forum A Victorian/Steampunk RP, anyone ?? (( 2/4 ))

Started November 24, 2022 by @Emmrii

tune

He snorted and looked up at her. “Just 80? Pssh, do you even know who I am?”

Charlie sighs.

"Fine. I'll escalate quickly. Half a million."

“Ooh, now we’re talking.” He grinned. “And I won’t be imprisoned here, correct? I’ll be able to walk about freely.”

"No, but when I need you, you will be here. I'm not paying you for nothing." Charlie nods.

“Of course, of course. But obviously, I have other important jobs to tend to as well, so don’t waste my time.”

"Yeah, yeah. I'll pay you more if I'm your first priority." she sighs.

“The cost keeps going up and up.” He snorted. “Okay, then. How much of a raise will that give me? And I expect bonuses if I have to kill anybody.”

"Fine. I have a couple targets anyways, so I can do. . . 9 mil. At most. As long as no questions are asked as to how I got the money, or what I'm doing to get the money."

Eden stifled a long yawn, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as she did so. She was sitting in her office, located just to the side of the main entrance to the building she worked at. Her fathers law firm. Her firm. Halliday & Halliday. It annoyed her to no end that people assumed the name meant her brother and her father, and how sweet it was that she supported them. As if her half-brained brother could remember more legal jargon than what was needed to sue a rock. ….maybe a particularly criminal rock.

She spared a glance for her clock, taking a moment to see how late it was and to admire her acquisition. A solid mahogany creature, the grandfather clock sat ticking in the corner, with delightful silvering on the hands and engravings in the wood. It had been shipped in at her request for the office, she felt like it really tied the room together, looking past the piles of scattered books and papers. The room really was beautiful, with late baroque stylings on the furniture and green papered walls. It was late, but she'd been scanning through some of her books and was typing up a report for one of her clients, cross-referencing a law back from when they still used horses of all things to pull carriages, instead of automatons.

The law books had remained charmingly untouched for several decades, leading to several precocious laws to still be in place. Hundreds of them, thousands if you combed finely. And a good lawyer knew all of them. And how to use them. Her clicking on the typewriter was the only sound in the office, all others had gone home hours ago, leaving Eden the last one, the lamps still burning kerosene to dimly light the space. That was fine, she preferred it this way. Less distractions. Besides, she lived, quite literally, upstairs. Her little flat was nothing fancy. She planned on moving into a more luxurious space after the elections, her 'friends' would start making good on their promises then. All she had to do was grease a few gears in the right places and she'd have her house on the west-end in the gated community. Hawk's Ridge had pretty gardens too. Eden could move there now with her funds, of course.. But that would be too suspicious. Let the others think it was a political move.

A few more clicks and the typewriter finished the page. Eden rubbed her eyes, stifling another yawn, but began bringing out a pot of ink and a pen, signing off on the paper with her signature. Her workload had almost tripled with elections coming so soon, people wanting old cases erased or solved. Her own office, a minor position in charge of a sliver of the city finances, wouldn't be up for re-election for another year. So at least that was off her plate. She was just.. Tired. Not bored, never bored. She breathed law, dreamed about cases, could recite human rights in her sleep. It was her everything. She just needed a small break.

She carefully placed the finished report in a labelled folder, slipping it into her desk with its dozens of twins. The blonde woman stood up, smoothing down her dress with her hands. It was late, she should sleep. Eden always felt a need to look presentable, always put together and regal and well dressed. The composure lent her credibility and having bags under her eyes would give her enemies an edge. Bad for business. She had to make a court appearance by the end of the week, a standard case of theft, a very open and shut thing. But the money was good and the defense attorney had agreed to throw his client under the airship so to speak if she gave him a cut.

Glancing at the clock again, she hesitated. It was late, but it wasn't.. that late. She could probably afford a bit more.. She settled back into the chair, her back complaining from its poker straight position. Clicking filled the office again, and the lamps continued to flicker. (Haha, sorry its long and nothing was really said or done, I just wanted to set Eden's scene and you'll find long-winded responses are kind of my thing T^T)

"Fine. I have a couple targets anyways, so I can do. . . 9 mil. At most. As long as no questions are asked as to how I got the money, or what I'm doing to get the money."

“Oh, no. No questions. As long as I’m paid on time.” He stood up and stretched his legs. “Now, I am also going expect meals and clothing, of course.”

Eden stifled a long yawn, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as she did so. She was sitting in her office, located just to the side of the main entrance to the building she worked at. Her fathers law firm. Her firm. Halliday & Halliday. It annoyed her to no end that people assumed the name meant her brother and her father, and how sweet it was that she supported them. As if her half-brained brother could remember more legal jargon than what was needed to sue a rock. ….maybe a particularly criminal rock.

She spared a glance for her clock, taking a moment to see how late it was and to admire her acquisition. A solid mahogany creature, the grandfather clock sat ticking in the corner, with delightful silvering on the hands and engravings in the wood. It had been shipped in at her request for the office, she felt like it really tied the room together, looking past the piles of scattered books and papers. The room really was beautiful, with late baroque stylings on the furniture and green papered walls. It was late, but she'd been scanning through some of her books and was typing up a report for one of her clients, cross-referencing a law back from when they still used horses of all things to pull carriages, instead of automatons.

The law books had remained charmingly untouched for several decades, leading to several precocious laws to still be in place. Hundreds of them, thousands if you combed finely. And a good lawyer knew all of them. And how to use them. Her clicking on the typewriter was the only sound in the office, all others had gone home hours ago, leaving Eden the last one, the lamps still burning kerosene to dimly light the space. That was fine, she preferred it this way. Less distractions. Besides, she lived, quite literally, upstairs. Her little flat was nothing fancy. She planned on moving into a more luxurious space after the elections, her 'friends' would start making good on their promises then. All she had to do was grease a few gears in the right places and she'd have her house on the west-end in the gated community. Hawk's Ridge had pretty gardens too. Eden could move there now with her funds, of course.. But that would be too suspicious. Let the others think it was a political move.

A few more clicks and the typewriter finished the page. Eden rubbed her eyes, stifling another yawn, but began bringing out a pot of ink and a pen, signing off on the paper with her signature. Her workload had almost tripled with elections coming so soon, people wanting old cases erased or solved. Her own office, a minor position in charge of a sliver of the city finances, wouldn't be up for re-election for another year. So at least that was off her plate. She was just.. Tired. Not bored, never bored. She breathed law, dreamed about cases, could recite human rights in her sleep. It was her everything. She just needed a small break.

She carefully placed the finished report in a labelled folder, slipping it into her desk with its dozens of twins. The blonde woman stood up, smoothing down her dress with her hands. It was late, she should sleep. Eden always felt a need to look presentable, always put together and regal and well dressed. The composure lent her credibility and having bags under her eyes would give her enemies an edge. Bad for business. She had to make a court appearance by the end of the week, a standard case of theft, a very open and shut thing. But the money was good and the defense attorney had agreed to throw his client under the airship so to speak if she gave him a cut.

Glancing at the clock again, she hesitated. It was late, but it wasn't.. that late. She could probably afford a bit more.. She settled back into the chair, her back complaining from its poker straight position. Clicking filled the office again, and the lamps continued to flicker. (Haha, sorry its long and nothing was really said or done, I just wanted to set Eden's scene and you'll find long-winded responses are kind of my thing T^T)

(Nah, you’re good!)

A knock resounded through the office, coming from the front door. Probably a police officer doing his nightly routine.

“Curfew check, miss!”

(Nah, you’re good!)

A knock resounded through the office, coming from the front door. Probably a police officer doing his nightly routine.

“Curfew check, miss!”

The clicking stopped abruptly when the noise started. Eden pressed her lips into a thin line, taking out a small hand mirror and checking that her hair was still up in its braids. She stood carefully, turning off any of the lamps inside of the office and heading to the door. She opened it just a crack, peaking through it with large, brown eyes. She stared hard at the person for a moment, a glimmer of annoyance on her stoic face. Expression didn't always come easily to her.

"Oh. I'm sorry. Time just flies by. I'll.. Be sure to close up shop." Eden had a naturally cold voice, and right now it was flat and tired. Curfew be damned. She'd been meaning to get a permit for that, but it just kept slipping her mind. She was mentally kicking herself in the shins now.

"Fine. I have a couple targets anyways, so I can do. . . 9 mil. At most. As long as no questions are asked as to how I got the money, or what I'm doing to get the money."

“Oh, no. No questions. As long as I’m paid on time.” He stood up and stretched his legs. “Now, I am also going expect meals and clothing, of course.”

"Mmmm. . . I'm already spending a quarter of my family's monthly earnings. You can afford clothes and food with what I'm paying you now. Don't get greedy." she huffs.

"Mmmm. . . I'm already spending a quarter of my family's monthly earnings. You can afford clothes and food with what I'm paying you now. Don't get greedy." she huffs.

“Greedy? Pssh, you kidnapped me,” he retorted. “I’m simply trying to get as much out of this ridiculous deal as I can.”

"Oh. I'm sorry. Time just flies by. I'll.. Be sure to close up shop." Eden had a naturally cold voice, and right now it was flat and tired. Curfew be damned. She'd been meaning to get a permit for that, but it just kept slipping her mind. She was mentally kicking herself in the shins now.

“Sorry to bother you, miss, but I actually need to see you at the door,” the man replied. “We have some criminals running loose, and I need to know if you’ve seen either of them.”

“Sorry to bother you, miss, but I actually need to see you at the door,” the man replied. “We have some criminals running loose, and I need to know if you’ve seen either of them.”

Criminals? Eden's eyes widened just a fraction, barely a few centimeters, but she recovered quickly. The gunshot she'd heard hours ago. That was probably what this was about. Nothing she'd done had been illegal and they wouldn't send a simple footpad to come get her. The tension in her shoulders disappeared and Eden opened the door a bit more, eventually stepping fully out of the building.

"Criminals officer? I'm afraid you'll only find sharks here." Eden gave a sharp smile. "But no criminals. I heard a gunshot earlier. Should I be concerned?"

Now fully in the light, Eden was wearing a brown dress with a hobble skirt. The abominable thing was in fashion now, practically binding her ankles together and making stairs near impossible. She had a tight belt and a top with bishop sleeves. Her gloves still sat on her desk, so her hands felt the chill of the air, and her hat was still in the apartment upstairs.
She stared hard at the officer, unsure of whether or not he was of any concern yet.

"Mmmm. . . I'm already spending a quarter of my family's monthly earnings. You can afford clothes and food with what I'm paying you now. Don't get greedy." she huffs.

“Greedy? Pssh, you kidnapped me,” he retorted. “I’m simply trying to get as much out of this ridiculous deal as I can.”

"I saved you, but semantics I suppose. But yes, greedy." she argues.

"I saved you, but semantics I suppose. But yes, greedy." she argues.

“Saved me? Hah! I didn’t need to be saved.” He shook his head and walked up to her, towering over her figure. “You really don’t know anything about me, do you?”

Criminals? Eden's eyes widened just a fraction, barely a few centimeters, but she recovered quickly. The gunshot she'd heard hours ago. That was probably what this was about. Nothing she'd done had been illegal and they wouldn't send a simple footpad to come get her. The tension in her shoulders disappeared and Eden opened the door a bit more, eventually stepping fully out of the building.

"Criminals officer? I'm afraid you'll only find sharks here." Eden gave a sharp smile. "But no criminals. I heard a gunshot earlier. Should I be concerned?"

Now fully in the light, Eden was wearing a brown dress with a hobble skirt. The abominable thing was in fashion now, practically binding her ankles together and making stairs near impossible. She had a tight belt and a top with bishop sleeves. Her gloves still sat on her desk, so her hands felt the chill of the air, and her hat was still in the apartment upstairs.
She stared hard at the officer, unsure of whether or not he was of any concern yet.

“Well, no. No need to be concerned. We suspect they left the area. However, the gunshots were associated with a murder that took place just down the street from here. Two individuals shot an official dead and injured many others.” He began to rummage through his belongings. “Here, I have a pictures somewhere in here.”

This time Eden didn't disguise her eyes opening wide. Her left hand shot to her mouth in surprise. It served two-fold purpose. To express her shock and to hide any future facial expressions she might make. She didn't need to seem suspicious and Eden was well aware she didn't always emote like everyone else did. The officer rummaged through his things, pulling out photographs.

They looked hastily taken and the features of the people were blurry at best. She narrowed her eyes at the pictures trying to find any recognizable features. She shuffled through a few of them, landing on one where she could make out hints of a face. Two figures, one was very short. A child? Adolescent? But looked vaguely female from the shot. The other was male.. She frowned hesitantly. She felt a tinge of familiarity. She hesitated again, then looked up at the officer, shaking her head.

"Sorry, sir. Nothing. Are we to presume the subjects are armed and dangerous then? On the run? Last known location?" She paused, stopping her flow of questioning. This case wasn't hers, she had no authority here.

"On second thought- Sorry to be of no use, can I sleep now?" Like hell she would. A murder of an official in her neighborhood? Time to start calling in some favors..

This time Eden didn't disguise her eyes opening wide. Her left hand shot to her mouth in surprise. It served two-fold purpose. To express her shock and to hide any future facial expressions she might make. She didn't need to seem suspicious and Eden was well aware she didn't always emote like everyone else did. The officer rummaged through his things, pulling out photographs.

They looked hastily taken and the features of the people were blurry at best. She narrowed her eyes at the pictures trying to find any recognizable features. She shuffled through a few of them, landing on one where she could make out hints of a face. Two figures, one was very short. A child? Adolescent? But looked vaguely female from the shot. The other was male.. She frowned hesitantly. She felt a tinge of familiarity. She hesitated again, then looked up at the officer, shaking her head.

"Sorry, sir. Nothing. Are we to presume the subjects are armed and dangerous then? On the run? Last known location?" She paused, stopping her flow of questioning. This case wasn't hers, she had no authority here.

"On second thought- Sorry to be of no use, can I sleep now?" Like hell she would. A murder of an official in her neighborhood? Time to start calling in some favors..

He raised an eyebrow, thrown slightly off by the question. “Well, yes. I suppose. But… just alert us if you see these individuals, alright?” He handed her a business card with his name and number on it. “Call that number if you have any tips, concerns… whatever.”

He raised an eyebrow, thrown slightly off by the question. “Well, yes. I suppose. But… just alert us if you see these individuals, alright?” He handed her a business card with his name and number on it. “Call that number if you have any tips, concerns… whatever.”

Eden took the business card with two fingers, giving it a cursory glance, before it disappeared into a pocket somewhere. She smiled at the man, already starting to get back inside the building. The door was half closed before she remembered to respond.

"Oh. Yes. Of course. Obviously. Without a doubt. Will do." The door was almost shut. "Have a nice night!" Click.

She breathed out slowly, but went around the office, turning off the rest of the lamps and slowly making her way upstairs, pulling the ribbon on her hobble skirt out to allow her more freedom of movement. Her apartment was small, and filled with just as many books as her office. It had a desk as well, not as fancy as the one in the office, but much more practical, with a telephone sitting neatly on top. With a deep sigh, Eden sat down, skimming a list of her contacts, before pulling the phone off the hook, beginning the circular motions to call. She only hoped they were still awake. And that informants knew what was going on this quickly.

She shot a side-eyed glance at her bed. Maybe this could wait until tomorrow..? The phone made a click and she was connected to the person on the other end. Eden sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers. No. It couldn't. It would be a long night, but she would find out who had been responsible.

"I saved you, but semantics I suppose. But yes, greedy." she argues.

“Saved me? Hah! I didn’t need to be saved.” He shook his head and walked up to her, towering over her figure. “You really don’t know anything about me, do you?”

Charlie looks cooly up at McKay.

"Mm. Those men would have taken you easily. You were running from them, not facing them, and you looked a bit terrified of little old me. How scary can you actually be?"