Ponderings and Conundrums of the Nearly Insane

Everyone knows I’m always working on 8 or 10 projects at a time.  And -shockingly- I’ve started another.  I was looking at some wicked cool steampunked keyboards (for those of you not in the know I’m quite the fan of steampunk/neovictorian) and at the same time was trying to come up with another cosplay group for the AnimeCon in Feb.  And I kinda got the idea to maybe talk my group into doing a Victorian type theme.  Well while that idea is solid on its own, I can’t leave things alone and kept thinking on it and a story started forming.  So I’ll post what I’ve had time to write, just don’t come complaining to me when it stops mid-paragraph.  I only have so many hours in a day.  If anyone is interested in me continuing (for the sake of genuinely reading and not just me making up costumes) drop me a line.

 Dearest Gabriella,

            Thank you for replying to my last letter so quickly.  I’m so happy to hear that Grandmother Emerald is doing better and I could point you to the right book in time.  Please continue to watch her closely till spring as the cold air could easily cause her to catch cold.  You know I write that but I know you will without me saying it, your as accomplished scientist as I. 

            I have good and bad news to report.  So I shall start with the good.  I managed to dodge another of Ruthvan’s social gatherings and this time without having to blatantly lie.  Do you remember the sample of the white flower I sent?  I was speaking to Logan’s grandmother (she was the village midwife and knows all sorts of remedies!) and upon her suggestion took a closer look at the flower.  Now I haven’t tested it yet, but I think it would make a very good deterrent to infection.  It seems to have similar properties to the Noxia blossom father documented before his disappearance.  I will look into the matter while I am still here and have access to the flower fresh as I don’t know how well it will travel. 

            I don’t know how to say this eloquently so I will just say it.  Michael went in his sleep about a week after your last letter arrived.  I still don’t understand what happened to his or what sort of sickness it was.  It came on so suddenly.  One day we were exploring and he was leading the charge, the next he was babbling, and within a week he was bedridden.  I know I’ve read of an illness like this before, personally I think it has something to do with the caves we were in.  From the maps I’ve seen I have reason to believe they connect to an old mine that Lord Ruthvan the 1^st had closed.  The strange part is there are no local records pertaining to why the mine was closed.  I will have to press Lord Ruthvan II for any clues before I leave.  However, I am confident that if Michael had been in any condition to travel and if I could have got him home he would be perfectly fine.  I tried everything I could come up with and all the local remedies as well.  I will be bringing his body home directly, and I will send you a message by telegraph when I arrive in Paris so that you will know when to expect me. 

            My apologies for the length of the letter and lack of detail, I’m trying to get all of our effects in order before I leave.  Once I arrive I will be happy to entertain all questions you and everyone else.  I wish I was coming home on happier terms dear sister.  Please send my love to Grandma and Grandpa and the rest of our friends.  Until I arrive.

                                                                                                Yours truly,

                                                                                                            Euan

March 18, ~

Will be arriving on 10 A.M. Tunnel Train.  Bringing guest.  Please send carriage.

Euan

 
            Merrill Durwin paused his pacing a moment to check his pocketwatch for the fifth time since he’d arrived at the station.  He stared at the small face a moment before deciding that the mechanical device was functioning properly and it was simply in his head that time had stopped.  To anyone who bothered a gaze the dark headed man it was obvious that he was nervous, or more accurately apprehensive, about the arrival of the train.  It had been only a few months short of two years since he’d seen Lady O’Coliean.  They had exchanged correspondence many times since her departure, and studied together as children.  Logically he shouldn’t be worried she was a redhead after all she shouldn’t be that hard to spot in a crowd, but some part of him wondered if this errand for Gabbi was already a failure. 

            The train came hissing into the station six minutes late.  Or at least it was six minutes late according to Merrill’s watch.  He made a mental note to check it against the huge clock that hung in the main lobby of the train house on his way out. 

“This is London everyone off!” The trainhands started yelling as they dropped the small stairs down to the station.  He could see the occupants of the train walking around collecting their bags and slowly filing to the exits.  The cargo holds of the train started opening and bags were quickly stacked along the edge of the train. 

Merrill stood toward the back of this platform, this was a strategic move on his part.  He would be out of the way of the happy reunions soon to be taking place, and far enough away that he could see the first six passenger cars, but close enough that he could be there to help the Lady with her bags quickly.  Nobility always rode close to the locomotive, so it was a safe bet that he would be able to see her exit the train from his vantage point.  A tall man with broad shoulders ducked from the doorway of the second car staring in awe at the opulent train station.  Obviously this was his first visit to London’s Grand Station.  Someone from inside the train must have told him to go on for he seemed to be plucked from his staring and clunked down the five steps. 

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