Once Upon a Bayou

[Melodym]

Tucked away behind the looming weeping willows, the Rising Sun looks out of place amongst the surrounding bayou. Its white washed siding gleamed in contrast with the murky environment. The majority of old plantations were further inland where the soil was more fertile, but for whatever reason, the first owner of the Rising Sun decided to build here beside the marsh.

The sound of a bluegrass band drifted down the road along with the slight commotion of a couple dozen people gathered out front of the bed and breakfast. Tables were set up along the porch providing a variety of snacks and a large pitcher of lemonade as a young women gestured for people to step inside.

“The tour will start in a minute. Welcome to the first Biennial bash, celebrating the building of the Rising Sun. If you’d like some merchandise I’ve sent up a gift shop somewhere over there,” The woman with the short blonde hair gestured to her right with her white cane. “And of course we have some vacant rooms if you’d like to stay. You can talk to Anelie for more information. Now if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you all around.”

“Quick question June.” An elderly woman with white hair tinted pink smiled as she looked around. “Why is there a gaping hole in the side of your building, and I saw claw marks all about the fence.”

“That’s nothing! I-I mean, we… had a party here. The damage will be taken care of by tomorrow. Come along everyone.” June was suddenly flustered as she led the group into the Foyer.

[Luned]

Anelie was busy with the logistics of the open house, dashing about to keep the homemade refreshments stocked and potential guests engaged in their bed and breakfast. She also desperately hoped that no one would notice the vandalism on the side of the building –– it wasn't a gaping hole, really, just some damage like a car had bumped it and then drove off –– except there were strange, claw-like marks, as if the grill of the car had become disheveled and scraped along the otherwise pristine paint.

The fence looked driven over, too, and her painstakingly tended tomato garden was similarly trampled. She tried to ignore it for her own nerves and was glad the old ladies decided to heckle June instead of her.

"The guest rooms should all be open if you would like to view them," she encouraged people as they walked in. "We have just reopened from new renovations, so they are all vacant and ready if any of you decide you would like to stay. Just let me know."

Her French accent was heavy and it seemed to take a lot of energy to say that much aloud, her face flushed and anxious, and as if to recompose herself, she ran off to the kitchen real quick to get a fresh tray of freshly baked sweets, which she left on a table in the front hall.

Nicholas was upstairs in Room #204, having selected it already, as it seemed to be one of the few that didn't have something weird wrong with it. He was stretched out on the bed with his door open, drowning out the bluegrass with Iggy & the Stooges on tape on his slick boom box, because he's totally 90s cool.

[Lukas Kelly]

Samuel entered the house, lagging behind the large group of people. Silently, he slipped through the crowd and into the quieter atmosphere of the house. He walked up to the counter. "Could I get a room, please?", he asked rather quietly. A short, slender girl with reddish hair turned around. "We have Room #111 for you. It should be open, monsieur, and I will bring you your key. And –– oh ––", she paused with embarrassment, "If there are any, erm, problems with the paint, please let us know and we will take care of it right away". Samuel shot very quick smile, "Will do". In reality, he wasn't going to complain. After all, he was technically homeless. He refused to go live with his parents, so he had remained living in various motel rooms as he drifted through the south like a ship without an anchor floating with the undercurrents. He couldn't really complained as long as it wasn't absolute shit compared to what he shelled out. He'd slept in worse places.

The room reminded him of period piece films set in the civil war. The furniture was classically southern and set along the stark white walls. The room was simultaneously elegant and spartan. He tossed his military bag on the bed. It was large duffel bag made out of thick, olive colored cloth and opened from the end as opposed to zipped open horizontally. In that bag was the remainder of all worldly possessions he didn't physically have on him or in pockets. He began to pull out some of his clothes and put them in the drawers; he was going to be here for a day or two. When he had unpacked what he had felt was necessary, he tossed his bag into the closet and lay back on the bed. He closed his eyes and listened to... nothing. The still air of the bayou crept over and permeated the atmosphere of the Rising Sun. Almost lifeless. But just as the bayou itself, there was life hiding where you couldn't see it. Not lifeless, just quiet.

Samuel enjoyed the peace for a few minutes before he got up and headed downstairs, making sure to lock his door. He looked for the patio and found the glasses of lemonade that were set out. He quenched his thirst first, and then sipped the last third of the cup, observing the people and place around him. Eventually, his patience for the bluegrass music twanging faintly in the air had exhausted and he made his way into the front area of the building.

[InkedWolf]

Katherine pulled up to the rustic hotel, her bike grumbling a protest about the last hundred kilometres. She figured after she sold a few paintings, her bike would need to find a mechanic soon.

She felt this hotel would be a very inspirational locale, the aged building seemed to be calling to her. She parked the soft-tail, removed her helmet and began to approach the hotel. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a very picturesque hotel. It felt like a throwback to an old movie.

"God this is perfect!"

After speaking with the front desk, Katherine had the key to a room in her possession. She slowly walked through the rustic halls, "108, here we go." The room wasn't the worse she'd ever stayed in. There was this one time in New York, she was flat broke and stayed in what could only be described as a cesspool with an hourly rate. She noticed a section of wallpaper was rotten and had peeled away from the wall.

She dropped her pack upon the bed and ran her slender fingers over the rotten section of wallpaper. It felt warm, almost feathery to the touch. She noticed an unfamiliar reflection in the bathroom mirror, she turned away from her reflection. It had been years since she could like what stared back in the mirror. She pulled a sheet from the bed, and placed it over the bathroom mirror.

"Much better," she went back to the backpack on the bed. It was her lifeline to the world, it contained her sketchbook, her camera and some clothes. Along with a small toolkit for bike repairs she packed light. Picking up her sketchbook and a few art supplies she felt the familiar spike of her headache returning. The downside to being an artist who kept all hours of the night, she lived off caffeine.

Taking her art supplies she left the hotel room to find some coffee, there had to be a cup somewhere in this hotel...

[Punky]

A small coup pulls up to old hotel, Jackson peers through his fogged window at the building. He looks over the entire building wondering just how long this place has been here. He sits back in the sit, wiping his hands over his eyes lightly. He was tired, too tired, having driving for half the day nonstop. He needed to rest, and he was looking at the closest place he could crash for the night.

Jackson reaches over to the passenger seat and grabs his duffel bag, holding his clothes and hygienic products. He then gets out of the car and walks to the hotel. He was too tired to admire or explore what the hotel may have to offer, so he gets his key from the lady at the front desk and heads to the assigned room.

When he reaches the door, he looks over the door, "..Room 106. This is it."​, he says quietly to himself. He opens the door and takes a brief look around. A simple room, with a bed, a few tables, a small dresser, and a across the floor an old oriental rug. He walks to the bed, hearing a squeak come from beneath his feet as he passes along the floor; although, Jackson doesn't it give it too much thought. He tosses his bag onto one of the tables, then plops back onto the bed and closes his eyes.

He doesn't lay there long however, he feels an odd sensation. A yearning to do more than just lie there. A temptation to explore. And with that his eyes shoots open and he stares at the ceiling of the room, "..Fuck..", he mutters lazily as he gives into his temptation to look around.

He gets up and walks out of the room, not bothering with locking the door or anything of the sort. He takes a left from his room and begins to look about the ancient building.

[Korean242]

Simon stepped through the gates and entered the hotel's surrounding area. He didn't have a car so he had taken the bus as far as it could take him and walked the rest of the way. It was an old hotel, it looked like it had originally been a plantation. Well, beggars can't be choosers, he had chosen this place because it offered a reasonable price compared to all the other places in New Orleans. He had no idea how long he would stay here, maybe long enough to rework what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

With a sigh, Simon casually brushed the thought off, it wouldn't help to think about it, he would just live in the present like he always had. He began ascending the steps to the porch, the steps creaked beneath his feet. Jeezus, this place is ominous. He thought to himself.

Simon talked to the front desk and received the key to his room, 201. He walked up the stairs and arrived on the second floor. He began scanning the room numbers of each one and finally found 201.

Without a sentimental thought, Simon opened the door and threw his stuff on the ground as if he had lived there for years. He flopped himself onto the bed. Oh, bed...I have missed you with a burning passion.

Simon turned his head and looked out the open window. Ah, the fresh air is nice... He stood up and opened the door to the balcony and looked out at the landscape.

[Luned]

Nicholas heard someone else upstairs and, when he heard them go out on the balcony, breathed a sigh of defeat and got up. Might as well be social, as he'd be boarding here for a while and should probably make friends.

He strolled out into the hallway and up behind Simon as the other fellow who was enjoying fresh air. "Pretty picture, ain't it?" Nicholas spoke up, stepping up beside him and leaning with a hand on the railing. "Muggy as hell and the skeetas will suck you dry if you're out around sunset, but otherwise, kinda quaint."

He glanced over to Simon and offered his hand with a friendly grin. "I'm Nicholas. Looks like we'll be neighbors for a day, or two, or…? What brings you to the Rising Sun?"



Meanwhile, Anelie was, in fact, refilling the coffee, if Katherine was in search of some. It was beyond her why anyone would want it in such weather –– her European hide wasn't meant for this kind of heat –– but she served it up without a word, alongside the lemonade which she much preferred.

She'd hoped to be left in peace for a moment, handling so much at once was emotionally draining, but lo and behold, one of the notorious old ladies from town decided to strike up some small talk.

"What happened outside, dearie?" the aged crone inquired over her hot demitasse of brew. "Surely you wouldn't get a hit and run this far out into the bayou."

Anelie sent the woman a pointed look. "It was une automobile." And with that she stormed off, brushing past Jackson with an empty tray as he explored the hallway outside his room. She disappeared into the open doorway of the kitchen.

[Melodym]

Samuel and Tour Group:

Samuel would arrive in the foyer right as the tour group was leaving. Apparently the tour only consisted of the parlor, library and ballroom and if anyone wanted to see more June required they buy a room for the night. Business savvy as usual, June's plan would have been perfect had to remembered that these people all lived just a few miles away in New Orleans and thus had no use for a room in the Rising Sun. Maybe next time...

"What a bunch of cheapskates." The petite women grumbled, fussing with her dress which had pictures of naked cowboys printed on it. Well, not completely naked. They had chaps on, though they didn't cover up much as they faced away staring into the sunset. Butts, Cowboy butts all over the dress. Apparently June's cousin Anelie didn't think it was important to tell June about the bootylicious fabric.

"Can you believe them? Came out here just for free food." June's milky white eyes slowly stared in Samuel's direction, but they didn't focus like normal eyes should. Since she couldn't see him approach, she must have heard him. "But not you. You bought a room, didn't you?"

The flounce of cowboy butts twirled as June turned around, her cane tapping in front of her as she took a step towards the library.

"Well, are you coming or what?" She called back before continuing. "I've got something you might like to read. It's up there somewhere."

June gestured to the top shelf, nearly 12 feet up. A faded blue book was alone, tucked to the back, and he would have to use the attached ladder to get it.



Nicholas and Simon:

A door to the right of the balcony creaked open. A man in an expensive looking suit (too expensive for someone staying in a place like this) took one step out before stopping in his tracks. His right hand was fairly bloody, but it didn't look like a fresh injury.

"Hola, Amigos. I do not wish to interrupt." He frowned just slightly while locking his door, then proceeded to walk past them and down the stairs. Next they would see him crossing out past the fountain in the backyard and into the Bayou. No one should be going out there at night, especially not injured or wearing a three thousand dollar suit, but there wasn't much they could do about it now but wonder.




Katherine and Jackson:

The coffee Katherine received was set up on a table in the dining room, but Anelie quickly left to attend to other business, leaving Katherine alone with Jackson, who was currently exploring.

The room was large, with a long wooden table stretching down the middle which could seat up to 20 people.

After An left, the ceiling creaked slightly, but enough to rattle the chandelier. Probably just the plantation settling, but the movement would be enough to draw their gaze upwards towards a strange stain on the once white tiles. Maybe it was water damage, but the splotch on the ceiling had a strange shape. It almost looked like a face.

[Korean242]

Simon was out of it, he was'nt paying attention as usual. So, naturally, he didnt't notice Nicholas enter the balcony behind him. When he started talking Simon almost jumped in surprise. He caught his breath and gathered his wits again. "Yea, I really like good views, it's probably why I chose a room with a balcony...." He said towards Nicholas.

Nicholas offered Simon his hand, and Simond returned it with a handshake. "I'm Simon,nice to meet'cha. I'm just staying here because the rooms are cheap, I may stay for a while considering the rooms are so nice for such a low price."

"Hops Amigos. I do not wish to interrupt." Simon turned around and noticed the man who had just walked up to them. A suave-looking Mexican. Before Simon could respond he was gone. Simon saw him walk out below them past the fountain and into the baiyou. Weird, maybe he's some kind of extreme hiker who hikes in formal clothing....

[Lukas Kelly]

Samuel was silent when June turned and spoke to him. He would have said something, but he was a little taken aback. She must have heard him sit down. As she beckoned him, he got up. He said "Alright" and followed her towards the library. They passed through a classically southern parlor on their way. It was obviously old, as it was in a house that was having its bicentennial. Despite that, it appeared to have been refurbished in the recent past. Samuel and the little blonde entered the library. It's walls were done in a similar fashion as the rest of the house, but one side was covered up with massive book-cases, probably filled with local history and other dull fiction. The woman pointed her cane to an old blue book atop one of the shelves. Samuel pulled one of the ladders across and climbed up a few rungs to grab the book before coming back down and handing her the book. He broke the silence: "By the way, I don't think I ever got your name".