Argent Or Victoria

[Invisible Man]

Burton furrowed his brow for a moment before he remembered. "Ah, yes, Miss Juniper. My apologies. In this business, I see many faces pass through this factory, not all of them as friendly as yours." He turned to Adrianne. "Adrianne, if you would, please go and file my documents. They're in my office." The secretary frowned but complied, standing up and ascending the stairs that led to Burton's office. "Hello Maia. I'm sure you have a wonderful invention for me this time--a weapon, I assume? Her Majesty can't fight this war by herself."

[Dag n the Kitz]

Maia nodded and took a folded piece of paper from her pocket - folded seven times. As she unfolded the paper, she stood up in excitement and laid the prints on the table.

"This is the 'man-cannon.' It's really heavy, but more compact than your everyday artillery. Considering the weight, it's easily fired and reloaded. One man could work this, though I'd recommend two." She pointed her fingers to critical points in the design, and then drew Burton's notice to the specs she'd calculated.

"A well-trained military man might be able to carry a few revolvers or rifles along with him for self-defense. I was able to lift it in my experiments, after a bit of training. That said, I still don't have gigantic arms. It's pretty light for artillery." And with that explanation, she pulled a piece of parchment from her back pocket and unrolled it. "Read over the prints and tell me what you think."

[Drakonais]

Blake shook his head and stood, placing the fake clock with a hidden compartment with the other fake clocks. "I could see where he may have gotten confused." He said with a laugh and a calm tone. "But had he the courtesy to ask properly, and understand his mistake, then he may not have had to yell." The owner of the shop, and Blakes master was Mr. Mutton. He was a tallish human, with a long black beard and always wore his special goggles. "Blake." He called out. "Go outside and care for the front of the shop for a bit. When you are done, I will let you help me with my newest invention." Blake was excited to know what he was working on. "Yes master, I wish you werent so withheld about your inventions until they were finished, I would love to help more often."

Blake went outside and took a broom with him. From the looks no one would think he should be sweeping. However he always did what his master had instructed of him. A few people walked by and he heard one giggle. He wasnt sure why. Then a few more walked by and he could hear the hushed whispering. They assumed he didnt know what they were saying, though he could hear them very well. "Why would a person hire him?" "What could be wrong with me?" He said softly to himself. Then a young girl came up and pulled gently on his vest. "Sir can I pet you?"

He turned and opened his eyes a little bit widely. "What?" He sounded slightly shocked and the girl pointed behind him. He looked and noticed his tail was out, which meant most likely so was his ears. "Oh. I see, I got excited and couldnt keep them hidden." He laughed gently and crouched down in front of the girl. "Well you know little misses, most Catfolk dont like to be pet." He paused a moment and then smiled. "However I will let you, just this once, since you asked so politely." The girl smiled and pet his soft orange tail. She then jumped a little when his tail wrapped around her wrist and she laughed before running off.

He stood and smiled. "Some children can be very good kids." It reminded him of the children he had to deal with in his youth. "I bless her parents for raising her well." He then went back to sweeping, not caring to hide his tail or ears at the moment.

[Invisible Man]

Burton took the paper in his hand, looking it over. "Yes, yes, this looks workable. We'd have to cut a few corners--it would be too expensive otherwise--but we can mass-produce it and sell it to the army. Take off some power. Take off a little weight. Then I'll put it into production. How much do you want for the contract?" asked Burton.

[Dag n the Kitz]

Maia, feeling generous at the first earnestly kind person of her day, laughed. "How's thirty percent sound? No up-front fee. This is for the military, and the survival of London, so I wouldn't feel right making a huge amount off survival."

Smiling, she laid the contract on the table, trying to keep it from covering too much of the blueprints. "And it's easier to make money off something you didn't need to pay too much for, so it's good for you."

Eager to get to some of her other business, Maia begin shifting her hips a bit rapidly. "If you need a demonstration of the prototype, we can arrange for you to come to my farm in Stonebridge."

[Hidarii]

~Raynor Agarest~

The man lay on top of a coach as it hit cobblestone road, rousing him from his daydream as the coach rattled underneath. He opened his eyes and the sun shined down causing him to close them a second later, he sat up, and then not a moment later, was knocked off the top of the coach as the back of his head was hit by an outhanging sign. Him as he was hit losing what had been in his mouth. He lay face first down on the street for a few seconds before pushing himself up, and following his nose back to his cigar.

Then as he placed his cigar back in his mouth he slung his pack back over his shoulder in a mor comfortable position. Him looking up at the sign that had hung in his way he let a grin spread across his face. "The Queen's Pub" the sign read, of course, with the P only held on by a single nail and the 'h' only visible because where it had been was less weatherworn than the rest of the sign, it might as well have been "Te Queen's dub" "Just like Alcohol to beg for me to drink." He chuckled, something only he would understand himself. But during his years a Special green muse from a certain brew had become a friend of sorts. And to him, that was little like her.

He dusted off as the few people who has watched him fall continued on their way. Having stared for a few moments. And then left the man be. He puffed his cigar as he walked into the pub, still dusting off a little bit more. Making his way to the bar he picked up a fresh bottle of his favorite green muse and held out a few coin for the keeper. "Your a coin short for that bottle" The barkeep said, and Raynor just chuckled. pulling another from his pocket before popping the top on the bottle, moving his near burnt through cigar between his fingers. Taking a slow drink he swallowed and then released a content smile. "Thanks friend." "And come out my muse." The second thought only in his mind.

He placed his 'cigar' back in his mouth and walked out of the pub. Never enjoying staying in them for to long, usually it led him to a night in jail. His muse in his hand he began another aimless walk through the days of his life. "So I'm back London, have you changed?"

[Chikane]

Cecilia Lancaster

Lieutenant Mark began his lecture. “Alright,”Mark glanced around at each of his students. “So, doe everyone remember what’s going on in the book so far?” Most of the kids replied saying, “Yes Sir,” but a few pressed out a hesitant, “No, sir” Mark smiled at those who shook their head “get outside and give me 10 laps” He said and smacked the chalk board with the chalk and began teaching. When the students that didn’t read ran out of the door on the double with purpose, this was a military academy after all so the students were expected to be at tip top shape.

When they ran out they could see beyond the gate someone leaving the grounds “is that the sergeant?” One of the running boy asked “Actually she’s a warrant officer” another answered. They were so used to her before she had her promotion, even the Lieutenant Mark the Department head forgets from time to time calling her by her old rank. The boys stopped and watched as she went away on a rail car, services to London. “Instructor Lancaster” one of the boys yelled and ran up to her. Cecilia stopped she wasn’t very authoritative to begin with and now out of her uniform she looked like any other girl of her age.

“Yes?” She replied to the boys that ran up to her “are you going to the capitol? Instructor?” She hesitated to answer at first. She had received orders to be moved to a garrison inside the city, but she was going to see if the paper works were true, they are many Lancaster last names out in England. “Just visiting for the rest of the day” The boys looked at each other curious “well hurry up and come back, without you we’re stuck with Mark” She gave them a stern look, mark wasn’t very likable but still respect should be given to the teachers. “Hurry on back you two” She waved them off and got back into the car. She looked at the orders again a bit confused, the first name wasn’t labeled it was only a letter C. And then her last name Lancaster. She was sure that her majesty didn’t need the services of a teacher like her in her elite guard garrison, it had been 3 years since she’s joined the military and she’s experience combat over on the eastern front before, being in the city was much nice than whatever was happening with the aristocracy over there on the other side of the continent.

She slept during the short car ride, she was exhausted from the earlier morning, but the cloth that she wore now was much more comfortably than her uniform. When the car finally stopped a bit abruptly she exited to what came to be a bunch of buildings and shops, she made it a habit to come to London often but she is still plagued by her ill sense of directions. She looked at the order again walking past the many people of this district, children, shop owners, shops and machines. It was a lot and she felt confused. She stopped in front of a row of shops “where is this … garrison building?” She said to herself looking for the army’s emblem, but not seeing it in all the business of the city.

[Invisible Man]

"That won't be necessary. I trust your inventions. Thirty per cent will be quite alright, and I'm glad that both you and I have the prosperity of our land in our hearts." Burton smiled, took a pen, and signed his name. "Thank you for your business. I will begin production within the end of the month." He nodded to her. "Yes, yes, this will be fine indeed."

[Vesperan]

The scent of the dull, smokey city air clogged in Erik's nose was making him slightly sick. Being back in London reminded him why he hated cities so much. Well, He thought to himself, At least pick pocketing's easier here.He'd been walking on the dusty road all night, and really just wanted a relatively safe place to sleep for a few hours, but he didn't know his way around. He glanced around, looking for someone who wouldn't mind talking to a homeless half-breed. Three beggars on a street corner caught his eye. Walking up to them, he opened his mouth to ask, but was cut off.

"Leave, elf." One of them said gruffly. Now that he was closer, Erik noticed their knives and guns. They weren't beggars; they were thugs. Aeon, who had been curled up in his arms, purring in her sleep, leapt down and hissed.

Erik answered, "Just give me directions to the nearest affordable inn. Then I'll be on my way."

"I said leave, freak. Or do we have to make you?" The smaller man stopped picking his nails with his knife and grinned eagerly.

Erik wasn't really in the mood for a fight. "Whatever. You're not worth my time."

He turned to go, but a snarl from the first man stopped him. "Nah, we need some practice." He lunged at Erik, who dodged nimbly and backing into an alleyway. No reason to make a scene on the crowded streets his first day in London. Erik started to pull a knife out of its sheath, but thought better of it. The biggest of the three pulled out a gun and shot wildly. Erik quickly knocked the gun out of his hand and punched him in the jaw. The man fell, knocked unconscious as the bone pinched his nerve ending. Erik grinned. He loved it when that worked.

"Lucky shot!" the small man with the knife yelled. He advanced, but Erik jabbed him in the stomach, feeling ribs break, then dropped and knocked his legs out from under him. He kicked the man in the skull, silencing his cries of pain.

The third man began to back away slowly. Suddenly, a white blur shot out from behind him. It clawed its way up his back, hissing and screeching. The man yelled in surprise and ran as fast as he could as Aeon dropped off him. She purred happily and leapt onto Erik's shoulders. He sighed, and sat down behind a pile of rubble. Maybe he could take a short nap here...

[Dag n the Kitz]

Sighing in relief, Maia took her contract. Though she wouldn't be able to demonstrate her cannon, she still smiled before she left. "Thank you, Mr. Haringoth. And make sure my cannons give 'em Hell," she said, hugging the kind elder man. She didn't normally hug men who weren't her own age.

While walking down the street, Maia found herself looking through windows and open doors. At the front of a repair shop, she spotted a handsome looking Catman. Catfolk weren't a common sight, but they were about, with at least one in every town. She found herself drawn to the shop. "Hello, mister," she said shyly, "can I ask you a simple question?"

Like most people (including the girl which had left earlier), she was curious about catfolk - namely, how their ears and/or tail felt. "I'm Maia. Juniper," she said, her face flushing a bit, thinking she'd forgotten her manners.