STEAM LONDON: Realms of Aether Game Thread

[Stella Gaslight]

"We are on top of a dirigible at the moment but if it bothers you we can go down to ground level.  The labs here are open to house and take care of you for as long as you plan on staying here I can offer you a job traveling with us for a while but perhaps it would be best if you got to know us and this world a bit better first.  I think my friend Angel over there would love to play tour guide some time if you can put up with her cheerfulness." Emma smiled at Nadya and it was quite evident that Emma had a heart as soft as a summer cloud.  

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss was a bit dubious; the young woman appeared to be holding something back, especially since she suddenly blurted out the bit about "world-walkers," then looked so crestfallen when the answer came, but apparently heartened by his mention of the old legends from back home -- and then not being sure if this was 'her' London.

Several things were plain to him: She was one of these "world-walkers," and she knew that she was, and was crestfallen that none apparently existed in this world. And, he had a feeling that even if she didnt actually know when or where she was, she at least had a better idea than simply not knowing anything about it. be it through intuitive reasoning about the journey., or by the original intent of the beginning of said journey. Wait a tad --

States. STATES! she said STATES! Trip sometimes reminisced about "states"; could she be from Trip's original world? HE filed the idea away for later...

-----------------------------------
HE finally got her off of the ship, and down to the close where the Dock opened out onto the street, and encountered Jock and his recruits, and gave them the standard speech about flogging them himself if they "bothered" the ladies of the organization; he knew former marauders when H esaw them, and he knew the marines especially were susceptible to turning pirate. Jock and he woul dhave to keep a tight rein on these fellows, until they managed to win their temporary "marines" over for good.

Miss Nadya sort of smirked through the speech; oh, hell, he thought, she thinks I'm showing off for her, doesn't she... well, maybe I am... but I need to save myself for dinner with Miss Cloud next month, when she gets back froim StuittGarte. Besides, if everything works out, maybe we'll have Miss Nadya for a Special Operative teh next time we go D-Hopping, and it'd be unprofessional to be dallying with the crew...

They finally got Shai and Nadya down to Madame Arachne's, and he sensed Nadya stiffening up. Now, What could be bothering the poor girl?

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Well well well, what have we here?" The familiarly sensuous voice of madame Arachne cooed. The curvacious bordello owner gracefully glided across the hardwood floor. Her long, crimson dress obscuring the sight of the hundreds of thin mechanical legs attached to the woman's knees. Her raven hair glimmered in the slightly brighter Aetheric lamplight as her sultry blue eyes looked over the young woman who seemed frozen at the doorstep.
"Another guest for me? Oh you boys at the Saint Elmo are FAR too kind!"
However, the owner of the bordello slash medical establishment was met with something that utterly destroyed her image.
A playful Angel.
The milky-skinned construct hugged Madame arachne in the sort of hug that was only made into a word by the woobooboo tribe of south America, who call it a 'Glomp'.
"Mama 'Rachne!" Angel cheered as Cain observed the scene from a bit of a distance before turning to Nadya.
"You'll forgive our sudden appearance. We wanted to greet you and welcome you to the crew, but we saw you leave and Angel wanted to see Madame Arachne. She's the closest thing she has to a mother. My name is Cain, by the way. Very nice to meet you!"

It was then that Nadya saw the face of this young man, his appearance was terribly familiar, but she could not for the life of her remember where she had seen him. Until it was that she remembered sketches of the imfamous 'Jack the Ripper'.

[ClockworkLeprechaun]

"welcome to the crew, Mr. Warder, he said, I'd say eithe rthe St. Elmo or teh boheme could use a man of your abilities, especially anm explosive s expert."

"Well, I can turn a wrench, blow hings up and shoot very well.  My former employer ensured I was well rounded."  He said as he noticed the direction of Dreyfuss's gaze.  "It's alright, you can ask if you're curious, I've since stopped being overly sensitive about the arm."

"Thank you Mister Warder, I'm Nadya Zarate,"

Samuel nods over the hand shake with a smile, again looking her only in her eyes.

"You both can call me Samuel, if you'd prefer." As he noted where her gaze also kept going he mentally decided he needed to wear something that wouldn't show his metal parts off, likely a high necked shirt.  Though this crew didn't seem the least bit taken aback, but they also didn't quite know the extent of his...modifications.

[Duellist]

Leyton made an effort to corner Dreyfuss in relative privacy.  He could see that something was weighing on the Commodore's mind, so he decided to be gentle about.

"Commodore Dreyfuss.  I wonder if I might trouble you to cast your mind back to our earlier conversation." he said, smiling in a manner designed to make the next words seem less offensive, "I believe that we agreed to honour our respective titles.  To whit; if you get to be Commodore Sir Jaisen Dreyfuss, I get to be The Honourable Christian Leyton..."

[Stella Gaslight]

"Mama did you see how pretty the other Shai is?  We saved her from a bad world and Emma lady says we are going to go back there sometime and save the whole world."   There was nothing more potent as a mood lifter than a very happy Angel babbling away about something, Her smile was infectious.


Emma was studying the amulet the other Emma had given her.  So far she had been unable to detect any tampering but the other Emma was just as smart as she was if not more so.  Things were not over between them and She was going to be ready when the other girl made the next move.  George's heartbeat filled the background, come dawn tomorrow the hunt would begin again. "We are coming for you George."

[Nigel Wetherby]

Madame Arachne giggled, nodding in response to everything Angel said. "Well, when you go off to save that next world, be sure to take care of yourself. I wouldnt want to see you coming home in pieces. Who would take care of Cain then?" The two shared a giggle that was never entirely a good thing for Cain. The last time they collectively giggled like that, his bed had been filled with the dull, staring eyes of an army of teddy bears. His entire being shuddered.

At the center of the massive hall to all things scientific was a gigantic shape. Something that caused Cain's jaw to drop.
"Wh....what is that?!?" He managed to exhale in a mixture of terror and amazement. The being was the size of a titan, and oddly humanoid. It appeared to have been made of sleek, sandy-colored stone its oddly oval shaped head and slit-eyes added to its unearthly appearance.
"The first sign of ancient Technomancy." Said a heavily accented voice from behind them. A japanese man in a pressed Military suit seemed to amterialize at their side. His slick black hair was neatly tucked beneath his dark-green hat.
"Gejiro Kei, My apologies for startling you. This big statue was found buried at the edge of a mountain that used to house a shinto shrine.
"The locals called it "The great defender." The oldest records in history told stories of a stone giant that was ridden by a man from another world and defended Japan from an invading force they called the Makkai Army. There is a hatch on the statue's back, but no-ones ever been able to open it. Not even Patrick O'Landry..."
Sigmund was fascinated by the idea of an ancient machine, which was really common fare for any other member of the Boheme (Especially Angel).
"how do you know so much?" Sigmund inquired.
"My crew helped dig it up." Gejiro said with a bit of a smirk. "Right after the final stroke against the cold ones, we found this during construction of a new air-dock."

[Genevieve Ozuna]

Ah, so it was a dirigible. Well, that answered a few questions. Nadya smiled warmly as Emma explained the situation and offered her a holding upon the ship. “I would be delighted to take on a position here, pull my weight and whatnot. I’m afraid there are only a handful of things I could do to be useful on this ship, and half of those are talents I assume you do not require. Do you perhaps require a guard though? Or a spy? I’m rather gifted in those regards, proficient with both blade and artillery, and skilled at getting both in and out of situations,” she admitted as she offered her services.

By then Mister Dreyfuss looked eager to be gone of the ship and have her wound— which was actually growing increasingly painful— cared for, so she bid Miss Emma an, “Hasta luego, and thank you for your kindness” allowing the other woman to stew over what she had told her.

She then allowed herself to yet again be ushered about as the older gentleman escorted her down to the streets below. Mentally, she noted that he wasn’t too bad-looking of a fellow, quite handsome really, and outright Grecian when compared to some of her past lovers. And he certainly seemed to be showing off for her, if his behavior with the new recruits was anything to go back. She lifted an amused eyebrow as she watched the proceedings, and smirked slightly. If there wasn’t a rule against crew fraternization, she may very well have to continue this teasing of hers. Just so long as he didn’t get the wrong idea and become to attached. The teasing grin remained firmly in place until they reached their apparent destination, where it vanished completely.

The name was different, but Nadya swore she was standing in front of Madame Hyacinth's. Not just a very close replica, the literal Madame Hyacinth's Brothel and Cardhouse. Perhaps a tad more on the ramshackle side, not quite as though Madame's son really had taken over, more as though it had existed for a longer period of time, but the resemblance was uncanny. Her mouth became slightly slack as she gazed up at the building, and she quickly snapped it shut, hoping her partners on this stroll had not noticed her sudden stiffening.

‘Steady yourself Nadya,’ she chided mentally, berating herself for showing such emotion. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened next— though maybe, just maybe, she should have assumed it would be so. As the familiar figure of her Madame, her beautiful, just, and stern Madame, emerged from the building, Nadya could only half-smother the anguished sob into a muffled yearnful squeak as her arms twitched forward to embrace the woman.

She quickly pulled them back.

‘Get a hold of yourself Nadya!’ she reprimanded harshly within her mind, ‘It’s not as though you’ve never been through this before.’

But the thought of Madame’s death, so fresh in her mind, juxtaposed against this sensuous and live creature was almost too much to bear. A distraction, she needed a distraction. And soon she found one in the form of one Samuel Warder.

"You both can call me Samuel, if you'd prefer," said the gentleman to her right, who seemed to be about her own age, if appearance was really anything to judge by. “Samuel then,” she turned to him and pasted on an agreeable smile. “I believe I would prefer that very much indeed,” she continued, finally letting her gaze scan over him in an objective way. She had learned to loathe pitying and accusing gazes equally not long after adopting her most recent profession, and had become quite adept at maintaining the gaze least accusatory while examining new acquaintances.

She planned on saying more, but became distracted— against her will this time— by a pale beauty who wrapped her lithe form around Madame, calling out “Mama ‘Rachne.” What was her name… ah, Angel. Nadya had heard it in passing earlier, but now it seemed most fitting, as the girl seemed as innocent as an angel in all her lovely splendor. A shiver of jealously ran down her spine at Madame— no, Arachne— returned the embrace and giggled.

But the perhaps the most distracting event of the entire situation, was the introduction of a young man named Cain. Though Nadya knew him only as the notorious Jack the Ripper. Her breath caught and she attempted to steel her nerves. ‘You,ve been through this before Nadya. He’s a double, likely not even a disagreeable fellow. Calm yourself girl, you’re relying too much on what you know. Just accept,” a voice from within her spoke. Smacking away at her common sense, Nadya mentally pouted. Sure, she could be doing better in terms of staying consistent, but at least she hadn’t had a noticeable outburst yet. Though perhaps if that Leyton bloke didn’t shut his trap soon she’d have to make a scene in order to do so for him. Goodness his voice was grating. Like an eternal whine.

[Stella Gaslight]

"I remember Emma telling me about that.  If she hadn't been in the middle of groundbreaking on the new lab she would have been there in a heartbeat. I am Helena Thomas and I work as Miss Lighton's assistant.  I think I remember her speaking to you over the wireless." Helena had learned a lot about the battle that had happened in London and she has always thought herself extremely lucky to be in France visiting family when it happened.

Angel noticed Nadya for the first time.  "Hello did you come here so Mama could patch you up?'

[Genevieve Ozuna]

Nadya, who had been focusing so hard on not staring at Jac— Cain, that she had actually begun staring quite intently at a minuscule crack in the building's face, started when Angel addressed her. Recovering she replayed what the girl had asked her in her mind before answering.

"Why yes actually, I had a rather nasty blow to the back of my head up on the St. Elmo and have been ordered to have it checked out. To be honest it doesn't really hurt all that much though," she responded, feeling noticeably undressed suddenly and self-consciously raising her hand to gingerly brush the aching spot just above and to the left of where she had her many locks tied up in a knot. Pulling it away, she observed a slight dampness to her fingers and spotted the telltale red of blood.

"Ah, well that was unexpected."

Suddenly things were starting to feel a bit woozy. Just her luck.

[T.Taylor the Third]

Trip had finished painting for the day and replaced the cloth covering the painting .
his hand covered in red paint from the curtain he was painting.
He looked around looking for people but as he was unable to he decided to teleport over to madam arachnas to see about getting lunch
He arvived only just in time to caatch the girl who was fainting from hitting the ground.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Oh dear." Arachne gasped before turning her head to the building's interior.
"Chanelle, Daisy! I need you to prepare for a patient! She has a nasty head wound!" Two faint voices from within the building replied "Yes ma'am!" Before the skittering sound of high-heeled shoes on wood tolled like gunfire.
"Trip, Cain, could you please help carry her in? Angel, I need you to keep her awake, this is very important!" Arachne's voice had become less sensuous and more urgent, her tone still beautiful even as she instructed the others. "Cain, you take her legs." She instructed, much to Cain's dismay. He grabbed the dizzy young woman by her ankles and helped lift her off the ground with surprising ease. He looked towards the wall, taking his curteous nature above all else.

"Ahhh yes, you were the one who interrupted the communication with a declaration of your sucessful killing of a sky-kraken. Congradulations on your feat, men have gotten medals of honor for lesser deeds, and would have received a lifetime payment from the emporer for doing something so fantastic as travelling to another world! Who is your pale friend?"
Sigmund took a bow which he learned from a few years in the foreign legion.
"Sigmund Ky'Thur, ohai gosaimas."
Gejiro chuckled and applauded the young man. "Your japanese is impeccable, sir. And it is good to see another military man within this establishment." Gejiro bowed in repliance to the bow issued by Sigmund.

[Genevieve Ozuna]

"I'm fine!" Nadya insisted even as they lifted her rather bare legs, clinging to consciousness. Great, this was a lovely way to prove she was self-sufficient. Go all girl-like and swoon towards the ground. She sighed mentally and made a reminder to insist that it was due to bloodloss and bloodloss alone once she got out of this mess. She hated being treated like a silly simpering woman. That Cain fellow's reaction to her ankles was most amusing though. Poor distressed serial murderer... She really had to stop connecting figures back to her previous home.

Her eyes lolled back a few times, but she pushed to keep them open, focusing on Madame Arachne's familiar voice. The concentration eventually led to a loss of coherence though. Stil conscious, but losing her ability to focus, she began to ramble.

"It's so good to see you again Madame. Oh Señora it is most pleasant to see you alive. I've missed you so much. You wouldn't believe the awful things he made us do. Your wretched son-in-law. Hijo de puta. The men he let in to our rooms," she shuddered, out of her mind. "But you're here, and you're safe, and you're alive. You'll make it better right?" The last part came out in an relieved half-whimper half-whisper, filled with all the fear she had kept locked within, attempting for so many months to not appear weak.

[T.Taylor the Third]

Trip looked at the girl who had swooned, "huh,...shes cute."he thought. out loud he said "who is she?"

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Of course I will, sweety. Everything will be alright." She placed a warm, silken hand on Nadya's cheek. The two young men lay her on a soft down-filled matress. Arachne looked over the wound on her head and dabbed the bloody gash on her head with a witchhazel-soaked kercheif. A few tenative pokes later, a smile crossed her pale godess-like face.
"It's just a bad bump. The dizzyness is from the blood loss. A little rest, and you'll be right as rain. I still want you to stay awake for twenty four hours. You might need to stay here for a bit."

[MWBailey]

"Her name's Nadya; she , uh, sort of "dropped in" on the Elmo -- like you probably do sometimes, Trip, with that teleporter thing of yours. Apparently hit her head on one of the old steel Coal Oil barrels in the Officer's-Country storeroom," Dreyfuss said, as he walked up from behind. he'd been having another thrice-damned premonition, that the next piece of George would be in a tight space in an old building someplace, so He hadn't seen or heard much of what had been said or done.He informed Miss Emma of th premonition' calling it 'a weird feeling' of where George would be found next.

[MWBailey]

"Oh, Leyton-- I'm sorry, I had a kind of odd little spell there, er, nothing to worry about; You can of course be 'The Honorable Mr. Christian Leyton,' and any other titles you hold, if you prefer. I dont mean to give the impression that we actually run on titles, Your honor, or Mr. Leyton if you prefer, I was just referring to the fact that they come in handy in an introduction. I'm sorry if I gave the other impression."

"Since we're over here where miss Nadya probably can't hear me right now," he said, lowering his voice and speaking in a conspiratorial tone," have you heard of that bunch of people she called "World Walkers?" There're a few old legends back in Texas and the rest of teh North American interior about such individuals, and even about some of the old mythical "two-heart" Native Indian families who not only turned into animals as easily as you and I are talking right now, but also as easily "walked through the veils of this world and the worlds beyond," He said.

HE continued,"The other legends I've heard are about a band of Gypsies who came over from Europe to Caintuck or Tenn'a'ssee or some such to escape persecution or "pogrom" by locals in their adopted homeland," Dreyfuss offered.  "Have you heard of any such in your Eastern-european travels?" HE said, urgently; Dreyfuss was obviously hard-set on finding out where this girl came from. "And did you hear what she was saying to Madame Arachne? Apparently she knows a doppelganger of the Madame from her home world!"

[Duellist]

Leyton waved away the suggestion of insult, as though postponing the second part of his reply, "Do not mind my title.  It is one of the complications of my birth, what we call a courtesy title.  Usually, it belongs only in formal documents and invitations.  Unless the introductions are formal enough to warrant listing all of your titles, you might as well introducel me as 'Mr Leyton', as you do.  In the grand scheme of things, you outrank me socially because of your knighthood, so it is technically your prerogative.  I hold the degree of 'Master of Science', but it is not like I use it in daily life."

The Englishman realised that he was. to quote his mother, 'waffling on' somewhat.

"As to the young... woman's gift...  I know of this idea, though I have heard it called by many names. A shaman I knew called it 'parting the veils', another called it planeswalking. Mostly, they can cross only at specific locations.  There are conduits in the world..."

"Worlds..." he corrected himself, "There are places, crossroads if you will, where worlds meet.  We must be dimply aware of them, since they often intersect with the meeting-points of roads or crossings over rivers."

Leyton shifted uncomfortably.

"I have even crossed over myself, to a place I suppose could be called 'faerie'.  I would not want to venture a guess as to her talents though.  She does not follow the pattern of crossing in specific locations, so I would rather observe her a while before assuming that she is not dsplaying a more unusual talent..."

[ClockworkLeprechaun]

Samuel remained behind and to the side of Dreyfuss, being as the man was the only person, conscious and present, that he knew in this group.  He slipped his hands under the arm straps of his knapsack, letting them hang from there as he silently watched and waited.

[MWBailey]

"Well, it just seems it would be a good talent to have on our side, as it were. Trip can teleport with hus backpack device, but it's dependent upon the batteries and proper conditions, and a host of other complications that I'm only dimly aware of. But I have seen, or would like to think that I have seen, a few of these places. And, it puts me in mind of several other phenomenae that have occurred lately -- some of which I'd prefer not to mention until I can write to or talk to Patrick. I wonder if He'd mind a personal visit... by appointm3nt, of course." He noticed Miss Emma across the room, and said, "excuse me, gentlemen, I need to ask something of Miss Emma," and walked over to her.

"Please pardon me, Miss Emma, but there's a question I need to ask, and if I have asked it before, I crave your indulgence, but i can't remember having done so... Have there ever been any reports around Tinker's Row of a red-haired spirit, or ghost, or a person who seems to come and go as he wishes, without regard to physical constraints such as walls or doors, or whatever?" He felt a tap on his arm, and looked to his left, and there was Mahon in all his red-haired, slightly-glowing glory!

Several of Madame Arachne's girls exclaimed in various states of alarm, confusion, and wonder at his sudden appearance, so Dreyfuss had proof that others could see the little fellow as well. Maybe I'm not going completely mad after all, he thought wryly. "Well, that takes care of that question. Miss Emma, I'd like you to meet Mahon, a fellow who's been showing up at odd times and speakingto me about various "things." Mahon, this is --!

"--Miss Emma Lighton, yes, I'm familiar with her face but she might not remember me..." He said in his slightly-scottish-sounding burr.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma blinked rapidly, why did she know that voice? "Pleased to meet you Mahon." Something about him was swirling up memories but they were hard to hold on to. "Do I know you? It feels like I do but it is all hazy."

Helena looked at the floor in modesty.  "It was a lucky shot really." To be praised by Gejiro Kei was not something she imagined possible. 

[MWBailey]

Mahon hesitated, then said, "I was there in the dress shop the first day you arrived here, Miss. I remember you and yours, and I even talked to George once or twice after..um. well, after that unfortunate event. I'm everywhere in Tinkers row actually, I was there in the dock the day that Your Cap'n Dreyfuss walked in and and thought the Boheme was a pirate ship he knew all too well, and I thanked him for saving my niece from that rape gang in Indianola, she who was an officer on a marauder ship, and I ran up the Family Visitor flag for Captain Jaisen Dreyfuss -- in my own little corner of the universe, anyway."

"I were here when Henry's wives lost their 'eads over love, and when Cromwell rode in a fine carriage. I was also here that night two year ago, when them damned Russian diggers tried to bring London Low, and The Texians chased down and shot the last hell galleon outer the sky.

I and mine can't always come here; we has tae wait for the planes tae bump, but lately, since that blasted queen in russia opened that thrice-bedeviled door, its been planes bumpin' all ove rthe place. Worlds that would never have been allowed to cross paths have exchanged theiur denizens, and it weren't all as pretty as what I seen here so far.

"Tonight, I saw a young former maiden pass through, she of the gypsy clan that used to walk between as easy as strollin' in Hyde Park; she mightn't thank me for revealin' what she is, but she'll be the better off for it."

"Aye, and I be the one what told Jaisen about his soul, the bright one's that were never used 'til now. I didna mean, Jaisen, " he said while turning to stare "Jaisen" in the face, "that you'd be immortal unless ye died; Everybody's like that, even the lowest humans -- beggin' the pardon o' present compnay, o' course. you'll be immartal when it's yer time to be.

"But isn't that the same thing?" Dreyfuss blurted out. "Patrick --!"

"Patrick is nae a good comparison, but he can help ye if ye be needin' help. Just mention my name. I come here tonight, " he said, because I'll be unable to come to this here plane again for almost a century and time's gettin' short!, and I want to see you," he pointed an irritated-old-codger's-finger at Dreyfuss, "you mad, clumsy, airship-divin nut, you, when I come back! I'll leave you this dagger, lad, (he laid it on the floor) It's got it's uses, but you'll have tae discover 'em yourself. Goodbye now, and keep doin' as ye've done, but above all -- SURVIVE!"

"Yes, Mahon, sir, I will!"

"Ye'd better!"

"And you, Miss Lighton!" Emma straightened up, almost indignantly, "Keep doin what you're doin', but hurry! the multy-verse is comin' unraveled already, a little here, a bit there, but its happenin' and it'll keep on 'till yer George is whole again-- but take the lil world-walker with you, you can spare another day for each day ye return here. Two or four days only each time... but not much more, and beware the emma commodore, and Jaisen!" Dreyfuss  gave a start, "Ye can kill Capn Black, but 'ware yer anger, boy..."

"Fare ye well, all o' ye!"

And He was gone so suddenly that air rushed in to fill the void.

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen woke up, grimacing. She felt horrid. Clearly, she'd worn herself out again. Casting her eyes about, she discovered that she was in her own bed, with her clothes strewn about in a way that suggested Patrick had brought her there. Speaking of her husband, where was he?

[MWBailey]

"Esme? Esme, what in blazes are you doing?!" Lotta said, as the young Dreyfuss girl climbed out of the window of their dormitory room, using a line made of tied-together, well, almost every piece of cloth that she had here at the Academy...

She looked down toward the ground, and realized that, about three feet in front of her, was an oddly-solid bit of air. Twisting her body and her head around, she also noticed that the bit of solid air also blocked and confined the fog in a column beside the building for a distance out from the building that she couldnt see the end of.

Putting herself herself back upright again, she lowered herself down, half-unbelieving as she felt her feet come down on a narrow, but ground-hard, surface. She looked down, and around, and realized that she was standing, barefoot, in mid-air nearly twelve feet above the ground! She giggled, and heard Lotta call out softly, "what is it, you numb-pated fool?"
"Lotta! Come see!" she hissed. "It's amazing! Soon, both were out in the fog-shrouded, clammy night air, now several hundred feet above the ground, walking in clouds that glowed with the lights of a bordello far below.

They knew that it had to be a bordello because of the sounds that issued from it, and because of the smell of stale, cheap perfume and even some kind of really expensive-smelling stuff that brought to mind Oriental paintings and chinese tea shops. (not that either girl had ever seen such a place in reality, but they had looked at pictures of one on a recent class excursion to a nearby Library.

The fog suddenly cleared for a moment, just a space between two main clouds, really, and the two girls clung to one another in abject terror as they realized just how far up they really were. an Airship, flying dangerously low considering the billowing fog, passed by nearly close enough to touch its silvery-Ivory canvas side, ans the wind of its passage chilled the girls and nearly buffetted them from their perch. With the confidence of youth, they giggled and clowned, until one very nearly fell off. then, they both got down on their knees and crawled, all the way, back to the window of their dorm, and climbed the cloth rope back in side and pulled it in after them, hoping no one had seen them.

But someone had. Dreyfuss had walked out of the back door of the bordello just as the fog cleared, and looked up for the moon, fingering the handle of the dagger that Mahon had left for him,  and instead seen two girls in bedclothing standing on thin air nearly three hundred feet up. He didnt call anyone else, he just stood there looking at them as they looked down and shrieked and clung to each other as if only just realizing they were up so high. He went back inside, thinking he recognized one, but couldnt quite place her...

He told the girl on nurse duty that if they needed him or one of their patients called for him, or if anything militarily untoward occurred, to send for him on the Zeppelin RTAF St. Elmo, in Tinker's Row Airdock, mentioning he had seen two young girls walking around in the upper air, and thus it must be high time for him to get to bed. The girl thought it was funny, and giggled, wishing him good night. Blast, I can remember when a Girl'd try to get me to spend the night, he thought rakishly....

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Nonsense. You were very resourceful to use the ship's rum supply as an improvised moltov cocktail! I'm not sure the crew was happy about that, eh?" He chuckled and observed the young man.
"Is this young man perhaps a suitor?" He smiled wryly as he watched her dark cheeks redden.
"I mean not to intrude, of course..."

Patrick greeted Jennifer with a cheerful grin. "Good morning dear irish rose. I made ye some hot tea and muffins ter celebrate yer breakthrough." He planted a kiss on her lips, still dry from her sleep.