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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1416491" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 45, “The Perfect Englishman”, December 5th, 1881:The group decides that presents for Arcade’s family would be a good idea, and decide to buy a selection of quality items that are uniquely American.    They buy up some good tobacco, some herbal liniment, and several bottles of Kentucky whiskey.    Louie heads over to Chinatown for a good meal and also comes back with an assortment of Chinese trinkets to use as gifts.The group also decides to go purchase several changes of clothing for the voyage, with Louie finally being able to wear something other than his Coolie outfit and armor.   Qualtaqa is still having trouble adjusting to wearing shoes.  Arcade comments, “Well, I at least hope we’ve gotten him out of the habit of nailing the shoes to his feet.”   Morgana insists that Arcade go to a fine clothier to get himself a tailored suit of the current fashion.   She tells him, “That looks much better.  It will help for when we meet your family.”  He replies, “Unless I have my clothes treated with arsenic and strychnine I don’t think it will make my visit any easier.”   Hank asks about how long the ship voyage will be and is told it will be two weeks, give or take a couple of days depending on weather.  Louie is uncertain about the types of food that will be served onboard the ship, and decides that he will need a lot of rice for the voyage.   Just to be on the safe side Morgana insists on sending the rest of the gang with him to buy it.   A light snow has fallen in the city and it is a cold blustery day.   Hank says that, “I hope there’s warmer weather where we’re going.”   Arcade comments, “Are you saying that you’re actually expecting to find better weather in England?”   Hank replies, “Why?  What’s wrong with the weather there?”  Arcade answers, “Haven’t you ever wondered why so many world explorers are from England?  They’re all trying to get away from it because of the weather.”Arcade and Morgana find a nice restaurant to have dinner at.   He again expresses his concerns about going home and she reiterates that all they have to do is make sure his brother is competent enough to run the family.  She comments, “You’ve been away for a while.  He might have gotten better since you’ve left.”   “Doubtful,” he responds.   She says, “We’ll find a way to make him competent.”  “Well, that would probably require magic.  How many mages are we bringing?”  As they are leaving the restaurant he says, “Why don’t you guys go on ahead, and I’ll catch up on a later voyage.”  “How much later?” she asks.  “Just a couple of decades,” he replies.   She retorts, “Look, you were the one who agreed to this trip.  You could have told the man ‘No’”.  Arcade answers, “He had a gun.”  “So did you,” she replies, “Besides, what is the worst thing they will do?”  He answers, “Make me stay.”  She replies, “They can’t make you do anything you don’t want to.  When you want to leave we’ll leave.”  “More easily said than done,” he states.They wander back into the hotel, where Hank and Qualtaqa are at the bar.   They approach them, and Morgana says, “Arcade is having second thoughts about this trip.”   Hank says, “What are you afraid of.  You’re now a celebrity, everyone will shower you with praises.”   Morgana states “Why?  Just for killing a bunch of outlaws?”   Arcade answers, “Yeah, I’m the perfect Englishman of this era.  I went to a foreign country and killed the natives.”  Hank invites Arcade to join them in tavern hopping, gesturing to Qualtaqa and stating “Want to go get a belt with me and New-Legs.”  Morgana thinks that is actually a good idea, whispering to Hank “Get him drunk enough to pass out.  If he’s unconscious tomorrow we’ll have an easier time getting him onto the ship.”  They grab a table at an local tavern.   Qualtaqa is unaccustomed to the change in his metabolism due to now being one-quarter of his previous body weight.  He therefore drinks more than he should based upon his past experience, and falls into a stupor.   Hank asks Arcade, “So, what is it that you are all worried about?  You afraid your family will yell at you for being away for so long?”  Arcade replies, “They’re English.  They don’t yell.  They give you the silent treatment instead.”   Hank replies, “Huh?  What’s the silent treatment?  I’m from Texas, I'm afraid that we don't know much about being silent.”   Arcade replies, “Well, it’s like what Sam does, except they’re also angry with you.”   Hank says, “Well, that’s real different than Sam then.  When he gets angry he shoots the person dead.”  “Think we can get him angry with my family?” Arcade asks.  Hank says, “We can’t go around killing everyone we meet.”  Arcade responds, “Why not?  We have up until now.”</blockquote>

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