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

[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.

[damncompass]

Joshua straightens a bit, offering Helena an arm, more out of his nervousness than anything else.

He watches more than anything, trying to calm both his internal excitement and worry.

[timelessinventor]

Helena accepts his arm, whispering in his ear. "You're fine, darling. I promise. Just relax. You know how to handle yourself more than you realize."

[claudiometer]

He's probably doing a better job than Claudia, really, but at least she's supposed to be lacking in refinement. So it doesn't matter if she sticks out a little.

[morethanprops]

No one gives them any odd looks as they walk down the hall towards the main dining room.

The steward shows them to their table and Moist orders a bottle of wine as they look around.

[damncompass]

Joshua is secretly glad that they are off to the side, as he can relax just a bit more than if they were more in the middle of things.

They are some of the first people there, beaten to the punch only by a dwarf even further in the corner than their crew.