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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4677301" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Five, “There is a house in New Orleans… ”, September 1st, 1882, 11:30 A.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>On the second train, Roy looks at his companion and asks, “You ok, Doc? You look a little flushed." During Roy's tale, Thomas did his best to quell his nervousness, apparently to no avail. "Wha? Umm, yes Huggins, I'm quite alright, quite", Thomas stammered out. "I... um... think that the long day of travel has finally caught up to me, and I'm just a bit out of sorts with slight fatigue and hunger. I'm sure I'll be fine after I get something to eat." Regaining his composure a bit, he said, "After all, as you might imagine, I've got quite an appetite to satisfy!" Thomas managed a smile, which he was sure was no more convincing than his previous attempt at looking menacing. </p><p></p><p>"As to how... ummm... Miss Marsters... ummm... and I ... uh... know each other, well that would have been our ... being together... NO, I mean WORKING together, working... at the ... uhhhh... Pitt Rivers estate back in England." Thomas gulped, as he felt the sweat break out on his large forehead, in which he was sure must have been huge rivulets. He had led slave rebellions, fought Confederate soldiers, stopped Turkish assassins, entered the lairs of underground denizens best left undiscovered and undisturbed, and from the deck of a sinking ship, even stared into the abyssal maw of the Maelstrom itself ... but all of that was nothing, nothing -- there was nothing he feared more than the intimacy of small-talk with Miss Marsters. At the dinner table, or on the parlor floor, even dancing, Thomas could hold his own quite well -- there was safety and comfort in the large crowd. But here, with her so close, and his shyness so obvious? Terrifying!</p><p></p><p>Thomas continued on: "The estate is an archaeological dig of some import for scholars of the confluence of early Roman and Saxon society." Sensing ground where his footing was surer, Thomas stammered less, as the scholar within took control over the shy adolescent. "Pitt Rivers is an astounding man -- a genius in his field, and meticulous to boot." On an impulse, warming up to the chance to talk about their experiences at the dig, Thomas reached for an orange and fumbled with it a bit as he talked, his large fingers struggling with the tiny fruit. "I believe that Miss Marsters would agree with me that we learned much under the tutelage of Pitt Rivers, and that he's single-handedly advancing the ... OH, DEAR!" </p><p></p><p>As Thomas spoke, one of his fingers gouged too deeply into the orange's meat, spraying juice and pulp straight into his eyes, bouncing a seed off his forehead. "I... uh... oh." Roy bit his tongue and tried not to laugh at his obviously flustered friend. "I certainly learned more that's of practical use there than I did at University," Abigail agreed as she handed Dr. Crane a handkerchief pulled from her pocket. "That juice must sting. I can never manage to be neat when I peel an orange either. You'd think I was still two years old." Thomas took the handkerchief from Abigail, muttering a quiet "thank you" as he avoided looking directly at her. As he wiped the orange pulp and juice from his face, he listened to Roy and Abigail chat.</p><p></p><p>As she relaxed Abigail's accent became more pronounced, making it easy to guess that she was New Orleans born and bred. "Pitt-Rivers insists that all artifacts are important, and that everyday items can teach more than treasure. And I have to say I agree. He's also opened up some lovely public gardens that I spent a lot of my free time in.</p><p>And I of course enjoyed being in my father's native land. I took the chance to meet some aunts and uncles while I was there." </p><p></p><p>Roy quickly turned to Abigail. "I noticed you were reading a book before you joined us. May I ask what it was?" She replies, "Oh, just a novel. After university I find I don't want to do so much hard reading as I used to. This particular one is Vanity Fair, about a particularly amoral if clever young woman and her rise and fall. Rather juicy, actually," she laughed. "Not quite a penny dreadful, but my mother would still be horrified." </p><p></p><p>"I promise not to tell her," Roy said with a wink and a grin. "I couldn't help but notice your accent. New Orleans, correct? Did you know LeSoleil Levant?" Thomas was about to remark that he, too, had recently read Thackeray's novel, but was sidetracked when Huggins queried her about LeSoleil Levant. Strange, he thought to himself, that name sounded somewhat familiar, and yet he couldn't place it </p><p></p><p>"Only by reputation," she grinned back. "And yes, N'awlins is home. Such a gorgeous place, although the summers can be unbearable. LeSoleil Levant... didn't offer services an eighteen-year old needed. It's gone now. I was twenty when it folded, I believe. To the chagrin of more than one gentleman I might add. But there is no shortage of those kinds of services in New Orleans. Such music and dancing! I haven't traveled very widely yet, but I cannot imagine a place to rival my home for music and dancing." </p><p></p><p>"I am in definite agreement with you there, girlie. There is no better place in this country of ours than the Big Easy for singing and dancing. I was there the night they closed Madame Levant's doors, you know. Being something of a card player, I found myself partaking of her business somewhat frequently. Good times, they were. But I say adieu to the past and bon jour to the future. All I need is my suitcase and a trunk to make it in this world." Roy drinks his latest refill of whiskey and slams the glass on to the tray. "What say you, Doc? How come you never took up my offers to show you around New Orleans?" </p><p></p><p>Thomas finished wiping his face, and folded the handkerchief before starting to hand it back to Abigail. He stopped, and instead put it into his coat pocket.</p><p></p><p>"I'll have this laundered and returned to you, Miss Marsters. Thank you again." Suddenly, the realization dawned upon him suddenly, after he thought about the conversation that he just heard, that the woman Roy had been talking about was none other than the infamous Madam of the House of the Rising Sun -- not only famous as a den of iniquitous behavior but also as a key nexus of the espionage network that the Union had created in its efforts against the Confederacy. </p><p></p><p>Glaring at Roy for his scandalizing choice of conversation, combined with his memory of what New Orleans meant to Ogres, Thomas replied "While I am sure that New Orleans was undoubtedly a veritable wonderland for your devotion to the pursuit of secular pleasures, I can assure that it was a much different experience for me, and will likely continue to be so. Those of my -- ilk, shall we say -- are generally not accorded with a great deal of respect or kindness... to say the least. The city's attitudes towards Ogrekind haven't changed much since the end of the War -- and at any turn of every street corner, it felt to me that you could almost hear the echoes of the gavel sounding the end of yet another slave auction, sending another innocent soul into bondage."</p><p></p><p>Thomas found himself on the verge of blood-boiling anger yet again. This time, he was solely focusing on his dear friend at its source ..., which, clearly, was not at all Huggins's fault. Closing his eyes, and taking yet another in a series of deep breaths to calm himself, he sought again to regain his composure. "I... I'm sorry, my friend, for my tempestuous digression. I am sure you do not need a lecture from me about either iniquitous behavior or man's inhumanity to man. As I said, it's been a long day, and I am perhaps overtired from the journey and the strain of suffering from an excess of ... Southern courtesy." (those last two words dripping sarcasm, a rare display from Thomas). </p><p></p><p>"If you will pardon me," Thomas said as he stood up, "I think I need to find the necessary room and attend to my dishabille from my battle with the orange. If you and" (gazing into her face directly for the first time as he nodded to her) "Miss Marsters will excuse me?". He then left to find the train car's water closet. Roy looked a bit confused as Doc walked off. </p><p></p><p>Turning back to his new companion Roy says, "Well, I understand where he's coming from, I mean the racism in New Orleans can be palpable in certain locations, but I always wished he had come down and stayed with the folks I stayed with. As long as your money was green, they didn't care what you were." Roy shook his head sadly. "Anyway," he said as he turned to look at Abigail. "How do you know Mr. Parker?" </p><p></p><p>Abigail's eyes followed Dr. Crane as he walked down the aisle. She suddenly realized she was still wearing her spectacles and pulled them off. "New Orleans bears its share of the shame of the south, but there are so many places that have always rejected it. I don't know Mr. Parker. I'm invited on Dr. Crane's recommendation." He replies, "Interesting. And what specialties do you bring to this ragtag bunch?" </p><p></p><p>She answers, "I'm not entirely sure. I have no idea what we're going to be doing. As far as I know all I have to offer is my education and a thirst for adventure." Abigail looked at Roy for a moment, wondering how much it was safe to say. "We girls from New Orleans also have some other talents on occasion." </p><p></p><p>While Abigail and Roy are engaged in conversation and Thomas attempts to compose himself again, they are now leaving the Baldwin, Florida train depot for the final nineteen-miles of the trip to Jacksonville. For the next dozen or so miles the outside scenery changes from marsh and forest to vast cotton fields as far as the eye can see, many with ogres and half-ogres out picking the cotton. </p><p></p><p>Back upon the first train, George Eastman put away his notebook and his pen. Stood and stretched. The seats were a bit uncomfortable. Looking at them he made a mental note to have someone look into the curve of the spine and how a seat back might support it better. "I agree, this has been a long journey, though I think the easiest part perhaps. Still a bit of fresh air would do the constitution good. I think I shall step out onto the balcony. Would you care to join me Constance?" says George offering his arm. </p><p></p><p>"Certainly," she nodded, and stood also, wondering if she had said something that upset him. She hooked her arm around his and with an "Excuse us," to Nana and Nanuet she followed him where he led her. Nanuet goes to looking out the window and observing the landscape. They pass alongside various farms and plantations where cotton and sugarcane are being grown. The fields are being worked by ogres and half-ogres. </p><p></p><p>George and Ruby step through the rear door of the passenger compartment onto a platform the width of the train and only three feet in length. A metal fence surrounds it, with a gate in the middle. The gate is currently shut and secured with a simple latching mechanism, and on the other side are steps down to the ground and then up to the next train car. With the gate shut it allows the passengers a degree of safety to stand and take in the scenery. The surroundings are mostly farms and fields, but they now also start to pass through a small residential area with small clapboard houses that appear to be occupied by a mixed group of both ogres and working class humans. </p><p></p><p>George walked with Ruby to the edge of the platform, watching the scenery moving past quickly He breathed in some fresh air. The air inside had been getting a bit stale with out the windows open. George turned to his fiancé took her in his arms and kissed hr passionately. He broke after a few moments and held her hands in his. "I just wanted a moment alone with you was all Constance." he said as he put his arm around her waist and watches the scenery some more as Ruby laid her head on his shoulder. </p><p></p><p>She grinned up at him, "Of course you did darling," before standing on her toes and kissing him again. Then she settled into his shoulder to watch the landscape with him. "I fear we won't have much time alone on this trip, we will be surrounded by so many people. We'll have to steal time, I think."</p><p></p><p>"And steal it then we shall," replies George kissing her again. "I feel like we have just begun our lives together, engaged as we are, though not yet married and yet, with you, with these friends, and the guild, that events are drawing us apart. I feel like we should be picnicking back in New York right now, not sitting on some cramped train on the way to the swamps of Florida. But I will admit to being excited, both for the travel and adventure and to be with you. I know you would not truly be happy back in the parlor in New York," says George as he bends to kiss Ruby again.</p><p></p><p>Ruby enjoyed that kiss for a while and the fresh air that was swirling around them as they did. "George, I would be happy with you in that parlor, as long as we were together. But in a way you are right, I wouldn't be happy sitting there forever, I would get bored, even with you my love. You have your work and I was just never meant to sit home all day and do nothing but primp. Still, I would do it for you and try my best."</p><p></p><p>She pushed the deep red hair off her face. "I disagree about these events drawing us apart. I think quite the opposite, we will have a little adventure and it will be fun and exciting and this traveling and experiencing new things will bring us together." She put her hands on George's chest and pressed herself into his arms, staring into his eyes. "We have just begun our life together darling and it shall be a long and happy one for us."</p><p></p><p>"I am happy to hear you say that, but remember that I have had you absent from my life for many years, and am in no great hurry to share you or my time with you with anyone. Nor am I inclined to risk losing you by allowing you to traipse about getting injured, sick or bitten," says George with a smile. "I just want to have my time with you Constance, I have searched for you a long time, I have found you and don't intend to let you go, now or ever. My love is burning within me, only you may quench it my love, and so I am loath to lead you into danger, and yet I cannot keep you safe at home. What ever shall I do with you my darling Constance?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby grinned at George, her smile filled with happiness. "You shall love me George, that's all I really need from you." Her hands went to his face and held it gently facing her. She kissed him softly on the lips as she gazed into his eyes. "You love me better than anyone ever has, I understand you want to protect me. And I love you even more for it. So you will keep me safe so I can quench that fire in you. And at the same time I get to be a little selfish and fulfill my own needs. But you will love me, and follow me and keep me happy for the rest of our lives, as I shall do for you." She kissed him again, this time longer and a little more passionately. </p><p></p><p>When she pulled back she looked off again at the scenery. "But speaking of time... there is something I have been wanting to talk to you about. Since you brought it up..." She turned to face him again. "Have you wondered why my grandmother looks more like my mother and my mother looks so young herself?"</p><p></p><p>George smiled back at Ruby. "Well, I did wonder at first my dearest. But I did some research, you know how I love that. And though I do not know exactly how it is done, I suspect that you and your grandmother share the same "gift" And that through that gift, women maintain their beauty longer. I have found several references to priestesses of Aphrodite performing the same feat," replies George.</p><p></p><p>“I should have known you would do your research,” Ruby laughed, the thought having never crossed her mind. “While we obviously share the same bloodline, what keeps my grandmother young, I do not share. Yet. It’s actually…,” she stood on her toes to whisper in his ear, “…Magic.” She returned to her normal height so she could look him in the face. “I know you might be hesitant to think about it but… well… according to her it can double your life. Wouldn’t that be so wonderful, to have all that extra time together? And to stay young and beautiful that much longer? She says you can’t use it until you stop growing at 21 but George, I would love to do it. You know how I hate to think of getting old or ugly.”</p><p></p><p>"It would be nice, the wisdom and knowledge of age, the health and energy of youth. Imagine an extra 20 or 30 years of work in the lab." says George. Looking down he adds "And of course with you. But I do not fear getting old or ugly my love. And you will never ever be old or ugly to me. What I fear is being without you."</p><p></p><p>Ruby gazed into his eyes returning the love she saw there before kissing him. "You will never have to be without me George. There is no reason to fear it." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I mean it." She smiled and took his hand. "We should talk to Nana about it and see when and what we have to do. She said I had to wait but you could do it soon if you wanted. This is so exciting! Yes, imagine all that energy of youth..." She gave him a little eyebrow waggle and giggled at her insinuation.</p><p></p><p>George smiled and gave Ruby a pinch on the bottom before gathering her in his arms again. "Who says I lost it?" he says with a wicked grin of his own before kissing her passionately. Finally breaking he looked down at her. "Yes ask her what I or we need to do. Perhaps that could be her wedding present to us." George suggested.</p><p></p><p>"You haven't lost a thing," Ruby giggled as George pulled her to him. "That is a FABULOUS idea George Eastman! I bet Nana and James would love to do that for us for our wedding." She was quiet then for a moment, they would soon need to go back inside and begin gathering their belongings. "Sometimes I wish we had gotten married already George. I know why we should wait I just sometimes..." she shrugged. "I don't know. Wish I was Mrs. Eastman." She forced a smile, "But it will be good to wait, I know."</p><p></p><p>George smiled "The day you have patience Constance shall be the day the sun shall rise in the west. And you don't lie well either." he said kissing her. Then whispering in her ear "You never know what passions the tropics will inflame."</p><p></p><p>“You love me even for all my shortcomings George Eastman, not that there are many,” she teased. She kept her comment about lying to herself. She had been making an effort to be truthful with George for some time now and she felt it was paying off; still, there was a lot about her he didn’t know. “The tropics… is Florida considered the topics?” She paused momentarily to ponder that, pushing some long red hair off her face. “Well, whether it is or isn’t, I’ll certainly always be looking for ways to inflame your passion,” she said shamelessly flirting. She squeezed his hands in hers and giggled. “I don’t think you’ll complain too much. As I don’t think you’ll complain when I’m Mrs. George Eastman.” She furrowed her brows together in her common “I’m thinking” face. “Ruby Eastman? Mrs. Ruby Eastman? What do you think?”</p><p></p><p>"Mrs. Constance Eastman my love. You can be Ruby West, but you have always been and will always be my Constance, and you need to be proud to be my Constance." George lifts up Ruby's chin and looks into her eyes. "You don't need to be Ruby West anymore Constance. You don't need to run from anything any more. You will be, you are now, Mrs. Constance Eastman. You need to be proud of that, to be yourself, your real self. You can always be that with me Constance, no matter what." he says as he kisses her gently.</p><p></p><p>After their kiss Ruby stared into his eyes for a long moment. "I am proud to be your Constance, I am." She grinned, "I just hate the name. But at the very least I will be your Mrs. Eastman." She laughed a little to herself then grew quiet. "It's almost time to go back inside," she said quietly. She paused, staring at his chest instead of his face. "Thank you, for everything. The only place I will be running from now on is to you."</p><p></p><p>George gathered Ruby into his arms and hugged her tightly for a long time. And it was only as the brakes on the train began to squeal that he broke and gave her one more kiss. "I am glad you no longer need to run away from things future Mrs. Eastman." he said with a smile. "Now come we must get our bags." he said as he open the door for her. “To start our first adventure, together!” Ruby chirped. </p><p></p><p>They had spent some time outside and as the landscape and time went by they realized they were very close to the train depot according to Nana's 30-minute prediction. "We should go back in and get our things ready George, I'm ready to get off this train!" They headed back inside to Nana and Nanuet who while much calmer than Ruby also looked ready to leave the cramped, uncomfortable train behind. "Everyone ready? Fresh air and room to stretch the legs at the least. Nana, will James be here to pick us up?" "Oh yes, you can count on that," she says, the anxiety showing in her tone of voice.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 4677301, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Five, “There is a house in New Orleans… ”, September 1st, 1882, 11:30 A.M.[/B] On the second train, Roy looks at his companion and asks, “You ok, Doc? You look a little flushed." During Roy's tale, Thomas did his best to quell his nervousness, apparently to no avail. "Wha? Umm, yes Huggins, I'm quite alright, quite", Thomas stammered out. "I... um... think that the long day of travel has finally caught up to me, and I'm just a bit out of sorts with slight fatigue and hunger. I'm sure I'll be fine after I get something to eat." Regaining his composure a bit, he said, "After all, as you might imagine, I've got quite an appetite to satisfy!" Thomas managed a smile, which he was sure was no more convincing than his previous attempt at looking menacing. "As to how... ummm... Miss Marsters... ummm... and I ... uh... know each other, well that would have been our ... being together... NO, I mean WORKING together, working... at the ... uhhhh... Pitt Rivers estate back in England." Thomas gulped, as he felt the sweat break out on his large forehead, in which he was sure must have been huge rivulets. He had led slave rebellions, fought Confederate soldiers, stopped Turkish assassins, entered the lairs of underground denizens best left undiscovered and undisturbed, and from the deck of a sinking ship, even stared into the abyssal maw of the Maelstrom itself ... but all of that was nothing, nothing -- there was nothing he feared more than the intimacy of small-talk with Miss Marsters. At the dinner table, or on the parlor floor, even dancing, Thomas could hold his own quite well -- there was safety and comfort in the large crowd. But here, with her so close, and his shyness so obvious? Terrifying! Thomas continued on: "The estate is an archaeological dig of some import for scholars of the confluence of early Roman and Saxon society." Sensing ground where his footing was surer, Thomas stammered less, as the scholar within took control over the shy adolescent. "Pitt Rivers is an astounding man -- a genius in his field, and meticulous to boot." On an impulse, warming up to the chance to talk about their experiences at the dig, Thomas reached for an orange and fumbled with it a bit as he talked, his large fingers struggling with the tiny fruit. "I believe that Miss Marsters would agree with me that we learned much under the tutelage of Pitt Rivers, and that he's single-handedly advancing the ... OH, DEAR!" As Thomas spoke, one of his fingers gouged too deeply into the orange's meat, spraying juice and pulp straight into his eyes, bouncing a seed off his forehead. "I... uh... oh." Roy bit his tongue and tried not to laugh at his obviously flustered friend. "I certainly learned more that's of practical use there than I did at University," Abigail agreed as she handed Dr. Crane a handkerchief pulled from her pocket. "That juice must sting. I can never manage to be neat when I peel an orange either. You'd think I was still two years old." Thomas took the handkerchief from Abigail, muttering a quiet "thank you" as he avoided looking directly at her. As he wiped the orange pulp and juice from his face, he listened to Roy and Abigail chat. As she relaxed Abigail's accent became more pronounced, making it easy to guess that she was New Orleans born and bred. "Pitt-Rivers insists that all artifacts are important, and that everyday items can teach more than treasure. And I have to say I agree. He's also opened up some lovely public gardens that I spent a lot of my free time in. And I of course enjoyed being in my father's native land. I took the chance to meet some aunts and uncles while I was there." Roy quickly turned to Abigail. "I noticed you were reading a book before you joined us. May I ask what it was?" She replies, "Oh, just a novel. After university I find I don't want to do so much hard reading as I used to. This particular one is Vanity Fair, about a particularly amoral if clever young woman and her rise and fall. Rather juicy, actually," she laughed. "Not quite a penny dreadful, but my mother would still be horrified." "I promise not to tell her," Roy said with a wink and a grin. "I couldn't help but notice your accent. New Orleans, correct? Did you know LeSoleil Levant?" Thomas was about to remark that he, too, had recently read Thackeray's novel, but was sidetracked when Huggins queried her about LeSoleil Levant. Strange, he thought to himself, that name sounded somewhat familiar, and yet he couldn't place it "Only by reputation," she grinned back. "And yes, N'awlins is home. Such a gorgeous place, although the summers can be unbearable. LeSoleil Levant... didn't offer services an eighteen-year old needed. It's gone now. I was twenty when it folded, I believe. To the chagrin of more than one gentleman I might add. But there is no shortage of those kinds of services in New Orleans. Such music and dancing! I haven't traveled very widely yet, but I cannot imagine a place to rival my home for music and dancing." "I am in definite agreement with you there, girlie. There is no better place in this country of ours than the Big Easy for singing and dancing. I was there the night they closed Madame Levant's doors, you know. Being something of a card player, I found myself partaking of her business somewhat frequently. Good times, they were. But I say adieu to the past and bon jour to the future. All I need is my suitcase and a trunk to make it in this world." Roy drinks his latest refill of whiskey and slams the glass on to the tray. "What say you, Doc? How come you never took up my offers to show you around New Orleans?" Thomas finished wiping his face, and folded the handkerchief before starting to hand it back to Abigail. He stopped, and instead put it into his coat pocket. "I'll have this laundered and returned to you, Miss Marsters. Thank you again." Suddenly, the realization dawned upon him suddenly, after he thought about the conversation that he just heard, that the woman Roy had been talking about was none other than the infamous Madam of the House of the Rising Sun -- not only famous as a den of iniquitous behavior but also as a key nexus of the espionage network that the Union had created in its efforts against the Confederacy. Glaring at Roy for his scandalizing choice of conversation, combined with his memory of what New Orleans meant to Ogres, Thomas replied "While I am sure that New Orleans was undoubtedly a veritable wonderland for your devotion to the pursuit of secular pleasures, I can assure that it was a much different experience for me, and will likely continue to be so. Those of my -- ilk, shall we say -- are generally not accorded with a great deal of respect or kindness... to say the least. The city's attitudes towards Ogrekind haven't changed much since the end of the War -- and at any turn of every street corner, it felt to me that you could almost hear the echoes of the gavel sounding the end of yet another slave auction, sending another innocent soul into bondage." Thomas found himself on the verge of blood-boiling anger yet again. This time, he was solely focusing on his dear friend at its source ..., which, clearly, was not at all Huggins's fault. Closing his eyes, and taking yet another in a series of deep breaths to calm himself, he sought again to regain his composure. "I... I'm sorry, my friend, for my tempestuous digression. I am sure you do not need a lecture from me about either iniquitous behavior or man's inhumanity to man. As I said, it's been a long day, and I am perhaps overtired from the journey and the strain of suffering from an excess of ... Southern courtesy." (those last two words dripping sarcasm, a rare display from Thomas). "If you will pardon me," Thomas said as he stood up, "I think I need to find the necessary room and attend to my dishabille from my battle with the orange. If you and" (gazing into her face directly for the first time as he nodded to her) "Miss Marsters will excuse me?". He then left to find the train car's water closet. Roy looked a bit confused as Doc walked off. Turning back to his new companion Roy says, "Well, I understand where he's coming from, I mean the racism in New Orleans can be palpable in certain locations, but I always wished he had come down and stayed with the folks I stayed with. As long as your money was green, they didn't care what you were." Roy shook his head sadly. "Anyway," he said as he turned to look at Abigail. "How do you know Mr. Parker?" Abigail's eyes followed Dr. Crane as he walked down the aisle. She suddenly realized she was still wearing her spectacles and pulled them off. "New Orleans bears its share of the shame of the south, but there are so many places that have always rejected it. I don't know Mr. Parker. I'm invited on Dr. Crane's recommendation." He replies, "Interesting. And what specialties do you bring to this ragtag bunch?" She answers, "I'm not entirely sure. I have no idea what we're going to be doing. As far as I know all I have to offer is my education and a thirst for adventure." Abigail looked at Roy for a moment, wondering how much it was safe to say. "We girls from New Orleans also have some other talents on occasion." While Abigail and Roy are engaged in conversation and Thomas attempts to compose himself again, they are now leaving the Baldwin, Florida train depot for the final nineteen-miles of the trip to Jacksonville. For the next dozen or so miles the outside scenery changes from marsh and forest to vast cotton fields as far as the eye can see, many with ogres and half-ogres out picking the cotton. Back upon the first train, George Eastman put away his notebook and his pen. Stood and stretched. The seats were a bit uncomfortable. Looking at them he made a mental note to have someone look into the curve of the spine and how a seat back might support it better. "I agree, this has been a long journey, though I think the easiest part perhaps. Still a bit of fresh air would do the constitution good. I think I shall step out onto the balcony. Would you care to join me Constance?" says George offering his arm. "Certainly," she nodded, and stood also, wondering if she had said something that upset him. She hooked her arm around his and with an "Excuse us," to Nana and Nanuet she followed him where he led her. Nanuet goes to looking out the window and observing the landscape. They pass alongside various farms and plantations where cotton and sugarcane are being grown. The fields are being worked by ogres and half-ogres. George and Ruby step through the rear door of the passenger compartment onto a platform the width of the train and only three feet in length. A metal fence surrounds it, with a gate in the middle. The gate is currently shut and secured with a simple latching mechanism, and on the other side are steps down to the ground and then up to the next train car. With the gate shut it allows the passengers a degree of safety to stand and take in the scenery. The surroundings are mostly farms and fields, but they now also start to pass through a small residential area with small clapboard houses that appear to be occupied by a mixed group of both ogres and working class humans. George walked with Ruby to the edge of the platform, watching the scenery moving past quickly He breathed in some fresh air. The air inside had been getting a bit stale with out the windows open. George turned to his fiancé took her in his arms and kissed hr passionately. He broke after a few moments and held her hands in his. "I just wanted a moment alone with you was all Constance." he said as he put his arm around her waist and watches the scenery some more as Ruby laid her head on his shoulder. She grinned up at him, "Of course you did darling," before standing on her toes and kissing him again. Then she settled into his shoulder to watch the landscape with him. "I fear we won't have much time alone on this trip, we will be surrounded by so many people. We'll have to steal time, I think." "And steal it then we shall," replies George kissing her again. "I feel like we have just begun our lives together, engaged as we are, though not yet married and yet, with you, with these friends, and the guild, that events are drawing us apart. I feel like we should be picnicking back in New York right now, not sitting on some cramped train on the way to the swamps of Florida. But I will admit to being excited, both for the travel and adventure and to be with you. I know you would not truly be happy back in the parlor in New York," says George as he bends to kiss Ruby again. Ruby enjoyed that kiss for a while and the fresh air that was swirling around them as they did. "George, I would be happy with you in that parlor, as long as we were together. But in a way you are right, I wouldn't be happy sitting there forever, I would get bored, even with you my love. You have your work and I was just never meant to sit home all day and do nothing but primp. Still, I would do it for you and try my best." She pushed the deep red hair off her face. "I disagree about these events drawing us apart. I think quite the opposite, we will have a little adventure and it will be fun and exciting and this traveling and experiencing new things will bring us together." She put her hands on George's chest and pressed herself into his arms, staring into his eyes. "We have just begun our life together darling and it shall be a long and happy one for us." "I am happy to hear you say that, but remember that I have had you absent from my life for many years, and am in no great hurry to share you or my time with you with anyone. Nor am I inclined to risk losing you by allowing you to traipse about getting injured, sick or bitten," says George with a smile. "I just want to have my time with you Constance, I have searched for you a long time, I have found you and don't intend to let you go, now or ever. My love is burning within me, only you may quench it my love, and so I am loath to lead you into danger, and yet I cannot keep you safe at home. What ever shall I do with you my darling Constance?" Ruby grinned at George, her smile filled with happiness. "You shall love me George, that's all I really need from you." Her hands went to his face and held it gently facing her. She kissed him softly on the lips as she gazed into his eyes. "You love me better than anyone ever has, I understand you want to protect me. And I love you even more for it. So you will keep me safe so I can quench that fire in you. And at the same time I get to be a little selfish and fulfill my own needs. But you will love me, and follow me and keep me happy for the rest of our lives, as I shall do for you." She kissed him again, this time longer and a little more passionately. When she pulled back she looked off again at the scenery. "But speaking of time... there is something I have been wanting to talk to you about. Since you brought it up..." She turned to face him again. "Have you wondered why my grandmother looks more like my mother and my mother looks so young herself?" George smiled back at Ruby. "Well, I did wonder at first my dearest. But I did some research, you know how I love that. And though I do not know exactly how it is done, I suspect that you and your grandmother share the same "gift" And that through that gift, women maintain their beauty longer. I have found several references to priestesses of Aphrodite performing the same feat," replies George. “I should have known you would do your research,” Ruby laughed, the thought having never crossed her mind. “While we obviously share the same bloodline, what keeps my grandmother young, I do not share. Yet. It’s actually…,” she stood on her toes to whisper in his ear, “…Magic.” She returned to her normal height so she could look him in the face. “I know you might be hesitant to think about it but… well… according to her it can double your life. Wouldn’t that be so wonderful, to have all that extra time together? And to stay young and beautiful that much longer? She says you can’t use it until you stop growing at 21 but George, I would love to do it. You know how I hate to think of getting old or ugly.” "It would be nice, the wisdom and knowledge of age, the health and energy of youth. Imagine an extra 20 or 30 years of work in the lab." says George. Looking down he adds "And of course with you. But I do not fear getting old or ugly my love. And you will never ever be old or ugly to me. What I fear is being without you." Ruby gazed into his eyes returning the love she saw there before kissing him. "You will never have to be without me George. There is no reason to fear it." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I mean it." She smiled and took his hand. "We should talk to Nana about it and see when and what we have to do. She said I had to wait but you could do it soon if you wanted. This is so exciting! Yes, imagine all that energy of youth..." She gave him a little eyebrow waggle and giggled at her insinuation. George smiled and gave Ruby a pinch on the bottom before gathering her in his arms again. "Who says I lost it?" he says with a wicked grin of his own before kissing her passionately. Finally breaking he looked down at her. "Yes ask her what I or we need to do. Perhaps that could be her wedding present to us." George suggested. "You haven't lost a thing," Ruby giggled as George pulled her to him. "That is a FABULOUS idea George Eastman! I bet Nana and James would love to do that for us for our wedding." She was quiet then for a moment, they would soon need to go back inside and begin gathering their belongings. "Sometimes I wish we had gotten married already George. I know why we should wait I just sometimes..." she shrugged. "I don't know. Wish I was Mrs. Eastman." She forced a smile, "But it will be good to wait, I know." George smiled "The day you have patience Constance shall be the day the sun shall rise in the west. And you don't lie well either." he said kissing her. Then whispering in her ear "You never know what passions the tropics will inflame." “You love me even for all my shortcomings George Eastman, not that there are many,” she teased. She kept her comment about lying to herself. She had been making an effort to be truthful with George for some time now and she felt it was paying off; still, there was a lot about her he didn’t know. “The tropics… is Florida considered the topics?” She paused momentarily to ponder that, pushing some long red hair off her face. “Well, whether it is or isn’t, I’ll certainly always be looking for ways to inflame your passion,” she said shamelessly flirting. She squeezed his hands in hers and giggled. “I don’t think you’ll complain too much. As I don’t think you’ll complain when I’m Mrs. George Eastman.” She furrowed her brows together in her common “I’m thinking” face. “Ruby Eastman? Mrs. Ruby Eastman? What do you think?” "Mrs. Constance Eastman my love. You can be Ruby West, but you have always been and will always be my Constance, and you need to be proud to be my Constance." George lifts up Ruby's chin and looks into her eyes. "You don't need to be Ruby West anymore Constance. You don't need to run from anything any more. You will be, you are now, Mrs. Constance Eastman. You need to be proud of that, to be yourself, your real self. You can always be that with me Constance, no matter what." he says as he kisses her gently. After their kiss Ruby stared into his eyes for a long moment. "I am proud to be your Constance, I am." She grinned, "I just hate the name. But at the very least I will be your Mrs. Eastman." She laughed a little to herself then grew quiet. "It's almost time to go back inside," she said quietly. She paused, staring at his chest instead of his face. "Thank you, for everything. The only place I will be running from now on is to you." George gathered Ruby into his arms and hugged her tightly for a long time. And it was only as the brakes on the train began to squeal that he broke and gave her one more kiss. "I am glad you no longer need to run away from things future Mrs. Eastman." he said with a smile. "Now come we must get our bags." he said as he open the door for her. “To start our first adventure, together!” Ruby chirped. They had spent some time outside and as the landscape and time went by they realized they were very close to the train depot according to Nana's 30-minute prediction. "We should go back in and get our things ready George, I'm ready to get off this train!" They headed back inside to Nana and Nanuet who while much calmer than Ruby also looked ready to leave the cramped, uncomfortable train behind. "Everyone ready? Fresh air and room to stretch the legs at the least. Nana, will James be here to pick us up?" "Oh yes, you can count on that," she says, the anxiety showing in her tone of voice. [/QUOTE]
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