Ode to a Willow (CA - Willowman)
Quote from Indy on August 2, 2020, 11:09 amWillowman watched Amelia enter, his long spindly legs draped over the edge of his bed as he sat upright. The ungloved fingers were turned curiously for inspection, as if he were curious by the bandages and exposed scabs along their length. At the woman's suggestion, he glanced upright and then shrugged without commitment. The warm breakfast foods were regarded, but no move was made for the silverware. Instead, Amelia's patient watched her strangely.
"We're underground," he said so matter-of-factly after a span of silence, it was evident it was a statement and not a question.
Willowman watched Amelia enter, his long spindly legs draped over the edge of his bed as he sat upright. The ungloved fingers were turned curiously for inspection, as if he were curious by the bandages and exposed scabs along their length. At the woman's suggestion, he glanced upright and then shrugged without commitment. The warm breakfast foods were regarded, but no move was made for the silverware. Instead, Amelia's patient watched her strangely.
"We're underground," he said so matter-of-factly after a span of silence, it was evident it was a statement and not a question.
Quote from Adriana on August 2, 2020, 3:08 pmAmelia nodded and was silent for a while to see what else he might think of it.
Finally she responded, "Inside the rabbit hole."
Amelia nodded and was silent for a while to see what else he might think of it.
Finally she responded, "Inside the rabbit hole."
Quote from Indy on August 3, 2020, 9:32 pmWillowman nodded to this with a blink and an incline of the head. He'd already known it to be true. The lack of windows, the lack of exit or entrance save the elevator... and the voice of the mountain, carried so easily where she belonged. The man did not respond, but exhaled in relief. She was still there with him. Someone was still watching out for him.
His attention shifted to the food. A small dollop of syrup spread over the bony, scarred fingertips before plopping into his mouth. There lay no pressing need for the fork at present, but by now the habit had been made clear. He would always eat what was set out in front of him, but at a snail's pace. If not pressed, he could easily stretch this meal into the second, and that into the third.
Willowman was chewing the first morsel of blueberry pancake when he caught her voice over the recycled air: Kill her.
Willowman nodded to this with a blink and an incline of the head. He'd already known it to be true. The lack of windows, the lack of exit or entrance save the elevator... and the voice of the mountain, carried so easily where she belonged. The man did not respond, but exhaled in relief. She was still there with him. Someone was still watching out for him.
His attention shifted to the food. A small dollop of syrup spread over the bony, scarred fingertips before plopping into his mouth. There lay no pressing need for the fork at present, but by now the habit had been made clear. He would always eat what was set out in front of him, but at a snail's pace. If not pressed, he could easily stretch this meal into the second, and that into the third.
Willowman was chewing the first morsel of blueberry pancake when he caught her voice over the recycled air: Kill her.
Quote from Adriana on August 4, 2020, 8:21 pmAmelia watched him eat, satisfied that he was able to have something besides soup, more thankful that he was no longer eating from a tube. He was welcome to eat at whatever pace he liked, as long as he ate.
She opened the book and flipped to the page with the dog ear, unawares of her patients demons.
Amelia watched him eat, satisfied that he was able to have something besides soup, more thankful that he was no longer eating from a tube. He was welcome to eat at whatever pace he liked, as long as he ate.
She opened the book and flipped to the page with the dog ear, unawares of her patients demons.
Quote from Indy on August 9, 2020, 6:19 pmThe man continued his meal in silence, passing several hours with only a meager portion of the stack decimated. Nonetheless, he seemed pleased enough by the effort as he settled in for the evening. For the first time in a long time, he fell to an unaided, deep sleep and did not stir once.
By "morning" (or whatever semblance of it could be assumed by the UV lights), the man's eyes cracked open - changed subtly in ways that could not be described. He shifted in the dark, not immediately observing Amelia watching over him like a vigilant watchdog. His spindly frame sprung to action, moving towards the drawer. Bony fingers pried the drawer free as his cheeks flushed with the effort, yet he knew he must hurry if he wanted to retrieve his weapon before she returned.
The man continued his meal in silence, passing several hours with only a meager portion of the stack decimated. Nonetheless, he seemed pleased enough by the effort as he settled in for the evening. For the first time in a long time, he fell to an unaided, deep sleep and did not stir once.
By "morning" (or whatever semblance of it could be assumed by the UV lights), the man's eyes cracked open - changed subtly in ways that could not be described. He shifted in the dark, not immediately observing Amelia watching over him like a vigilant watchdog. His spindly frame sprung to action, moving towards the drawer. Bony fingers pried the drawer free as his cheeks flushed with the effort, yet he knew he must hurry if he wanted to retrieve his weapon before she returned.
Quote from Adriana on August 9, 2020, 8:03 pmThere was a knock at the door and it opened slowly after. A soft glow of light atop a round object preceded Amelia, who came in wearing a colorful cone hat with a pompom. In the one hand was the cake, a small white round cake decorated with blue icing, and on top a single candle.
In the other hand was a gift bag which she sat on the chair,
"Good morning and happy birthday," she chirped, setting the cake on the table at the end of the bed. "We're not sure when your true birthday is, so we decided to make one up - September tenth. The gifts are nothing special, just something to help you feel... more in touch with the world."
There was a knock at the door and it opened slowly after. A soft glow of light atop a round object preceded Amelia, who came in wearing a colorful cone hat with a pompom. In the one hand was the cake, a small white round cake decorated with blue icing, and on top a single candle.
In the other hand was a gift bag which she sat on the chair,
"Good morning and happy birthday," she chirped, setting the cake on the table at the end of the bed. "We're not sure when your true birthday is, so we decided to make one up - September tenth. The gifts are nothing special, just something to help you feel... more in touch with the world."
Quote from Indy on August 9, 2020, 9:01 pmWillowman's back was hunched as Amelia entered - the drawer still removed from the stand. On seeing the woman and her meager offerings, his demeanor had a subtle shift. Rather than a cat guarding over its kill, he slunk away like a shadow given chase by the light of a lamp. Willowman moved until he couldn't any longer, pressing his back against the wall as if a birthday cake was a device of torture. He shook his head and clutched it with both fingers.
"Maybe you're wrong," he muttered so softly, it seemed something spoken more to himself than Amelia.
He didn't elaborate on the point. Yet something in the spell was broken, enough that he could pry himself off from the wall and sit at the farthest corner of the bed.
You need to kill her, before she kills you, she said again.
He shook his head as he took a staggering breath. Bony fingers went to the soft folds of his pant pocket, knowing its contents. Simultaneously, he found himself revolted and excited by the touch. Two futures. Two possibilities. Yet of those two, was it the man or the creature's choice that was correct?
"It was December 3rd," he whispered after a moment and nodded in a short breath.
He denied the choice a moment longer, glancing towards the woman with uneasy eyes before considering her offering.
"But Arthur died".
He turned away again, his right palm searching the folds of the pocket. His voice shrunk and curled into itself as he said, "I'm sorry".
Willowman's back was hunched as Amelia entered - the drawer still removed from the stand. On seeing the woman and her meager offerings, his demeanor had a subtle shift. Rather than a cat guarding over its kill, he slunk away like a shadow given chase by the light of a lamp. Willowman moved until he couldn't any longer, pressing his back against the wall as if a birthday cake was a device of torture. He shook his head and clutched it with both fingers.
"Maybe you're wrong," he muttered so softly, it seemed something spoken more to himself than Amelia.
He didn't elaborate on the point. Yet something in the spell was broken, enough that he could pry himself off from the wall and sit at the farthest corner of the bed.
You need to kill her, before she kills you, she said again.
He shook his head as he took a staggering breath. Bony fingers went to the soft folds of his pant pocket, knowing its contents. Simultaneously, he found himself revolted and excited by the touch. Two futures. Two possibilities. Yet of those two, was it the man or the creature's choice that was correct?
"It was December 3rd," he whispered after a moment and nodded in a short breath.
He denied the choice a moment longer, glancing towards the woman with uneasy eyes before considering her offering.
"But Arthur died".
He turned away again, his right palm searching the folds of the pocket. His voice shrunk and curled into itself as he said, "I'm sorry".
Quote from Adriana on August 10, 2020, 6:46 amAmelia stared, confused at the mans first sentence. She watched him relax, somewhat, and when he spoke again she thought she understood what he meant; she was wrong about the birthday.
"Arthur's not dead," she protested somewhat cautiously, her tone soft and comforting. "He's gone into hiding, but he's still in there-if he wasn't, you wouldn't remember your birthday, or that you don't have children. There's just a part of you that you can't get to right now, and that's alright. You need to focus on healing, and it'll come back to you. You're alive, you are strong, and you will heal, but you have to allow yourself to. With time."
She came to sit on the opposite side and opposite end of the bed, only after observing his reaction and ensuring it wouldn't cause him any further discomfort. She rested the bag in between them so he could look into it. The smell of melting wax filled the room, as the flame at it's way down the candle.
Inside the bag, Willowman would find a local newspaper for todays date, a journal and pen, a mens (proper) shaving kit with changeable blades, a comb, and a simple silver watch.
Amelia stared, confused at the mans first sentence. She watched him relax, somewhat, and when he spoke again she thought she understood what he meant; she was wrong about the birthday.
"Arthur's not dead," she protested somewhat cautiously, her tone soft and comforting. "He's gone into hiding, but he's still in there-if he wasn't, you wouldn't remember your birthday, or that you don't have children. There's just a part of you that you can't get to right now, and that's alright. You need to focus on healing, and it'll come back to you. You're alive, you are strong, and you will heal, but you have to allow yourself to. With time."
She came to sit on the opposite side and opposite end of the bed, only after observing his reaction and ensuring it wouldn't cause him any further discomfort. She rested the bag in between them so he could look into it. The smell of melting wax filled the room, as the flame at it's way down the candle.
Inside the bag, Willowman would find a local newspaper for todays date, a journal and pen, a mens (proper) shaving kit with changeable blades, a comb, and a simple silver watch.
Quote from Indy on August 10, 2020, 8:05 amWillowman shook his head strongly to Amelia's words, but his own did not spill out readily. Instead his fingers twirled in his pocket. However slight, the metallic tang of his own blood was was a subtle scent on the air. He kept one hand in his pocket, but investigated the bag with the other. First the newspaper, then journal, comb, and watch... and the shaving kit.
The man instantly pulled away at the final object, as if it had been cherry-hot and cradled the palm to his chest. The flame on the candle continued to burn, winding its way down the wax in long, smoky trails.
"Arthur was weak," he said in a soft tremble after a momen, his head downcast, "He gave himself up to his master-- his name, his knowledge, his soul".
He pulled his fingers from his pocket at last, revealing the object that had fixated his attention that morning - as well as the new, small cuts along his fingers. It was one of the blades of the razor from the previous day, extracted after much effort and minor personal injury. He held the flimsy metal and his eyes dropped short several inches from Amelia's. At once he found the mightiest of weapons little else than discarded garbage.
"He couldn't listen, couldn't do what needed to be done," he said softly, the uneasiness of his eyes becoming hard.
In another breath he moved quickly, rushing towards Amelia!
Willowman shook his head strongly to Amelia's words, but his own did not spill out readily. Instead his fingers twirled in his pocket. However slight, the metallic tang of his own blood was was a subtle scent on the air. He kept one hand in his pocket, but investigated the bag with the other. First the newspaper, then journal, comb, and watch... and the shaving kit.
The man instantly pulled away at the final object, as if it had been cherry-hot and cradled the palm to his chest. The flame on the candle continued to burn, winding its way down the wax in long, smoky trails.
"Arthur was weak," he said in a soft tremble after a momen, his head downcast, "He gave himself up to his master-- his name, his knowledge, his soul".
He pulled his fingers from his pocket at last, revealing the object that had fixated his attention that morning - as well as the new, small cuts along his fingers. It was one of the blades of the razor from the previous day, extracted after much effort and minor personal injury. He held the flimsy metal and his eyes dropped short several inches from Amelia's. At once he found the mightiest of weapons little else than discarded garbage.
"He couldn't listen, couldn't do what needed to be done," he said softly, the uneasiness of his eyes becoming hard.
In another breath he moved quickly, rushing towards Amelia!
Quote from Adriana on August 10, 2020, 5:57 pmAmelia reacted not a moment too soon, evading the attack and moving towards the door in a swift movement!
In a fleeting glance she observed the weapon; a razor blade, nothing more; it had done more damage to him than it might to herself, but anything could be dangerous in the hands of a desperate man. With one confused and sorrowed look, she exited the room and shut the door behind her, resting her back up against it and clicking the lock.
She felt a fool for ignoring the warning signs, and slid down against the door, resting a hand over her eyes as her breath evened out. There was no time to be concerned for her own well being-now she would have to consider the next steps to take in Willowman's rehabilitation, write a statement, ensure the handful of staff members knew...
Amelia reacted not a moment too soon, evading the attack and moving towards the door in a swift movement!
In a fleeting glance she observed the weapon; a razor blade, nothing more; it had done more damage to him than it might to herself, but anything could be dangerous in the hands of a desperate man. With one confused and sorrowed look, she exited the room and shut the door behind her, resting her back up against it and clicking the lock.
She felt a fool for ignoring the warning signs, and slid down against the door, resting a hand over her eyes as her breath evened out. There was no time to be concerned for her own well being-now she would have to consider the next steps to take in Willowman's rehabilitation, write a statement, ensure the handful of staff members knew...
