A Trip North - Revision history

Taimdala at 06:09, 27 April 2013

2013-04-27T06:09:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:09, 27 April 2013
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	“Katherine, you needn’t feel you should. You’ve given me far too much already. However, should my project expand to such a scope as to need such funding, I shall not turn your offer down should you choose to extend it.” She closed the distance between them and linked her arm with Katherine’s. “Please make no plans now. I haven’t a solid thing to hang them on and I would hate to disappoint you should my idea never come to be. We’re on holiday—let us enjoy it. I think a fire for my toes, a book for my lap, and your company for my spirit would be just grand.”<br><br>		“Katherine, you needn’t feel you should. You’ve given me far too much already. However, should my project expand to such a scope as to need such funding, I shall not turn your offer down should you choose to extend it.” She closed the distance between them and linked her arm with Katherine’s. “Please make no plans now. I haven’t a solid thing to hang them on and I would hate to disappoint you should my idea never come to be. We’re on holiday—let us enjoy it. I think a fire for my toes, a book for my lap, and your company for my spirit would be just grand.”<br><br>

	In the end, that is just what they did. Katherine led them to the library and turned Josephine loose on the shelves. The brunette found a folio on the oriental elements of style and she and Katherine spent an enjoyable hour ~~pouring~~ over the colored plates, a gentle fire glowing at their side. The hour was late when they sought their rest. Katherine escorted her guest to her room, climbing the stairs arm in arm. Josephine hugged the Eldren woman goodnight with her whispered thanks and closed the door on the world. Within minutes she was sliding into the bed and discovering it was every bit as comfortable as it promised to be. Sleep was fast in coming. Josephine’s last conscious act was to crack open her bedside drawer where she’d stashed her pistol and then the feather bedding and the rigors of travel sent her down to sleep.<br><br><br>		In the end, that is just what they did. Katherine led them to the library and turned Josephine loose on the shelves. The brunette found a folio on the oriental elements of style and she and Katherine spent an enjoyable hour poring over the colored plates, a gentle fire glowing at their side. The hour was late when they sought their rest. Katherine escorted her guest to her room, climbing the stairs arm in arm. Josephine hugged the Eldren woman goodnight with her whispered thanks and closed the door on the world. Within minutes she was sliding into the bed and discovering it was every bit as comfortable as it promised to be. Sleep was fast in coming. Josephine’s last conscious act was to crack open her bedside drawer where she’d stashed her pistol and then the feather bedding and the rigors of travel sent her down to sleep.<br><br><br>


	<span style="color:#8B0000"> '''''You are reading an RP entry. Since any campaign is a collaborative effort, Journal and RP entries by our other players can be read'''''</span> [[The Dark Corners of the Earth: The Story So Far ... \| '''here.''']]<br>		<span style="color:#8B0000"> '''''You are reading an RP entry. Since any campaign is a collaborative effort, Journal and RP entries by our other players can be read'''''</span> [[The Dark Corners of the Earth: The Story So Far ... \| '''here.''']]<br>
	Return to [[The Dark Corners of the Earth \| '''''The Dark Corners of the Earth''''' ]]<br><br>		Return to [[The Dark Corners of the Earth \| '''''The Dark Corners of the Earth''''' ]]<br><br>

Taimdala at 01:29, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T01:29:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:29, 25 March 2011
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	She’d paid for two more cups and had made her way through most of her notes of her fortnight in London before she had to change trains for a line that would take her east. The crush of the northern line was replaced by the lighter traffic of the northeastern and the car was less crowded. Furthermore, the folk aboard must have been of hardier northern stock, for someone cracked a few windows fore and aft and the fresh air banished the stifling morning from her memory. <br><br>		She’d paid for two more cups and had made her way through most of her notes of her fortnight in London before she had to change trains for a line that would take her east. The crush of the northern line was replaced by the lighter traffic of the northeastern and the car was less crowded. Furthermore, the folk aboard must have been of hardier northern stock, for someone cracked a few windows fore and aft and the fresh air banished the stifling morning from her memory. <br><br>

	It was nearly 6 o’clock in the evening when Josephine finally stepped down onto the platform and found her trunk waiting for her. She checked the knots on the ropes and the locks and found all were secure. Over the crash and boom of the nearby surf, the bells of Scarborough’s churches and clock towers rang the hour and Josephine hired a porter to carry her trunk to the station telegraph office. She would give Katherine another fifteen minutes and then wire ahead to the estate of her arrival. There might still be a wagon at the station she could hire to take her there. Josephine entertained herself with reading the notices tacked on the bulletin boards while she waited. She checked her father’s watch and saw it was a quarter past.		It was nearly 6 o’clock in the evening when Josephine finally stepped down onto the platform and found her trunk waiting for her. She checked the knots on the ropes and the locks and found all were secure. Over the crash and boom of the nearby surf, the bells of Scarborough’s churches and clock towers rang the hour and Josephine hired a porter to carry her trunk to the station telegraph office. She would give Katherine another fifteen minutes and then wire ahead to the estate of her arrival. There might still be a wagon at the station she could hire to take her there. Josephine entertained herself with reading the notices tacked on the bulletin boards while she waited. She checked her father’s watch and saw it was a quarter past.<br><br>

	''Right. Look lively then.''<br><br>		''Right. Look lively then.''<br><br>

Taimdala at 01:25, 25 March 2011

2011-03-25T01:25:59Z

Taimdala: Created page with '

''Thursday, October 3rd, 1867''
''Great Northern Railway''
''En route to Scarborough''
''8:30 A.M.''

The clack of the wheels and the sway of the c…'

2011-03-25T01:21:16Z

Created page with ' ''Thursday, October 3rd, 1867'' ''Great Northern Railway'' ''En route to Scarborough'' ''8:30 A.M.'' The clack of the wheels and the sway of the c…'

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← Older revision		Revision as of 01:25, 25 March 2011
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	“Nothing more than this,” Josephine said, lifting the valise she held in her other hand. About the size of a small briefcase, it was made of leather and had a saddle-work quality to it. Which would be about right, since she’d had a saddler make it for her years ago. “I can carry it, thank you.” Josephine smiled at the man, wondering just what his name was since he had yet to give it. “It’s quite light.”<br><br>		“Nothing more than this,” Josephine said, lifting the valise she held in her other hand. About the size of a small briefcase, it was made of leather and had a saddle-work quality to it. Which would be about right, since she’d had a saddler make it for her years ago. “I can carry it, thank you.” Josephine smiled at the man, wondering just what his name was since he had yet to give it. “It’s quite light.”<br><br>

	His persistent offers to accommodate ladylike sensibilities made her loathe to cause the groundskeeper additional anxiety by climbing into the wagon forthwith. After all, I did promise him I’d behave. She smiled and parked herself on the bench running along the wall of the station. “The air is quite refreshing. I shall wait here until you are ready.”<br><br>		His persistent offers to accommodate ladylike sensibilities made her loathe to cause the groundskeeper additional anxiety by climbing into the wagon forthwith. ''After all, I did promise him I’d behave''. She smiled and parked herself on the bench running along the wall of the station. “The air is quite refreshing. I shall wait here until you are ready.”<br><br>

	He nodded as if there were no other answer and then bellowed, “Samuel!” One of the younger porters looked up and trotted over. <br><br>		He nodded as if there were no other answer and then bellowed, “Samuel!” One of the younger porters looked up and trotted over. <br><br>
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	Though he turned to go immediately, Samuel paused, a broad smile lighting his face before he winked at her. “Ye come back to town if ye wish. I’m Samuel Buxton, at yer service.” With that, he made his way back to the train platform.<br><br>		Though he turned to go immediately, Samuel paused, a broad smile lighting his face before he winked at her. “Ye come back to town if ye wish. I’m Samuel Buxton, at yer service.” With that, he made his way back to the train platform.<br><br>

	Josephine bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing. Richard and Samuel’s banter delighted her with its homey familiarity. It reminded her of the good-natured bickering in William’s troupe and for an instant she missed them. Then Samuel cheekily offered to carry her valise and there was something in his eye that reminded her of Anton and it was on the tip of her tongue to respond back in kind: Naw, gi’ on wit’ ye. She was saved from saying so when Richard dismissed him with rough affection and a promise of a tip. Josephine resolved to grant them two shillings for the pleasure of hearing their banter. Besides, it would be easier to split two shillings than to divvy the pence from splitting the one.<br><br>		Josephine bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing. Richard and Samuel’s banter delighted her with its homey familiarity. It reminded her of the good-natured bickering in William’s troupe and for an instant she missed them. Then Samuel cheekily offered to carry her valise and there was something in his eye that reminded her of Anton and it was on the tip of her tongue to respond back in kind: ''Naw, gi’ on wit’ ye''. She was saved from saying so when Richard dismissed him with rough affection and a promise of a tip. Josephine resolved to grant them two shillings for the pleasure of hearing their banter. Besides, it would be easier to split two shillings than to divvy the pence from splitting the one.<br><br>

	“I shall remember, Mr. Buxton,” she said as she smiled. “Thank you.” She watched him go as he was bidden and then she turned to the groundskeeper, Richard. “Shall we go? I can forego tea. I would hate to make Lady Katherine worry by making her wait unduly.”<br><br>		“I shall remember, Mr. Buxton,” she said as she smiled. “Thank you.” She watched him go as he was bidden and then she turned to the groundskeeper, Richard. “Shall we go? I can forego tea. I would hate to make Lady Katherine worry by making her wait unduly.”<br><br>
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	And it would be her normal life that she’d choose, rather than the cosseted one she would lead for the next two weeks. Already she could feel the creature comforts of her room upstairs calling to her and she could anticipate difficulty of leaving it, but leave it she would. She would cease to be her true self if she gave in to it and she instinctively knew it would stifle her if she stayed. Katherine herself suffered from it, though Josephine wondered if the other woman realized what it was she described. The house, the servants, and the treasures and the station—they were a trap, a constriction on a person’s freedom. It was something Josephine could never baldly state, however, certainly not while under her host’s roof. It would have been the height of rudeness and ingratitude. Yet it was permissible for a guest to express her wish to spare her host unnecessary trouble and expense. Perhaps by doing so, she could ease her friend’s disquiet and perhaps through her company show her a viable alternative to the life she led. With that intent firmly in place, Josephine said with a clear conscience, “There’s no need to insist on formalities when it’s just the two of us. It’s so much more friendlier this way. I’m glad to be here and look forward to helping you stave off madness until better company arrives.”<br><br>		And it would be her normal life that she’d choose, rather than the cosseted one she would lead for the next two weeks. Already she could feel the creature comforts of her room upstairs calling to her and she could anticipate difficulty of leaving it, but leave it she would. She would cease to be her true self if she gave in to it and she instinctively knew it would stifle her if she stayed. Katherine herself suffered from it, though Josephine wondered if the other woman realized what it was she described. The house, the servants, and the treasures and the station—they were a trap, a constriction on a person’s freedom. It was something Josephine could never baldly state, however, certainly not while under her host’s roof. It would have been the height of rudeness and ingratitude. Yet it was permissible for a guest to express her wish to spare her host unnecessary trouble and expense. Perhaps by doing so, she could ease her friend’s disquiet and perhaps through her company show her a viable alternative to the life she led. With that intent firmly in place, Josephine said with a clear conscience, “There’s no need to insist on formalities when it’s just the two of us. It’s so much more friendlier this way. I’m glad to be here and look forward to helping you stave off madness until better company arrives.”<br><br>

	Until better company arrives. Thus she acknowledged Ezekiel Drake’s importance in her friend’s life. It would be a suitable topic to distract Katherine from her boredom and it would be pleasant to talk about a person they both knew.<br><br>		''Until better company arrives''. Thus she acknowledged Ezekiel Drake’s importance in her friend’s life. It would be a suitable topic to distract Katherine from her boredom and it would be pleasant to talk about a person they both knew.<br><br>

	A light frown marred Katherine’s forehead. “Better company?” she asked, puzzled. “You are the best of company, Josephine. We shall go riding and shopping and shooting. All sorts of things while you are here. Scarborough isn’t far. . .maybe we can rent a boat and go sailing. I cannot conceive of better company.”<br><br>		A light frown marred Katherine’s forehead. “Better company?” she asked, puzzled. “You are the best of company, Josephine. We shall go riding and shopping and shooting. All sorts of things while you are here. Scarborough isn’t far. . .maybe we can rent a boat and go sailing. I cannot conceive of better company.”<br><br>

	“But I thought …” Josephine faltered and put her fork down, touched. She had not realized that the Eldren woman would think or feel that way about her, not when she already had Ezekiel Drake. Pleasure mingled uneasily with doubt and Josephine didn’t quite know what to do with Katherine’s compliment. As was her wont when puzzled, she sought to clarify the matter. “Won’t Ezekiel be joining us? I realize he has business in the City but I assumed he would come up to see you, as I have, when he concluded his affairs. He is your husband. Surely you miss him.” She stopped before she could say more, dangerously close to putting Katherine in a position to choose one person over the other. This will never do. Salvage this. Think! She brightened her expression to hide her dismay and said, “Just think of it, Katherine. Ezekiel could take us sailing in the sun and the air. Or we could go riding, as you said, and shooting. You and I would have a lovely time by ourselves and I so look forward to it but with all three of us here, you’d have the best of everything.” <br><br>		“But I thought …” Josephine faltered and put her fork down, touched. She had not realized that the Eldren woman would think or feel that way about her, not when she already had Ezekiel Drake. Pleasure mingled uneasily with doubt and Josephine didn’t quite know what to do with Katherine’s compliment. As was her wont when puzzled, she sought to clarify the matter. “Won’t Ezekiel be joining us? I realize he has business in the City but I assumed he would come up to see you, as I have, when he concluded his affairs. He is your husband. Surely you miss him.” She stopped before she could say more, dangerously close to putting Katherine in a position to choose one person over the other. ''This will never do. Salvage this. Think!'' She brightened her expression to hide her dismay and said, “Just think of it, Katherine. Ezekiel could take us sailing in the sun and the air. Or we could go riding, as you said, and shooting. You and I would have a lovely time by ourselves and I so look forward to it but with all three of us here, you’d have the best of everything.” <br><br>

	And with that last, Josephine fervently hoped she’d deflected Katherine from her verbal misstep. It was, she sighed internally, unfortunate that Katherine was so intertwined with Ezekiel in her mind that it was almost impossible to separate the two. So long as one stood before her, so would the other—in spirit if not in truth. Furthermore, her feelings for Ezekiel had yet to completely resolve into the background and she knew she would be plagued at odd moments by them. Josephine’s honor and pride would never allow seducing another woman’s husband, but she also knew Katherine was sharply perceptive despite her occasional flightiness and not for the world would Josephine hurt her friend or give her cause to suspect her motives or her husband’s integrity.<br><br>		And with that last, Josephine fervently hoped she’d deflected Katherine from her verbal misstep. It was, she sighed internally, unfortunate that Katherine was so intertwined with Ezekiel in her mind that it was almost impossible to separate the two. So long as one stood before her, so would the other—in spirit if not in truth. Furthermore, her feelings for Ezekiel had yet to completely resolve into the background and she knew she would be plagued at odd moments by them. Josephine’s honor and pride would never allow seducing another woman’s husband, but she also knew Katherine was sharply perceptive despite her occasional flightiness and not for the world would Josephine hurt her friend or give her cause to suspect her motives or her husband’s integrity.<br><br>
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	Katherine’s face lit from inside. “Oh no, Josephine, my darling. No apologies! It is a new world that we both trod. As I have told Ezekiel, change comes slowly, but it comes. But for now, though we may chaff at the restrictions, in time, those bounderies can be moved. And we shall move them, from the inside and the out. I am jealous of your freedoms. But I do enjoy the freedoms that money can give and the potential joys that it can help me give you and Ezekiel. You are my best friend, Josephine, and I am most pleased that you count me as such for you. I hope to have more adventures together with Ezekiel and you.” Her eyes twinkled as she grinned. “And maybe one day, your husband too.”<br><br>		Katherine’s face lit from inside. “Oh no, Josephine, my darling. No apologies! It is a new world that we both trod. As I have told Ezekiel, change comes slowly, but it comes. But for now, though we may chaff at the restrictions, in time, those bounderies can be moved. And we shall move them, from the inside and the out. I am jealous of your freedoms. But I do enjoy the freedoms that money can give and the potential joys that it can help me give you and Ezekiel. You are my best friend, Josephine, and I am most pleased that you count me as such for you. I hope to have more adventures together with Ezekiel and you.” Her eyes twinkled as she grinned. “And maybe one day, your husband too.”<br><br>

	The light in Katherine’s eyes was bright and Josephine thanked Heaven she hadn’t stepped amiss. She truly did not want to injure her friend or alienate her, not when they had become so close. And when, if you must be honest, Josephine, you are quite alone in the world. There is no going back to William. You are no longer one of them. You’re a fledgling grown and it’s time to leave the nest and fly. Aloud she said, “A husband, I cannot guarantee, but adventures? Yes.” She raised her wine glass in a toast. “Just try to stop us from having them.”<br><br>		The light in Katherine’s eyes was bright and Josephine thanked Heaven she hadn’t stepped amiss. She truly did not want to injure her friend or alienate her, not when they had become so close. ''And when, if you must be honest, Josephine, you are quite alone in the world. There is no going back to William. You are no longer one of them. You’re a fledgling grown and it’s time to leave the nest and fly''. Aloud she said, “A husband, I cannot guarantee, but adventures? Yes.” She raised her wine glass in a toast. “Just try to stop us from having them.”<br><br>

	Katherine dinged her glass to Josephine’s with a firm hand. “Without doubt, without trepidation! We will go forth and right wrongs, discover new things and grow ever closer!” She drank deeply with relish and then grinned. “And we will practice fencing so that Ezekiel will be proud of us and we will practice shooting so that our hands will be true like Neecy’s.” She then winked. “And there will be a husband. Just wait.”<br><br>		Katherine dinged her glass to Josephine’s with a firm hand. “Without doubt, without trepidation! We will go forth and right wrongs, discover new things and grow ever closer!” She drank deeply with relish and then grinned. “And we will practice fencing so that Ezekiel will be proud of us and we will practice shooting so that our hands will be true like Neecy’s.” She then winked. “And there will be a husband. Just wait.”<br><br>
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	“Excalibur is here,” Katherine stated firmly. “America will be a wondrous trip, but for now, there is Excalibur to think of.” The trifle came in, the cut crystal container catching the gaslight in a myriad of rainbows. They were both served and Katherine rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she licked her spoon luxuriously. “Best whipped cream I have ever had. She is a genius! After Ezekiel and I are married and I hopefully conceive a child, I will eat buckets of this so that I will have a healthy, bouncing baby.”<br><br>		“Excalibur is here,” Katherine stated firmly. “America will be a wondrous trip, but for now, there is Excalibur to think of.” The trifle came in, the cut crystal container catching the gaslight in a myriad of rainbows. They were both served and Katherine rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she licked her spoon luxuriously. “Best whipped cream I have ever had. She is a genius! After Ezekiel and I are married and I hopefully conceive a child, I will eat buckets of this so that I will have a healthy, bouncing baby.”<br><br>

	At the mention of the sword, Josephine remembered Ezekiel’s quest and something in Katherine’s ~~words—For~~ now, there is Excalibur to think ~~of—made~~ something fall into place. <br><br>		At the mention of the sword, Josephine remembered Ezekiel’s quest and something in Katherine’s words—''For now, there is Excalibur to think of''—made something fall into place. <br><br>

	“Will you help him search for it? His quest?”<br><br>		“Will you help him search for it? His quest?”<br><br>
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	As much as for Josephine as for herself, she did not want to revisit those emotions nor did she want to invite the green serpent into her mind again. She was woman and she was weaker than either Ezekiel or Josephine gave her credit for. But she wasn’t willing to part with either of them and so what could not be borne would be set aside and forgotten. She was good at that. She raised her eyebrows as she sucked another spoonful of dessert off the silver spoon; no Father, no Neecy, no one but Josephine, so bless it all, she was going to leave none of the tastiness behind. The next spoonful paused as she waited for Josephine to speak and to decide whether or not she had the courage to lick the dish.<br><br>		As much as for Josephine as for herself, she did not want to revisit those emotions nor did she want to invite the green serpent into her mind again. She was woman and she was weaker than either Ezekiel or Josephine gave her credit for. But she wasn’t willing to part with either of them and so what could not be borne would be set aside and forgotten. She was good at that. She raised her eyebrows as she sucked another spoonful of dessert off the silver spoon; no Father, no Neecy, no one but Josephine, so bless it all, she was going to leave none of the tastiness behind. The next spoonful paused as she waited for Josephine to speak and to decide whether or not she had the courage to lick the dish.<br><br>

	Watching her friend enjoying the cream, Josephine was struck by the overwhelming sensation of watching a cat contemplating licking its bowl clean. Her green eyes glistened in the firelight and the slit pupils relaxed in pleasure, even as Katherine’s gaze swept keenly across her, looking right through her to her thoughts. It was unnerving. Josephine put her wine down. No more. Really and truly. It’s making me silly. Aware that her friend was waiting for an answer, Josephine gathered her thoughts and gave it.<br><br>		Watching her friend enjoying the cream, Josephine was struck by the overwhelming sensation of watching a cat contemplating licking its bowl clean. Her green eyes glistened in the firelight and the slit pupils relaxed in pleasure, even as Katherine’s gaze swept keenly across her, looking right through her to her thoughts. It was unnerving. Josephine put her wine down. ''No more. Really and truly. It’s making me silly''. Aware that her friend was waiting for an answer, Josephine gathered her thoughts and gave it.<br><br>

A Trip North - Revision history

Taimdala at 06:09, 27 April 2013

Taimdala at 01:29, 25 March 2011

Taimdala at 01:25, 25 March 2011

Taimdala: Created page with ' ''Thursday, October 3rd, 1867'' ''Great Northern Railway'' ''En route to Scarborough'' ''8:30 A.M.'' The clack of the wheels and the sway of the c…'

Taimdala: Created page with '

''Thursday, October 3rd, 1867''
''Great Northern Railway''
''En route to Scarborough''
''8:30 A.M.''

The clack of the wheels and the sway of the c…'