Home Front 1942: The Second Act

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

"Who was he Toni? Was he a ghost?"

A ghost. Was it? Toni hadn't thought she would ever cross paths with him again after... She saw the suspicion in Jack's eyes and heard the... what was it? in his voice. Raising her hand to his face, she traced his jawline with her fingertips. "His name is... "

"What happened? Don't try and hide it! I know something happened to Maisy. I could see it in your face."

Frankie's desperate, almost hysterical, voice and his hand on her arm, spinning her around stopped Toni from answering. "Hold on there, Tiger. Mrs. Taylor says Doc Johnson is seeing to her now and that she seems... quiet." Toni placed her hands on either side of her brother's face and stared into his eyes.

"Look, Frankie. I know you're worried. But you have to know that if it were anything really bad, Maisy would be in the hospital, not in her bed at home. Right?" She squeezed his cheeks for emphasis. "We'll go see her first thing tomorrow before I go to the office. Okay? Okay?"

For the second time that evening, Toni smiled quietly over her brother's shoulder at the man she had come to love so deeply. "C'mon," she said with a tilt of her chin. "Let's take Frankie home."

 

[Gareman]

As I hurry away from the small tavern, I feel the emptiness return. Seeing Toni again was difficult enough...seeing her with another man was agonizing.

Walking briskly, I begin to wonder why I had returned. This place has never been anything but trouble for me and yet, something has drawn me back. The "something" was really a "someone" but I would not admit that to myself just yet. Emotion had no place in my life. It never had so why should I let it now?

As I walk through the darkness, my mind begins to fill with images of Toni. Her soft lips pressing against mine. The smoothness of her skin as my rough hands slide over the full breasts I had come to enjoy. Her long thin legs opening...allowing me to move between and position myself to penetrate her warmth...

God...what was I doing to myself!!!

She obviously had found someone else!!

Maybe it would be best if I just slipped quietly away in the night. Finding a new place and maybe another woman who could make me feel that way....

But that was never my style now was it? I would never forgive myself for quitting so easily. At least not until I've had a chance to speak with her again...

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Colonel Thor

The dim yellow headlights on my jeep (blackout restrictions had been eased in the last few months) picked out the last mile of the road to town. It had been, literally, months since I had visited the town. The demands of commanding a B-17 training wing and also flying training missions seemed to occupy every waking hour. I let my mind wander, remembering the brief affair I had had with a young girl from town......

'Enough, Thor...you really can't repeat that. What kind of example would you be? You even give lectures on the proper way to behave with civilians'

As I entered town I tried to decide where to go - or even if I should just turn around and drive the 30 miles back to my base.....

 

[Tibxo]

Frank Jnr

"No!" Frank says sharply, pulling away from his sister.

"You sure, Frankie? We don't mind going home with you." She offers.

We. The word reminds him that Jack is with them. He feels like a third wheel.

"I'm okay." He replies. "You two stay here, I fancy being on my own for a bit."

"She is going to be okay, Frankie." Reaffirms Toni.

"I know." Replies the boy, almost bitterly. "I'll see ya later." And walks away and out of the bar before his sister can say another word...

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor...

Marie walked without really looking where she was going, or caring for that matter. Once again, like a mantra in her mind she wished desperately that her husband Edward was back home. He would know what to do. She just didn't.

Maisy... my sweet child... what happened to you?

What should she do now? What did she think she could do?

She stepped out to cross the street and failed to see the jeep until the lights had her caught in their twin beams. She stood dumbly staring at the lights as they stopped abruptly, with a screech, just moments before reaching her. She felt her heart racing and a little unsteady she realised how stupid she had been. What if she'd been killed? Who would take care of Maisy then?

A man got out of the car and approached her. He was huge. Well, he seemed huge to her at that very moment. Her heart pounding again with a different kind of fear until...

"Are you ok? You just stepped out onto the street, I can't believe I almost hit you."

His hand reached forward and grasped her arm to steady her. At that very moment she crumbled. She pressed herself against the comforting chest and sobbed. Through her tears she had the idea she should explain herself. She mumbled apologies and tried to draw away and compose herself but his arms held her firmly and she heard him shush her calmly. The tension that had been engulfing her slowly dissipated until she felt she could speak coherently again.

"I... I'm so sorry..." she muttered glancing shyly up at him. She bit at her lowly lip worryingly and finally recognised whom she had embarrassed herself in front of, the Colonel, from the base. Heat flushed her cheeks as she recognised him.

"Colonel Thor, oh goodness, I'm so... it's just that Maisy... and the other day with Deacon... and then Edward." She finally stopped herself from stammering onwards. "I, I just must apologise, please forgive me." She looked down at her feet suddenly unable to look at him. She searched helplessly in her purse for something to dry her eyes. She could feel herself losing her calm again. God, what was the matter with her today?

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Colonel Thor

screechhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...... I slapped the brakes on as a figure just wandered into the street in front of me. I jumped out of the jeep, hoping against hope that I had not hit the person. I reached out and the person.....a woman....just collapsed into my arms and began to shudder and cry. Like most men, tears confused me. I just held her, patting her shoulder gently.

"Colonel Thor, oh goodness, I'm so... it's just that Maisy... and the other day with Deacon... and then Edward." She finally stopped herself from stammering onwards. "I, I just must apologise, please forgive me."

She began to fumble in her purse. A light came on and I pulled my olive drab hankerchief (clean, thank heavens) out of my pocket and offered it to her. "You have the advantage of me. You know me, but I do not, I am sorry, know you."

She had me completely confused, babbling about people I had never met.... 'I never realized that a scare would cause this kind of trauma.'

 

[Messalina]

Grace Anderson

"Come on in, Cap." Opening the door, Grace pushed the button on the wall beside it. The small living room was suddenly bathed in warm light from a lamp near an antimacassar-covered sofa. A braided rag rug in the center of the room served as a showcase for an ageless hound who raised his head at their entrance.

"Hiya, Barney" she said softly, leading the way toward the kitchen. Barney, still tired from his latest nap, gave a wag and went back to sleep. "He'll be fifteen next month. We got him for Mike when he was just a pup. He keeps me company now that I'm alone."

Embarrassed that she might have sounded like one of those lonely widow ladies from her church group, Grace was glad her face was in the shadows and her back to him as she gave the pull string on the overhead a yank.

"I'll get you patched up and your belly full in no time, Cap." She said pointing him toward a chair at the tin top kitchen table. "Sit. I'll be right back."

Hurrying to the bathroom, Grace opened the medicine cabinet and took down the bottle of Merthiolate, a small roll of tape and some gauze. "It's been a long time since I've patched up anyone's boo-boos, but I think I still remember how," she called out over her shoulder with a chuckle.

A long time indeed. She hadn't felt necessary in a very long while. Sure, she volunteered at the local hospital and old age home and did her bit for the War Effort, but there had been something missing in all of that. Something that had been missing since Benny... "Nonsense," she admonished herself, remembering to take a clean hand towel from the shelf.

Earl was still standing when she returned to the kitchen. "I thought I told you to sit?" she tut-tutted at him as she filled a basin with warm water and some soap to clean the scrapes on his hands.

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor...

"You have the advantage of me. You know me, but I do not, I am sorry, know you."

She had me completely confused, babbling about people I had never met.... 'I never realised that a scare would cause this kind of trauma.'

Marie took the proffered handkerchief gratefully and wiped her eyes. Finally able to look him in the eye she flushed pink at his words.

Of course he doesn't know you, he's a colonel, why would he know your name?

"I'm so sorry," she smiled now, a little shyly, "my name is Marie, Marie Taylor. Perhaps you know my husband, Edward Taylor? He works for the army now." She sighed even as she spoke, wishing again that she didn't feel so alone.

"Goodness, I've made a mess of your handkerchief, I'll wash it and have it returned to you. I can't apologise enough, silly of me to walk out onto the street like that. The town is so much busier than it used to be." She looked down at her hands, not quite sure what to do or say next.

"You're in town on business?" She finally queried, her slender fingers clutching at his handkerchief.

 

[captainb]

Earl Talbrut

Earl looked around at Grace’s kitchen. Its general layout somewhat similar to his, but that was as far as the resemblance went. The touches of life, the feminine touches, stood out clearly, as did the unmistakable cleanliness of the place. He hadn’t thought much about his own house. It served him well enough, he’d become a passable cook when pressed, but never bothered much with any deep cleaning because he’d just never seen it. This was… comfortable. Somehow that bothered him.

He turned back to the living room and bent down next to the hound. “Hello Barney,” he said, scratching the dog’s head. Barney’s nose rose to sniff at the offered palm, and his scraggly tail thumped against the floor as the man rubbed behind his ears. Earl hadn’t figured Grace to have a dog, but was glad she did. He hadn’t had the time recently to care for one and had never replaced Spike, not wanting to leave an animal home alone during his long shifts.

He heard Grace’s footsteps and stood up, walking back to the kitchen in time to meet her. He sat at the table, feeling very much the guest. She sat the basin of water on the table and took his right hand, the one that had scraped along that punk’s jaw. He was quiet as she cleaned him up. He had flushed at her touch (grow up, for Pete’s sake!), but the warm water and gentle rubbing of the soapy cloth was soothing. “I haven’t had anyone wash me since I was a kid,” he attempted to joke, then stared into the dirty water. Well, that was one of the stupider things you could have said, he thought. He almost said something else to deflect her attention away from his words, then just sighed and relaxed, watching her as she dried his hand, applied some stuff from a bottle and began to wrap it in gauze.

“That’s a nice job, Grace, thank you,” he said seriously when she finished. She held his hands, turning them over to examine for anything she might have missed. She gave them a pat and looked up with a smile. His fingers closed over hers and her eyes seemed to grow larger. “I’m glad you were there tonight,” he said. A long moment stretched between them, and the tension in his shoulders suddenly eased. She was fine looking, he thought again, then corrected himself. No, she was pretty.

She broke eye contact first and quickly swept away the basin and first aid materials. “Would you like a drink?” she asked. “Maybe some iced tea?”

He looked around the kitchen again, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He flexed his fingers under the bandage. “That would be perfect,” he said. And he meant it.

 

[Yoc]

Frank Jnr

(OOC I am taking over the part from Tib).

Frustrated, Frank rushes off down the street. The fact that Maisy had been attacked and that she had turned to Deak is tearing him apart.

Why didn't she come to me? Why Deak?

He has no answer and not knowing why hurts him.

Mebbe it's best I do go. If she doesn't trust me!

Turning a corner, he sees Mrs Taylor standing in the street talking with some army officer. He pauses, pondering whether or not he should go over and ask about Maisy. For a moment, he is going to turn and ignore her but he wants to know how Maisy is.

And is she still with Deak?

Why does he feel funny about Deak?

Having decided, he steps off the pavement and moves towards them.

 

[ariosto]

It was a long walk up to Toni's house but the weather was mild and tonight at least there had been no blackout drill to cut off the towns street lights.
The big house was dark, but a small light burned in an upstairs bedroom.
Toni turned to Jack and inspite of the nights drama managed a small smile.
"Mom's entertaining tonight it seems. Sorry Jack, I thought she'd be at the Taylors."

"Carmody?"
He put his arm around her and hugged.

"Yep, Old John Carmody...quite a couple huh?"
They turned away from the house and walked back out onto the street.
"The war makes strange bed fellows...look at you and me!"
In spite of finding the Moore home occupied and unavailable, Jack was still elated at discovering Toni's 'date' was her brother!
Of course that still left the sailor at the bar...

"Come on,"
She grabbed his hand.
"Let's go get a burger at the Diner, I bet your starving!"

His hand cupped her breasts...
"Man does not live by bread alone m'dear."

She laughed and kissed his cheek, then spun off down the hill.
"Hurry up slowpoke or they'll be all closed up!"

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Colonel Thor

"You're in town on business?"

"Actually, I drove in on a whim. I have not been to town in months, and I thought that I might see if my pilot trainees are behaving themselves."

I reached out for the handkerchief and my hand encountered hers....a slight jolt seemed to touch my fingers. 'Come on Thor,' I said to myself, 'lets not make a fool of yourself and embarrass the AAF.'

"Perhaps, Mrs. Taylor, I might give you a lift to apologize for almost running you down?"

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor...

Marie felt a tingle run down her spine as his hand brushed against hers. She looked up startled and for the first time looked him in the eye. Her eyes widened as she felt something stirring within her that she hadn't really felt in, oh so long. She suddenly realised how long it had been since she felt someone show a care for her.

"You know," she smiled and blushed prettily, "that would be nice. I was going to ask around town to see if anyone knew what had happened to..." she frowned as she recalled her daughter.

Honestly Marie, acting like a love-lorn teenager, what are you thinking? What about Maisy?

She sobered up quickly and frowned. "It's my daughter Maisy you see. She was badly beaten and she's home now sleeping, but I'm so worried. I thought maybe, someone in town might know what happened. She's in shock and won't speak to me. I just thought. I don't know..." She finished finally.

She glanced up to see Frank Jnr heading towards them. "Frank!" She waved before she even realised he was walking towards them already.

"Oh Frank!" She looked at him urgently. "Do you know what happened to Maisy? Were you there? What happened to her?" She asked. Frank looked surprised by her questions and then confused.

"I, I was going to ask you Mrs Taylor..."

"Me? I thought, oh dear, she came home hurt. That's all I know, Deacon didn't say a word. Just dropped her off and left. I just hurts me so to see her in pain and not know why or what happened?" She seemed to realise suddenly who she was talking to. Frank's face paled.

"Oh dear, I didn't mean, she's fine Frank. Really, Doc Johnson tended her and says she's going to be just fine. She's in shock, she's sleeping now, but I'm sure she'll want to see you tomorrow. Maybe you could...?" She trailed off helplessly feeling somehow inadequate and at the same time wished hopelessly that Frank had been there with Maisy, perhaps this wouldn't have happened if he had been.

 

[Yoc]

Frank Jnr

"Oh dear, I didn't mean, she's fine Frank. Really, Doc Johnson tended her and says she's going to be just fine. She's in shock, she's sleeping now, but I'm sure she'll want to see you tomorrow. Maybe you could...?" Maisy's mom tells him as they stand in the middle of the road. Standing next to them is the army guy.

"Yes, ma'am. I'll come around tomorrow." Greg politely replies with a fixed smile, trying to hide his disappointment that he cannot see her now even though he is relieved that his girl is okay.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

She sobered up quickly and frowned. "It's my daughter Maisy you see. She was badly beaten and she's home now sleeping, but I'm so worried. I thought maybe, someone in town might know what happened. She's in shock and won't speak to me. I just thought."

I stood in the road, feeling somewhat like I had come into the middle of act three of a three act play.

"Oh dear, I didn't mean, she's fine Frank. Really, Doc Johnson tended her and says she's going to be just fine. She's in shock, she's sleeping now, but I'm sure she'll want to see you tomorrow. Maybe you could...?"

She obviously knew the young man....'hell, everyone in Fair Harbor probably knows each other.'

I decided to keep my mouth shut and see what happened after the young man went on his way.

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor...

Marie turned back to Colonel Thor. She saw a man who took charge of a situation, someone who could be depended on. He had been so nice offering to driver her home.

She thought about Edward again and quickly shook the thought from her mind.

Smiling up at the Colonel, "perhaps, perhaps I could go with you to the diner. They serve food until late and I'm sure someone there could tell me what happened." She blushed again hoping she wasn't sounding too forward. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to be away from the Colonel just yet. A few more minutes in his company seemed so much better than worrying herself sick back at home.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Colonel Thor

"perhaps, perhaps I could go with you to the diner. They serve food until late and I'm sure someone there could tell me what happened."

I still was puzzled. I had no idea what had taken place, but perhaps I might be able to help. Besides, this is one attractive woman... 'and MARRIED, Thor....don't forget it.'

"Marie, I may call you Marie, I hope, I would love to have a bite to eat. I have been flying since dawn and it just occured to me that I have had nothing except coffee all day."

I took Marie's elbow and guided her to the Jeep that was still in the middle of the street. "This may not be fancy, but Uncle Sam makes them strong." For the first time in months, the burdens of command had, somehow, faded to the back of my mind.

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor

For the first time in a long time Marie felt safe and worry free. Colonel Thor's arm guiding her to the jeep seemed like the most natural thing in the world at the moment. Surely with him to help her someone would finally be able to explain what happened to Maisy.

Truth be told though, you simply like the idea of having a meal with him don't you? The taunting voice spoke in her head.

It's true, he's so nice, nicer than I thought he would be. Having seen him a few times at formal functions and the like, admittedly from afar. He always seemed so in control and so hard, unapproachable.

Sitting next to him now in his jeep as he competently drove them to the diner she found herself admiring the strength in his hands as he manoeuvred the steering wheel. Her mind almost strayed to what else they might be good at until she realised what she was thinking and blushed furiously, before forcing herself to think about Maisy. She couldn't believe she was even thinking such thoughts! He was a colonel and a gentleman and he'd be horrified if he knew what she'd almost thought about.

She wondered if perhaps there was something wrong with her. Was she a sexual deviant? Thinking about… well… she blushed again and shook the tell-tale thoughts from her mind. With determination she focused on her chosen task, finding out what had happened to her daughter.

 

[Yoc]

Frank Jnr

Leaving Mrs Taylor and the officer (a Colonel by the looks of it), Frank continues down to the waterfront, his mind still boiling inside his head. On the one hand, he is relieved that Maisy is alright but on the other, he wants to know what actually happened.

But no-one seems to know!

Going to the far end of the pier, Frank looks down onto the water's surface. Watching the moon's reflection ripple as water moves below him.

What can I do?

He knows what he wants to do and that is to see Maisy. But her mom told him to see her tomorrow.

Why was she with Deak?

That is a stupid question. He is her step-brother. They are bound to go out with together from time to time.

But why did she get hurt?

The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor brings his attention to where he is. Looking down the pier he sees a figure walking towards him. A figure he recognises...

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Colonel Thor

'JEEP, 1/4 Ton' was on a placard on the dash. I settled into the utilitarian seat and poked the starter button. 'GRINNNNDDDDDDDDDD' the noise was deafening! I almost blushed as I looked over at Marie and said, "Forgive me, I can fly a B-17 through a hurricane, but I can't seem to master this damned thing."

I finally found first gear and asked, "Which way, I have only been in Fair Harbor a couple of times?"

 

[Guest]

Marie Taylor...

Marie smiled, distracted by the grinding of the gears and Colonel Thor's charming admission about having trouble with the jeep even though he flew those huge planes.

She directed him down the simple streets to the diner and he found a parking space easily enough. Hardly anyone could afford to drive at the moment. Even if there had been a slight easing in restrictions. She found that he was immediately at her door to open it and help her out. She was grateful too as the step down from the jeep was rather high.

They walked together into the diner and Marie realised how long it had been since she'd stepped out into town for a meal. She was always at home taking care of Maisy and Deacon, she hadn't eaten at the diner in ages. She did recognise one of the waitress staff and smiled as she and Colonel Thor were directed to a cosy booth near the window facing the street.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

http://www.bibracte.dreamwater.org/ATWAS/Claire.jpg
Claire Fourrée


"I was saying, there seems to be a bit of a commotion in the town tonight. You don't by any chance know what's been going on, do you, miss Fourrée?"

Clare was awakened from her mental slumber by the clear cut words of this man. The awkwardness of the question wasn't has disconcerting as the utter blank that fell upon her. How long have I been slipping in and out of conscience? The question insinuated into her mind, baffled, as she turned her back to the naval officer, mechanically. It took her a minute to return bearing the lieutenant's order in her hands and her mind a little clearer (and it hadn't hurt hearing out some of the more blaring patrons' rather enthusiastic outbursts). It hurt her soul to listen to the sounds of uncompromised expectance coming from the unusually large crowd--a few more customers walk in, familiar faces, sympathetic smiles--whilst she's so deeply enveloped in sorrow, but life must go on.

"Here you go, Sean..."

Claire froze. The large coffeepot and the sandwich slipped off her suddenly weak hands. During the eternity it took the freefalling edible shrapnel bombs, every possible thought crossed Claire's mind, thoughts of dreams and mistakes and secrecy and miracles, mixed with the bittersweet realization that the man sitting in front of her, whose face she had only now, when returning with the coffee--describing weird hyperbolic trajectories, almost half way down to the floor--seen for the first time, despite the remarkable resemblances, this was not her Sean. The glass coffee filled bomb exploded on contact, ground-zero inches away from her feet.

Feeling the sting of a thousand bees on her legs, she looked down, an ever expanding shockwave of black liquid below her, now dotted in red. Claire had only time to murmur "I'm sorry" before losing her balance and leaning in towards Lt. Bronson, vertigo washing over.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

http://www.Bibracte.dreamwater.org/ATWAS/ritaplaid.jpg
"Last one there... " Toni called over her shoulder as she sprinted down the hill toward the diner.

The night air was cool on her face. Autumn had finally arrived in New England and she felt invigorated. It hadn't been like this in the city. Nothing had been what she was used to... Or expected. Tony... She hadn't expected to ever see him again and now, here he was in Fair Harbor.

The sound of Jack's footfalls gaining on her made Toni glance over her shoulder. She gave it her all, but it wasn't enough. His hand was on her and he spun her into his arms.

"Last one there what?" He asked with a grin, both of them gasping from the effort of the race.

Toni slipped her arms over the ex-boxer's sturdy shoulders as his encircled her waist. Her hand crept up the nape of his neck as she combed her fingers through his hair. Pulling his face closer, her lips sought his hungrily.

"Dessert," she murmured against his mouth. "The last one gets to choose... dessert."

"Is that right?" Jack asked with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Anything?"

"Anything," She replied with a laugh as she broke away and started running again.

Toni was already in front of the before she realized that she didn't hear him running to catch up. She looked back to see Jack grin and wave as he followed at a leisurely pace. "You said last one. Now why would I want to get there first?"

Toni stood still, hands on her hips, and began to laugh. "I didn't get that right, did I?" She held her hand out and waited for Jack to catch up. "C'mon Lover Man," she chuckled. "How 'bout we call it a tie?"

Jack held the door for Toni, his hand grazing over her bottom as she slipped past him. "No tie, babe. I'm last."

She grinned and slapped it away with a mock-shocked look just as Claire fainted into a customer's arms.

 

[Tibxo]

(OOC: Ignore this post).

 

[Yoc]

Frank Jnr

Staggering up to his feet, Frank leans against the pier's railings as he looks vacently down at the water. His mind reeling at what has just happened, he slowly starts to back away.

What have I done?

He can feel the panic welling up inside, threatening to overwhelm him. His mind replaying the events that have just happened.

Noooo!

Then he is running. His panic in full control as he runs blindly off the pier and into the street, almost being run over by a passing car.

"Dumb kid! Why dontcha look where ya going?" The driver rants through his window but Frank barely registers what he is saying or even what had almost happened. Instead he continues to run, his heart beating furiously in his chest, his head spinning. It is only when he has to pause for breath that he finds himself outside his home.

A few minutes later, he is sobbing in a corner of his bedroom.