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]

I'm not sure... I think it was going undercover cold.

[ She's staring out the windshield, not giving any directions for him to follow. ]

It's been a long time since I had to improv, so I guess I'm just rusty.

I know, I know - you've had to do it all your life and what was all that I said about hiding things I did back home?

[ She sighs. ]

Back home it was easier to bury them in paperwork, sometimes.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[He's worried for her, now. Zoning out is seldom a sign of a happy little spark.]

[Quiet]

Paper's useful. I'm not at all unhappy when I can cover my tracks with red tape, bureaucratic mazes, and paperwork.

I'm sorry... I'm sorry it bothers you. But stepping into the role is second nature to me. I warned you. I'm...

You can trust me to do things like that. Without warning. You can trust me to turn into what I have to, to keep us safe.

But -- that means you can't trust me not to turn into Mr. Small Town Lawyer on a moment's notice, or pretend...

Or pretend...

[Very serious.]

If it's what it takes to keep us safe, I'll pretend to be an underhanded, boot-licking traitor-sycophant in a shaved-second. If it's what it takes I'll throw together an entire plan, and even factor in the fact that you have no idea what I am doing...

I may even factor in that you don't trust me, because you don't know what I'm doing and I'm acting like an underhanded, boot-licking traitor-sycophant. I've done it before. I'll do it again.

I'm sorry. But that's been trained in too deep for me to even pretend it's going to change. It would take a long time in a place a lot safer than Mayfield to let go of that habit.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She nods, then realizes he's supposed to be watching the road. ]

I know, I understand. I just have to get better at switching gears, here.

I've even played the ditzy decorative accessory before, and well enough that they never saw me switch the daggers! But... it's been a long time since I've run a scam.

[ She laughs, but it isn't a happy sound. ]

I'm getting too old for the ingenue roles, especially here.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

You're the perfect age to start pretending to be "just a nice little good-wife." The people who trained me made a point of teaching the girl students the different stereotypes they could play to, and were cold as carbon dioxide ice about accepting the roles that weren't flattering.

Personally, I think you're... magnificent. The perfect age. The age everyone wishes they could be forever. But you're right. That's too old for ingenue. Agatha's the age for ingenue. For what it's worth, it's a weaker position. People fixate on the ingenue.

[grumbles]

Where do you want to go. I have to either have directions, or find a place to park. I've begun to overload.

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa considers, and points to the area by the park. ]

Pull over there.

[ No other cars there, so parallel parking won't be an issue. ]

Do you need me to drive you home, or just rest?

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[Eases to a stop, and looks around.]

I could do either. I'm just past the limit, and I could feel myself beginning to reach for the spark to compensate. That would have been bad.

Where is this place? I haven't been here yet.

Well -- I haven't been driving or driven much, so I get that's obvious.

[ooeeooahah]

I've had more free time to walk, since they have me assigned as a housewife, it seems.

[ She looks around, getting her bearings, looking for something to distract him for a bit. ]

We're on the city-side entrance to the park. This is the nicely groomed section, thought I haven't covered it all.

[ Ilsa points to the area around the duck pond. ]

That's the spot where the kindergarten teacher was monitoring his charges during the Easter egg hunt. He reminded me of one of my research professors, when I was in med school.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

A male kindergarten teacher? Interesting. I'm a bit surprised Mayfield allowed that. Such a "womanly" role.

I wonder if the ducks are real? Next time I come I should bring bread...

So. What was it like back when you were in med school?

[ooeeooahah]

Mmm. I've been in school 22 years now. Augh, indecision after high school meant I spent a couple of years wandering, academically.

Med school was intense, sharply focused, even if I did change focus partway through.

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[For once he's not oggling Ilsa, but the whole idea of 22 years of uninterupted school. He's jealous!]

Ooooh. Twenty-two years of school? and... you got to just study what you wanted while you were thinking what you wanted to do?

I was at college in Paris for a year or so. Had...

I had to go home. Family... trouble.

[Clearly chooses to just bomb past that.]

I had to make alternate arrangements in the end. [Sudden glint of sharp teeth and the flash of implied steel.] I am, however, a doctor. They didn't manage to take that from me.

[Stretches.] It's nice out here. Do you mind if I take off my jacket? Nothing implied beyond enjoying the weather, I promise.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She smiles, slightly jealous of the year in Paris, but doesn't push with with the bad memory she thinks she saw in his expression. ]

Other arrangements are hard to come by in my world. I think you should talk to Hakkai, he's trying to make sure there's a list of medical personnel and healers available. If you would like.

[ She smiles at the last bit ]

As long as you keep the boxers on, you shouldn't be in trouble with the police.

[ Wishing she had sunglasses, noting to look for them next time she's shopping. ]

[velesdonnersen.livejournal.com]

[The idea of being free to strip to his boxers amuses him -- and, yes, he does get what she means. He's not going to come near streaking, but with almost little boy pleasure he ditches the deck shoes and the sport jacket he'd been wearing while driving, unbuttons a top button or two, and strreeeeeeeetches before floomphing to the grass with a happy sigh. He puts his knees up and wriggles his toes in the grass.]

Did you know they say it's never raining here? Or snowing? One more proof it's not a natural, real environment, but I must admit, I grew up with enough rain and snow to make this wonderful.

I'd love to work as a doctor. But... probably not till I'm either more certain I can avoid slipping into spark-thought, or until I get my spark back. It would be bad enough to start screaming, "it lives, it lives," without following up by screaming and writhing on the operating theater floor.

I might make a fair nurse or medic, for now. Can you introduce me? Or tell me where to meet this Hakkai?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She sits beside him, a little more carefully, because the skirts take more control. ]

The weather control is impressive, I admit. It makes me think this is a simulation more than anything else here. We barely have the chaos mathematics down well enough for long-range forecasts at home, [ she then quickly grasps his arm ] don't ask, I don't want you getting a headache here.

[ She gives an apologetic smile, ] There's time yet, for the control to come along. I've been trying to introduce you to him for a while, since he's my assigned husband. His schedule at the hospital has been a little erratic.