[/dotted]
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Azul Morag – Jul 2, 2008 at 1:38 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter laughed. “Yes, Alba looks twice her size when she’s mad and she weighs enough to knock a man off his feet if she wants. I think she is aware that Mrs. Keane is afraid of her. Animals can sense that sort of thing.”
“Mr. Daupre is… I don’t know. He can be all snobbish and flippant when he wants. Marie says rich people don’t believe someone is an artist if they don’t have a difficult temper, but I doubt the Master is really that way. He can be very nice, actually.”
Peter examined Lady Keen’s teeth and got a mild and dignified swat. “Family sounds nice… I wish I had brothers and sisters. I have a father; he’s in Debtor’s Prison. I was going to be sold off when the officials confiscated our house, but I told them I had a job at Mr. Daupre’s and he didn’t deny it. So Lady Keen and I got a job here… Actually, he’s never said I have a job… but I am the messenger and I help around when needed, and Lady Keen keeps the kitchen free of mice. Mr. Daupre said a messanger from his Maison cannot hang around poorly dressed, so I get clothes and a place to sleep, and Lady Keen sleeps here.” He kept on stroking Lady Keen’s back. “I want to stay here.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 2, 2008 at 5:27 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Mr. Daupre must like to rescue people.” she said thoughtfully. Adopting a little boy and picking up a strange woman off the street, Cheyanne wouldn’t be surprised if some of his other employees had similar stories. It was comforting to know that Mr. Daupre at least had honorable intentions, even if he was strange and stubborn as a mule!
Cheyanne had run through a good bit of the dishes, but there was still so many more! Undaunted by the dirty stack, she kept on scrubbing. At least it was better than answering the phones at Mann and having her boss staring at her all day!
“Does Mr. Daupre have a lot of models for his fashions? Does he have fashion shows or take pictures for magazines? Everything here is a little different than where I’m from, though a lot of things are similar too… I’m just not sure which is which.”
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Azul Morag – Jul 2, 2008 at 9:52 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
“I guess he does.”
Little Peter was somewhat surprised. “I am just a kid,” he said, patting Lady Keen. “I don’t know… aaaall that goes on in the Maison Couture.” He pronounced the name very carefully with neat French accent. “I am learning French, but for now I speak Dutch of course, and English. But anyway… I know there are fashion shows because I have seen the preparations, but I’ve never been to one. Mr. Daupre doesn’t have models as regular staff, but he hires models sometimes, for photos. Sometimes he just asks ladies he knows, and they pose with his designs… because he doesn’t pay them. I think they do it for fun and to be in magazines… High class ladies. Some are pretty ancient. I let one of them pose with Lady Keen because she was nice. We got a coin and I got Lady Keen a new blanket.”
“Marie knows where the magazines are. She likes to see the photos. The Master usually doesn’t appear in photos. Actually, I have not seen photos of the Master… but there’s this big poster an artist friend made of him and Alba. It’s in the big hall.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 3, 2008 at 2:41 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“He doesn’t pay them..?” She said at first, pausing in the middle of her scrubbing. Was she going to be adopted like Peter and his cat? Well, that was all well and good for him – he wanted to stay! But Cheyanne needed to get back home… somehow. She was fairly sure she was going to need money to do it.
Or what if she could never get back home? She could trapped in this weird dream forever! It might be her new life! Oh, what if she had been here all along and only lost her memory and all she could remember was a dream of another life!
Maybe that was far fetched. Cheyanne realized she was staring off in to space, and quickly returned to cleaning. “I guess I’ll ask Marie about them later.”
[/dotted]
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Azul Morag – Jul 3, 2008 at 5:44 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter chuckled.
“I didn’t mean that. He pays the models he hires; but he also sometimes uses models that are…” Peter shrugged his shoulders. “Just rich ladies! They like to appear in magazines wearing expensive things to boast to her friends. He doesn’t pay the rich ladies. The rich ladies buy the clothes and things, most of the time.”
“I wonder if the Master is still alive.” He looked quite concerned about it. “It’s very late and he hasn’t come out of his apartment. Nelson says, if you die alone and nobody finds you, your pets eat you.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 4, 2008 at 5:14 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“He’s probably getting real sleep for the first time in ages. I gave him the night time medicine.” She wondered if he’d be angry about that? On the plus side, he’d feel a lot better with medication and a good night’s sleep maybe he wouldn’t be so cranky.
Cheyanne rinsed off the last of the dishes, setting them aside to dry. She rest her hands on her hips admiring a job well done. Not too bad at all for a girl that’s been using paper plates and eating take out for the past year and a half!
“I wonder if I have to clean the whole kitchen.” she muttered to herself.
[/dotted]
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Azul Morag – Jul 4, 2008 at 7:37 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter blinked slowly.
“You may be right… He hasn’t been sleeping lately, but that also means he’s working on something important. Maybe we should wake him up! Besides, Alba must be hungry.”
“If you clean aaall the kitchen…” There was a raised eyebrow, which made Peter look curiously older, like a tiny old man. “You’d better keep Lady Keen here. If any mice come out, she’ll catch them for you. Lady Keen is a very good mouser. She also hunts rats and pigeons, and random things. Actually, the kitchen must be free of mice. This one got in when Marie opened the patio door this morning.” He pulled out the very dead mouse to demonstrate. “See, it’s a brown field mouse, and it’s kinda thin. House mice tend to be fat and squeaky, even after they are dead.”
Lady Keen blinked her big green eyes at Cheyanne, then devoted her time to meticulously clean herself. Peter dangled the dead mouse by the tail in front of his cat and she pawed politely before going back to preening herself.
“Aw, she’s bored of this one. I guess I’ll have to toss it.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 5, 2008 at 9:55 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Ew..” Cheyanne said aloud, making a face to match. She really didn’t want to see Lady Keen chase and kill mice all over the kitchen, and she wasn’t so sure she’d be as comfortable with big fat live ones as the tiny little dead ones!
“I think you’re right. Someone should check on Mr. Daupre.” And it really shouldn’t be her! maybe if she asked Mrs. Keane or Marie to. But then, Mrs. Keane would probably glare at her and give her some more lecturing. And Mr. Daupre was a grown man and should be able to take care of himself.
Apparently she caught herself thinking visibly, as her hands were resting on her hips as she stared up at the ceiling, tilting her head to one side from the next as she considered the good ideas and the bad ideas. Blowing her hair from her face she made up her mind. “Yeah, it wouldn’t hurt to see how he is this morning and say hello. I can just come back down here afterwards.”
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Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 12:31 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter grinned. “Maybe Alba would like the mouse.”
He seemed content with the idea that the mouse would not be wasted. He pocketed the mouse again. Little Peter petted his cat again; it was very obvious he was quite attached to Lady Keen. Lady Keen on her part, treated him with queen-like deference. She rubbed against his legs before walking away, apparently to patrol the kitchen. She didn’t give Cheyanne a second look.
Little Peter washed his hands and fetched a basket, where he gathered some bread and cheese. He almost magically produced a pot of honey from a cupboard that seemed to only hold napkins and tablecloths.
“I think he has glasses upstairs.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 12:40 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Owls do like mice.” she said, watching with curiosity as he rummaged around the kitchen, seeming to build up a picnic basket. She scratched her head, wondering if it were such a good idea to sneak snacks upstairs. If he had glasses upstairs, what were they supposed to drink? And in the morning too? Did Mr. Daupre keep booze up there to calm hysterics?
Blinking at her own thoughts Cheyanne snooped until she found a pitcher of orange juice and a tray. If they were going to wake up Mr. Daupre and bring him snacks, they might as well do it right. Orange juice would do him good, some bread to go with that cheese, and some fruit. Of course, if Mrs. Keane caught them she might have to blame Peter and hide in a closet!
“Okay, this should do for a good morning for Mr. Daupre. Let’s get going before we get caught.”
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Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 1:20 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Peter grinned. “We’ll use the service stairs!”
He led Cheyanne through a whole second set of stairs and corridors connecting the kitchen and service quarters to the whole of the building. This was how servants manage to appear and disappear without bumping into guests with trays and dirty laundry! However it was also apparent that the Maison was not as strictly segregated as it might have been before. Some of the corridors were open and even decorated, taking more of the appearance of “staff areas” and “clients areas” rather than service and family. Finally they reached the last winding stair that led to the attic under the mansard, which had been converted into a private apartment for Alphonse. There was a small hall and the apartment door.
The door was unlocked. Little Peter peeked in before beckoning Cheyanne to come in after him.
“Close the door; Alba could fly out even if it’s only a bit open!” He whispered.[/dashed]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Alba indeed was perched in the decorative poles beneath the ceiling, as before. The bedroom door was open. Alba casted Cheyanne and Peter a stern look over a feathery shoulder. It was both chastising and reproachful. Alba flew down and onto a chair’s backrest, where she perched silent as a shadow.
The bedroom itself was dark. The curtains there were still drawn, surely. It was somewhat odd, because the curtains of the large room that served as hall, living and dining were open wide.
Alba shook herself and eyed them a bit, then gave a short shriek. Peter was sneaking into the bedroom and she didn’t seem to approve![/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
“Is he alive?” Peter asked. Alphonse had very obviously tried to get out of bed. Maybe in fact he did and came back, because a lamp was dying a slow death on the nightstand, he was semi-buried under a large sketch book and a number of crayons were laying around. He was still in his nightshirt, and now a sort of long house pants, too. He seemed to be either dead or asleep![/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 7:52 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“Peter, don’t poke him…!” Cheyanne had closed the door behind her, it making a soft [i]click[/i] sound, that she was sure would wake Mr. Daupre if her were a light sleeper. Unfortunately, it seemed Peter was a bigger worry! Cheyanne brought the tray over to a table to set it down, casting Alba an apologetic look as she scampered after Peter.
“Shh.. don’t wake him up.” she whispered softly as she slipped in to the room after Peter. For crying out loud, he had his work stuffed scattered all over the place. Quiet as a mouse, Cheyanne plucked up the crayons and pencils quickly, being as careful as possible not to touch or awaken Mr. Daupre. Setting the crayons aside on the table, she gently picked up his sketch book. She should had set it aside too, but she couldn’t help but curiously glance at a few of the pages!
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Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 1:39 PM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Peter put his hands behind his back and opened his eyes wide as Cheyanne tidied up and picked up the Master’s sketchbook.
“TheMasterdoesn’tlikepeoplepeekinginhisketchbooks,” he muttered in a single breath. He scurried over and tried to peek too, standing on his toes next to Cheyanne. “Hm…”
It was a number of sketches for wedding dresses: the bride, the maids, the mother, the groom and every single staff down to the ring bearer and the flower girls. There were many of them, some very detailed, some just sketches. The bride alone had five versions and a Renaissance style one with a veil sketched to the side, including the detail for the different laces in the dress – and the shoes, flat and embroidered. In the opposite page, there was a ring bearer with a huge page hat and a large tabby cat with a bonnet. Peter narrowed his eyes.
“I hope that is not Lady Keen,” he said, sulkily.[/dashed]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse faintly scoffed in his sleep… but the click and the later rustling sounds had already shook him out of his deeper sleep into a lighter one. He tried to turn on his side, but somehow realized the weight of the sketchbook on him was gone. His eyes shot open in alarm and he found himself still in bed with Cheyanne and Peter standing there at his bedside like deer in headlights. Alphonse, still dizzy and shocked, opened his mouth to speak, but Peter leapt into action. He pulled out the mouse and showed it to the Master.
“Lady Keen got this for Alba!,” Little Peter said. Alphonse blinked again and refused the mouse with a grimace of disgust, picked up his eyeglasses which were hanging round his neck, then casted the dead rodent a most disapproving glance through one of the lenses as if it were a monocle.
“How disgusting,” Alphonse said. “Tell Lady Keen her gift is most appreciated, but toss that cadaver out the window. Alba can’t go around eating mice.”
Alphonse then shifted his glance of repulsed dignity to Cheyanne. He blinked again and his wrinkled nose recovered its normal straight appearance.
“Hey, that’s private,” he said in a less lordly and more indignant and startled manner. “Give it back!”[/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Peter sighed. Cheyanne could have escaped, but she didn’t, did she? He pocketed the mouse again.
“Miss Flower came with me in case you were dead, because little children shouldn’t see dead bodies alone,” he said. “We got you some food, too.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 8:01 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
She had thought about escaping but there would have been no time to run out the door without being seen. Then it would have been way more awkward trying to explain why she was sneaking around (when she wasn’t!) and why she was guilty enough to run away.
Cheyanne handed Mr. Daupre his sketch book, looking a strange cross between guilty and indignant. “I wasn’t trying to spy at it. You were sleeping with it and that might get the pages all bent and wrinkled.”
She backed away from the bed, pointing a finger over at the tray she had set down on a table. “We brought you some orange juice and snacks. Mrs. Keane or Marie probably already brought you breakfast, but you can never get enough vitamin C and food is always the best way to keep strength up when you’re sick, or stressed, or working late.”
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Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 8:27 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse graciously accepted his sketchbook back (yet in a snatchy manner) and eyed Cheyanne as she spoke. Vitamin C? What could she mean and what was that?
“What is Vitamin C?” Alphonse asked with dignified… confusion. “Is that some sort of food?”
“Lady Keen approves of her,” Peter informed. Alphonse unconsciously ran his fingers through his unkempt hair to move it away from his face, yet it was soft enough to fall into place without a problem by just using his fingers.
“She also sent a mouse upstairs and let you go with a woman you just met to see a dead body,” Alphonse muttered. He closed the sketchbook and glanced around for his crayons. Cheyanne was still there. That was awkward for some reason; it was almost as if she were made of mist and he somehow expected her to dissolve in the cool morning air. “I guess I would have to thank you for rescuing my sketches from myself,” Alphonse said to Cheyanne, slowly. “It’s a very important commission. I don’ have time to be sick.”
Alphonse let his eyeglasses drop around his neck again and pulled his legs out of bed. He gave a stern pat on Peter’s head.
“You should be gone to Mr. Hutton’s, I am sure.”
“He’s sick,” Peter quickly said. “I have homework, though.”
“Then go and get your homework done…” Alphonse pulled a number of things from under his bed, including house slippers, socks, a hat, a large laces catalog book with pieces of lace and ribbon showing here and there from its borders, an empty bottle that seemed to have contained liquor and a pile of three fashion magazines. He pulled the catalog and magazines on the bed and fussed to get the slippers on his bare feet. He had pretty feet, but as Peter would say, they looked like the feet of religious images.
“Oh my God, I hired you didn’t I?” Alphonse blinked at Cheyanne as the sight of the magazines reminded him of random pieces of yesterday. “What’s the name of the magazine you did work for, again?” [/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 8:48 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“It’s a vitamin… um. Nutrients? Good for your health and immune system, fighting sickness…” …he really had no idea. Cheyanne sighed as she crossed her arms. If she did have to stay here for a long time, it was likely she’d die from lack of modern medicines! …What if she caught a cold too?! That could mean her death!
Cheyanne took a quick step backward again, bumping in to a dresser behind her. “Mann Magazine. I was a [i]secretary[/i], though. Not a model. It was a men’s magazine, anyway. Articles about men’s health, sports, fashion, and dating. I didn’t really want to stay there long, I was aiming for a job at the American offices of L’haute Couture Seven.”
She paused for a moment. “…You did hire me, but I think you were too sick to realize what you were saying. So it’s alright if you’ve changed your mind. Mrs. Keane will probably have me doing more dish washing and cleaning, so I’ll just do what she says until I find out where the world went.”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 9:02 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse blinked. “Articles about Dating? In a magazine for gentlemen?” He looked throughly amazed.
“I do suppose I have not paid enough attention to new publications, nowadays…” He was perplexed. He automatically assumed Mann Magazine was something new, because it seemed unheard of in more than one way. He watched Cheyanne as she spoke.
“L’Haute Couture Seven… I think I know which one you mean. If you do wish to continue there, you are free to go, of course. However,” a glint that could be a mix of hurt professional pride and hurt pride in general, “I did hire you for a reason. I was s… I was rather ill last night, I can admit that. However, I am quite well positioned in my trade, miss Fowler – if I did say you can be a model, there is no reason to retort. I am right and that is it. You do need some polishing, but that is not impossible to do.”
“Why were you dishwashing?” Alphonse arched an eyebrow. “You need to take some care of your hands!”
“Hands look too small in photographs to notice,” Peter chimed in. Alphonse frowned at the boy’s unexpected and kind of right observation, but he wasn’t deterred.
“If you insist on dishwashing, you will have to use some creams for your hands but that’s your decision… if you stay. I must point out, secretaries earn less than models, and many secretaries dream of being models. I have yet to hear of a secretary who has attained that.”[/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 9:19 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“You know L’Haute Couture Seven?” Cheyanne blinked in surprise and confusion! Wait… she couldn’t think about that now, she’d give herself a headache all over again! Maybe an alternate dimension where everything was similar but still different. L’Haute Couture was so popular, it could exist across universes! It’s why she wanted to work there!
“Mrs. Keane wanted me to do chores and I didn’t want her to think I was lazy.” she replied honestly. “I don’t mind having to clean and such… And pardon me for disagreeing, but I really don’t think I am much of model material. Not that I didn’t daydream about being one, I mean all little girls think about that, but I’m not extraordinary, or have any of that ‘it’ stuff that makes me stand out. Maybe I would just be better off as [i]your[/i] secretary? I can type, print clearly, organize, run errands, and talk sweet to people even when they’re screaming at me over the phone…”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 9:48 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse eyed her. Peter looked like if he opened his eyes another millimeter they’d pop clean out of his skull. Alphonse folded his arms.
“You may disagree, but that still does not change the fact that I am right. If you do not wish to be a model that’s an entirely different question; however you do have the “it” to be a model because I see it and I am yet to go insane. I find your lack of trust offensive and most disrespectful. Do you have any idea of who I am?”
Alphonse finally spotted his crayons on the nightstand and stuffed them in a pocket of his strangely oversized nightshirt (yet perfectly normal for a 19th Century nightshirt) and eyed her again.
“Of course I know L’Haute Couture Seven. It was founded by a clique of designers in the early days of the revolution in decorative and fashion arts by seven budding artists, who became authorities in their fields. My former Master, Armand LeGant (may his soul find rest!) was one of them. Of the former Seven only three live on, but the Magazine was sold to a large company and remains avant-gard. Sometimes too much.”
“You can print? Does that mean you have worked at a printhouse?” Alphonse was somewhat surprised. “We do have a phone, but most clients still prefer to send in their messenger boys. One never knows who else is listening on those things. Sometimes you pick up the auricular and hear voices. I do have a secretary and his name is Nelson. He may need some help, but I’ve not been told about it. Besides..” he bit his lip, sulkily. “I don’t have in-house hired models. Maybe I really am sick.”[/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 10:29 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne blinked at him, a little shocked by his offense and once again confused about the time. Well, that didn’t sound like the exact same L’Haute Couture, but it was sort of similar. Proof of a theory at least. For the moment she was more concerned with Mr. Daupre!
Dropping her arms to rest them on her hips, she was still looking dubious. “As a matter of fact I [i]don’t[/i] know who you are, and I am currently running on the good faith of your staff that you aren’t a crazy maniac. But if you think I could be a model, then I’ll do the best I can. Especially if the pay is better and if it’s a good job. I’ll need all the money I can save.”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 10:51 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse was dumbfounded. No, saying dumbfounded was in fact an understatement. He just stood there in shock. It was his turn to be the deer in headlights. His dark gray eyes took a lighter hue and he paled a little.
In all of his professional career, no one ever had the gall to say something like that before! Alphonse was a genius, his name one of the first trademarks; in the world of fashion when he says jump his clients and admirers only ask how high! This was outrageous. And to add insult to injury, she declared she suspected him a crazy maniac!
It took Alphonse almost a full minute to react. In the room, it could have been heard the fall of a pin. Little Peter just pulled his hat over his eyes and ears and pretended he had disappeared.
Finally, Alphonse gasped (mainly to reactivate his throat!).
[I][B]”WHAT?[/B][/I] You… you rude and ill-mannered creature! I plucked you into safety from a night half-naked in the streets of New Amsterdam and I offered you a JOB, and this is how you correspond? You call me a crazy maniac and doubt my professional geniality! Well, I DOUBT you ever glimpsed the interior of a fashion house if you claim you never head of…” He somehow switched to French and back to English to say, “Well, you need not do ME a favor by ever considering to take a place in my staff, since this place obviously does not meet your standards![I] Feel free to leave!”[/I][/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 11:18 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
He might as well of pulled out a gun and shot her! She even placed a hand at her chest, and the look of shock across her face said as much! How could he say those sort of things to her, it was a huge world! There was bound to be people that had no idea who he was, and she was trying to do her best here under the circumstances!
“I.. but I…” she blinked. Dropping her hands to her sides as balled up fists, she stopped her foot on the ground. Enough was enough! “[i]Fine![/i] So what if someone doesn’t know who you are, it’s not the end of the world! I have a chance for a new life and a different world, I wouldn’t want to work for a conceited, pompous, workaholic crazyman anyway!”
Cheyanne was so angry, she couldn’t let him have the satisfaction of seeing her cry! She brushed past Peter with her back ramrod straight and her head tilted, and stomped out the door! In fact, she didn’t stop outside of Mr. Daupre’s rooms, nor did she stop downstairs. If she was fired, she was [i]leaving[/i], so Cheyanne escorted herself right out of his house!
She walked back and forth twice outside the front door before she finally decided on a direction, and marched down the sidewalk too! She didn’t want the help of someone so.. so… awful! She’d just find help elsewhere!
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 6, 2008 at 11:34 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse just gave her his very fiercest glare. Some gall she had! It defied all human logic how did she just went on and on calling him an insane man with so many different words for it! Then she left – and she didn’t even apologize!
Alphonse hushed Peter out and slammed the bedroom door. He obviously wasn’t completely well yet as he got a dizzying headache after so much excitement, but he decided to ignore it… What he couldn’t ignore was the fact that he wasn’t in the mood to design wedding dresses!
He crossed the door from his bedroom to his adjacent private Studio and slammed open the windows to look down on the street.
“Don’t you ever come back!” He shouted after her – well, if she had left at all! But just then Alphonse noticed the sweeping white shadow speeding down the street. He looked again, startled. It was Alba! She had escaped, and before he could whistle to get her to return, he saw in astonishment how she landed on that horrible woman’s shoulder!
“I hope she scratches you!”[/dotted]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Since Cheyanne had not closed any doors in her wake, it was easy for Alba to follow her. That was rather mysterious, considering she was only an owl… right? Alba carefully perched her 11 pounds of birdiness on Cheyanne’s shoulder; maybe the shoulderpads helped somewhat with her talons, but the dress was going to suffer, definitely.[/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 6, 2008 at 11:49 PM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne refused to turn around and shout back at Mr. Daupre no matter how much he deserved it! But she was startled when Alba landed on her shoulder, afraid that she was going to peck and claw her for Mr. Daupre’s revenge! The weight of the owl on her shoulder had slowed Cheyanne down considerably, mostly so she wouldn’t jostle the bird and end up with claw holes in her shoulder for it. But still, she continued down the sidewalk, if even at a snails pace.
“I hope you’re not angry, but I didn’t do a damned thing to that man.” she said, doing well to hold back any sniffling, even if she did have to wipe away a few tears. She was still furious! “Just because I don’t know him… How incredibly snobby!”
Cheyanne turned around a corner, if at least to make sure to lose Mr. Daupre if he decided to storm after her and call her a pet-thief just to add insult to injury. Alba was obviously a very intelligent bird and would return to him when she was good and ready, and Cheyanne was in no mood to try and understand why she was currently perched on her shoulder. It was more important for her to find a police station, or a library, or considering the culture here, maybe a church or Salvation Army house!
Or better yet, she would just get on a train and [i]stay[/i] there until the blasted train stopped at the correct stop. Cheyanne finally stopped somewhere on an unfamiliar sidewalk, looking up and down the street. “Where is the train station, Alba?”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:04 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Alba just tried to get a better hold of Cheyanne’s shoulder. After vigorously shaking her tail, she examined Cheyanne’s hair, making it clear she wasn’t going to show the way to a train station anytime soon. She made that strange cooing sound she’d make when nesting on a sleeping Alphonse and stayed right where she was![/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
A kiddie in a blue coat and a big hat soon catched up with her – it was Peter! He glared right back at the curious passerby and hovered around Cheyanne.
“Where are you going? Well… the Master is quite mad; why did you have to tell him all those things? He was offering you a good job – and you were going to be his first in-house model! I bet that means you would have been famous. He wants his owl back,” he then said, almost apologetically. “I told him I’d get her back, so the constabulary wouldn’t get after you…”[/dashed]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:11 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“He’s the one that went completely mad!” she retorted. Cheyanne tried urging Alba on to her hand so she could pass her over to Peter. “I accepted his offer, he just flipped out because I didn’t know him. How would I know him anyway, I’m not even from this world! And where does he get off calling me rude and ill-mannered when all he can think about is his worldwide reputation!”
“Alba, [i]please[/i]. I have to get home and so do you.” she murmured, still attempting to get the owl loose. “I don’t want to be doormat for another brute of a boss. …And I’m not trying to steal her, she’s being painfully difficult!”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:18 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Indeed, she was! Alba refused to move, stepping easily over Cheyanne’s hand to stay in her shoulder. She gently pushed Cheyanne’s hand aside and when she insisted, Alba gave her a gentle peck in warning![/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter watched and couldn’t help but to snicker.
“I think she means you ought to go back and return her. I wouldn’t know what you really want to do, but Alba is the avatar of the Master’s household deity. If Alba decides to take you under her wing… to say it in a way, I do suppose you could still get a job with us. I don’t know what you mean with being from another world and things, but you better watch what you say. It’s really weird and people may think you are kinda crazy. I hope you are not a witch… but I guess if you were, Alba would have eaten you.” He nodded matter-of-factly.[/dashed]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:25 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“I don’t want to be anywhere near that man.” and she meant it! But she gave up trying to move Alba, and simply crossed her arms. “I’ll find a train and just go home. If I can get here, I can get home. It shouldn’t be too complicated.”
Cheyanne supposed it was wiser to say she was from another country. That would make much more sense, and explain cultural differences. People might be less inclined to be evil then. Sighing, she turned around to walk back towards the Atelier. “I will escort Alba back, but I won’t step foot in to that house.”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:34 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter, who was convinced he was witness to a miracle, only dug his hands into his pockets and grinned wide.
“Alright,” he said all smiles. “The Master would rather not see you either, but he will change his mind. He’s very nice, actually. I explained you before, he kind of has to be this way sometimes. Besides he is sick and he prefers to die rather than accepting help. That is something.”[/dashed]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Alba simply sat down for the ride, her legs disappearing beneath her as she made herself comfortable on Cheyanne’s shoulder. It couldn’t be easy, as there was not much space for a bird of her size, but Alba just made that cooing sound again and stayed put all the way back to the house. [/dotted]
[dash]Everyone was lined up in the vestibule, from Mrs. Keane to Lady Keen, with a number of young men and ladies looking on with obvious curiosity. Alphonse was nowhere to be seen, though. Mrs. Keane looked about to breathe fire, yet perfectly cool and controlled.
“Miss Fowler, please do hand back the owl!”[/dash]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:40 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“If he’s nice he sure has a stupid way of showing it. And I’m [i]not[/i] staying, I’m only returning Alba!” she said, walking the rest of the way back to the Atelier in silence.
Cheyanne was ready to defend her innocence once again at reaching the house, but she was really ill with the whole situation! She scooped her hand under Alba against to get her to perch on her arm. “C’mon now Alba. You’re at home and I need to go. Please get off, before Mrs. Keane breathes fire on me.”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 12:59 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Alba refused to move and she even made herself heavier, if it were possible! She gently pecked at Cheyanne’s hand to make her desist.[/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Meanwhile, Peter had decided Cheyanne’s problem was one of wording. She was terrible at saying things. Mrs. Keane was already annoyed at being called a fire-breathing creature! Little Peter was pleased to see Lady Keen lined up with everyone else and he tried to pet her but was glared at instead. Peter sighed, guessing it wasn’t the moment for petting. He tugged at worried Marie and whispered excitedly on her ear. [/dashed]
[dash]Marie gave a nod and a quick wink to Peter before addressing Mrs. Keane.
“Shall someone notify the Master? Surely he could call Alba off Miss Fowler’s shoulder…”
Mrs. Keane was not happy at all, but she would rather not make the owl mad. She just sighed.
“Peter, go and call the Master… explain him what is happening and ask him to come downstairs!”[/dash]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 1:10 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
If she didn’t know any better and was in a better mood, Cheyanne would have sworn that Alba had claimed her and intended to keep her as a pet. Unfortunately, Cheyanne wanted to be anywhere but here and the dratted snowy white owl was making that impossible.
“Let that man stew in his own arrogance upstairs!” she shouted, and then whispered. “Please, Alba, get off!” The wicked bird wasn’t moving! Cheyanne was so frustrated she was sucking in a breath to shout again, but found it wasn’t so easy! She felt sort of dizzy and was seeing spots and [i]no[/i]! She couldn’t be wanting to faint now! Cheyanne knew these corsets were a death trap, you couldn’t even get mad and start screaming without being strangled!
If she fell in the floor she might fall on Alba. Cheyanne slowly dropped to her knees, trying to rub the spots out of her eyes. If she calmed down enough to breathe… “Alba, you’re going to get me killed…” she muttered under he breath.
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 1:30 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=155][b]Marie[/b]
Marie promptly went to Cheyanne’s aid but she just couldn’t get any closer with Alba there. Alba seemingly was in a very good mood, but Marie worried anyway. She pulled out a small box of salts.
“Sniff over this!” She indicated Cheyanne. “They are salts!”[/dashed]
[dash]”Someone close the door! The whole neighborhood is going to peek in here!”
So someone closed the door. Mrs. Keane was quite unhappy which meant she was colder by the second. The young men and women hovered behind Marie. Just then, Peter came bounding down the stairs followed by a very reluctant and more dignified than ever Alphonse.[/dash]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse was tired and sicker than earlier, but the offended glint returned to his eyes when he heard her shouting he could stew in his own arrogance, which caused that very effect. He came downstairs more lordly than ever, holding a handkerchief to his stuffy nose.
“Alba,” he called, not even bothering to acknowledge Cheyanne. “Come here!”
He held out his forearm bound in a long leather cuff as it was proper to hold a bird of prey. However, Alba refused to move. Alphonse narrowed his eyes.
“Alba!” He called again. The snowy white owl flapped contentedly and made that cooing sound again.”
[b]“NO,”[/b] Alphonse sternly said. “She [i]wants[/i] to leave! In fact, she left!”
But Alba still refused to move; she fluffed up instead. Alphonse wondered desperately when this day of bad luck would be over.
“Alba,” he insisted. “Come here!” [/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 1:38 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Cheyanne turned her nose away from the smelling salts and coughed! Those things smelled awful, and it hardly made her feel any better! In fact now she felt a good bit queasy and really just wanted to lie down for a few minutes, but Alba was all fluffed up on her shoulder like a nesting mother.
She placed her hands at her stomach trying to breathe slowly, and swallow… and there was Mr. Daupre. Squeezing her eyes shut so she wouldn’t have to even look at him, she held still mentally cursing Alba and her master! “Mr. Daupre, your owl is holding me hostage and I do [i]not[/i] appreciate it!”
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 1:58 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
“I appreciate it even less!” Alphonse replied, trying to sound as arrogant as humanely possible. He had got dressed in order to keep his dignity, elegant in a dark suit, but he didn’t have time to do his hair and had settled for a strange braid he made in a rush. He was wearing his eyeglasses and his temples pounded with a headache. “Maybe her talons are tangled there.”
He held out his leather cuff again.
“Alba!” He insisted. Alba made that strange cooing sound again. Alphonse was exasperated. “C’est ridicule!”
“She is getting blue,” Marie observed in alarm. Alphonse felt a tiny sting of concern, but he still was very much offended and too sick to practice any empathy.
“Alba..!” He went and tried to remove the owl manually, but Alba kept on avoiding his hand and pecking in warning to keep him from moving her. “What do you want?!”[/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
That was JUST the moment Peter was waiting for. He stood next to the Master, who was now bent over Alba and looking slightly blue himself.
“Alba perched on her all the way from the house and back,” he informed. “I think Alba wants Miss Flower to stay here. Miss Flower is very nice, just a bit mouthy and willful? Alba thinks she’s nice. I think Alba has decided to take her under her wing.” [/dashed]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
“I wouldn’t think so, Peter,” Alphonse said with a frown. “Miss Fowler has a job elsewhere and she clearly stated she doubts not only my mental competency, but my professional reputation, even!” Just remembering that made him angry again. “And she said she’d rather not be here!”[/dotted]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=165][B]Alba[/B]
Alba remained unfazed, nestled on Cheyanne’s shoulder, impervious to all the hysterical people around her!
[/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 2:10 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“I [i]said[/i] I was happy to accept the job and try my best and would trust you because your staff said you were [i]nice[/i] and you decided to throw me out because I didn’t [i]know[/i] you! Impossible and rude and hysterical and.. I think I’m going to pass out.” Cheyanne finally squeaked out at the end of her sentence. It was probably in her best interest to stop talking to him, but he was making it impossibly hard.
Cheyanne felt herself tilting forward and without thinking she was grasping the front collar of Mr, Daupre’s jacket and resting her head against his shoulder. heaven forbid if she tilted over on the floor and Alba had to claw her way to free. “I don’t know what to do here..!” She might have been whispering about Alba or the whole world!
[/dotted]
====
Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 2:28 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse carefully held Cheyanne by the waist and glared at Alba, now almost face to beak with her! Alba just fluffed up contentedly. Alphonse for once wondered if he’d ever reach out and strangle the bird… or Cheyanne, whichever he got first.
“ I am going to suppose you are foreign to these parts,” Alphonse acidly said, “and your manner is somehow different… It kind of makes sense, considering your clothes were certainly outlandish. If you don’t know me, well I don’t know you at all either, and you have no staff for me to trust! However… Alba won’t detach from you till I take you back in my staff. I do hope she’s right and you are not… a fugitive of justice!”
He didn’t really mean the last part, but he made it sound convincing. Alphonse glared at the bird again.
“So I guess you accept… See? I took her back in the household; now step off her!”
Alba cooed again and walked from Cheyanne’s shoulder to Alphonse’s, who was wearing a shoulder piece designed for Alba to perch. Alphonse held faltering Cheyanne and rubbed one of his eyes.
“This is not the best day of my life,” he half muttered, half hissed. He still had some fever and he wasn’t all that steady himself, but he managed to support the woman and the bird.[/dotted]
====
Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 2:44 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Having Alba move was a relief to her body, and Cheyanne was so surely tempted to shove Mr. Daupre away and escape out the door. …Only she was fairly certain she hadn’t the strength to stand on her own feet, and wouldn’t doubt for a moment that Alba would once again attach herself!
At least he was trying to be understanding, even if he did just suggest she was some sort of criminal. Cheyanne managed to sit herself up so she could stare curiously at his face. She still had a grip on his jacket as if she were afraid she would fall over.
“I have feelings, Mr. Daupre.” she started softly. “I don’t want another abusive boss. I [i]will[/i] work very hard for you, but I don’t want to be yelled at or mistreated or yelled at or hurt. If you promise, then I’ll do everything you tell me to and not a complaint about it. I promise.”
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Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 3:07 AM
[dash]”Miracle, miracle!” The youngsters chanted. They were half-serious, half-jesting and their Master knew it. He gave them an oblique glare and Mrs. Keane took the chance to chide him and relieve her own stress. Meanwhile, Little Peter petted a now willing Lady Keen.
“Things are going fine, yes?”
“I suppose, Peter,” muttered Marie. “I just hope they won’t fall over.”[/dash]
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=123][B]Alphonse[/B]
Alphonse shifted his gaze from his staff to Cheyanne when she spoke again. He got her strained gaze right into his own. Alphonse blinked in indignation at her words. He always watched over his staff like a hawk, he didn’t deserve that! Unlike his own and deceased Master, Alphonse always made sure his staff had their needs covered and they would always have food and shelter! But this woman had no way to know that, anyway. Nonetheless, he was hurt. It was almost ridiculous considering… but he was hurt anyway. He just bottled it up as usual.
“I promise,” he muttered.
Alba shook her tail. Alphonse rose to his feet, carrying Cheyanne along. He laid her on the nearest chair and turned to Mrs. Keane, Alba perched on his shoulder.
“Let her rest and make sure she doesn’t spoil her hands,” he simply said before turning and going upstairs with Alba. He was not all that steady, but he was very obviously not going to allow interference and soon he was gone.[/dotted]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter sighed and patted Lady Keen.
“You are all lucky Mr. Hutton is on sick leave,” he said, matter of factly. [/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 3:22 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
Free from the snowy white owl, and now once again employed under Mr. Daupre’s supervision, Cheyanne should have felt a lot better. Instead, she just felt continuously dizzy and now incredibly embarrassed with all of his staff standing around like the entire scene had been some sort of extraordinary play.
“I’m better now.” Cheyanne muttered as she tried to stand again, but found herself dropping right back in to the chair and holding her head. It was stupid! Just a little air and she’d be fine unless she was… unless she was catching that cold too! No, no! How could it possibly get worse! If she caught a cold, she’d be a walking zombie!
Keeping her worries to herself, she glanced at Peter. “Who is Mr. Hutton…?”
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Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 3:40 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Peter snickered. “Mr. Hutton is my tutor,” he explained. “I take lessons at a private school near here; the Master says I need to catch up with the other boys.” As he continued, it became apparent that the others already knew the details. “My father used to teach me, but he could not teach me everything. When I catch up, I could go to a normal school. Mr. Hutton is sick, so I didn’t have classes today. His wife distributed homework assignments and sent us home.” [/dashed]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=155][b]Marie[/b]
Marie put her hand on Peter’s head and laughed when he fussed to get it off.
“Peter is going to be a lawyer, right Peter?”
“I don’t want to be a lawyer.” Peter stuck his tongue out. Mrs. Keane sighed.
“You have the day off to rest, Miss Fowler,” she said. “You look tired.”
She was obviously still annoyed at all the events, but sort of resignated to her fate. The rest of the staff were a few young men and women, and an old lady who turned out to be Marie’s mother. They introduced themselves briefly before going back to work.[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 3:49 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“But I don’t want to be lazy…?” It was apparent that what she wanted wasn’t very important, and she was lucky to even be sitting there unharmed. Cheyanne resigned herself to her fate, leaning forward with her face in her hands. She really did feel so tired, she shouldn’t have let herself get so mad and worked up. That was the fasted way to drain all your strength and get sick and here she might die even from a little cold..!
She peeked through her fingers at Peter as she sighed. “A lawyer is a good job… What did you really want to do?”
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Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 4:01 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=166][b]Little Peter[/b]
Little Peter smiled.
“I want to be a veterinarian,” he said. “I would work with animals and hopefully I could work with avatars. Lawyers may be nice or not, but they make things harder for some people…” His smile disappeared. “Even if dad had so many debts, why should we lose our house, why should I be sold off? If you don’t have money, you don’t matter for lawyers. I don’t want to be one.”[/dashed]
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=155][b]Marie[/b]
Marie sighed.
“Not all lawyers are bad, Peter… but sorry about that, anyway. Why don’t you go and do your homework?”
Peter nodded, but stayed around with Lady Keen. Marie shrugged.
“Most of the staff have more or less happy endings by arriving here… but if you ask Mr. Daupre he will claim he chose them by their potential skill only. True, those who remain are skilled, but well. Just don’t get in his way, if you really can’t stand him. He’s very busy all the time, anyway.”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 4:13 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“I don’t [i]hate[/i] him. But I’m fairly sure he’s not so fond of me either.” she muttered. Though Cheyanne had the feeling if she was going to be his model, she was going to see an awful lot of him.
In the meantime, she didn’t want to just sit around and… look pretty. Or tired! “Marie… I know they said I had to rest, but maybe there is something I can still do? I’d feel more comfortable being useful.” Cheyanne confessed!
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Azul Morag – Jul 7, 2008 at 4:45 AM
[dashed=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=12&pictureid=155][b]Marie[/b]
Marie smiled.
“It’s alright! You could just rest. Get some sleep. If Mrs. Keane sees you around she’ll get mad anyway…” Marie pondered. “You could darn socks in your bed… There’s the Master’s room cleaning, but I doubt you want to help with that!”[/dashed]
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Divinatas – Jul 7, 2008 at 4:54 AM
[dotted=http://space-kitten.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=16][b]Cheyanne[/b]
“It’s a good idea to stay [i]out[/i] of his rooms.” she agreed! It was her luck that a scary woman like Mrs. Keane was going to immediately be out to get her. Cheyanne though socking mending didn’t sound like such a bad idea.
“Okay… I could mend socks, or do some sewing. I’m too bad at simple things, I usually have to mend or alter my own clothes anyway. I’ll just stay there and out of everyone’s hair until they forget about me.” Or until she dies! But that might be a little over dramatic!
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