When the new man approaches Leeds Estate, it is a wonder that he isn't accosted or run off by one of Dahlia's people. They've been protective of her since the gala, rarely letting anyone near, but things have calmed down since the casino.
His knock on the large front door summons a willowy woman, thin and pale to the point of sickly, dressed modestly for the size of her home. It's not hard to glean that she feels unwell. Her dark, shark-like eyes regard him with steely suspicion. "Can I help you with something?"
Dankovsky's very intrigued by the cold welcome, and it only helps to make him feel more curious about the lady of the house. Was that her?
"Good day," he greets politely. "Daniil Dankovsky, Bachelor of Medicine, at your service. I'm new in town, and believed it was only right to introduce myself to Ms. Dahlia Leeds."
In a way, he's not even lying. It's just not the exact reason he's there.
"I've got anemia," she answers vaguely. A half-truth. "It will pass. If this is a 'come in and sit down for tea' sort of conversation, you are more than welcome to do so."
Into the den of the devil, Dankovsky.
Unfortunately for both of them, he does smell delicious.
The Bachelor beams. A pleasant talk sounded exactly like what he needed, at that very moment.
"Most certainly."
Self-preservation has never been Daniil's specialty. Spending time with a lady of high standing who knows the good manners anyone should be taught from birth— what better way is there to spend one's time?
And so, Dankovsky makes his way past the door. Cheerfully, too! Hopefully this ends well for him!
Frankly, Dahlia hopes so too. But a month out from her last "meal," it's hard to resist the allure of an unsuspecting stranger whose opinion of her she could take or leave.
The interior of her house is elegantly decorated with strong themes of blue throughout. She guides him in to her living room. "Can I get you anything to drink? You'll have to excuse me if so, I don't keep much staff anymore."
It's not right to let a lady bother with such things. It makes him wonder why a woman of her standing, living in such a massive, fancy building, would choose not to have the staff to maintain the property.
Well, that's just one more strange thing about her, he supposes. It may come up in the conversation, sooner or later.
He sits on one of the couches, crossing a leg over another, resting both hands on his knee.
"I do hope my presence is not a distraction," he says with a friendly smile. "I've simply been curious about all the commotion. Yet you seem to be in good shape overall."
He laughs dryly.
"To be honest with you, I almost expected some sort of wyvern to open the door to me. Considering what roams in town..."
That pulls an uncomfortably loud laugh from Dahlia that she quickly reigns in. "No, Mr. Dankovsky, I do believe you've caught me on a good day," she jokes. "I can be quite the monster on some days, you know."
Has he really not heard anything? It's almost funny.
Dankovsky's laugh is genuine, evidence that he really does not have the least bit of a clue. Or— that whatever he was told, he has chosen to ignore, for Dahlia looks perfectly normal to him.
"Well, I only wanted us to introduce ourselves to each other."
Her laugh, this time, is more nervous. "I... suppose that all depends on what you'd like to know," she admits. "My father, Japhet Leeds, founded the town of Pumpkin Hollow in the year 16:13. My mother had thirteen children in total, and none survived other than me, including my parents. My family originates from the capitol city of the Emerald Isles, called Victoria's Crossing, which is also the capitol of the region of Braxtony. Most of my family before my father was involved in the legal field."
These are the types of things a man of his standing wants to hear, right? The well to do aren't concerned with her, but rather her pedigree.
That... is a lot of information, all at once. In between bits and pieces of comprehensible words - her father founded the city, her family was involved the legal field - he finds words he's never heard before, which make everything that much more difficult to understand.
"The year... 16:13?"
That doesn't sound right. That would be in the past, were it to mean 1613, yes? And, evidently, they are not in the past. The town reminds Dankovsky of his home country, in many ways, even.
"I'm afraid I've never heard of the region of Braxtony," he says, trying very hard to remember all maps of the world he's come across. "Is it in Europe?"
Dankovsky's face visibly turns a few shades paler, but he acts as though he isn't affected at all. He's smiling, even if his hands are trembling a little.
"Come now, Ms. Leeds. You must be aware you and I are both too mature for these jokes."
No. No one told Daniil about that. How the hell could it even be possible at all? Dahlia's got to be joking— there's no other possibility.
A catlike grin sweeps across Dahlia's face, and she holds up a finger. "One moment, please."
She stands, retreats into the room behind her, and comes back with a globe from her study. She places it helpfully on the coffee table between them. The maps on it look absolutely nothing like those of Earth--- because it is simply not. Much of the globe is encapsulated by ocean water and a massive, snaking shape that is the supercontinent of Leviathan, surrounded by a handful of smaller continents and a smattering of islands. The Emerald Isles, as she'd mentioned, sits at the throat of Leviathan like a necklace.
"Welcome to Concorde," Dahlia says plainly. "Were you not paying much attention to Mortanne when she made you the deal to come here or was she especially vague with you?"
Dankovsky feels dizzy. He stares at the globe, but refuses to look at it. Refuses to acknowledge its nature. Refuses to accept that he is far, far from home.
His face is as pale as it gets, and the trembling in his hands is worsening. Still, he does not move from his seat. Just in case she decides to announce she was kidding, and this is just a common prank.
"Mortanne," he croaks out. "I don't know who that is. I don't remember agreeing to any deals. I don't believe this place you call 'Concorde' exists."
Oh, he's tetanized. He's muttering under his breath, but it's mostly unintelligible.
Even so, Dahlia rises with a smile, trying to decide if he's planning to have a mental break down while she's gone, or if he's just going to bolt out of the house. She's half-tempted to just eat him and spare him the indignity of either. But she doesn't.
"Of course. I'll be right back." And with that, she brushes out of the room, disappearing into the kitchen.
Dankovsky supposes he could walk out the door they came in from, but he's not sure if anyone will be there to witness his sudden departure. He locates the nearest window, and immediately dismisses the thought. He's not insane just yet. The door will have to do.
Should he go? He should, shouldn't he? Yes, he will. In fact, he'll do it right now. He can't stay here, where this crazy lady is telling him crazy, impossible 'facts' about this stupid town.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thethirteenthchild
no subject
Date: 2024-11-27 12:42 am (UTC)His knock on the large front door summons a willowy woman, thin and pale to the point of sickly, dressed modestly for the size of her home. It's not hard to glean that she feels unwell. Her dark, shark-like eyes regard him with steely suspicion. "Can I help you with something?"
no subject
Date: 2024-11-27 08:07 am (UTC)"Good day," he greets politely. "Daniil Dankovsky, Bachelor of Medicine, at your service. I'm new in town, and believed it was only right to introduce myself to Ms. Dahlia Leeds."
In a way, he's not even lying. It's just not the exact reason he's there.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-27 06:27 pm (UTC)Either that or he's just really stupid. Or up to no good. Hard to tell.
She offers a handshake anyway, fingers long and thin. Her hand is very cold.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-27 09:53 pm (UTC)Dankovsky reaches out, shaking her hand respectfully, although he's not used to reciprocating the gesture with a woman.
He notices how cold she is right away, and blinks down at her hand.
"...are you okay, Ms. Leeds? Do you perhaps require medical assistance?"
no subject
Date: 2024-12-04 05:42 am (UTC)Into the den of the devil, Dankovsky.
Unfortunately for both of them, he does smell delicious.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-04 07:19 am (UTC)"Most certainly."
Self-preservation has never been Daniil's specialty. Spending time with a lady of high standing who knows the good manners anyone should be taught from birth— what better way is there to spend one's time?
And so, Dankovsky makes his way past the door. Cheerfully, too! Hopefully this ends well for him!
no subject
Date: 2024-12-05 02:49 am (UTC)The interior of her house is elegantly decorated with strong themes of blue throughout. She guides him in to her living room. "Can I get you anything to drink? You'll have to excuse me if so, I don't keep much staff anymore."
no subject
Date: 2024-12-06 01:06 am (UTC)It's not right to let a lady bother with such things. It makes him wonder why a woman of her standing, living in such a massive, fancy building, would choose not to have the staff to maintain the property.
Well, that's just one more strange thing about her, he supposes. It may come up in the conversation, sooner or later.
He sits on one of the couches, crossing a leg over another, resting both hands on his knee.
"I do hope my presence is not a distraction," he says with a friendly smile. "I've simply been curious about all the commotion. Yet you seem to be in good shape overall."
He laughs dryly.
"To be honest with you, I almost expected some sort of wyvern to open the door to me. Considering what roams in town..."
no subject
Date: 2024-12-08 02:56 am (UTC)Has he really not heard anything? It's almost funny.
"So, did you have any questions for me?"
no subject
Date: 2024-12-08 04:34 pm (UTC)"Well, I only wanted us to introduce ourselves to each other."
He tilts his head.
"Would you tell me more about you, Ms. Leeds?"
no subject
Date: 2024-12-15 03:32 pm (UTC)These are the types of things a man of his standing wants to hear, right? The well to do aren't concerned with her, but rather her pedigree.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-16 12:03 am (UTC)"The year... 16:13?"
That doesn't sound right. That would be in the past, were it to mean 1613, yes? And, evidently, they are not in the past. The town reminds Dankovsky of his home country, in many ways, even.
"I'm afraid I've never heard of the region of Braxtony," he says, trying very hard to remember all maps of the world he's come across. "Is it in Europe?"
no subject
Date: 2024-12-18 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-18 05:07 pm (UTC)"Come now, Ms. Leeds. You must be aware you and I are both too mature for these jokes."
No. No one told Daniil about that. How the hell could it even be possible at all? Dahlia's got to be joking— there's no other possibility.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-18 07:39 pm (UTC)She stands, retreats into the room behind her, and comes back with a globe from her study. She places it helpfully on the coffee table between them. The maps on it look absolutely nothing like those of Earth--- because it is simply not. Much of the globe is encapsulated by ocean water and a massive, snaking shape that is the supercontinent of Leviathan, surrounded by a handful of smaller continents and a smattering of islands. The Emerald Isles, as she'd mentioned, sits at the throat of Leviathan like a necklace.
"Welcome to Concorde," Dahlia says plainly. "Were you not paying much attention to Mortanne when she made you the deal to come here or was she especially vague with you?"
no subject
Date: 2024-12-19 05:02 am (UTC)His face is as pale as it gets, and the trembling in his hands is worsening. Still, he does not move from his seat. Just in case she decides to announce she was kidding, and this is just a common prank.
"Mortanne," he croaks out. "I don't know who that is. I don't remember agreeing to any deals. I don't believe this place you call 'Concorde' exists."
Oh, he's tetanized. He's muttering under his breath, but it's mostly unintelligible.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-19 05:50 am (UTC)Has he forgotten? Has he not looked up to see that there are three moons? How is this man surviving at all?
no subject
Date: 2024-12-19 06:02 am (UTC)"I don't remember. Does it matter?"
He smiles blankly at Dahlia.
"I retract my earlier statement— I'd love some tea, please."
no subject
Date: 2024-12-22 07:12 pm (UTC)Even so, Dahlia rises with a smile, trying to decide if he's planning to have a mental break down while she's gone, or if he's just going to bolt out of the house. She's half-tempted to just eat him and spare him the indignity of either. But she doesn't.
"Of course. I'll be right back." And with that, she brushes out of the room, disappearing into the kitchen.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-24 10:31 pm (UTC)Dankovsky supposes he could walk out the door they came in from, but he's not sure if anyone will be there to witness his sudden departure. He locates the nearest window, and immediately dismisses the thought. He's not insane just yet. The door will have to do.
Should he go? He should, shouldn't he? Yes, he will. In fact, he'll do it right now. He can't stay here, where this crazy lady is telling him crazy, impossible 'facts' about this stupid town.
Alright, he's getting up now!