The Third Floor of Dry Lake Manor
Definitely the most altered area of Dry Lake Manor, the third floor once was split into two distinct sections with separate entrances: the nursery and the servants' quarters. As the family expanded, however, the dividing wall was knocked down and the third floor outfitted with a flock cedar-walled bedrooms and tile bathrooms.
Play/Family Room
Every preschooler's dream come true, this room contains at least twice as many toys as the average kindergarten classroom. Although, not everything in the playroom was designed for such tiny hands--Honora stocked the room with chess tables and jigsaw puzzles as well as building blocks and teddy bears. Still contains both of the original fireplaces, although with chalkboard fireplace covers to prevent small children from exploring too thoroughly.
Bedrooms
| |
Bedroom 1 | Grayson |
Bedroom 2 | Phil |
Bedroom 3 | Unclaimed |
Bedroom 4 | Raevan |
Bedroom 5 | Craven |
Bedroom 6 | Blythe |
Bedroom 7 | Justin |
Bedroom 8 | Olivia |
Play/Family Room
To say
Grayson was taken aback by Phil's sudden comment of him potentially being a stranger masquerading as a relative was an understatement but as his cousin cracked a smile and revealed it was a joke, he gave a weak chuckle and scratched his head. "I um..I don't look my mother or father." He said in reply to Phil's question about his looks. "I was adopted as a baby..so I'm afraid I won't bear any resemblance to our relatives. B-but I promise I am who I say I am." He added quickly as a continuation of Phil's joke. "You're actually the first relation I've ever met.." He admitted as they stepped into the expansive family room which made him blink slightly in surprise. There was so many toys. Where there any children here?
Phil frowned at the other guy, but it probably wasn't the reason he'd suspect. Sure enough, when he opened his mouth, it had nothing to do with thinking he shouldn't be part of this. "If you bear no resemblance at all to your relatives, count yourself lucky." He didn't exactly elaborate, instead pointing to the numerous doors around the room. "Like I said, you've kind of got your pick here. I claimed one of the back ones over there in the corner. Some share a bath, others have their own. There's one super private one over there in the other corner, doesn't even share a wall with any others. I'm not really used to keeping all to myself so I went with a shared one, but if you want it I'd suggest getting it before anybody else arrives...."
Grayson's eyes automatically shifted to look towards the private room Phil had spoke of and he quickly nodded at the other man's words. "I'll take it." He said quickly then suddenly looked embarrassed at his speedy words. "If that's ok I mean..I'm just used to having a lot of privacy." He added with a small shrug before he turned and stepped towards the door and lightly pushed it open, flicking the light on with his free hand. "Do..do you think everyone will show?" He asked looking back towards Phil after he had discarded his first bag and held a hand out to take his other from Phil.
"I hope not,"
Phil admitted as he handed the bag bag to Grayson. "This isn't exactly an amusement park. I'll be gone in a couple months hopefully, I just hope whoever does join us won't be insufferable."
Like our parents, aunts, and uncles. He seemed to realize the dark path he was going down and sighed heavily. Grayson was obviously nervous, he shouldn't be airing his personal frustrations that way. "Hey, I'm sorry. You seem nice. Whatever happens, I hope it's alright if we're friends? At least then I know I've got somebody good to talk to." He smiled again, and it looked painfully apologetic. He was used to a lot of people, working diligently long days, usually in the sun, stretching out whenever. This place was, almost literally, a wet blanket and it made him feel a little claustrophobic despite all the space. He wasn't sure he could stand a couple months with people he was trying to avoid entirely.
"Friends.."
Grayson repeated then gave a small nod and for the first time his light smile was genuine. Phil didn't seem to be dangerous in any way so why shouldn't he allow himself to have at least one person he could trust in the manor. "I'd like that too." He tossed his second bag back into his room then closed the door again. "You don't intend on staying for the entire year?" He asked with a tone of curiosity. "Won't your family by mad?"
A soft 'click clack' could be heard on the stairs as a black hair woman came into view. She glanced up and noticed several things all at once. Toys, tons of toys and surrounding those toys were several doors in which she assumed were bedrooms. She also spotted two men talking and cleared her throat. "Oh... I didn't know anyone else was here." The heels of her boots 'clicked' against the hardwood of the floors. As she neared the men she set her duffle bags on the floor and extended a thin hand. "Name's
Raevan, I'm Andrea's oldest."
"Ah, you I've heard of,"
Phil said with some interest, filing Grayson's question away for after greetings. In this large, empty, cold house, he could already tell unknown footsteps coming up the grand staircases were always going to be putting him on edge. Fantastic. He took Raevan's hand and gave it a light shake. "Glad to see you made it safely, the weather being what it is. Phil, Jack's son," he introduced himself again. "Father's name, not surname. That's Hiroshi. And this here is Grayson, Aunt Celeste's son." He stepped back a bit and motioned to his fellow companion.
Grayson managed to raise his hand in a tentative welcoming wave, his guard suddenly up again at the arrival of this new person.
This is going to be exhausting. He thought with a small sigh before he focused on Raevan again. Not everyone could be nice like Phil, could they? "Would you like some help with your bags?" He asked politely.
"Jack's son... Nice to meet you, finally."
Raevan's eyes softened as she looked over the two men. Her attention turned to Grayson, a soft, sweet smile slipping onto her beautiful face. "Hello..." Glancing down at her bags she gave a small shrug. "That would be great, thank you for offering." Glancing around the area, her eyes flicked from door to door. She pointed to a room that was on the far end from the stairs, "I think that one will do." She picked up one of the duffel bags and deposited it into "Room 4", intending on unpacking later.
Phil followed them, but only to have a secondary peek at the room. He had looked in all the main rooms of the building when he got here but some, like the atriums, he had barely looked into. Other doors were locked and he didn't care enough to find the keys. He didn't have to know every inch of the place after all. "Hey I'm going to head back down for when the others show up, maybe get a fire going down there. If we're setting a precedent here, I think everyone that comes through the door is going to want some warmth. Do you two want to come with or unpack? You probably need to change so you don't catch a cold..."
"Oh yeah I guess you're right.."
Grayson replied with a soft chuckle after he had carefully set Raevan's other bags in her room for her and glanced down at his rain soaked attire. "And a hot shower, that sounds good. I'll head down and join you afterwards. I can unpack later. I would like to meet the others.." He added and it wasn't clear if this was a friendly gesture or his way of hoping to figure out who he could trust. He smiled at both Phil and Raevan again then turned and stepped back to his room, closing the door lightly behind himself after he had slipped inside.
"I think that's a wonderful idea. Maybe we can scrounge up some hot chocolate. I'll be down in a bit."
Raevan waved softly at the two before heading into her bedroom to do just that. She would unpack later but a shower and change of clothes was definitely in order.
"Blythe! Blythe you here yet?"
Olivia called as she emerged at the top of the stairs and pushed her headphones back to hang around neck as she did. She paused to look round then sighed with a small shrug. "I guess not.." She mumbled before brushing the few damp locks of blonde hair from her face and turned to look at all of the bedroom doors. "So I guess I just choose one.." She smiled again then stepped towards what she hoped was a vacant room and stepped inside.
Bedroom 1
Grayson had enjoyed a long and hot shower, washing away the grim and dampness of the cold rain. Once finished he dressed quickly in a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt along with a thick jumper and warm socks. He spent a few minutes examining and searching his new room before he finally decided it was time to head downstairs to join the others. He moved from his room and after making sure his door was shut he headed down to
Manor house: first floor.
Unnoticed by Grayson, a single shower tile--the one directly above the hot water knob--shifted slightly with the vibrations of running water.
Bedroom 4
Once inside she ducked her head into the bathroom, noticing it was adjoined to another bedroom, which was fine. They were family after all and her brother make decide to take that room. Stripping out of her clothes she grabbed her bathroom items and took a quick but thorough shower, wanting to make sure she washed away all the grim from the rain. Once she was done she climbed out of the shower and picked out a different outfit, jeans and a grey t-shirt. Slipping her boots back on over her socks she towel dried her head before heading out and back downstairs to find Phil.
Play/Family Room
Raevan stepped off the last stairs and walked a few feet into the room. "There are 3 rooms taken already since Phil, Grayson and I were the first one's here but choose whatever you like. Keep in mind that if all of us show up someone we'll probably be bunking with a cousin or sibling."
With his three duffel bags in tow
Justin followed Raevan until she departed into her own room. He glanced about assuming he could claim any of the free ones. He didn't mind sharing if it came to it but he chose the seventh just in case, it was free at the moment any how.
Craven nodded at his sisters words just now tuning back into what she and Justin were doing. He figured if he had to he would see if Raevan or maybe Grayson wanted to room with him. after Justin and Reavan went to their rooms he headed for one of the rooms ready to set his bags done.
The blue eyed cousin emerged from his room after a bit of a disappointing email check. "You would think companies would want a masters engineer from Clemson."
Justin sighed to himself. He scanned the room to see if there was anyone to talk to, he guessed he needed to make friends here anyhow if he was going to be here a year.
Raevan sat in an chair next to the window, a chess board in front of her but she paid no attention to the pieces. Instead she was focused on the world outside. When she heard Justin come back into the room she smiled. "You have a masters in engineering?" She asked curiously.
Being so still
Justin hadn't noticed her sitting there at first. "Oh um, yeah just graduated to be honest." He scratched the back of his head meekly. He wasn't much of one to brag, he had mostly been complaining to himself to be honest. He took a seat across from her, eyeing the untouched pieces. "How about yourself?" He asked.
"Oh, nothing that impressive. I run the Moonshine Bar and Grill in town and I'll eventually own it whenever my boss retires."
Raevan tucked one leg under the other as she looked across at him. "What do you plan on doing with your degree?"
"Thats impressive in and of itself, already doing the adulting thing."
Justin Laughed a bit. He shifted a bit as she seemed to examine him some. He leaned back as he was asked the same thing his mom and colleges always did. "A design job would be nice, for some decent company, eventually start one of my own. Would like to design and create stuff to help people you know?"
"Well that would be nice. I like your way of thinking." Glancing back out of the window she frowned. "You know, I had always planned on getting out of here, leaving the area and working on my drawing and such but... it never happened. I got a job at the grill and have been there ever since. I mean I got away for College but when Brett called needing my help..."
Rae gave a small shrug but a soft smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She was clearly fond of her boss, being her closest and dearest friend. "Craven's photos is what gets me out in the rest of the world."
"Well thanks."
Justin Smiled a bit to himself. He listened to her story contently. "I mean everyone has their own story and not everyone is a straight narrative of what they planned." He offered to her.
"Very true... But I have to admit, I love my job."
Raevan had never planned on staying at the bar long but once she'd started there she'd loved it, the people, the atmosphere, everything about it drew her in. "I wonder if we should check to see if anyone wants anything else from the grocery store. I mean... that one guy brought some but that's definitely not going to last us."
"I have a small accord, four door and such, if we need it. I wouldnt mind offering it up for a grocery run."
Justin offered as a he stretched a bit. It was a big car but he figured they could fit ion four people and some groceries in the trunk. "Besides its not like i have any idea where im going, i would need a navigator. we should get everyone to compile a grocery list of what they would like, who knows whose allergic to what these days you know?"
"Exactly, lets go ask around." As she stood,
Raevan's heals clicked lightly against the floor as she led the way across the stairs to descend to
Manor House: Second Floor.
"You got it."
Justin chuckled to himself as he stood up to follow his new acquaintance. "Hmm i wonder if our family has allergies in our blood line?" He descended to
Manor House: Second Floor.
Bedroom 5
Despite having to room on the same floor either way,
Craven still wanted to be close to his sisters room and this room's door was the closest. He glanced around the room as he set his bags by his bed, it wasn't huge but still a lot bigger then what he had been staying in. He didn't bother unpacking much, just dry clothes, his camera, and film. He was surprised to find the bathroom conjoined but wasn't really bothered by it, he just have to remember to knock. he changed into dry clothes and set the wet clothes to dry in the shower before heading out and down the stairs.
Bedroom 7
After dropping his bags,
Justin decided to change into something dry since he was inside now and didnt see a need to go out to his car any time soon. "Well i suppose these people arent as hoity toity as i expected." He laughed a bit to himself before plugging in his laptop and quickly checking his emails, but to his dismay there was no wifi and his phone didnt have enough bars to set up a hotspot worth any value, so he resorted just just using his slow phone. "No jobs offers so far, but ill guess ill be here for a while anyhow." He sighed.
Bedroom 1
Once upstairs
Grayson had politely excused himself from the group and hurried into his room, closing the door behind himself. They all seemed like a nice bunch of people, maybe his mother was wrong. They didn't seem like they would turn on him. Try to push him out so he couldn't claim his portion of the reward. He sighed heavily. This was exhausting. He stepped towards the ancient looking record player on the table next to the window and switched it on and smiled lightly as the music crackled to life. After a few moments he turned and began to unpack his things, carefully hanging his clothes up in the closet and setting his books on the shelves along with any other personal items. He gathered up his toothbrush and other bits and headed into the bathroom to store them. He paused as he looked round then frowned when he noticed the tile about the hot water knob. Was that like that before?
Great. I've damaged the place already. He thought before he set his belongings next to the sink and moved to the shower to inspect the tile. Maybe he could fix it before anyone noticed it. He poked at it lightly in an attempt to see if he could reposition it.
The tile wobbled in response like a loose tooth. There appeared to be a space in the wall behind the tile.
Grayson blinked as the tile wobbled and for a split second he glimpsed something behind it. He knocked at it lightly confirming the space behind it was hollow. With a quick glance behind him as if to check he was actually alone he suddenly gripped the edge of the tile and began to pull and wiggle it, hoping to pull it from the wall and reveal what was behind it.
I'll fix it as soon as I just see what's there.. He thought to himself as he worked.
The tile was easily pulled out to reveal a musty-smelling cloth bundle about the length of the palm of his hand hidden in the wall.
"What the.."
Grayson breathed as he stared at the cloth bundle. With a slow tentative hand, he reached forwards and took hold of it and pulled it carefully from the space then looked down at it curiously as it rested in his hand. Finally he carefully began to unwrap it, eager to find out what was concealed beneath.
Within the dank, musty fabric was a single copper key. Clearly an antique, but still in usable condition.
Third Floor Map Updated!
Grayson blinked down at the key. Why was it hidden? Was it for a door in this house? Or maybe even a treasure chest! Should he try and locate the lock? And most importantly should he tell the others? All of these questions raced through his head as he continued to stare down at the copper key.
What if it was meant to keep something or someone locked away? He thought with a nervous gulp before shaking the thought away, scolding himself for watching too many horror movies. Finally he stepped back from the shower and after a moment he pocketed the key. If he happened to pass something with a lock there wouldn't be any harm in trying to see if the key worked, right? He moved back into his main room and glanced around it before heading towards the door. Unpacking could wait until later.
Bedroom 8
"This will do nicely!"
Olivia smiled brightly as she stepped into the bedroom and looked around before dropping her bags to the floor and stretching her arms upwards. "This is going to be fun." She moved swiftly round the room to inspect everything, leaving her door open for anyone who would potentially wish to visit.
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Manor House: Second Floor
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