Filling In Lorem

JP with Lorem and Cindy

Elizabeth had one more team member to fill in on the details of the day. She sent one of the servants to ask Lorem to come to her office.

The servant didn’t have to go very far. Turning a corner, they surprising saw a little person covered from head to toe in most things they would like to keep out of the house. They quickly made their way over, praying the gnome touched as little as possible with those blackened hands.

Lorem was being very mindful not to leave a mess in her wake. She was looking for the kitchen in the hopes of securing something sweet to celebrate her failure. When the servant directed her to Lady Elizabeth; however, she promptly changed course.

Upon being introduced, Lorem entered and curtseyed.

Upon seeing the state of the gnome Elizabeth shook her head a little. She was certain the servants weren't very happy at the moment.

"Miss Ipsum, it seems as if you've been hard at work." Elizabeth was calm. "I'd offer you a seat but..." It was rare that anyone came into Elizabeth's house in such a state and she didn't exactly have the chairs covered.

Lorem looked a bit sheepish with embarrassment. Truly, she had intended to sneak in and sneak out with causing as little, or no, distraction at all. Her plan didn’t work out as expected. Surely the servants were trying to retrace her steps and ensure everything was still spick and span. “Buuuut…. I am wearing grease like a stream combustion engine.” She laughed and then contained it quickly. Perhaps she was in the doghouse for being in this state while inside the house. “My apologies Lady Elizabeth. You needed to speak with me?”

Before Elizabeth could respond there was a knock on the door, a servant came in a quickly put a older sheet on a chair in front of Elizabeth's desk. Elizabeth had a feeling Harold had something to do that.

"Thank you, Josephine," Elizabeth remarked before the maid bowed and left Elizabeth alone again with Lorem. "Miss Ipsum, you may sit now if you like."

She waited on the Gnome to decide if she wanted to sit or stand before continuing. "I needed to fill you in on what occurred during the rescue of Miss Lavigne and Dr Jackal. First of all, they both were able to be rescued. However, Miss Lavigne's father was killed by one of the cult members." She continued. "The rest of the team made it back." There was more but the Eldren decided to hold off for a moment.

Lorem thanked Josephine as well and took a seat in the chair.

Lorem’s facial expression, as she listened attentively, changed accordingly as if Lady Elizabeth was a master puppeteer pulling the strings. To the good news she brightened and to the sad she dimmed.

She wondered if there was more to come and recognized there was, so remained silent.

"In the course of all of this, The Visage was retrevied as well," Elizabeth had moved it to the safe prior to meeting with Cronk. "You know about Dr. Jackal's other half. While the escape was going on he changed into his other side and killed Dr. Lemaire and the man who killed Miss Lavigne's father. He also killed some other cult members before changing back. We are having a team meeting this evening I didn't want you going in unaware as I am uncertain what the atmosphere will be like, as now the team that was sent to rescue them, witnessed what happened with Dr. Jackal. Also, as team member you should be made aware of what happens with the team." Elizabeth said, before giving a moment for all of that to sink in.

Lorem dangling feet slowed more and more as Elizabeth went on, until they had stopped completely. She looked a little taken by surprise with the killing. She had been informed of the perils of this line of work, such outcomes were with in the permissible boundaries; however, it all feels abstract from the safety of the workshop.

“Oh …” she managed. Then tried to put on a braver face. “Thank you very much for keeping me in the loop.” Lorem appreciated being apart of the team, despite being off in her own projects and world more than half the time. “And you did say everyone is well, that returned?”

The look on Lorem's face didn't get passed Elizabeth. It would have been hard not to notice but all in all it seemed as if the gnome was as alright as one could be upon hearing that kind of news. "Well, everyone is an important member of the team and should be made aware of such things." To Lorem's question Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, physically they are fine. Lily is obviously going to be in mourning for her father. Dr. Jackal is ... well ... it might take him a little while to recover emotionally from what happened."

“I can imagine.” She says cognitively understanding. She couldn’t empathize with them exactly, never having experienced such calamities. She did know what it felt like to be sad and to experience loss, that she could relate too.

“Thank you again for letting me know.” She felt included and now could conduct herself better when the group was back together.

Elizabeth nodded, once again not to be rushed but the pile of paperwork on her desk probably gave away she was pressed for time. "Unless you had anything else, that was all I had for the moment. Thank you, Miss Ipsum for your time."

“Nothing else to report at this time.” Lorem smiled. Getting the polite hint, Lorem hopped down and made her way out of the room to pick back up her quest to find a cookie. She was guided by one servant and followed by another in her wake.

In front of Elizabeth was a view of a gnome’s backside impression in the old sheet covering the chair.