026 - Cranapple

[deadly_ned]

[Flushed bright from his Thanksgiving dinner at the Winchester home and the port that came before it, it's a half-smiling Piemaker that turns on his communicator one frosty December morning]

I know what I have to do.

To feel better. I know what I have to do to feel better and come back and be a good, responsible warden Alpha can rely on.

I need to go see Chuck. Recharge the batteries, get a fresh outlook and wash down the tables and restart the day again.

I think I'm going home for the day.

Comments

[architrave]

You know you don't have to bring me anything.

[deadly_ned]

I know I don't have to. I want to.

[architrave]

I look forward to your return. [ She smiles, letting it project the warmth of the hug she instinctively knows better than to give to him. ]

[deadly_ned]

I'll try to make it a fast trip.

Do you like cheeses?

[architrave]

Cheeses are great.

You should know - all of us from Below, we love food. [ Namely because there never seems to be quite enough of it, but that's neither here nor there. ]

[deadly_ned]

I noticed the Marquis scarfing down anything I put in front ofhim.

[architrave]

Food is ...not a luxury Below, exactly, but very near. At least it's easy to find something without meat at the Market.

[deadly_ned]

That makes sense. I've always found him to be offensively skinny.

The Market?

[architrave]

[ Door just has to smile at that. ]

The Market is ...what it sounds like, really. Everyone gets together and barters things that other people need, trade favors, sell things. Food. There's a truce in place, so it is one of the only true safe places.

[deadly_ned]

It sounded like you capitalized it. It sounded Important.

[architrave]

It is. Important and capitalized. I'm not sure how else to explain it. The Market is one of the few truths of Below.

[deadly_ned]

Could I go there? Below?

[architrave]

I wouldn't set you loose on your own, but yes. You could visit.

[deadly_ned]

What's it like?

[architrave]

Dark. Dangerous. Full of magic and forgotten things. Terrifying and wonderful, all at once.

Below London, in the places Above has forgotten about.

[deadly_ned]

I'm trying to think of a place that produced both you and the marquis. It's a little.

Intimidating.

Are there places Below all over or only London? Only I know someone in my down who might have lived. Below.

[architrave]

[ Door gives a little shake of the head, her hair moving like a cloud. ]

There are Belows all over the world. Forgotten places, or at least forgotten by those who live their lives above ground with their eyes squinting in the sun. That there is one in your town isn't impossible or even unlikely.

[deadly_ned]

He lives in the sewers. And sort of saved my life at one point. He's. I worry about him sometimes.

Does Below have to be a physical place?

[architrave]

[ She thinks over that, pulling a slight face. ]

I suppose it doesn't. Below is magic enough to become less than corporeal when necessary. But I don't know, I'm far from the authority on the subject.

Usually it takes up space. Forgotten space. But what's forgotten isn't always...solid. And what is right in front of most people from Above, they don't see as part of Below.

[deadly_ned]

I used to hate that word. Magic.

...Sorry. Still do, in fact.

[architrave]

Ah. [ It strikes her as a personal thing, as opposed to an Above thing. ]

No need to be sorry. What would you rather I called it?

[deadly_ned]

There's no other word for it. Magic'll have to do.

[architrave]

It is what it is. [ But she doesn't want to upset him, either way. Ned is a friend, and that is important. ]

[deadly_ned]

It is. Isn't it? And there's no getting away from it no matter how hard we try.

[architrave]

No, there truly isn't.

How'd you get so wise, Ned?