Rena Summers (seekingserenity) wrote in fairthreads, @ 2009-10-20 22:12:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, character: serenity somerset, location: madison's pub, player: lisa |
Who: Rena, with reflections on other characters
What: A view from the bottom.
Where: Madison's Pub
When: During the kidnapping plot.
Rating: PGish
Status: Narrative, Complete.
It had started simply enough; it was just supposed to be one night. Rena could handle one night, surely. In fact, when Thomas had asked her to mind the pub so he could take a night to enjoy the fair with his family, Rena was honored. It was a logical step, even she could see as much, since she was one of the pub's longest standing employees but she was honored all the same. She certainly didn't think there would be anything to worry about; she knew the runnings of the pub like she knew the back of her hand. Besides, she would be more comfortable by far entertaining the people coming in from the festivities when they needed a hot meal or a pint of ale than roaming the streets. It wasn't as though she had anyone to roam the streets with, anyway, and the pub would be merry enough that evening.
And it was. As the evening progressed, the dancing spilled from the streets into the warmth of the pub. Rena loved a dance and took a turn or two with the pub patrons but she took her responsibilities very seriously and was more cautious than usual.
She should have guessed something was wrong when Abby came in and asked after Bridget and Thomas. If Rena hadn't been so focused on what she was doing, she would have thought it odd immediately, if only because Abby hardly would want to let her daughter out of her sight after finally being reunited with her, never mind the fact that Rena had never seen anyone more head over heels in love before. But things being what they were she didn't think much of it. After all, the streets were busy and crowded and it wouldn't be inconceivable for people to get separated. She could only continue her work and not let Thomas down.
It was when she awoke with her cheek pressed against a table in the common area that Rena felt the first stab of fear. She had been waiting for Thomas to return so she could go home to sleep and she had passed out from exhaustion at the table, only to wake stiff and disoriented just before dawn with no sign of him. Surely he would have stopped to wake her up if he had returned?
There would be no sleeping, then, not with the uneasy turning of her stomach. No, instead she would uphold the responsibilities given to her and she would get everything ready for breakfast, whatever her concerns. One look at Abby when she came into the common room was enough to confirm Rena's fears; something was wrong. Her questions were met only with frustration and in the end, she could only worry because though they both had their love for the Madisons, they had different roles to play. It was Abby who went forth to search for them while Rena reluctantly stayed behind.
It grated on her more than she'd let on, not being the type to sit back and wait for things to happen, but she'd made a promise and she would honor that promise, even if it went against her every instinct. She would grit her teeth, biting back her temper as her nerves became increasingly frayed with the passing hours but she never complained nor took a break. Each night she would fall into a spare bed at the inn, exhausted, only to sleep fitfully and wake with tears on her cheeks. Then, she'd drag herself out of bed, wash herself and dress, readying herself to face another day.
Perhaps she seemed stubborn and heard-hearted, working herself to the bone and refusing to leave the pub but truthfully, she didn't know what else to do. Holding on to that kept her moving, kept her sane. If she stopped, she would think too much, worry too much. If she stopped, she would have to consider why it was that Abby was studiously avoiding her whenever she could, giving only what information Rena wasn't too weary to force out of her. Besides, the other woman had been in the constant company of an Ayorthian woman of some standing judging by her speech and dress. Abby had introduced her as her sister and she rarely spoke to anyone else.
Rena had been forced to acknowledge the resemblance, however strange the situation seemed, but it seemed so odd that she would appear so suddenly at such a difficult time. Rena tried not to dwell on the fact that the strange woman was a constant reminder that she had sisters, too, and ones that she could only hope wouldn't find her even if she missed them terribly.
With Abby growing more secretive by the day, it was growing harder and harder not to panic. When Rena's eyes fell on the other woman's face, so white and drawn, she could only look away. Somehow, Abby seemed to embody the pain she herself was feeling, that shared emptiness they had in their lives and Rena had never felt more alone. Days melded into each other and Rena honestly couldn't have said how many had passed when Thomas and Bridget finally stumbled back into the pub.
What happened that was a blur of tears and hugs, the emotions draining what little energy Rena had left. Though a bit worse for the wear, they were home and that was what mattered.