New York: Dreams, Death and Denial

[Dhavaer]

"She should be waiting for us in the lobby."
They take the elevator down, and Katrina is indeed in the lobby, waiting.
"Hi, Marcus. Busy day?"

[Baerdog7]

Yeah. I had meetings all this morning about a merger with a small medical supply company in New Jersey. I've got to finish up some paperwork about it this afternoon. Anyway, let's go eat. I'm starving

((Fast forward to Delmonicos?))

[Dhavaer]

The resturaunt is mostly empty, it doesn't really start filling up until dinner. Sarah sips at and puts down her mint water.
"How did your appointment with the therapist go, Katrina?"
"He said it's a little hard to say after just one session, but he seemed hopeful. He got Mikey to actually say what it was he was scared of."

[Baerdog7]

And what's that?

Marcus takes a sip of his iced tea.

[Dhavaer]

Katrina almost smiles, seeming a little embarrased.
"Mr Rogers."

[Baerdog7]

Marcus trys to contain a laugh and fails, squirting iced tea out of his nose.

Aw, crap. I got tea on my pants.

He busies himself cleaning up the tea before turning back to Katrina.

So...you mean the jolly old sweater and muppet Mr. Rogers, right? "Welcome to the neighborhood" and all that? What's so scary about him?

[Dhavaer]

"Apparently he lives in the closet and jumps out to scare Mikey. It sounds bizarre, but he is really, really scared."
"Have you thought about getting him an MRI? Maybe it's physiological, rather than psychological."

[Baerdog7]

Hmm. Or you could get him a slingshot. That's send him packing.

Marcus looks around the table.

You do know I am kidding, right?

[Dhavaer]

Sarah pats Marcus' hand.
"Probably not the time, Marcus."

[Baerdog7]

Yeah, sorry.

He looks slightly embarrased and plays with his napkin until another thought crosses his mind.

It is strange, though. David and I did find a piece of red wool, like from a sweater, that didn't match anything in Mikey's wardrobe. I also saw a hobo on the way home who was ranting at me about Mr. Rogers and impending doom or some such. Just coincidence, probably.

[Dhavaer]

"One bloody hell of a coincidence. You're sure there really isn't an old guy in a red sweater in his wardrobe?"

[Baerdog7]

Marcus looks at Katrina and shrugs.

It wouldn't be the first strange thing I've seen. Of course, I'd be more willing to believe that it's all in Mikey's head first.

[Dhavaer]

"Wouldn't you have found them, if there was someone in there? It's not really a very big wardrobe."

[Baerdog7]

Marcus nods.

That's why I'm more willing to believe that it's in Mikey's head.

I hope so. If it's not just in his head, that could mean that there's a Shadow creature in Mikey's closet.

[Dhavaer]

"What kind of impending doom was the hobo ranting about?"

[Baerdog7]

Oh, let's see. What did he say?

Marcus blushes.

To be honest, I wasn't paying much attention. I do remember something about the Colored Knights being the only ones able to save the children from Mr. Rogers and his evil.

[Dhavaer]

"Coloured Knights? It sounds like another kid's show to me. Katrina, have you heard of anything like that?"
"No, not off the top of my head... listen, you don't really think this man knows what's happening to Mikey, do you?"
Sarah shrugs.
"Stranger things have happened."

[Baerdog7]

Marcus grunts an affirmation and takes a bite of his hamburger, washing it down with a sip of iced tea.

[Dhavaer]

"But... even if he isn't just crazy, there's no such thing as monsters in closets. It's just- just an urban legend, or a fairy tale, or something."
"I'm not saying there is a monster in Mikey's closet, just that it might be an idea to have it checked out a little more thoroughly."
As Sarah and Katrina argue about monsters, Marcus has a vague recollection of something. Toys, action figures in brightly coloured armour. He can't quite remember where he saw them; perhaps eBay, or a toystore window?

[Baerdog7]

Hmm, the Colored Knights...that does seem to ring some sort of a bell. I'll look into it when I get home.

Marcus looks up from his food to pitch in a comment.

I'm with Sarah on this one. If you want, we can get Mikey's MRI done at one of Vitan's partner hospitals on the cheap.

[Dhavaer]

"I suppose it couldn't hurt any... but what do you think we should do? Find this homeless man and ask what he meant?"

[Baerdog7]

Marcus shrugs.

I dunno. I might check up on The Colored Knights when I get home tonight. I wonder if Ken knows anything. He's usually into that kind of stuff.

[Dhavaer]

When Marcus gets home that evening, Ken is, as ever, waiting at the door.
"Hello, sir. How was your day?"

[Baerdog7]

Busy, as usual. I was tied up for most of the day with meetings about the merger. I probably would've skipped lunch, too, if Sarah hadn't invited me to go to Delmonico's with her and Katrina. Anything interesting happen here?

Marcus walks through the house as he talks, dropping off his suit jacket and brief case on a chair in the foyer and heading toward the kitchen.

Mmmm, something smells good. What is it?

[Dhavaer]

"I found a recipe for soup I thought you might enjoy, sir. Unfortunately, it recommended that fresh home-baked bread would be the best accompaniment, but hopefully bakery bread will do."

[Baerdog7]

Marcus walks into the kitchen and starts sampling bread and soup alike.

Mmm. Yeah, this bread'll be just fine. The soup is delicious, by the way.

He moves away from the stove and pours himself a glass of ice water from the fridge.

Thirsty?

[Dhavaer]

"No thank you, sir. The recipe recommended serving the soup like this." Ken takes a half-roll partly empty of bread and ladles some soup into the hollow. He passes the plate to Marcus. "It's called a trencher, I believe."

[Baerdog7]

Marcus takes the plate and sits down to eat at the kitchen table.

Grab yourself a bowl and eat with me Ken. I've got some stuff I want to talk with you about.

[Dhavaer]

Ken fills another trencher and takes a seat.

[Baerdog7]

Marcus sips his soup, talking between mouthfulls, yadda yadda yadda.

Hey Ken, you're into arcane lore right? Have you ever heard of a group called the Colored Knights?