On the Vieux River

[morethanprops]

Moist isn't certain how this went from Joshua to Joshua, Helena and Claudia, but he knows its all of them now.

Bar had provided them all with appropriate clothing and trunks for the voyage and Moist was adjusting his cufflinks as he arranged their rooms in a slight Uberwaldian accent, "Yes, yes, two adjoining staterooms. That will do."

Then he sent a calculated nervous glance to Helena that made the steward smile, this young man clearly had more money than sense and needed a minder. The steward nodded to the rest of the party, they looked to be profitable, he would treat them well.

Comments

[timelessinventor]

"Don't mind if I do, Al." Helena pours herself a glass, and hands one to Joshua, who just nods. "Oh, Claudia. Why must you see diabolical plans everywhere? Perhaps he is just taking a trip."

[damncompass]

Joshua takes a sip of wine and smirks a bit. "I think I'm with Helena on this one, Claud." Even though he knows better, he likes needling his little sister.

[morethanprops]

"I'm not diabolical, that would draw too much attention. There's just a rich and rather silly lady on here who has an interest in Uberwald and wears some beautiful jewels,"

He raises his glass in a toast.

[claudiometer]

"It ever occur to you two that maybe I want to know what the plan is so I can help?"
Well, more like 'decide whether to help or stand back and let everyone else dig their own graves.' She learned that trick from Joshua.
"Duly noted."

[timelessinventor]

Helena raises an eyebrow, for a moment every bit the amused Victorian. "Oh, perhaps I should start making friends in that case." She smirks. "I do so love jewels."

[damncompass]

"Ah, so have you decided if we're going to dig our own graves this time?" Joshua toasts Moist, and finally finds himself in a chair. "You do that, Helena. Might give Al the right opportunity, if you enthusiastically draw the girl in question away from her room." Joshua takes a sip, ever the strategist.

[morethanprops]

"Oh, I expect her to show me the jewels on her own prompting. I'm the sort that she likes to take under her wing and she'll be fascinated to talk to someone who's had to deal with my awful ways. This should be fun. Just remember to keep it simple, complicated plans just get you caught."

[claudiometer]

"I can do simple. Should we get ready for dinner, in that case?"

[timelessinventor]

"Yes, I do believe we should, darling. I will help you, as I don't believe you even know how to wear a dress." Helena winks at everyone else as she shoos Claudia into the connecting room.

[damncompass]

Joshua just rolls his eyes as Claud's protests come through the door before Helena shuts it.

"Well, then." He takes a deep breath. "This promises to be interesting."

[morethanprops]

"That's the general idea,"

Moist smirks and kisses him before unpacking his suits and starting to change into his tuxedo.

[damncompass]

Joshua kisses back, then rummages through the trunk that Bar provided for him, finding a tux and flailing his way into it. Almost on instinct, he puts his Regent pin on the jacket, likely more for personal comfort than anything else. It might be out of character, but he can find some way to explain it.

[morethanprops]

As Joshua flails, Moist helps him with the tuxedo and admires the pin,

"There, you should do just fine."

[damncompass]

"Right. Did we even come up with a story for me? Who the hell even am I?" Joshua sighs, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Another of the idle rich? I'm sure Helena can pull that off easily, and Claud, well, Claud's just Claud."

[timelessinventor]

"Idle rich, darling? I think I can do that." Helena sweeps into the room wearing a green dress. "Joshua's right, we do need cover stories. I doubt they'd take a physicist, a writer and inventor and a... Claudia."

[claudiometer]

"That's me, defying classification since 1987."
Claudia's dress is mostly purple, and it turns out she does indeed know how to wear a dress (though she freely admits the corset stymied her).
"Obviously, I'm his little sister. No matter how hard we tried otherwise that would come up."

[morethanprops]

"I have it all figured out. I'm Alexander Hoffman from Lipwig. Joshua and I met while attending school together. Helena is here to help Claudia get more refinement and we're enjoying some adventure before Joshua goes back to the Alchemists. She is also here to keep the two of us from getting into more trouble. Then I go and do whatever I will with all of my money."

[timelessinventor]

"Probably a good thing to have Joshua be an Alchemist, in case he gets overly excited about something." She teases because she loves. "It is quite the tall order, however, refining Claudia. I almost believe diamonds would be easier to refine." More teasing.

[damncompass]

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Joshua rolls his eyes. "Well, Helena the voice of refinement and reason. I guess I can handle that." He smirks. "Although, me getting into trouble, that I can certainly see."

[claudiometer]

"The voice of reason? She's has bad as either of you. Or me."
she's not counting herself out of that part of the conversation.

[morethanprops]

"It will be believed, trust me. I know this sort of crowd. Now I think we're ready,"

Moist knows how easily people will create a story that makes sense to them from what they're shown.

[damncompass]

"I think we're believable. I'm just amused, that's all." Joshua straightens himself a bit, smoothing his jacket. "Alright, let's go before I chicken out."

[timelessinventor]

"You'll be fine, darling. Just remember, there's no one here you know, and no Artifacts." She smooths his hair a bit on the side, and kisses his cheek. "Come along, Claudia." Is that a smirk? Definitely.

[claudiometer]

"Shuddup." Like she couldn't figure that part out herself.

And so they go.

[morethanprops]

"This way,"

The hallways are beautifully lined with plush carpet and Moist locks the door and changes how he holds himself.