[Voice Post || Lord Alexis Hargreaves || Public]

[misterblackbird]

[Voice Post || Lord Alexis Hargreaves | Public]
((Click.))
((Some vague fumbling, someone learning the device again for the first time, a few small sounds, and then a child's voice:))

Ah ha! There it is. As I thought. I really do think I'm getting rather good with these devices. As I should, having come here with Father so often...

((He clears his throat a little and then begins...))

Father--

I am terribly sorry to bother you, even like this. I hope you'll excuse me, Father. I've got quite good with these devices and I thought I'd send you another message because, well, it rather seems customary now when we come here and I can't find you that I do send you such a message. Sometimes, though, it seems as though you don't get them. Perhaps you're too busy to answer them. Which...yes, of course I understand that too.

I see that we've come to this town again, though I don't know where you are at the moment. I'm sure you're...attending to whatever business you have here. I realise this must certainly relate to your work at the hospitals, since it does seem like this town is an asylum for the mad. It's quite sad, the things that must have happened to these people. I'm sure you do your best to help them, Father.

But, I only ask where you are because I've not heard from anyone where you might be or when you might return and I've not heard from you since last night--or perhaps even before that.

Of course, I am still in the theatre where we always stay when we come here. And I'll wait here for you, unless I should hear that you would have me do otherwise. I know you don't like for me to wander about, even in the gardens at home. So I'll wait here for you, as I should.

I do wish you might tell me why we're always coming to this town. And why you've so often thought to bring me but not to bring Riff. It's very troublesome without him, as I'm sure you know. I wish he were here, Father. So why is it that we're forever visiting this town? And why can't Riff come with us? And why--?

... ... ...

I'm sorry. I know it isn't my place to ask these things. But it's all very queer, Father. I once met a little girl here who said she was my sister, and another little girl named me the 'Earl of Secrets', which I don't think was very right at all--even if I liked it--and there was a little boy who'd lost his pet lamb and who said that he'd been given a dove by an angel, and another little boy who had the very same name as Riff and quite a few very beautiful and very kind ladies and--Father, it's all so very queer and I don't understand it. And you've never explained a bit to me and...

... ... ...

I'm sorry, Father. I've spoken out of place again.

I'm sure I'll see you by this evening, Father. I'll wait here for you until then. I hope that I will see you very soon.

Thank you, Father.

((A few more vague sounds, a moment of fumbling, a few soft clicking sounds as he works his way around to turning the recording off again with a--))
((Click.))
[//voice post ends]

[ooc: And...little!Cain is little again! N.B.: Alexis is going to come and collect him. This is a planned plot, so please don't interfere (too much, anyway). Cain is little and helpless and about 10 years old now--he has met Riff and is starting to grow a little but he hasn't yet come to a few significant relizations yet. Things will probably be bad for him this weekend, but that's so good (right?).]

Comments

[allinhishands]

[And people say the curses here are terrible. Alexis happens to be very fond of this one and has thrown his cloak over his shoulders, placed his hat on his head and his gloves on his hands, and is out the door with cane in hand. Naturally, he will be collecting the boy, bringing him under his care.

Of course, it will have to be at his other apartment. He would simply hate for Cain to be aware of where his penthouse is located. It could be so problematic later.

So he arrives at the place and sends his son a simple message.]

Be a good boy and come outside, Cain. I have come to collect you.

[misterblackbird]

[There's a great mixture of delight and fear that rushes through him--perhaps Alexis can understand it, he who knows his son better than anyone else. At last, his father has answered his message. So many times, he called out for him and no one was there. And was that so bad? No, not really. But this time--this time his father did answer. And is he glad of it?

If he were to be quite honest, he isn't certain that he is.

But he is, at this moment, obedient.

And so he collects himself: his jacket, his hat (a boy's things, both of them), this Network device. He locks the doors and pushes the key under the crack in the door for safekeeping.

And he goes outside, watching for a familiar shape, a familiar stride amongst the crowds.]

[allinhishands]

[The tap of his cane on the ground proceeds the fall of his footsteps on the pavement. He knows that the boy will be outside as he was told and there he is. Alexis can feel the familiar sense of delight that comes before he punishes his child. The eye before the storm.

Stopping before him, he looks down and lifts a brow.]

So this is where you are. Come, we are going to my lodgings.

[misterblackbird]

[He drops his gaze immediately, apologetically, penitent. Clearly, he was not where he was supposed to have been.]

Yes, Father.

[And he will follow, as he should.]

[allinhishands]

It disappoints me that I had to come collect you, Cain. It means I have to take time out of my schedule to do so when I could be taking care of very important business.

[The tapping of the cane proceeds them, as if counting down to the doom the boy will be facing.]

[misterblackbird]

I'm sorry, Father. Please forgive me. I thought that you'd had me wait for you there in that theatre. I didn't know...

[But he probably should have known better. He wasn't told where to be (or where not to be), so to be anywhere else would be to be wrong.]

[allinhishands]

I will accept your apologies after you have knelt before me later.

[How cute Cain was like this. How sweet the knowledge that he would grow into someone even more worthy of pain and suffering.]

[misterblackbird]

[He tries to keep his face fixed on the ground before him--in the hopes of hiding the unbidden and unwelcome expression of sick anxiety that crosses it. And he reminds himself that his father only has his best interests at heart. This is all for his sake. Yes. Of course it is. It must be. He is a sinner, but he will be redeemed.

Very quietly:]

Yes, Father.

[allinhishands]

You will have another cleansing tonight. Just as all sinners should. After all, that is what you are.

[He pulls out his keys and walks into one of the apartment complexes, leading the way towards one of the apartments.]

[misterblackbird]

[He cringes again, hopefully out of his father's sight.

Even more quietly:]

Yes, Father.

[Still he follows.]

[allinhishands]

You do not welcome the punishment you deserve, Cain?

[As if he would ever let an opportunity to see a flinch or cringe pass him by.]

Perhaps I will have to be more harsh than usual this day.

[misterblackbird]

[He's been caught--that stings.]

I do welcome it, Father. I know it is the punishment that I, as a sinner, deserve. And you are both just and merciful, Father.

[allinhishands]

Perhaps you will be cleansed completely but I am not certain when that will be. Until then, we will continue on with this.

[misterblackbird]

[Resigned to his situation:]

Yes, Father.

[allinhishands]

There is some hope for you yet, I suppose.

[misterblackbird]

[And he looks up at his father with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.]

[allinhishands]

[He loves that look.

He loves to crush it.]

Assuming you are capable of wanting to remove the sin from your flesh.

[misterblackbird]

Of course I want to, Father! It would please you, wouldn't it? If I could be redeemed?

[allinhishands]

Perhaps. One never can tell right away.

[misterblackbird]

I'll repent of all my sins, father.