Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Bianca and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Bianca Robbins Chapter 2
The four of them return to the house just in the nick of time. The storm that Hudson had been caught in with Broadway just reached the shore a couple of seconds after they step inside and shut the door.
After they get Hudson settled in an armchair to recuperate Bianca heads to the kitchen to brew some hot chocolate. By the time Bianca enters the den with three mugs of the beverage and a treat for Gillie on the tray, Hudson and Robbins are conversing about old wartimes. Well more or less a condensed version for Hudson given he isn't exactly human.
Picking up the frame holding Robbins purple heart from the military, Hudson said "What is this?"
Tracing the metal after Bianca hands it to him, Robbins said "My purple heart. For this." He taps the blackened glasses over his face to emphasize his blindness as he remised on how he ended up this way. "So busy herding green kids through Nam that I didn't watch my step. Shrapnel. You never see it coming."
"Hardly anyone ever does," said Bianca, handing them each a cup before claiming her own.
Gillie lying next to the fireplace enjoying her treat.
"Nam," asked Hudson.
Elaborating, Robbins said "Vietnam. The war. Funny. Something about your voice made me think you were a soldier once."
Eyeing the sword at Hudson's waist, Bianca said "Gave me that impression, too."
"Aye. I still am, I suppose," said Hudson, tracing his scarred and blind eye. "What fills your nights now, Robbins?"
"I write novels, or I did until they dried up," admits Robbins.
"You wrote all of these," said Hudson in awe and admiration.
Bianca giggles and Robbins chuckles softly at the compliment.
Shaking his head, Robbins said "Wouldn't that be something? No, but I did have a few modest successes. Here."
Robbins feels around a shelf, withdrawing a book he's looking for. He hands it to Hudson.
Tracing a hand over the braille on the cover, Hudson said "What are these tiny bumps? Where are the words?"
"Why, it's braille. It's how I can read and write back when I still had something to write about," said Robbins, proudly. He then locates an actual printed copy of the book. "Here's a printed version."
"Books…scrolls…What's the difference," said Hudson, melancholily.
Recognizing the signs in his behavior, Bianca said "You can't read, can you?"
Hudson bows his head in shame at his incapability to read. His answering silence is admittance enough. Hudson sits taking on a defeated posture in the armchair he vacated.
"You know, if you still want to read, you can still learn," suggested Robbins.
"But I am too old to learn," argued Hudson, drily.
"Oh hogwash. I had to learn braille when I was almost 40. And I'll learn a new way to read when I'm 80 if I have to," said Robbins.
"Well, who would teach me," said Hudson, shamefaced. "I've never told my clan that I can't read."
That's understandable. If he's the designated elder of his clan then he'd see it as embarrassing for his standing that he's lived this long and not know something so basic. But there are easy ways to get around that.
"My granddaughter can. She recently got her teaching degree and has been wanting to put it to good use for some time, but that's not really the point, is it," challenged Robbins.
"It shames me," said Hudson in humiliated mortification.
"I understand, but it isn't shameful to be illiterate, Hudson. It's only a shame to stay that way," said Robbins, wisely.
Chirping from outside announces the sun is about to come up over the horizon.
Hudson realizes his time awake is now short.
Yawning and stretching, Hudson said "I must leave."
"Now I've run you off with my preaching," said Robbins, apologetically.
Grabbing the canister he came here with as he heads for the door, Hudson assured "No. It's nearly gone. I have to go."
As Hudson runs out the front door Robbins follows trying to stop him, using his cane to walk. Bianca watches from the den window. Hudson hops onto the stone walls that border the estate's property boundary line. He perches beside an actual stone gargoyle at the driveway gate.
"Wait. What's that? Hudson," called Robbins.
Too late.
Right when the sun's rays touch Hudson he immediately turns to stone.
Unable to see what occurred Robbins heads back inside, but Bianca most certainly did.
"Incredible," she breathed.
Authors Note:
Merry Christmas!
Just a heads up to those of you who aren't away of this yet, Email alerts for this website are now only active if Email opts is enabled in account settings.
By the way whose been watching House of the Dragon? I am so in love with Prince Daemon. He is a dream. Matt Smith was the perfect person to play that character. Similar to Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool no one could've done it better.
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
I recently put up some other works I've put out at titled Charmer And Company, Edith Angelica Tepes, Spirits Save The Justice League Against Crazy Jane, Crazy Jane Comes To Town, Fatal Attraction, The Strawhat's Mermaid, When Two Become One, The Sorcerer's Daughter, Enola: The Last Unicorn To Middle Earth, Heroes Vs Predators, Silent Guardians To Gotham, Hachiko: UA Class 1-A's Mascott, Big Hero 6: Mirai Hamada, Mermaids Walk Among Us, U.A. High Schools Own Blue Eyes White Dragon, Sayuri Wren, Fifth Turtle, Crown Jewel Of Gongmen City, The Emperor's Daughter, Glenstorm's Daughter, Dianca Robbins, Morning Star, Reira Todoroki: Daughter Of Fire and Ice, Secret Of Bristol Cove, Predators Redemption, Rava's Journey, Princess Of The Forest, A Revolutionary Romance, Aunt, Fantine Tezla: Hot Wheels Acceleracers, Green Lantern Odette Dupree: First Flight, Magic And the Brave Little Toaster 1, Lavinia: Princess Of Edelweiss, Rorschach's Legend, Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender, The 8thLoser, Naomi Poldark: Mistress Of Nampara, Serenity: End Guardian To The Moors, Dido Cruger: Power Rangers SPD, The True Catwoman Of Gotham, Green Lantern Odette Dupree: First Flight, and Nuala: The White Lioness. I highly recommend them. ;D
By the way, Charmer And Company, Edith Angelica Tepes, Spirits Save The Justice League Against Crazy Jane, Crazy Jane Comes to Town, Fatal Attraction, Strawhat's Mermaid, When Two Become One, The Sorcerer's Daughter, Heroes vs Predators, Enola: The Last Unicorn To Middle Earth, Silent Guardians To Gotham, Hachiko: UA Class 1-A's Mascot, Mermaids Walk Among Us, Big Hero 6: Mirai Hamada, U.A. High Schools Own Blue Eyes White Dragon, Reira Todoroki: Daughter Of Fire And Ice, Morning Star, Crown Jewel Of Gongmen City, Fifth Turtle, The Emperor's Daughter, Rorschach's Legend, Sayuri Wren, Bianca Robbins, Aunt, Glenstorm's Daughter, Mandalorian: The 2ndFoundling, Eira Byrnison, and Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender, Rava's Journey, Princess Of The Forest, Green Lantern Odette Dupree: First Flight, and The True Catwoman Of Gotham, are some of the best newest additions to my profile.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure.