(no subject)
"My dear, your stuttering is one of your more distinct qualities, but at the moment if you would desist in any chattering
that would be most appreciated."
"Tyki!"
"Shhh. Now isn't a good time."
"But... you--- you said w-we were not going to bother with it."
"At that moment. This is a different moment, is it not?"
He wedged a crowbar between the two ornate doors. Each one was crafted of dark, red wood with with frosted glass that must have taken a workshop an entire year to etch all the fine designs in it. While the room was quite a landmark in this home away from home, it was only open at certain times of the year. The Yule Ball, a tea party or two (though as of late that started to change rooms to make the locals less aware), and sometimes an anniversary celebration to name a few. Not that anyone had figured out what yearly tradition was being celebrated nor was there really a method in which to inquire.
But during the off days that turned into months the grand ballroom remained locked. Closed off. Tyki had tried to simply walk through the door and the episode that followed still left his pride smarting. Miranda seemed to fair a bit better. At least the wood looked more freshly cut when she tried to reverse time on it. But at the end of their efforts the door still stood, smug and arrogant as if almost laughing at them. Well, they weren't going to stand for that, were they?
"I still don't know w-what you want in there."
Well, at least one of them wasn't. Thus they, or Tyki, was reduced to more rock and grindstone, mud and muscle methods. Crowbar. Sledgehammer. Pick axe. Bessy, though he was pretty sure that would ricochet and make the remainder of the night rather unpleasant. His current female turned accomplice huffed at him again. And he really couldn't blame her if he thought about it. The Mistress that ran this place wanted this room closed for a reason. Coming out with four legs could be the best result of catching her ire.
"My, you'll just have to trust me that it is important. Can't let it fall into hands that would abuse it, can we?"
He put his shoulder to it and the door gave way with an audible click as if someone had opened it from the other side. He stared at the opening a bit dumbfounded, but quickly recovered. He counted to three as he stood up. Miranda squeaked behind him. As an immediate response no green women, frozen lake monsters or angry, sharp talon birds came to great the pair. Tyki shrugged laying the crowbar over his shoulder like an umbrella and offering his other arm to Miranda.
"I don't know. About this..." But she took his arm anyway. Danger sometimes seemed a distant memory when one was nigh invincible anyway.
Tyki gave her a reassuring smile and took a step in. The once wide and lasciviously decorated room was a mess. Boxes littered the floor. There was one large cake two stories tall in a corner with each layer a different shade of the rainbow. It was avoided. A tea kettle as large as a cow stood in one clearing of boxes bubbling and whistling. Chains hang from the ceiling, but at least they were devoid of bodies this time around. Tyki had to push a few boxes aside as Miranda swatted away books with teeth. They both ducked under a pair of flying undergarments before he found his acquired target. It was an old photo album brown and aged and bound together with at thick chord. It read 'DR MANAGEMENT: THE RECONSTRUCTION PHASE' in a curly script. He tucked it under one arm and motioned to Miranda it was quite time to leave. Worn welcome and all that. She gave him a look for a few moments, skeptical at his findings, before she complied, and they left.
They surely didn't see the eyes open on the walls as they left. Nor a wall shine and reflect with memories of a year past. And they both completely missed a small price tag hanging off the side of the photo album which read 'Price: 100 hours community service.' Besides, it was going right into the fireplace once they found the closest sitting room. It was the only suitable end for the album. For what was contained in that album should never grace this land or any. Those picture of the Countess in her less than her formal attire.
Truly, the two were doing the world a favor they couldn't even comprehend.