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Things that can be viewed:
Fountain Garden Quarters
l
Nicholson Meadow(#3031RJh)
The woods open out into a grassy meadow carpeted with wildflowers in the summer months. The ground here gently slopes down towards a stream that cuts across it from the northwest to the southeast. North of the stream a wide circular garden is enclosed - or will be in 20 years - by a natural amphitheater of slim mountain ash. Nestled among the trees to the south is a jewel of a house elegant in its simplicity.
The forest grows deep, dense, and mysterious on three sides of the glade, such that the cottage seems more like a last outpost and guardian rather than an intruder into the wild lands stretching eastward.
Contents:
Irina
Obvious exits:
Deer Path Nicholson Hall Lane
+view fountain
The garden's heart is occupied by an 8-foot-diameter stone fountain, its outer rim of smooth stone wide enough to serve as a bench, except for the small arch on the west side that lets the water wend it way out of the garden and back towards the stream. The perimeter of the fountain's basin has relief representations of the zodiac, starting from Aries in the east and proceeding clockwise.
The water dances in a tall transparent dome of spray over two statues set back to back upon a broad pedestal at the center. Facing the east is a silvery marble figure of woman in Classical Greek gown, armor, and helmet, her right arm extended to support an owl. Facing west is the black granite form of a man garbed only in kilt and jewelry, with the head of a jackal.
Irina smiles a little and steps over to where she will not startle the astronomer and inquires. "Excuse me ma'am, but what are you seeking, perhaps I can help. The stars and planets have been friends to me for awhile."
Glissa jumps, jogging the telescope down so that she has a fine view of the treetops for now and will probably have a fine black eye tomorrow. Standing and rubbing at her eye and blinking rapidly with the other, she peers at the woman with a wary smile. "Venus, which isn't even up right now--conjunction with Jupiter in a few weeks and I wanted to get set up. Forgot the magazine uses east coast times. Hello!"
Irina nods. "I do not get many magazines. Hello, I am Irina and I am sorry for startling you, ma'am, it was not my intention. I was wondering, if perhaps you had any rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. I cut myself up fairly good trying to fix my car."
Irina pages: Proactive lying...get started before they ask why you have a nasty long cut on your arm. :)
Glissa peers at the woman more closely, a few seconds' hesitation before the amiable expression banishes the other, a wary, tired gaze that holds just a hint of doubt or fear or suspicion. But her smile is warm enough as she turns towards the house and heads in that direction, a faint limp to her gait. "Goodness, fixing a car at this time of night? We're not in the city, but it's still not so safe for a young lady to be out alone. Come in, come in--my name's Glissa--we'll see if we can get you fixed up. Keep your voice down or you'll wake the kids."
nh
You swing the doors open and enter the great hall.
Nicholson Hall(#3015RAJ)
A polished ash floor forms the foundation for this spacious room, with heavy fieldstone making up three walls and the enormous hearth that dominates the fourth. Stout cedar posts and beams support the back wall and roof. The hall is open to the roof, with spiral stairs leading up to the second floor library, which you can glimpse through the railings to either side of the chimney. Light pours in through the dormer windows as well as the windows at this level. Additional light is provided by two heavy oak and wrought iron chandeliers, hanging from beams over the dining and common areas. Set into the walls flanking the hearth are a pair of swinging doors, through which glimpses - and scents - of kitchen can be caught as people pass through. Heavy wool rugs, sand trays, movable iron brackets, and short benches have been placed just inside the main door for the convenience of wet arrivals.
Obvious exits:
Front Door
With a solid thunk, the doors close behind you.
ex me/cat*
CATNAMES:Callie
Irina enters from the meadow.
Irina has arrived.
Irina smiles shyly. "I am most pleased to meet you Glissa, and I am not one to yell. Sing, yes, yell, no." Her eyes as she talks to you do not quite meet yours. "No one can predict mechanical failure, I'm afraid. I'm not all that good with cars, but.,,I thought I could do this."
An assortment of gold and green eyes peer down from various rafters and up from the couch, as various felines turn towards the sound of the door opening. The main room is dimly lit only by the embers of the low fire (banked, with doors shut to prevent sparks) and one tablelamp, giving the hall a rather midieval look that suits well the scent of smoke and timbers. The rather unimpressive woman heads for a large dusty cedar chest placed close by the front door, takes off a clutter of books that have collected, and opens it. It looks like an EMT's closet: bandages, scissors, lots of bottles and cold and hotpacks and blankets, all stacked and neatly organized.
Irina's eyes brighten as she catches sight of the cats. She kneels and tries to coax one to her as she waits. "Heya little sister or brother."
Long distance to Irina: Glissa hmm. In general cats are supposed to be wary of Garou. But Glissa's are more used to them than some. ;)
From afar, Irina nods. Irina knows this, and she's got a rage of 4, but she can't help herself. :)
The one nearest the door, a floppy pile of fur that looks more like a mop than a cat, rises as if she meant to be going somewhere, stretches, and begins to walk away. However, there is a tiny thump, as a small black cat lands on the flagstones not far from Irina. Her tail is totally puffed out, her ears are back, her green eyes are large and round, and she gives the smallest and silliest of hisses, but she edges towards the woman.
Irina smiles and makes more soft birdy noises at the cat that is edging toward her.
Glissa stands up with a bottle of peroxide, some moleskin and athletic tape, and a tube of antibiotic cream, to catch sight of this odd behavior. Her lips press together in a thin line, and there's a little sadness in her expression as she watches.
Ariadne (the cat) hops another inch closer, razorbacked and growling, and stretches her nose forward to sniff at Irina.
Irina holds her hand absolutely still, below the cat's head. "Its okay, little sister, you don't have to come if you don't want to."
Ariadne suddenly reaches out and swats Irina's hand like a ball, but her claws are velveted. Then she shoots off under a bootscraper in a flash, and curls around under it with just her paws sticking out.
Glissa laughs faintly. "You'll have to pardon her, we don't get guests...or neighbors...stopping by as often as we used to."
Irina shakes her head and sighs. "Well that's something, no blood spilled." She stands and turns toward Glissa and the antibiotics. "I didn't mean to scare them, I had cats myself ages and ages ago."
You paged Irina with 'Oh by the way, if you didn't happen to look at the house on the outside, there was a Strider glyph and a hobo Friendly-Cat-Lady symbol carved in the lintel.'.
From afar, Irina nods. Okay.
Glissa gestures towards the couch near the fire. "If it's easier, I'm used to first aid--my husband used to get himself chewed up regularly fighting with--" she pauses, again almost so subtly that it'd be easy to miss-- "the garden. Or there's the bathroom." She nods towards a door.
Irina smiles. "The fire is fine, especially since the frost has gotten into the wound a bit, lady. I usually don't worry about first aid, but this one was a little long, and I got some oil in it too. So, is it just you here, or do you have any extended family in the area?"
Irina pages: Those darn city banes are just yicky.
Glissa settles down in her rocking chair, pulling it over to face the couch, an overstuffed and rather fur-speckled affair. "Oh. Some extended family, yes, my husband's relatives live in town and a few out here. They mostly leave me alone, though. I think the crazy woman scares them." She gives a mischievous laugh, as if this were particularly absurd, as she uncaps the peroxide and holds out her hand for Irina's arm in a professional manner.
Irina settles on the couch a little warily, but holds out her arm. Some of the ripped fabric is stuck to the edges of the wound. It long, and shallow, but dirty. "Being alone is okay, if that is the way you want things, but not if you'd like company from time to time. I'm an orphan myself."
Glissa warns gently, "This will sting, hang on," as she holds Irina's arm level and gently begins to pour small drops down the length of the wound, easing the fabric out with a thumb. "I miss company, really. I moved out here so we could be closer to them. But Michael's gone, and I didn't have time to get close to them, and now I think they feel like tresspassers, or else I tresspass on them. It's a pity, really."
Irina makes a face, and then shakes it off. "It doesn't hurt as much as getting the injury did in the first place, lady. If you don't mind my company, I would not mind stopping by for a chat every now and then. I don't have many audiences for my stories and songs these days. Occassionally someone will stop while I'm busking on a street corner and talk for awhile, but its more of a passing thing. They have to acknowledge one another, but they don't have to make any committment."
Glissa's eyes light up a little at the word "Busking". But she nods at the description, as she begins cleaning the wound out with gentle dabs of a square of gauze carefully cut from the roll. "I would like that, I think, Irina." Certain questions seem to rise and fade behind her face, unasked and silent almost in the manner of her late husband's people.
Irina smiles and inclines her head, reading more into Glissa's face than in her words. "Then I shall undertake to visit you more often, now that I know I will not be run off with a shotgun." She occassionally winces, but her attention is more on the room around her than the actual cleaning of the room.
Glissa coughs slightly at that. "Having trouble with the locals?" she asks rather mildly as she continues to work on getting the "oil" out.
Irina shrugs. "Not so much here as elsewhere. This seems to be a fairly friendly sort of town, at least on the surface."
Glissa chuckles. "That's a rather odd way of characterizing St. Claire. Although out here the crime isn't quite so bad. And yes, I suppose...out here, in the country you know...things are friendlier."
Irina smiles. "The forest seems to be, though it seems to hold itself aloof. Not as aloof as the desert, and the deer are much less critical than the coyotes. They only run away, the coyotes used to giggle and then run away...make you wonder what they were up to."
Glissa blinks several times at that, although she quickly takes it in stride. "Coyote is like that," she returns after a startled moment, examining the wound for any more traces of foreign material. Apparently satisfied, she slathers it with antibiotic cream and starts wrapping it with the gauze, taping that down with the athletic tape.
Irina smiles. "So it seems. I have a story about Coyote, I believe. I told it to the winds one day when I was alone and had no one else to share it with." She turns to look at her arm. "Will I live?"
Glissa raises both eyebrows. "I suspect you might be a better judge of that than me, but you look like one of the tough 'uns. So yes."
Irina inclines her head. "I thank you for the doctoring, lady, you have a gentle touch."
Glissa dips her eyes in a gentle smile. "Glad to be of some use around here," she says sincerely. "You're welcome, Irina."
Irina reaches out and touches the back of Glissa's hand. "If I ever need doctoring again, I know who to come to. And if you are ever in need of a story, I am just down in Kent's Crossing at the moment. I like it a little better than the city, it has quieter echos."
Glissa nods to that, scanning the room for cats. "Actually, I wouldn't mind one tonight. The stars will keep, I suspect. Would you care for a warm drink?"
Irina smiles. "I would love one, a drink and doctoring for a story is more than a fair trade."
Glissa laughs. "Right you are." She heads back through the double doors--another cat rockets out and disappears under some portion of furniture--and emerges shortly with a bowl of cheese and two apples and two knives and a squeezebottle of Hershey's syrup. "I've put on the kettle; you'll have to tell me if you prefer tea or cocoa. Here we are."
Irina pulls her pouches close to her, and opens one, revealing well worn drum which she sets near her feet to warm up a bit. "Either is fine, I am not picky when I rely on another's hospitality. Would you prefer a story of mine, or a tale of another? I collect fables and faerytales."
Glissa looks at the drum with some interest, but waves her hand as she sits back down in her favorite chair, "Whatever you like." She sets down the food on a small bookshelf-table, then pauses, eying the woman more keenly. "No. Tell me one of your stories, actually."
Irina waits a moment then picks up her drum and tests it before settling it in the crook of her arm and absentmindedly starts a simple sychopated rhythm. After a moment she starts her tale in a singsong voice that matches the rhythm of the drum. "Once, long ago when I was but a child and knee-high to the deer and to the bear, my uncle and I walked along a beach of sand as silver as the moon that rides the sky this very night. As we walked, we heard a rumbling sound as if the earth herself was angry, and the sea began to bubble and boil. Lightning cracked, and split the trees all around us as we stood, frightened into stillness and staring at the sea. After what seemed like years, but might have only been seconds, a giant rose from the waves and started wading toward the shore. He was a sight to behold, so beautiful that animals would run under his feet and allow themselves to be killed if only for a chance that he would look at them. This giant carried on its back a sword forged of metal that seemed to absorb the very moon and stars."
Irina says "As it came ashore, it killed. It killed the fish in the sea, and the animals on the land. It ripped up the seaweed and sliced through the trees with its sword, and the animals and plants were happy to die for it because it was so beautiful. It laid waste to the shore as we watched, and nothing could stand before it. Nothing wanted to, for all fell under its spell. I can only think that we were spared because we were small and beneath notice, and because Uncle Vanya's foot had gotten trapped in a crack in the cliffs. As I tried to free him, I noticed that there was a light that was getting closer...a light that was not absorbed by the giant's sword."
Glissa's rocking in her chair slows as she listens, unconsciously following the pulse of the drum. Her whole face relaxes as the tale begins to unfold, and she listens intently.
Irina says "As the light came closer, we realized that it was generated by an unshielded lantern of uncommon strength, and that that lantern was being held high by a woman who's aspect seemed to shift as we looked at her. One moment she was the spitting image of my mother, God rest her soul, the next she took on the face of our neighbor. She was everyone we knew, yet no one, and by looking upon her, the spell of the other was broken. Animals stopped running under his feet, trees picked themselves up by their roots and moved away, and the fish in the sea found safer waters to swim in. The woman stepped in the giant's path and picked up a spear that appeared on the ground next to her. She commanded the beast back into the water, immune to his seductive beauty. The giant laughed at her, for she was smaller and the only weapon she had was a wooden spear."
Glissa is the perfect audience, lulled by the drum and the sound of the woman's voice to a passive eagerness, eyes half-closing in thought at the images the words conjure up.
Irina says "She was undisturbed by his boasting, or the storms he raised with his arms and his breath, or the trembling his feet caused when they struck the earth. As small as she was, she knew that she had to stand before his storms and his quakes, for there was no one else. She merely raised the weapon she had and threw it with all of her force at his heart. The small shaft flew truly, guided by the winds who did not want to be chained by the giant, and struck the giant in his chest over his heart. The tip, which was of star steel, given to her by the earth who did not wish to be crushed under the giant's feet, penetrated the thick outer skin of the giant, and passed through the bones of granite as if they were of the softest clay. The tip carried the rowan wood into the giant's very heart. And this wood, which is the breaker of spells, caused the giant to cry out and fall to its knees, causing the earth to tremble so much that rivers ran backwards and rocks fell into the sea. Uncle Vanya fell over, twisting his ankle which was still trapped in the rocks, and I stumbled to my knees as well. The giant screamed again, and its beauty fell from it and formed into a smaller creature which scampered back into the sea like hell hounds were nipping on its heels. Then the spear began to vibrate, producing a sound so pure and clean that it brought tears to my eyes, and it was this sound that caused what was left of the giant to split into two, each uglier and meaner and weaker than they had been before. One half oozed back into the sea to find its brother, and perhaps coat itself again in the beauty it had lost. The other charged the changing woman and they fought for the rest of the night until the stars fell and the sun rose, neither gaining advantage on the other. They fought through the next day, as well, and then, finally when the sun set again and Uncle Vanya was faint from hunger the woman, in her aspect as the wise warrior struck the beast such a blow that it flew through the sky and landed with a great splash far out in the middle of the ocean."
Glissa watches Irina more now, as if trying to examine the speaker as much as hear her words, curious.
Irina says "A great wave ran toward the shore from where it had struck the water, and the water tried to get out of its way, for the beast was still angry and would have struck out at anything within reach of it. The wave came closer and closer to us, it was many times the height of the cliff and we thought that it would drown us all, but the woman merely looked at the water and smiled and the water bowed and settled again in the ocean. Then she turned to our hiding place and smiled. Just then the earth released Uncle Vanya's foot and I had to turn away to keep him from falling. When I turned back, she was gone. There was no sign she or the giant had ever been there, except for the dead trees, a broken stick floating on the waves and a small lantern, still burning brightly, on the rocky beach."
Irina says "And that is just how it happened, if you don't believe me, you can ask Uncle Vanya, for he is still living and he keeps the lantern on his mantle, where it burns bright even to this day."
Glissa is silent for a while, digesting this tale. "That's beautiful," she says softly, at last. "I just wish I didn't ruin it by wondering if it were true, which is a pointless question anyway." Suddenly she jumps up, nearly overturning the rocker. "Tea!" she cries, and dashes off towards the kitchen, scattering cats.
Irina chuckles and lets her hands slowly stop beating the drum. "All tales have a matter of truth to them for those that know how to look."
Glissa calls out from the kitchen, "Of course they do, and sorry, and if I spent this many years studying the old stories to learn their meaning and did not know that, I would be a greater fool than most who walk on two legs!" There is a certain amount of clinking and clattering.
Irina smiles. "I take no offense, I am just glad you enjoyed it. I do not get to tell many tales these days, and I worry that I'm getting rusty."
From afar, Irina pantspants.
Glissa finally returns in triumph with a second tray, pot under a cozy shaped (inelegantly) like a chicken, a tin of GHIRADELLI cocoa, no less, two mugs, an assortment of teas and sugar and honey.
Irina's eyes brighten again. "Oh, chocolate. I miss chocolate. You, my lady, are truly a life saver and a wonderful hostess."
From afar, Irina smiles. Thank you....that was an interesting stream of consciousness story. :)
Glissa clicks her teeth. "Some of my friends are highly allergic, so I'm always hesitant to bring it out nowadays. But there." She manages not to spill anything excelt a packet or three of sugar. "You'd better pour, though; I'm a monster with most liquids."
Irina nods. "I would be glad to, lady." She picks up the teapot in one of her strong, graceful hands and pours two full cups. "Allergies can make life difficult, I've been blessed not to have any that I know about. Which is good, because I usually don't make enough busking to be terribly picky about what I eat."
Glissa nods, not apparently surprised. She watches the woman's hands thoughtfully, caught by their movement. "Why do you do it? Are the stories enough?"
Irina tilts her head. "I don't need much money, I'm very efficient in my livingstyle. The stories are almost enough, but not quite, though the reasons they aren't enough have nothing to do with money or bare existence."
Glissa says quietly, "It is the lack of the right people in the existence which you keep."
Irina shrugs. "But who are the right people? That is the question."
Glissa chuckles ruefully at that. "Got me there." She starts medicating her tea with the appropriate gallon of sugar, and sips it experimentally.
Irina places a lot of sugar into her tea as well and nibbles on the chocolate experimentally. "I know too much about being trapped with the wrong people to let myself do it again."
Glissa sighs. "Sounds like another story," she remarks, but leaves the comment sitting comfortably and lightly so that it doesn't press.
Irina nods. "It is, and one for another time, perhaps."
Glissa nods, accepting that with a smile. "Also, it is late. Very, in fact. Perhaps it would be best if you stayed the night, and went back out to the car when the sun's up and it's not so cold fingers stick to metal?" She taps the sofa's arm. "This pulls out. I don't get guests often, but I didn't get this house just to rattle around in for myself."
Irina looks up and smiles. "I wouldn't mind that at all, lady. Its too cold a night for camping in a car. I do not want to be a nuisance, though."
Glissa shakes her head. "It is no trouble; this house, bless Michael, is more than I ever needed, and meant for a haven to those in need. I just wish the world was safe enough I dared leave its doors wider open. But your story tells me I need not worry for my kittens or my kids." She smiles.
Irina inclines her head. "I am glad that it has had such strength, and I appreciate this. For this night, should anything attack this place it will have to go through me first."
Glissa gives a faint, startled laugh. "Well, that's frank, I must say," she says bemusedly. "And I should warn you then. If a fourlegged friend outside scratches at the door, it's probably not a danger. I get wolves in my yard sometimes, and they seem to like the smell of my cooking." She winks.
Irina chuckles. "Well, I rather like wolves and coyotes. I even do a fair impression of a howl..sometimes they answer, sometimes they don't. It is ever the way of things."
Glissa again seems to be observing Irina rather keenly for a moment, but she merely nods. "You'll probably hear them tonight. It's a treat around this time of the moon."
Irina nods. "I'll bet. The full moon makes it easier to see, of nights, especially in winter when the air seems made of crystal."
Glissa smiles serenely at the woman's turn of phrase. "Yes, exactly. So." She fumbles with the leaves in the bottom of the cup, again struggling with some question which is firmly and carefully stifled after a moment's grappling. "I should go up and check on the cubs, and sleep soon. You need anything else?"
Irina smiles in turn and then shakes her head. "I need nothing. I have blankets and a pillow in my pack. Go see to your cubs,"
From afar, Irina needs to head out soon, anyway, so if you want to close up here, feel free.
Glissa nods. "Mother's blessing then, and have a good sleep." Then she heads for the stairs, absently leaving the washing for tomorrow.
Long distance to Irina: Glissa hugs. I was sorta lingering if you wanted to keep playing, but it seems a good time to close .That was lovely.
Irina pulls out the sofa, and pulls the said pillow and blankets out of her pack. She makes a nice nest for herself. Before she gets in and curls up under her covers, she pulls a small bone flute out of her pack and tucks it next to her, like a stuffed animal or security blanket. "And to you."