katherina barbosa

he only stayed to taste champagne — or perhaps the three-tiered strawberry cake — but this has turned out to be more entertaining than he expected. he can't help the amusement bubbling up in him — the paranoia, the rumors, the stirring unrest that has shrouded the town in its embrace — the energy surrounding the doomed nuptials finally soured enough to spoil it!

manifestation is a tricky bastard.

when he hears the dry observations sound to his side, takeshi almost laughs. but there's only a flicker of humor in his dark eyes.

❝ a witch hunt seems the appropriate reaction considering the superstitions running rampant in this town. i swear i saw the priest grab a pitchfork. ❞ no, not truly, but he did see a noble lady of a certain age fall to her knees to sob. ❝ i believe the party's moved outside. ❞ he leans forward to light a cigarette with the flame from a decorative candelabra before making towards the door.

she didn’t move to follow search party. let the others go storming through town like it was some kind of scavenger hunt. she’d stay put, maybe read a bible if she happened to find one.

when he leaned back with the lit cigarette and a raised eyebrow, katherina tilted her head thoughtfully, “i was planning on staying back,” she said, “one or two lesser people won't make a difference.”

“but if you have an extra cigarette… i might reconsider.”

but, a disappearance would do - as would cold feet.

"indeed. it's such a futile chase. though, all will be revealed. they're either forgetful or on the run. what other option is there, in this lovely little town?" a more sinister thought pops into mind, but it remains unspoken - as such things always do. after all, who in their sane mind to come to think of the worst?

"so, how shall we pass the time? the time for their return is in a little under two hours. it's too long a wait to merely sit idly."

a shrug followed, graceful and unapologetic, “either way, i’d say it’s bold to go missing on your own wedding day. it makes for a better story than a love match.”

“i’m open to suggestions, though. for passing the time,” she said after a second, “i’d offer a card game, but i suspect you prefer more… mystical entertainment.”

still, the lady grau wasn't the only runaway bride in their centuries old town - there were many other before her, as well.

"we might. though if that proves to be the case, I believe the whole town will be on the lookout for them. I do hope it won't come to that. perhaps a note really will come up during the search." nerissa shrugged, but the turned a smile towards her ward. "I heard the drinks for the feast are being kept behind the altar. do you think the good father will disagree if we open a bottle of something good? I'm sure a bottle or two won't be missed."

“two fewer people in the search party won’t make a difference, then,” she added, giving nerissa a conspiratorial smile. her voice softened, amused and wry, “we’d better grab them fast before anyone notices. i could use some wine right about now.”

it was not a long time to know someone - not someone as secretive as her.

still, her lips pulled into a grin at the other's words. "they were never late for my reading appointments, though I reckon they were too curious about it to miss it." still, you'd think the couple would be hyped to attend their own wedding. but, again... she did not know them - or cared to know them.

"whatever the occasion, I'm not moving from here. there will be enough people on the hunt as it is, I'll only get in the way. I'm staying right here."

“i’ll be staying as well,” she added after a second, folding her arms again, eyes still on the sanctum’s entrance, “at least for now. maybe everyone will come back soon, after realizing there’s no point in looking for people who clearly don’t want to be found.”

"punctual, yes, but only to those things they wish to attend. perhaps my dear niece had decided to take a refreshing nap before the... eventful affair tonight will bring." still, her ward was right. why should they all traipse about in search for the unwed couple? for all she knew, they could've eloped.

she would've.

"think of it as a treasure hunt. if we find them in their separate estates & now writing about together, we lose for interrupting them." she snickered, but then added, "I think I shall stay here for the time being. maybe they return. will you keep me company?"

she tilted her head slightly, the trace of a smile on her lips, “of course i will. i have no interest in stumbling through the woods looking for them, especially not in these shoes.”

katherina paused and her expression became more serious, as if the idea had only just occurred to her, “but if they don’t return… perhaps we should go after them. later, of course.”