Tudors and Ghosts

Posted on Wed Nov 1st, 2023 @ 19:37 by Phoebe Hunter & Alastair Temple

Chapter: All Hallow's Eve
Location: Food Hall
Timeline: November 3rd
1450 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

The stone walls, once echoing with the whispers of ancient secrets, now resonated with youthful laughter, the promise of knowledge and one very late-running history teacher who wanted her dinner. This imposing castle transformed into a school, had become the beacon of hope for a diverse group of students, each with their unique backgrounds and abilities was amazing even after several months to Phoebe. She pushed the heavy oak doors open and sighed at the empty tables she sighed and moved over to the area where the cooks left food for the latecomers and piled some pasta and white sauce on a plate.

Phoebe sat down and savoured the echoes of centuries past mingled with the footfalls of curious students that she could hear in the distance. The castle, steeped in history and mystery, was now a place of enlightenment despite the attempts at Halloween. She could have snuck off to the pub and something better to eat but it was Matt’s night to work and she had promised herself she would not force herself into his world too much. She glanced up from her thoughts to see someone else coming in for a late meal.

Al took a moment to take in the space before him. This was the common dining area, right? Or whatever the people here called it. A common space where one ate, at the very least. He'd been told there was a spot where the cooks left food out for anyone to grab when hungry, and he was, so he did. The same pasta meal as the woman had - since that was what was available. The tall man, now lacking his wool tailcoat - offered a soft smile as he approached her, meal in hand. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, maintaining a respectful distance, as not to crowd her in case she did, in fact, mind.

Phoebe wondered if she had a look on her face that said do not talk to me as people were always asking that instead of just joining her. "Not at all. New PE teacher?" She wondered knowing Claire had mentioned a couple of new people joining them for the second half of the term.

"Music," he offered, sitting down opposite her, offering a hand in greet. "Alastair Temple, call me Al. I just arrived earlier today, still getting the lay of the land," Al explained with that rogueish smile of his. The food poked at a bit before the first bite taken. No bad, not bad at all. Not how he'd make it, but he'd be the last one to claim that his way as the only way. Maybe he should experiment a bit more.

The redhead could have used her abilities to check, but it seemed a foolish use of her abilities on the man when he did not know her abilities which felt like prying. “Al…” Phoebe was not sure she liked the name but it was his. “Phoebe Hunter. I teach history.” It was a worthwhile subject and she had lucked out with being able to teach it in a castle.

"History! Fascinating," Al exclaimed with some enthusiasm, his smile widening. He never really liked teachers - most he knew had not treated him well after his powers started manifesting, but he had never met a history teacher that had a problem with him, and so he had a soft spot for them. Maybe part of that was because they knew the lessons buried within the annals of history and took them seriously. "So what's your favorite time period?" He'd also never met one who didn't love talking about their favorite era.

The woman thought for a moment before deciding to speak up. "I love the Tudor period but the United Kingdom has just too much history to pick fully without wanting to talk about them both. How about you?" He seemed eager to discuss it so it seemed logical to poke them as she poked her pasta.

"Well, I'm into heavy metal so I'm contractually obligated to like the Viking period," Al replied, amused. "Comes with the territory, so to say," he smiled, scooping up a large bite of pasta. "Can't say I know much about the Tudor period. What makes it so special?"

"Changed the very fabric of England. It went from a Catholic country like most others to a Prosatant country practically overnight." It was hard to deny that religion used to play a huge part in the power and prestige of most countries.

"How'd that happen?" Al asked. Truth be told he had no idea, his education having been very incomplete. Part of him wondered if he'd asked a stupid question just now, but that thought of potential embarrassment was quickly dismissed, swallowed alongside some more food.

"A man got very bored and instead of letting his daughter have a go at the crown and running this country he decided he needed a son and nothing else would do. Rome would not give him a divorce so he created his own religion and granted it himself." Phoebe explained quietly before shrugging. "Should check it out."

"...Huh," Alastair smiled. "Learn something every day. I should check it out, for sure. Maybe I'll go by the library and get a book on Tudor history. Is that where the whole Protestant movement came from?"

"For this country yes. But it was spreading across Europe well before King Henry 8th got bored of his Spanish Queen and decided to try something else." Phoebe knew there would be many books in the library that would give him a better idea of things.

Oh it was Henry the 8th. Al had heard about him, just not in this historical context - mostly he'd heard about the guy because there'd been a song about him back in the 60s. By a band called Herman's Hermits, if he recalled collectly. "I am Henry the 8th I am, Henry the 8th I am, I am," he sung the verse, chuckling at getting the reference. "Yeah, I'll be looking him up. He sounds like a right interesting fellow."

Phoebe could not say she understood the song but she had been very sheltered first in American and then coming to her aunt in England. “He is. If you ever get the chance to go to London I highly recommend wandering around the Tower of London and Hampton Court. It’s eye opening.” She assured quietly before looking at him intently. “Cannot say I know that song though.”

"Oh it's a very silly song. Novelty song from the '60's, doesn't really matter," Al smiled apologetically. "I've been to the Tower of London. Not so much Hampton Court. Though it seems like a place where a lot of ghosts of history live," he didn't expound on whether he meant metaphorically or not."

Ah that would explain it. When it likely came out she was still in America and unaware of everything that was coming. “Most old buildings do. Wonder what this one has other than William?” She laughed at her own joke.

"William?" Al asked. He never really considered the possibility of ghosts. Old energies, sure. But actual apparitions? Though he'd already seen more things he couldn't quite explain here than he ever thought of before.

Phoebe smiled as her words had obviously stirred him into a realisation or at least deep thought by his tone. “ Caretaker. He lives out in the cottage on the grounds. Real interesting guy. “ she assured him smiling more in a way that spoke that she had a secrete and she was not going to share it. He needed to experience it all himself.

"At the risk of sounding like a complete gullible idiot, we *are* talking about, like, a guy, right? Possibly a mutant? And not a ghost?" Al spoke cautiously. "Because from the context of your sentences, it could go either way. And I'm not sure I'm ready to meet a ghost, on top of everything else I've seen so far."

Phoebe looked at her empty place and rose from the table. “That is the million pound question for you to work out.” She laughed deciding to play a little with the man. William was the oldest thing in the castle but he was not a ghost in the literal sense but he did haunt the place like one. “Enjoy your hunt Mr Temple.”

Alastair blinked, quirking a brow, though his rogueish smile returned quickly enough. "Alright, I'll play your game," he said as he watched her turn to leave. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Hunter," he said with a nod as he turned his attention back to his meal and drink.