BACKSTORY // CLOSED
Characters: Dydrial and Angelo
Rating: Uhh... PG? I think? I don't think they even curse at each other. Lots of talk of killing, though. Hee. *pets A*
The night was unusually quiet. Few distant growls, and no nearby scuttles in the darkness. While that normally would have comforted Seth as he sat in his semi-protected tower, something simply did not feel right. Like one of those times when the hair stands up on the back of your neck, and you aren't sure why. The man's thin, corded frame leaned perilously over the side of the railing in the bell tower of Greystone, formerly a church in more civilized days. Or at least that's what the leader of their happy little group told him. Dydrial had tried to explain to the twenty-something hunter-scavenger what things were like before the Inferno opened and swallowed the blue sky and all the niceties of life. Seth still didn't believe her. It just seemed too far-fetched from the literal hell-on-earth that was modern-day existence. Adjusting his night-vision goggles - they never seemed to work just right, the relic they were - and peering around from his perch, Seth still saw nothing to be alarmed about. He looked to the small sparrow in the tiny, rusted cage dangling on a hanger where the bell had once been, and noted the bird seemed just as uneasy as he was. It chirped in a wary, frightened manner and flitted from one barred side to the next. Still... couldn't alert anyone below to trouble if there was no enemy in sight. Besides, Dydrial never liked being interrupted while in her very own little shop of horrors... or the lab, as she so simply called it.
More than a hundred feet below Seth's bell tower post, Dydrial Wenshire thumbed carefully through one of tens of file cabinets filled with frail, yellowing papers. Her research would soon need to be copied onto newer paper, whenever some became available. The caravans were getting very stingy nowadays, and money was always low. Wiping a deceptively slender hand over the fine mist on her brow, she drew out the folder she needed and moved through the cramped space of her laboratory, gracefully avoiding every organized mess and pile. Vials and jars lined every wall-space available, and the rest was crowded with machinery and a couple of computers that by some miracle, still worked. Thank God for the electricity she was able to rig, though maintaining the generators and frail wind-mills was an irritating and often costly task. Refrigerated units stored various samples of DNA, plasma and blood, along with chemicals and other liquids that needed to avoid exposure to the semi-hot, dry air of the lab.
Storm gray eyes narrowed as she pushed long, black strands of smooth hair away from her face; one of these days she just might have to clean the place.
Clean the place? The woman was lucky that the interior did not just collapse in on itself. Due to the forces of time and gravity, of course, and not of the man standing in the doorway... And of course, if asked, he would have had nothing to do with it. An innocent look would plaster onto his face, and he would play up the "blind" card until the subject had been dropped or it had just been of more convenience to "deal with" the person interrogating him.
Yes, he had let himself in, and inwardly snarked to himself that the man out on the bell tower was one hell of a lousy guard. Ignoring the fact that his black attire allowed him to meld into the shadows and dark of night, the man would use the "guard" as a scapegoat, if asked how he got in. After all, the man who was supposed to be a lookout had an easily detectable human presence, and if the man in black were of more evil intent, the poor guard would not have even had time to repent his actions.
And so the man in the doorway stood as such, waiting from some sort of response or recognition from the woman toying with her little projects.
Dydrial looked up from her work when the slightest glow eased around her line of vision. Her back was to the door, as it had been while she was searching for that file, which not seemed rather unimportant. Her senses prickled with a small nuance of mild malevolence, which was not all that uncommon among the scattered populace in these darker times. What was very unexpected was that dim glow, and as she turned slowly to look upon the man who stood in her doorway - rather uninvited - both of her thin brows arched and her lips parted in shock.
What... the hell... was something like that doing here?
A long moment of mental stuttering passed as her mind raced to comprehend who and what was standing before her, how he got in and why he wasn't killing her. She took in the human in him, the long platinum locks, and the shock of his young face. The oddest thing of all was that blindfold. Finally, she adjusted her stark-white lab coat over her jet-black, rather plain dress, "This area is restricted to visitors. Might I ask who you are and why you are down here?" Her tone was calm and cool. Perfect, she thought, just play stupid.
A small scowl tugged at the man's lips. That voice. That was a voice he’d do best to remember. For a brief moment, he contemplated turning and running. Not because he had anything against her, oh no. Only that Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn. When he had heard of this brilliant scientist, the bearer of such news failed to mention that she was, in fact, female. Suddenly, the ideas of his intentions being caught were all that much more frightening.
He lay a hand casually on the hilt of a long, plain samurai-esque sword strapped to his belt and snorted. No need to be a gentleman, here, though. Be her a woman or not, she would get the same treatment as everyone else.
"To answer your questions," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "Angelo, and visiting." No, not that he thought it helped the situation any...
Right. He was going to play as well, all the more fun. Dydrial glanced to the desk where she had so foolishly left her whip, then made a mental note that it would do no good, if the worst came. Setting cold gray eyes on the man again and laying the folder she held upon a neglected stack of the like, she let the smallest amusement slip into her tone, "No one ever 'visits' here. Everyone has a purpose for coming and going nowadays, even you I'd suppose. So if you would be so kind as to state it, Mr. Angelo..."
She knew the man before her was dangerous. Knew it well and good, and that sword he so casually petted did not help the mental images of what he was capable of. Still, Dydrial felt herself becoming ever so calm, as she always did when presented with a dangerous situation. Not like she hadn't live a long, if not full life.
A thousand thoughts passed through his mind at that point. So many words he wanted to say, and so many he knew he had to restrain himself from actually saying. Such things as, 'knocking you unconscious and stealing all information that I know you have' just wasn't going to fly. Another vague thought passed through his mind as he, just for a second, wondered if sensing that foolish guard's presence was an act of god. But he dismissed the thought when he realized he was not currently on speaking terms with his dear deity.
And so the subtleties continued. He took a step forward, not threateningly, not menacingly... and yet with a flick of his wrist, his hand was off the handle of his sword and was throwing the door shut.
"As a traveler, I require bedding for the night," he said. "I saw your failure of a watchman out on the bell tower, and it became apparent to me that this place was not overrun." Short and sweet. And he mindfully left out the, 'and I will go through your things as you sleep tonight' part. Satisfied, his stance relaxed slightly, hand finding its place back to rest on his sword.
Her mind was still racing to figure him out, a habit of hers as a scientist. Something familiar plucked at the back of her mind, but escaped her grasp. As if she should know something about this man. The name didn't ring a bell... but it wasn't uncommon to change a name. Not like there were records anymore.
She watched him shut the door with that inhuman grace all too familiar to her, and allowed herself the faintest smirk, unnaturally red lips tugging upward at one corner. "Yes," she drolled quietly, "I will have to talk to Seth about his guard duties. Still, you slipping in here unnoticed by anyone else seems a tiny bit strange. But then, given your nature, I'm not surprised you were able to do it. You seem... very capable. For a blind man."
She couldn't help but wonder if he had been discovered and simply disposed of the person or people. Her face held a little strain at that, it wasn't something that could be helped now, if it were the case. At least he wasn't ransacking the place... yet. Perhaps he was after her research, to see what she'd learned. Or perhaps he was after the locations of their allies and information. It seemed the most likely reason for his presence and docile nature thus far. She still wondered why he hadn't killed her to get it...
"I am not so cold as to turn out a weary traveler, Angelo. But I do like to know a bit about them before I give them a room and a few of our precious rations." She sat down in a squeaky swivel chair, watching the deadly grace in his every motion and trying to see past the glaring aura that invaded her second sight.
"Without my vision, the other senses grew stronger," he said dully. His mind danced on the idea of this crossing the line over into ridiculous. Questioning? Oh, come now. And yet he stood still with no signs of emotion on his face. Again, his mind shifted. Perhaps he could just tie her up and leave her for dead... But, she'd never talk then, would she? His thoughts went back to the situation being ridiculous. He had no doubts he would be doing this all night. He was not here to question her. Questioning, torture, and all that fun stuff was for later.
Right. Later. If later would just come already. "Understand that I will not hand out any information I see unfit for you to acquire. I require no rations from you. Merely a bed to spend the night in."
She almost chuckled. His annoyance was almost palpable. She wondered how she found gambling with her life to be amusing, but such were things now. Between killing demons and gathering information, one just had to find a few fun thing to do. Still... he seemed very bored indeed. Might as well get this over and see what he was truly up to.
She stood and shrugged out of the lab coat, laying it on the chair and walking for the door, side-stepping him on the way, "Then please, come this way. Although... I'm afraid our accommodations are very limited. There is a small room with a bed available, but it's little more than that." It was, in truth, a very large closet connected to her room. She found no better way to keep an eye on "guests" than to have them right next door.
He did not so much as turn his head in her direction as she walked, did not flinch, did not show any signs of a desire to follow her. His scowl just deepened as she passed him, and were his eyes in plain view, she would have caught a glimpse of very functional blue eyes narrowing. And were he not so exhausted, Angelo would have taken such an opportunity to turn and leave. Something simply rubbed him the wrong way about the things she said and the way she spoke.
"I hope I would not be in any place to wake you as I leave in the morning," he said, still not even so much as facing her. "I plan on leaving before you so much as wake up." And it was half true, after all. So much for the grand inquisition, though. So much, indeed.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry of that," she spoke casually, opening the door and trusting that he would follow her, regardless of any 'handicaps' he may have had. "I rise very early. And that's if I go to bed at all. My work keeps me up most nights..." She turned slightly for her introduction, "My name, by the way, is Dydrial. As I'm sure you know. If you need anything during your brief stay here, don't hesitate to ask. You will be staying quite close to my quarters, but if you need to leave at any time it will not be a bother to me."
She made her way slowly, smiling the slightest. Oh no, it wouldn't be a bother at all. She'd be watching him like a hawk watches a mouse. Albeit, a very large, very dangerous one that might kill said hawk.
"Actually, I had no idea of your name," he said, taking a step forward, beginning to follow her at a slower pace than he had liked to. Oh, playing the blind card was not his idea of a good time. "What an odd thing to say."
He had almost mentally struck out the idea of snooping. How it had worked so well in the past. Damnable woman. One thing was for sure, though. He was to be out of here before dawn. And so he strode forward, not even seeming to acknowledge the woman in his path as he passed her.
He stopped suddenly, turning towards Dydrial and nodding slowly more to himself than anything else. "Thank you."
She arched one brow as he passed her, noting how easily he got around. She idly wondered how the devil... or part-devil, could see or sense his path so well with his blindfold on. Such an odd man. Part-devil... wait. There were very, very few who carried the blood of both worlds. Her curiosity peaked as her mind explored a few different possibilities.
"I'm sorry, I just assumed you had asked someone on the way to my lab. There are several hunters still up and about upstairs. Which brings me to wonder how you already seem to know your way around here." She stopped, deciding to halt this charade of ignorance, her voice kept quiet. "If there is something you need other than rest, devil, then do let me know now, or be well on your way." She was silently thankful that the hallways were empty.
"I followed the sound of your movements to this spot," he said, holding back the urge to begin twitching. So that was what he got for being nice? "And are you aware of how loud you breathe? With a comment like that, along with your breathing, I should put a muzzle on you."
He wasn't classy, he wasn't a gentleman. Angelo knew this. He spun on his heels, turning his back to her. Drift. Who the hell was he going to ask on the way up here? The birds? Wander. Several hunters? Fools, one and all, these humans. Shift. He scolded himself for thinking at all. Yet such were his thoughts of late, constantly jumping around in his head for no apparent purpose. Wander. Was it a sign of him finally snapping?
"Be careful who you call 'devil', miss," he stated simply, not bothering to look over his shoulder at her, "before the real demons come out to play."
"Fine," she answered in the same quiet, dull tone as before. Both to him and to herself. Insolent, mean little devil he was, though. At least he wasn't in a kill-maim-destroy mood. Yet. "I do apologize, I hope my thunderous huffs and puffs don't disturb your sleep. You seem to dearly need it..."
She strolled a little quicker, passing him as they neared her door. Taking a small key out of one of the long sleeves of her dress, she unlocked the door and entered, holding it open for him to pass, then shutting it and moving to unlock the "room" she had designated for her ill-mannered guest. "Here we are, make yourself as comfortable as you can, and do rap on the door should my loud, human noises bother you. An old thing called Ductape works better than a muzzle." Her tone held a dry, mirthless sort of humor.
He frowned. Not much of a 'gracious host', was she? It was just as well. He placed a hand on the knob of the door in front of him, although purposely fumbling to find it. Mind wandering again, he decided he really should have been more active in theatre back in school. What an actor he was. Shifting again. Back in school? How long ago was that, exactly? What would the people he went to school with think if... Wander.
"If I truly wanted to silence you, you would not have a mouth to tape," he said, again not looking at her. "Goodnight, miss. I do hope no act of devilry I commit at all during the night disturbs your wondrous little science projects."
And with that, he walked into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.
A very small, very rare chuckled rumbled softly in her throat. Acts of devilry indeed, his manners could certainly be called one. Well... it wasn't as if she were the most sociable person in the world. Trusting that a blind man wouldn't come out to peep, she dressed for bed, but busied herself with a small book on the night stand of her reasonably-sized bedroom. It wouldn't be long before she could ascertain his intentions... she'd just read a bit 'til then. Though her mind kept wandering, and her eyes blurring. It had been a long, long day. And night.
Rating: Uhh... PG? I think? I don't think they even curse at each other. Lots of talk of killing, though. Hee. *pets A*
The night was unusually quiet. Few distant growls, and no nearby scuttles in the darkness. While that normally would have comforted Seth as he sat in his semi-protected tower, something simply did not feel right. Like one of those times when the hair stands up on the back of your neck, and you aren't sure why. The man's thin, corded frame leaned perilously over the side of the railing in the bell tower of Greystone, formerly a church in more civilized days. Or at least that's what the leader of their happy little group told him. Dydrial had tried to explain to the twenty-something hunter-scavenger what things were like before the Inferno opened and swallowed the blue sky and all the niceties of life. Seth still didn't believe her. It just seemed too far-fetched from the literal hell-on-earth that was modern-day existence. Adjusting his night-vision goggles - they never seemed to work just right, the relic they were - and peering around from his perch, Seth still saw nothing to be alarmed about. He looked to the small sparrow in the tiny, rusted cage dangling on a hanger where the bell had once been, and noted the bird seemed just as uneasy as he was. It chirped in a wary, frightened manner and flitted from one barred side to the next. Still... couldn't alert anyone below to trouble if there was no enemy in sight. Besides, Dydrial never liked being interrupted while in her very own little shop of horrors... or the lab, as she so simply called it.
More than a hundred feet below Seth's bell tower post, Dydrial Wenshire thumbed carefully through one of tens of file cabinets filled with frail, yellowing papers. Her research would soon need to be copied onto newer paper, whenever some became available. The caravans were getting very stingy nowadays, and money was always low. Wiping a deceptively slender hand over the fine mist on her brow, she drew out the folder she needed and moved through the cramped space of her laboratory, gracefully avoiding every organized mess and pile. Vials and jars lined every wall-space available, and the rest was crowded with machinery and a couple of computers that by some miracle, still worked. Thank God for the electricity she was able to rig, though maintaining the generators and frail wind-mills was an irritating and often costly task. Refrigerated units stored various samples of DNA, plasma and blood, along with chemicals and other liquids that needed to avoid exposure to the semi-hot, dry air of the lab.
Storm gray eyes narrowed as she pushed long, black strands of smooth hair away from her face; one of these days she just might have to clean the place.
Clean the place? The woman was lucky that the interior did not just collapse in on itself. Due to the forces of time and gravity, of course, and not of the man standing in the doorway... And of course, if asked, he would have had nothing to do with it. An innocent look would plaster onto his face, and he would play up the "blind" card until the subject had been dropped or it had just been of more convenience to "deal with" the person interrogating him.
Yes, he had let himself in, and inwardly snarked to himself that the man out on the bell tower was one hell of a lousy guard. Ignoring the fact that his black attire allowed him to meld into the shadows and dark of night, the man would use the "guard" as a scapegoat, if asked how he got in. After all, the man who was supposed to be a lookout had an easily detectable human presence, and if the man in black were of more evil intent, the poor guard would not have even had time to repent his actions.
And so the man in the doorway stood as such, waiting from some sort of response or recognition from the woman toying with her little projects.
Dydrial looked up from her work when the slightest glow eased around her line of vision. Her back was to the door, as it had been while she was searching for that file, which not seemed rather unimportant. Her senses prickled with a small nuance of mild malevolence, which was not all that uncommon among the scattered populace in these darker times. What was very unexpected was that dim glow, and as she turned slowly to look upon the man who stood in her doorway - rather uninvited - both of her thin brows arched and her lips parted in shock.
What... the hell... was something like that doing here?
A long moment of mental stuttering passed as her mind raced to comprehend who and what was standing before her, how he got in and why he wasn't killing her. She took in the human in him, the long platinum locks, and the shock of his young face. The oddest thing of all was that blindfold. Finally, she adjusted her stark-white lab coat over her jet-black, rather plain dress, "This area is restricted to visitors. Might I ask who you are and why you are down here?" Her tone was calm and cool. Perfect, she thought, just play stupid.
A small scowl tugged at the man's lips. That voice. That was a voice he’d do best to remember. For a brief moment, he contemplated turning and running. Not because he had anything against her, oh no. Only that Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn. When he had heard of this brilliant scientist, the bearer of such news failed to mention that she was, in fact, female. Suddenly, the ideas of his intentions being caught were all that much more frightening.
He lay a hand casually on the hilt of a long, plain samurai-esque sword strapped to his belt and snorted. No need to be a gentleman, here, though. Be her a woman or not, she would get the same treatment as everyone else.
"To answer your questions," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "Angelo, and visiting." No, not that he thought it helped the situation any...
Right. He was going to play as well, all the more fun. Dydrial glanced to the desk where she had so foolishly left her whip, then made a mental note that it would do no good, if the worst came. Setting cold gray eyes on the man again and laying the folder she held upon a neglected stack of the like, she let the smallest amusement slip into her tone, "No one ever 'visits' here. Everyone has a purpose for coming and going nowadays, even you I'd suppose. So if you would be so kind as to state it, Mr. Angelo..."
She knew the man before her was dangerous. Knew it well and good, and that sword he so casually petted did not help the mental images of what he was capable of. Still, Dydrial felt herself becoming ever so calm, as she always did when presented with a dangerous situation. Not like she hadn't live a long, if not full life.
A thousand thoughts passed through his mind at that point. So many words he wanted to say, and so many he knew he had to restrain himself from actually saying. Such things as, 'knocking you unconscious and stealing all information that I know you have' just wasn't going to fly. Another vague thought passed through his mind as he, just for a second, wondered if sensing that foolish guard's presence was an act of god. But he dismissed the thought when he realized he was not currently on speaking terms with his dear deity.
And so the subtleties continued. He took a step forward, not threateningly, not menacingly... and yet with a flick of his wrist, his hand was off the handle of his sword and was throwing the door shut.
"As a traveler, I require bedding for the night," he said. "I saw your failure of a watchman out on the bell tower, and it became apparent to me that this place was not overrun." Short and sweet. And he mindfully left out the, 'and I will go through your things as you sleep tonight' part. Satisfied, his stance relaxed slightly, hand finding its place back to rest on his sword.
Her mind was still racing to figure him out, a habit of hers as a scientist. Something familiar plucked at the back of her mind, but escaped her grasp. As if she should know something about this man. The name didn't ring a bell... but it wasn't uncommon to change a name. Not like there were records anymore.
She watched him shut the door with that inhuman grace all too familiar to her, and allowed herself the faintest smirk, unnaturally red lips tugging upward at one corner. "Yes," she drolled quietly, "I will have to talk to Seth about his guard duties. Still, you slipping in here unnoticed by anyone else seems a tiny bit strange. But then, given your nature, I'm not surprised you were able to do it. You seem... very capable. For a blind man."
She couldn't help but wonder if he had been discovered and simply disposed of the person or people. Her face held a little strain at that, it wasn't something that could be helped now, if it were the case. At least he wasn't ransacking the place... yet. Perhaps he was after her research, to see what she'd learned. Or perhaps he was after the locations of their allies and information. It seemed the most likely reason for his presence and docile nature thus far. She still wondered why he hadn't killed her to get it...
"I am not so cold as to turn out a weary traveler, Angelo. But I do like to know a bit about them before I give them a room and a few of our precious rations." She sat down in a squeaky swivel chair, watching the deadly grace in his every motion and trying to see past the glaring aura that invaded her second sight.
"Without my vision, the other senses grew stronger," he said dully. His mind danced on the idea of this crossing the line over into ridiculous. Questioning? Oh, come now. And yet he stood still with no signs of emotion on his face. Again, his mind shifted. Perhaps he could just tie her up and leave her for dead... But, she'd never talk then, would she? His thoughts went back to the situation being ridiculous. He had no doubts he would be doing this all night. He was not here to question her. Questioning, torture, and all that fun stuff was for later.
Right. Later. If later would just come already. "Understand that I will not hand out any information I see unfit for you to acquire. I require no rations from you. Merely a bed to spend the night in."
She almost chuckled. His annoyance was almost palpable. She wondered how she found gambling with her life to be amusing, but such were things now. Between killing demons and gathering information, one just had to find a few fun thing to do. Still... he seemed very bored indeed. Might as well get this over and see what he was truly up to.
She stood and shrugged out of the lab coat, laying it on the chair and walking for the door, side-stepping him on the way, "Then please, come this way. Although... I'm afraid our accommodations are very limited. There is a small room with a bed available, but it's little more than that." It was, in truth, a very large closet connected to her room. She found no better way to keep an eye on "guests" than to have them right next door.
He did not so much as turn his head in her direction as she walked, did not flinch, did not show any signs of a desire to follow her. His scowl just deepened as she passed him, and were his eyes in plain view, she would have caught a glimpse of very functional blue eyes narrowing. And were he not so exhausted, Angelo would have taken such an opportunity to turn and leave. Something simply rubbed him the wrong way about the things she said and the way she spoke.
"I hope I would not be in any place to wake you as I leave in the morning," he said, still not even so much as facing her. "I plan on leaving before you so much as wake up." And it was half true, after all. So much for the grand inquisition, though. So much, indeed.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry of that," she spoke casually, opening the door and trusting that he would follow her, regardless of any 'handicaps' he may have had. "I rise very early. And that's if I go to bed at all. My work keeps me up most nights..." She turned slightly for her introduction, "My name, by the way, is Dydrial. As I'm sure you know. If you need anything during your brief stay here, don't hesitate to ask. You will be staying quite close to my quarters, but if you need to leave at any time it will not be a bother to me."
She made her way slowly, smiling the slightest. Oh no, it wouldn't be a bother at all. She'd be watching him like a hawk watches a mouse. Albeit, a very large, very dangerous one that might kill said hawk.
"Actually, I had no idea of your name," he said, taking a step forward, beginning to follow her at a slower pace than he had liked to. Oh, playing the blind card was not his idea of a good time. "What an odd thing to say."
He had almost mentally struck out the idea of snooping. How it had worked so well in the past. Damnable woman. One thing was for sure, though. He was to be out of here before dawn. And so he strode forward, not even seeming to acknowledge the woman in his path as he passed her.
He stopped suddenly, turning towards Dydrial and nodding slowly more to himself than anything else. "Thank you."
She arched one brow as he passed her, noting how easily he got around. She idly wondered how the devil... or part-devil, could see or sense his path so well with his blindfold on. Such an odd man. Part-devil... wait. There were very, very few who carried the blood of both worlds. Her curiosity peaked as her mind explored a few different possibilities.
"I'm sorry, I just assumed you had asked someone on the way to my lab. There are several hunters still up and about upstairs. Which brings me to wonder how you already seem to know your way around here." She stopped, deciding to halt this charade of ignorance, her voice kept quiet. "If there is something you need other than rest, devil, then do let me know now, or be well on your way." She was silently thankful that the hallways were empty.
"I followed the sound of your movements to this spot," he said, holding back the urge to begin twitching. So that was what he got for being nice? "And are you aware of how loud you breathe? With a comment like that, along with your breathing, I should put a muzzle on you."
He wasn't classy, he wasn't a gentleman. Angelo knew this. He spun on his heels, turning his back to her. Drift. Who the hell was he going to ask on the way up here? The birds? Wander. Several hunters? Fools, one and all, these humans. Shift. He scolded himself for thinking at all. Yet such were his thoughts of late, constantly jumping around in his head for no apparent purpose. Wander. Was it a sign of him finally snapping?
"Be careful who you call 'devil', miss," he stated simply, not bothering to look over his shoulder at her, "before the real demons come out to play."
"Fine," she answered in the same quiet, dull tone as before. Both to him and to herself. Insolent, mean little devil he was, though. At least he wasn't in a kill-maim-destroy mood. Yet. "I do apologize, I hope my thunderous huffs and puffs don't disturb your sleep. You seem to dearly need it..."
She strolled a little quicker, passing him as they neared her door. Taking a small key out of one of the long sleeves of her dress, she unlocked the door and entered, holding it open for him to pass, then shutting it and moving to unlock the "room" she had designated for her ill-mannered guest. "Here we are, make yourself as comfortable as you can, and do rap on the door should my loud, human noises bother you. An old thing called Ductape works better than a muzzle." Her tone held a dry, mirthless sort of humor.
He frowned. Not much of a 'gracious host', was she? It was just as well. He placed a hand on the knob of the door in front of him, although purposely fumbling to find it. Mind wandering again, he decided he really should have been more active in theatre back in school. What an actor he was. Shifting again. Back in school? How long ago was that, exactly? What would the people he went to school with think if... Wander.
"If I truly wanted to silence you, you would not have a mouth to tape," he said, again not looking at her. "Goodnight, miss. I do hope no act of devilry I commit at all during the night disturbs your wondrous little science projects."
And with that, he walked into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.
A very small, very rare chuckled rumbled softly in her throat. Acts of devilry indeed, his manners could certainly be called one. Well... it wasn't as if she were the most sociable person in the world. Trusting that a blind man wouldn't come out to peep, she dressed for bed, but busied herself with a small book on the night stand of her reasonably-sized bedroom. It wouldn't be long before she could ascertain his intentions... she'd just read a bit 'til then. Though her mind kept wandering, and her eyes blurring. It had been a long, long day. And night.