OOM: Oswin's Visit To Goldkrone

[herr_bookman]

The morning mist has burned away this Saturday, and the cobblestone streets glisten with dew in Goldkrone. People mill around, getting ready for the day and greeting one another. There are no cars on the streets, but the occasional horse is put to use. Autor leads Oswin through a door near his school from Milliways.

"[Remember,]" he says in French, "[I've told my mother you're coming, so try to... I don't know, act natural? But not too natural. I don't want her scandalized.]"

Comments

[souffle_girlek]

After shaking Erna's hand and giving a last wink to Clara, she takes Autor's arm and lets herself be led outside.

"[They really are lovely, Autor. I can see why you don't want to leave.]"

[herr_bookman]

Autor nods, patting her arm. "[I really don't,]" he says. "[But I know I have to.]"

He leads her across town to the bell tower, an impressive, ninety meter structure. "[The bell tower is actually called the Daniel,]" Autor explains as he pays the nominal fee that allows them to go to the very top. "[It's part of Saint George's church.]"

The climb is harrowing, up a significant amount of wooden steps. Signs are posted on the walls in German, telling them how far they've come. "[There are four bells in the tower,]" Autor says. "[Everything will look like doll houses once we reach the top, you'll see.]"

[souffle_girlek]

The wooden steps are a bit concerning, honestly, but the height of it almost feels... homelike. It reminds her of the buildings she grew up in, with the canyons between them in perpetual twilight.

"[Whatever do they need four bells for? Couldn't they have made bigger ones?]"

[herr_bookman]

"[I have no idea,]" Autor admits, shrugging. "[I suppose they could have.]"

They reach the top, and everything does indeed look miniature, with fog rolling in across the city wall, which creates a circle around the town. "[There's only three towns in Germany that have intact city walls,]" Autor explains. "[I forget which ones they are, though, aside from Goldkrone.]"

He leans against the wall of the tower, folding his arms. "[My mother said you can come back anytime. We should plan another visit.]"

[souffle_girlek]

"[There's so much space.]" She leans against the wall, drinking in the sight. "[Are you... sure?]"

She doesn't want to intrude, or take up time he could be spending with his family.

[herr_bookman]

Autor chuckles. "[There really is,]" he says, glancing up at some birds flying overhead. "[And no, I don't mind at all. It's a pleasure to have you visit. Frankly, I'm surprised you came, but I'm glad of it. And my mother enjoyed meeting you, too.]"

[souffle_girlek]

"[She was wonderful, really. Though, of course, I didn't muck up the rolls, so she has a false impression of my baking ability.]" Or there were people around to keep her on course, one of those.

...

"[Why were you surprised?]"

[herr_bookman]

"[You did well on the rolls,]" Autor says, looking out over the red-roofed city. "[I was surprised because I thought you might want to stay in your rooms again. But here you are in the fresh air outside, and all the space. I'm happy you can stand it. Why can't you go outside at the bar, if you can manage out here?]"

[souffle_girlek]

"[Initial impressions are... important. When I first came to the bar, it was snow. Snow and ice and rocks. Just like the outside of the Asylum.]" She explains, staring off to where the horizon fades into a blue haze.

[herr_bookman]

"[I see,]" Autor says, concern etched in his gaze. "[But now the outside isn't full of snow, at least until winter comes this year. And the Caribbean inlet is always nice. Maybe when we get back to the bar, you can come outside with me.]"

[souffle_girlek]

Oswin shudders, and shakes her head quickly.

"[It... I know it's not dangerous. But it's dangerous.]" She explains (sort of) after a long moment, giving up on trying to make sense. She knows it doesn't, she's known that for years.

[herr_bookman]

Autor hesitates. "[Okay. You don't have to come outside,]" he says eventually, flicking a pebble over the edge. "[I'll just be happy with you coming out here. Are you ready to head back to the bar?]"

[souffle_girlek]

"[I suppose so.]" There is the urge to run and go on running. She's clever, she could find a place here, she could survive. There's also no computers - this is good, and bad, she does feel a little disconnected without her computer under her fingertips, but it's definitely unlike the Ayslum. More than that, there will be a war here soon, and she's pretty sure that she's just not capable of surviving that.

"[It will get dark soon, I think.]"

[herr_bookman]

"[We can stay until nightfall,]" Autor offers, nudging the wall with his foot. "[Just, you know, if you wanted to.]"

[souffle_girlek]

"[Well. I don't have to. Because I can come back.]" She gives Autor a side-long grin, and pushes herself away from the wall.

[herr_bookman]

Autor smiles at her. "[Fair enough,]" he says, and leads the way downstairs and to his school, back to the bar.