New Island Breezes RPG Story Thread

[slayerofangels]

"What the...?"

Blake paused on the staircase, tea tray held in both hands. Surely they hadn't broken something already? It sounded like it had come from the library, and while it might have been nothing... For a moment he stood there, undecided, then sighed. Miss Anya would have to wait it seemed.

"Its never a quiet night, is it? Chris?"

"Yes sir?"

"Take this up to Miss Anya, tell her I'll be up shortly."

Chris nodded quickly, taking the tea set and heading upstairs. Turning on his heel, Blake hurried towards the source of the noise. Short of a brawl, he couldn't see how someone could smash anything in the library. He'd made a painful effort to keep everything away from where someone would blunder into it. Well...where someone wouldn't blunder into it if they bothered to turn the lights on. Desmond should have switched the power back on by now. Was someone weeping? Shaking his head ruefully, he kept his mouth shut and let out a deep breath. He needed to be calm right now. Striding into the room, he turned right and switched on the lights. They flickered for a moment before coming on properly, and he glanced around, taking in the situation. Conrad was kneeling over in one corner, while Doctor Marsden was trying to help Marrissa get up, the remains of a stained glass vase littering the floor around them.

Just what I needed...

At least the floors were laminate so blood-stains wouldn't be too much of an issue. Hurrying back to the kitchen, he fetched a small bowl, a basin, a first aid kit, a bottle of water and some clean towels. Not perfect, but hopefully there were no slivers to worry about. The trouble would be keeping the cuts clean, once the large pieces were out they could worry about the rest. Heading back to the library, he placed his supplies on one of the tables with a reading lamp and all but carried Conrad out of the room. Locking the door behind him, he turned to Dr Marsden.

"How does it look?"

[Darn Dame]

“What happened?”

Marissa looked up at the bespectacled woman who had entered the room and picked her way through the debris to her.

“It was an accident.” Hiccup “I bumped into the table and knocked something off.” Marissa worried her lip as she worked to stem her tears. “I’ll pay for the damages. It might take some time but I’ll figure something out.”

Marissa warily eyed the woman’s outstretched hand, gauging her strength. Having no other alternative, she lifted her arm up and the woman grabbed her wrist. Between the two of them, Marissa found her way to her feet. Her features winced in pain.

“Careful, it’ll need cleaning and possibly stitching. You didn’t try to pull any out, did you?” the woman asked. The two of them began to inspect the damage to her hands.

“No, I ..” Marissa’s reply was cut short when she heard someone’s entrance into the room. Blake stepped into the room and flipped the light switch on. They flickered for a moment and then bright light flooded the room.

Marissa’s eyes flinched as they adjusted to the blinding light.

The lights work?

She looked to Blake and saw him shake his head disgustedly before he abruptly turned on his heel and left the room. Marissa’s shoulders slumped and she hung her head.

Way to go Marissa. You always manage to screw things up.

“I’m sorry about the vase.” Marissa began her apology to anyone who would listen.

Blake bustled back into the room, his arms laden with first aid supplies. He briskly tabled the items and then “escorted” Conrad from the room closing the door behind them.

Marissa had guiltily watched his comings and goings with trepidation, expecting at any moment to fall victim to his censure, which she admittedly deserved in this instance.

“Suck it up brat! Crying won’t do any good, just makes your face wet and your nose red,” her father’s deep voice reminded her.

Marissa clenched her teeth, squared her shoulders, and began to pick up the mess she had made.

[Foxee]

…LAVINIA ASSERTS that the air here on Cassamay Island is doing her good. She loves the salty air, the frothing waves, the greedy seagulls. I told her not to encourage the birds with bread as they are no more than airborne rats but she only laughed at me.

My sister seldom takes me seriously.

She does seem to be stronger but yet there is a hectic pink in her cheeks that has nothing to do with her time in the sun. I may simply be an old fogey as she accuses me but nevertheless…

A knock interrupted Anya’s reading. She laid the journal on the sofa and crossed to the door. Chris’s distorted hopeful face greeted her through the peephole.

She shied back a little before opening the door and backing away as Chris came through with the tea tray. Where was –

“Blake said to tell you he’d be up shortly, m’lady.” Chris put the tray down on the coffee table and began gathering the dinnerware. He clattered a few plates and a fork went bouncing across the rug and onto the hardwood.

“’Miss Anya’ is fine, Chris.” Anya reminded him, “Is everything all right?”

Anya picked up the fork and handed it to him, snatching her fingers back when the mission was complete.

“Thanks.” Chris picked up the dinner tray, standing; “I think there was an accident in the library.”

Chris and Anya sidestepped into one another’s way a few times before sharing a brief embarrassed laugh. Anya waited for him to walk around her and clicked the door closed when he’d gone.

How on earth had someone managed to have an accident in a library?

Anya shrugged and stretched, cracking her back. Blake would doubtless be up soon and could tell her. It would be unlike him to let perfectly good tea get cold.

CHRIS TROTTED down the stairs, mentally kicking himself. Anya was his employer, there was no reason for him to be nervous around her. Of course, there was no reason for her to be nervous around him, either but it still happened.

He meant to ask how she was feeling, to see if she had recovered from meeting the new employees but how did you bring that up? And the 'm'lady' thing...why did that always pop out?

Chris would have smacked his own forehead in frustration if he hadn't been carrying a tray.

TAI'S EARS were finely tuned to the sound of breakage. Anyone who had to contend with elbows that took up more than their alloted space had to have a sixth sense. So when the crash-and-tinkle came from the library he had no doubt that something fragile had bitten the dust.

At least it wasn't his fault this time.

[IvanTiger118]

"It was partially my fault," Conrad said. "She would have never come in there if I hadn't been in there. I just wanted to be someplace quiet. I'm sorry if I've offended anybody."

[Foxee]

THE STORM ABATED in the small hours leaving the island tousled. Lush green plants held water cupped in their stems or wore fat droplets that rolled and dripped, adding to the rivulets that ran everywhere. A fresh breeze swept over the island mingling with the scent of the sea.

Sunlight touched the hurricane shutters of the Thompson House. Raucous birdsong indicated an avian feast in the wake of the storm.

Tai padded down the tiny back stairway to the kitchen. He usually made coffee for Desmond, Jean-Marie and whoever else wanted some as well as heating water for tea.

It was exciting to have new people in the house and Tai was almost disappointed that Blake had agreed to his request for time off, even extending it to begin this afternoon. As Blake pointed out there were plenty of people to help now.

((Alrighty, it’s sunrise…let’s say about an hour and a half to two hours before they’re all supposed to meet. Your character doesn’t have to be up at this particular time…just start them off sometime before the meeting point.))

[Darn Dame]

Marissa woke the following morning lying on her belly, her head resting heavily on the pillow that her arms embraced. A sleepy morning stretch hatefully reminded her of last night’s events as the stitches in her bottom pulled and her tender hands ached with her clenching. Her eyes popped open in sleepy surprise and a low groan escaped her lips. She closed her eyes in remorse as she consciously recalled last night’s fiasco.

I cannot believe on the first night here you manage to break an expensive vase, embarrass yourself by crying in the middle of the floor, and to boot, have to bare your bottom to a complete stranger and get stitches.

She let her head fall back to the downy pillow and her breath escaped in a whoosh. She opened her eyes to stare at the light cream colored wall that was exposed by the iron bars of the headboard.

It’s awfully bright. Bright? Sun’s up! What time is it! Oh no, please, please, please don’t let me be late on my first day of work!

Marissa’s head whipped around to the white digital alarm clock that she had placed on the table beside her bed before retiring. The red images reflected there managed to settle her heart back down into her chest.

Oh thank god! It’s six. I wonder what time the sun rises here.

Her body slumped back into the firm mattress before she carefully rolled over to her side, one arm tucked up under the pillow the other pulling the light coverlet close to her. She examined her room in the morning light.

It’s not nearly as sinister as it looks in shadows. It’s actually quite pretty.

Two windows on the opposite wall urged Marissa to her feet. A white sheer material hung limply from an unassuming curtain rod. She eased herself from the bed.

I hope they open.

Marissa pushed aside the covering, gingerly unlatched one window, and painfully tugged it to the top of the frame. Next, she lifted the screen. Finally, she unlatched the hurricane shutters and pushed them.

Marissa stood mesmerized. The island breeze coursed into the room, bringing with it the heavy scent of flora, unique from anything she had ever smelled before. The cry of various birds and wildlife tickled her ears and her curiosity. Her gaze was pulled to the small white sandy beach below and the contrasting blue ocean that ran up until it blended into the horizon. She took a step back, her vision expanding, taking in the totality of it all. She took a deep cleansing breathe, her eyes closed, head tilted back as the warmth of the sun bathed her t-shirt clad body.

Magnificent!

She stood there for several moments, not moving.

Oh this feels so good. I love the feel of the sun on my face. It feels like it’s melting my muscles. I’ll be a pool on the floor of my room if I stay here long enough, I’m sure.

Her arms hung heavy at her side, her shoulders set low, her face serene. Her hair alternately tickled her neck and cheek as the breeze blew through the window.

This is going to be a great day.

[alanmt]

Chad padded softly down the hallway. Could he be the first one up? Well, he had crashed early last night, around 9 or 9:30. He'd been so tired that he fell asleep on top of the bedcovers with his ipod on and his door open. Some time during the night the little device's batteries had run out, and so he had regretfully left it in his room this morning, on the portable charger. At least the electricity was back on.

Golden morning light streamed in through large glass windows. No trace of the storm showed in the pale morning sky. The busy calls of strange birds were audible, even here in the house.

A very human smell permeated the air as Chad approached the dining room. Freshly brewed coffee. He quickened his step. The dining room was empty. Following the aroma, he popped his head into the kitchen. A young man was there, at the stove. It was the youth who had served dinner last night. Nondescript attire, but very definite southern pacific features. Likely a native of the island. Chad glanced around the chamber. No one else was there, not even the cook. Excellent! He moved fully into the room, sliding the door noiselessly shut behind him.

"Excuse me," he said quietly.

The boy turned toward him, surprised, but not alarmed. Chad flashed him a friendly smile.

"Can I get some coffee?"

The boy brought him a steaming cup and Chad cradled it in his hands. Funny how even on a tropical island he enjoyed the warmth of a morning cup. It wasn't Starbucks, but it would do just fine. He took a sip. Strong and dark. Just as he liked it.

"Thanks!" he said to the boy. "I'm Chad."

[Aurasheild]

With a heavy sigh, Adiel glanced towards Jingla before rising.

"I think I'll go to bed if you don't mind Jingla. First day of work tomorrow, and I still have to clean it up and unpack."

The candle light simply made the girl glow. Offering his hand, he helped her up, and walked her out of the room. Then saying a simple good night, he strode upwards towards his room.

It was unusual how things had gone on his first day. He had seen some unusual characters, and the existing Staff seemed fairly much in charge rather the Anya herself.
In all of his expectations of an employer, he had never guessed it would be someone like Anya.

Where to begin?

Sighing Adiel closed the door behind him, slowly he reached for his Ipod and once again had that sexual song playing in the background. Casting his gaze around, he noticed that his bags would be a good place to start.

*****

Yawning, Adiel rolled onto his back. Running a hand through his hair, he realised it was morning. The sun had risin and was casting the assuring glow on anything beneath it. The fresh scent of the islands wonders had caused him to smile.

What a night.

Adiel scanned his room, the bed was made and dust free, the window had been washed. His bags were empty and neatly packed beneath the bed. The contents were stored away neatly within the various places within the room.

Slowly, unwillingly, achingly Adiel pulled himself from the cold floor. He made the short, daunting walk to the bathroom, limping with both feet on the cold floorboards, every action so engraved into his psyche that he barely noticed he was moving at all.

It took several minutes, but eventually Adiel was frantically running around his room, retrieving this and that from the cuboards. After an hour in the bathroom, he gazed in the mirror one last time.

A cherry, slightly tanned, sexy and completely stunning man was staring back. Yawning, Adiel strode into his room and got dressed. Smiling softly, he realized that maybe getting up with the sun, wasn't bad for him. He always liked more time to prepare a face.

Buttoning up his shirt, he left the last three buttons opened. It was white and matched, his green coloured shorts. Sighing he reached for his white slip-ons and left the room.

As he made his way downstairs, he could have swore that he smelt coffee.

They knew I was up. How lovely.

Striding into the kitchen, Adiel noticed two people, one was the boy from the previous night. The other was another employee, like Adiel. The boy, walked towards Adiel cradling a cup of fresh;y made coffee in his hands.

Great, no lines.

"Thanks. Just what I need. I was wondering, could you point me to the cheif of this place. I think it would be polight of myself, if I told her now that I'm a vegetarian rather then later." Adiel spoke cheerfully.

This place, this atmostphere, it was although the island itself had it's own way of welcoming you to the island. Nodding to the other man, Adiel studied him for a moment.

About a 7 maybe...

Smiling to himself, he waited for the younger boy to respond.

[Foxee]

"Thanks! I'm Chad." He seemed to relax around the cup.

“I’m Tai,” Tai introduced himself with a flashing ivory smile just as another man came in, every inch the tourist. Tai handed him a cup automatically.

"Thanks. Just what I need. I was wondering, could you point me to the chef of this place. I think it would be polite of myself, if I told her now that I'm a vegetarian rather then later." The newcomer spoke cheerfully. Tai remembered him from the night before, Adiel.

“Jean-Marie will be down soon and you can tell her then.” Tai rooted around for muffins, bread for toast, fruit, and other breakfast items. “She never minds if we start breakfast without her.”

Tai dumped his finds on the long plank table where Chad and Adiel sat and went back for butter, jam, and his personal favorite, peanut butter.

“Are you both from America?” Tai asked.

[alanmt]

"I'm Tai," said the boy with a smile. Questions about the island formed on Chad's lips, but before he could speak, another man entered the kitchen - one on his new co-workers. Green suitcase guy. Adam? No, that was the tux kid, this was the one with the unusual name. Adiel, maybe. Tai handed the newcomer a cup of coffee.

"Thanks. Just what I need. I was wondering, could you point me to the chef of this place. I think it would be polite of myself, if I told her now that I'm a vegetarian rather then later."

“Jean-Marie will be down soon and you can tell her then.” replied Tai.

Chad approved of vegetarians. He had been one himself for a year, until seduced back to protein by the In&Out Burger. He turned to Adiel to make a friendly comment, when Tai, laying the table with bread and spreads, spoke again.

“Are you both from America?”

"I am," affirmed Chad, "I'm from California." Picking up a muffin and taking another sip of his coffee, he waited for Adiel to answer.

[Aurasheild]

Adiel smiled, as he saw how excited Tai was by his own and Chad's presence had made him.

“Jean-Marie will be down soon and you can tell her then.” replied Tai.

Sighing, Adiel looked once again at Chad. Waiting for him to comment. However Tai frantically searched around for food. Almost as if, he wanted both of them to stay longer and tell the boy about them.

Of course! He's quite young.

Adiel wondered if, Tai had been brought to the island as a young boy, if so then he would not remember much of anything else outside. Though, Anya hadn't been on the island, so he guessed that Tai wasn't here for long either. But still, he could at least humour him. Taking a small mouth full of coffee ad Adiel swallowed and then listened to Tai.

“Are you both from America?”

Smiling, Adeil shook his head.

"I'm from Germany. I used to live in london until I came here," gazing towards Chad, he watched the man take a sip of his coffee. "What about you Tai? where are you from?"

[Suzip]

Kari found herself standing in the middle of a quiet open road, with no idea how she got there. She was surrounded by high rocky cliffs that stretched far above her. She swivelled around, the cool breeze billowing her dark curls behind her. Patches of luscious green grass lined the desert like roadside almost alien to the surroundings.

That’s when she saw the car.

“Mum…..Dad….!”

Before she knew what she was doing she was running towards the burning car…their car. The dark smoke was thick in her lungs and she coughed violently although she hardly noticed the pain. Her eyes and her thoughts were transfixed on the burning bodies crawling from the vehicle. She couldn’t get there quick enough. She could never get there quick enough!

“Mum…. Oh my god mum.” Tears stung her eyes painfully, or was it the smoke. The woman crawling along the tarmac tilted her head upwards. Her blonde hair was scorched and dripping with sweat. Kari stopped in her tracks. Her breath caught painfully somewhere between her chest and the deep reaches of her throat. Time slowed down and she froze, unable to move, but she was able to scream.

Her mother’s face wasn’t a face. It was a canvas waiting to be painted on. There was nothing there. No nose. No lips. No eyes. Nothing.

Kari’s fear echoed in her screams.



Kari’s eyes shot open and she lay motionless. The first time she’d had the dream, hell even the first twenty times, she had woken up shaking and covered in sweat.

Not anymore.

Now she just felt empty and carried on with her day. She didn’t understand it and had given up trying to. She hadn’t been there when they had died so why was she always there in her dreams. She sat up and shook the thought off. No point going there again, she thought. Nothing to do but run it off. What was the time? She looked at her watch 6:45am. Still time for a run.

Kari picked up the half empty bottle that sat on the bedside table and put it in a drawer of the chest of drawers. She grabbed a bundle of clothes from her carryall and piled them on top.

It was only after hiding her secret that she noticed the early morning sunshine pouring through the open window across her body, complementing her olive coloured skin. Closing her eyes for a second she breathed deeply letting the sun wash over her. She couldn’t wait to get outside and see what it was like. There was no sign of that storm that had met them the night before and it seemed like she was in a completely different place.

Minutes later she was changed in blue cycle shorts and a white vest top, with her dark hair tied up in a bunch, and twisted and pinned high on her head. She picked up her I-Pod and left the security of her room.

Kari didn’t expect anyone to be up and out yet. After all work wasn’t starting till 8am wasn’t it? She skipped down the stairs gracefully and found herself in the hall. She could hear voices and the clatter of dishes somewhere along the corridor. The kitchen she guessed. She wasn’t ready to be part of a gathering. She knew she would have to get over that soon, but not yet. She stuck her earphones in and tuned into some U2 and headed for the front door.

[slayerofangels]

Blake let out a breath, shaking his head as he reached the front door. He hadn't been running hard enough to work up too much of a sweat, but inspite of himself, he shivered. They'd had a near miss the night before, but thankfully none of the new employees seemed keen on trying his patience. One hand on the handle, he paused trying to recapture the feeling of serenity he'd enjoyed on his run. The sun felt good at his back and he wanted to enjoy it for as long as he could before he was buried under an avalanche of small problems.

Lets not tempt fate this early in the morning.

Sighing, he opened the door and pushed past one of the newcomers, Kari, if he remembered correctly. She obviously had the same idea he'd had; shorts and a vest, dressed for exercise (though his shorts weren't indecorously short).

"Don't go too far," he said, nodding to her as he passed.

The smell of coffee permeated the hall and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. Try as he might he could not understand how anyone could drink the stuff. The smell alone was enough to turn his stomach, but it meant that Tai was up at any rate. Glancing around to make sure no-one had blundered into anything else during the night, he headed for the kitchen.

May as well see what other early birds we have.

Not too many by the looks of things. Apart from Tai, the only people in the kitchen were Chad and Adiel, though the others may well have been in the process of getting up. Shaking his head as Tai offered him a plate of fruit, he bid the other two good morning and kept going. The sooner he was showered and changed, the sooner he could get stuck into whatever problems the world felt like throwing at him today.

[Darn Dame]

By the time Marissa had showered, which was an awkward affair with trying to keep her stitches dry and her fingers from burning, she heard others as they passed down the hall. Usually not one to fuss about her appearance, she quickly dried her hair and slapped on some make up. When it came time for her to dress she was in a quandary.

What do they expect me to wear? Are they going to provide uniforms?

She ruffled through her clothing, deeming each one unacceptable. Noting the time, she finally settled on khaki Capri pants and an oversized white button down shirt. She slipped on white flats and pulled her hair back in a ponytail.

Making her way down the stairs, she followed faint sound of voices. When she entered the kitchen area, she recognized Chad and another man nursing steaming cups of coffee. Tai, the serving boy, was moving easily around the kitchen.

“Good morning.” Marissa beamed at them.

“Tai, is there something I can help with?”

[crazed scribe]

Surprisingly the meal was delicious. She also enjoyed the desert, always her favourite part of meal time. Who ever the cook was; she could work magic! Even the meal couldn't mask the awkward silence or the jarred slices of conversation.

When the meal had barley started one of the men, whose name she didn't know, suddenly left in a harassed manner. She had heard him mention about being in the army. she had heard of army type having breaks like this after they'd been to war. Well it was natural wasn't it? After all the death and destruction they'd seen you couldn't expect them to not be scarred.

As more people left the table and she had finished, she left the table; nodding to the couple of people who were left eating. After the turmoil and anxiety of the day she found that she was quite tired and was welcoming to the idea of a blissful long sleep. well maybe not that long if she had to be awake for 8:00! Well at least she was out in the grounds, not in the stuffy mansion. She slipped into her nightie and slipped into bed. minutes later she was asleep, snoring lightly.

***

She awoke to the sun light glimmering through her curtains. Today it was warm and sunny. Brilliant! Finally it seemed luck was on her side, she would be working in the grounds. What would she be doing, she wondered.

It seemed, to make up for the lack of light last night the sun was shining more brightly than usual. She flung open the curtains and after a couple of minutes of fiddling she managed to open the hurricane shutters' they didn't have those back home! The light flooded the room, and she had been right it did look better now, somewhere she could live quite comfortably.

Remembering that she was now an employee she looked at watch. 7:00! She had to be ready for work at 8:00! She'd slept in, worried and now feeling the pressure of her nerves she: showered, dressed and put her make up on at about 500 times her usual pace. so this still took half an hour.

In the day light, she observed while descending the stairs, the entire building now started to look less like Dracula's castle and more like an island hotel. Coffee, she could smell coffee. Yuck! She hated coffee and everything about it, it's taste, smell and it reminded her of home.

She entered the kitchen and it seemed like everyone had made it down before her. At least she wasn't late, yet...

"Morning," she called.