The Prologue
* * *
In the morning
Mr. Black: Hello, Marlowe. Are you very well today?
Marlowe: I suppose I've been worse.
Mr. Black: What is that you are writing? Something about Elena?
Marlowe: No, nothing, and don't speak of her to me.
Mr. Black: No? Well, are you aware that your appearance seems somewhat more neglected than usual?
Marlowe: Thanks.
Mr. Black: I'm glad that you appreciate my honesty. You could repay the favour, if you like.
Marlowe: Why not tell me about your adventures today instead?
Mr. Black: That does sound pleasant. If you insist, I could tell you some things.
Marlowe: Yes, tell me some things.
Mr. Black: Hm, that does not seem like a very natural position for listening.
Mr. Black: I said that does not seem like--
Marlowe: For the love of heaven, be quiet. She's coming!
Elena: Hello, on the bed. Who's there?
Mr. Black: It is I. Completely alone and talking to myself very emphatically.
Elena: Hello, Mr. Black. What are these lumps in the covers?
Mr. Black: Probably explosives. But O, Elena, where are the rest of your clothes?
Elena: Have you seen Marlowe?
Mr. Black: Has he eaten all your clothes and left you with naught but expensive underwear and furs?
Elena: Something like that, but much more delicious.
Mr. Black: No wonder he feels ill. Imagine eating all those clothes.
Elena: Well, I have been quite ravenous myself, as of late.
Mr. Black: Please don't tell me you are seeking Marlowe in order to eat his clothes. That would be awful! What will he wear if you consume all his garments?
Elena: Have no fear, I will devise a plan. Perhaps after I have my way with him, he shall wear bed sheets, like these.
Marlowe: Gah.
Elena: You, Sir, have been hiding from me!
Marlowe: I surrender.
Devour my garments,
O fairest of lycanthropes.
Tear me all to ravished pieces,
until mere choked nothings remain.
Mr. Black: Egads. This garment gobbling must stop. Not only does the habit seem wantonly destructive, but it also makes no sense at all.
Elena: Marlowe, is that how I have made you feel?
Marlowe: Just recently, I've been finding myself tired and distracted. It has become hard to be alone to read or write.
Mr. Black: O, but I love reading.
Marlowe: If you fetch me a book, I will read it to you.
Mr. Black: I have a better idea; I will go so you may finish this conversation in privacy, as is proper. Then, later, we can read something.
[Exeunt Mr. Black]
Elena: I wish you had told me. I thought you liked being interrupted.
Marlowe: O, I do--rather to excess, and especially when you wear that red thing. But therein lies my difficulty. How does one dare say that something is too enjoyable?
Elena: I have many odd desires, and you are patient with them all. Why not let me repay the favour sometimes?
Marlowe: I suppose I could try that.
Elena: Please do.
* * *
Then later, as promised...
And at last.
* * *
* * *
In the morning
Mr. Black: Hello, Marlowe. Are you very well today?
Marlowe: I suppose I've been worse.
Mr. Black: What is that you are writing? Something about Elena?
Marlowe: No, nothing, and don't speak of her to me.
Mr. Black: No? Well, are you aware that your appearance seems somewhat more neglected than usual?
Marlowe: Thanks.
Mr. Black: I'm glad that you appreciate my honesty. You could repay the favour, if you like.
Marlowe: Why not tell me about your adventures today instead?
Mr. Black: That does sound pleasant. If you insist, I could tell you some things.
Marlowe: Yes, tell me some things.
Mr. Black: Hm, that does not seem like a very natural position for listening.
Mr. Black: I said that does not seem like--
Marlowe: For the love of heaven, be quiet. She's coming!
Elena: Hello, on the bed. Who's there?
Mr. Black: It is I. Completely alone and talking to myself very emphatically.
Elena: Hello, Mr. Black. What are these lumps in the covers?
Mr. Black: Probably explosives. But O, Elena, where are the rest of your clothes?
Elena: Have you seen Marlowe?
Mr. Black: Has he eaten all your clothes and left you with naught but expensive underwear and furs?
Elena: Something like that, but much more delicious.
Mr. Black: No wonder he feels ill. Imagine eating all those clothes.
Elena: Well, I have been quite ravenous myself, as of late.
Mr. Black: Please don't tell me you are seeking Marlowe in order to eat his clothes. That would be awful! What will he wear if you consume all his garments?
Elena: Have no fear, I will devise a plan. Perhaps after I have my way with him, he shall wear bed sheets, like these.
Marlowe: Gah.
Elena: You, Sir, have been hiding from me!
Marlowe: I surrender.
Devour my garments,
O fairest of lycanthropes.
Tear me all to ravished pieces,
until mere choked nothings remain.
Mr. Black: Egads. This garment gobbling must stop. Not only does the habit seem wantonly destructive, but it also makes no sense at all.
Elena: Marlowe, is that how I have made you feel?
Marlowe: Just recently, I've been finding myself tired and distracted. It has become hard to be alone to read or write.
Mr. Black: O, but I love reading.
Marlowe: If you fetch me a book, I will read it to you.
Mr. Black: I have a better idea; I will go so you may finish this conversation in privacy, as is proper. Then, later, we can read something.
[Exeunt Mr. Black]
Elena: I wish you had told me. I thought you liked being interrupted.
Marlowe: O, I do--rather to excess, and especially when you wear that red thing. But therein lies my difficulty. How does one dare say that something is too enjoyable?
Elena: I have many odd desires, and you are patient with them all. Why not let me repay the favour sometimes?
Marlowe: I suppose I could try that.
Elena: Please do.
* * *
Then later, as promised...
And at last.
* * *
A Note: The last image in the prologue uses part of a picture that I took of Rodin's Gates of Hell.
Also, *gloats* Marlowe finally has books. Unfortunately, Elena's corset arrived on the very same evening.
Also, *gloats* Marlowe finally has books. Unfortunately, Elena's corset arrived on the very same evening.
* * *
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