Geoffrey Stone Elainne Dunaway TRAIN TO GLOUCESTER December, 1917 A.D. London .......... Elainne and Geoffrey both sleep restlessly. Geoffrey sleeps a little better, having already gone through the days of mental turmoil struggling to come to terms with his new condition- and having already had months to get used to sleeping with the nearby presence of another immortal generating a constant crawling sensation at the base of his skull. Elainne, still new to both, doesn't look much better after a night's sleep, and the fact that she only has the same dumpy dress to put on after showering doesn't help her appearance. The two immortals are both ready for some breakfast, however. <><><><><> Geoffrey: The first thing on Geoffrey's mind is a telegram to Paul Appleby in Gloucester, apologising for being late: DELAYED BY AIR RAID STOP ARRIVING THIS EVENING STOP GEOFFREY STONE Only then is he ready to sit down for breakfast: tea, buttered eggs, bacon, fried bread and toast. He skips the porridge - after some of the stomach- clogging meals at the Front, he never wants to taste porridge again. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Her steps are timid as she follows Geoffrey out toward the dining area in the large and humble dress. It occurred to her how simple the act of putting on clothes could be. To put on something distinguished could make the difference between being proud of herself and being ashamed to show her face. She tugs at the now-wrinkled cotton fabric, peeking about furtively. The events of yesterday have become a blur to her. The nagging buzzing sensation still has not left her. But, the immediacy of the Geoffrey's words of the day before had worn off. She sat sullenly near him, still a bit confused how she had found herself in his midst. While she knew the explosion had occurred, it all came to her now as a dream. And, her lack of adequate sleep left her a bit giddy -- prone to exaggeration. She chews the food silently without making eye contact. Then, she finally speaks up in a soft tone, "I'm sorry about last night....." She trails off. The entire prospect of going over the events of the day before frightens her more at that moment than even the thought of death. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey smiles. "You've coped better than I did, when I first found out. "What are your plans now? I've got to visit an abbot in Gloucester; he may be able to help, if you want to join me." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She considers the invitation. No money. No clothes. No ticket to get to the war. Surely she should try to keep her prior obligations.... just try to weave her way back into her life as if nothing had happened. But, the cloying sensation tugged at her. She looked the same. But, she definitely did not feel the same. **Where is a Western Union when you need one?** As for coping better than Geoffrey, she disagreed. Granted, she had not been present whenever he had gone through his purported "transformation," but she knew she felt like all her motions were being created in a void. "Sure. I need something to do today." She did her best to make the words sound cheery. But, the effect from her point of view was hollow. **How would she explain this to her friends at home?** "Once we do that, I should probably get moving toward France, though...." her hands continued to play with the thin folds of fabric -- now beneath the table. So much for lasting impressions. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey nods. "OK." Then he blushes slightly. "Do you have any things still in England? Or has everything either been sent on ahead or destroyed in the bombing?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She offers a thin smile. "Everything I have is back in ths States." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "I can probably spare some cash. Until you get sorted out, I mean." He thought of the tin box in his baggage that held his savings - as a lowly brickie he'd not thought to open a bank account, and some thieving little basket was bound to half-inch it if he'd left it behind. Not that there was a lot in it: he hadn't been an officer long enough to add much to his previous meagre savings. Still, unlike Elainne, he hadn't lost everything. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ He certainly was kind to offer her money. And, she definitely could use something to get her underway again. She looked down at the dumpy dress she had worn now for over 15 hours. Its edge was frayed. The flowered print had dulled. She frowned at how unappealing it was on her. Then, she looked up and shook her head back and forth. "Oh... I couldn't." She lifts a hand to put it face out toward him. "Surely not. That would be asking too much." But, she clearly has considered the notion. Her words say one thing -- but her eyes say something entirely different. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey smiles, reading the contradictory look in her eyes. "If you prefer, think of it as an indefinite loan. Come on, you'll feel better once you're no longer in borrowed clothes." He'd like to make a comment about how her borrowed dress doesn't suit her, but he refrains, unsure how she'd take it. Finishing his breakfast, he adds: "We'd better hurry, if you want to hit the shops before the Gloucester train." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Elainne seems relieved. A small smile lights up her eyes. "Thanks," she mouths. The words stop in her throat. Then, her eyes dart to the door. She swallows as if to wash out the temerity, then turns back to give a beaming grin. "Well! I'd best be getting me a dress, then, right?" <><><><><> [GM] The selection isn't great, here in London during wartime, right after a bombing (especially on Geoffrey's budget, and Elainne is sensible enough not to head for the pricier shops). However, soon a less dowdy dress is selected, along with a few other personal items. Elainne feels much better, and she looks much better too, as Geoffrey's smile would seem to indicate. Then they have to return to the train station, where the rubble has already been cleared and station workers have been doing everything they can to get the lines running again. Geoffrey redeems his "cancelled" ticket to Gloucester, purchases a new one for Elainne, and the two immortals board the train. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Elainne's new attire is more to her liking, and it is evident in the way she carries herself... and even in her smile. The nervous habit of chewing on her lip returns, though, as she and Geoffrey find their way to the train station. It is as if seeing the place suddenly makes everything seem more real. Swords? Slicing off heads? Dying......? She shakes her head a few times, blinking to recheck her vision. And, finally, the two step onto the train as planned. Once stowed away and seated, she decides to open up conversation with him. "So, this place you are going..... Can you tell me more about it?" By now, the persistent buzzing was becoming a habit for her, and she was becoming better able to tune it out and still think. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey smiles at Elainne's new attire, and her renewed confidence. (Assuming that there isn't anyone else in the compartment, so they can talk freely) "I don't know much about it, really. I have to visit a monastery there, run by someone who knows about immortals but isn't one himself. "As to Gloucester itself, it's an inland port, and the home of the late W. G. Grace. It doesn't have much of a football team, though - I suppose that's Fate evening things out for Grace." [OOC: WG Grace was a famous cricketer who played for Gloucestershire and died in 1915] <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She looks at him calmly. "Someone knows there are immortals in the world? So, are there books written..... things I can look up to figure this all out?" Might as well admit it. She was still skeptical. But, she also had no other plausible explanation yet to account for everything. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He laughed - he couldn't help it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. But... well, I very much doubt there's anything written anywhere. That would mean someone openly admitting to being immortal, and I think anyone demonstrating remarkable healing powers would be executed as a sorcerer or a witch. Or hunted down by another immortal. "You probably won't really believe what's happened until... well, until you get killed again, and recover. I didn't believe it until Cumberland pumped four bullets into me, any one of which should have been fatal. Instead, after a few minutes of extreme pain, my body chucked the bullets out and healed up." His face grew sombre. "I feel guilty, in a way. There are men dying by the thousand in France, yet I'm almost certain to survive however bad things get. You're a doctor, and I can understand why God might give a doctor this sort of gift, but I'm just a brickie and part-time footballer." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ When he laughed, she winced slightly. It appeared he really believed everything she had told him..... whether she believed it entirely or not. "I guess you're right about that much. I still can't convince myself that the stories you tell me are true." She offers a semi-apologetic smile. "But, I'm open-minded, I suppose." **Right. About as open-minded as Ceasar....Lenin.... so many others.** She just wanted more hard and fast information. No matter how sensible this man seemed, she just could not bring herself to be so readily swayed. Then, he said something about not having believed it himself. At least he was starting to make a bit more sense now. "Maybe I need something like that....." she said seriously...... well..... almost seriously. Then, he mentioned his pastimes. "Brickie? I'm not very familiar with that term. You put bricks onto something, then?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "Yes, other bricks. I was a bricklayer before I joined the army. Helped out with the plumbing, wiring, and carpentry too. That's how I wound up in the engineers, and got taught how to blow things up as well as build them." He smile turns wistful for a moment. "What I wanted to do was design the buildings I was helping to build. But where's somebody like me going to get training as an architect? "What about you? Did you always want to be a doctor?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She smiles softly at him. "I'm sure you would make a fine architect. But, perhaps we could locate someone that might tutor you in his art..... Maybe put you in the position of apprentice....?" She says this with as positive a lilt to her voice as she can manage. Her eyes search his for a moment before she answers his question to her. "I never really wanted to be a doctor until a year or two before I entered medical school." She says this quite matter-of-factly. "I grew up on a farm.... was an avid learner at school, but sought in most things the hardest path. Some little thing in my head told me that if I could conquer that, I would be able to beat it all." She turns her gaze toward the window. Acres of green countryside pass by.... sheep with their tenders litter the fields. "I actually didn't even consider medical school until my pastor and teacher nudged me toward it. My parents were actually very disappointed. For the longest time, I aspired for only the farm and the wonderful animals and grains. But, once the idea was in my head, I could not let it go." She sighs quietly. "It was a long and lonely path, that one. It was one I would even do again. I can imagine myself as nothing other than a doctor.... a healer of the body..... a would-be healer of souls." She lets the sentence trail off.... as if she could say much more but knows not where to begin. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He shrugs, then smiles. "Maybe, but apprenticeships are more for trades than professions. Still, maybe I've now got a chance to learn a bit more - if I can put up with being the thick workman in a class of snobs. "You might have the right idea - choose the hardest work, to get the confidence to tackle the rest. Still, that's a long way off - we've been fighting for three years, and got nowhere, so I expect we'll be at it for at least another three years." Then he looks surprised. "Your parents were *disappointed* that you went for medical school? Why? I'd have thought they'd be overjoyed." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ He had asked the question she had expected to hear, "Your parents were *disappointed* that you went for medical school? Why? I'd have thought they'd be overjoyed." She turns back to look at him as he finishes the question. Her smile is rueful. "Yes, very disappointed. Their plans for me did not involve intellectual pursuits. I was supposed to get married to some wealthy businessman or merchant, have many children, and weave my life like a 'normal' woman of the 20th century... or one by their standards" She says this as if she may harbour some regrets. "That was what I was brought up believing. I would either marry and bring good fortune to my mate -- or I would remain with my parents to aid with their farm." She looks down then at her hands, splaying the fingers in an errant manner. "While I definitely valued all of those ideals...... I was unable to ignore the thought of helping others once the consideration was presented to me." She looks back up at him with a grim and bright look in her eyes. "It is that which made me decide to come to Europe..... the same foolish and stubborn streak that lead me to medical school.... the self-same line that made me punch Bobby Trent in the nose when I was seven..... the very same trait that made me tell my teacher off for smacking Sally Farnsworth's hands until they bled." It is as if she has thought through it all many many times. The examples flowed from her lips without prompting. She laughs then, a bit shakily. "I'm sorry." And, her hands clasp together tightly. "It may be better to talk more about you. I can get riled pretty easily when I talk about this sort of thing." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey shakes his head. "Women looking for nothing but marriage are twenty to the pound. I think you're doing well by being stubborn. "More about me? There isn't much more to tell. I used to play a bit of football when we got a break from building - nothing special, but it's fun. Wish I'd had a chance to take part in the trenches game - my only chance of an International" he quips. Then he shakes his head. "It seems like an eternity ago, now." <><><><><> [GM] The train trip is uneventful; there are no signs of bombings along the way to Gloucester. Quite a few folks give Geoffrey a handshake and a pat on the back, telling him how much they appreciate what the 'boys on the front' are doing. Elainne is mostly ignored, except for one older man who smiles and asks if she's glad to have her husband back home. Eventually, the train pulls into Gloucester station [or platform or whatever. ] <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She stands quietly behind Geoffrey as his admirers extole his perceived attributes, a vague shadow of a smile across her face. The old man's comments draw her attention away momentarily. And, a tinge of warmth flushes her cheeks. How appropriate after their prior conversation. She holds the smile in place while she answers him softly. Out of the corner of her eyes, she keeps note of Geoffrey. "Yes, it is quite nice to have my husband back." She can hardly believe the words as they as spoken..... but no sense in rocking the apple cart now. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey is embarrassed by the handshakes and congratulations. It's not as if he's risking his life anymore - they ought to wait for someone more deserving. And how many of them had any idea, any inkling, of what was really happening at the Front? He suppresses a laugh at the old man's comment, and Elainne's response; he wonders what the old man will make of her accent! <><><><><> [GM] The old man is somewhat bemused that your "wife" is an American. He asks if she's ever seen any wild Indians. Elainne and Geoffrey disembark on the Gloucester platform, and walk across the small footbridge to the other side, from which you can take a taxi to the Gloucester Abby. Stepping off the platform, both immortals feel an intensification of the tingling they've become accustomed to, from the proximity of one another. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ As they walk along, she slows her steps.... quite aware of the sudden change in the bizarre sensation she had been feeling now for such a short time. It made her ever more aware how quickly even the strangest of things can seem commonplace. It was definitely a feeling of dread that swept over her.... much like the feeling she had had the very first time the silver case had been opened during anatomy.... but more intense. She recalled the prickly sensation that had crept up her spine then. The same icy fingers traced a sinuous path up her back now. The flashback took but a moment. She envisioned the silent swing of the large lid in her mind's eye. Then, the body.... lying face-down with its head enshrouded in a wet, grimy cloth to hide its identity. Even the sick feeling in her stomach was reproduced with her vision.... just as a wave of nausea swept through her like an electric circuit. The wrinkled feet had stared at her from the end of the table where she stood. The hands had been wrapped, as well,... much like she guessed those of a mummy must have been before an embalming procedure. Her cadaver had had an oddly distorted manner of fitting onto the table. Later, upon turning him, she and her partner would uncover the reason in the protuberant abdomen that was tell-tale of a chronic, long-term alcoholic. She shuddered suddenly as she recalled in a flash the sunken-in face... and the empty blue eyes. Her own eyes shifted to look up at Geoffrey inquisitively. She tried to disguise any fear that she felt, working to appear no less confident than previously. But, her falling back a few steps behind him would likely be enough to betray her thoughts. She was curious if he, too, had felt the alteration in the phenomenae. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey halts for a moment, then speaks quietly. "There must be another around. I hope he wasn't doing something delicate when the train arrived and he sensed us! "Let's get the taxi - if Cumberland was right, the feeling will get stronger as we approach the monastery." Of course, he isn't at all sure how Elainne will be received at the monastery... <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Things were certainly becoming odd. She agreed, however, to Geoffrey's suggestion. The monastery seemed the most reasonable place to aim for. "So, this is what it is like to meet another..... immortal?" The word seemed strange coming out, but she knew no other way to put it. The only thing that seemed clear was that the feeling she had now was vaguely different than the one she had felt when she met Geoffrey after her "death." It would now just be a matter of pinpointing the reason for the difference. She was unaware that she was, yet again, chewing at her lip. Some of the changes that had come in the past twenty-four hours were not entirely bad after all. <><><><><> [GM] Coming down the steps, Geoffrey and Elainne see a girl coming up them, now standing in their path, a few steps below them. She's just a teenager, slender, and shorter than Elainne, with long blonde hair tied loosely behind her back. She's wearing a light dress with a green jacket, and low-heeled casual shoes. And in one hand, held to her chest, she clutches the strap of a bag slung over her shoulder. A very long bag, held rigid by its contents, obviously not just garments. Her face isn't visible at first because she's also wearing a wide-brimmed hat. The girl turns her face up to the two of you slowly, and despite her apparent youth, something in her cold, blue eyes makes both immortals feel very small, as she stares first at Geoffrey, then Elainne. She has an expression that is entirely too deadly serious, and confident, to be worn by a sixteen or seventeen year-old girl. The corners of her mouth turn upwards, in a small, grim smile. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She cannot help but notice the strange girl. Every bone in her body screams at her that something about the teen is dreadfully out-of-place. But, she maintains the applomb she had been demonstrating as best she can. Only the scant narrowing of her own eyes gives a hint that she has felt anything new.... **How is one supposed to react to another.... immortal?** Too many things Geoffrey had told her seemed to be too distant in her mind. And, she cursed her quick dismissal of them all silently.... all the while seeking to recall some morsel of what he had told her. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey hesitated at the sight of the girl. It wasn't difficult to see that she was the immortal they had both sensed - the smile on her face told that much, as well as the sword-like object distending her duffle-bag. He'd never expected to encounter so young an immortal. Or rather, he reminded himself, someone who had become immortal at such a young age. The young girl was probably older than he was - much older. Then he smiled. "Good Afternoon, Miss." <><><><><> [GM] "Good afternoon," the (seemingly) young lady replies, with a soft lilt, trailing the final syllable in a manner that sounds wary, somewhat edgy. She resumes climbing the steps, shifting over so she comes up on the opposite side, still passing within a foot of Elainne and Geoffrey. She meets Geoffrey's gaze, and doesn't break eye contact as she comes closer step by step, until she is standing on the same step as Elainne. The American woman towers over her, but when the girl's eyes flicker over her again, Elainne can't help feeling like she is a child being critically examined by a stern elder. Her face is strikingly beautiful. A normal lass with such a face would have boys chasing her constantly....but it's hard to imagine a poor young lad being able to meet this girl's gaze and not be struck dumb. The erstwhile teenager raises her chin, not even giving the two older- looking people a nod. "I am Annafyn," she says in a soft voice with a definite Brythonic lilt, melodious and archaic-sounding. To Geoffrey she sounds a bit Welsh. "Are you traveling to the monastary?" An older man coming down the steps clears his throat impatiently, trying to go around Elainne and Geoffrey, and now being blocked by Annafyn. She glances up at him, and the man's face drains. Flustered, he makes a disconcerted sound and retreats back up the steps. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She watches the exchange between Geoffrey and Annafyn with some amount of fascination. She decided in a moment that it was the accent that had caught her attention the most. She was spending every ounce of concentration on attending to details. And, everything seemed to be occurring in slow motion. First the girl.... who was somehow not just a girl. "Annafyn," she had called herself. Then the man..... nearly running both Geoffrey and herself off the steps. His hasty retreat made her twist to look after him momentarily. **Who's this?** Quickly, she looks back again at the girl. Was she supposed to be scared now? The emotions wandering through her were so intermingled just yet that she couldn't be sure. And, how had she known about the monastery!? <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey kept his own voice calm and casual, though his mind was burning with curiosity about this strange girl. How old was she? She had the air of someone who'd been immortal for a long time. "Geoffrey; yes, we're up from London to visit the monastery. Have you just come from there?" He picked "London" carefully - it was correct, but the information was of no use whatsoever. <><><><><> [GM] "Aye, I have." Annafyn continues studying the two of you. "You're both new, aren't you?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ One thing was certainly true: this was not a girl to mince words. Elainne pulled her attention entirely away from the retreating man and leveled her gaze on the girl, trying to use her stature for what little it was worth. "Yes." Without glancing to Geoffrey before continuing, she adds, "And, you're *far* from being new if this tingling sensation is supposed to mean anything....." May as well state the obvious. The girl seemed like she played for keeps. <><><><><> [GM] She laughs softly. "I've survived a while. Don't place too much reliance on the tingling, it doesn't tell you anything about who you're facing, despite what some believe." She smiles coyly and pulls her bag higher on her shoulder. "More's the pity, but I cannot stop and chat, I've a train to catch." She proceeds up the steps, and with a coy smile, says over her shoulder "Be seeing you." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "Bye!" He couldn't rid himself of the suspicion that he *would* be seeing her, probably with a blade in her hand... "Well?", he says to Elainne, "Shall we continue?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Offering a look to Geoffrey that conveys without words her fascination and relief, she nods slowly. She makes a conscious effort not to look after the girl's departure. After she could convince herself they had gotten a suitable distance from the scene, she leans against Geoffrey's arm. Then, she questioned him in a low voice, "So, what did you think about all of that? The girl? And.... her sack? And, what about that man? Did you happen to see how quickly he fled when he caught sight of her face?" She was actually beginning to enjoy this. It was a whole lot less predictable than running a doctor's office at home had seemed like it might become. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "The girl's another one of us, of course. I think she just scared the man - normal young girls can't stare like that. How about you?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She smiles and adds a bit ruefully. "Well.... my parents used to tell me I knew how to scare men. But, I don't think she meant it in quite the same way. But, to scare someone to the point they flee in such terror.....? I just don't know." She shakes her head. "That's a bit beyond being strong-willed and formidable. All she did was look at him!" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] A quirky smile plays around his lips. "Maybe you'll have a similarly dramatic look when you're 400." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne Dunaway ~~ She laughed. It was a genuine laugh, as well.... something she had not done since the bombing at the train station. "Maybe we will! But...." Her smile felt stuck on her face now, but there was little she could do to erase it at this point. The somber attitude of the last 36-48 hours seemed suddenly washed away. "Oh! I hope not!" she splurted out. Stifling the full laughter, she continued, "But, really..... That was almost beyond the natural. I just can't imagine staring someone down to the point they duck and run for cover. What kind of a doctor would I be if all my patients went scrambling for cover every time I went to examine them? Granted, I guess that sort of look might be helpful for you....commanding your army to victory. Just *look* at the other side....and they would go dashing away. You wouldn't even *need* any men beneath you." She gave him a quick look to see any potential reaction he might give. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] >What kind of a doctor would I be if all my patients went scrambling for >cover every time I went to examine them? "A dentist?" he responds, unable to resist. However, he turns serious at her further comments, stiffening slightly. "A bullet can outrange a glare. I don't joke about the Front - well, not outside the trenches at least. "Though I wish I *could* make the Hun run away with just a glare" he adds, relaxing again. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She responds appropriately by calming her laughter to a subdued chuckle. Then, she lets the silence engulf them for a bit before asking her next round of questions. Her tone is somber. "So..... does it bother you that I am trailing along with you to the monastery? You've really been kind about explaining to me what you know about all of this mess..... but I would hate to be a burden to you." Her mind also is drifting to the front in France. It was strange how quickly things could alter plans. But, she had always been a goal-driven woman. Despite an increasing curiosity with the "immortal" business, she felt a bit uneasy just leaving her initial plans unfinished. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "No, it doesn't bother me at all. Actually, it's a bit of a relief to be able to talk to someone about all this - Cumberland isn't particularly approachable. He's a good trainer, but not very friendly." Geoffrey too was thinking about returning to France, though possibly the General's message would change that. <><><><><> [GM] The monastary, just outside the city of Gloucester, is older than Geoffrey expected. Not that he knows that much about historical abbeys, but he'd never heard that that the one in Gloucester was particularly large, ancient, or notable. The stone walls rising behind a row of trees in front of a row of hedges- too perfectly obscuring to be as haphazardly placed as they appear- are both formidable and very ancient-looking. From outward appearances, the abbey certainly could be one of the oldest in England. It's rather surprising it's not more of a tourist attraction. On a closer approach, it becomes apparent that the abbey may not be quite as large as it first appeared. The tall, expansive stone wall rising out of a mossy slope is in fact just one wall in the abbey's simple, square structure, and it's just a matter of perspective that makes it seem so huge. Geoffrey and Elainne meet no one while walking the long path from the road to the gates of the abbey. There is no one outside at the moment, though the grounds do appear well-cared for. The thick, wooden doors of the monastary loom in front of them. All this place needs is a little ground-mist to complete the image of something out of Wallstonecraft or Stoker, but the sun shines brightly overhead, out of a clear sky. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Despite her prior attempts at conversation, she fell silent suddenly. In the presence of the monastery, it just seemed appropriate. She even fell a half-step behind Geoffrey as the gravity of their situation seemed suddenly to weigh in on her. Holy ground - that was what they were approaching. She wondered if she would feel any differently once they were within the confines of the walls. She did not consider that her thoughts were following along lines that meant she had already accepted the basic tenet that she *was* immortal. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "Bit of an eerie place, isn't it. Looks like somewhere Poe would like." He walked up to the entrance, wondering if the place had been abandoned. Did an abandoned abbey still count as holy ground? <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She looked about at the building, taking it all in. She had not considered it....but something from the pages of a Poe novel definitely fit the aura here. She almost expected a raven to be seated above the main doorframe. She murmured to Geoffrey, "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to let you do most of the talking here." <><><><><> [GM] The solid oak doors make a nice, resounding sound when you knock on them. And it's no more than a few moments before they open...not with expected creak, but quite easily and silently. Despite outward appearances, the abbey can't be abandoned...the hinges are being maintained at least as carefully as the grounds outside. Already, the two immortals are beginning to feel a mild tingle in the air, from the aura of this place. Not an electrifying sensation, like the proximity of another immortal (still arcing between them, as always), but almost a negating sensation, muting the other one. A man of indeterminate age, in a simple brown robe, looks at the young couple in front of him with a blank expression. "G'day," he says. "Can I help you?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She had an uncontrollable urge to nudge Geoffrey from behind to prompt him to speak. But, she refrained. She also was tempted to just step up and speak before giving him the chance. Too much doctor training, she figured. Instead of doing either of those things, she stood as still as stone..... and just waited for the two men to speak their piece. The "chewing-of-her- lip" ritual had already begun. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey looks down slightly, and tries to look appropriately humble. "Good morning. I'm Geoffrey Stone; I'd arranged to meet Abbot Appleby. I sent him a telegram to say I was delayed." <><><><><> [GM] The monk blinks. "Oh. Yes, I see. Well, I believe the abbot is expecting you." He ushers you inside, frowning a little at Elainne. As the two of you follow the monk through a dimly lit corridor leading into the monastary, you feel, for the second time today, the buzz of another immortal in the vicinity. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He smiles at the sensation - Cumberland said that immortals might be staying at the abbey. It must be a convenient way of going safely undercover for a few years while planning what to do next. Holding the door for Elainne, he then follows the monk. "Someone else is already here, I think", he whispers to Elainne. <><><><><> [GM] The monk leads the two of you through a series of corridors, all of them dim and worn smooth by the years. He takes you to a small chapel, and bids you wait for him, before exiting by another door. A short time later, a medium-height, balding man with a pleasant-looking face enters, wearing abbot's robes. He looks at the couple, then address Geoffrey. "Mr. Stone? I wasn't informed you'd be bringing a....guest? I am Paul Appleby, or Brother Paul." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey, not at all sure how to greet an abbot, attempts a respectful bow. "Brother Paul, I have a message from Major General Cumberland." He hands over the document that Cumberland had entrusted to him. Now the important question; so far, he'd assumed that the abbot knew about the immortals, even though he himself was not one. However, now that he thought back on it, Cumberland hadn't actually said that explicitly. "May I introduce Dr Elainne Dunaway? Um, I sort of rescued her from the bombing; it appears that she and I are both like Major General Cumberland." He looks cautiously at Brother Paul's face, getting ready to come up with some sort of story if there's no understanding there. <><><><><> [GM] Appleby takes the envelope with no particular reaction, except to glance down at it. He looks back up at you. "I see. Well, Mr. Stone....or Lieutenant, if you prefer. Might I see you in my office? Miss Dunaway, I'll have one of the brothers show you to a room you can put your things, if that's all right with you?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She nods to the man. "Yes, sir." A slight smile arises. "It is. Thank you, very much." She looks after Geoffrey, curious. But, this was his trip. Far be it for her to intrude. She peers back at Appleby expectanly. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey waits to see the monks escort Elainne away, then follows Brother Paul to his office. "I hope I haven't inadvertently caused you any problems", he says. <><><><><> [GM] Another monk leads Elainne off to a small, apparently unused cubicle, with an old cot and a tiny wooden writing desk, and says he will fetch some bedlinens and a set of candles for her. She continues to feel the buzz of *two* immortals in the vicinity, with a certainty born of instinct. Brother Paul leads Geoffrey into a surprisingly large office. An ancient desk is covered with papers ranging from what appears to be old manuscripts and scrolls to some pieces of mail dated within the last week, and today's newspaper as well. The walls are lined with a similarly various collection of books and boxes, on both creaking old bookshelves and a couple of metal cabinets of more recent vintage...some of the tomes are musty old things that might be anything from medieval bibles to Norman tax ledgers, while others are identifiable as modern treatises on theology, anthropology, and other subjects. Appleby would appear to be a very well-read man. He sits behind his desk, and opens the envelope you gave him. He leaves you standing in front of his desk silently, until he's finished, then he sets the four sheets of paper that were inside the envelope down, and looks up at you. "So, I am given to understand that you are a newly 'born' immortal, that Cumberland discovered on the front." He shakes his head. "Ghastly business, that. You won't be the only one. Wars have a habit of producing disproportionate numbers of immortals." Momentarily distracted as he stared off into space, he brings his gaze back to you. "Oh yes, I am quite knowledgeable about immortals. Some of the other brothers here are also, but not everyone, so please don't speak of it openly." "Now, this Miss Dunaway. Is she an American? She sounded like one. By 'rescued' from the bombing- I presume the one in London yesterday- surely you don't mean she just become an immortal last night?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey nods. "Yes. I thought I was dreaming at first, until Cumberland... proved it to me. I can't help feeling guilty - I'm getting a chance to survive this terrible war that's not being given to others. "You're right, Miss Dunaway is an American, and a newly-created immortal. I sensed something odd about her, and spoke with her at the station; then the Zeppelin raid came." He shudders for a moment. "I found her burnt body amongst the rubble, only now I could also sense that she was an immortal; I then rescued her later that night. I've told her what I can about immortals, but I've only been one for a few months - I'm not sure if she really believes me yet. I was really hoping you could perhaps tell us something. "We also met another immortal on the way here, a young woman." <><><><><> [GM] "Remarkable", Appleby says, shaking his head at your story. He smiles slightly. "The doubt and guilt you are feeling is common to new immortals, as well as immortals who have been alive for a very long time and sometimes get to the point where they have just seen too much. If you need spiritual counseling, I will be more than willing to help you. This abbey is a sanctuary for your kind- moreso than other holy ground, we actually provide refuge and aid to immortals. And for you and Miss Dunaway, I will answer what questions I can. Of course, what I- we- know about immortals is purely by observation and some scant records. What it actually means to *be* an immortal, how to survive as one...well, that is better told to you by another immortal, hence the ancient tradition of elder immortals mentoring fledglings." He looks a little surprised at your mention of meeting Annafyn. "Young woman....a very pretty girl, long blonde hair, with an unnaturally serious demeanor? Carried a long bag over her shoulder?" He nods. "Annafyn. That young woman is at least three hundred years old. We aren't entirely sure of her...disposition. She hasn't acquired a reputation for being a hunter, and she respects the Rules...but she remains closely aligned with her mentor, who is ancient, ruthless and deadly. You'd probably do well to avoid becoming involved with her." He steeples his fingers. "The same may be true of our other current guest. You'll probably meet her soon enough- I suppose you've sensed another immortal already?" He arches an eyebrow quizzically, looking for confirmation. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "I may take you up on your offer of counseling. I could also do with finding another mentor for Elainne. I'm hardly an `elder immortal', except in the most technical sense, and we're soon to be separated - I have to return to Cumberland at the Front, and she has to start work at a hospital in Paris." He sounds slightly disconsolate as he speaks, then frowns as Appleby describes Annafyn. "I'd guessed she was old - somehow, she didn't act quite like a young woman. She's got a stare that could bore holes in concrete. Who is her mentor? I'd like to know who to avoid. "And yes, I've sensed another immortal, though I haven't met them - her - yet." <><><><><> [GM] Appleby looks disturbed. "She can't just proceed onto a hospital, and ignore what's happened to her. Likely as not some other immortal will scout her out and take her head, if she's got no mentor! Now, I very much doubt Major-General Cumberland will be willing to take her under his wing- even if it was possible- but there are other elder immortals around....she can take refuge here until we can find someone willing to look after her." He shakes his head. "Annafyn's mentor is an ancient Celt, pre-Christian, we think. With an obsession about driving 'invaders' out of Britain. The problem is, she perceives whatever group came here most recently as invaders. She fought the Saxons, then the Normans...." The abbot smiles grimly. "Now she seems to have connections with certain groups trying to drive the English out of Ireland. She'd take your head in a heartbeat, I don't doubt. The Lord alone knows what her attitude is towards Americans; Miss Dunaway might or might not be spared." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "I was hoping for something like that. *I* can't teach her much about being an immortal; I'm not certain she quite believes it yet. Cumberland proved it to me by shooting me, and letting me see my body rejecting the bullets and closing its wounds; I couldn't bring myself to do something that cold to someone else." He gives a dry smile. "No, I don't see Cumberland taking her under his wing. Do all immortals end up like him? Do we all become callous about others' lives, after living so long?" <><><><><> [GM] Meanwhile, Elainne has finished settling into her room. Not that there is much settling to do. She's now reduced to sitting on the small cot, wondering what to do next. Waiting for Geoffrey to show up seems sensible, but if he doesn't show up soon, she's going to get very bored, very quickly. A knock comes at the door. When opened, another woman is revealed, lounging with her elbows leaning against the doorframe. She is smaller than Elainne, lithe and muscular, as can be seen by the wrap-around skirt and blouse that clings tightly to her and leaves most of her arms exposed, and even some of her waist, clearly not the sort of style you'd expect to find a woman wearing in an English monastary! She has dark skin, like smoothly polished wood, and her teeth flash brightly in her small, brown face. Black hair braided down to the small of her back looks thick and lustrous. She wears a pair of silver bracelets, and Elainne also notes a small red dot positioned just above the bridge of her nose. "Hello, little sister," she says, grinning, in precise English with just a trace of a foreign accent. "I thought I sensed....new arrivals." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Again, she felt the strange and scintillating sensation she was beginning to become all too accustomed to..... tingling from the very top of her head to the bottom of her toes. And, at the very same moment, the knock came. She looked up at the doorway expectantly. Then, she beheld the woman. Her demeanor and presence definitely resembled that of the woman she and Geoffrey had passed on the steps, but it was also different somehow. She reminded herself suddenly that "patience" would be important -- patience and control. The Eastern woman was finishing, ".....new arrivals" as Elainne decided to rise from her cot. She made no attempt to hide her curiosity and looked the woman up and down before replying. At long last, she looked directly at her, smiling her best American vintage....the one she used for her patients when it was their first visit. The effect tended to be very professional....only barely guarded....and rather welcome. She knew from having looked in the mirror that the subtle lift of her eyebrows with the smile tended to make her appear a bit more innocent than was the case, so she added that, too. "Looks like you did!" she offered crisply. "Can I help you with something?" <><><><><> [GM] The woman takes your smile as an invitation to enter, and does, with a cat-like walk. There is something both sensual and predatory about the way she moves, and her expression. It even disturbs you, and you can easily imagine that she has quite an effect on the average male, which makes her presence here in a monastary all the more unusual. "Help me? Oh, I suspect not, but you are kind to offer." She looks around your tiny room, as if there was anything to really inspect, and then whirls about in a lightning-fast yet graceful motion, and faces you. "I am Payal," she says, flashing her teeth in a smile again, before pressing her palms together in front of her face and then inclining her head and making a slight bow. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She watches the woman enter, quite wary suddenly as a wave of nausea sweeps through her. Some of the strangest sensations seemed to course through her every time she was around these so-called immortals. It was enough to make her seriously consider how real it might be. Still, she wondered if she might simply have knocked loose something during the explosion at the train station. Either way, this woman definitely put her on her guard no matter how badly she had wanted not to be while at this haven. She looked the woman up and down a second time as she introduced herself. No sense in hiding her wariness. That might just make her seem naive. Plus, if this immortal business =was= real, she was as green behind the ears as they came. A hint of her nervousness crept into her voice as she resonded with her own introduction. "Hi, I'm Elainne. Good to meet you." One thing she did not do, though, was avert her eyes. <><><><><> [GM] Payal continues smiling. It doesn't put you at ease. "You are not English," she says. "A colonial, no? From America or Canada? I have never been to the New World." She laughs lightly, as she moves closer to you again, still taking your measure. "So, little sister, are you here seeking refuge, knowledge, or tutelage? How long have you been one of us?" Standing much closer than most Americans are comfortable with, she looks up at you with her dark eyes half-lidded, and that bemused, knowing smile. "Oh, no need to be frightened of me, little sister," she says softly. "This is holy ground, after all. And I would not take your head even if it was not. It has been a long time since I've met a fledgling....longer since I've met one who was another woman." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps there was something to this 'holy ground' concept. Surely, just knowing this woman believed the idea made her feel a bit more at ease. Her forced smile relaxed just a bit. She knew suddenly how the nurses at the hospital must have felt when some of her colleagues played their "haughty" routine. She had come to know it well. She had even used it on occasion -- most often when a nurse questioned an order to the point of conveniently "forgetting" to follow it. Sometimes, it became necessary to show a subtle display of power to square away positions of power. She had always felt guilty doing it, but it had become the only way to get the job done sometimes. And, ultimately, her loyalties lied with the patient This was a bit different in that she perceived little altruistic gain from Payal's power play -- but she figured she probably felt the same twinge of jealousy and frustration the nurses usually portrayed. She tried to put herself into Payal's shoes -- imagine how she might best be dealt with if places were reversed. Respect. No fear. No snide remarks. She relaxed further still when she was able to somehow identify with the situation -- however false her visualization might be. She even laughed softly. "Yes, I'm definitely a fledging....through and through." She did not budge, no matter how close Payal came to her....merely meeting her inquisitive glance with one of her own. It surprised her how little Payal's gesture actually bothered her once she had resigned herself to this game. "I actually came with Geoffrey, but I think he's going to be pretty busy by the looks of things. Oh. And, I'm not English. You're right about that. I'm American.... and, as for how long I've been one of..." she paused, unsure what to call 'us.' After a moment's hesitation, likely long enough for Payal to interrupt if she so desired, she finished. "I've been this way since yesterday. And, I've witnessed just enough that I'd like to learn what I can. Of course, I'm due on the front in France soon enough, so I can't say how long I might be able to stay. Can you recommend something to me?" Her mind was already considering just how much the front meant to her. Things had definitely changed much in the last twenty-four hours. <><><><><> [GM] Payal actually looks taken aback. Her eyes widen slightly and she backs away. "You just died your first death last night?" She shakes her head. "Geoffrey." Her look is thoughtful. "I don't think I've had the pleasure of his acquaintance, unless of course he is using an alias. He is your mentor, then?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Elainne feels a twinge of surprise at the Payal's response. "Yes. I.... was knocked out during the explosion at the train station yesterday." She conveniently left out the part about being charred beyond recognition. She still had not quite come to grips with that part of her memory. "Geoffrey was kind enough to save me from the rubble.... and told me about you all. We've only just met each other, though. so I would hardly call him my mentor." She paused, but Payal did not answer her as quickly as she had expected. "So, uh.... what about you. How long have you been one of... us?" <><><><><> [GM] "Long enough," Payal replies with narrowed eyes and a slight smile. She continues pacing the tiny room, looking you over as if you're playing cat-and-mouse. She leaves no room for doubt, you're the mouse. "You ask for my suggestions.....I would suggest, if this Geoffrey is not your mentor, you find one. I do not know why you are so eager to go to the front, but here you are safe. Out there-" she gestures at the world beyond, "you are an untrained fledgling, in a world at war. Easy prey. You will not keep your head long if you go wandering about pretending the life you knew continues uninterrupted." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ The woman's fluidity left Elainne feeling a bit skittish. It was all too strange to have to watch this strange woman wander the floors so aimlessly, but there seemed a definite method to her madness. The wariness she felt initially refused to go entirely away, no matter what amount of rationalization she tried. A quick flush of color rose to her cheeks. "Uh, look, Miss.... Payal.... I'm still trying to get all this straight." So much for brazen self- confidence. Her words came out quickly enough, she was lucky she had not yet tripped them up. "I just don't get this 'prey' idea. And, you talk about my being 'untrained' in a 'world at war?'" She chews on her lip rather vigorously for a bit before continuing. "I still haven't decided if I subscribe to all this or not. I mean...... swords?!? This is the twentieth century. At least, last I checked it was. I mean, I appreciate the advice and all, but...." It dawned on her how utterly insane it all seemed. She took a deep breath and slowed down her speech. "Look. I'm a doctor. I'm a simple, home town doctor. I want to go out into the world to make a difference. This whole thing with the train station just threw a big loop into those plans, but I can't see giving them up on a whim. I'm enjoying this. It intriques me. But....really." By now, she had confused herself beyond all hope -- and that was generally a relatively tough thing to do with her analytical mind. But, then again, things lately just were not quite what they usually were. She hung her head murmured softly. "I don't know. If I need a trainer, I need a trainer. If not, then I suppose I'm committing myself to something that will get me committed. I can't win either way. I just don't like the feeling that people are toying with me." She gave Payal a pointed look with those words and fell silent. <><><><><> [GM] "A doctor? How delightful!" Payal smiles, with genuine delight, and a little amusement. "I was a simple water-bearer. Things do change, little sister. And this may be the twentieth century for you, but those of us born in earlier centuries do not relinquish our hold on bygone years so easily." She smiles slyly at you again, as she moves for the door. "It does not matter whether you subscribe to....'all this'....or not. It is. While you are deciding, 'all this' may well come looking for you. Be prepared, little sister. Do not lose your head." She exits, but you can hear her voice, tinged with that exotic accent, drifting softly down the hall. "If you came to me, I would mentor you."