A Tavern.....((Open to all))

[EternalSufferin]

"What were you doing?" A very simple question asked by her. However it was made that much more difficult since he himself had been asking it repeatedly since he woke up.

"I don't remember, Lakai, I thought it was just a dream." He stated, what he thought was the obivious answer was not so obvious when he looked at her petite arms wrapped around the blood stained linens. "I guess it was more." he finished, looking back down into his soup.

A few moments of quiet had passed as she continued to strip and remake the bed for him. The sounds of her footsteps, motions and movements of her clothes that draped over her frame. It was then, her next question took him by most surpise.

"What did you just ask me?" Eternal asked, looking up from his soup, the spoon falling to his lap. "Have we met?" she repeated quietly stepping back a few steps after looking into the depths of his grey eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Eternal told her quietly calming his spirit and voice alike.

I, think i've seen your face before, Lakai, I just don't know, you seem very familiar to me."

It was at that very moment, that breif second in time he wondered if her coming to the tavern and his dream were part of something greater, or just coincidene. He quickly shook those thoughts from his head, not wanting to assume the worst in anyone.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Lakai frowned. “As you do to me,” she told him, shrugging her shoulders as she made her way to the door. “I need to soak these in cold water and bleach. When you’re done eating, do you mind bringing the tray and the dishes down with you?”

He acknowledged that he would and Lakai opened the door, balancing the linens on her hip. She turned to gaze back at him. “I’ve never been here before. I don’t remember your face, but I feel your essence. I know of you, but I don’t know who you are or why I feel a familiarity to you that I cannot recognize. It is unsettling.”

Again she shrugged her shoulders, and sighed. “Perhaps we’ll figure it out together. Perhaps not. But right now I have to make sure I don’t lose my place here. I don’t know how long they’ll let me stay.”

Lakai smiled softly and stepped out, closing the door behind her. Immediately she pressed herself to the wall next to the door and sighed. Her body relaxed and she molded herself to the wood, taking on its dark wooden color. Her clothing and the bedsheets she held blended with her and she felt the calm of being one with nature’s elements wash over her. When she was ready to move again, she concentrated on separating herself and began to walk away.

Once in the kitchens, dropping the soiled sheets into the large tub and filling it with icy cold water and a cup of liquid bleach.

 

[EternalSufferin]

He continued to lean back in his chair as she walked out the door. He really didn't think of to much to say to her after her last comments about finding out indeed what familiarity was between them. He couldn't bring himself to drink the beer, it was to early in the afternoon for another. He loved to drink, but he also knew his limits.

Finishing up his soup, he stood to grab a fresh shirt. Throwing it quickly on he grabbed the tray, dishes and rushed madly for the door. He was as much curious about where she had come from and more importantly what she might know about his dreams.

He looked around the tavern for her, eyes scanning head moving but he still couldn't find her. Assuminig she just went into the kitchen and that being his final destination any how, he just went in and saw her standing next to the icy cold water, the smell of bleach filling his nose.

"Ugh." he commented, placing his plates and other dishes down next to the sink. Leaning against it, he really had only one question on his mind.

"My essence, what do you mean by that?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Adewen got up off the porch swing and carried her empty plate and Dr. Pepper can back inside. She tossed the can in the trash and washed her plate off in the sink. It was only noon but she knew she would need to get some rest before she had to go into work this evening.

She decided to lay down on the couch rather than go upstairs to her room. Turning on the tv she switched it over to 80's rock music and curled up to sleep.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Lakai jumped and covered herself with bleach and water. “Damn!” she hissed, grabbing a cloth and wiping at her clothes. It was too late though, she’d managed to once again ruin something that had been given to her. The bleach, though diluted, still ran the color from her blouse. She tossed the towel back onto the shelf and placed her hands on her hips. “What?” she asked, her voice as well as her stance showed her displeasure at being spooked.

“My essence,” he repeated.

She licked her lips and shrugged her shoulders. “Poor choice of words. I guess,” she turned back to the sink and swished the water around, her gaze refusing to meet his. “You just seem familiar is all. Like . . . deja vu? Maybe that’s it. Not about this place, though I’ll admit even this place seems familiar to me, but you in particular.”

She pulled the plug and then ran cool water over the linen, letting it flow through the material. She watched the blood, now a dull pink swirl and then slide down the drain. Her gaze concentrated it on and she found herself lost in a daydream.

There was a man, his body splayed out, another man and a woman stood over him. Their gloved hands were covered in blood and flesh. Screams seemed to echo in her head and she shuddered violently. She’d seen it all, blended into the rocks that made up the walls of the lab. It had been dark and cold, moist and vile. Yet, she’d stood there and watched, not once did she come to the man’s aide. Nor did she see his face. Was it Eternal?

She turned and stared at him. Her face pale and her fingers trembling. She swallowed and then shivered as she brought herself out of her trancelike state. “I’m sorry. I really need to change.”

Lakai hurried out of the kitchen, leaving Eternal and his searching eyes behind. She darted back outside to search for something to replace the blouse she’d ruined. “I’ve never changed so damn much in one day as I have today,” she muttered to herself as she plucked a shirt from the line and peeled the wet one off, quickly dragging the other on in its place.

 

[EternalSufferin]

Eternal didn't know whether to be nervous, scared, or worried at the way she jumped when he spoke to her. Her response nerving to say the least but the way she acted afterwards made him even more concerned, not for him, but for her. What was it she saw he wondered, he noticed though breifly the vacant expression of one that was lost in some sort of dream or trance.

He let out a sigh and turned his head, eyes scanning the kitchen still wondering what happened. He quite frankly didn't know whether to run after her or just let her come to him, he was never good like that in judging people at all.

She seemed friendly enough when they met, he found himself thinking. Even despite the scars that burned across his face and chest, she never flinched, never made him feel akward until his very moment.

He mumbled to himself as he went back into the main tavern area, the people starting to fill in as the afternoon slowly turned into the evening. It seemed like days had already past them by since he's been back, but only a few short hours had it really been. He spotted Joe doing his normal routine, washing the dishes, tending to the people that sat at the bar.

He plopped quietly into his seat, unable to get anything out of his mind other then her reaction. Despite numerous attempts by Joe, nothing seemed to faze him until the sound of a slamming fist it the old bartop.

"Eternal damnit pay attention" Joe yelled, causing a few patrons to turn his direction along with his own.

"Sorry Joe, what's up?" Eternal mumbled.

"You need anything?" Joe asked, rubbing the towel across his hands in a make shift way to clean them.

"No, i'm good. Lakai took care of everything." Eternal told him. "I think she'll work out fine for you old friend." Eternal said, finishing the rest of his thoughts.

"Good." Joe responded, automatically putting a beer down in front of him.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Adewen woke and groned softly as she streatched. Her body ached a little from sleeping on the sofa for so long. Sitting up she ran her finger's thru her hair and looked up at the clock on the wall.

Damn just enough time to get ready and head for work. Adewen went to her room and changed into a clean pair of jeans and a white tank top over which she wore a brown vest. Making sure the key to the desk was tucked up safely in her top dresser drawer so as not to lose it.

After running a brush thru her hair and pulling it back into a ponytail she grabbed some clean socks out of the dresser in her room slipping them on along with her boots.

Her uniforms stayed at work and were washed there along with a pair of tenashoes as it was just easer to change in the restroom there than it was anything else.

Dressed and ready to go Adewen made her way out the front door and paused for a moment.. who ever lost the daggers might go looking for them and she didnt want anyone snooping around her house while she wasnt there.. so she went back in and grabbed the front door key off the hook on the wall and slipped it into her back pocket.

Making sure the house was locked up she made her way thru the woods past the cemetary and down the dirt path into town. Crossing the street she made her way to the bar and opened the door in time to see Joe smack his fist down on the table and tell Eternal to pay attention.

Adewen glanced at the clock on the wall and smiled glad she was on time and just waved at Joe as she walked by slipping into the kitchen so she could clock in before heading to the restroom to change into her uniform.

Insted she stood there frozen by the time clock for what seemed forever unable to beleave what her eyes were telling her.. She watched as a young woman entered the kitchen from the back door muttering to herself..and nearly begain to cry.. it couldnt be.. Lakai ?.. My God Lakai ?? is it really you ? Where have you been??

Adewen stepped forward reaching out as if to embrace her but stopped still unable to beleave she wasnt immagining things. Lakai was the only one she had shared her gifts with and she had never stopped wondering what had happend to her.

They had been planning to meet at Adewens home to practice there gifts and help each other gain better control, but Lakai never showed up and no one had seen her again for a long time now.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Lakai was disappointed when she returned to the kitchen and saw Eternal was gone. She told herself she shouldn’t be sad because he made her feel uncomfortable. . . in more ways than she cared to think of. Instead she readied herself to begin whatever chores Joe would have her do. She put dishes away, washed counters, swept the floor and was just about to begin rearranging the shelves when a woman walked in and called her name.

Lakai watched her advance, her arms outstretched and her face contorted with a mask of confusion, relief, and curiosity. Lakai stepped away, her own gaze shifting from fear to worry. Her brow furrowed as the woman continued to stare at her. Lakai’s eyes ran the full length of the other person and she stopped to stare inquisitively at her face. “You know me?” she asked.

Licking her lips Lakai sat the towel down and cocked her head to one side. “How do you know me?” her fear was clearly audible in her voice. “Everyone seems to know me. . .yet. . .I know no one.”

Her fingers shook and she curled them into tight fists. Her lower lip trembled and she wanted to run, but here was someone who could help her. . .couldn’t they? Then again, wouldn’t Joe and the woman who had given her the clothes. “Please. . .if you know anything about me and why I am here, or how I got here, please. . .please tell me!” Her voice was now laced with concern as she stared back at the face that seemed familiar, but yet. . .not.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Adewen wasnt sure what to say there was so much to tell her if she truly didnt remember. She wanted to close the distance and hug her close just so she knew Lakai was real and not part of her immagination, but stayed where she was afraid that she would dissapear again.

Its me Adewen.. we were friends. I dont know what happend to you.. you dissapeared.. We went to school together, and you we were supposed to meet at my house but you never made it there.. Adewen let some of the tears she was holding go and wiped them away knowing they wouldnt help ether of them figure things out.

I dont know what happend to you but i can tell you about your parents, ohh god Lakia...are you really standing here or am i immagining this?? Adewen couldnt resist any longer she had to move closer to touch her and know she was really there.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Lakai watched the stranger reach out and touch her. She allowed the casual brush of fingertips to run along her arm. A shiver ran up her spine, goosebumps formed on her flesh and a shot of fear rolled through her stomach. She jerked away and stepped back. “I don’t remember you. I’m sorry. I don’t remember this place, but it is obvious people know me here. . .well, except that man Eternal. He looks as lost as I do. . .well. . .sorta.”

She remembered that Joe knew him, which meant that Eternal was known by the people in this place too. What of Adewan did she know Eternal too? She glanced cautiously at her. “I think there is a lot to this place that needs explaining.”

A frown crossed her face as she walked back to the shelves she had been about to organize. She had every intention of ignoring the woman, but knew it wasn’t in her nature, and besides maybe this stranger, who claimed her to be a friend could help her sort her life out. Turning back she faced Adewan. “Tell me what you know, later tonight. Right now I should see if I’m needed anywhere else. I don’t know why they are letting me stay here, but they are. Until I know who my enemies are and who my friends are, I can’t really step on anyones’ toes.”

She pulled an apron from a peg on the wall and tied it around her waist. Smiled shyly at Adewan and left the room. She approached Joe, her eyes casting a quick glace around the room, the resting briefly on Eternal. Her skin grew warm as she remembered seeing him earlier and how she’d reacted to him. The strange pull was there, just as it had been with Adewan. She swallowed the lump in her throat and then asked Joe what he wanted her to do next.

“Just take orders and serve meals. When we need you, we’ll let ya know.” She frowned, but said nothing more as she went about the tavern and waited on what few people had flittered in during the last few minutes.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Adewen watched sadly as Lakai pulled away, but didnt move to follow she was real it wasnt her immagination playing tricks. She simply nodded her head agreeing with her about what she had said unable to trust herself not to cry if she spoke.

It was heart breaking to see her friend and reolize that she didnt know you or anyone else and it was going to be even harder for Adewen to tell her that her parents had left town because her dissaperance had been to hard on them, and that as far as Adewen knew no one knew how to find them, but she would do her best to fill in the blanks and awncer any questions she had.

After Lakai left the room Adewen moved to the time clock and clocked in, Lakai was right about one thing Joe would kick her butt if she didnt get to work..

Adewen stepped into the bathroom and changed into her uniform, and tenneshoes folding her cloths neatly and placing them out of the way in the back area, before moving out to take orders from the people in the tavern.

She smiled at Lakai when she saw that Joe was having her help out with the orders and kept her distance so that she could give Lakai some room to try and figure out how she felt about Adewen and what little she had been told hopping that she still would want to talk later.

She also noticed Eternal sitting in what seemed to be his own barstool up at the bar and remembered that Joe had told her to let him be unless he spoke to her first. She noticed he seemed to have some fresh wounds and wondered if she should offer to heal them, but decided she'd better follow Joes advice insted, besides the only person here who knew about her abilitys didnt even remember her.

 

[EternalSufferin]

Eternal sat quietly and drank his ale, looking around the room as he did he noticed he caught the eye of Lakai but only for a breif moment. He wondered if he had frightened her or scared away with the way she burst in, but right now to him none of that really mattered.

First and foremost on his mind was getting a few things back in line then heading back out to find his blades. He remembered throwing them when he was at the woods line and deep down inside he really hoped that no one picked them up.

Looking around the room even more he contemplated more food, but his stomach was still very full from eating just a little while ago. Eternal just finished up his ale and put the glass down on the bar top and headed for the door.

"Where ya heading now, Eternal?" Joe asked, inquisitively.

"I need to find my blades, Joe." he answered.

"I left them out in the woods somewhere." he finished, as he reached the door and began to head out.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Hearing Eternal's reply to Joe as he headed out the door Adewen nearly bumped her head on the underside of the table she was cleaning. Some guys date had gotten pissed and dumped it all over him before stalking out, and the guy had gone to the restroom to clean up.

She wondered if she had heard him right over the music that was playing but knew she had. Should she tell him that she had found them.. what did he need with them anyway.. for that matter why did she care. If they were his they were his...

Standing up making sure to watch her head Adewen walked over to where Joe stood handing him the dirty rags to toss in the barral behind the bar for washing later. Joe gave her the look.. you know the one that always says spill it.. start talking.. Adewen took a deep breath and let Joe know that she may have found Eternal's blades in the woods on her way home yesterday, but she wasnt sure if they were his or not they could be anyone's...

Joe told her change clock out and go find Etrenal if she had found his blades they wernt safe for her a human to have.. Adewen nodded and quickly changed out of her uniform and back into her clothing from before. Seeing Lakai's curious gaze as she headed for the door she made a quick stop to speak with her. I am sorry about having to leave early something has come up..

Grabbing a napkin off of one of the nearby tables Adewen wrote down directions on how she could get to her house and handed it to her. If you still want to talk later here is my adress and directions on how to get there. She said and after Lakai took it she smiled and left.

Now to find Eternal.. did he have any idea where he had lost them at, or was he serching at random thru the woods?? Adewen had no idea.. but figured her best place to start was where she had found them near the cemetary and work her way back twords town.. and hope she find him.

She shivered slightly wondering if he would be greatful for her finding them or pissed off..well only one way to find out she thought, and started moving.

 

[EternalSufferin]

Eternal felt the presence of someone or something. He looked around the forest but still couldn't see much of anything, espcially the one thing he had come into it for. He knew that he had a choice to make, either hide or take on whatever it was that followed him into the forrest. Choosing the first of the options, he found a nearby tree and just stood quietly behind it.

Every so often he peered through it, until that someone came into view. He shook his still very weary head and wondered what she was doing out here, she shoudl be at work, joe was going to be pissed. Eternal kept thinking.

He could feel her footsteps getting closer to him, so he turned the corner and stared into her face. The look of worry already played across her brow as she looked back at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, quietly arms folding across his broad chest.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Adewen hadnt expected him to step out of what seemed to her for a moment to be thin air, and stumbled a little. Tho she quickly recovered herself and looked up at him standing infront of her with his arms crossed, and again she wondered how pissed he would be that she had possably found his daggers.

I heard you say that you lost some daggers in the woods, and Joe sent me to tell you about my finding a couple of blades on my way home yesterday. She paused there for a moment and then continued trying to decided what his reaction was but couldnt tell as he simply held him self still waiting for her to finnish speaking. There at my home if you'd like to see them and find out if there yours. I'll lead the way.. she said and started to move around him in the direction of her house trying not to show how nervious she was about having him near her.

He didnt seem as scary in his looks as he had the night before, but that didnt mean he wasnt dangerious.. Joe had her some what confused as to wether she should be on guard or not around him. On one hand she didnt think Joe would send her out into the woods with him if he would harm her, but on the other hand he had also cautioned her to leave him be as well.. Ahhh well if she learned anything about Joe he had his reasions for everything.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

She watched Eternal leave and then Adewan quickly dart out. A puzzled expression crossed her features as she took Adewan’s address and pushed it into the pocket of her apron. She thought of following them, but knew she wasn’t in a position to just abandon the tavern and all its customers, though the numbers were few.

Lakai went back to work, eventually getting the jists of being a waitress. She wondered if during some lifetime she hadn’t waited on tables, but she couldn’t recall anything from her past that would point in that direction. In time she made her way back to Joe and watched him work the bar, taking care of a patron when needed, but nevertheless always finding herself back by his side.

“What do you know of me?” she asked, catching herself off guard. She bit her lip, wondering what in the world she’d asked the question for.

Joe turned and frowned. “I know plenty, as does Casey and Adewan. Eternal does, but he doesn’t realize it, just as you don’t realize how you know him. . .then again if you were meant to know these things, you wouldn’t be asking me questions, would you?”

Lakai frowned at Joe’s words. “You don’t make a lot of sense,” she muttered, grabbing a towel and beginning to wipe down the bar.

Joe chuckled and Lakai grinned. “You’re room will be across the hall from Eternal’s. Three meals a day, all the snacks you could imagine and two drinks on the house every night, other than that you’ll have to use your tips and wages to make up for any clothing or allowances you’ll want. Don’t worry Lakai, your memory will return. You’re here because They want you here. If They didn’t have a reason. . .then you wouldn’t have been allowed to escape. Now finish up cleaning a few of those tables.”

Lakai understood she’d been dismissed with more questions playing on her mind than answers.