Back on the Doghouse Again...

[velesdonnersen]

 [The doghouse in the backyard of 1126 Taylor Road is turning into Tarvek's personal little corner.  He sits on the roof, with just enough shade from a shade tree, and just enough sun, and the doghouse has a flat peak, so he can sit comfortably cross-legged. He's there, today, far more sober than he's been in awhile, in more senses than one.]

[The kids run back and forth, as usual.  Tarvek's got Perry mowing the lawn again.  Catherine's been on the swings, and then jumped rope for awhile, and then she sat on Tarvek's lap for a bit, and now she's kneeling on the patio drawing with sidewalk chalks, because "Daddy" is up on the doghouse roof drawing himself.  He's working in a soft drawing pencils -- wide, flat-leaded ones, slim ones with well-sharpened points.  He's drawn the children.  He's got a good eye and hand: he trained as a draftsman, of course.  Most sparks do.  But he's also semi-canonically an actual artist, both sculpture and painting. His drawings of the kids seem to race across the pages of his notebook.]

[But the big picture he's drawing is of someone who is no longer there, and who no longer exists.  She's a bland, gentle-faced, vacuous blonde with a pretty smile, a perky nose, a classic 50s wave perm, and a dress that's trim to her upper body, but floofy around the hips and legs: all petticoats and floral print.  He's drawn her as though she's just beginning to turn to leave, raising one hand to wave as she goes.]

 

[Her name was Betty.  She was his drone wife.  He wasn't in love with her, but he found her gentle, silly, sweet, well-intentioned, and likable.  Like all drones replaced by "real" people, she's disappeared without a trace.  Not even her photos in the house remain.  Her children don't remember her.  There's no sign in all of Mayfield she ever lived. Tarvek and his quick little pencils are trying to remedy that.]

 

You are walking, flying, etc. You see Tarvek, sitting on his doghouse, drawing soberly.  His kids bustle around the back yard.  Inside you can hear someone new, singing beautifully.  Tarvek looks up from his work, sees you, and waves, calling to you in friendship, whether you're a stranger or an associate.

 

What do you do?

Comments

[ooeeooahah]

[ She shrugs, ] I've not had any haints climbing out of the drains at me today.

[ Ilsa notices the subject of the sketch. ]

How are you holding up, hon?

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[Looks, and sighs, then shoots her a sardonic grin.]

Well enough. I... I did know it was likely. But it's really the first time I've seen Mayfield's teeth.

[Grim]

I don't like the fact that everything here is treated as disposable. The place has no respect for any sort of integrity, does it?

[ooeeooahah]

No. It doesn't... and I'm afraid, from what I've been hearing, what we got was just a friendly nip.

[ She's watching Catherine draw happy little trees. ]

Did you get a census form?

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's not ignorant of the games government plays with things like this... oh, no. Not in the least.]

Oh, yes. I got it. What's worse, as near as I can tell Mayfield made me fill it out.

[Imagine a cat forced to walk through cold, icy puddles... for a long way. Such is the peeve expressed.]

If this town insists on playing petty bureaucrat, we're going to have troubles.

[ooeeooahah]

Ah.

The timing is not that far off, seasonally, but the questions?

[ She shakes her head. ]

I was never a valid precognitive, but I don't like the feeling I got from the form.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's actually helped write the Sturmhalten census. He knows rigged questions when they club him over the head like a baby seal.]

You shouldn't. If this place does what we've been told, prepare to be put through hell.

[Grim]

I don't even know where to begin preparing for a place that has all the power. It's not like I know what sort of challenge they'll hand us. Getting weapons may be superfluous -- or, worse, it may simply provide Mayfield with the tools to hurt people.

My people.

[Yes. THIS calls to the Prince in him. His family, Ilsa, Agatha... they're his to protect... and he has no idea how to protect them, any more than he knew how to protect The Betty.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa rolls her head, sighing. ]

The problem with seeing storm-clouds on the horizon without having adequate radar - do you go to high ground to avoid the flooding, or shelter in the basement from the tornado?

[ She huffs in exasperation. ]

And right now, I'm making myself tense up for something that might be tomorrow or next month... or it might even wait for fall.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's got experience with waiting without knowing what he needs to know... The next morph or two may be unsettling to Ilsa, particularly without her talent to draw on. There was the flash of The Prince just now...but it will give way to a moment of serious Dim Fellow....]

Well, gee, why borrow trouble? After all, no one would ever hurt us, would they?

[And, then, the disingenuous court optimist morphs again, to something mild, good natured, but... prepared.]

Seriously? We can't plan for what we don't know. I get so tired of people planning ahead of their data. No data? No plan. In the meantime we enjoy what we can, and...

Keep.

On.

Learning.

[On those words, The Prince again flashes out, like a glint of light on the blade-edge of a Bowie knife. Then mild again.]

You haven't taught me to drive, yet. I think if trouble is coming, I want to learn to drive.

[Turns to kids.] Catherine? Perry? Go tell your mother I may be out for awhile, but not to worry.

[ooeeooahah]

Yeah, good idea. I need to know how the cars here handle, because I am never sure when the jeep's going to be in the garage.

[ She heads to the garage door. ]

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[The Spark and the Boy conspire. It really is a love-relationship: a man and his car.]

They gave me two cars! A family car -- a Cadillac sedan -- and a convertible!

Look, here's the sedan: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1950-1959-cadillac-4.jpg

And here's My Convertible! I want to learn to drive this one to work!http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1950-1959-cadillac-3.jpg

[Again, the Spark and the boy combine, as he says;]

I've been reading about them. They have a V-8 Engine!

[Forlorn] I tried to look inside, to see the engine, but I got a headache.

[ooeeooahah]

Convertible is better for cruising, but the sedan probably would survive ramming actions better.

[ Ilsa checks the cars over quickly ]

Not that the people inside would fare well, without some modifications. No seatbelts, airbags or crumple zones, but they make great missiles.

[ She realizes she's frowning furiously, and then grins. ]

You also don't want to know how many ways I can disable one of these, either.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[For one brief moment he lights up with excitement as he starts to think of what HE could do to disable a car... then Spark-loss kicks in and he's in serious, serious pain.]

Ow-ow-ow, fire-and-hail, OWWWWWW!

[Miserable...]

You're going to have to be the one to do any sparking, for better or worse. I'm not allowed.

[Scowls.]

[ooeeooahah]

Augh, sorry hon.

[ She moves towards him, and stops, uncertain. ]

It's not anything spectacular, just juvenile delinquency on my mentor's part.

You sure learning to drive will not make it worse?

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

{Scowl]

No... Learning to use it isn't like designing it. I'm going to learn.

Fire and hail, I am NOT letting this place steal that. Stupid isn't an option.

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa looks at him evenly for a moment. ]

Give me the keys and get the door.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He has to run inside to get the keys from the drawer where The Betty kept them. It makes him sad, but glad: there's some sign of her existence, after all. He hurries back to the garage, with its open door. He's learned enough here already to very graciously open the driver's side and hand her in, before seating himself in the passenger side. He notes she's chosen the fortress-like sedan.]

I'm ready. What first?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She adjusts the rear-view mirror while automatically reaching over her left shoulder, before commenting. ]

Pfft, right - Nader hasn't gotten to that yet. Okay.

First, was the once over I gave the car.

Things you want to look for - make sure all the tires are still inflated and such, or the kids haven't left something behind the car.

Activate the driving brake, key in the ignition, and start the engine.

[ She takes a moment to listen to the engine, with a small smile. ]

As much as these guzzle gas, there's still something about the sound. Anyway!

[ Twisting around in the seat, she looks behind, then puts the car in reverse. ]

Actually look in the direction you're driving, as much as you can. The mirrors are for quick reference.

[ She stops at the end of the driveway. ]

The only reason to not stop at the end of the driveway is if someone is shooting at you, or a similar emergency. Check both directions, because the traffic in the street has right of way.

[ Yes, she's babbling, but in a lecture tone. ]

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's the cautious, systematic son of a meticulous spark. He's watching and nodding to himself, translating it to his own precautionary rituals.]

"Measure twice, cut once?" "Confirm all data?" "Always make sure the Bunsen burner is off before lighting a spark nearby?"

[He's of the opinion he'll probably be a good driver -- so long as he's not driving in his Madness Place. If he ever gets his Madness Place back, though, all bets are off.]

The key starts the car, the wheel steers it, the mirrors help you see what's around you without always having to turn your head away from what you're driving toward, and you treat the entire environment as potentially hostile.

Hmmmph. That last sounds like home.

[ooeeooahah]

That's a good bit of it.

[ She steers carefully out of the neighborhood. ]

A quick trip downtown, then the gas station.

[ She doesn't take her eyes from the road, but smiles. ]

Then we see what this sucker can do on the highway.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's amused. She sounds like a Spark when she talks about this car... a nice, edgy lust. He hopes driving will make him feel the same way.]

"Gas." I assume you don't mean of the sort that fuels my Bunsen burners. Refined fluid petroleum, then? Something like kerosene?

[ooeeooahah]

Petroleum, yes - I don't know the chemical composition of it. All I know is it's hideously expensive in my time, and not so much here.

[ She giggles, ] Don't worry, you'll get a turn.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's fascinated by how the car changes her. She's never been meek, or mild, but the spark-ish element of her personality has never been so clear. She's a Gentlewoman Adventurer behind the wheel: excited, energized, high-spirited.]

I probably could tell you about the chemistry, if I weren't spark-impaired. But at least I can think about it enough to have some idea what makes it work. It's better than just having to think, "the key is magic."

Though here I have seen that "magic" works, too.

[Movement zooms past him, and he gives a sudden, reflexive "GNEEP!" and flinch, before he realizes it's all under control.]

Sorry-sorry. Going to take me awhile to get used to things moving past like that.

Do you know how far we can drive before we meet things, or get looped back into Mayfield? I'd as soon not get any bears in here. [Wicked grin] They'd scratch the pain and rip up the nice leather upholstery.

[ooeeooahah]

Why d'ye think I chose the sedan? Bears would rip right through the ragtop.

[ Not so far to loop through downtown, past the law office, and pulling into the gas station. She starts to get out, and is startled by the drone service attendants swarming the car. ]

Oof. Forgot about that, too.

[ Her smile turns ironic when the attendant goes to the passenger side of the car with the receipt. ]

And that changed as well.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's got a wallet, now, and it's got all sorts of things in it. But he's still not entirely familiar with Mayfield currency. He pulls out a paper bill with a 20 on it, and is told it's too big to change. It takes awhile to work down to a five, and he still gets money back.]

It's my car, it's only right I pay.

Isn't it?

Oh, right. They wouldn't know it was my car... and should assume normally that the owner is the driver.

So...

Why didn't they?

[He understand the prejudices of his world, including its patriarchal aspects, but he's also a spark, and would himself assume that whoever was driving a Fine Machine like the Cadillac must be the Spark, and therefor the owner.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ Her smile is fixed, until they pull away. Her voice is even, but not as happy as before. ]

It is generally assumed in this town that women are not capable of things that require intelligence, such as making sure the car is properly maintained, or even making change properly.

Stupid, silly little things we are.