dot.
Dotting in. So, should I craft a loose-fitting alias?
Yes.
This is JABIII, whaddya think?
This is JABIII, whaddya think?
Looks good. Though I would prefer to keep Nicholas Cage out of this story. lol
LOL, was the least Fantasy human avatar I could tolerate.
This is Pesha. How's my guy look? Arthur's eyes are following me...
My eyes follow everyone...
I am a Scooby doo picture it seems, lol
This is Pesha. How's my guy look? Arthur's eyes are following me...
Fitting.
let's move chit chat to discussion or recruitment.
Hope my guy's not too off putting.
Hope my guy's not too off putting.
It is fine. Now we wait for the final person.
I'll give this fourth person a couple more days. If nothing shows up then I'll run it with three. That would work too.
Dotting in!
Let us begin.
Large oak trees surround you as you stand at the bottom of a large green grassed hill. Stone steps leading up the hill are before you. You go slowly up the many steps to see a large house waiting. It has a almost fantastical way about it, like something you would see in a book of fairy tales. It is a beige color with many vines climbing the walls. A warm light shines though the numerous round windows. The large wooden front door, almost has a crooked way about it. you can see the roof is made up of dark red tiles. As you turn the brass door knob and push open the door, light from inside spills out of the house and surrounds you with a warm gentleness. And a soft female voice saying "Welcome friends."
You then wake up. It is early morning the sunlight pours into the town of Porter giving it a very inviting presence. The dream you awoke from is not a new one. It has been the only thing you have dreamed of for the past week or so. You do know of a large woods full of oak trees on that surrounds Porter, with many roads cutting through it. But that house. That house is something you have not seen in the waking world before...
How will you start your day?
I yawn loudly and wander groggily into the bathroom, the afterglow of the dream still fresh.
Thirty minutes later I'm speeding into town to work on my bike, the voice from the house still echoing in my ears and the image of that strange house lingering at the corners of my vision.
My master key to the town library catches in the lock and a flash of anger blinds me for a moment, my senses weirdly amped today...
I yawn loudly and wander groggily into the bathroom, the afterglow of the dream still fresh.
Thirty minutes later I'm speeding into town to work on my bike, the voice from the house still echoing in my ears and the image of that strange house lingering at the corners of my vision.
My master key to the town library catches in the lock and a flash of anger blinds me for a moment, my senses weirdly amped today...
"Good morning, Arthur." A high pitched voice calls from behind you. You know this voice belongs to a young woman named Amanda local bookworm and frequent visitor of the Porter library. "Having a little trouble?" she then asks simply.
"One of those days,"the anger ebbs away and I manage a wide smile,"Good morning, Amanda."
As if nothing was wrong before, the key easily does its job and the large wooden door creaks open.
"Ladies first, madame,"I say genuinely,"You know the routine."
Amanda arrives before I open fairly often so I usually give her free reign of the place while I sort through the small stack of mail, strangely infrequent email requests from town hall (usually newspaper articles), and any books turned in the return bin (my only genuine contribution to this place since I moved here.)
I reach the return bin, a few books are properly bound and lying on the cushioned bottom haphazardly while a number of them are simply splayed out, their pages ruffled and visibly bent or folded.
"Damnit,"I mutter as I frown deeply and begin righting the mess,"Simple instructions always seem hardest to follow."
Francis begrudgingly rose from bed. The dream was odd, but its insistent recurrence was what disturbed him. Having nothing better to do, and not wishing to remain in bed Francis rose, showered, and dressed. He left his apartment thinking to treat himself this morning to his most favorite of all foods. Pancakes. The greatest food ever created. It would give him time to think about the dream, and then afterward perhaps he would head over to the library to see if the books he had requested had come in.
His car is crap, running by sheer willpower alone, but Francis hates new things. Especially new things he cannot afford. He makes his way to the pancake house, sits in his usual booth and we able orders a first cup of coffee and a stack of pancakes.
Katie woke up with the memory of the dream still buzzing in her head. She frowned to herself. If this dream was going to keep happening, she was going to have to talk to someone about them, or at least keep a dream journal. She quickly pushed the thought from her mind, and headed out from the B&B where she was staying.
She decided to look for somewhere to have breakfast in town, as she had grown tired of her landlords’ selection, and she needed somewhere to decide what to do with her day. Maybe have a short walk in the forest on the edge of town afterwards.
Ivan had already finished his rounds and been back at the office for 20 minutes, he looked hard at his boss.
"I deliver mail faster than these other schnitzkas, I should get more pay. Yes?" His Russian accent was becoming more apparent as he spoke.
Ivan had already finished his rounds and been back at the office for 20 minutes, he looked hard at his boss.
"I deliver mail faster than these other schnitzkas, I should get more pay. Yes?" His Russian accent was becoming more apparent as he spoke.
"I am sorry Ivan but it is not up to me how much you get paid you just gotta deal with it. And what's a schnitzka?'
"Is different here?!" Ivan said loudly. "Harder work for more pay is American way, no? This why I left Russia! In Russia if you stronger than bear you keep bear. If not bear keep you."
The manager sighs heavily then states Look. Ivan. I just don't have that kind of power. If you cannot accept it you can find another job.
Francis begrudgingly rose from bed. The dream was odd, but its insistent recurrence was what disturbed him. Having nothing better to do, and not wishing to remain in bed Francis rose, showered, and dressed. He left his apartment thinking to treat himself this morning to his most favorite of all foods. Pancakes. The greatest food ever created. It would give him time to think about the dream, and then afterward perhaps he would head over to the library to see if the books he had requested had come in.
His car is crap, running by sheer willpower alone, but Francis hates new things. Especially new things he cannot afford. He makes his way to the pancake house, sits in his usual booth and we able orders a first cup of coffee and a stack of pancakes.
Katie as you head into town looking for a place to eat. You eventually come across a small pancake house called Melinda's Pantry. It has a warm and inviting presence.
Francis, as you wait in your usual spot for your very much anticipated breakfast, you notice a woman sitting in a booth next to yours and looking right at you. She has long red hair, bright green eyes and soft looking skin. Her lush lips part to reveal perfect teeth as her mouth shapes into a kind smile. She stands up and you see she is wearing a baby blue jean jacket with a few buttons undone that shows a white shirt underneath. She is also wearing skinny black jeans and dark blue Converse low-top sneakers. She walks up to your booth and says in a energetic voice "Hey I'm new around here, name's Cassie. I'm visiting with my family for a few weeks." as she is talking she sits down across from Francis. "So what's your name? And what is there to do around here? My family just moved here a couple weeks ago so they don't know much about this place yet." She says with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Amanda hangs about for a few moments then asks "Did you get the latest Maldrine's Keep book yet? I think you said something about it coming in yesterday." She looks at you hopeful.
You did in fact get it though you have not shelved it yet. It is located in the back room with other books you have not gotten to shelving yet.
"Let's see..."I slide my rolling chair over to the abnormally large number of packages I'd received overnight,"Got a few books here for Mr. Price, that'll make his day... Ah! Here we are: Maldrine's Keep, still haven't put it up yet."
I hand her the book and don't let go for a moment,"Have you been having any trouble sleeping lately?"
The details of the dream are still fresh but as I go to call them into focus they stay just out of reach.
"Uhh...No. Not really." She responds looking slightly confused. She then asks, Why? Are you not sleeping well? Her brown eyes studying Arthurs face, while looking a little concerned.
"Well, I had this dream... There was this voice and a,"I glance down at my phone,"9:15! Time to open up, 'Manda. Mind if we continue this a little later?"
I rocket out from behind my desk and quickly unlock the from door.
Good thing this is such a sleepy town... Sleepy? Now why would I use that word? Must have sleep on the mind still.
I shrug my shoulders and head back my desk.
She seems at little surprised as you stop mid conversation and rush to the door. As you head back she asks, "So you were saying?"
"Well, I've been having this dream of sorts for a while now,"I pause as I look out the window, the sight of trees bringing the dream back into hard focus,"...a beautiful beige house wreathed in vines... red ceiling tiles... oak trees, yeah, oak trees all around. That voice... melodic, euphoric... so inviting..."
I snap back to reality, light and sound rushing back in as the dreamscape recedes. I shake it off and move around the desk.
"Ever hear of anything like that before?"I whisper as I sit down.
Amanda ponders for a moment, raking her shoulder length sandy brown hair, with her long slender fingers. "No..." She says after a quiet moment. "Though, of course the oak forest is easy enough to find, with it surrounding the city and all...Have you gone looking for it yet? This house?"
Francis, as you wait in your usual spot for your very much anticipated breakfast, you notice a woman sitting in a booth next to yours and looking right at you. She has long red hair, bright green eyes and soft looking skin. Her lush lips part to reveal perfect teeth as her mouth shapes into a kind smile. She stands up and you see she is wearing a baby blue jean jacket with a few buttons undone that shows a white shirt underneath. She is also wearing skinny black jeans and dark blue Converse low-top sneakers. She walks up to your booth and says in a energetic voice "Hey I'm new around here, name's Cassie. I'm visiting with my family for a few weeks." as she is talking she sits down across from Francis. "So what's your name? And what is there to do around here? My family just moved here a couple weeks ago so they don't know much about this place yet." She says with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Francis stared wide eyed at the woman for a moment too long. He could not remember the last conversation he had that wasn’t with someone behind a counter. His brain leapt into a higher gear trying to formulate a response to the woman.
"Um, my name is, that is…I’m Francis…Good to meet you."
His mind raced as he tried to think of an adequate answer to her question.
"Not a really busy place here. Um…hiking, really nice hiking around. Oh and last week they put in a new stop light on Main Street. Super exciting stuff."
He grinned at what he thought was his clever joke, but then panicked. He had just professed that Porter was boring. Now if she asked what he did he would have to admit that he was conducting a doctoral thesis on the history surrounding the boring town of Porter.
Instead he asked her a question: "Why did you move here?"
Cassie looked at Francis with a slightly raised eyebrow. "I never moved here. I said my family moved here and I am visiting for the few weeks." She then looked out the window looking slightly bored. "Hiking, huh? Well I suppose that could be kind of fun. The forest that surrounds this place is quite beautiful." She then turns back to Francis and asks, " Would you like to come with me? Not right now of course. But maybe sometime this week?"
Melinda's Pantry. Sounds like a nice enough place. Katie went in, and ordered a plate of pancakes. She grabbed herself a table, and began to chew over plans for the day. The walk in the forest was sounding more and more appealing, as she began mentally crossing off sights she'd already seen. She let out a sigh of frustration. This town was pleasant enough, but she was fast running out of things to keep herself occupied. She decided to take her mind off things, and survey the room.
Katie, inside you notice there are leather light brown cushioned booths with tan colored tables next to large windows. The walls are a nice beige with framed photos of different places. A oak made ceiling fan whirls quickly near the center of the pancake house. near the back wall swinging wood doors like those from a old western saloon could be seen with a waitress coming out with plates of various breakfast foods and bus boys going in with trays of used dishes. The delicious smell of food cooking in the back fills the entire establishment and makes you contemplate seconds.
You notice only seven other people or so sitting at the other booths. One booth has four around it another has one and then the third has two. For some reason the people at the third catch your eye, maybe it is because the red headed girl is talking so energetically. Or maybe because the man across from her seems so nervous.
The red head girl sitting in the booth seat facing your direction notices you and gives you a friendly smile. Then waves you over to her booth. You have never met this girl or even seen her before but she beckons you over like an old friend.
Francis, as you wait in your usual spot for your very much anticipated breakfast, you notice a woman sitting in a booth next to yours and looking right at you. She has long red hair, bright green eyes and soft looking skin. Her lush lips part to reveal perfect teeth as her mouth shapes into a kind smile. She stands up and you see she is wearing a baby blue jean jacket with a few buttons undone that shows a white shirt underneath. She is also wearing skinny black jeans and dark blue Converse low-top sneakers. She walks up to your booth and says in a energetic voice "Hey I'm new around here, name's Cassie. I'm visiting with my family for a few weeks." as she is talking she sits down across from Francis. "So what's your name? And what is there to do around here? My family just moved here a couple weeks ago so they don't know much about this place yet." She says with a dismissive wave of her hand.Francis stared wide eyed at the woman for a moment too long. He could not remember the last conversation he had that wasn’t with someone behind a counter. His brain leapt into a higher gear trying to formulate a response to the woman.
"Um, my name is, that is…I’m Francis…Good to meet you."
His mind raced as he tried to think of an adequate answer to her question.
"Not a really busy place here. Um…hiking, really nice hiking around. Oh and last week they put in a new stop light on Main Street. Super exciting stuff."
He grinned at what he thought was his clever joke, but then panicked. He had just professed that Porter was boring. Now if she asked what he did he would have to admit that he was conducting a doctoral thesis on the history surrounding the boring town of Porter.
Instead he asked her a question: "Why did you move here?"
Before Arthur has a chance to answer, the red head girl is smiling at someone behind him and waving them over.
The red head girl sitting in the booth seat facing your direction notices you and gives you a friendly smile. Then waves you over to her booth. You have never met this girl or even seen her before but she beckons you over like an old friend.
Katie smiles and waved back. Finally, people to talk to! She quickly hurried over to the other table, abandoning her pancakes. "Hi!" She said, introducing herself to both the seated customers. "Can I help you?"
The red head girl starts speaking with an slightly excited look on her faceI am Cassie and he's Francis." She gestures toward the man sitting across from her "We were just talking about taking a hike through the oak forest, sometime this week. You strike me as an adventurous type and I wanted you to come with us."
Amanda ponders for a moment, raking her shoulder length sandy brown hair, with her long slender fingers. "No..." She says after a quiet moment. "Though, of course the oak forest is easy enough to find, with it surrounding the city and all...Have you gone looking for it yet? This house?"
Amanda ponders another moment then says, "If you want, I'll come look for it with you...If you want." She looks a little red in the face and is staring down at her baby blue pumps.
The red head girl starts speaking with an slightly excited look on her faceI am Cassie and he's Francis." She gestures toward the man sitting across from her "We were just talking about taking a hike through the oak forest, sometime this week. You strike me as an adventurous type and I wanted you to come with us."
Francis is utterly astonished that his usual routine of pancakes and quiet solitude has very suddenly become a social gathering for people he doesn’t know. After some frantic deliberation he decides his best course of action is to pretend like this sort of thing happens all the time.
He looks up at the newcomer as if Cassie’s invitation had been totally expected. As if this gathering of people at his booth was completely normal. And he couldn’t think of a single thing to say except ”Hi”
Amanda ponders for a moment, raking her shoulder length sandy brown hair, with her long slender fingers. "No..." She says after a quiet moment. "Though, of course the oak forest is easy enough to find, with it surrounding the city and all...Have you gone looking for it yet? This house?"
"Well, how about I take you to breakfast, I haven't eaten yet this morning,"a common occurrence as of late,"Pancakes sound alright? You can tell me about anything you've seen in the forest around here in return?"
"Oh... That doesn't answer my question. But yeah ok. That sounds great." She says awkwardly, as she wipes her hands on her white blouse.
You both then head to Melinda's Pantry where the first thing you see is some strange folk having an animated conversation. A red head girl spots you as she is talking to other people a man that you think you have seen around town a few times and a girl that you don't really recognize.
The red head girl then calls happily, "Amanda, how are things? Who is that your with? Come over here and meet my new friends. She then waves for you both to come join her and the others.
Damnit. Was really hoping to just talk with Amanda. Hmmm, maybe these people will know what I'm talking about. Hey, that's Mr.Pryce. I should let him know about his books.
"Arthur West,"I announce as we approach,"Nice to meet you all, only been here a few months."
I nod to Mr.Pryce,"Your books have arrived, Mr.Pryce. Once we finish up here we can stroll over to the library and get them to you."