AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Silver Moon]

""The only thing you're right about is that any stay in your company will be of an excessively short duration."

Abby notices an odd movement from Callum, him turning his head slightly and a very faint smile crossing over his face before resuming his stoic expression.

He exclaims, "Okay, I believe you Mr. Fouccault, and if you ensure that neither of these two will be our guards than I will have to agree to it. Once we reach our destination I will tell you all that I know about the Egyptian vault. And I thank you for the cognac. After cognac I always enjoy a nice cigar. And this may be the last time I may have an opportunity to do so in the next week or two while we are with you so I will do so now."

Callum slowly and carefully removes the cigar case and selects the cigar with the blue band.

 

[orchid blossom]

Abby notices an odd movement from Callum, him turning his head slightly and a very faint smile crossing over his face before resuming his stoic expression. /snip/

Callum slowly and carefully removes the cigar case and selects the cigar with the blue band.

"Is this what I have to look forward to? A life filled with cigar smoke?" she sighed just a bit dramatically. "Need a match, darling?" she added, picking up a box of matches from the sideboard of the well-appointed carriage. As long as she remains uninterrupted, she lights the cigar.

OOC: Glad you picked up the totally intentional cue. Felt like I couldn't just pretend to suddenly know morse code and squeezing on his arm or something.

 

[Silver Moon]

"Is this what I have to look forward to? A life filled with cigar smoke?" she sighed just a bit dramatically. "Need a match, darling?" she added, picking up a box of matches from the sideboard of the well-appointed carriage. As long as she remains uninterrupted, she lights the cigar.

He takes a few puffs, leaning his head back and them forward again. He removes the cigar from his mouth and blows smoke out. He then says, "It isn't so bad my dear. Have you never tried a cigar? It's just like those little cigarettes of yours, only better. Here, have a puff." He holds it out to her.

 

[orchid blossom]

He takes a few puffs, leaning his head back and them forward again. He removes the cigar from his mouth and blows smoke out. He then says, "It isn't so bad my dear. Have you never tried a cigar? It's just like those little cigarettes of yours, only better. Here, have a puff." He holds it out to her.

Abby shrugged and took the cigar from him. She had never smoked anything in her life, but of course her father and his friends, and her Uncles had smoked pipes and cigars almost constantly. It wasn't as if she'd never been exposed to it before. "Smells like my Father's," she said, quite honestly, before she put the end in her mouth and pulled in some of the smoke.

She kept her expression under control and ruthlessly resisted the urge to cough. "Not quite like a cigarette, dear."

 

[Queenie]

She says, "My, you are bold. But I would guess that I should expect that from a man who plans to marry Ruby.

In am mostly in agreement. I see merit in your plan with the rebel army, but am concerned as to the size of the area you propose for their authority. Very rigid guidelines will need to be established as to jurisdiction. And I also appreciate your not granting an amnesty to the officers, some were clearly in collusion with either the French or former minister Abdullah and their specific actions warrant capital punishment. But you need not worry about that yourself, Barrister Sefu is more than capable of handling that task.

Those British concessions are great, recognition of our sovereignty and agreement that British merchant vessels will pay full fare. That will indeed enable economic stability. But I am bothered about this garrison. I suppose it was too optimistic for me to have them just leave altogether after my father had essentially given them the key to the country, but I also know how the British operate. What is the minimum presence that we can hope to negotiate in order to obtain those other concessions?

"'Fortune favors the bold' your Majesty. But yes, I needed to a bold strategy to win the concessions you wanted. The new Canal Security Force will be limited to the participation of approximately 3,000 men, and will be authorized for Port Said and the Canal zone only. As for the British garrison, that is a point we still have to iron out. I will make it as small as possible. But yes, in practical terms, no presence is a long shot without the force to back it up. If we give them a limited garrison while you solidify the country, you will be in a very good position in 10 years to not renew the contract and assert full control and sovereignty." replies George.

 

[Silver Moon]

"'....If we give them a limited garrison while you solidify the country, you will be in a very good position in 10 years to not renew the contract and assert full control and sovereignty." replies George.

"Very good. I should join you now to speak to the delegates, to emphasize that we have discussed the earlier talks and that you have my full authority to continue. Should we meet with them individually or collectively?"

 

[Silver Moon]

Abby shrugged and took the cigar from him. She had never smoked anything in her life, but of course her father and his friends, and her Uncles had smoked pipes and cigars almost constantly. It wasn't as if she'd never been exposed to it before. "Smells like my Father's," she said, quite honestly, before she put the end in her mouth and pulled in some of the smoke.

And as she does this, there is no smoke, only the trickle of liquid onto her tongue. As she raises her head up the liquid continues to flow into her mouth and down her throat. As she exhales smoke pours from her mouth, despite the fact that none had gone in.

She kept her expression under control and ruthlessly resisted the urge to cough. "Not quite like a cigarette, dear."

He takes back the cigar and says, "Give it a few minutes, it will grow on you." I occurs to Abby that when Callum had magically disguised the elixir vials as cigars (Post #498) that he had not explained to her what the specific potions were, so she has no idea of exactly what to expect to happen.

One thing that does happen is that a small trap door in the carriage roof above where Fouccault is seated opens and a man yells down from above. "There is a carriage chasing us." Fouccault says, "Well, then go faster", Fouccault yells up. "We have sir, it's still gaining," is the reply.

 

[orchid blossom]

He takes back the cigar and says, "Give it a few minutes, it will grow on you." I occurs to Abby that when Callum had magically disguised the elixir vials as cigars (Post #498) that he had not explained to her what the specific potions were, so she has no idea of exactly what to expect to happen.

One thing that does happen is that a small trap door in the carriage roof above where Fouccault is seated opens and a man yells down from above. "There is a carriage chasing us." Fouccault says, "Well, then go faster", Fouccault yells up. "We have sir, it's still gaining," is the reply.

She looked over to Cal. "Well, I don't know what that could be," she then turned to look at Fauccault, "But I did warn you."

 

[Silver Moon]

She looked over to Cal. "Well, I don't know what that could be," she then turned to look at Fauccault, "But I did warn you."

Callum shifts the cigar to his other hand and then holds Abby's hand.

The voice above says, "It's getting closer." Andre goes to move the curtain until Gerome yells "Keep it shut, do you want to give them targets." Fauccault looks squarely at Callum and says, "Mr. Stuart, who are they?"

Callum replies, "How should I know? I've been riding with you this whole time with the curtains drawn. My best guess would be that is is my friend, the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, we were together at the concert. He must have witnessed the abduction and is trying to rescue me, Russian noblemen tend to be very direct. If it is him then I would strongly advise against shooting at them. Vladimir's brother is the Tsar. If your wizarding group kills yet another foreign leader I suspect that the French Ruling Council will throw you all in prison, if they don't execute you outright."

Gerome snaps, "The wizarding group no longer exists, Victor Duruy and the Empress disbanded it earlier today." Callum answers "And do you think that technically will matter to anybody if you kill a high ranking member of the Russian Royal Family?"

 

[orchid blossom]

Callum shifts the cigar to his other hand and then holds Abby's hand.

The voice above says, "It's getting closer." Andre goes to move the curtain until Gerome yells "Keep it shut, do you want to give them targets." Fauccault looks squarely at Callum and says, "Mr. Stuart, who are they?" /snip/

Gerome snaps, "The wizarding group no longer exists, Victor Duruy and the Empress disbanded it earlier today." Callum answers "And do you think that technically will matter to anybody if you kill a high ranking member of the Russian Royal Family?"

Abby made sure she had a tight hold on Callum's hand. She suspected something like a feather fall, a jump, or a levitate, but was prepared even for something like a Fly spell.

"Gerome, once again your courage is astounding. I can smell your desperation from here. And since your group is disbanded you have not even a shadow of a right to pursue that artifact.

What kind of sentences are handed out the abduction of foreign nationals in Paris?"