The Cafe

[Madame Pandora]

Pali eyed both her companions with a wary sense of disbelief.

Here is Dain…perhaps trapped as others, but quite possibly the choreographer of this macabre dance as well. And Babs, how could anyone be so ready to go with the flow.

Could those books along the wall possibly hold the secrets of her life – the hard truths that needed facing.

But then there was the possibility that this whole surreal experience was nothing more than a vivid nightmare. No matter how much her flesh felt like her own flesh…besides, if this place WAS what Dain intimated, their corporeal forms were an illusion.

Putting her head in her hands, Pali shook the thoughts away. It was like a time-paradox out of a badly written Star Trek episode. The more you thought about it, the more possibilities and contradictions plagued you.

“All we have to do is read the books?” She asked Dain hoarsely. “That’s all? Or is there still more after that?” Before he could respond, she glanced at Babs. How was it possible the woman could look like such a wreck and not even shrug about their predicament? “Are you sure you’re up for it, Babs?”

 

[Miss Demeanor]

Barbara Jean:

She looks back at Pali with a slight grin on her face, continuing to munch on her sandwich as she talks.

“See, honey, these are the facts. There’s nothing in that book that scares me. As a matter of fact, the wasted skank you see before you, is not the person I always was. As little as a few months ago I was a spoiled, southern, rich bitch.”

“If all of my past is in that book then it is true that there will be months of disgusting, horrible life. But, there will also be years of the good life. I will gladly re-experience the last few months of my life in return for just one more ride in my Mercedes E55.” ::Barbara lets loose with a wistful sigh:: “My baby could do the 0-100-0 mph run in 16 seconds flat.”

“Besides, it’s not like I have anything more pressing on my calendar. Coming into this place, and meeting the two of you, are the most interesting things that have happened to me in a long time.”

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

"For some, its an easy enough read, but others... Others just never can face it what their book has to say..." Dain interjected as he went about wiping down the counter.

 

[Madame Pandora]

Gazing at Barbra Jean with incredulousness, Pali had to wonder if all that bravado was real. Could anyone really be so ready to shrug and go with the flow?

And there was still that nagging question about what happened AFTER that. Pali didn't want to start walking in any direction which led to a place she didn't want to go.

"Okay, Babs, fair enough I say we wander oven and sit ourselves down and start to read...and I say Dain comes and reads with us."

MP

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

"I... I can't read my book..." Dain whispered as he turned away from them, he set his hands down flat and hung his head.

 

[Miss Demeanor]

Barbara Jean

Babs looks at Dain in disbelief.

"Hon, I understand that your book may have some horrible things in it from your past, but.... Do you really want to spend... eternity, or whatever this is, making grilled cheese and coffee for people like us?"

"Doesn't it get kind of lonely?"

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

A smile crept onto Dain's lips. Babs was something else, she even cut through Dain's erational fear of his past, and he had plenty of time to build a wall against it, he had been here so long. The fear was still there but it was as though Babs's mear presence made things easier. Dain couldn't bring himself to speak, but his smile only seemed to grow.