[008]

[fortune_sought]

[despite the CAT malfunction, many of the residents may still hear the yelling of a certain witch, who is currently in a temper that's quite possibly even worse than upon her arrival. she appreciated the tea from Mu, but more time to think about her current problem has just made her even more frustrated than ever]

[at the moment, she is stomping toward the Botanical Gardens while hauling a bucket of what used to be watery fertilizer and is now, through generous use of her rage combined with her magical talents, some particularly potent weedkiller] I have had enough!

[she's not even properly into the gardens yet when she splashes a generous quantity of the substance on a topiary deer, turning it impressively brown and withered while also killing a huge swath of grass around it] HOW DARE YOU TRAP ME HERE! [and there goes part of a hedge] How dare you take me away from my husband--[some unsuspecting grass]--and bring me here when I--! [her voice catches, and she lets out a cry of frustration again, going at a topiary giraffe, though the splash only goes partway up its neck] I won't stand for it! Send me home this INSTANT! [she's utterly hysterical now and wildly flings weedkiller, killing a wide half-circle of grass and assorted flowers around her] You must! [she falters a little, her fear showing amidst her anger] You-you must!

Comments

[collector]

[Braxiatel steps up to Sophie, calm in the fury.] Sophie. You're only tiring yourself.

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie spins toward him, her eyes wild but also glistening. unfortunately, this move splashes even more weedkiller. you might want to watch your shoes, Brax]

I'm not going to sit and do nothing!

[collector]

[Braxiatel does indeed take a step back, and throw up a hand over his face just in case.] Of course not. We won't do nothing. We've done this before. We know how it works and we will do it better this time.

[fortune_sought]

[the grass just in front of Brax is now quite brown and dead]

[unfortunately, Sophie is a bit too hysterical for Brax's sound logic] I can't be here for months again!

[collector]

Not even one or two? [He... has his moments in failing spectacularly at these things.]

[fortune_sought]

Gah! [Sophie whirls on him, splashing more weedkiller in the vicinity, and stalks off to attack some more unsuspecting flora]

[collector]

[He follows her.] Wait, Ms Hatter--Sophie. Whatever troubles you, this isn't the way.

[fortune_sought]

[she stops at that, turning her head to look at him but still ready to resume her plant-killing at any moment. her eyes are welling up with tears by now, her voice quavering slightly but the tone as sharp as nails] And what other way have we?

[collector]

[He knows the tone and does not flinch.] Well, you could always finally get married--[a beat as he remembers what she said] Though perhaps that's not an option any longer. Unless I've been left very much in the dark.

[fortune_sought]

[the suggestion makes her angry, which unfortunately means she can no longer hold back her tears] No, it is not an option! Howl and I are very happy!

[collector]

I thought so. [Bravely, he takes a step towards her.] But it wouldn't just be your separation from Howl that has upset you.

[fortune_sought]

[it is brave because, as he starts to speak, she still looks ready to splash her bucket of weedkiller on anything and everything. however, she begins to deflate upon his approach, the arm holding the bucket going slack. she's crying harder now, sniffling valiantly as though that will somehow stop or hide it] Mr Braxiatel, I... [she fights back a sob, wondering how she said this so much more easily to Mu. but she was still in shock then and far calmer than she can stand to be now. still, it has to be said. she needs her friend] Howl and I...are going to have a baby.

[collector]

[He looks more than a little stunned.]

We will have you out of here before it's time. I'll do everything in my power for you both. Do you know how long?

[fortune_sought]

[shakes her head. she puts one hand to her abdomen in a reflexive gesture] Less than eight months. But I don't know... I've never... [her expression is desperate, the tears falling even harder now] Oh, what do I do?

[collector]

[Awkward, he takes another step towards her.] Frankly, Sophie, I don't know. But you're not an inconsiderable force yourself. We'll end this.

[fortune_sought]

[clutches the handle of the bucket more tightly. her voice, choked with both tears and anger again, sounds near hysterical] Which is why they need to know that I won't stand for this!

[collector]

[He stays calm in the face of it, but the frown is not so detached as it might have been before now.] I do think they've gotten the message by now. If they're listening, they have heard.

[fortune_sought]

Of course they're listening!

[she splashes the bucket a bit with her outburst, and much like the last time she engaged in this activity, she only narrowly misses pouring the corrosive liquid on her own shoes. frustrated, Sophie turns and throws the bucket at the topiary chihuahua, watching its destructive contents spread out over that area. she keeps her gaze on it, her lip trembling. she doesn't know what to say to Mr Braxiatel]

[collector]

[Now that it's safe, Braxiatel walks right over to her. And he embraces her.]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie stiffens, surprised by the embrace at first, but she quickly relaxes. it's a moment of terrible weakness for her, but Mr Braxiatel is one of the dearest friends she has in this place, so she embraces him back, the tears falling even harder and faster now]

If only Fanny were here, at the least... I'm sorry, Mr Braxiatel, but--[she sniffles]--I don't know where to start!

[collector]

[A little hesitantly, he strokes her hair. He does the gesture better now, now that he has practice doing it falsely. And now it's sincere.] My... best friend brought her child to term on the Collection. Well, he was born while she was being held prisoner in a glass prison run by human supremacists who intended on using her child for assorted malicious purposes, so I did miss out on Peter's actual birth. But I should be of some use up until that part.

[fortune_sought]

[that is both comforting and horribly disturbing, Brax. Sophie's tears slow, and she stills in his arms, asking--with no small amount of dread] Is the child safe?

[collector]

[There is a pause. That question...] I don't know. He was born safely and raised well for quite some time, but now I don't know if he even exists in the version of reality I left behind. It's... complicated.

[fortune_sought]

[letting his story ease her thoughts away from her own, she says quietly:] Yes, that sounds like it must be...

[Sophie pulls gently away from him then, struggling to recover her composure. she wipes at the tear tracks on her face, speaking in a much calmer tone now, though her voice still wavers a little] But I am glad to hear you know a bit about it. [she pauses, feeling extremely awkward after that show of rather polarised emotions. she has no idea what to say] ...thank you.

[collector]

[His practised, reassuring smile takes a moment to appear, but it is there for her.] Not at all. With you the mother, I doubt I'll be much needed for help.

[fortune_sought]

[she gives him a small, grateful smile, but she also fingers her hair in a nervous gesture. her anger is now fading back into simpler worry] Oh, I wish I could be so certain! I've had experience with Princess Valeria, but she's a fair bit older, and...well, I was only a child myself when Martha was born... [anxiously] Aren't there things you're meant to do now?

[collector]

I'm sure waving weedkiller around isn't one of them. But as it will be a while yet, no, there isn't much to be done presently, aside from ensuring that you don't fall on your stomach when you trip on the stairs.

[fortune_sought]

[don't knock the weedkiller! it's remarkably effective]

[fairly snaps] Of course I won't! [but she puts a hand to her head, trying to stay calm] But yes, I'll have to be careful, naturally. If that's all, then I'm certain I can manage. [she doesn't really sound certain, but she has at least stopped crying]

[collector]

[He doesn't mind the snapping, especially not now when she seems calmer.] The CATs can't always be trusted, but I can speak to Thete and we can try to construct a secondary communication system. It would allow you to contact me at any time.

[fortune_sought]

[curiously] Thete? [but she nods, grateful for the offer, though she by no means wants to sound quite as desperate as she feels] I would like that very much.

[taking another deep breath, she's finally starting to feel a bit more normal] I've also met another man in town--Mu. He says most of his experience is in healing spells, but he does know a bit about medicine, as well.

[collector]

The Doctor. It's what I called him when he was younger.

Do you trust Mu?

[fortune_sought]

...I see. [a little uncertainly] Are you going to tell him?

[blinks. she considers that for a moment] Yes, I suppose I do. He was concerned that I looked ill from the beginning, and he's been nothing but kind. He gave me advice, and also made tea for me when I told him that I...well, about my condition.

[collector]

Tea? He must be a good sort. [That's all the character reference Brax needs!]

[fortune_sought]

[smiles a little at that--in a slightly long-suffering manner] As I said, I think so as well.

But Mr Braxiatel, please. Do you mean to tell the Doctor? Because...well, I suppose in that case I must tell him first myself... [though she doesn't look terribly pleased at the idea]

[collector]

I won't say anything if you don't wish me to. Keeping secrets is something of a speciality.

[fortune_sought]

[considers that for a moment] Thank you, but... [sighs] I suppose I should tell him in any case. [he was very concerned about her when they were switching traits, after all]

[collector]

It's in your hands entirely, Ms Hatter.