one painting burned

[thehangedrose]

[Open the journal, and you might hear the slight mumble of somebody talking to himself under his breath.]

Okay, so right now, I need to go get eggs, and milk, and ooh, stop by the laundromat for the handkerchief, and-

[There's an abrupt pause.]

Wait. This isn't...

[Garry looks around, realizing that this is not the place he was in before. No, this isn't the outside of an art gallery. This is a lobby of some building he's never been before. Huh.]

I'm...just going to leave now. Yes. [There's the sound of stamping as Garry wanders over to the door of the lobby.] See, there are doors, I can just go and lea-

[CREAAKKK. The doors opens, and that is definitely the outside. But not any outside he knows.]

...What. Why is-what's going on? And what keeps poking me in my coat...?

[A few ruffling noises, and then suddenly, whatever Garry has discovered in his coat sends him into a state of agitated hyperventilation.]

No. No no no no NO NO NO. Th-this...this can't be happening. This is all just  some sort of mental kickback to what happened before, a-and...why do I have this? I shouldn't have this...

I'm finally going crazy, right? That's it...that explains everything. Good for you, Garry, you're insane. I knew that place would do horrible things to my mental health...

[A long pause, before he adds, quietly:]

At least I haven't seen any dolls yet...

Comments

[precede]

[ He smirks, shifting his weight and narrowing his eyes at the man for a moment. ]

There's no such thing as fair, sweetheart.

[thehangedrose]

Yes, there is!

[He lets out a rather childish huff, crossing his arms.]

Fair exists, I'm certain about it. Anyways...I shouldn't be here. It's not where I belong at all.

[precede]

[ Klaus pokes the guy on the shoulder with a surprisingly strong finger, just to amuse himself. ] Where do you belong then, a theme park?

[thehangedrose]

[A sound of protest escapes from Garry's lips as he rubs the place where Klaus poked him, frowning.]

No! Why...why would you even think that? I'm not an attraction of some sort, if that's what you're referring to.

[precede]

The Scaredy Man. [ He angles his lips in mock consideration. ] Nah, don't think that'd get people to buy the tickets. You could be the foil though.

[thehangedrose]

H-hey! Hey, I'm not any Scaredy Man! I was merely startled- that's all!

[GRUMBLE GRUMBLE NOT A SCAREDY MAN >8I]

[precede]

[ He shrugs. ] You could give me a name if you don't like that one.

[thehangedrose]

I'm Garry. That's my name, not-not Scaredy Man.

And you are?

[precede]

Garry! [ Such a fun name to exclaim. ]

You can call me Klaus.

[thehangedrose]

Klaus? Nice name...is it German?

[precede]

[ Nice. That's nice. He grins. ]

Nordic.

[thehangedrose]

Nordic! Huh, haven't read too much about them, but that's still kind of cool.

[precede]

[ He starts pacing around him like a predator. ]

Now, now, there's no need for the chit chat.

[thehangedrose]

[Oh, oh that makes him nervous. Garry almost shrinks under the other man's gaze, reminded too much of the horrors he met back home at the art gallery.]

[His voice starts to waver:]

W-why not? Isn't that what people do? Chit chat?

[precede]

[ He laughs, sounding almost genial. ]

Not while shaking like that.

[thehangedrose]

[Garry sniffs, rubbing his arm awkwardly- goodness, someday he would need to learn how to keep his composure under strange circumstances.]

I-I'm sorry...I guess I'm still not really in the right state of mind for such things...

[precede]

[ Here's slapping him on the shoulder, a little too strong for most humans, and shaking him a little. ]

How about a drink, hm? The cure to all ills!

[thehangedrose]

[WOW THAT IS STRONG and Garry wobbles a bit, but manages to keep his balance enough to gulp and nod.]

Okay. Um...sure! I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of alcohol, but a drink would be nice.

[precede]

[ What's with the people here and their reticence toward alcohol. He doesn't get it at all. But he saunters away and gestures with his wrist for Garry to follow him. ]

Come along.

[thehangedrose]

[Garry follows obediently, like a very thin and lanky puppy in a strange tattered coat. The man seems nice enough, really, even though he played that horrible little prank on him before.]

Is there a bar inside of the castle or something?

[precede]

[ Aw yeah, one groupie. He wishes for some antique whiskey and it falls into his hand. He shrugs. ]

Sure there is, but that's not where I'm going.

[thehangedrose]

Oh, huh, I-

[Wait.]

[Waitttttt a second.]

[Where did that bottle come from.]

Um.

[Looking at the ceiling now as if bottles are going to fall from the sky any minute now.] Where...did you get that? You weren't holding it earlier...

[precede]

[ He throws it in the air and catches it again. ]

You've got a lot to learn, my friend.

[thehangedrose]

[A long pause as he tries to figure this out.]

...

Are you a wizard?

[WHAT IT'S THE MOST LOGICAL EXPLANATION HE CAN COME UP WITH]

[precede]

Fancy that.

[ He walks toward the kitchen and steps in without holding the door for Garry. ]

I'm something different entirely. But this [ He gestures at the bottle. ] is the castle's gift. Think of it as a welcome drink.