07 - My Gift To You

[spitefulvitae]

[Action A - 919 Bilko - October 23rd, Early Evening]

[Natalie was a damned willful creature. Mayfield's attempts to overwrite her old life with a fake "perfect" one were doomed to fail. It could replace her vampirism with "a strange illness" that kept her out of the sunlight, it could make her think she actually did marry Keith Goodman, it could re-write her whole history to make her a pleasant-if-frail housewife... but it couldn't edit out Father. Not in a way that she would buy. The true things that she felt, she felt them far too strongly to ignore for long. But she didn't lash out. She wasn't ready to lash out. For there were still things to be done.

Things, apparently, like baking. She had tied on an apron and taken out her cookbook, and was spending the evening using up every last bit of flour and sugar and butter in the household. Pie crusts were rolled out, squares were baked and cut, cookies were perfectly portioned onto sheets... and each newly cooled batch was neatly tucked away in its own little basket or container or package.

The windows are open, even on an evening as cool as this. Delicious scents are wafting from the house. And if you'd care to investigate? You'll have a smiling Natalie greet you without a hint of menace or sarcasm. Those two things wasted valuable willpower. Involuntary and improper cheer was easier on the psyche, stubborn as she was.]

[Action B - Throughout town - October 24th, all night]

[It had taken an entire night to bake all of the things that needed baking. And there were quite a lot. And now? Now there was a lot of baking to hand out to her dear friends and neighbors. Baking with an ulterior motive. Each bundle contained a hand-written note in hasty, blocky print. She'd had to suppress the fake memories to get them written. But she was satisfied with the results. And so, she came to visit the following people....]

[Ilsa's package contains butter tarts, the shells a little overfilled and messy. The included note reads:]

Something from home, for the woman who shared her home with me.
Never forget that you are infinitely kind and clever.
Give your uncle my regards.
-Natalie Waters

[The package for Charles Fei-Ong contains strawberry tarts. The included note reads:]

Thank you for being like a little piece of home.
I hope you'll hold another concert, soon.
-Natalie Waters

[Cain's package contains chocolate brownies, dense and moist, with chocolate frosting atop them. The note reads:]

You're so darling, it makes my teeth hurt.
Here's a bit of that back in kind.
-Natalie Waters

[Nathaniel's package contains red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. The note reads:]

I asked if you liked cake. I hope this will suffice.
Maybe we'll climb another mountain someday.
-Natalie Waters

[The Onceler doesn't get a package. He gets a cake. A surprisingly fancy chocolate layer cake. The note tucked to the side of the plate reads:]

I promised you this cake, didn't I?
You still owe me a pair of long red gloves.
No hurry.
-Natalie Waters

[Hol's package contains rocky road squares, made with multicolored marshmallows. The note reads:]

Thank you for the lovely time at the fair.
Perhaps we'll avoid ferris wheels in the future?
-Natalie Waters

[Doc Scratch's package contains lemon bars, dusted lightly with powdered sugar. The note reads:]

For a man that I've quickly come to respect.
Thank you for the company in the dark.
Thank you for the lack of hard feelings about how it turned out.
-Natalie Waters

[Lucas's package contains oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, still soft and chewy. The note reads:]

Think of these as a long overdue apology.
Fairs don't agree with me. We both lost our heads.
I hope you're feeling better.
-Natalie Waters

[Lili's package contains vanilla cupcakes with pink and purple frosting. The note reads:]

A sweet gift for a sweet girl.
You're truly something special. Never forget that.
-Natalie Waters

[Finally, as she had promised, Natalie had made cookies for Hajime. Simple sugar cookies, circle cut outs, decorated in pastel colors. At the top of the stack is one cut into the shape of a heart, frosted in pink. The attached note reads:]

For the monster who strives to be human, from the human becoming a monster.
We approach from separate sides, and meet in the center.
You make me remember things.
Things I had even forgotten back home.
-Natalie Waters

[The upper-right portion of the paper has red dot upon it, slightly smudged with a thumbprint.]

((OOC Note: If you're not able to tag in to take the care package from Natalie directly, she'll leave it on the doorstep so that it still gets received.))

[Action C - Streets of Mayfield, likely ending somewhere on Bilko - October 24th/25th, late night/early morning]

[One day to bake. One day to distribute. And as the third day threatened to dawn, she did the last thing she had intended to do. Now she would proverbially stand on a hillside in a thunderstorm and dare the gods to strike her down.]

You! I don't care who else is listening, but I know that you're listening!

[She jabs a finger skywards, as she stumbles her way down the sidewalk. This is meant to be a spectacle. Let's wake some neighbors while she shouts like a madwoman at the powers that be.]

So listen! Listen to me! You didn't break me! They couldn't break me, The Brood couldn't b-break me! I contain the truth, Father saw it, Father knew it, and you cannot... cannot quash the truth!

[A hand flies to her forehead and she lurches back, as she tries to fight off a renewed spike of pain. But a sick grin grows on her face, fangs visible within it.]

I am Natalie Waters, I am a vampire, I am a child of the Goddess, I am... I am an instrument of her vengeance...! I... I am not what you would have me be! DO YOUR WORST! DO IT!

Comments

B;

[encored]

[the disgruntled look Charles opens the door with is definitely not an elegant one. if she had arrived just one night earlier, it would have been because of the insomnia he was suddenly afflicted with. tonight, however, it's due to the plain, leather-bound book that he has tucked against his side.

but his attention is drawn away quickly, and the look fades with it. a package that smells of desserts and a woman with wide eyes and unruly hair? isn't this a sight to jog memories.]

Isn't it a little late to be out, Mrs. Goodman? [it sounds like he might have intended it as an honest question, but his automatic inflection makes it sound like a slight tease instead.]

[spitefulvitae]

[Yes, this is certainly something that could give a person a sense of deja vu. If memories are jogged by it? Well, so much the better, as far as she's concerned.]

Maybe it is, and I am sorry... but I wanted to come deliver these in person.

[There is not so much as a hint of sarcasm or artifice in her tone. She sounds quite honest, as she holds out the package to him.]

Have I interrupted something?

[encored]

That's fine. It's not terribly late, and I was only- [...he was only what? he remembers rifling through a pile of papers, but after that he can only draw a blank that brings on the sharp sting of a headache if he tries pressing further. subconsciously, his hold tightens on the book.]

...Doing homework. I've fallen behind in my classes. They're a little uninteresting, you know? [and the feeling of repetition is overwhelming when he thinks of it. his nose wrinkles briefly, but he's quick to turn his attention back to the baked goods.] Are these for me? [a presumptuous thing to say, since she was likely visiting for his mother, but it's the first thing that comes to mind for some reason.]

Action C

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock comes out of the house, someone shouting like that. Reminds him of - something. He rushes towards her. He is panting heavily. But someone else who remembers, he can share with her.]

M-my name is Sherlock Holmes. I live at 2-2-1.... B... Baker Street.

[He takes another few breaths trying to control the pain.]

Lon-don. Eng-land!

[A weak smile appears.]

Not here. Not here....

Action C

[spitefulvitae]

[Upon hearing another voice out in the street, she pivots about sharply on one foot. The effort of it nearly topples her clear on over, but she catches herself, stares at Sherlock, and grins even wider.]

The truth! The truth spreads! Hold onto it! Hold...

[Both hands fly to the side of her head, fingers digging deep into her wild hair. This isn't getting any less painful.]

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[He puts his hands out to catch and steady her when she is close enough.]

Mind palace. I can't.... even if I wanted to... I can't.

[It is literally the way he remembers things. That can't be written over with simple... whatever this is.]

B

[a_gentle_boy]

[The door is opened by a boy who inquisitively peeks his head out. He breaks into a smile when he sees who it is.]

Oh! Hi, Miss Natalie! Did you need to talk to mom about something?

B

[spitefulvitae]

[Immediately, she's struck by how sweet a young man Lucas is. Just as she remembers from... well, seeing him around town of course. At the fair, as well. Nothing funny about that at all.]

Actually, I have something for you. Here!

[She smiles as she offers him a tupperware container full of cookies.]

You do such a wonderful job, delivering papers. But I never get to see you in the mornings, so... here.

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh, gosh!

[Lucas will take the container with a bashful smile.]

You really shouldn't have, Miss Natalie! I do get paid for it - it's my job to make sure you get your paper delivered well!

Thank you!

[A brief pause. It was a bit late to be inviting her in. But... it was getting too chilly now to stand outside talking. He takes a few steps back.]

Would you like to come in, Miss Natalie?

B

[chalicejoker]

[Even now that he was suddenly once more dealing with a very human need to sleep, Hajime still kept late nights. Something was wrong, after all, and it made him rather restless. So he'll hear someone at the door and decide to go see who it is before the rest of the household stirs.]

Natalie!

[No out-of-place formality, not tonight. He's got more of a grip on those fake memories and his own behavior now, and he'll open the door a bit wider so she can step inside if she wishes. There's no denying he seems pleased to see her, even if he's a bit surprised.]

Would you like to come inside?

B

[spitefulvitae]

[All of Natalie's willpower was being preserved for later, but this is the last of her deliveries for the evening. A small part of her had hoped that she could just leave the package and go. Whether thinking with her Mayfield mind or her true one, neither wanted to face him directly. That note had been the hardest one to write.]

Hajime!

[But here she was, seeing him, and she felt... happy.]

A... ah, no, I shouldn't, I... I still have something else to do. But.. but this is for you! Here! Like I promised.

[And with anxious energy she just about shoves the container full of cookies at him.]

Re: B

[chalicejoker]

Oh?

[He takes the cookies, a little confused at that anxious energy, and smiles.]

Thanks. I've been looking forward to yo--er, them.

[Sure, act like the cookies are of the utmost importance and that he's thinking with his now-human stomach. That helps more of this make sense. Feelings are...hard. Not unpleasant, but...confusing. With or without the fake memories, he was only just starting to understand things.

At this point, he's noticed that note. Curiously, he starts to open it...]

B

[whowhatwhy]

[ It's actually the dog that wakes up first, barking at the woman on the doorstep in the middle of the night. Nathaniel shushes him and climbs out of bed, coming down to see what the commotion was.

He looks a little bewildered when he opens the door. ]

Mrs. Goodman? What are you doing here?

B

[spitefulvitae]

[Ah, great, the dog is barking... that's going to set the whole house off, isn't it? Natalie sighs and hangs her head while she waits for someone to come to the door. Such is the risk she takes...]

Ah, Mr. Howe! Maybe I should have just left these, but I thought that you might be up...

[She offers a tupperware container to him, with a weak and frankly embarrassed smile.]

The sun does terrible things to me, and I tried to come earlier in the evening, but...

B - 1490 Kramden Road

[ooeeooahah]

Natalie?

[ Of course Natalie is out this late. It is because her condition... Ilsa frowns in pain as she forces herself to remember Natalie's vampirism. ]

Are you okay? Come in.

[spitefulvitae]

[It's a perfectly normal thing for the perfectly abnormal Mrs. Goodman to be doing. There's a smile on her face, though it falters when she sees Ilsa's already having a hard time with her being here.]

I'm fine, I'm fine... are you? You look like you've got a headache. If you're not up for company, I can go... but I did make something for you.

[She offers a tupperware container full of butter tarts.]

B

[kinship]

[Cain opens the door and gives her a huge smile... what else is new?]

Mrs Goodm--... Ah, Miss Waters?

[Things are sort of jumbled up here.]

B

[spitefulvitae]

[Natalie returns that smile with surprising earnestness. And a bit of a laugh, too. Clever boy, remembering her maiden name. Her and Keith were newlyweds, weren't they? Right, right...]

Cain! Just the boy I was looking for.

[Let's not bother correcting him. It's part of the exercise.]

I've got a little something for you. A thank you present.

[...though she has little idea of what she's thanking him for, but hey.]

[mayfield_mods]

[Shortly after this phone call, Natalie will disappear. Even the photographs of him in his home will fade away.

Everyone will still remember Natalie, but thinking too hard on her disappearance will lead to more implanted thoughts about how much you love Mayfield.]

[OOC: Natalie has vanished! Feel free to finish up threads in this post, or have her vanish part of the way through these threads.]

B /FLIPS ALL TABLES WITH THE RIGHT ACCOUNT THIS TIME

[tsunkinesis]

[Lili opens the door.]

Oh hi, Mrs. Goodwin! No, no it's Natalie...

[She shakes her head. Stupid mind games...]

What's up?

Oh no, those poor tables D:

[spitefulvitae]

[She's already smiling when Lili answers the door, but the smile becomes wider when Natalie sees that she's fighting the town. Good. Very good. She hadn't underestimated the girl.]

Sorry if I'm stopping by a little late... I'm sure you'll need to be going to bed soon. But I've been baking, and I've whipped up a little something for you.

[And she offers that container of cupcakes, still smiling.]

B

[cueball]

[He'll open the door when she rings the door. But he doesn't say anything. His brow his furrowed and he wears a grimace on his expression. He doesn't look pleased, but he stares at her intently.}

[spitefulvitae]

[Her smile lessens as she takes in the Scratch that stands before her. He looks like a man that drank the kool-aid and didn't like it.

But then it widens again, her eyes narrowing the slightest bit. The expression isn't very Mayfieldian.]

Maybe I should have just snuck these into the kitchen. Having a rough day?

Action B

[emperor_cowboy]

[Hol answered the door as it was sometime shortly after dinner, and he wasn't doing anything too important or unusual. At least, he didn't think it was unusual... but sitting and watching tv with that drone family is one of the last things he would've done.

That aside! He blinks...]

... and how might I help you this fine evening, Mrs. Goodman?

Action B

[spitefulvitae]

[That... might well be the most words that her real mind can recall Hol stringing together in one go. She looks faintly surprised through her Mayfield smile.]

Just making a quick housecall! I've been baking, and you know, I think you could use a little cheering up.