Pandora's Box - A Steampunk Adventure (Mae x Fubsy)

[Maeriel]

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Spring, Early Morning
Skydocks, Station District
Altum Valis (Noctem controlled) - Ingenii
World of Aecquor (post-End Tide)
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Miserable. Absolutely miserable. Abigale Claremont hadn't felt quite this disheartened ever since the debacle of a job which resulted in her mother's arrest and her fleeing to this city-state in the first place. Everything had been going so well. She was on the verge of a profitable wedding which would grant her a cushy life and status in the aristocratic society of the enterprising nation known as Ingenii. Instead, her identity as Rebecca Atkins had been thoroughly burned by the singularly unfortunate coincidence that one of her mother's old marks, a noble she had swindled, was a distant relation to her fiancé.

Unmasked, what was to be a pleasant dinner full of pomp devolved into a melodramatic scandal. Her betrothed, Lord Alto Veridi, a human male close to his 70s and thus at the end of his life, was not a bad person. He had already been struggling with criticism for the choice of a much younger bride, prestigious though it may be to marry an elf in this society. A year their engagement had lasted, before that, a rather hasty 6 months of courtship. So frustrating how it all came crashing down so quickly.

'Rebecca' cried and pleaded, claiming that she had nothing to do with her mother's shady dealings and that she had just meant to restart her life and live in peace, tears streaming down her hypnotic angelic features while voicing how much she cared for Alto. It didn't quite salvage the wedding, but she was locked up in her bedroom while they attempted to calm down her flustered ex-fiancé before calling the authorities. Abby had pounded on the door, crying for forgiveness until the footsteps receded in the corridor outside.

Wiping the fake tears, her features grew stoic while Abigale went over her available options. She'd have to gather her jewels and her bolt-backpack, filled with all the necessities in case of emergencies just like that one. Then she could hunker down in one of her bolt-holes, a place to lay low away from prying eyes, and then forge herself a new identity and purchase a steam train ticket out of town, rinse and repeat what she attempted with Alto. Only they'd likely come looking for Elven women dressed as ladies trying to leave the city.

No, she'd have to think out of the box. Getting off the beautiful baby blue gown with cream lace which hugged her upper body prettily, yet looked demure enough for a young bride about to wed, Abby cast the flowing bulky thing aside for something more practical. A white linen dress and the leather corset hugging her narrow waist with leg protectors dropping to the side of her long legs. Under the long skirt, woolen stockings held by cream lace garters and knee-high brown leather boots. As she moved the window seat to reveal the locked hidden trunk with her backpack and weapons, Abigale pondered on how ludicrous she looked, like some sort of adventurer... and then it hit her. Dainty and coy as she's been in these 2 years spent in Altum Valis, they'd hardly be looking through the steady stream of adventurers, explorer and mercenaries that populated the docks leading out of Ingenii by sea or air.

Out of Ingenii. That meant she would have to leave her home. Abigale had known no other corner of the vast sea world she lived in. The End Tide, the cataclysmic event which had covered most of the verdant world they lived in under sea water many centuries ago, made sea and air travel a rather perilous and uncertain journey. Precious were the charts with routes showing islands and floating settlements, for if you set blindly into the blue waters or skies you'd likely be devoured by creatures of the deep or starve and die of thirst before the next port... or crash without the appropriate fuel. It frightened Abby. Not to mention she was only average with her blades and a much better marksman... on high-class hunts, anyway.

Still, it would be her best bet, and so, as she skillfully picked the lock to her bedroom and sneaked into Alto's empty bedroom to take the hidden passage out of the house (he never knew the Elven girl had discovered the tunnel behind the hearth), Abby decided she'd have to play a character well beyond her comfort zone: a gun for hire. The rest of the night was a haze of hiding from the bowl-hatted guards in dark alleyways and finally hunkering down in the dank basement under a cobbler's storefront which was one of her bolt-holes closest to the Station District. She diligently worked on her new identity: Natalie Hawthorne. Unable to sleep, she practiced until she was used to the sound of the name, and tried to suppress all the dainty mannerisms she spent a lifetime acquiring.

In the morning, hair braided back simply, same crumpled clothes, face clear of any make-up and body unadorned by her exquisite jewelry, Abigale went to the local ticket offices at the Aliverne sky station. Among the masses, she found flyers of people wanted as skycrew, ads in search of 'bold and brave explorers for a profitable venture' and vessels setting out on several different dates and to as many destinations. The only one setting out soon was The Hyacinth, a brand new blimp, locally engineered, headed to the Elven Islands of Raellwyn. Auspicious.

It was far too easy to get to a local job office and find the aging elf called Khirus Nautellius fuming for not receiving quick enough aid on finding a 'bodyguard'. Long rifle at her back, swords at her hips and practically dressed, Abby was certain she still couldn't pull off the 'merc' look with her delicate face and dainty, velvet soft hands. Yet, for a reason she was mulling over the next morning on her way to the skydock, the silver-haired man hired her after she struck a conversation and casually mentioned her frustration in the bureaucracy for hiring her gun out.

Light brown-green eyes specked with golden observed the gaunt young human, clothes all frayed, the best item she could identify were the goggles atop his cap, though he had pretty hair, as strange as it was all dark with a shock of white. Abby was a tad taller than him in her heels and as she studied him, she could not picture him at ease anywhere but in a workshop, he looked about as at home as a fish out of water. That observation set Abby's nerves at ease. This I can do. Immediately she thought she had the elf who hired her pegged down. This Johanne Nautellius must be like a son to him and all he wanted was the peace of mind that the boy would be safe. Snooze job. She didn't even need to put her best performance. All she would have to do was stand there with her rifle and look grumpy.

Spoiler: Natalie Hawthorne

Abby stepped closer, thumbs tucked in her sword-belt at the hips, fingertips brushing the pommel of one of the blades she carried. Long silken dark hair brushed to a sheen, waving in the wind, angelic face stoic, a contrast that couldn't hide the beauty of her Elven features. Her shoulders squared back and her brow furrowed to feign a certain standoffishness. Lower that pinky and walk with a swagger, Abby! she chided herself and tried polishing off her daintiness. The young man (or boy?) didn't notice her at first, and so she gently tapped his shoulder. "Mister Nautellius? I am here to guard you on your journey, as per contract with Khirus Nautellius. My name is Natalie Hawthorne, pleased to meet you." Her melodic voice was devoid of the sweetness she normally applied to it, sounding a tad cold and sober. No curtsy, that was better. She offered her hand to shake his, this should prove interesting...

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@Fubsy ​

 

[Fubsy]

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Johanne had long ago learned never to question his mentor's antics.

Karius was a strange man, but not without reason. He saw something in the world, something in people and places and things. Motion where there was stillness, cogs where there were sinew, and potential in things that hadn't even been put into place. He kept these things to himself and the parchment of his journals. Partly because of distrust, but also the knowledge that no else saw what he saw. No one else would understand. Johanne had tried to, long ago. He had tried to find ghosts of machines in the living beings around him, but all he got was confusion and the foreboding sense that maybe Karius was mistaken in choosing him. But he never spoke up against his mentor, no matter how mad his ramblings would get.

This, however, warranted more than a little protest.

The young man hugged a small, carefully crafted box close to his chest as if it held his very life's being, and, in a way, it did. Never before had Johanne seen his master so fervent in the safety of an invention. He was cautious when building, of course, but nothing like this. Nothing like this seemingly out-of-nowhere notion that it was a brilliant idea to send Johanne to a place he didn't know of with a contraption that he knew even lesser about in the company of a bodyguard who he didn't even know was hired until Karius had told him in a last minute rush. Johanne shook his head, foot tapping anxiously as his face scanned the crowd. Passengers and crewmen of various blimps and airships intermingled on the docks, their voices clashing loud into the air. Gossip was traded, goods were shared, and the buzz of activity was so overwhelming that for a moment Johanne was sure he was going to fall back over the guardrails.

His eyes darted from face to face, searching. What was this bodyguard even like? Johanne's gaze followed a group of well-muscled men shoving each other and spouting crude jokes. Was he scarred and battle hungry? His eyes switched to a grumbling captain whose coat stank of smoke and booze. Perhaps he was a drunkard with no shame? The young man jumped as someone tapped his shoulder and he turned to see the figure of a harsh looking Elven woman, weapons strapped onto her person. Or, just perhaps, she was none of those at all.

"Mister Nautellius? I am here to guard you on your journey, as per contract with Khirus Nautellius. My name is Natalie Hawthorne, pleased to meet you."

Johanne stared at the woman for a moment before hesitantly shaking her hand. "Johanne. It's just Johanne."

Natalie was far from what he was expecting. For one, she was pretty. A curious observation more than a point of judgement. It was the of pretty found on the daughters of the noblemen that occasionally commissioned Karius to build something, and not on the docks awaiting to be someone's bodyguard. There was something graceful about the way she moved, about how her dark hair was carefully groomed and her skin seemingly unmarred by scars. Maybe it was something to do with her Elven heritage. Either way, Johanne couldn't help but feel intimidated by her seeming coldness and he hugged the box closer.

He cast his gaze towards the ship -- a well built beauty clad in red paint and hanging ropes -- and motioned for Natalie to follow. As he crossed the boarding platform, free hand gripping the tickets, Johanne called back towards the mercenary, "I don't suppose he told you much about this job, did he?"

 

[Maeriel]

Even though Abby felt this job to be beneath her, she couldn't help the little prickly sensation of being offended by the underwhelmed look Johanne gave her, obviously having expected one of the scarred, dirty mountains of men who spewed a few crass comments about the boarding ladies and shot inappropriate looks and derisory comments her way, as she stood ludicrously armed by the young human. She too was a fish out of water.

A simple nod of her head signaled assent as he expressed he was to be called by his first name. Every fiber of her inner self bristled at the breach of etiquette that constituted and she instinctively flexed her fingers, almost feeling the sharp pain of the wooden stick her mother used to smack her knuckles when she made such mistakes. Constance had been a harsh teacher, but the lessons stayed, in no small part due to the painful punishment, but also because of Abby's perfect recall, an uncanny memory which served her on many an occasion.

Her unusual colored eyes studied the vessel as Johanne motioned for her to follow. It was a beautiful ship, combining luxury and space. The design was new. She had been on a luxury cruise once with Lord Veridi, he had taken her to another city for a few days of sightseeing and shopping. Oh shopping. Abby thought ruefully over all the beautiful gowns she had left behind her. She felt almost naked in what she now wore, no petticoat, no crinoline or bustle to keep her legs hidden from a brisk wind and the shape of her hips away from the inappropriate looks some had been giving her. Would she dance across a ballroom anytime soon? Delight herself in expensive wines and food? Adorn her body with glittering jewels? Shop?! Gods she'd have a hard time refraining from buying pretty things!

Johanne asked her a question and she stopped herself from her wallowing in self pity. No use in lingering on things she could not change now. Maybe in the Elven Islands she could retake her matchmaking efforts. They had to have a similar level of luxury and high society. Her voice was pleasant and melodic despite the business-like tone she took to maintain her ruse. "No, sir. I was told to keep you from harm and not take my eyes off you. Is there something else of which I should be aware?"

Was she being overly formal? She should pay some attention to the adventurers and mercenaries on board to tweak her mannerisms. At the corner of her eyes she noticed a group of bowl-hatted guards and elegantly brushed her hair over her shoulders, making the locks drape a tad over her features to conceal her profile, the men scanned the crowds looking for someone, with any luck it wasn't her, but her shoulders tensed all the same.

 

[Fubsy]

"That makes the two of us then," Johanne softly grumbled, bitterness seeping into his voice. So she knew as much as him, if not less. That made sense, he supposed, but that did little to ease the nervous flutter in stomach as he boarded the airship. "No, I suppose that's it. Also, drop the formalities. If you're staying close, the last thing I need to hear is being called 'Sir'. It's weird."

He glanced back towards Natalie once or twice. Partly to make sure she was still with him, but the other half to study his new companion. There was a part of him that wanted to start a flurry of questions about her life and her journey, if everything he'd ever read about adventurers going on wild quests was true. But, judging by the shifting gaze and the slight stiffness in her stride, Johanne was quick dismissed that notion. Maybe another time.

Johanne was too caught up to notice a small ensemble of people in front of him before it was too late. He grunted softly as he collided with a tall man, hugging his box close as he steadied his steps. "Hey," he protested sharply as he faced the group. "Watch where you're going!"

The man jerked away from his companions, beady eyes staring intently at Johanne and Natalie for an uncomfortable interval before taking a small step back towards the rest of the similarly dark clad folks. His thin fingers laced together as a thin, almost nervous smile spread across his gaunt features. "Apologies." The reedy voice seemed to filter out like a broken viola as the tall man regarded Johanne with an unreadable gaze. The man bowed his head, his eyes briefly settling on the box in Johanne's arms before darting towards his companions. A silent conversation seemed to transpire between them. One Johanne was not too keen on deciphering.

The youth frowned before briskly walking away from the group and towards where the sleeping quarters were. A shudder crawled up his spine. This. This was the reason he didn't leave the workshop. People were weird. Unpredictable. Different. But machines, you could predict those. You could know what a clock did and how to fix it it it didn't. But not people.

 

[Maeriel]

It was more than strange that the Johanne did not know what she was there to protect. Had he assumed wrongly? Was it something to do with that box he clutched like a lifeline? She had assumed that was where he kept his valuables, but the man looked so paranoid around that 'Natalie' had started suspecting it was more than a few precious trinkets. Abby was nevertheless impressed at how crude and blunt the man was, so unlike even the middle class he likely stemmed from. They had just gone through a first introduction and he already wanted her to afford the intimacy of calling him by his first name, something she didn't even do to her fiancé in public. Ex-fiancé. Abigale tried to smooth the tension in her shoulders that came from bristling. You're not a Lady, you are an adventurer, a mercenary, a lackey, it's not out of place. Do as you're told. Her fists unclenched and she gave a curt nod, relaxing the muscles of her jaw and shoulders. "Yes... Johanne."

'Natalie' stopped by the end of the gangplank where a man impeccably dressed in a navy blue uniform was taking people's tickets and checking their documents. Outwardly, Abby gave her papers with the apparent normalcy such a task required, but inside she felt the flutter, it was part rush and part dread, she never knew whether or not a forgery was good enough until it was tested, after all. Much to her luck, the man had only glanced at the papers in passing, his eyes having lingered a little longer in her angelic face and the leather corset which hugged her narrow waist and accentuated her bosom. It was like a sleight of hand, 'look this way and miss the coin' kind of thing. It worked on most men.

Abby had absolutely missed the careless rush of Johanne and his abrupt way to deal with the group he bumped into. It was ironic that the mercenary bodyguard had so much superior people's skills. It was a subtle movement of the hand, but one she fully intended to be caught, and like bait it had worked well. Her hand hadn't threateningly moved to her blade's pommel. No. It had moved to the pouch at her waist. The superstitious and the more educated alike took it as a sign of a wizard reaching for a spell component, and Elves were famed as casters. It was the best tool in her limited arsenal of intimidation. Well, kind of her only tool that didn't involve public social disgrace of some kind.

The criminal in her didn't at all like the way the man had eyed Johanne, or his box for that matter. Catching up with the human, Abby spoke rather matter-of-factly, brown-green eyes scanning the beautiful view surrounding the airship, the day beautifully clear. "If I were trying to protect something valuable, I'd have it well hidden and not in my hands, clutching fiercely to it as if my life was inside it. You will be attracting more than a few looks and soon enough someone opportunistic will have his curiosity sufficiently piqued to either make quick work of you and get the box, or sneak into your quarters and steal it from under your nose. What is in that thing?" Suddenly, this job was no longer simple, and all because of a man who ironically enough, didn't seem to be able to deceive.

 

[Fubsy]

Johanne flushed deep with embarrassment at Natalie's words, his grip on the box loosening slightly. He wasn't used to this. Any of this. Not walking around crowds, not boarding across fancy airships, and most certainly not carrying valuables crammed into small boxes.

Speaking of, he paused to dwell on the mercenary's question. "Machinery," he said after a long moment. Hesitance lengthened the singular word as he fingered the intricate grooves on the box. "Important machinery." It was the truth. Just not the whole of it. In all honesty, he only had the idea of what it was, not what it did. For all he knew, he was carrying a ticking time bomb. The thought made Johanne's stomach plummet. No, Karius wouldn't do that. Then again, he was beginning to rethink what his mentor would do. "Nothing worth killing me over." I hope.

Nevertheless, Johanne set to work in attempting to cloak the container. Pockets, he'd learned over time, we're the most useful creations in the world, and coats with a multitude of them were always worth the extra penny or two. You never knew when you needed to carry the extra bit of food or screw. And the jacket, one of the only real valuables he'd kept in his time being passed around, had enough that it held no suitable replacement, no matter the wear and tear of it. Johanne tucked the box on a large pocket sewn into the inside of his jacket. It was a tight fit and the end result was an awkward bulge in the side, but it was better than carrying it around. He tried to adopt a seemingly nonchalant stance, but he couldn't stop his fingers from brushing over the lump once or twice to make sure.

Johanned avoided eye contact, seemingly to take interest the view of the vast blue sky around them. "Anyways, isn't that what your job is? Making sure nothing happens to me?" He tried to keep his voice nonchalant as delivered his next question, but couldn't help keep the drop of curiosity from seeping into his tone. "Anyways, why did you take this job? I don't suppose they had anything better?" His eyes flickered back to Natalie, a bright light of interest betraying his look of nonchalance. Maybe this could be his chance to ask about her journeys.

 

[Maeriel]

"Machinery, Important machinery. Nothing worth killing me over." the human had said with some pause and hesitation.

Abby's attentive eyes had caught the process and studied the minute expressions. He had measured his words, likely knowing a little more than what he told, at the very least. Abby's whole set of skills and trade in life was built on understanding people and manipulating them. She knew there was as much information on what was not said. She could tell he didn't trust her, and that at least was somewhat comforting, he had just met her and she posed as someone willing to hire her blade to someone for coin, not the kind that would scream 'trustworthy'. But Abigale could also tell that if that was, as he so eloquently put, 'important machinery' there were most likely those who would kill him over it. It had happened before, after all. And in a kingdom divided, a kingdom which rose as a power to be feared, not only because it was the largest landmass that had survived The End Tide, but also because of its engineers and the wonders they invented in a world with waning magic, machinery was very much worth killing for. What the hell did you get yourself into, Abigale?

The woman felt a cold feeling coursing down her spine and a heavy feeling in her stomach. Abby was good at measuring people. The old elf had been impatient, rude, demanding, trademarks of entitlement, a sense of personal importance. He had spoken solely of the boy. 'The boy has never left the continent. The boy is not good with people...' the boy, the boy, the boy. How could she have been deceived in her own game? She watched Johanne stick the box in a pocket like that made it a much better effect, with it awkwardly bulging at his side and sighed a little. This was going to be her hardest task ever. Trying to make this human acquire any measure of skill at discretion and manipulation. Because as he just put it 'isn't she here to make sure nothing happens to him?' Abigale will have to work with the best tools in her arsenal and drop this silly pretense.

Johanne's words were blunt on the verge of rude, a shadow of the old elf's entitlement in his voice. But Abby did not miss at all the glint of curiosity in them. He hadn't dispensed her many looks, like men here discreetly did as they walked through the polished wooden decks of the brand new airship, so it was not mere attraction. It was something else. She smiled inwardly at the knowledge there was so much more to her than he'd discover, a little mischief at leaving people guessing. Her mother had taught her, 'a little mystery keeps them coming back, so never reveal all your cards, always have something to surprise them, and then they'll be wrapped around your little finger.' Her intense brown-green eyes looked into his and Abby canted her head in a way that the gold flecks near her irises were quite evident with the sun shining on the clear day. Johanne seemed to be avoiding looking straight at her at first, but then his eyes flickered back and the slightest of smiles curved her lips.

"I was working on something else, but it fell apart and I found myself in need of new skies. Your mentor seemed a little too impatient to work with the job offices and had made clear that the job was to leave the continent, so I expressed my interest. That does not satisfy your curiosity, does it? 'Why does she want new airs? Travel is a dangerous thing, a woman alone, working as a bodyguard, there must be more...'" Abigale's delicate hand raised into his field of view and a long delicate clockwork tool was held between her thumb and index finger. His tool. "Misdirection is the only thing that is going to keep you safe on this journey, Johanne." calling him by his first name was still a conscious effort for her. She offered him the tool back. "I am only one woman, with only two hands. If you have what you said you have, - and please, do not speak it aloud again - then I am most certainly not enough to keep you safe... Unless you collaborate."

 

[Fubsy]

How had she...? What...?

Johanne's eyes widened. His hands slowly moved to his pockets, patting them down carefully to confirm what he was seeing. Screws, lint, crumbled pages he'd forgotten to throw away -- everything but the tool comfortably held out in Natalie's hands. Johanne faltered. He had felt nothing, seen nothing. He was sure he had secured it more safely. How had she gotten it so easily? The apprentice eyed the tool carefully, as if it had somehow been cursed while in Natalie's hand, before slowly retrieving the tool. He handled it carefully, weighing it one hand and scouring its surface as if it held the answers. A new, more suspicious light filled Johanne's eyes as he lifted the gaze toward's the mercenery's face.

Once, in the past when Karius was in a particularly good mood, he had offered to take Johanne to the zoo. There were monkeys, elephants, zebras -- all the normal wildlife one would expect to see. But there was one creature there that Johanne never forgot: the unicorn. A rare creature, only a handful had ever seen one wild. It was a majestic being, its coat as pure as snow with a spiraling horn that seemed to have been crafted from silver. Yet, this wasn't the same pure maiden guarding creature from his storybooks. Behind its beauty, there was something else. A dangerous gleam in its eye that made Johanne slowly realize how sharp that horn really was and, without the wall of steel bars separating observers from the exhibit, how easily one could get impaled on it.

There was something about Natalie that held that same gleam. She had no horns nor ethereal beauty (though Johanne wouldn't deny that she wasn't too bad on the eyes), but she had that same sense of being more than she seemed. More dangerous than she appeared. Johanne swallowed hard and tucked the tool back into his pocket. What exactly had Karius gotten him into?

"I'll cooperate." His voice was small and fell flat.

It wasn't long before a low horn sounded, reverberating the air ship slightly. Johanned raised his head, watching as a bit more smoke began to pump out from the brass pipes and the propellers slowly churn. Crewmen rushed about the ship as the tied and untied various ropes. Another low horn filled the air, accompanied by shouts of goodbyes from the dock and sides of the ship. Johanne watched idly before turning away. Karius had left as soon as he made sure Johanne had gotten to the right ship. He knew no one else that would wave him goodbye. It was lonely, admittedly, having his only friend be his mentor, but not exactly enough to bum him out. He needed no one else. Turning away from the railing, Johannes began moving towards the bigger of the glass domes where the passenger's dorms lay.

"Might as well get some rest." Or sleep through the entire trip. Johanne was unopposed to either idea.

 

[Maeriel]

"I'll cooperate." His voice was small and fell flat.

It didn't inspire much confidence on Abigale. Johanne had looked at her shocked and with some distaste. Not entirely unexpected, given the situation, but a little offensive all the same. His tone was more uncertain and with a tiny change in his inflection it would have sounded more like a question than an affirmation. For deceit, confidence and assertiveness were everything. If you didn't seem sure of what you were trying to sell, how would the person on the other end be? Abby parted her blush pink lips, lacking the careful make up she was used to applying everyday for it didn't fit Natalie's persona, when the horn sounded. Her heart skipped a beat. There were two reasons for it. First, there was no turning back now, she was leaving the airdocks and she was leaving her home. She felt a tightness in her throat. Everything she had ever built was upon sand and it fell to ground at the first strong wave, but without home, what did she really have left?

The second reason was a sudden rush of relief. Noctem was not a a kind ruler and the punishment was harsh for all criminals caught. That she wouldn't be somehow maimed or cruelly executed couldn't be taken any way else besides as a blessing. She was out of their lands, out of their reach. She was free! Abby hadn't noticed she was tightly grasping the polished wooden railing off the side until Johanne spoke, no waving, tearful loved one looking her way either. She was alone, she had been alone for a long long time. Was her mother even still alive, with her shorter lifespan? With whatever punishment they dispensed her at the time for fraud and thievery? The softest of sighs escaped her as she left the railing too, a step behind Johanne.

They were not the only ones heading towards the dormitories, though many headed to the restaurant/observatory instead. Glamorous as air travel was to many, it was a lot less so with the wind lashing at your face and howling in your ears, and there was even a tale of a particularly unfortunate lady who wore a large puffy dress and was swept off decks, falling to what one can only presume was her early demise. Right now, the gales were stronger, but pleasant, however it wouldn't remain so for long. The crew moved like clockwork, helping the passengers find their rooms and working to get the ship safely off over the vast seas, if there was such a thing as 'safe' in such risky trips. They were guided to the second deck, where the middle class rooms were located, possessing the minimal amenities and space. Abigale had always preferred luxury, but she was perfectly fine with dealing with less whenever the situation called it. And then they were alone in the dark wood corridor, carpeted in a soft red that drank their steps. Not the handiest to hear someone approaching your room...

"Johanne... we will need to speak about this... subject. You may not like me, and you are entitled to your opinions as much as I, but I don't think you understand the situation quite well. You might get hurt." In all fairness, now that she was away from Ingenii, nothing really kept her to her word of protecting the boy, so she wondered why exactly didn't she just reinvent herself, keeping only the Natalie name, and tried finding among the upper class passengers someone who'd make her trip a lot easier... and safer. It was a puzzling instinct Abby was for a moment rendered quiet by.

 

[Fubsy]

The amenities prepared were to be accommodating at best, with luxury an option reserved for those that had the coin. But to a boy who had spent near his entire life in the grinding shadows of churning gears and with oil staining every available space black, this might as well have been first class. Johanne's eyes darted around the polished wooden walls and crimson carpet, all at once too aware of how clean everything was. Compared to this, his hand-me-down clothes were like rags. And not even that, if the rags on this ship were anything like its rooms.

Faintly, the muffled blow of the final horn rang throughout the hall. A final reminder that they were leaving Ingenii, his first and only home. Johanne's heart hammered in his chest, anxious needles shooting through his spine. A pressure of a thousand 'what-if's sat on his lungs. There really was no turning back now, was there? This was it. The farthest he'd been out of his home town, and it was with a complete stranger. A stranger who knew how to wield a sword. And knowledge that Johanne had something valuable enough to warrant this journey on his person. And that there was no one around to stop him from mysteriously 'falling' off the ship and--

Enough. Johanne swallowed hard, shooing the thoughts away. He was fine. This was going to be fine. Just...fine.

"Johanne... we will need to speak about this... subject. You may not like me, and you are entitled to your opinions as much as I, but I don't think you understand the situation quite well. You might get hurt."

Johanne shifted his arm slightly so that it bumped against the awkward bulge of the box. He kept his eyes ahead, seeming to have taken a fascination with the red carpet. He was silent for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. What could he say to someone with a visible weapon on their person? ,"Maybe so," he said at last, "but I don't think you know the situation quite well either. If we're to discuss it, I'd rather it be in our room." The memory of the gangly man from earlier still hadn't crawled its way out of his system.

At last, they arrived at the mahogany door bearing the same room numbers as on his tickets. Johanne fumbled with his pockets for a moment, searching for the key he'd been given upon checking in. After a few moments of finding and stumbling over the lock, the door at last swung open to reveal their room. It was, at best, serviceable. Two beds to sleep. Two wardrobes to store. Two chamberpots to...well, Johanne could already guess. It was small, but comfy. Quaint, even, if one were to go as far. Johanne stepped inside and finally wiggled the box from his pocket, turning it over and over in his hands. He raised his gaze towards Natalie, rolling his shoulders in a vague half-shrug. "Let's speak, then. Let me just say, first, that the 'not liking you' issue isn't personal. I'm equally indifferent to everyone. Secondly, don't know what sort of answers you're expecting from me, but you can try."

 

[Maeriel]

'Natalie' stood in the corridor a moment with Johanne as he looked around as if understanding how out of his element he was. She wondered if that was going to work in her favor to try and convince him that the idea bubbling up in her mind was likely his best choice to make through this trip alive. Well, for me to make through this alive, if people become interested in this box, I'm obviously the first obstacle to be eliminated. Abby was surprised to see a flash of fear behind Johanne's increased sense of suspicion of her. What could he possibly fear her for? The young Elven woman raised her chin lightly and her long hair caught on the rifle at her back. Oh... right. That was not her usual attire and even when hunting, they had someone to carry and reload the rifles for them, carrying weaponry was still a new thing for her and she forgot it could seem rather threatening. Maybe that was what was making the human so fidgety.

"Maybe so," he said at last, "but I don't think you know the situation quite well either. If we're to discuss it, I'd rather it be in our room."

Abby was entirely sure she didn't know the situation well, what she knew was already enough to make her worried, so his statement was far from comforting. Wait... 'our' room? Of course! How could she be so stupid? She had gotten no key on check-in, and by the way that old elf had tried to haggle, it was clear that he'd not afford Abby the courtesy of respecting the fact she is a maiden and purchase a separate room. Mercenaries are used to worse. 'Natalie' concealed her indignation and nodded once. Whatever the case, speaking privately was indeed the best choice. She followed quietly from that point on, a little disheartened at the fact she'd not have the small time in her cabin to unwind and drop the pretense, instead, she was to keep in character 24/7 until they finally parted. It sounded very tiring, she had never had to do it before.

The Elf watched the young man fumble with the keys wondering how he could handle delicate clockwork with all that clumsiness. Was he that scared? Abby had a growing sense of dread at what kind of thing he might be carrying. Her gold-specked brown green eyes shifted from Johanne to the cabin they'd be sharing, underwhelmed. It was a spartan, cramped thing and she had no hope of privacy. Of course, she had slept in much worse conditions, just never with a stranger practically at arm's length. Upon entering, she removed the heavy rifle and leaned it by the doorway, placing her bag, her last possessions in the world, over the left bed. Then she thought better and grabbed back the rifle to place near the head of her bed,this way an intruder wouldn't have straight access to the weapon. What a rookie mistake...

Johanne stepped inside and finally wiggled the box from his pocket, turning it over and over in his hands. He raised his gaze towards Natalie, rolling his shoulders in a vague half-shrug. "Let's speak, then. Let me just say, first, that the 'not liking you' issue isn't personal. I'm equally indifferent to everyone. Secondly, don't know what sort of answers you're expecting from me, but you can try."

Abby's eyes went from the box to Johanne's eyes as he started speaking. She then gracefully moved to sit on her bed, back straight, knees together, legs elegantly crossed at the ankles and slightly tipped to the side. It was more fitting to a Lady than a mercenary for sure. Her pleasant feminine voice sounded more lilting and confident than the flat, business tone she had employed, also befitting a Lady entertaining guests, rather than a bodyguard addressing her charge.

"As I said, you are fully entitled to your opinions, my dear. I wouldn't dream of robbing you of that, but it must certainly be a challenge for making connections." This was certainly a gamble and very out of character for her, but if she was entering any kind of life threatening situation, it was foolish not to use her best weapons, and it wasn't the rifle or the sword. "In the interest of keeping things even, my name is Abigale Claremont." She paused, for a moment Abby wasn't sure it was her real name, so long since it had been uttered aloud.

"The pretense was meant to get me safely out of Ingenii, as I suddenly found myself wanted by the authorities for fraud. And now I am... So you have my life in your hands as much as I was to have yours in mine. Does that even the field? Do you feel less threatened?" Of course she was not that reckless, her revelation lacked key information and between him and her, Abby knew who people would likely believe if he started down the corridors calling 'criminal'. She delicately motioned for him to sit down on his bed and added. "You can ask a few questions before we get to the box and how to keep it and us safe. I cannot promise to answer all of them, however. I do not know you and do not trust you with all there is to know about me."

 

[Fubsy]

Surprise flashed in Johanne's eyes at the sudden change in demeanor. A prickle crawled up his spine as he eyed Natalie warily. What had happened to her 'business first' attitude? Were mercenaries meant to look that...elegant? All too quickly, she seemed more likely to hold a banquet than venture forth swinging a sword. Natalie had become, for lack of a better term, a Lady.

"As I said, you are fully entitled to your opinions, my dear. I wouldn't dream of robbing you of that, but it must certainly be a challenge for making connections. In the interest of keeping things even, my name is Abigale Claremont."

...Ah.

"The pretense was meant to get me safely out of Ingenii, as I suddenly found myself wanted by the authorities for fraud. And now I am... So you have my life in your hands as much as I was to have yours in mine. Does that even the field? Do you feel less threatened?"

Johanne's eyes remained stuck on Na--Abigale now, unable to tear his gaze off. Threatened was one way to describe things. Less threatened? Not so much. His shoulders remained as stiff as a corpse's and his grip on the box left his knuckles just as pale. This person, this Natalie or Abigale or whoever, had seen it fit to lie about who she was to him and the authorities. Maybe she was lying to him now? There was nothing to stop her from doing so. Then again, there was very little reason for her to do so anyways. Johanne finally dropped his gaze, seeming to take interest in the crimson carpeting. He did not trust her. She did not trust him. But Abigale had revealed who she was to him, and, lie or not, Johanne took a small, but odd comfort in that.

She delicately motioned for him to sit down on his bed and added. "You can ask a few questions before we get to the box and how to keep it and us safe. I cannot promise to answer all of them, however. I do not know you and do not trust you with all there is to know about me."

Johanne hesitantly complied and settled on the bed. His brow furrowed in thought as his fingers drummed silently on the plush comforter of the bed. More than a few questions already danced at the edges of Johanne's mind, threatening to jump off onto his tongue. He had to choose carefully, ask questions that would yearn the most answers, that--

"Where'd you learn to act like that?" That weren't like that. Johanne's face flushed as the words slipped out of his mouth, though he refused to give the satisfaction of visibly grimacing no matter how much he did so inwardly. He inhaled slowly, forcing himself to continue his thoughts. "Like a highclass Lady, I mean. You don't exactly look the part. And why tell me all this? You don't plan on killing me in my sleep, are you?"

 

[Maeriel]

Abby watched Johanne go through the thought process, taking in his micro-expressions and sudden attitude shifts. She had always had this knack for having a good idea of what a person was feeling through such gestures, looks, stances. It was a precious tool of her trade. It was obvious to her Johanne wasn't used to the intricacies of deceit or manipulation, so it was easy to read him so far, but that was the last thing they needed now. She could sense his fear slowly subsiding, where before his strongly clutched his box with bone-white knuckles, now he was slowly losing the steel-wire tension on his musculature. Pointing out that if she wanted the box she'd not have to pry it from his fingers, while amusing, would not further their relations. Quietly, she allowed him to reach a place where he felt more comfortable, though still far from it.

Their eyes were leveled as the young man finally sat, the Elven woman still in the same position, hands demurely resting on her knees, she could own the whole aircraft, for the way she looked. Brown-green eyes seemed to be even more golden around her pupils as she regarded him, seeing the curiosity peaking at her offer to answer his questions. From the moment they met Abby could tell the Human was curious about her, how could he not? She also had certain curiosity about this young man who managed to become the apprentice of one of the rarest things in the world, an Elven inventor. There was a story there and she'd learn it, but if there was something Abigale was, was patient.

"Where'd you learn to act like that?" He inhaled slowly, forcing himself to continue his thoughts. "Like a highclass Lady, I mean. You don't exactly look the part. And why tell me all this? You don't plan on killing me in my sleep, are you?"​

True to the grace expected of a Lady, Abby didn't chuckle amused at his eager first questions, though a soft smile curved her lips and she gave a light nod with her head. "The last questions are the easiest to answer and so I will start there. If I planned to kill you in your sleep, why would I say anything at all to call your attention to me? And what would I have to gain? A murder would call the authorities attention on board and I would be the first suspect, being a mercenary sharing your room. Do you judge me that dense? No. I was indeed hired to protect you, but I hadn't judged your mentor to have any other concern than your safety on a long trip, I didn't factor in your cargo, how could I? Nothing was mentioned over it. Other than that, I am not one with the stomach for such things. No, murder is for those who lack the finesse to do things discreetly and cleverly."

She paused to let him process the information and formulate any other words before moving to the next point. "As to why I have told you, it's simple. I find myself as being the first target of whoever might grow interested in that box of yours. I have to say, even if what is in it is not half as interesting as my imagination, you are teasing everyone's curiosity with how much you seem to treasure it. You make it seem like whatever is inside is highly precious and that is bad for both of us. I thought that by creating an atmosphere where we both know things of a sensitive nature of one another you might trust me a little better and cooperate with what I have in mind." Slender fingers moved up to brush her glossy hair behind a pointed ear and she continued.

"Lastly... Well, I am the bastard daughter of a Governess, fifth daughter of a minor noble family and as such heir to nothing. She was disgraced by her affair with her noble employer and subsequent pregnancy. So, she raised me to be the perfect Lady, knowing the value a 'noble' Elven bride may have in human circles. She gave me all the tools to sell whatever ruse I may wish and this is one of many. I rather enjoy the high society of Ingenii, the balls and the tea appointments, the lavish banquets and organized hunts. Alas, I enjoy living much more. So here I find myself. Anything else?" Abby's striking eyes searched Johanne's for his reactions to each word she voiced in her melodic voice.

 

[Fubsy]

Johanne had read many books. Thick volumes on the history of Ingenii, articles over whatever current scandal was in the news, lofty adventure novels that let him sail around the world in the comfort of his own workspace. His mind was an alcove for those inkstained pages. But never, in all of Johanne's years of studying and searching, had he ever perfected the art of reading people. Whatever they hid behind masks of smiles or careful expressions, he could never quite tell. All the more reason to avoid them. Or at least, if he had the chance to. Johanne peered at Abby closely, noting the small upwards twitch of her lips. He couldn't tell if it was of secret maliciousness or just plain amusement or even both. It was a mystery, just like the rest of her.

"Well, that's a rubbish trade off, isn't it?" Johanne raised an eyebrow and met her stare, his guard lowering a bit at her assurance.

Well, that certainly explained the change in demeanor, elegant appearance, and why he just felt so nervous around her. Then again, the latter might've had something to do with her weapons. He forced himself to lax his grip on the box, all too suddenly aware of his vice-like grip on the container. Deep imprints and the buzzing of numbed nerves remained as Johanne flexed his fingers carefully, years of callouses keeping away any real soreness. He didn't trust Abby. Not entirely, at least. But if all he had to take from her was her word, then it was surely a hell of a lot better than spending the rest of the trip in a constant state of uncomfortable paranoia. Especially if they were sharing rooms.

"I suppose that's it then," Johanne said as he hesitantly set the box to his side. "I just really hope you don't expect me to start calling you 'Lady' now just because you act like one. Out of all things, that'd be the one to top of this already odd day." His gaze stared intently at Abby. "I suppose it's my turn then, isn't it? To be asked about this and that and the box and whatnot. Before you say anything, though, just know that I honestly don't know what's in that thing. Just Master Karius thought it was important enough to warrant this," he gestured vaguely at the swaying ship around them, "and you, which I didn't even know about until this morning. It's his thing. His 'signature', really, if you can call it that. Do things and not tell a damned soul." Johanne closed his mouth as he became aware of his rambling before shaking his head. "So ask as much as you want."

 

[Maeriel]

A recent scandal resurfaced on Johanne's sharp mind. It was a small note, no doubt somebody paid it to be barely mentioned, or at least called in a favor. Something about Lady Rebecca Atkins being unmasked as an impostor and a hunt being issued after her, urging others to offer any leads regarding the Elven con artist and requesting respect towards Lord Alto Veridi in light of these shocking news that broke his engagement. Too many similarities to be mere coincidence. If that was correct, than Abigale was indeed a hunter woman in Ingenii.

Abby watched Johanne. He was certainly a rather sour youth and she wondered if that was his general disposition or the result of this particular situation. In either case, she was stuck with him for the time being and she'd need to make it work. It was a nuisance, to be sure, to travel with someone who didn't wish your company or attempt to be pleasant, but Abigale spent her whole life training to live as an impostor among high society, so this was basically her area of expertise. It didn't stop her from being surprised at how easily he seemed to be satisfied with her answers. Abigale herself would have had a thousand questions to ask someone who revealed what she had just done.

The light closing of the eyes, sharp intake of breath and pleasant smile were a carefully custivated response to something that would generally make the woman roll her eyes. Her voice was even and pleasant as she answered, hiding whatever irritation she felt from the melodic sound. "No, of course you do not need to call me Lady, I am not one and especially here, I am Natalie, the mercenary. So feel free to just call me that." Johanne's stare bordered insolence and Abigale curiously thought about what kind of life did he lead to be so inept socially. In a place like Ingenii, even the lower classes had some modicum of social etiquette. Johanne was like a bull in a china store. 'So ask as much as you want.' Well, don't mind if I do.

"Quite so, then. I have a good deal of questions. You are an odd sort of fellow, made the odder by your position as appreantice to an Elven inventor, of all things. How did you end up as such? What did he tell you to do with the box? And if you do not know what is inside, why do we not open it and find out? Did he actually tell you not to do so?" Abigale stopped there, those would do for now, though she was certain she'd have plenty of follow-up questions. The ship swayed gently and then not so gently any longer as they left the bay of Ingenii and started flying over the seemingly endless ocean. The day was clear through the thick glass of their bolted up window, an endless blue of a sparkling sea glittering like diamonds. What could possibly go wrong on such a beautiful day?