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]

"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.

[timelessinventor]

Helena sits down between Joshua and Moist, paying very little attention to the dwarf in the corner. "Looks like we're early, darlings. Good sign, I'm thinking."

[claudiometer]

"Definitely attract less attention coming in early." Eventually she might crane her neck around a little to people-watch, but for now it's not worth the trouble.

[morethanprops]

"Yes, and get better service,"

There's a bustle as a woman in the height of fashion and dripping with jewels enters.

[timelessinventor]

Helena is the first to look up and see the woman. "Oh, dear, she is trying too hard."

Leaning forward a minute, Helena just regards the other woman for a moment. "Too much money, and not enough sense. She's putting everything into her looks, and nothing into anything else."

[damncompass]

"I wouldn't know. It's not as if I hang around rich people all that often."

Before Joshua can say anything else, the rest of the people in the woman's party come in: A woman about the same age, a very old woman, and a young man.

Their conversation, about the perils of travelling, carries.

[claudiometer]

"So very perilous," Claudia mutters.
And then another guy walks in, and she frowns. There's something kinda... maybe sorta familiar ish about him. Weird.

[morethanprops]

"It depends where you're coming from,"

The steward mentions them and when the woman looks over, Moist gives her a bow that's perfectly calculated with a foreign hint to it.

[damncompass]

Joshua just smiles, his nervousness somehow coming across as a bit dopy and naieve. Oh, wait. Because he usually is.

He notes a couple more people filing in with little to no interest: A woman in a rather exuberant dress and a man in a suit and hat that have seen better days.

[timelessinventor]

"Oh, for heaven's sake." Helena exclaims quietly, checking herself.

A man had entered, in a very proper suit and rather obvious moustache. "That man looks too much like Charles for my taste."

[claudiometer]

Claudia makes a face. "Well, we can always hope he doesn't act like your brother."
(Because he clearly doesn't look anything like the nice Charles.)

[morethanprops]

He looks over at their table and wiggles his mustache at Helena while the older woman returns Moist's bow,

"We'll just have to see and tomorrow we should get an invitation to speak with her.""

[damncompass]

Joshua is a bit distracted by a man sitting at a table by himself in what looks like a uniform of some sort.

The man nods at Joshua, then turns his attention back to his food, but looks up every so often when he thinks Joshua isn't looking.