Leaning against the hood of his Oldsmobile Rickter checks his watch. Quarter to ten, he still has five minutes. In an effort to calm his nerves he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his silver cigarette case, popping it open to take one out. Holding it tight between his lips he lights it with a zippo lighter bearing a faded logo for the U.S Marine Corps.
He takes a deep breath, exhaling the smoke with a slight groan. Whatever it is Davidson has planned for him it better be fucking spectacular. The kid's been a constant nuisance ever since he showed up at the university. But then Rictor knew all too well of his little eccentricities long before taking him in as an understudy. For as out there as Davidson may be, the little weirdo has a real gift in biochemistry. Not just in understanding the material either, but in practice.
By now he's seen his apprentice pull off things never before thought possible. Shit that, even though he possesses all the data and notes, Rickter himself can't grasp. He's a prodigy, no doubt about it, and so long as Rickter sticks by him, he'll be en route to reap acclaim alongside him. It'll just take time. Time and patience.
Through the smoke of his Cigarette he gazes up at the farm house bathed in moonlight from atop a hill a quarter mile away. Surrounded by overgrown fields of overgrown wheat grass it casts an ominous shadow. However Rickter lacks the ability to catch onto such nuances, having lost any inclination to things not blunt and practical long ago. So he starts walking down the narrow gravel road, mumbling a curse or two under his breath.
During his short trek Rickter's eyes focus on the farmhouse, its decrepit features becoming clearer with each step. He bought the place from the county not too long ago, not an easy purchase either seeing as it was condemned for years. But all it took was a little monetary convincing to get them to look it over. Despite all but falling apart at the seams the old homestead is the perfect place to house Davidson. A mind such as his needs freedom and privacy to explore, to grow.
Peering above the front porch the second story window glows with a faint, neon blue. Rickter pauses, taking faint guesses as to what it may be only for it to flash a brilliant fuchsia before dying out. The following silence pierces through his thick exterior, sending a chill down his spine. At last it registers that what is transpiring may be most unwholesome. However he now stands not three yards from the hill and the front door, though obscured by the shadow of the patio cover, is opening. It's far too late to turn back, if ever it indeed seemed like an option.
As he trudges up the hill Rickter resumes focus on his malcontent mood. Despite the spooky aura of this whole affair or any possible breakthrough in science lay in wait it is simply too damn late for a man his age to be walking uphill and he stomps his way to the house well intending to give Davidson a piece of his mind.
Reaching the peak the house comes into better view, as does the lithe figure at the doorway. Ever eager to reunite with his teacher, the young apprentice darts across the porch and into the moonlight.
"Profezah," Davidson shouts in his signature foreign-accented rasp, "Oh it iz so good to zee you! I'm zo, zo, glad you came! Yes! Zo very very glad, da!"
"Yeah, yeah, it's great. Fan fucking tastic." Ricktor grumbles, tucking his hands in the pockets of his corduroy jacket.
Standing before him Davidson looks like utter hell. Despite still beaming with his odd, pale almost feminine glow of youth he is covered from the toe of his combat boots to the top of his wild auburn hair in a veritable menagerie of stains ranging from dirt, to ash to some unknown green substance.
Lacing his fingers together Davidson tilts his head with a Cheshire grin and wide emerald eyes, "I do apologize for zummoning you zo late but you zee, profezah,"
"The stars were right," Rickter groans, cutting him off, "like you always say".
"Oh good, very good," Davidson squeaks, "you are catching on! But enough of zat, time is of ze essence and I would not want to waste it with zuch mundane conversation."
Rolling his eyes Rickter follows him inside. The way Davidson speaks always irritated him. Despite coming from Ukraine, or at last claiming to have done so, his accent sounds more like a schizophrenic mess of Russian, German, and an on-again-off-again lisp. Though his raspy, squeaky voice doesn't help make it any more bearable.
He enters the house to find it at least somewhat refurbished. In the very least a new rug has been introduced on the bending wooden floor and beside the doorway a rough green couch now rests before a rounded coffee table bearing a small, battery operated television displaying the faint outlines of The Waltons. The mere fact that Davidson attempted to make the place livable is impressive enough.
A slam of the door behind him causes Rickter to jolt; he turns to see a towering man clad in tight fitting woodsman clothes without so much as an inch of skin showing. His eyes freeze in shock at the man's crude mask, like the helmet of a knight but made of wood and screws covering his head.
"Lawrence," Davidson shouts, scurrying over and facing the strange man, "You nearly gave our guest a heart attack! What did I say about creeping up on people like zhat, hm?"
Lawrence stands still, not speaking but breathing heavy, his gloved hands balled into tight fists.
"Lawrence," Rickter snaps at Davidson, "who the fuck is Lawrence and why the hell is he here?"
Putting a forefinger to his chin Davidson giggles, "Ze previouth tenant. You failed to inform me ze house waz already occupied. Naughty naughty Dr.Rickter."
"It, uh," Rickter glances back at Lawrence, "wasn't supposed to be."
"Dear Lawrence here waz very thuprised to zee me. Oh you should have been zere, what a mess zat was," Davidon giggles, leaning his chest to Lawrence's side.
Reaching up with one of his long arms Davidson caresses the cheek of Lawrence's wooden mask saying with a playful whisper, "But we verked it out. Now he wouldn't hurt a fly. Well, unless I told him too."
"Wait a second," Rickter says, stepping back in horror, "you aren't paying this guy with the university's money are you?"
Lawrence and Davidson share a short glance before the latter shoots Rickter a puzzled expression, "Uh, no."
Regaining his composure Davidson heads to the staircase, urging Rickter to follow. He does, though not without talking a second glance back at Lawrence. Content at the sight of the strange man walking away he returns his attention to Davidson. His hips sway with each step, the filthy tail of his lab coat waving too and from like the dress of some exotic cocktail waitress. It repulses Rickter to see such a brilliant mind act this way. Men of science don't talk gibberish and act like showgirls in heat. They are supposed to carry themselves with dignity and poise, such as himself.
Stepping onto the second floor Davidson turns around, hands on his hips, "You know zomething, doctah, I'm very happy you are here to zee zis."
"Well," Rickter says, straightening his jacket as he takes the last step, "somebody has to be around to make this credible."
Davidson snickers, "You're a beautiful man, Rickter."