Chapter 81
Previously: The Rose of Whitby – Chapter 80
Out in the park, Darcy doesn’t need long to find a spot to vanish. Nobody goes into the thickets, not with all their silly human finery. And of course there are her friends there, her sleepy friends, and for a little while she just cuddles with them and chitters at them and feels free and happy. But eventually she remembers that Friend wanted something from her… yes, something, right, going to the Prince’s place and looking at something. She wishes she could ask her night friends for the best way… Oh, she might not understand them but they understand her, one is already running ahead, showing her the way and that’s how it should be: Friends helping friends. Yes, this is good, this is right, she is right, she is not bad right now!
She stays in the bushes and out of sight as best she can. It’s nasty daylight right now. Oops, she squeaked in annoyance. No, Darcy sneaky, Darcy not go thump thump thump across the grass right now! Friend asked! Friend sneaky, so she just make like Friend, good.
Hah! That’s likely the thing she’s meant to find!
Her new friend skitters off again after she gave him a quick thank you cuddle, but now it’s sniffy-at-evidence time. Yes, she’s a good rat! A rat who’s scuttling between the evidence. There’s humans walking around with notebooks and they wouldn’t like a rat here, no, no. She’s not here at all. She’s ducking right into the evidence. Which is clearly stacks of bones, good to hide in! Not so good to hide in are the squishy things in jars. Couldn’t they just have left them on the lawn? They’d be easier to hide in then. But the vine stuff is great to squish herself underneath!
This reminds her of something, what was it? Oh, oh, first wolf paws! Yes, she knows that smell, like at that castle she can’t remember, but she remembers the feeling of flesh around her fingers. Yes, she got that meanie necromancer good! And there’s a circle here, too. It’s a bit hard for her to really get a good idea of it, she’s close to the ground after all. So she runs along it several times, tries to remember how her paws run so she can run it in front of Friend later.
Maybe if she squishes herself real tight on that symbol? Is it still a bit wet? She tries, maybe she can get a bit of an imprint on her fur!
And then it’s time to run off because she thinks she was out in the open too long, that one human is looking her way, so whoosh into the bushes she goes! Na na na, silly human can’t catch her!
Right… what now… who was she again? She’s… drac… drac was out because… because Friend asked… where is Friend? So drac goes sniffing and searching. It’ll find Friend!
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Arthur is alerted to Darcy’s return not by her walking in the front door, but by a scratching at his window. When he looks out, he sees a familiar red rat sitting on the window sill, little hands raised against the glass. He opens the window, careful not to knock her off, and gives her a confused look. “Um… why didn’t you come in the door?”
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Friend! With a happy chitter, it jumps from the window sill onto Friend’s shoulder, curls its tail around his neck and cuddles in. Found him!
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Arthur can’t really look at her from this angle, what with her being tucked against his neck, and raises a hand on instinct to pet her back. But that jump startled him a bit, and… is she acting very rat-like? The way her whiskers are tickling his neck, he’s thinking she’s acting very rat-like. “Darcy? Did you forget yourself again? …Your human self, I mean?”
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Darcy is it, it knows that, so it gives him a nuzzle for that then relaxes on his shoulder, is about to comfortably pancake when it remembers something. Friend asked for something, there was something… something belly? Jumping back down and running up on the nearest table, it turns on its back and presents belly. There was something about that, it’s pretty sure.
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Arthur blinks. Why is she…? He squints at her belly fur that’s matted with something dark. Is that… blood? He pulls a face, but that looks too regular for a normal stain. There’s a line there, and that curve there… He tilts his head, steps to the side to look at it from another angle, and yes. That’s a ritual sigil. A mirrored one, she must’ve lain down on it. To show him, he realises! He pulls out his notebook, and quickly copies it down. “Well, that’s one way to tell me what was on there… Can you turn back and tell me what else you found?”
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It doesn’t know what Friend means by turning back. Oh, turning back on its paws, of course it can! Giving him a squeak when it does the first part, it starts thinking about the other thing he wanted, right, what it found, there was something… paws! Right. Getting on the floor it closes its eyes and starts running, running, running, like it did before!
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That… wasn’t the kind of turning he meant, but clearly, Darcy isn’t all rat, because that’s clearly purposeful, the way she’s moving, and he tries to spot the pattern, sketches it into his notebook as she goes. A ritual circle, he thinks- yes, there’s the layers of it, and while it’s not precise, he can tell where she’s mimicking the placement of symbols and sigils.
At least along parts of it. But then, the Shiver did get interrupted, they must not have had time to finish, and he’s very relieved to hear that. He lets out a breath, smiles at her. “Thank you. I’m pretty sure that’s something necromantic and summoning related, it doesn’t look like anything that would influence someone’s emotions, I don’t think. But I’ll check when we’re back.”
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Friend thanked it! That makes it so happy! So very happy. It did good! Yay! Running up his clothes, it cuddles back in against his neck and now really relaxes, pancakes out, but also gives him happy little kisses with a soft chitter. Yay, happy friend, happy it, everything’s good, the world’s good, but still nasty sun, so snoozy time now.
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Arthur finds himself torn. On the one hand, he has a clearly happy rat on his shoulder. On the other hand, he doesn’t know how badly Darcy can forget herself, and also, it’s going to be tea time eventually, where Darcy will need to make an appearance, and they’re in a vampire hunter household. “Um, sorry,” he says, “but you’ll need to… remember yourself again? …Er… would you like to dance?” That worked last time- inadvertently, but maybe he can use it to remind her on purpose of her human body?
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Dance? Did Friend say dance? It is kind of tired with the sun out, but dancing is fun. But still, it’s snoozy-time, so it tries if Friend is going to complain if it just sways its paws side to side up on his shoulder, he has feetsies to dance along, after all.
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Arthur can just about catch some lethargic paw waving from the corner of his eye, and he can’t help but chuckle- that looks as adorable as it looks silly. But still… “I’m afraid that won’t do.” He holds up his hands. “I really do need you to have hands for that.”
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Meh… fine, it slinks down to his hand… And wasn’t there something? For a long moment, it holds on to a finger with both paws, tilts its head one way, then the other and gives him a look. Something… something dancing, hands, holding hands? Jumping down, it sits up on its hindlegs and stretches its hands up towards him.
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Arthur crouches down, offers her his hands in invitation. “Yes, that’s good, that’s a start. Now you just need hands like these, too,” he encourages.
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Closing its eyes it starts swaying… one two three four… hand here, other there, one two three four.
She doesn’t open her eyes, goes by touch to guide Arthur’s hands to where they belong, then starts to move her feet and leans her head against his shoulder, humming again like on the balcony. Shoulder… he smells so good, so very good, his vein is right there… With a gasp, she takes a step back and puts an apologetic hand over her fangs, shows him the band-aid on her arm. “Sorry, I’m hungry and your neck was right there, but I’m behaving!”
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“Oh.” He blinks, then smiles. “That’s okay? Welcome back, I’m glad that worked! Uh… I mean, if you’re hungry…?” With a bit of hesitation, he offers his wrist. They’re friends, after all, and it was fine in the cabin.
“You’re not scared?” she asks him as her hand lowers down slowly, her feet already taking a half step closer, without her noticing, he thinks.
He shakes his head. “Why would I be? You like me, you’re not going to hurt me. It was just fine in the cabin. It was nice, actually, like you giving me a hug. I trust you,” he says, and realizes how true that is as he says it.
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Darcy suspects that if she could think well right now, there would be lots of things she’d be feeling and questioning and wondering about. But her drac is so close, so very close, and all it thinks is that Arthur is its friend. So she smiles and crosses the distance to give him a hug, takes his hand to get him to sit down comfortably and only then takes him up on the offer. All the while, she cuddles him, because she just feels so happy right now and she’s not sure when she last felt this carefree. She has a friend who looks out for her and she can hold him and keep him safe and do things for him, everything is good. Maybe she’s good, too. For him, she means and that makes her only happier.
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Arthur relaxes into the hug. This time, he knows her biting him isn’t going to hurt at all, and also… this is right. This isn’t like in his vision, where Darcy crowding close was full of uncomfortable things. No, this is the real Darcy, and she would never do that to him. So he smiles at her and enjoys the closeness.
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Given how hungry she is, she nudges at his wrist a bit with her nose and makes a sound reminding him to heal himself. After all, he’s being so sweet to her; she doesn’t want to be bad for him.
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It takes Arthur a moment to realize what she’s trying to say, but right, yes, she is drinking for a bit here, he better heal before he gets dizzy and it gets more difficult. It’s a bit odd to do it while she’s drinking, because of course the spell doesn’t end by itself, it’s him deciding to stop concentrating that does it, because he’d rather enjoy that hug-like, protective feeling of her bite for a bit again than focus on the magic.
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That makes her giggle and she… well, she hesitates for a moment but then she extends her fangs again, hopes that doesn’t hurt, because he seems to like the feeling of her bite and just relaxes against him, arm tight so she can hug him.
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He can tell she stopped drinking, and kind of sense her fangs, but it still doesn’t hurt at all, which feels… rather weird. But he’s happy enough to cuddle for a few more moments, since… it just feels so nice. All warm and safe.
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Kissing the bite shut, finally, she leans up and kisses his cheek, too. Her drac is much further away again and she feels a bit shy, but still dares to tell him he tastes nice together with thanking him. She’s not hungry anymore now, and she had a really nice visit with her uncle and that’s thanks to him! Oh, and also, now that she is thinking better again, she can describe the things that were stacked around the ritual circle.
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He blushes a bit, but also laughs when he tells her he’s glad he tastes nice, and she’s very welcome. And he’s also glad to hear that her visit went well- did Gregory behave himself? Also, yes, that would be helpful if she could tell him that… Which reminds him to look at her dress to see if she got it all stained for him. “Uh, thanks for bringing me the symbol, too, I hope that wasn’t too gross…”
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Sighing, she shrugs as she checks underneath her dress and giggles because yes, she got a bit of an imprint on her skin, not that her underwear isn’t kind of used to blood at this point, she didn’t switch to a darker one for no reason. “I couldn’t tell you. Gregory was gone by the time I came back to the coach and my drac didn’t really mind. Easier, too, to huddle alone under the bone and vine piles, they put the organs in jars, though. It reminded me of that castle we were at… wow, months ago.”
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Of course, he looks away when she checks underneath her dress to give her privacy for that, but then turns to her again with a frown. “He was gone? But he was all on how it could be dangerous… Guess he decided it was fine after all?” He pulls out his notebook to write down her other observations from the ritual site. “So, the symbol and what you showed me from the circle make me think necromancy and maybe summoning… I assume that’s what you’d need for making one of those creepy undead-plant monster things.”
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“Maybe he remembered something else.” Darcy has far too many ideas what or who Gregory might have remembered and decided is more important than waiting on her, but that’s not really helping right now. She half expects to get one more piece of jewellery she’ll never wear from Gregory to make her forget all about this whole thing, and then him never speaking of it again. More importantly, she agrees with Arthur and tells him as much, she doesn’t think the Shiver was up to anything involving her and again, she’s not worried!
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Arthur decides to put the matter of Gregory to the side- maybe as Darcy says, he remembered something. As long as he’s not going to go investigate by himself and get them in trouble, he decides it’s probably fine- seeing as he agrees with Darcy. No, he doesn’t see how a ritual like that would have any influence on the emotions of someone yards and yards away. The magic is a completely different kind. “So, I guess you just got into a good mood from being outside.” He shrugs. “I don’t see why that couldn’t happen.”
Nodding to that she tells him she better freshen up and after that they could just read together, or um, maybe, because he seemed to like it, she could talk more about bats.
Arthur perks up and nods- they still have a good hour or so before tea and heading to the train station, that sounds great!
And it is great, apart from them standing in the hall, the cab is already there, their luggage all packed and there is no sign of Gregory anywhere.
Arthur suppresses the urge to groan, exchanges a look with Darcy. “It looks like he got held up somewhere…?”
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‘Yes, that’s what we’re calling him drinking and whoring now.’ is what a little voice in her head wants to answer, but instead, she of course presents her wifey mask and nods with a sigh. “Maybe we should just go ahead? He knows the way.”
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“And he knows our travel plans,” Arthur agrees. If they were actually going by train, he might be more concerned about Gregory missing it, but… well, they have the London house. And also, it’s not like Gregory couldn’t get from London to Whitby by himself. Seeing as he apparently does that at times anyway. So he nods, and offers Darcy his arm to escort her to the cab.
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Seriously, Quincy swears he’s had that gross feeling at the back of his neck all day long now. Ugh, stalker! He knows that sense of being watched, but he’ll give the creep that much, he’s good. No matter how many times he’s been suddenly turning or looking from the corner of his eyes, he can’t bloody spot where he is.
Great, just great! He better make sure to really play bed warmer for somebody at the theatre this night. He doesn’t want to be caught alone in an alley somewhere. He’s said it before, he’s a lover, not a fighter, and this bloody, grey world hates the kind of love he has to give. Sadly, that means some people take that as permission to rip it from him and expect him to have nowhere to go to if he gets hurt.
He doesn’t have a lot of places but… his mother would look after him and so would his friends (well, acquaintances, really, he doesn’t think he has friends,) at the molly house. But for that, he would have to make it safely there and he’d rather not chance it.
Oh thank the Divine! In the late afternoon, Mister Cobb is back and now that’s the perfect defence against any stalkers. Noble, or oh, knightly as he now learns, patrons make for good shields.
So, on goes the full spiel, the giggle and the endearments and the little touches. Accidental of course, wouldn’t want to cause any suspicions with anybody. And that one is so eating out of his hand already. Quincy likes the attention, likes those hungry eyes on him. Oh, it’s a potent drug to be desired.
He better play a bit hard to get to really reel this one in for good, though. He wants a patron, not a john. He’s an actor, not a whore, thank you very much. Yes, yes, bitch all you want, morality pieces, about the lack of difference, it’s in the details. It’s nearly time for the costume rehearsal, too, so is he going to make himself sparse for that wife to not see him? He winks about the suggestion; he’s played this game before.
And then he realises that Mr Cobb forgot all about his wife, and okay, he’s flattered, but seriously! He is not getting himself mauled by a rightfully jealous wife for making her obviously mentally-not-quite-there husband forget the gift he got for her. Ergo, with an overplayed gasp, he shoos Mr Cobb to get going. Go fetch her! It would be so very sad for him not to get her favour with the gift. Get her in a good mood, hm, honey, wouldn’t that be beneficial?
He’s not sure that wink went all the way through to whatever is in that knightly skull, but at least Mr Cobb gets moving. It’s going to be tight anyway, well, less time for him to get caught before the rehearsal talking to her husband.
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Darcy is just about done unpacking, her suitcase basically empty, she just needs to bring the little box with soil back outside… if there wasn’t suddenly a cat sitting in the suitcase. A cat she knows only too well, giving her a grin and telling her he has a big surprise for her. It strikes her how she would have bounced and clapped only months ago. Her very own speaking animal companion, her husband having a surprise for her, shouldn’t this be fairytale bliss? But it is her gothic fairy tale, so she reaches under him to get the little box then startles.
He scratched her!
She supposes they are that kind of couple now, and there’s that cold feeling in her belly, not anger this time, a sense of given-up acceptance. So she folds her hands instead and asks what it is. Yes, she understood it’s a surprise. It’s in London… but she only just, no, okay, she has to dress up? Something elaborate? Everything in her doesn’t want to. Dressing up means people, and she only yesterday had to deal with the ball. But he’s staring at her and her skin goes cold, the mask creeping down again, she can’t do anything… nothing, she’s helpless. So she nods and gets to her vanity, just please… please, can Arthur come, too?
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Arthur had meant to be unpacking, but then he had a demanding cat climbing into his arms, and purring, and butting her head against his chin, so he ends up sitting on the bed with a silly grin on his face and petting Katharina hello.
That is, until she stiffens up and swivels her head to the door, ears flattening. Why becomes apparent a moment later when Gregory waltzes in. He’s cat shaped, and jumps up on the bed like he wants to pretend to be a cat, too, and Arthur finds himself wrapping his arms protectively around Katharina while she hisses at Gregory.
“Don’t tease her!” he demands, and Gregory sits down on the bed spread and gives him one of his guileless looks, says that he wasn’t, he’s just here to come fetch him for Darcy. Arthur gives him a confused look at that, but gets up, Katharina still in his arms, to follow him to Darcy’s room, wondering what she needs.
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The earrings she got for her vision, at least that she can do, she picks those and turns when she hears the door, gives Arthur a demure look. “Sorry. He didn’t say it would be a problem if you come along, so… please? I’m not sure Katharina can come, though.”
Arthur looks at her in confusion. “Come? Come where? What did you need?”
“Need? I asked Gregory to ask you if you would come along to the surprise he has, because he told me I need to dress up nice for it and that I need to do it quickly.” While she gives Arthur an equally confused look, she finishes up with her makeup, best she can. She knows she’s not much to look at, but she wishes she didn’t even have to do this much. She just wanted to relax far away from the big city and all those humans, but now she has to go right back and she hopes she can have at least one supportive person with her.
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“What?” Arthur looks at Gregory, and would’ve thrown his hands up if he wasn’t holding Katharina. “Why didn’t you say so?! What surprise? Where?”
Gregory gives him a confused look like he can’t understand what he did wrong, then points out it’s a surprise.
On Arthur’s repeated demand of: “Where?!” he says that it’s in London, and they have to hurry or they’ll be late.
Arthur stares at him in some disbelief, then meets Darcy’s eyes, and she seems as confused as he feels. “Back to London? Why didn’t you say that earlier? Like, when we were still there?!” He looks down at himself. “And I’m covered in cat hair, if we have to dress up I’ll have to change.”
Gregory has the grace to look sheepish, at least, and says he didn’t think of it- telling them while they were still in London, Arthur assumes. Arthur groans, looks to Darcy. “I’ll run and change, meet you in the library in a few minutes?”
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Of course she agrees, glad he is coming along, and very tempted to take his hand when they meet in the library. Gregory is now in human form and that’s the same outfit he wore when he vanished earlier, and why isn’t she even surprised? She just keeps walking, smile on her face, well, the smile on the mask on her face, and calls a cab, standing out like an overdressed whore in this area.
And really, on Gregory’s arm, what else is she? She doesn’t know the address Gregory gives the driver, and part of her is anxious the entire cab ride through, making her, without quite meaning to, nudge her foot against Arthur’s for support. And she wishes John could have come along, but she hardly got to greet him, and she wanted to just be with him, so she hopes this surprise is over soon!
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Maybe Arthur is overreacting, but… but he’s feeling really grumpy at this point. They planned their day intentionally so they wouldn’t have to rush around after the ball, so they’d have a breather- and here they are, rushing around! He doesn’t even get to ask whether they’ll be back for dinner until they’re in the cab to wherever!
Not that it matters, because apparently Gregory doesn’t know, either. Which is just great. He wanted to spend the evening cuddling with his cat and taking Hannibal out for a ride and try out some of those tips that American gave him at the ball. Now he feels all thrown off course. He nudges his foot back against Darcy’s, because… well, at least she’s there, so maybe it’ll be fun after all?