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dongtopus · 10 months

Text

Best Behaviour.

"Why don't you watch where you're going you pig-skinned idiot!"

A man, just barely taller than Knell himself stood barely two feet away. His pressed trousers soaked through and the street vendor who sold him the beverage still in sight tried her best to not notice, stifling her laugh. Somehow, the liquid had entirely missed his protuding belly.

"I'm talking to you! Are you deaf or something!?"

Spittle splashed around Knell's vacant frown. A loose piece of newspaper, kicked by the wind, slapped across Knell's face.

"I don't think he's all there. Just leave it, Horace. We're running behind as it is." The woman behind him spoke up. She wore a a long powder blue jacket over her shoulders, secured by a thin gold chain across her collar. The left side had shifted behind her shoulder as she held three books and a paper folder under an arm. She was a sturdy woman, taller than both the men there and posessing a lean, muscular build. Her powder blue had started to shift with a stronger gust of wind billowing down the road and she leanred with the current to avoid having to adjust it

The page freed itself from Knell's face and Horace felt his body jolt inside as he found that Knell's gaze had in fact moved to meet his. He swallowed and broadened his chest.

"So there is something in there! Well? Come on? What do you have to say for yourself? Blocking the path like some sort of Idiot mime! Like some sort of human lamp post!? You detritus in meat form! What the bloody hell do you think you're playing at, standing in the doorway to a respectable establishment such as this- can't you see just how busy it is?!"

Knell blinked. Slowly.

His coat shifted against his chest.

He inhaled slowly, steadily. Like the growth of a tree.

Knell's attention drifted off. His fingertips, dangling loose at his sides, twitched.

Horace barked over his shoulder, "Catalina, Hit him!"

"I'm not doing that, Mister Pidgeon. Besides, my hands are full. and we're running behind. Please, let's get going. I don't want to have to scruff my own employer. Not in public."

Horace's ears burned a bright red against his already red, blotchy cheeks, "Shh shh shh! Alright, alright!" He pointed a soft, thick, swollen finger at Knell, bouncing it in place, "You are a lucky man. To be saved by this lovely lady. You ought to at the very least thank her!"

Knell raised his arm and looked at his leather gloved hand. The digits creaked as his curled his fingers into a tight clench. His chest finally began to shrink as the air moved out of his blackend lungs. He was barely audible over the ruckus of the street's chatter and cart-clattering.

"The only one to thank here is in a meeting in this premises. If not for him you'd not be here."

"I beg your bloody pardon!? I don't have any meeting with any man here!"

Catalina took a breath and opened her mouth to speak to correct Horace before Knell continued, his fingers relaxing and dropping back to his side again like a hammer being dropped onto an avil.

"Best Behaviour."

The door behind him creaked open.

"-Yes, yes, and thank you, too! I'll be sure to send one of my associates over with the paperwork in the next couple of days. Yes, of course, thank you again!"

Marion took a step onto the path and stood tall, surverying the situation.

"Mister Pidgeon! A delight to bump into you once more. How are you today? It appears you have met my companion already. All well?"

A pair of eyes, hidden by the brooches guise drifted down to the man's trousers.

"Mister Marion!? This oaf works for you? I would think twice about taking on such dimwitted heavy muscle in future! the man caused me to spill my drink all down me- I am in a rush!" Horace throw his arms out in a grand gesture and pointed a polished shoe toward him, "See!? Ruined!"

"Oh dear, tsk tsk tsk-" Marion shook his head and waggled a bony finger toward Knell, "-That won't do. I own the washateria on the corner of the street, next to the tailors, they are both mine, actually, Please pop in and let the nice lady there know that Marion sent you. Request a 'Number Five'. Short of clothing you entirely at this instant, that's the best I can offer by apology, my good sir."

Marion placed his long fingers gently over Knell's shoulder with a smile.

"I see everyone is still standing. That is marvellous. If you'll excuse me, I'm very busy and am needed elsewhere. Have a wonderful rest of your day, Mister Pidgeon."

With a pat on Knell's shoulder and tucking an arm behind his back, Marion cut between Knell and Horace, setting off at a determined but leasurely pace.

"But my trousers! They are still soaki-"

"Have a wonderful rest of your day, Mister Pidgeon. I am certain we will meet again soon."

Horace looked on at Knell at first in disbelief, then fatal horror as their gaze met for the first time.

Knell's slow steps thudded along the cobbled road behind Marion's leasurely, silent steps.

Catalina leaned past a frozen Horace Pidgeon.

"You look like you need a minute before the meeting. you've gone terribly pale."

#The Corpse and the spider #Horace Pidgeon #Marion #Knell #Cathborough

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