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[ It was the movement that caught his eye, the human-sized something out in the overgrown grounds that made Ezio eschew finding his coat before darting outside. Just what he needed, another local kid trespassing so they could tag their name on the place. Tag another digit onto the cost of restoring the beautiful old estate, that is. Damn brats.

Hurrying along, over crumbling walkways and weed-choked footpaths toward the family plot, he moved low, hoping to surprise his target. ]

[Charlotte hadn't paid much attention to the new owner of the manor -- after all, what was the point? None of them ever lasted.

So she was a bit surprised to see him heading out of the house now. And with a purpose too. Had he seen her? No. That was impossible. He couldn't...

Oh. Looking down at the flowers in her hand, she frowned. She was corporeal at the moment. Crap.

Well, whatever. He'd learn soon enough. She continued along her path, stopping in front of the Gracey Masoleum.]

[ It seemed the cemetery had been quite a sticking point of unease for the last few people that ownership had passed through. The talk of hauntings had come up almost as soon as he showed a little interest in the manor, the realtor simultaneously cautious to an absurd degree and yet so eager to have the place taken off her hands. Apparently that was the way of things for the property, a revolving door of owners who came in, set up shop and hit the road in terror after an unspecified stay.

It was almost too good of a horror film set up.

Ghosts weren't on his mind as he rounded hedges in desperate need of pruning, spotting the petite figure up ahead. Gotcha. ]

You there, girl! You can't be back here.

Why not? [She could just disappear. Drop the flowers and with them her corporeal form, but she doesn't. Mortal fascinate her and so for the moment she plays along.]

[ Well she's not running or mouthing off and doesn't appear to have spray cans in her possession, so he's going to ease up on the gruffness as he approaches. Just a little. ]

Because, you might fall and hurt yourself. [ Ezio slows, studying the girl. Just got into high school, he guesses, probably out here as a stupid dare.

...god, he's getting old if he's worried about strange kids doing stupid stuff, he did way worse at her age. ] And I would rather call the police for your trespassing.

I don't think that will be much of an issue. I know these grounds well.

[Charlotte Gracey isn't the only restless spirit out in the dreary afternoon. Henry is out on a wander of his own, trailing a ghostly hand through the mists. He has been this way for he forgets how long, but it never ceases to amaze him. Soon as he spots Charlotte, he stops, offering her a bow and a small hint of a smile.]

Good afternoon, Miss Gracey.

Oh, do you now? Then you will know the way out.

I do. I know all the ins and outs of this place.

Tell me...have you found the portrait room yet? [She doubted it. It was hard to find -- having no windows and no doors...just a secret little circular room in the middle of the house, accessible via a panel in the wall of the downstairs hall.]

Mister Sewell. [She smiles, always pleased to see him.] What brings you out this afternoon?

Portrait room?

[ Clearly not, with the way his brows knit in confusion. ]

I can show you, if you like...

[ He's silent a moment, studying her. Flowers, not spray cans. He can respect that. ]

...all right. But then I need you to go home after that. And tell your friends in school not to sneak through here anymore, okay?

Don't worry. I'll go straight home. Promise. [She tries so very hard not to smirk at that.]

Come on...it's easiest to access it through the front hall...

Good. After you then, signorina.

[ A little gesture, for her to proceed. Portrait room though...he hadn't seen mention of it in the blueprints, though many of them were lost or scattered between owners. ]

[Heading back towards the house, she waits for her companion to open the door before stepping inside, leading him towards the small hallway by the servants' quarters]

It should be right...

[She doesn't really push, but to the not so keen observer that's what it looks like. In reality, she never touches the wall...it just swings open, revealing a small, circular room. As they step inside, the panel swings shut.]

No windows. And no doors. There should be an old candelabra on the wall beside you. To your left.

[ He stifles an oath when they're plunged into darkness, conscientious of the youngster at his side - old habits die hard, even if she's probably heard worse from her peers - and there comes the sound of fumbling in his pockets. ]

The days I'm thankful I still smoke, [ Ezio says to her, and the flick of a Zippo later affords them a little circle of orange light. He finds the candelabra where she says, brushing away cobwebs to light it and give a little more illumination to the pitch black room. ]

They say the Master of the House hung himself in here...the pain of losing his wife and then later, his daughter, too much. He snapped. Killed the gypsy witch and them himself.

Is that so?

[ Only a little humor in his tone, grim at that as he peers around the small room. The realtor was legally obligated to report any deaths in the home and that...well, it had been quite a list. An entire family gone, just like that. No small wonder the place had a reputation. ]

Gracey, was it?

Mmmhmm. Edward Gracey. His daughter Charlotte was found dead in the family cemetery...not far from where we were speaking. Right above the grave of her mother.

Leota he beheaded. But she had it coming. Poisoned the girl. Rumor is she knew Leota was a fake, in it for Gracey's money. Leota knew Charlotte was on to her. Leota's plan worked just a tad faster than Charlotte's.

Cristo. [ A mutter. He managed to buy Game of Thrones: The House, apparently. ]

Hold on a minute, he beheaded her? How do you know all of this, are they teaching it in school these days?

Everyone knows the story of the Gracey family.

[Of course, some details are left out. But she knows those too.] She was mid trance. It's why they say her spirit appears as just a severed head...trapped in her crystal ball.

If the light was better in here, you'd be able to see the remains of the rope Master Gracey hung himself with.

[ There are a handful of books on the estate he's meant to get through, and now he wishes he'd better managed his time to do just that. The stories coming out of the previous owners though, they've mentioned seeing the head but never a name -- they were outsiders to the town, just like him, unfamiliar with all of the specifics. Locals, except for their children apparently, knew better than to tempt fate.

He glances up automatically at her mention of the rope, though he doesn't mention he can indeed see it, his second sight cuts through the gloom like a knife. Ezio makes a little moue of distaste, and gestures her back toward the hidden door. ]

All right, cara, that is enough. Thank you for the stories, they have been... illuminating.

Wrong way. [She grins.] You can't get out the way you came in. The panel out is under Daisy. [She motioned to the girl on a tightrope...suspended above an alligator.]

Are you going to leave now? Like the others?

Of course, [ Another flick of his gaze up. What was with the bizarre paintings? He finds the secret catch this time, letting evening light spill into the room. ] Daisy.

And no. If you knew me, you would know I'm not like the others. The dead do not scare me.

[Almost a mutter.] Clearly you haven't met Constance.

Hm?

[ Half-distracted, snuffing the candles before offering her the open panel. ]

How far do you live from here? I can give you a ride home.

I...oh...that's not necessary. I can see myself home. [Seeing as she was already there.]

Va bene. [ very well then... he'll just walk her back through the hall, to the front door. Gypsy witches, cemeteries, child killers and suicides, welp. What an investment. ]

You had better hurry, it's going to be dark soon. I don't want cops beating down my door in the middle of the night because you got lost. [ a wry smile ]

Don't worry. [Behind them, the door to the portrait room slides shut.] We're long past anyone looking for me.

[ That earns a little look of uncertainty, and a kind of sympathy. Ah, no wonder she's running around the place. He leans against the doorframe, tucking his hands into his pockets. ]

What is your name?

[Well, damn. Looks like the gig might be up. But hey...she was going to have to tell him sooner or later, right?]

Charlotte.

[ It's right there in front of him, but he doesn't connect the threads. Ghosts are never so corporeal, in his experience, they don't carry on long conversations and besides, her story rings true enough. So he nods, ]

Popular name in this town. It has been nice to meet you, Charlotte, thank you for the tour and not...defacing the house. [ wry ] My name is Ezio.

Edited 2015-06-11 16:39 (UTC)

I could never deface this house. Ever.

[She nods.]

I know.

Word gets around quick in this town, I see.

People talk. Especially around these parts. And especially about this house.

Ghost stories tend to appeal to people in that way.

But that's not how I knew who you were.

Oh? Do you stalk real estate auctions, Charlotte?

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Hope you don't mind?

Not at all

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