The Golden Apple of St. Mystere

“Very good, thank you Flora! How about you?”

Oh! Oh! Stachen, I've been getting better at my singing! *She shies away with a goofy smile.* I think so at least. I... I'm trying!

floraflower:

A-AH! Yes… D-dead.

  *She swallowed and regained her composure. She wondered how this girl Maya could say that so happily! Surely what ever she does with the dead couldn’t be very… cheerful?*

S-So. Ahem… Yes! You’re name is Maya? That’s so pretty! And you’re a “spirit medium?” What exactly do you do as a spirit medium? *Flora was genuinely interested, even though the thought sent little chills up and down her back.*

/Maya was happy to answer Flora’s questions. She didn’t mind talking about her profession, after all./

I’m sort of like a telephone for spirits! They use my body to talk to the living when I channel them.

*Suddenly the thought of talking to spirits wasn't as scary. Wow! Was it really that easy?*

You can just call them? Anyone? How is that possible?!

If you use your body to talk to them how does that work? What part of your body? Do you have to do some sort of secret spirit dance or a ritual?

Stachen! How are you today?

Hi Anon!

Really-? I'm so... oh my, I don't know what to say. I apologize. Thank you so much!

*She raises a brow.* Why would you want to know something like that? I guess... It was scary. I had trusted him and it was so fast! He just grabbed me and took off before I even had time to think! And then that giant machine! *She shudders.*

It was cold and dark in there. There were pipes and thermometers and boilers and steam and fire stoves filled with coal! When he dragged me through the machine he held my wrists behind my back with one hand and covered my mouth with cloth so I would stop yelling at him. He said something about the echo being too loud to bear. *Which was her plan to begin with. Flora smiles sadly thinking of the effectiveness of a girlish shriek.*

But when we got to my container it muffled out most of the sound I could make. Clive tossed me in and it closed around me. He just clapped his hands clean like he had finished taking out garbage. Clive just stood there for a while. He was g-glaring at me, I think, right up against the glass. *She swallows hard at the thought.* After that he turned back where we had come in. He stopped for a moment to think about something. Then he stomped off out the door in a hurry, I'm sure to start the machine...

{Dimitri can feel himself beginning to shake, tears that he had long since suppressed threatening to overwhelm him.  He turns his face away from Flora and says, shakily}

Thank you, Miss Reinhold.

*This time she leaves her hand on his back to comfort him further. It's more like a physical support for him to lean back against and steady his shaking. When it gets worse she grabs his sleeve, thinking it ineffective, and pulls his arm to turn him slightly.*

D-Dimitri? *She looks about nervously. Oh why did she ask that? She must have made things so much worse...*

Wh-

{Dimitri is honestly taken aback by her concern.  He hasn't had anyone who thought about his well-being since Claire, and it's an alien sensation}

Yes Miss Reinhold, I am afraid I am alone.  Clive was my only... friend for a very long time, and he is in prison now.  I have simply been continuing my research.  After all, I am a scientist.  I would be lost without research to be doing.

*He just stands there, his words sinking into the atmosphere. Flora doesn't know what to say. The poor man... She winces at the mention of Clive. They had both trusted him, and they were both betrayed. At least they had that in common. She may not have lost the love of her life as he had, but they were both lonely in their own way. Of all people, it seemed that Flora was the one who understood his situation above everyone else.*

...

Who is this, Flora? Someone you know? ((My sort-of/kind-of daughter I’ll make sure that you are married to a good man yes sir and I’ll help with the wedding dress and it will be fabulous))

No no! Not at all! I don't know-!

*She laughs, embarrassed, and shies away behind her hands.*

Hm? 

Wh-Wha...?!

W-Who are you?!

I...!!

floraflower:

herculeantask:

I have been… as well as can be expected. But the past is past, and it doesn’t do to dwell on it.

{He has a pensive look on his face}

But I’m sure Hershel has been taking you and young Luke on many exciting adventures, has he not?

Actually, things have been rather calm...

Yes, stillness can be enjoyable in its own way.  I myself have been feeling rather cooped up as of late...

But I am glad you have been well, Miss Reinhold.

Cooped up? *A question suddenly popped into her head. Maybe it would be too much to pry? In the end her want to ask got the better of her.*

Um... Mr. Dim- erm, Dimitri, is it okay if I ask what happened after the Future London thing? Are you really okay? You aren't... all by yourself are you? *She asked delicately.*

Thank you so much!