Quirks (Part II)

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 21st March 2009

Characters: Causton, Geni
Description: Causton has a dream that he's gained an unusual quirk.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 5

"Is it not in the wardrobe?" Geni climbed up the stairs, meeting her
husband at the top and raising her eybrows at Causton. His insistence that
he wear a certain thing on certain days was certainly odd and rather
silly, but she would humour him.

"I can't find it..." he shook his head, then his attention was caught by
something further along the hallway, a glimpse of blue had briefly
appeared in the doorway further along the hall. "Hang on a moment..." he moved
swiftly towards the door and pushed it open. His mouth dropped open in
surprise for a brief moment, before a smile split his face.

"Did you find it?" Geni followed Causton but didn't catch the blue as he
had blocked her view. She peered around him. "That's not really where
the wardrobe is."

"No, it's not..." he said, trying to hide the smile since he really should
be angry, not amused. He moved aside to show her what had happened to his
blue tunic.

Standing, looking shamefaced, and draped in her fathers tunic was Brylee.
Her long fair hair draped over her reddening face.

"Brylee!" Geni wagged her finger good naturedly at their daughter. "Why
are you going through Daddy's clothes? He has to get to work! Come on
darling, give him his shirt back."

"Don't worry about it now." he shook his head, the shirt was creased
beyond recognition, he'd have to find something else to wear. He did however,
notice that his daughter's face had creased and she was crying. "Brylee?"
he asked, bending down on one knee in front of her. "What's wrong
sweetling?"

She sniffed and made a swipe at her eyes with her balled fists. "I'm
s..sorry d..daddy." she said, her shoulders shaking as she broke into
sobs. "The b..boys... they s..said..."

Geni was about to say she could simply iron the shirt, but Brylee's
distress turned her attention back upon the child. "What did they say?"

She looked up at her parents, eyes going from one to the other to judge what
their reactions would be. "They said you were worried about daddy wearing
the same things on certain days, and that .... that..." she faltered,
knowing both she and the boys were in trouble.

Geni clicked her tongue and scooped her daughter into her arms. "Come now,
dry those tears. Let's get Daddy another shirt hm? Why don't you help me
pick it out?"

The child nodded slowly, as Causton followed the pair out. "Geni?" he asked
quietly, once they were in their own room, "are you worried?"

"I would be lying if I said no." Geni admitted with a small smile to her
husband. "It just seems...odd, especially for you. Your insistence, even
upon my suggesting that you wear a different one." Though he seemed a lot
calmer with the situation, perhaps because of their daughter's distress.

"I...I can't understand it... myself." he admitted, ruefully. "It just
seemed as if I needed routine to get back into my routine - if that makes
any sense?" he asked, knowing it really didn't.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll deal with it." Geni stood upon her
tiptoes and pecked her husband on the cheek. "As for routine, you'd best
get to work and get started before you're late. That will certainly break
your routine!"

"It's broken already," he smiled, taking another tunic from his wardrobe,
"Hmmm," he considered it, "green's okay for the day I suppose. Someone told
me its supposed to be calming, apparently..." he mused as he slipped it over
his head. "How's it look?"

"You look wonderful, as usual." Geni drew Causton into her embrace and
hugged him tightly. "You'd best get going."

"Yes, I should." he leaned over and brushed his lips over hers. "Don't be
too hard on her - or the boys..." he said, nodding in Brylee's direction.
The child still stood just inside theroom with his tunic on. "I can
remember Misara playing dress-ups in my fathers clothes when she was little,
too." he smiled fondly at his daughter.

"I shan't." Causton should know her better than that. Geni lightly slapped
at his arm then made a shooing motion with her hands. "Go now before I have
to drag you out just to get you to work."

"That'd look interesting to the apprentices.."

He could hear Geni talking over him, but when he focused on her she seemed
to fade away. He felt everything fade to black, before Geni's face swam
before his eyes again, this time her voice sounded more urgent.

"Causton!" Geni's voice sounded different, not quite the same as before,
more rounded and full. "Causton, you're going to be late!"

"Wha?" he shook his head slowly on the pillow. "What happened? Did I pass
out?" he asked.

"If that's what you call going to sleep, then yes." Geni patted her
husband's cheek. "Are you feeling all right? You're not usually so hard to
rouse in the mornings."

"Asleep?" his face creased in confusion for a moment, "Oh..?" Then
realisation washed over him, "Oh thank Faranth for that! I thought I was
going slightly 'do-lal-tap'." he said, tapping the side of his head. "What
time is it?" he asked, pushing himself up from the bed, relieved it had only
been a dream - strange as most dreams were.

"You have half an hour before you normally start your day and you've not
even gotten dressed!" Geni threw up her hands and shook her head. "Come,
get dressed, I've got some biscuits in the oven you can take with you."

For the second time that day he pushed himself up from the bed, and crossed
quickly to his clothing chest, pulling out the first tunic he saw. He
quickly pulled don the trous he'd worn yesterday, and slipped his feet into
his boots, all the while conscious of not consciously choosing any
particular colour. The whole dream had seemed so real - yet so strange, he
wondered if anyone had ever studied the way of dreams, and if so, what they
would have made of the one he'd been in the middle of.

His thoughts were shattered abruptly when he heard Geni's voice again from
downstairs. "Coming love!" he called back, hastily tying his laces, and
making for the stairs.

Last updated on the March 21st 2009

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Quirks (Part II)