InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Mint sauce and onion gravy."

Helena Wells-Quinzel is H.G. Wells (indelibleink) wrote in makebelievelog,
@ 2013-01-28 05:21:00

Entry tags:

claudia donovan, h.g. wells

Who: Claudia and Helena
What: Having one of their movie/TV show marathons. And Helena has a slightly evil idea that might just help cheer Claudia up.
When: Monday evening-ish
Where: Claudia's room
Warnings: Other than devious plotting of possible pranking, should be low. :P

Helena was looking forward to her time with Claudia for more than one reason. The foremost reason was to ensure that Claudia was making some sort of forward progress in dealing with Steve being sent back home. The Victorian woman would even take a minute change in the right direction because that was better than nothing. She had, of course, been checking in on Claudia every so often since Steve had been sent back home. There may have even been one or a couple Mrs. Frederic-like instances where she just showed up. But more often than not, she did knock when she came up to Claudia's room. She was watching Claudia quite closely. Though if she was honest, she was also watching Myka just as closely. Myka was also having her share of troubles in dealing with this, so Helena was doing her best to ensure both Claudia and Myka got her time so she could help them both move forward together. They were a family, and Helena knew in this situation, she was the rock to help the other two.

But today when she would spend some time with Claudia, she had another point in it all. She'd had an idea creep into her mind several days earlier. Somehow, she'd thought it was brilliant idea, and would no doubt help cheer Claudia up a bit once she was in the frame of mind to entertain it. Claudia seemed to be open to learning of this idea that would no doubt end with them both dying some horrific way, so Helena would let her in on the idea. Which was for them to combine their collective creativity and intelligence and play a prank on Myka. There wasn't really a doubt of whether Claudia would take to the idea, it was more a question of when she'd be ready to pursue such a thing. Myka wasn't always the easiest person to surprise, but Helena figured that both her and Claudia would figure out a way to pull a prank off on Myka without it getting spoiled too early.

Before heading up to Claudia's room, Helena had taken her tea set, a Christmas present from Steve, down to the kitchen and made a batch of tea. She also made some popcorn, not knowing if Claudia had made some all ready or not. Helena had briefly thought of making a little coffee for Claudia, but she decided against it, ultimately. After all, Claudia did still need to sleep at some point, so she'd stick solely to the tea so Claudia could enjoy some of it if she wanted. Once everything was ready, Helena added the bowl of popcorn to the tray with the kettle, two tea cups, milk and sugar, then picked it up and carried it up to Claudia's room. Once there, she balanced the tray carefully on one hand (her skills as a waitress did come in handy in other areas!) and knocked. She waited for Claudia to grab the door as she didn't want to run the risk of dumping the contents of the tray upon opening the door herself given the tray was slightly unbalanced. So after knocking, she held the tray with both hands once again for added security.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

indelibleink
2013-02-04 09:00 am UTC (link)

"Yes, black tea leaves," she affirmed, then added some sugar to Claudia's cup before she handed it to her. When Helena had first arrived here, she had been surprised that Claudia had welcome gifts assembled for all the Warehouse agents. But in retrospect, she shouldn't have been surprised. Claudia was certainly the type to do such a thing, especially since from what Helena knew, Claudia had been the first one here. As Claudia got up, Helena watched her movements, wondering where she was going. Though as she returned with the bag of Oatmeal Scotchies, Helena smiled softly. "It would be a travesty to let them go stale." She sipped her tea.

Listening to Claudia's explanation of the character's disappearance, she couldn't help but to be curious about why the character had left. But Claudia was right to not go into the tale of the pregnancy and losing the daughter. That would've possibly had an averse effect on Helena and drag up memories she didn't want in the forefront of her mind currently (as if they were ever far from the forefront of her mind). But she didn't press for any details on the matter, simply letting it be what it was. "That sounds rather interesting. I will need to see that movie at some point in the future when we get there."

Helena watched the show, grabbing a handful of popcorn and eating it slowly. Though after a little bit, she glanced over at Claudia. "I take it you are more than curious about this potentially deadly idea of mine?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

clauds
2013-02-04 08:42 pm UTC (link)

"Thanks." Claudia took the tea and sat the Ziploc of cookies on the coffee table, taking one for herself. "Yeah. They don't make a big deal out of the fact she's there, but she is back. I can point her out to you when we get to that point."

"And yes. Yes, I am. Tell me?" Claudia had, perhaps, forgotten. It was like there was a spider in her brain that kept coming back and making cobwebs over it even once she cleared them out. It didn't matter if she was interested or not, things just weren't clicking. Still, once H.G. mentioned it, Claudia remembered completely.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

indelibleink
2013-02-05 08:20 am UTC (link)

"You're welcome." Helena sipped at her tea, following along with the story. She nodded a bit for Claudia pointing the woman out. It may be helpful for her. She might get too enveloped ion the storyline to really pick the woman out when they got back to that point.

"Well, I had this idea that you and I could put our collective creative and intellectual powers together and prank Myka at some point." She was more or less just dangling that idea to let it simmer and turn over in Claudia's mind for a while. The Victorian woman was fairly certain that Claudia was no where near back to her normal frame of mind. But if anything, perhaps planting the seed of thought would do some good in the times when Claudia could focus on things. At least, that's what Helena hoped. "Thus where the potential for being killed enters in." Because she knew Myka would no doubt seek some sort of retribution upon them for such a thing.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

clauds
2013-02-05 03:15 pm UTC (link)

Janice Rand had a beehive hairstyle, though it was somewhat "Trek" styled, in the original series. Claudia figured the Mrs. F reminder would make it easy enough for H.G. to remember that aspect, but the movies didn't even make a big deal about Janice being back. That was a good deal of behind the scenes and extra-geek details that confirmed the blond woman was actually Janice, so she figured necessity would require the pop culture nerd to point it out.

"Any specific ideas, or limitless - thus furthering the probability of our deaths?" Claudia took a sip of the tea before biting into the cookie and not really putting forth the effort to chew it. Rather, she was listening to H.G.'s response and watching the TV screen.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

indelibleink
2013-02-06 05:14 am UTC (link)

Seeing that beehive hairstyle was rather reminiscent of Mrs. Frederic. That was a connection that Helena made quite quickly. Then again, most times she saw the beehive hairstyle, she attributed it to Mrs. Frederic. The era in which that was a popular hairstyle was one Helena had missed, given she'd been in the Bronze Sector, and Mrs. F was the first woman she'd seen that had that hairstyle.

"Mostly limitless. I don't think planting a Tripod would go over well even though I know that is from one of her favorite books." There was also the unspoken part of Helena didn't like repeating herself, and she'd all ready planted a Tripod in Claudia's room. "Though rigging various tripwires that trigger various happenings might be amusing." Helena couldn't quite contain the amusement those images were giving her and she even chuckled a bit at imagining that possible scenario.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

clauds
2013-02-06 06:07 pm UTC (link)

Claudia nodded at the mention that it was limitless, smiling a little. She didn't have any immediate ideas that were good (she knew anything Alice in Wonderland reminiscent would freak Myka out in a bad way) but it was something to think about. She finally took the time to chew her bite of cookie before she smiled and nodded a bit.

Things could, would, get better with time. She knew she had to take things one day at a time and really believe that. But, for now, the potential for pranks, Star Trek, cookies, and some time with H.G. could hold her over.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

indelibleink
2013-02-07 07:45 am UTC (link)

Seeing the smile was good enough for Helena for the moment. She could tell Claudia was still not back to herself, but the smile gave her hope that she was going to come around again. And at the very least, Claudia now had food for thought to kick around in her head when she wanted something to think about that was fun.

Helena herself had no specific ideas, though she knew what she should stay from so she wouldn't push Myka too far. After all, the point of pranks was to have fun, and she was fairly certain her and Claudia would be able to come up with something brilliant to unleash on Myka. The trick would be, of course, to pull it off without tipping Myka off about it.

Smiling herself, Helena settled in a bit more. "Just a penny for your thoughts there, darling."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

clauds
2013-02-08 02:21 am UTC (link)

"To avoid anything with 'Alice in Wonderland' vibes to it? There wouldn't be laughter material and, rather, lots of potential bloodshed. I dunno - maybe I'll look around online for some ideas later?" Claudia admitted with a small shrug and a sigh, leaning back into her seat and staring blankly at the screen for a few moments.

"If halfpennies existed here, I'd offer you change back. I just - feel like my body and brain aren't connected right now. There's nothing I can do to change things. They just... are." She was so used to having missions and things she could go out on and things she could to do impact the outcome, to change details. "I can buy a kick-ass chair and everything else I could ever want to customize my room, a guitar worth a few thousand bucks at least, I have an awesome electronic car and - is this what normalcy is supposed to feel like?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

indelibleink
2013-02-08 06:55 am UTC (link)

"Yes, avoiding those vibes at all costs. I would rather both of us have the optimum chance of coming out the other side alive and unharmed by Myka." At least both Claudia and Helena knew what buttons they shouldn't push with Myka in such circumstances. "That would be fine, both of us should spend some time letting the idea turn around in our minds."

Turning her attention fully to Claudia as she spoke, Helena could understand why she felt that way. "It is natural to feel that way, and it will take time, but you will get back to yourself again. The combination of time and spending time with those you care about here will help even if you do not feel it is." Though at the comment of normalcy, Helena arched an eyebrow at her. "Darling, you are asking the completely wrong person about what normalcy is supposed to be. But if I were to picture what it would be, it would no doubt be something like that. Not running after dangerous artifacts, being able to live however you want to live without having to keep the largest part of your life a secret from everyone outside of it save one. However here in the Land of Make Believe, is there even such a thing as normalcy?" It was a pointed question in that Helena was trying to point out there probably was no such thing as normal regardless of where they were.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

clauds
2013-02-08 06:12 pm UTC (link)

Claudia honestly, likely, would've dressed as a punk version of Alice had it not been for her knowledge of Myka's dislike of Alice. There had been several awesome costumes in the various stores that were punk takes on Alice. Claudia had gone original with Wenda because of seeing the costumes and getting the idea for an updated take on another character's looks combo'd with finding the Where's Waldo? book in the library.

"I don't know if anyone in the castle would know normalcy, now that you mention it, actually." She admitted with a small shrug. If normalcy was relative, she was sure this was a bit more normal than her regular life, but still. "But - this is the person who is hanging out with a Victorian author in a reality-bending castle, watching Star Trek."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

indelibleink
2013-02-08 06:46 pm UTC (link)

Helena's mind was going through literary characters and references she could use to prank Myka with. Of course, the vast majority of her literary knowledge came from pre-1900, but that wasn't exactly a bad thing. There was plenty of material still available to use as a basis for a prank.

"And from my point of view I'm hanging out with a 21st Century genius in a reality-bending castle, watching Star Trek. I rather think normal is relative. But I am more than content to be spending this so-called normal activity with family." Helena smiled, popping some more popcorn in her mouth. This scenario was certainly better to her than what was normal to them in their world. Of course, Helena had once had a normal life, but that had been the first twenty-three years of her life. It was sometimes difficult to remember those days before the Warehouse had entered her life, and before she'd lost Christina. But in this moment being there with Claudia, even knowing the pain Claudia was in over Steve being sent back home, this was the closest she'd had to a "normal" life in one hundred and twenty-two years.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -