STEAM LONDON: Realms of Aether Game Thread

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha helped touch the Boheme down. He was a little pale but managed to keep it under control. He was a bit thoughtful after what Dreyfuss had said, though it was not quite the problem. He loved Ella and he trusted her enough that she loved him. It was more him he was worried about. When he was with Ella, he could be a normal person, with a purpose and gentleness. He would go back to her now for as long as he could. The longer he was away, the more he started to have the black parts of his mind creep in. A sense of...hopelessness, especially during those crossings.

He would go see her...but he knew he couldn't decline these searches if he was in able shape. It was like Morrisey. If he wasn't there...would more people die? But then, that was also the reason he didn't want Ella out in the danger.

The Boheme docked. He managed a small smile. The thing was, when he was back with her, this would all look stupid and foolish. They'd both been tossed about by the world, but as long as he had her and she had him, the world really didn't matter a damn bit.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"When I was in service, our commander told us that those who died in battle joined the queen once more. I am very sure he is in a much better place than that. Perhaps now he may lay down his weaponry and rest, as all soldiers do. He has the privellage of resting surrounded by his comrades, soon rejoined with the soul of the country that birthed him. I do not feel sorry for Mister Morissey. Rather, I am happy for him."
He shifted his weight to his rifle, using it as a bit of a crutch.
"Er...Sorry if that sounded a little callous."

[Stella Gaslight]

"You don't sound callous.  If anything you sound like my father when we had to bury crew mates.  Death is part of a pirate's life and not one easily left behind.  When I was little my father told me that those that died in the sky became part of the air and brought favorable winds to those left behind.  Lets hope those winds take Mr Morissey home."  She smiled and opened the communication link to Patrick's school.  "Emma we are back and we have a piece of George."

"That is good you should come to the school this evening we have made a lot of progress."  Emma's voice sounded a bit tired and Helena hoped that Patrick was making sure she slept.

"I will see if I can get the others to come.  Helena out."  She took Sigmund's hand "I hope she has found a way to keep those attacks from coming back."

Angel was sting on Cain's chest,  They had toppled over when he tried to lift her back on the ship.  Angel didn't mind because this put Cain in a prime smooching position.

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss sighed, as they settled in at the dock, the propulsion system whirring down to the low hum of idling reciprocators mixed with the sussurration of huge centrifugal fans, and finally down to silence. Well, best to get it over with as quickly as possible. Don't put it off, it just gets harder if you do, he thought, and then pushe dthe button for the Engineering Address box. "Engineeering, Is Jock there?"
"Right here, Commodore, sir."
Do we have th efamily and next of kin particulars for young Morrisey?
"aye, we have 'em for all the men, sir. Only one we lack is Leftenant Zarate, sir,"
hmmm... Well, I'll see if I can remedy that in th enext few days, Jock. For now, can you pull his file for me, Morrissey, I mean?"
"Aye, sir, That I will."
"good, thanks. I'll be flying out with condolences in short order then. could you put his final effects in a flyable bundle, Jock? Something that will work with a set of 'wings?" and his earnings for the rest of this year?
"Aye, sir, I have just the thing, and anticipated the pay, sir."
"Good. see you in... twenty, then."
"Very well, sir."

Dreyfuss went to his cabin, dressed in the full foraging dress uniform, with peaked cap, greatcoat, saber, whitefire pistol, and harness, with the same uniform boots, and his old Underslung goggles, the brass-and-ivory & leather green-glass rectangular ones, that he had last worn for that battle in the Hindu Kush, three years ago, now.

He hated the business of telling families that their beloved son or father or mother was killed in action. I was never an  easy task, and it was always tearful and painful for the families. He hated causing them any pain at all. Truth to tell, the "final effects," and the "Year's full pay were as much to cheer himself up, as to help the family on its way;  it gave him the feeling that he was not soimply leaving them high and dry. Plus, it gave him an excuse to handle the invitation to the funeral in person.

He went down to engineering, goit the 'wings, then the bundle and the address and general directions from Jock, and then climbed up to the main deck, opened the debarking gate in the railing, started the aether Jet, and took off, waving to sigmund and Helena as they exited the Boheme, and then lofting up, up and over the tops of the roofs of Tinker's Row, and out over London Proper itself, dodging and weaving through the dense daytime air traffic, on out to the fields beyond the furthest reaches of London Proper, and finally out to the country, his jet unit's thunderous buzz echoing from the ground and the trees, sometimes scaring a group of horses or scattering a herd of sheep...

[Nigel Wetherby]

"I should hope so..." He said, staring off into the sky as the world shot by. "I think the winds are kind enough to let a man who rode them so well ride them one last time into...wherever it is air pilots go when they die. As for the attacks, I can't help but feel they are...important for something. I'm not sure what though."

Cain was helpless to Angel's rain of kisses, his cheeks and lips covered in a fine layer of pink lipstick gifted to her by Madame Arachne. Angel favored it due to the fact that the marks served to tell her where he had been kissed and where he needed to be kissed in order to be literally covered in her sweet, soft, giggle-laced kisses.

[Stella Gaslight]

They pulled back in to London just as the stars started to come out.  "Wherever we go the stars are the same even if we have different names for them."  Helena said that like it was a comforting thing.  "We need to go the the school but I think Dreyfuss is going along to tell Mr Morissey's family what happened and if I can I want to send them my condolences as well.  Even with our time being limited I think we should all give our last respects before we leave tomorrow. "

"My Cain is the best in all the worlds." Angel declared finally satisfied with this even pink her kisses gave him.

Helena's voice came over the speaking tubes all over the ship. "Emma has invited us to Patric's school to share some new information about what provoked the attack.  I will be going there as soon as we land and anyone that wishes to join me can."

[Nigel Wetherby]

Sigmund nodded. He wished dorely he could give something more Tangible to Morissey. It was common for cold one soldiers to continue on battle even as they fell, leaving the bodies to rot where the fell, but Sigmund would always leave behind a pack of rations for the corpse if they were missing them, or a piece of equipment from his own pack if they were without it. He felt they would need to carry on their journey fully clothed and with a stock of C rations at the ready.
"To die...would be an awefully big adventure." He found himself quoting Peter Pan.
"Helena. What do you think would happen to someone from a world with no god if the died in a world that seems to posess one of it's own?"

[Stella Gaslight]

"I would like to think they would be taken in to the fold.  Taking care of lost lambs is part of the job deception after all."  She put her arms around him.  "But I am in no hurry for you to go testing that hypothesis."  Hand in hand they walked to the spider cart. "I will arm wrestle you for piloting rights." With her grin he could not tell if she was kidding or not.

"Do you want to go to school Cain?  I kind of want to but I want to go to Mama's house too."  Angel was rather torn, she liked both places equity.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Well, we haven't paid a visit to Miss Arachne in a while. Besides, you are running low on lipstick." He wiped the thick pink layer of love from his cheek before returning Angel's sentiment with a deep, heartfelt kiss. What Cain lacked in kissing quality he more than made up in quantity.
"My Angel is the best Angel in any world." He chuckled and kissed her once more.

"You're on..." He gave her an insidious grin as he boastfully squeesed his biceps which would have been bulging like pythons had this been some reality in which Sigmund was no soldier, but a standoffish bodybuilder.

[Stella Gaslight]

Angel looked up at the shy as they pulled in the hanger.  It was dark and she was hungry and that meant it was dinnertime. "Come on Cain lets go have dinner at Mama's house."  She smiled dinner at mama's was always yummy and their was always dessert if you cleaned your plate.


"You might regret this.  I used to win my candy money by beating the dock boys."  Her grip was firm and she was passively resistant at first and then she started to push against him in earnest.  Sigmund was surprised by the hidden mussels she had gained through a life in the sky.  He could tell by her grin she was sure that she would win.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Right! No use flapping our jaws when food can be put in betwixt them!" Cain took Angel's hand and strolled hapilly into the busy cobbled streets of london. They were greeted by all manner of merchant and  passer by. Angel and Cain were practically mythological beings, their songs and stories were known to all children and therefore known to all parents and a few unimpressed and downright ornery teachers.

"How do you think a little half-breed survived in such an unforgiving military background? I lived almost entirely off rations I won during arm wrestling competitions." He cracked his knuckles and wrists audibly.
"Hmmm perhaps we should sweeten the deal?"

[Stella Gaslight]

Children poured out of houses to see them. Somehow Angel managed to talk Cain it to giving horsey back rides while she played hopscotch and gave big flying hugs.  They led a noisy procession through the streets and up to the brothel door where the children disbursed.  "Hi Mama I am home for dinner." Angel called from the door way.

"How about the looser has to take the winner out to eat? I think we deserve a night out for once."  She hadn't had an evening out in months.  Being Emma's assistant was a full time job and then some and she kind of wanted to dress up a tiny bit for Sigmund.  He had only ever seen her in work clothes and they weren't very flattering.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Madame Arachne greeted Cain and Angel with a single mighty hug. Nadya watched from the threshold, a smile across her dark lips as she realized that some things never change, no matter what dimension your in.
"Dinner's in the kitchen, we made some partridge and pheasant pie for dinner, and some strawberry shortcake for dessert." She was enough of a lady to not divulge where they got the surplus of whipped cream and berries from.

Sigmund gave a confident smirk. "Very well. Mind you i don't look very good in finery." He placed his elbow on a sturdy wooden table, his cold one musculature twitched and writhed beneath his pale skin, giving him a rather imposing appearance and reminding Helena of the otherworldlyness of her enemy.
"I suppose Patrick can lend me a good suit."

[Stella Gaslight]

Angel sat at the table napkin in lap and silverware in hand.  She had an unmatched enthusiasm for food.  "It smells really good Mama." She bowed her head for a moment "Thank you for the food."  She didn't entirely understand praying but she knew saying thank you was important.

She grinned and took his hand.  All was still for a moment and then she started to push against him just nudges at first to gauge his strenght and then an all out attack that nearly had his knuckles grazing the wood of the table.

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss flew back in from Yorkshire, the area where Morrissey's parents lived; they had moved there to escape from the sprawl of London Proper. They had been singularly distrauht and grief-stricken to learn of teh death of their son, but proud that, after having been a lowly mercenary, he finally had become a "legitimate" soldier. Dreyfuss sensed that the tidy little sum of wages didnt hurt that verdict. and then, he mad eth ereturn flight. Faster than a journey by horse or omnibus, or even airship, but taxing in heavy air traffic, especially in and amongst the heavy- payload teamster blimps and air freighters that alwyas seeme dto take over the northward traffic flow. Again, Dodging and weaving through the press of evening (this time) air traffic, he finally found the Row, and the Air Dock, but decided to forego returning to the ship, in order to go and see two people who were very important to him, whether or not he was of any importance to them.

Even if Nadya cut him into cube steak for telling her to stay put (assuming he wasn't merely imagining the whole rapport thing, and come to that, even if it was just his imagination), he felt that he just had to see her and Arachne, just to confirm that two such wonderful people existed, who didn't hate him for what he was...he hoped. Just to embrace either or both and be welcomed would be heaven. He hovered for a minute above the bordello, such thoughts distracting him and making him pause longer than he intended, and then slowly settled to Earth out front.

One of the girls on duty inside heard the insane-bumblebee noise of the aetherjet, and looked out through the open front door, to see Dreyfuss himself alighting on the stoop, weirdly-shaped wings on his back. "Oi! Daphne! Go tell herself that Dreyf's 'ere, and 'es got wings!"

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss pressed the lever that controlled wing deployment, and the wings snapped shut, like four large switchblade knives acting in reverse. He stepped in under the awning, and unbuckled each of the two straps that held the wing pack on his back, but leaving the hooks resting over his shoulders as he undid the waist strap, and folded back the leg-navigation levers, then folde dthem up into the body of teh pack.he then grasped the cast-metal loops that were integral to the hooks and lifted the 'wings off of his shoulders, switching his grip to the carrying bar and slinging the unit over his shoulder, like a bizarre overcoat.

HE then walked into the Bordello, noticing the stres and a few... looks not unfriendly, exactly, but slightly fearful, as if soe of teh girls an dseveral of teh patrons feared his presence... He went to the girl on duty at the desk, and asked , "What happened? did the dock have som ekind of accident?"

Not the Dock, no, Dreyf. Seems your former Ladyfriend decided to leave a parcel for Madame."

Dreyfuss' blood ran cold. He felt a strange, astringent sensation in his cheeks, which he had learned long ago meant that all the blood had drained from them, adn that he was eithe rvery angry, or very afraid.It must hav ebeen anger, because the girl suddenly backed up, and started making stammering noises, saying something about not frying her...

"Miss, please, my eyes do this, these days, when I become angry. I am not angry with you. neither you, nor any resident of this building, have anything to fear from me. People who try to hurt you, or to hurt two particularly dear individuals, however..." He squinched his eyes shut, and shook his head violently, then opened his eyes, checking first to see if a white glow reflected from his palm. It did not, so he figured his eyes must be normal now. He straightened and faced the front-desk girl.

"Please, Miss," he pleaded, trying his hardest to be reassuring, and taking her by the hand and helping her to her chair, "I mean you no harm. Please, don't be afraid of me. I would no more harm you or any other resident here, than I would harm my own dear sister." . "Now, he said, calmly but urgently, after everyone seemed to calm down, Please tell me, Are Nadya and Arachne all right?

[Nigel Wetherby]

"If you'll excuse me, Angel darling I have some business to attend to." She rose from the ground and scuttled into the main room. She recognized that frantic buzzing anywhere. Plus his tense and urged voice could be heard from almost a county away. Nadya was already halfway there.
"Senior Dreyfuss! Is something the matter?" Nadya asked in her still wonderfully rich voice. Her elegant form wrapped in one of Arachne's own crimson ruffled dresses.
"You seem rather stressed, dear Commodore. Cain informed me of Morissey's death. I'm very sorry you were forced to endure such hardship as informing their family. I have shared similar burdens in darker days. The Tinker's Row massacre sent me to ten different homes, you know."

Sigmund began to mutter somethin under his breath, An ancient and haunting chant that had once been a cold one marching song. His entire arm became rigid and slowly forced itself into the stalemate position despite Helena's struggle to end the battle. With just a bit more force, her knuckles soon began to hover an inch above the hard, unforgiving laquered oak. Drastic measures would have to be taken.
And Helena was always a very clever woman.
Sigmund never saw her lips coming, but the moment she pressed her lips to his, the soldier's arm went to jelly and slammed into the cold wood of the table.

[MWBailey]

"Nadya!" Dreyfuss scooped up the lovely worldwalker girl into his arms and held her close for a moment, then relaxed his grip. "Are you all right? I knew she was vengeful, but I never expected her to deliver...let me guess, a funny-looking suitcase that ticks -- 'Is something the matter?' !? You two may still not realize it, but you're both extremely important to me." his voice dropped almost too low to be heard, "Especially now... "

"Madame, Arachne, it's the thought that you and Nadya might have been injured.No, th ething just now, well... I heard the news of the attack just now, and... well, it's a whitefire thing, you see... it's my eyes, they glow bright white when I get furious, I think I nearly scared your poor girl to death, I was trying to reassure her. Oh, Lordy... lets just let me calm down a minute. Gawd, I'm glad you're both alright.

Nadya, I'm sorry to pull this right now, but were you really talking in my head all those times? I really need to know, He sent, hoping she would say it was true.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Well, I couldn't very well leave you alone, mister Dreyfuss.
Nadya simply chuckled beneath her breath, giving Dreyfuss a look of confirmation of his assumtion. Her abilities were truely fascinating.
"Well, actually, it came in the form of an appetizing rum cake. We wanted to dig into it when Angel came home so we placed it in cold storage. Apparently Nitroglycerine doesn't like that. At least we got a new cold storage unit out of it. Plus It gave my girls motive to be a bit more wary of random cakes." Madame Arachne had an impressive dignity about her, even in the face of attempted murder.
"We're having the girls give all manner of poison tests on foods and drinks that come into the bordello. Along with anything posions could penetrate via skin contact. But don't worry, we're on full Amber alert. Amber's a smart girl, she'll keep the others safe in the way of explosives."

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss hugged Nadya again, gently, and continued to hold her close, Tears at the edges of his eyes. It was true. Oh, You wonderful young Woman, he sent. Please keep doing that.

"Madame, You are truly one inspiring Lady. Only Miss Lola could have approached you, but she could not have surpassed you. Wherever she's ended up by now, I'm sure she would have agreed," Dreyfuss said.

"That wouldn't have been the nitro, Dreyfuss said; that's how they store the stuff, is to freeze or chill it. Turns the glycerin hard and slows down the molecules in the other ingredients so they dont interact fast enough to explode. More likely it was cold response in a mercury trigg-- oh, bloody... I'm popping off like a forensics analyst now. I'd better report all this to Sir Charles in the morning, see if he or the home Office know about Mariana's latest obsession....What? He asked, noticing their rather shocked expressions, "All Marauder airship officers got the training to build and spot different explosive devices. It's astounding the different ways one can mine the air approaches to a position...."

"Anyway, Patrick's having anothe rget together this evening; I suppose for an update on whats causing things like the attack on the school, or at least some progress on Emma's condition. Are Cain and Angel still here? Maybe we could all go together."

[Stella Gaslight]

"Dreyfuss come have dinner with us.  It is yummy."  Angel called from the kitchen.

Helena couldn't stop grinning. "We will both go get cleaned up and meet back her in an hour.  We can drop by the school then go out on the town.  Since you are new in town I suggest we try Tonazos over near the inventor's square statue.  The food is excellent and not too expensive."  She finally released his hand and went off to her quarters.  There was a rather lovely blue dress waiting for her that she hadn't warn since the last time she visited her parents that would be just perfect.

[MWBailey]

"Well, how can I refuse an invitation like that!" Dreyfuss exclaimed, and with Arachne's permission, entered teh kitchen, took off his cap, set down the 'wings in teh corner, adn pulled out chairs for Nadya and Arachne, then sat down himself, all of them "tucking in" with a will...

[Nigel Wetherby]

Sigmund stared, amazed for a moment. He had been both duped, and royally thrashed in arm wrestling. All he could do was grin as he stroked his aching knuckles and wrist, this woman was truely wonderful. He would need something fancy. Had he realized he would need some finery ware before he had crossed over, he would have lifted a suit from mister Taylor''s closet before entering that glimmering portal. He sat at Helena's side as the spider walker rose to life like an eager crab, scuttling across the cobbles of London's streets as the acadamy's white towers thrusted themselves high above the skyline and into the blue sky, jabbing the clouds above.

I would though it is rather taxing when one is trying to concentrate or talk to another peron.
Nadya returned Dreyfuss' tearful look with a teasing smirk, as if to tell her she was alright and he was rather foolish to worry.
"So glad you could join us for dinner, mister Dreyfuss. We have an extra pheasant pie that I would have given away, but I beleive you deserve a good hot meal and a nice glass of wine."

[MWBailey]

"Why Thank you, Ma'am, you are very kind." Hmmm...yes, I see what you mean, Miss Zarate, he sent, in keeping with her choice of address, it does present a few problems. Fortunately, I'm not having to walk while I do so, at least at the moment, he chuckled mentally.

[Stella Gaslight]

Light blazed from the windows of the academy making glimmer like a jewel in the dusk.  The students were absent for the most part because somewhere within the labyrinthine halls dinner was being served.  Talos let them in and took them up to Patrick's private study where he was having a casual dinner with Jen and Emma.  "I am glad you all made it back safely." Emma was looking better, the splotches were fadeing and she seemed to be breathing better. It wouldn't be long until she was healthy and back to work. "I have good news for you Sigmund.  We believe your attack might be something like an acute sensitivity to the opening of aether gates in frequencies.  It is going to take more testing for us to be able to narrow down the exact frequency but at least we have some idea on how to stop it from happening again. Patrick found something interesting about the changes made to Talos as well." Helena smiled, Emma was happiest when she had a problem to work on.

Angel had seen wine a few times before but Cain told her that she shouldn't drink it but sill she was curious.  "Dreyfuss what dose that taste like? Cain says it is made out of grapes gone icky."