Online RP Thread (Lead up to Bloody Valentine)

Archive 33AR
#141

Zek picked up his notebook and his flask from his workspace, tucked them both under his arm, and started walking back towards the taverna. Whatever that noise was, he hoped it had resolved itself. There was work to do, and the taverna was where he felt most at home doing it. There was always the lighthouse, but he had just come back from there, and repeating the trip so soon was not going to do him any favours.

There was conversation in the infirmary; more voices, but having just escaped from there he wasn’t going to be caught listening in. Besides, with Dahlia so injured, she needed time alone.

Ivy was framed in the doorway of the taverna, holding Harriet and humming quietly. She seemed at peace, he thought. He vaguely recognised the song, his mind holding onto it like an amulet. He cleared a space at the table and awkwardly thumbed open the notebook.

#142

“That sounds a good idea, make sure nothing’s been missed. There’s been some nasty cases of Scarlet Fever doing the rounds recently, here take one of these.”

Reaching over to a small brown bottle Daniel retrieved a small pill and handed it to the man, with a freshly poured cup of water.

“How about you report here in the morning right after breakfast, unless you have other duties you’ve been tasked with?”

#143

“if you want Doctor, may as well get that outta the way then.” he nods and starts to remove his armoured great coat. Under neath is not the expected service tunic but an old shirt, holed and sewn up, the trousers however are military. on his left arm is a leather bracer that stores small tools, the hand is covered by a glove with a thick palm, his right hand and arm have nothing out of the ordinary. he puts the coat and his bags down on the floor, the knife just gets transferred to his trouser belt. he takes the pill and swallows it dry.

#144

After having finished rolling the clean bandages, Margaret stood up and placed the pile back in their makeshift home, trying not to look as the stranger undressed. Murmuring a blushed apology as she sidled past Dr Ashdown, she moved to kneel beside Dr Swanhilde and lowered her voice so as not to intrude on the examination. “Forgive me for the interruption, doctor, but is there anything I might be able to take on from your duties so that you might better rest up?” She briefly glanced over at Dr Swanhilde’s father, then back to the pink haired woman.

#145

“don’t worry ma’am i still got me shirt on”

#146

Esther nodded in agreement. “The same goes for me- Even if you just need distraction. Having to stay in one place when you’d rather be moving about is awful.” A dark look crosses her face.

“There’ve been no changes,” Esther replies, “but I don’t mind letting you look. I’m monitoring it, of course- If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to keep looking for Zek. Would you tell him I’m looking for him, if you see him?”

#147

Daniel, sliding the notes from the well worn manila envelope checking the list of injuries and the locations of some of the scars. Major inguinal laceration, Impact trauma upper right gluteus maximus…

“No Sergeant, for the sake of the Ladies we’ll conduct this in the morning, we may be at war but I think we can afford a little decorum in the matter, besides I imagine you’ll be tired from your journey.”

“Of course Miss North, we’ll look forward to seeing you and Baby Harriet in the morning.”

#148

“Margaret, you always manage to creep up on me. You have an exceeding talent with staying unnoticed. We should all be so lucky” she teased.

“Let’s see, duties… duties” she thought out loud. She wasn’t entirely sure how much information she wanted Margaret privy to. Sure, she was the Captain’s sister, but there was still information that no more people should know.

“I think perhaps if you just continue on your current course. You are remarkably helpful as it is” she smiled

She then addressed both ladies. “I am more than capable to do paperwork in my condition. However if any emergencies arise, naturally I am going to need you both here…”

#149

“yes doctor i’ll report back in the morning then after breakfast.” he retrieves his coat and slips it on then replaces the belts and bags, the knife is returned to its usual position in his belt. “thank you for your time Doctor’s , Ma’am.” he salutes and exits the infirmary.

#150

Esther frowns.

“That depends on the nature of the emergency. This infirmiry is a priority for me, but it’s not my biggest one. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Dahlia, but I owe you my honesty- If another situation like what we faced over the weekend arises, I’m taking Harriet and running.”

#151

Esther frowns.

“That depends on the nature of the emergency. This infirmiry is a priority for me, but it’s not my biggest one. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Dahlia, but I owe you my honesty- If another situation like what we faced over the weekend arises, I’m taking Harriet and running.”[/quote]

“I understand that perfectly Esther… and honestly I would be more disappointed if you did stay…”

She sighed “Let’s just hope we don’t have to endure anything like that again”

#152

[quote=“BlackDahlia”][quote=“siximpossiblethings”]
“I understand that perfectly Esther… and honestly I would be more disappointed if you did stay…”

[/quote][/quote]

Esther regards Dahlia for a long moment, almost as though sizing her up.

Apparently reaching some sort of conclusion, she smiles approvingly. “Thank you. I’m glad you understand. I’m going to go see if Zek’s in the Taverna- I hope you’re feeling better, soon.”

She nods good-bye to the others and turns to leave.

#153

stepping back out into the corridor “well #74 they seem a busy lot” then looking back at the infirmary, “i keep 'earing about two weeks ago, what 'apppend?”

#154

Clearly something complicated is being discussed, and the Sergeant has thankfully put his clothing on and vanished. #74 feels a bit awkward, so she salutes at no one in particular and sidles out, trying not to follow Ms. North too closely.

She wonders what would happen if there was a situation. Would she take #99 and run? Probably not. Young Miss Petrov-North doesn’t really have a choice, and besides, she wasn’t really old enough to fight demons off on her own, although her cries were ear-splitting enough. #74 knew that this was how most babies sounded, so wasn’t unduly alarmed. And #99 had said she was staying behind, whatever happened. But if the worst did happen, would she be able to respect #99’s choice? Of course. Choice was important. It was different for homunculi anyway.

She gave the elder Dr. Swanhilde a look on the way out, though. Although she had no right to be suspicious of people returning from the dead (three times in one weekend was a little ridiculous) she wasn’t sure how she felt about him. Miss Blake was looking at Dr. Ashton and blushing, but as long as there was no brandy around #74 saw no reason to intervene. Anyway, that man had been French. Dr. Ashton was so English he should have been advertising war bonds.

Perhaps the Sergeant would be interested in her eyeball collection. She’d also retrieved some cyborg hearts that she was rather pleased with, but humans were so queasy about that sort of thing. Maybe if Dray was about she could have a word with him.

#155

“Everything, Sarge. We got hit by cultists, demons and raiders from another camp all at once. We also had to deal with an outbreak of scarlet fever, looming starvation and an airship crash. Plus a whole load of recovered memories, maimings, burnings, spying, one stolen baby and all sorts of other carry on. But the latrines are in perfect order, I’m pleased to say.”

She grins. It’s not a particularly pleasant sight, as the scar twists and her white eyes glow in the half-light.

“Welcome to Skye, Sarge.”

#156

“thanks” he says drily, “should be used to being welcomed into warzones by now.” then he stops for a second and thinks, “#74, you got a name? out ion the defence works around Beijing those we did work with we gave nicknames to, numbers were used to shout orders out fast in case of attack, caused a bit of confusion for bit until we dished out names then things settled down to business as usual”

#157

Orpha heaves her supplies back to the campsite, trying to ignore the pain emanating from the wounds in her limbs and torso. She could call for some of her employees to make their way to Skye from the facility off the island, but it would simply take far too long and time was a-wasting. Dropping them off near the site to be set up, Orpha limps back to the taverna, increasing her pace when hearing a mention of demons coming from inside. Seeing no cause for alarm, Orpha then deems herself tired enough to rest very briefly, sitting down near Ivy and Harriet.

“She’s going to be a fine scientist one day.” She says half-jokingly to Ivy.

Jokes…
Huh…
Almost forgot what they were…

#158

“No,” said #74, more firmly than she’d intended. “#74 is fine, and no one on the Island seems to have had any trouble. I was given a name, but it is not one I care to be called by anyone other than Lord Kain.”

It’s a very sore point. Homunculi? Named? There was a limit. Even in times of war.

“To be named is to be individual, and to be individual is not what homunculi are here for.”

#159

“sorry didn’t mean to upset you, its just a convention we 'ad to stop people getting killed is all, #74 it is then” he says some what taken a back.

#160

#74 feels guilty.

“Sorry to be so forceful. But the Company doesn’t like that sort of thing. And I have a…younger homunculus to look after. I don’t want her slipping into bad habits, and I am expecting Company officials to return to Skye soon.” She blinks, and then says quickly, “Of course, the Company officials are all good people, but with 40% of the East India Company now made up of homunculi, the human employees are getting a bit…unnerved. Of course, a homunculus revolt is about as likely as the sudden manifestation of divine beings in the latrines, but…”

The ears of the East India Trading Company were everywhere.