Old Zeus: Groundskeeper

Old Zeus could tell you anything you need to know about the Inn, since he’s been there longer than anyone else. He was around when you could freely come and go and he’s seen a lot of death through the years. The lock-down didn’t particularly bother him, he considered the Inn his home and the place he would eventually die. He used to be employed as the caretaker of the grounds before the last known owner fled, and he still hasn’t stopped his work since. He lives in the gardener’s shed out near the front gate, and sleeps on an old cot. Every once in a while he’ll come around to the Inn when he’s not too busy tending to the gardens, and he’ll have a chat with the residents. On the side, Old Zeus is a very adept hunter of corrupted ghosts. He knows every trick in the book to get rid of them and he’s always willing to give his advice to the residents.

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[deusangelus]

  "I think you’re right." Elijah said. "I don’t really have anything to lose. Everyone I loved is long gone so I have nothing to leave behind if there’s anything worse than death to face." He nodded in response to Old Zeus’ reluctance to dig too deep. "I understand. I just need to know where I should start looking if I’m going to try to beat this thing." Even if Old Zeus couldn’t go with him he could still perhaps give some advice to Elijah to figure out where to start. There were many places in the Inn that were mysterious and considered off limits. One of them had to have answers.

He wondered how long Old Zeus had been working at the Fantome Inn. Did he have family or anyone wondering where he was? Elijah had to wonder. He didn’t want to ask in case he brought up bad memories for the elderly man. For all he knew it could be a sore spot.

[oldzeus]

Old Zeus sniffed the air in anticipation, the coffee's scent was taking to the air, and then took a moment to think before replying, "Where to start. That's the question." He looked at the cot but decided he'd better not sit down, it was such a bother to get back up these days. Instead he leaned against the little sink.

"The Manager is notoriously difficult to reach. I've tried all the old standards: Ouija board, seance, sacrifice.... And, although some of those methods work occasionally, they are usually unreliable and unsuccessful. In fact, failure can sometimes result in utter disaster," his voice was very low and grim, but the corner of his mouth curled up a little

The old man shifted the percolator again, getting anxious for it. "Besides, that's just to send a message, not get the ol' boy in person, and you'll have just as much success wishing really hard." He went silent for a long moment and watched the pot. Then grabbed his thermos from a shelf and poured the coffee into it. Whatever was left he poured into a blue tin mug and swirled it about a little to let it cool. When he deemed it cool enough or he just couldn't wait any longer he tossed back the black, bitter brew and smiled.

"That's much better," he smiled into the empty cup then looked up at the ghost again. "Thank you, Mr. Church. You've given me an idea." He put the cap on the thermos and nestled it somewhere in his large coat. "Tell me, have you ever tried to escape the Fantome Inn?"

((ooc: sorry so late.))

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[deusangelus]

  "Take my fight to the source?" He echoed. "What do you mean?" For the longest time, Elijah had been fighting off evil ghosts and corrupted poltergeists. Every time they would go after the living residents, he would always be there with holy water in hand to do his best to either send the ghosts to the other side or destroy them entirely. Most recently he had to deal with demons who tricked the residents into giving up their souls. When the residents would die they would become automatically corrupted ghosts. "If you mean the Manager… I don’t know if I’m ready to face whatever that is."

"I don’t think I’m strong enough." He sighed. There had been many times where he’d fought and failed, and he thought that if he went after the Manager that he would just fail again. "Maybe if I had someone to help me I wouldn’t have to watch so many residents get themselves into trouble over and over again?" He had noticed the wardings and sigils written over the gatehouse door and realized that Old Zeus must know something about ghosts and maybe he even knew something about the Manager.

[oldzeus]

Old Zeus straightened himself as much as a man of his years could and stared Elijah hard in the face.  “Not strong enough?  Mr. Church, if you are not strong enough, who is?  Who else is so willing to throw himself in front of the unknown for people he nevah knew just to keep them safe?  Who else is as faithful to his cause?” his Mainer accent thickened as the fervor of his voice rose.  He took a breath and continued, calmer, “If you need help, advice, the odd charm, I’ll do what I can, but I am too old to dig into the depths of this place and I have not yet finished my work here.”

The old man turned back to the percolator and shifted it over the flame as if that would make the coffee brew any faster.  “Besides, you’re already dead, what’s the worst that could happen?” then let out a little chuckle. 

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[deusangelus]

  "I’m surprised they’d pass up anything with how hungry they seem to be all the time. Although they’re often too busy fighting with each other over scraps of meat to bother looking here in the kitchen for an easy meal." As he spoke he couldn’t help but sigh at the state of the residents in the inn. They were always going after each other, they’d rather turn on one another than help one another. With so many of them dying recently and nothing he could do to help them, he found himself feeling like he’d failed them. 

"I realize that there’s a time and place for someone to die, but I can’t stand idly by and watch them get themselves killed." He said. "I want them to escape this place someday, not waste away." He scratched the permanent stubble on his cheeks. "I know it’s too late for me to get out of here but I still want them to." He smiled again at Old Zeus’ invitation. "I wouldn’t mind joining you at all. Maybe you can tell me more of what you know about this place?" He asked.

[oldzeus]

The two walked back along the path that lead to Old Zeus' shed and Zeus listened while Elijah lamented the brevity of the residence lives.  Inviting one of the residents over for morning coffee was not the norm for Old Zeus, but Elijah seemed a good enough sort and besides, Zeus' shed was nearly poltergeist proof with all the warding spells and artifacts all over it. 

When they got to the rickety shed, Old Zeus unlatched the door and it creaked open.  Inside was just as you might imagine a garden shed to look if someone also lived in it.  All against one wall was gardening equipment.  The other half of the shed was crammed a cot with storage boxes underneath, a miniature "kitchen" consisting of a water basin and small hearth.  Above the cot a series of photographs had been hung in a sort of loose pyramid shape.  They seemed to get older as they got closer to the top and at the very top was an old photo of a young woman in a wedding dress holding an almost comically large bouquet. 

Zeus waved Elijah inside and began to cook his coffee in the percolator.  He began to talk again, almost out of nowhere, "Well then, perhaps you should shift your focus.  Instead of saving these people, perhaps you can prevent others from suffering."  He turned to face Elijah and his eyes nearly twinkled, "Or even reverse the damage....  Perhaps you should take your fight to the source?" 

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[deusangelus]

  "Yes, the vegetable garden. I hope the residents haven’t ruined it too much for you. I know they’ve been gathering food from there occasionally and sometimes they’re not very careful to step around the plants." He shook his head. "They don’t seem to understand that if they want a renewable resource of food, they have to take better care of it." He finished putting the rest of the food in the cabinets. "How have you been doing for food?" He asked. He felt the need to make sure that no one was starving. Especially someone who so dutifully took care of the grounds of the inn. 

"I’m concerned though for more than just the lack of food. There are monsters here." He said. "That entity who calls itself the Manager… it keeps sending things that I’m afraid are going to tear the residents apart." He leaned against the counter and sighed heavily. "A lot of them, especially the newer ones, they aren’t strong enough to face these things. I don’t know how I’m going to protect them. I’ve failed so many times."

[oldzeus]

"Oh, don’t waste your time worrying over me.  The older a man gets, the less his appetites.  And, yes, occasionally the garden is left quite a mess or harvested far too early, but it is a forgivable offence and it doesn't happen as often as you might think, especially if I’m prompt with delivering a basket of goodies.”  He looked toward a basket of pathetic looking vegetables moldering on the opposite counter, “Unfortunately, few of the residents prefer squash over Doritos, especially the young people.”  The word Doritos came out overly slow and pronounced with special disdain.

“As far as keeping them safe and sound, we are all meant to die and there is nothing that can be done about that, nor the how or when.  If I were you, I wouldn't fret over them so much.”  He looked at the ghost and his hard old face softened and he smiled, “Then again, I’m not as good as you.”

Old Zeus patted the bundle in his pocket, “Care to watch me drink my morning coffee, Mr. Church?”

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[deusangelus]

  "Old Zeus?" Said Elijah. "It’s nice to meet you." He smiled warmly. "Well, if there’s any coffee to be had, they usually take it back to their rooms." He replied. "But if you need some, I think there’s some in this box. I found these hidden out in the forest. It was a treacherous recovery but I had to do it. Not for myself, but for the residents here." He thought of himself as a guardian of the living ones. He tried his best to protect them from harm. He thought it was his mission from God. "Obviously, I would not partake in something such as eating, especially if it deprived some living person from having something to eat. It’s no use to me." He pulled the coffee out of the box and set it on the counter. "There it is."

[oldzeus]

Zeus' moist old orbs lit up for a moment before he caught himself and returned his face to its usual state of appropriate grumpiness. He took out a dingy handkerchief and laid it on the counter then took up the coffee and shook out just enough for a few pots.

"You're a good man, Mr. Church," he sighed as he bundled up the hanky and looked at the ghost. Old Zeus wasn't exactly the trusting type, but there was something about this ghost that gave him a little hope for both the living and the dead.

"I'd plant a few coffea plants out in the vegetable garden, but I haven't been able to get ahold of any plantable beans, besides I'm not sure how they'd fair in our weather."

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[deusangelus]

Elijah finished up his morning patrol by heading into the main kitchen to restock the cabinets with any supplies he found. He held a box containing the meager amount of food he managed to get his hands on. He never took anything from anyone else but rather looked for the occasional supply drops that the Manager was so ‘merciful’ to give them. They were well hidden though and most of the time guarded by monsters. It made finding them a dangerous task but a necessary one. After all many of the people living in the inn still were going hungry and unable to get the supplies for themselves.

The ghost saw someone who looked familiar to him yet he was sure he’d never met them. Was it that gardener he thought he saw a few times? He almost thought he’d been dreaming. After all, who would bother taking care of the grounds of the Fantome Inn? He set the box down on one of the counter tops. He began putting away the small amount of supplies into the cabinets, also watching the elderly man search the cabinets for something. “If you need something, I’ve brought a few things.” Elijah piped up. “It’s getting harder to find things like this around here but you’re welcome to take what you need. I’m Elijah Church. Are you the gardener I’ve seen around?”

[oldzeus]

Old Zeus turned slowly to face Elijah letting his heavy, baleful eyes linger before clearing his throat and replying, "Yes, yes.  They call me Old Zeus.  I'm the grounds keeper here.  Have been for..." his voice trailed off as he mulled over the rest of his answer, but never got around to finishing it.  Instead, his eyes slid toward the box and its few contents. "Tell me, Mr. Church, where have the residence started storing the coffee?  Since the conversion to apartments, the coffee keeps... moving."  The old man went back to poking through the pantry, but kept shooting sidelong glances at Elijah.  He wondered why one of the dead ones was scavenging food.  Usually, when people died and unmigrated, they quickly forgot about food.  Ghosts tend to suffer from emotional starvation, not physical starvation.  He would have to approach the subject gingerly, if time permitted.  There was still much to be done in the garden.

[oldzeus]

Black Coffee

[Open to any and all.]

Old Zeus woke slowly, as usual, and contemplated the fact that he was still living and had at least one more day in this world.  Once he came to grips with this fact and had sufficient time to roll himself in to a sitting position, he started to get ready for his day.  Normally, he would put his percolator on the stove while he washed up and dressed, but today he found he was fresh out of coffee.  That meant he would actually have to venture into the Inn, a prospect that made him grumble.  He dressed in his usual way: deep green dungarees, tawny cardigan, brown jacket, charcoal galoshes, tweed cap, and clomped out into the garden toward the main house. From the Gardener's shed it was roughly a straight walk to the large front doors of the Inn, but Old Zeus preferred the old servants' entrance into the rear mudroom.  From there he would skulk into the kitchen pantry to pilfer the coffee.  He reminded himself that it wasn't pilfering, after all he was the only one in the place doing any work.  He deserved coffee!  After making a fairly noiseless entry, he began rifling through the pantry like a racoon in an unattended campsite.