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Post by Tesser on Apr 27, 2012 23:03:46 GMT -5
Tesser like the sound of his voice. It sounded like it hadn't smiled in a long long time, and so it sounded new and fresh. Tesser loved new things, and she hung on her Doctor's words. However, no sooner were they spoken, then her smile fell somewhat. She digested what he said slowly, carefully, making sure each word meant what she thought it did. Having taken a moment to do so, she nodded in slow, and resigned agreement. "You're right." She sighed. "It's a problem. Sometimes I forget things, and then I get them all messed up. When I was less than I am now, I used to try really really hard, but I'm not very good at it." Rubbing her eyes through her blindfold in a sudden and extremely child-like mannerism, she tilted her face back up at her doctor, and asked plaintively, "It's okay, isn't it? If I'm not quite there yet? You aren't angry, are you?"
She trailed off, her thoughts turned inwards, but her face tilted up to the light. She remained somber until her Doctor spoke again. At the thought of a room, she smiled again. A little less broadly than before, but perhaps that was just because of the yawn that interrupted her. "A room? She exclaimed. "There's a room for me? How did you know? How many rooms are there anyways? Was it always for me, or is it yours too? Does it know my name?" As she continued her barrage, she slipped off the stool and slipped a hand back into her Doctor's own massive palm.
She felt dwarfed by him, but was not afraid. In her heart of hearts, she knew that he was a man to be feared. But she was also acutely aware she had no need to feel so, and for her, that was enough.
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on Apr 27, 2012 23:52:15 GMT -5
"Angry?" The child's words caught him off guard. Just why would he be angry with her? What logical reason would he have for becoming upset with this child? Did she believe that because she did not possess the same level of intellect as he that she deserved his wrath? What foolishness had this world imparted on her? She had acknowledged that she needed to learn, and had not pouted about it. What more could one ask from a girl of her age?
"Remember this, Tesser: knowing that we do not know everything is extremely important, for when we begin to believe that we know everything we close our eyes to all that could be, and stop learning... And when we stop learning our mind grows tired, and a tired mind makes mistakes and brings about our end." Nathaniel said in a serious yet soft tone so as not to frighten the girl, but make clear that what he was saying was important.
A moment later Tesser became excited at the prospect of getting her own room, and then began asking a barrage of questions. Sinister chose to answer only the last, "Does it know my name?"
"Perhaps." He replied after he stood up from the stool. He offered Tesser his hand to guide her, a somewhat fatherly grin on his lips. "Shall we?"
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Post by Tesser on Apr 28, 2012 0:21:43 GMT -5
Tesser considered his words very seriously as they walked, hand in hand. It reminded Tesser of the people who walked through Chicago, or Gotham, or LA, or any other city really. They weren't that different, and now neither was Tesser. She pondered for a while very seriously, before coming to a sudden understanding. With a bright little "Oh!"{/color] She looked up at her Doctor with the excitement of one who has just made a grand discovery and can't wait to share it.
"That's why you're not dead!" she proclaimed. "You're really old, so you ought to be dead, but your not. And now I know! It' s because you know that you don't know all the things yet, and so you have to look young because you aren't dumb enough to be old yet, even though you are old..." She paused. The words had come out in a rush, and - looking back - not even she was sure if she had made the point she had wanted to. However, it hardly mattered to her because she was already off again.
"I'm going to be old but young too! I'm going to be 200 years old too, no, 300, no 400! I'm going to have to keep learning things forever, and then I'll be like you!
Having made her point, she smiled comfortably. She was rather proud of herself. Doctors liked thinking over action, and she had just done a thinking thing. That was good, right? She trotted easily beside him, keeping pace with his long strides. For a while, she was content to do just that, and happily watched the fine hallways pass by. Suddenly, though, she asked a question of him. "How long have you been waiting for someone?"
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on Apr 29, 2012 6:56:20 GMT -5
Nathaniel's smile broadened slightly as the child took his hand. ~How very small.~[/color] He thought to himself as his large hand covered Tesser's. His grip was very gentle, like he believed her tiny hand was more fragile than a chicken egg. As he guided the girl out of the kitchen, back into the main hall he cast a glance her way, partially in disbelief and partially out of simple joy.
The two headed for the large staircase as Tesser began theorizing as to the reason for Dr. Essex looking so young and being so very old. By the time they had reached the second floor she had seemingly finished her thought, which oddly enough made some sort of sense in Sinister's mind. ~She's brighter than I thought. Though her ideas are not quite exact, and it is likely she does not realize they are not too far from the truth either, it is still rather impressive that she is seemingly able to pick up on these things. I wonder...~[/color]
"I'm going to be old but young too! I'm going to be 200 years old too, no, 300, no 400! I'm going to have to keep learning things forever, and then I'll be like you!" The words were shocking, of course. Never had he heard somebody say they actually wanted to be like him. But again, this child probably had not an inkling as to what all that entailed.
"Don't strive to be like me, Tesser." He said as he turned left at the newel post and started walking toward a pair of double doors. "Oh no, be better than me. It should be the goal of all young people to surpass those who came before." He said softly, and then stopped at the double doors, their brass handles shimmering. "Set your goals beyond the clouds, beyond the stars, reach for that perfection only Heaven has possessed... Dare to dream what no one has never dreamed before." Nathaniel said as he looked down at the girl a bit dreamy eyed.
Then, once more, she said something that caught him by surprise. ~How long...?~ He asked himself. "I don't know," was his simple reply.
Dr. Essex released the child's hand, turned to his right, and then grasped both handles. He twisted the brass handles and pushed open the large wooden doors, revealing a grand bedroom with a king sized bed with canopy at its center. The canopy frame was silver, and seemed to be shaped like thin tree branches. The canopy curtains were white and a bit see-through. The bed sheets were snow white, as were the pillow cases and comforter. This room was one of the few that actually had carpet, and that carpet was thick and matched the bed covers perfectly. There was a large ceder wardrobe just to the left of the bed, and then all the way on the right side of the room was a nice cushioned window seat in front of a big window that overlooked the street, and its curtains were also snow white. Between the window seat and the bed was the crystal-like handled door that went to the walk-in closet, which was empty at the moment. Finally, opposite the window, was the hall going to the bathroom. The bathroom had a large white porcelain bathtub probably big enough for three people of Tesser's size to fit in comfortably. Its faucets were brass, just like the door handles, as were faucets of the lavatory. There was also a sectioned off shower that took up about a quarter of the room, with distorted glass and a sliding door. There was also, of course, a toilet that matched the tub. The flooring was white polished Babylon, as were the the walls.
"I hope this room will be to your liking, Tesser." He said kindly as he stepped aside for her to enter.
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Post by Tesser on Apr 29, 2012 12:45:47 GMT -5
"Whoa." Tesser said, almost reverently, when Sinister finished speaking. He probably didn't even realize it, but that was Tesser's very first inspirational speech, and she took it very much to heart. For the rest of the walk, she was quite, mulling over the possibilities of what he said. If he was right, as Tesser believed he was, than she was suddenly surrounded by new possibilities. That she was not confined to a life of living up to what she had been told, but that she could become greater. Greater than the fake doctors, greater than Antebellum Spike, greater than the KFC man, and - most shocking of all - Greater than her Doctor?
Something very small and unfamiliar began to grow in the pit of Tesser's stomach and the back of her mind. It was like an ember that glowed hot and bright. Tesser had never before experienced ambition beyond getting food and staying alive, and she didn't even know the word for the new sensation. It was small yet, but she latched onto it as it grew, becoming more and more secure in the thought that she could, she would become better. Better than all of them, the best.
Just as she came to this realization, her doctor stopped before a door and opened it, saying "I hope this room will be to your liking, Tesser." And stepped behind for her to enter. She looked into the room and gasped. It was white, and pure, and clean. Everything inside of it was soft, and smooth and for a moment the girl couldn't bring herself to move. Looking down at herself, she was suddenly very aware of how little she fit into this grand mansion with the beautiful objects and the pristine rooms. However, she took a deep breath and took firm hold of her new ambition and set one bare foot onto the carpet.
Immediately, her demeanor changed, and she fell the rest of the way into the room. Laying on the carpet for a moment, she jumped back up and ran through the side door into the bathroom, oohing and ahhing at the floors, the brass handles, the curtains, the view from the window. Everything was perfect and beautiful to her. Finally, shyly, she walked back up to the door where her Doctor still stood.
Looking up at him she smiled. "Its like a movie, or a dream, only, I'm not going to wake up, am I? This is, you are, real. I know you are, because you're not perfect, and real things aren't perfect. But neither am I, and in a hundred years when this building falls in ruin and the ceiling collapses and it's not white anymore, it'll still be perfect. And I'll still be here, because, I'm going to be great. Greater than the president, and the joker, and the girl who sings on the corner of First and Amistad, and..." She faltered a little before grinning again and saying with a warm grin "And even you."
Then, with a softer voice, she said "You don't have to wait anymore."
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on Apr 30, 2012 7:24:06 GMT -5
Nathaniel watched the child gleefully as she ran about like a…well, like what she was; a giddy little girl. Strangely enough, he took genuine pleasure in seeing this girl made happy. Needless to say, it was very atypical for Mister Sinister, but he didn’t let it bother him. This was an experiment, and he was determined to see it through.
After some time Tesser finally slowed down and came to stand before him. Her following words were not only shocking, but also delightful to Sinister’s ears, and held much promise. Was this truly happening? Essex wondered. Did this small street child really wish to learn all that the universe held? Did she want to surpass Darwin, and Einstein, and even Dr. Nathaniel Essex? Did she even realize what an incredible task that would be? Unlikely. But even so, it was still quite astounding.
~Such passion. Such ambition! What an interesting girl you have turned out to be, Ms. Tesser.~[/color] He thought to himself. ”Truly wonderful.” Essex thought aloud, his grin even and wide. ”You know,” he started as he moved back to lean on the banister. ”In order to reach your goal you will have to study a great deal. I have studied, performed experiments, and practiced my professions for over a hundred years. Surpassing me will be no easy task…” The red clad mutant was not try to detour her, but simply make her a bit more aware of the trials ahead of her, and also see her reaction once she understood things a little better.
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Post by Tesser on Apr 30, 2012 9:16:37 GMT -5
Tesser walked back out to stand next to her Doctor, clamboring monkey-like to sit on the broad banister he leaned on. Swinging her legs in the air, she mulled over his words, pursing her lips and her brow creasing. "Is that what you've done forever since you've been alive? Learned?" She shrugged one shoulder awkwardly, like a crow. "I dunno... I'm not very good at remembering things." However, his last sentence "Surpassing me will be no easy task," made her decision.
"That's why it's fun. It's not important if the only person I manage to beat is... is... is someone not strong." Grinning as if she had said something important, and nodded to herself. A moment later, howver, her expression changed and she looked up at Sinister. "Doctor, what if I forget? I forget things sometimes, what if I go away and then I forget and I never make it? What happens if you forget, do you die then? Will you die?"
She swallowed, knocking one foot against the wall behind her agitatedly. Her confusion by time had never bothered her before, and she wasn't sure she liked being bothered by it now. But, she wasn't sure she could go back, either.
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on May 1, 2012 16:17:42 GMT -5
"Is that what you've done forever since you've been alive? Learned?" Tesser's words caused Nathaniel to stop and think. He really had spent a great deal of his life just learning. Ever since he was a young boy he had been studying, and continued studying into his adulthood, and for over a hundred years he spent his days and nights studying, experimenting, plotting, and of course dealing with those who sought to stop his experiments. Now that he thought about it, he had not really spent much of his time having even a remotely normal life, or anything resembling a social life. Although, there were those very rare occasions when Dr. Essex would host a party or something. But, even though his life would probably seem quite sad to most, Mr. Sinister was quite satisfied with how it had gone so far. He was even content in his failures simply because he did not choose to view them as such, he chose to think of them as basic trial and error, and from every error he learned something more.
"Doctor, what if I forget? I forget things sometimes, what if I go away and then I forget and I never make it? What happens if you forget, do you die then? Will you die?"
As intelligent as Sinister was, he did not fully understand the ramblings of this unstable girl. What could he say to her? What could he say to help her? Nathaniel looked down on the child with sadness, and then gently placed a hand atop her head. "My memory is impeccable, so if a time comes that you do forget, I will remind you. However far away, and however long you stay, I will remember for you, Tesser. I will watch over you, and see to it that you meet your goals...no matter how long it takes." He gingerly slid his hand off her head, and then slipped it into his pants pocket, a modest grin curving the corners of his mouth slightly.
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Post by Tesser on May 1, 2012 20:21:59 GMT -5
Tesser gasped a little when her Doctor put his hand on her head. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the gestures. She had never seen it before. It wasn't harmful, though, he wasn't trying to hurt her, or yelling at her. Instead, it felt, warm. Like they were connected. She looked up at him happily, enjoying the feeling of being with someone, even being like someone. It was... good. She had hoped that, since he was so smart, he would know how to make her remember, and so when he finally answered her it was a little disappointing. However, it was the truth, and s he kept on speaking she felt a huge grin grow on her face.
"You mean it, don't you." It was not a question, she knew it as the truth, had seen his honesty growing inside him as the words formed themselves in the air. She felt the air catch in her throat and for a moment was at a loss. "No matter how long it takes..?" she repeated wonderingly. "Then I won't let you down. I promise."
She was a little sad when he removed his hand, but didn't show it, instead sliding off the banister and landing with a thud on the ground. Cartwheeling towards a nearby window, she looked out, then back at her Doctor, gesturing for him to join her. "I've got to go soon," She said, and looked pointedly at him, continuing, "and so do you." She pointed out the window to where a distant highway appeared to be a river of light. "That's where I'm going, and not you. But can we come back here? Can we be us again?" She bit her lip. "I don't, I don't want to forget, but I might, and then I want you to remind me. So can we come back?" She waited, hopeful, anticipating his answer.
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on May 2, 2012 12:31:34 GMT -5
She was, indeed, a fascinating child. The way she seemed to get so happy over tiny things, and spoke her mind even though her mind was a mess. She seemed kind of lonely, but only because she appeared to be so joyous to be around somebody who was kind to her. She was, in some ways, quite similar to Nathaniel. Perhaps that's why he was so drawn to her? Were those little similarities enough to cause his usually icy demeanor to change...to grow warm?
"I've got to go soon," Tesser said, and Mr. Sinister's spirits fell. "And so do you."
~What an odd statement. Where must I go? I don't understand.~ Dr. Essex thought to himself as he took a couple steps toward Tesser as she pointed out the window.
"That's where I'm going, and not you. But can we come back here? Can we be us again? I don't, I don't want to forget, but I might, and then I want you to remind me. So can we come back?"
The madman grinned a tender grin, and took his place beside the child. "I would like that." He replied softly, a hand gently resting on her little head. "Before you do go, Tesser, I would like to do something for you. Would that be alright?" He asked as he stared out the window.
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Post by Tesser on May 2, 2012 15:57:01 GMT -5
Tesser breathed a sigh of relief when her Doctor agreed with her, that they could come back to this house. She thought they probably couldn't come back to this time, but that only made her excited for what the next time would be. Maybe this was what time was like. When he joined her, he placed his hand back on her head in a familiar gesture and, in turn, Tesser leaned against his leg, not even reaching his hip and her frame tiny in comparison to his own massive one. She felt that nothing could touch this man, and as long as she was next to him, nothing could touch her either.
As he continued speaking, Tesser looked up in surprise. "For me? But... Doctor. You've already given so much." At this, she spread her free arm wide, as if to encompass everything in the house. "You have to keep yourself too. But," she paused, curiosity growing inside her like a virus, "If you want to. I'm game."
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on May 4, 2012 12:18:37 GMT -5
Dr. Essex grinned down at Tesser, who was leaning against him. It felt strange to have her so close to him, but simultaneously it felt...right. How could something so simple bring about such powerful feelings, especially in one such as Sinister? He felt oddly warm, and calm, yet joyous at the same time. ~What power you have, small one.~ The doctor thought to himself, his gaze locked on the girl.
"Good." He replied simply, and then turned around to head toward the bedroom. "Follow me." He said before entering the room. With a mere thought he caused the water to start running in the tub at a nice balance of hot and cold. Then, as he entered the bathroom, a bottle of bubbling soap opened, and a bit of the liquid was poured into the running water. The bottle was capped again using the power of Nathaniel's telekinesis, and was placed back on the edge of the tub. "But first, you will need to wash up. There are towels and soap in the cabinet by the shower." He stated, and the shut the water off, this time using his hands.
The large man walked back out of the bathroom, into the center of the bedroom and removed his jacket. He flung the red jacket over one shoulder, letting it hang on his index finger. "Once you've finished I will have something waiting for you." He said with a soft smile, and then exited the bedroom so that Tesser could bathe in privacy.
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Post by Tesser on May 5, 2012 16:32:35 GMT -5
Tesser followed him as he re-entered her room, wondering as he magically made the magic turn on in the tub and liquid poured into it. She rushed to the edge of the tub and watched in amazement as the water thundering from the faucet, mixing up the growing bath and bubbles sprang up on the surface. Laughing delightedly, she reached down and scooped some up, holding them up to the light and 'ohhing' as rainbows played off their surfaces. Then, bringing them close to her face, she sniffed them cautiously before sticking out her tongue to taste one. It popped and she squeaked in surprise, nose wrinkling at the taste of the soapy bubble.
"Bleaugh!" Then, looking up to her Doctor who had been speaking, asked, "Why do I gotta wash first? What is it?" He, however, only turned off the water -- using his hands this time, she noted -- and stepped back to the door. She followed him with her eyes, bubbles forgotten momentarily. She didn't like his leaving. "You'll be waiting too, right?" She stood perfectly still, not moving towards the bathtub until she got her answer.
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Post by Nathaniel Essex on May 7, 2012 10:39:22 GMT -5
Mr. Sinister stopped when he heard the child call out to him with her question. ~So...you've become a bit attached as well, haven't you?~ He thought to himself, and then turned to face Tesser. He grinned softly, and then replied, "Of course. Now, take your time washing up; it might be a little while before your surprise is ready." With that said he turned and started heading for the stairs.
Once he had reached the bottom he went behind the stairs where a vintage ligneous rotary dial telephone sat on a little wooden table with a drawer. He took the receiver in his left hand, and then dialed with his right hand, the rotary making a little clicking sound after every number. The phone rang a few times, and then a woman's voice came on.
"Hello. This is Monique Designs. How may I help you?"
"This is Dr. Essex. Put Monique on the line." He said blandly.
"Oh! Right away, sir."[/i] The receptionist replied, sounding just a little startled. The line went dead for all of 8 eight seconds, and then a woman with a thin French accent answered.
"Dr. Essex! How nice to hear from you again. How long has it been now?"[/i]
"Too long, mon chere." Nathaniel replied, reminding himself of his old enemy, Remy, for a moment with the mixture of French and English in one sentence.
"So, what can I do for you this time? A new suit? Or perhaps a nice tuxedo?"[/i] She asked in a bubbly voice.
"A dress. Actually, several. I'd like a large selection to be brought to my home in Chicago." He said, thinking nothing of how odd the statement must have sounded to Monique.
"Dresses...? Uhm... Okay. What size?"[/i] Monique inquired, her once bubbly tone now filled with confusion and caution.
"I'm not exactly sure. But, I believe she is between age seven and age nine, so bring a variety. Oh, and they need to be here within the hour."
"Within the...?"[/i]
"Don't fret. I will make it well worth your while. Good bye, Monique." He said coolly, and then hung up the phone.
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Post by Tesser on May 7, 2012 17:22:34 GMT -5
Tesser nodded gravely at his agreement. She believed him, though since she knew he was telling the truth, perhaps her trust meant less than it might otherwise. It was all she had to give, though, so she took it very seriously. She shut the door, standing on a stool in order to lock it. She had never been in an official bathroom taking an official bath, and wasn't quite sure how she was suppose to feel about the man in the next room. She liked him, but this was way out of her comfort zone. Carefully checking to make sure she was entirely alone, she tip-toed over to the tub and tested the water carefully.
It was deliciously warm an the bubbles tickled her skin. She loved the way the light played like rainbows off of them and she could see her face reflected in them. Laughing at the hilarious proportions shown there, she peeled off layers of dirty and worn street cloths and submerged herself under the water. Soon, sounds of splashing and laughter could be heard beyond the door, along with the occasional cry of "I'm a Yellow Submarine! Grrrrrrr!"
She took her Doctor's advice to take her time very much to heart, and didn't leave the tub until the water had cooled off exponentially and the bubbles had all but dispersed. Finally getting out, she retrieved a massive towel from the cabinet and wrapped it around her several times until she appeared to be dressed in an exotic costume, complete with a long train trailing out behind her.
Unlocking the door again she cracked it open just enough to let her voice carry out. "Doctor? Are you there? I'm all done." She waited anxiously for an answer from the beyond.
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