Tea Party

Here's another foray into the world I'm writing. I've got a large document filled to the brim with races, history, etc. etc. Hopefully I'll be able to produce something substantial (such as a book) when I'm finished. Until then, I'm fine with writing short stories from different corners of it.




Snow was falling.

She hoped it never stopped.

Snow meant that Dr. Remington would stay in. He hated the slush and congestion of a snowlocked city, and she hated to see him go. Each venture out meant new subjects or forays into mischief, things she could not abide but was unable to protest. At least today, Jessica had him all to herself. She made to make preparations.

Jessica stepped away from the window. She had another name before, but it had faded like the day's snowflakes. She couldn't remember much before she had opened her eyes and seen the good Doctor, a crinkled smile on his blood-speckled face. He had given her the task of naming herself, a name all her own.

Jessica Eloise Shirley Sanderferd tackled it with zest. She did so with most things in life, evidenced by the flare of a frilly white tablecloth in her hands. It floated gently down to the tabletop, just slightly askew, before it leapt up again. As the cloth settled, Jessica walked around the table, smoothing away wrinkles with her tiny fingers.

"Perfect," she murmured.

Next came the chairs, five all in total. One for her, one for the good doctor, and the other three for the usual guests. She fetched them from the walls, first Lady Habless, a slovenly bear of leisure with stuffing emerging from her belly. Lord Iverness followed, a gorilla with a bright out-look despite his paraplegic status -- the Great War was a tragic thing. Finally was Mr. Whimsley, the dour, one-eyed rabbit. Jessica didn't care for his rough attitude, but she figured that tea parties were the only thing keeping him from the drink.

She couldn't very well turn him back to demon rum.

As Jessica set down each cup, turned just-so to the sitter, she let out a sigh of annoyance. "Yes, Mr. Whimsley, tea will be served soon. However, we must wait on Doctor Remington. As you well know, he is our benefactor. Would you care to displease him?"

The rabbit answered with moody silence.

As she set the teapot in the middle of the table, she heard a floorboard groan outside her door. He was coming! Jessica's ringlets bobbed as she looked around the room, looking for any preperations  gone askew. The place settings were immaculate, the china shined to a fine sheen, and the guests, while perhaps unhappy, weren't rebellious. No, it was all grand. All the scene needed was a final touch to be perfect.  She rushed to her chair with the energy of youth.

The door creaked open.

"We have been expecting you," said Jessica imperiously, teacup drawn to her lips. It was all about impressions, really. Jessica may have put effort into the occasion, may have rushed to have it completed, but she certainly couldn't act as if she had. This was her realm, where she stood first lady -- with that at stake, nothing else would do.

The doctor laughed before bowing his silver head. His gray hand settled at his heart, clearly agrieved at his poor behavior. "My apologies, Ms. Sanderferd. It is little excuse, but as you know, when Lady Science calls, we mortals have no choice but to answer." Jessica released a long suffering sigh as she nodded to Habless.

"I must agree, Lady Habless, we are much more attractive than science." Jessica peered over her cup with feigned annoyance. A lady must play hard-to-get, especially for a prize worth winning.  Truly, the doctor was the grandest prize of all. She waited, body tensed.

"If science was attractive as the two of you, I am afraid I would never leave her side." There it was, the silver tongue that he was notorious for. Jessica's heart fluttered even as she watched the skeletally thin man bow at his waist. He reached down to take Jessica's hand and her fluttering heart stopped, dead. His touch was cold and his kiss on her fingers even colder.

It was absolutely delightful.  Doctor Remington moved to his chair, a seat that made him look absolutely gigantic. He raised an empty teacup to his lips, testing a sip before frowning. "Lady Sanderferd, you know I prefer my tea not to be quite so steeped."

"A penalty for being tardy, I'm afraid," said Jessica with a wave of her hand, doing her absolute best to look unconcerned.  "I'm afraid I have no scones for today's tea, either. A casualty of our long wait."

The doctor laughed, furrowing the crow's feet at the corner of his eyes. He was an older gentleman, to be sure, while Jessica was a girl not yet in the flower of her youth. It was the unlikeliest of romances, to be true, but she could hope. She admired the fine lines of his face, perhaps too involved with the intricacies of the man.

"I'm sorry to say this is a business call, Lady Sanderferd." Immediately her back went rigid, her lips pursing bloodlessly. She might love the man, but she hated his "business." Jessica looked away, tiny fingers tightening around her teacup.

"I wish you wouldn't," she said quickly. "It's a snow day. You know you're not to speak of your work on a snow day." She hated how petulant it sounded coming from her lips, a whimper rather than a command. The doctor reached across the table, his hand settling against her own.

"I'm sorry my dear, but we'll soon have visitors," said the doctor. "You must be prepared for when they arrive. Else, it could go very badly for the both of us."

"But this is our time," she stressed. She felt tears well in her eyes, making the air shimmer. Why was he so cruel? "Why do you have to hurt people? Why do you have to take them from heaven?" The doctor's hand slipped up to her cheek. His thumb brushed away a stray tear as he offered a faint smile.

"Why must you hold tea parties and place princess?" he asked the child. "We do these things because they are a part of us. You are naturally regal, my dear. I..." Doctor Remington offered a lop-sided smile.

"I'm naturally a monster, I suppose."

Perhaps she should have hated the doctor. He had stolen her from heaven and now here she was, in a lonely room surrounded by stuffed animals and finery. She could remember nothing before she woke, and after she did, he was everything. The doctor began to explain, giving instruction and explantion.

Snow was falling, but Doctor Remington's words were even colder.

She wished he would stop.