Lords and Dames That Sung in The Chapels on a Sunday
There was a library in Laplace, which many borrowed books from. Likewise, there is one in the SPDM, too.
Due to circumstances, the one from the former to had to help the latter, leaving Mesmer Jr. to take the part as the librarian in Laplace.
Which also meant she had to deal with the genius herself.
Every so often, at the exact same time, she always came by. Either to borrow or return a book, and always making sure to say at least one thing to Mesmer Jr. before she left.
It made her want to tear out Vertin's throat and--
Vertin came towards the desk, holding a borrowed book. "Good day, Mesmer Jr."
"...Good day, Vertin." replied the girl who did not want any interaction with any Arcanist ever. "Returning?"
"Yes, I am," she passed over the book to the Mesmer child. "I found it quite interesting, if quite morbid."
It was, of all things, a book detailing Jack The Ripper. Insane.
Mesmer's expression did not shift, but she did look from the book to Vertin. "I did not expect you to enjoy such grotesque stories, Miss Vertin."
"I don't, really," she replied, face equally stoney. "But I found it interesting on the many factors involved with the cases in 1888 Whitechapel."
"'Factors', you say?" Mesmer Jr. replied. No one else was in the library, meaning she had to keep the conversation going. "Like what? The police dogs?"
"Indeed," Vertin nodded, which was not what Mesmer was expecting. "The Metropolitan police failed with a number of aspects; using bloodhounds was one of them."
"I hope you realise that the story isn't true."
"I know, yes; I still find it intriguing. Moreso when you consider the fact we still know not many details of Jack the Ripper."
"And why, pray tell, are you so enamoured with that madman?"
Vertin shrugged. "A current interest. And, it helps to converse with others."
"Ah, yes. Because people would love to discuss serial killers." Mesmer rolled her eyes.
"And what we are doing right now, then?"
"..." Mesmer paused. Then, placed the book back on the shelf. "Are you here to borrow another book, Miss Vertin?"
"No, just wanted to return it." Vertin gave a smile and a bow. "Good day."
She started to walk out.
After a moment, Mesmer followed after her.
"You appearing every day is a plot, isn't it?"
Vertin shook her head. "Not at all."
"You had never used the library prior to my starting there. You must have a reason behind it."
"..." Vertin looked, for once, conflicted. Eventually, she gave a short sigh. "A guilty consciousness. That is all."
"And who's fault is that, hm?" Mesmer Jr replied, her tone clipped. "Need I remind you of--?"
"Mesmer." Vertin's voice cut her off. It was quiet, but Mesmer could hear anger in it.
"Oh? Touched a nerve, did I? I'm surprised that exposed nerve hasn't healed yet, all these years later."
"Mesmer, I'm warning you." Vertin's expression was stormy, eyes narrowed.
"Now you're warning, huh? Could have saved a group of innocent children, had you warned us!" she wasn't shouting, but her voice had been raised.
"Mesmer."
"Oh, no, but you thought you had everything planned out, didn't you?! Our dear little girl, our dear little genius, a leader for a group of children!"
"Mesmer!"
"And look where we are now, Vertin:" she stared directly at Vertin, hatred in her eyes. "Us, alive. And Isabella and The Ring? De--"
SLAP.
It took both parties to register what had happened. Vertin was the first, eyes filled with fury. "THE FOUNDATION KNEW, DAMN IT!"
Mesmer Jr. placed a hand near her right cheek, feeling a stinging sensation. "What did--?"
Vertin grabbed a hold of both of Mesmer Jr.'s hands, and slammed her against the wall, staring down at her, body shaking in pure, unadulterated, anger.
"Every move we made on that day, every fight, every step, even the timing in which we defeated Lilya? All planned by Constantine."
Mesmer had never seen this side of Vertin before. Like all bubbles, you can only make it grow so much before it bursts. And in this case, it bursted violently and swiftly.
"There was no way of knowing I'd lead them to their deaths!" Vertin exclaimed, their voice now slightly hysterical from 4 years worth of repressed feelings and emotions. "And no way in knowing I'd become the Timekeeper!"
She squeezed hard on Mesmer's arms, and the girl knew it would leave rashes. "So for once, in your goddamn life, DON'T. RUSH. TO CONCLUSIONS."
With a rough sigh, she let go of Mesmer Jr's arms. And, without looking back, left.
Mesmer slid down the wall, and looked at her arms. Peeling back the sleeves, she saw red start to form.
She should be hateful. She should go and report Vertin. Heck, she can, right now.
...But then...
Why is it that she feels...
...She deserves this?
----------------
She did not often use Arcanium. But this was an exception.
She used it to stop the rashes from vanishing from her arms, and spent the next day trying to figure out what was going on.
Mesmer Jr. thought on Vertin. Not the Timekeeper, not that small, idiotic child, but Vertin.
And found that, no matter how hard she could, she could not feel any distate towards her. If she tried, all she felt would be... an empty feeling.
Vertin was just... Vertin. A girl thrust into a role she did not want.
Like herself, in some ways.
She rolled down her sleeves, and got to work.
She thought during it, too.
Arcanists were chaotic, it's in their nature.
It was Constantine who showed her that...
She stopped dead in her tracks in her room.
Was that... also apart of what happened--?
"That's a curious expression."
She turned to face the intruder, a mask set immediately. "Get out, X."
X did not listen, that smile on his lips taunting her. "You know, being a researcher, my field often overlaps with others. In this case, I can safely say I can fully understand that you're experiencing some... interesting emotions."
"..." Mesmer Jr. sighed. "No, you know what? I don't have enough energy to deal with you. Good day."
She slammed her head into the desk, and as planned, fell unconscious.
--------------------------------
She woke back up in her own bed. She could tell it was, because she was the only one to have air fresheners in her room.
Her eyes didn't have to adjust to the light, it being low in brightness, and saw a retreating figure.
One with a top hat.
"Wait." she rasped out.
Vertin stopped. Then, turned around.
"Hello, Mesmer." she said. "I... owe you an--"
"If you're going to apologise, then let me do it." she said, controlling her breathing as the headache (unexpected) began to set in. "I provoked you. It was only natural you'd respond, what with so much repressed emotions."
Vertin stayed silent, but she looked momentarily surprised. Not that Mesmer Jr. could blame her. She isn't one to be trustworthy, after everything.
"...What I'm trying to say is..." she breathed in and out, struggling to get the words out. Saying aorry is not something she often does. And for good reason. But in this case...
"...I'm... sorry, for my behaviour."
Vertin looked at her. And then, smiled. "Thank you for being honest. I also apologise, although that is for the..." she trailed off, and Mesmer rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't have kept the rashes if I didn't want to. Whatever you did, it made me think on a number of things; the fact that I have never gotten to know Vertin was one of them."
Vertin, once more, looked quite surprised. "...If that is the case... when you have recovered, would you care to do that?"
Mesmer looked at Vertin. And, for a split second, Vertin swore she saw the lips of the girl upturn. "Provided there is coffee. It is not often that I indulge, and I want to make sure that I do not perish due to boredom during it."
Vertin gave a nod, smiling. And then left, leaving Mesmer Jr. alone once more with her thoughts.
She looked over to her bedside.
It was a music player, and it has a cassette in it. She leaned over and turned it on.
A song she did not recognise started to play. And the calmness to it, like being near a beach, lulled her into a sleep.
She did not recall the dream. But when she woke up, she found her lips in a smile.
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She drank from her coffee slowly and carefully, taking time to enjoy every ounce of it.
As she said, she did not partake in it often. But if there is one thing Mesmer Jr. enjoys, it is the taste of espresso. A comfort, in a world of stupidity and nonsense...
Speaking of nonsensical, Mesmer Jr. looked at Vertin, who drank heartily from a cup of mocha.
The two sat in silence in the Suitcase. There was no one here but them.
Mesmer Jr. took the time to truly study Vertin. Her face was a healthy flush, and Mesmer could smell remains of soap and deodorant on her.
"For the record, pineapple does not suit you." Mesmer Jr. commented.
"It was the only one I had at that current moment." Vertin replied.
The two, once again, went into silence. It felt... strange. One was meant to hate the other and, yet, that very same person who sat there did, in fact, not hate the other one.
Hatred is an emotion that is something Mesmer feels often, mostly towards those in the ward. And, yet, she felt none towards Vertin.
And it annoys her greatly.
"If you don't mind me asking..." Vertin spoke up. "You have heard quite a bit about me, either thorough Laplace or the Foundation; so, would you like to share anything about yourself?"
"Not particularly," Mezmer Jr. immediately replied. "...But, since you are insisting, there was this one event I can remember from my childhood.
"When I was younger, I just so happened to write down my thoughts or any passing interests on pieces of paper. This came to bite me as, one day, my father noticed them and brought me downstairs.
"'Jane, Jane!' he yelled, waving the piece of paper in his hand. 'Look at how intelligent our daughter is! It is certainly a strange way of seeing the world, but one oh so interesting!'"
Mesmer Jr. looked deeply unimpressed. "My mother took the paper, gave it a quick glance, looked at my father, and said: 'James. These are the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody."
A small but noticeable snort came from Vertin upon hearing this.
"After that, I can't remember any more, because I was sent to the SPDM." she gave another sip of her coffee. "By the way, having all that sugar could lead to a heart attack."
Vertin immediately put the cube of sugar she had in her hand down. "And you?"
Mesmer Jr. took another sip. "I will be fine. I measured the exact amount I needed and used it."
"I've always noticed that you recall the times of ceratin things; it's rare to meet someone with a photographic memory."
"Well, congratulations to you." Mesmer Jr. remarked, and finished her drink. "..."
She looked away. And then, back. "...Thank you for the coffee, Vertin."
"My pleasure," Vertin smiled. And then stood up. "And, before you go..."
She passed a gift box to her. "Here. Sorry if it's nothing special."
Mesmer Jr. gave a non-committal hum and left the room.
She arrived back at her own in the Suitcase, and opened the box.
It was a plant. A very distinctive one, too.
Lycoris radiata. The red spider lily.
She could have simply returned it. And left it be. A memory.
Instead, she held it gently, and stared.
And stared.
And stared.
And, then, as the stared, she noted a feeling inside of her stomach.
A flutter, as she stared at the gift in her hands.
Maybe...
---------------
They met again and again, over the course of three weeks.
During that time, Medicine Pocket was seen entering Mesmer Jr.'s room and later seen leaving via running out, their right hand broken. Both parties deny that Mesmer Jr. had any influence.
During it, both also thought more on each other.
Vertin saw Mesmer Jr. as an enigma, one that had many mysteries, and Vertin was curious about each and every one of them.
She was a girl that had so many things go wrong for her, and no one was there to help pick up the pieces. During that short time, Vertin felt as if she had gotten to know someone she both knew, and did not know both at the same time.
She... loved Mesmer Jr. And she knew that Mesmer would never return it.
To Mesmer Jr., she saw Vertin much like the flower she was given. Mesmer Jr. knew both of their hands were dirty with many deeds, but Mesmer Jr. learnt something during these interactions:
That fluttering was caused by intense emotional responses. In layman's terms, she... loved Vertin.
And that scared her, more than it did disgust her.
She did not want to become the one Vertin loved, as Mesmer did not want anything bad to happen to her.
Mesmer was afraid. Afraid and, she can admit to herself, cowardly.
And, yet...
That gentle embrace gave both new worries and made old ones vanish.
"Mesmer..."
The two stood in silence. A gentle one, once more.
And, very slowly, Mesmer held Vertin, too.
"...Jane."
"Hm?" Vertin looked at Mesmer, who looked back.
"When it is merely you and I, call me by my first name."
Vertin nodded. And smiled to herself.
Jane Mesmer Jr. What a beautiful name.
------------------------------------------
The door opened, and Vertin looked up. "Hello, Jane."
"Don't." Mesmer said, sitting down on her bed. "I know that I said I wanted to try and talk to other Arcanists, why did you stick me with Regulus?"
"She was the only one available."
"..." Mesmer sat in silence. Then, looked up. "My term as the temporary librarian has come to a close. I was informed on my way back five minutes and thirty-one seconds ago."
"Shame," Vertin said. "I... enjoyed you being there."
"You only did to come and see me. And, besides, Jack the Ripper?"
"It was the only book I saw at the time," Vertin tried to defend herself.
Still, Mesmer looked at her. And then, sighed. "I suppose... as far as Arcanists go, anyways... you..."
"..."
"...'
Mesmer looked at Vertin, a very small, but still there, smile on her face. "You are... alright, I suppose."
