Chapter Text
Suzy, Barry and…he knew the second they moved into this mansion together that they have crossed into something that will take ages to demolish.
A passage of time that caught them in something they shouldn't have been in.
Ever since they befriended him, they never realised how strange their life had become.
In the town they lived in, Dereham, it was quite unusual itself, but not what they experienced.
The streets below their hill spread with misfortune:
Poor children on the sides of the street, begging others for small pennies, if that.
And getting ignored or shoved or have water dunked on them.
Carriages and horses clopped along the cobbled pavement, avoiding the dirt and mudded ground surrounding it.
The middle class enjoyed walking round and chuckling with each other, enjoying a good drink and games night at the Tavern.
Either that, or important duties within the guys group were attended to.
The higher classes loved to shove their wealth into anyone's face who would be willing to listen, and turned away from the ones that needed them most.
The clouds always grew grey there, hanging over where the sun would rarely shine through and forever being shrouded in a damp grey until night fell, and the days started all over again.
Barry grew up with Suzy, playing with her in the streets and running into their family from time to time when out on occasions.
His family wasn't the wealthiest, but they weren't in squalor either. Quite middle class.
When his father passed,
He took over their Tavern business, which just so happened to be a quite successful one that paid off their home that they resided in.
People congratulated him and complimented him for his great management and small alterations to how the place was run, as some people may say that they were badly needed.
He remains reserved and calm, but was quite known to not be shy in the social spotlight and would be seen having a good drink with some of his circle, all while still remaining gentlemanly in front of women.
Suzy derived from quite the wealthy family:
Had everything handed to her from the moment she was born, and was raised to use her manners and perform in the public eye as a Lady: polite, loyal and obedient.
Her family's trading business grew them to be known throughout Dereham, and she gained respect through every social class segregated.
Using that power handed to her, she chooses to fight for women's rights, and tries to help the ones on the streets any way she can: whether it be giving them a blanket, or some of her wealth so they can stay alive.
Many were amazed by her intelligent mind, and some even fawned over her elegant appearance.
Her family had a very strong connection with another family…in which included "Him"..the family's only son.
Suzy and him talked on the occasion. Not regularly.
But overtime, they regularised seeing each other to talk on behalf of business, and from that they grew, to one would call, a friendship.
"Here it is," Suzy smiled, looking up at the massive mansion that she had known all her life,
"This is ours now."
"It has always been quite the statement this building" Barry nodded, staring at the infrastructure,
"It is something nobody could quite define with our language."
He nodded, agreeing with them.
"I'll get all of your belongings, Barry.
You look around the new place, I'm sure the Lady will escort you" He grinned with a chuckle, before walking to the carriage just a bit away from where they stood.
Suzy looked at Barry and nodded.
She curtsied before him and took his arm, him bowing his top hat in respect.
"I hope you enjoy this tour, the mansion is one to marvel over!" Suzy's voice faded off as they headed up the hill.
He slowly came from behind the carriage, his face glared right back to the mansion.
He sighed with his heavy breath.
"I will find a way to bring you back…I promise."
—Present Day—
They sat in the front Parlor, the old Maroon coloured Curtains drawn to almost a close,
letting little light shine through.
All 3 of them sat in a space, making a triangle across each of their spaces, being spread out.
They attempt to sit proper, but from the exhaustion reaching to them,
they cannot gather the energy to do so.
Suzy sighs.
"What on earth is happening to this place…it wasn't like this before" Suzy Mumbles,
"Did we…do something wrong?"
Barry shakes his head.
"I don't think so my lady, you are kind as can be and he and I certainly have not done wrong."
…
"Was it because you didn't dump the Ash from the fireplace outside yesterday?" Suzy utters,
"Or maybe it was because you didn't polish Benedict until a few days ago..?"
Barry chuckles as Benedict walks on in: a soft, fluffy dog with his black and white fur.
His head tilts at Suzy after hearing his name.
"I would never polish such a fluffy creature!" He laughs, making Suzy sigh.
"Not this Benedict, that Benedict" she nods her head to gesture towards Barry.
Barry looks down to his cane, the shining silver Collier dog on top of the red polished wood, where his fingers lay.
"Ooohhhh, THAT Benedict. Benedict…CumberBark."
He shakes his head.
"I'm surprised you two haven't started talking to the paintings on the walls…" he sighs,
Looking to Barry who is silently muttering to his cane.
Suzy gently strokes Benedict as he lays down on the space beside her.
"Do you have any idea what is happening…this has gotten to a point where I can't sleep.."
He, once again, shakes his head.
…
But after a few minutes, he sits up straight and Clears his throat to collect his thoughts.
"Well…you've already experienced a loop in which once the day ends, it starts from where it began. And somehow, roles change, and memories get replaced…or erased."
They nod slowly, listening intently.
He stands up and lifts up a bottle on the table, examining it whilst thinking.
"What if…we try to find the source of what's causing this..and then see where we can go from there" He grins.
Suzy and Barry look at each other, their expressions unsure.
But eventually, Barry stands up too, using the cane to uphold him with balance.
"I have no idea what is going on inside of that head of yours…but I think you may be on to something" Barry bows his head, he looks at Suzy,
"And I don't want to continue living the same day over and over with everything slowly changing around us for the better…and the worse."
They both were staring at Suzy, awaiting her response to the proposal.
She looks between them, then sighs and gives a slight smile.
Rising up from her place and clasping her hand together.
"Okay…we will give it a try. I trust you" she states,
"I will invite some of my friends for…a card game's night! And…we'll see what happens."
"If you need any assistance, then just call me in.
I shall be taking care of Bennett so he shall not disturb the game" He nods slowly, reaching his hand to Benedict's soft fur.
Suzy nods.
"We will. Now, excuse me. I have a letter to write."
They both bow their head as Suzy walks off to the staircase and walks to her room.
A knock lightly taps against his door.
Arin sighs.
"Come in, Come in."
One of his soldiers walks in and politely closes the door.
He walks to his desk and holds out an envelope with a purple seal, keeping the envelope enclosed.
"General, there's a letter for you" He states.
Arin takes it and looks at it from all angles,
Looking at the beautiful handwriting on the front, spelling his Name, "Arin Hanson".
He looks up to the soldier, to the letter, then to the soldier again.
"You are dismissed."
"Yes sir."
After the soldier leaves and the door closes,
Arin opens the letter, using his trusty letter opener.
He sweeps out the distance from the chimneys, watching the smog rise up and hit his brush, engulfing it with black and Ash.
Dan Coughs at the strong smell of burning it made, and wipes his forehead of the heat.
He brushes and brushes and brushes some more.
"Hey Dan, how ya doin' chum?" One of the young boys greet, Dan high fiving him.
"I'm alright, just a little tired."
"Well, it hard work that's for sure" He chuckles.
Dan nods.
"Oh yeah, that's for certain! But it'll be worth it to feed the kids back at the workhouse, ya know?" Dan smiles, watching one of the younger boys in the workspace struggle to reach one of the chimneys.
The young guy sighs with a smile.
"You are a selfless man, ya know that?"
Dan shrugs,
"If that's what you wanna call it."
…
Dan eyes him.
"Why are you up here anyway? Isn't your job sorting the mail out in the post office?
"Yeah um, about that. One of the men got me up here to give you a letter."
He reaches into his bag and pulls out a letter with a beautiful purple wax seal that quickly, but surely, got covered with the smog that filled the air.
Dan's eyes widen as he gets it from his grip and into his own.
"I got a letter?"
He nods.
"Well yeah, they said it was an invitation or something from a higher up. Your lucky day huh?" They nudge his shoulder, Dan chuckling and backing him away.
They walk away in the blink of an eye and leave Dan to ponder what would be inside of this envelope.
Ross sat at the desk, looking at multitudes of papers and writing down a few notes in a book beside him.
He takes off his glasses and he wipes his eyes from the feeling of tiredness hanging over him.
Then, for some reason, it hits him that he completely forgot to check his mailbox.
He gets out his office and to the front of his home, opening the small space up and grabbing the 3 pieces of paper inside: 2 papers and an envelope.
As he closes his door by pushing it with his foot, he glosses over the 2 pieces of paper not really thinking much of them.
He sits back down in his seat and leans back, shuffling past the papers and putting them on the desk over the book.
And the Envelope caught his attention, the purple wax seal striking him as an important thing.
He opens it up.
"Dear Ross,"
"Dear Dan,"
"Dear General Arin,"
"I know that you are a busy man, and you don't have a lot of time on your hands..very true" Ross shakes his head.
"I wonder how your workhouse Is doing, I hope the children are alright and the work isn't too bad for you." Dan smiles.
"I know we haven't spoken face to face for quite some time, mainly as your occupation keeps you out of opportunity,
But I have a request." Arin blinks.
"Me and my friend Barry, would like to welcome you into our residence,"
"Playing a preferred card game of mine and beverages will await you, oh that's nice!" Dan beams.
"I know it has been a while since I have been able to reach out but I send my best hopes in your attendance,"
"Signed,
Suzy."