[7th Sept] Tea and cake in the park [Matilda/Jermey (open)

Whilst surveying his emails chasing a particularly delectable book he was after Jeremy came across the email Matilda had sent earlier. Reading it thoroughly he wrote down the address of the café and proceeded to get himself ready. Donning his woollen knit jumper over his shirt, he reached into a drawer and took his wallet before affixing his watch to his wrist.

Finding the park was easy enough. The flowers irradiated a sense of conformity in comparison to the abstract shaped the builders had put in to the rest of Arkham. They reminded him of his homeland and the flower riddled pastures of his younger years. For a long moment his pace slowed as he took in the smells, sights and sounds of the local flora. This is the first time in a while since moving to Arkham that he had come across the park, and even then the last time was at night.

Turning a corner on the path Jeremy saw the café that Matilda had mentioned. Tho there where a few patrons dotted about Jeremy recognised the well worn book of 'Wuthering Heights' as being that of Matilda.

As he approached the table that his friend sat at, a small dog, a terrier of some description ran in front of his gait. Causing a slight trip on Jeremy's part in an attempt to avoid stepping on the dog.
However in doing so he lightly knocked a table where a couple where having lunch, very nearly spilling their refreshments.
After a flurry of apologies and hand gestures to make sure they where ok, and where aware it was an accident. Jeremy finished his arduous journey to Matilda's table. Standing behind the chair Jeremy chimed in a cheerful manner "Hello Matilda! How are you? May I?...." and he pointed at the chair.

Matilda was still reading her book as she heard a commotion happened a few tables along. She put down her book to see what had happened. She sees a gentleman apologie to the people at the table. She recognises the gentleman as Jermey and she smiles.

She watches him make his way to the table and asks how she is. "Oh hello Jermey. I'm well thank you. Glad you came and of course please sit down" she says in a cheerful manner. "I only ordered a pot for one as I had no idea what tea you would like"

Arthur sits back and watches. He can almost hear them from here. They're not that far away. Jeremy ... the name rang a bell. But this wat the same Jeremy as before! The guy sounded English. For the briefest jealous moment Arthur wondered if Matilda simply had a thing for English men, and she was two timing him. His temper rose, and he wanted to smash the man who sat with his woman. Then he breathed, and let himself calm. He could just be a friend. Let's see it play out!

"Ahh the Brontes!" His voice making it clear he was going down memory lane. "Not really my cup of tea nowadays, but I did read them in my youth. Tho I much preferred The Professor to Wuthering Heights." He says smiling, both with his eyes and his lips. "Im currently going through some of the works of a more recent author. Patrick Rothfuss. Have you heard of him?"

Upon hearing of her recent trip out of Arkham, Jeremy clasps his hands together in front of him "That sounds delightful! Where did you go?" He says rolling his hands back and forth. "Well I wouldnt say anything that exciting, but I certainly made some progress. I phoned the psychiatrical hospital to check up on my friend there. They said he is doing well and is having sporadic moments of clarity! He has also started drawing, which is a vast improvement on the last time I saw him" he says, this clearly being one of the reasons he is in a good mood.

The waitress brings over his tea, to which he thanks her and begins pouring himself one.

"You'd be surprised to know i have never read To Kill A Mockingbird! Not even picked it up!" He says with reserved exclamation. "The Wise Mans fear is an epic written by Rothfuss. Im not always one for fantasy however a clever author can make a good book out of anything! Is there an author, a modern author, who has taken your fancy?" He asks quizzically.

"Florida?" He sips his tea, bringing the accompanying saucer up with the cup as he drank. " Well i hope you had fun! Ive never been, this is as far as ive been in the States."

Hearing of her recent endeavours into modern authors Jeremy feels a touch of enjoyment of finding a like minded person in Matilda. " I can imagine! That is a beautiful collection of books, and he is a very clever author!" He states, showing his excitement for the modern classics as much as the older ones. " Its actually my fondness of fantasy and fables that got me into collecting the books i collect. You know, books on the occult and such" He says explaining himself.

Thinking that there is more to the word 'fun' Jeremy decides it would be less embarrassing for both of them if he doesn't enquire any further about her trip. "Have you got any plans to travel the rest of the states?"

"That's what i find fascinating.." he begins, excitement brimming through his voice. " At some point people would have to believe it was real. Now..." he says with a curios tone "...we have yet to reach the pinnacle of the sciences. So we don't know if there is an element of truth to their writings and teachings! Even if it is misguided information! Have you never thought of this?" he asks calmly whilst sipping his tea.

" I must definitely visit the library. I feel ashamed that i have yet to go." He says, his voice betraying his shame.

"I agree wholeheartedly" taking a sip of his Oolong tea to consider more on what he is about to say. "Personally, I fell there is no such thing as a god or gods. But certainly misguided beliefs on phenomena be them natural or....supernatural..."his eyes stare into his tea as if he has recalled something. Or, possibly, several things. "I mean....I imagine we all have experienced something supernatural." Staring into Matildas eyes as he finishes, his sentence.

"Ahh yes, both a burden and a pleasure all at once. "He chuckles."Tho, in a way im tempted even more to visit sooner the as not only will I see you there ill have some potential customers in some of the students!"

Matilda feels a little offended when Jeremy says that he believes that there are no God or Gods and that it could be misguided. She looks into her tea knowing that she's seen her God and that it is not misguided at all. Once he says something about experiencing something Supernatural she looks directly at him “Yes we all have experienced things that are supernatural in nature. Things you struggle to understand”

Her tone changes “Of course students are fun to deal with. Means I'll be now back to telling them off but also helping them find what they need” she drinks some more tea before adding “you're more than welcome to come and see the place. We do have a few book shops so a lot of them try and get the student dollar”

Matilda starts to panic a little bit inside. She wasn't going to let him catch her out so soon. She is showing the face of Matilda Harrow, University Librarian, not Matilda Harrow worshiper of Nyarlathotep.

"I've not seen much at all" she pauses and drinks some more tea and debating what to say "But when I was in London. I saw something strange. I remember it like it was yesterday. The smell of death around me at Tower bridge. Something or someone was using something to kill people. I saw people I knew murdered by something. I left to move back to Boston a few days later" she says to him quietly so only he could hear her. Making sure that she left out seeing Nyarlathotep up close and losing sense of her sanity.  

"It is something that has stayed with me. I've never told anyone about it. Just tried to block it out" she says to him. She feels comfortable talking about this with him.

She listens to what he says about what happened in an asylum and it sounds terrifying "That sounds horrible, especially in a place like that and the dream as well" she feels worried for him. She doesn't want him to think he's alone anymore "If you ever want to talk about anything or just someone who will listen to you. I'm always around Jeremy"

"You're welcome Jeremy" she says back at him smiling.

"I understand that it is something that you need to do alone and I'm sure you'll get there. I think you're strong enough to get through it" she drinks her tea and she looks at him again

"I know I shouldn't block it out but I'm scared that it has already affected my mind" she says back to him.

"Seeing anything like that changes you. I became distant from others. I stopped speaking to my family. Broke up with my partner in London. I couldn't deal with it. I still get it sometimes"

She listens to him speak about seeing his friend in the asylum and she nods, almost in agreement with him. "It was working here when I found myself drawn back into it. I was curious. Still am" she puts her hand on the table and starts playing with the tea spoon on the table.

A few hours after their heated encounter in the forests Caleb and Tess strolled into the French Hill area looking for food. Lead by the pleasant scent of fresh cooked food found themselves in the Merchant District. He nudged Tess and pointed over to a coffee shop,
'What about dat one dere? Looks like it's got nice food and outdoor seating!'

He sniffed the air, over the smell of food he smelt a familiar scent, Matilda? Arthur? He looked around and saw Matilda sitting talking with someone, was it Arthur? Didn't look like Arthur, but he was sure he could smell Arthur!

'Tess! Dere's Matilda!'