St. John: Hurricane Gabrielle

In the St. John regions of SL, there is a Hurricane event every August. I usually do a fiction post about it, more info on  Gabrielle Riel's Songs of the Nightingale blog.

Thank the Goddess and Powers that Be that I don't drink, not that it would affect me because of my {REDACTED BY ORDER OF MAMMA GKIKA, EUROPA WULFENBACH} nature.

But DAMN did I want to start.

First it was St. John Beach destroyed by EROSION of all things, sure the tides were high and the water warmer than usual and there was that big summer storm that I though might turn into a Hurricane but I thought the beach would survive...but it didn't.  Residents fled to other realms or the rest of St. John...it was gone in almost an instant.

Then there was...The Breakup.  I swear I am going to vet any prospective innamorata for Gabi from now on....Kitty will help, he's been working on a Questionaire for them.  It did not end well, it involved much Demon Alcohol, though strangely no Absinthe or Whisky.  Must remember to actually HAVE Absinthe and some good Single-malt Glenlivet on hand next time.  I may be a teetotaler of the St John and Steamlands Temperance in Moderation League, but if one is going to drink Demon Rum one should drink the Good Stuff.  And I had to have a "Talk" with the fellow, this would be much easier if I had remembered to have the "Talk" with him at the beginning...especially if I'd morphed into {REDACTED BY ORDER OF MAMMA GKIKA, EUROPA WULFENBACH. BAD GURLIE, HYU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ONDERCOVER, REMEMBER} form.  That ALWAYS got attention, especially with the 54 caliber revolver.

Then came the NEWS from the Weather Bureau, which was not good.

Luckily, I did have that newfangled orangeade, which Gabi preferred as her hangover remedy. Selena, Emma and Pru had brought her home, and Kitty was resting with them after he brought me,  they were sleeping while I made up tea, and the orangeade.  I had been planning on bringing the news when Kitty mentioned her incapacitation.

She asked for the VERY BAD NEWS first which meant the Hurricane.

Hurricane Gabrielle!

Now when I told Gabi about it, I smirked since that was one of Gabi's nicknames.  In fact when the Weather Bureau contacted me:

Weather Bureau:  Ah Miss CC of St. John?

Moi:  that's Ms.!  I'm too old to be a Miss!

Weather Bureau: Ah yes, that's right, I'm sorry, I forgot, won't happen again, just don't come into the office again... one of our Meterologists still has nightmares about what you did when one of our people called you "Girl"

Moi: Continue

Weather Bureau: Ah yes, I hate to be the bearer of bad knews but there's a Hurricane heading your way.

Moi: Gabi hasn't mentioned any vibes, that's unusual, she's a better forecaster than YOU are about Hurricanes.

Weather Bureau: Ah yes, we do try and we are improving our technology.

Moi:  My Apologies, you do your best, no offense intended.

Weather Bureau: None Taken, the name of the Hurricane this year is Gabrielle

Moi: WHAAAAT?  No {REDACTED ON ORDER OF DECENCY BUREAU} way! HY KAN'T BELIEFF IT!

Weather Bureau: Yes, it is, we believed you'd have this reaction but we didn't expect you to blow out our Eardrums with profanity.  Your voice is very...strong. And what kind of funny phonetic accent was that last sentence?

Moi: Hy don' hef an accent schmot guy!  I mean, I don't have an accent, what do you mean by that?

Weather Bureau: What ever you say Ms. CC. Be safe and be careful

Moi: Will do, and I really do thank you deeply.  I'll be sending messages out to our friends elsewhere.

I passed the info on to Gabi, surprised she didn't ask the name at first.  When she did, she laughed and obviously her hangover caused her to OW

"Well isn't that just...", she said.

"Indeed." I replied.

 At that moment Amelia came in to take over care duties, so I could send out messages, which Gabi does have to authorize first.  She brought Muffins, of which I grabbed one and stuck it in my bag.  I don't always eat Genuine Europan {REDACTED BY ORDER OF MAMMA GKIKA, EUROPA WULFENBACH.  NO MENTIONINK DE BOG EATINK!}

She made a few changes to the form and handed it back to me.

“Thank you CC,” she said. “For everything. Now let’s get that out to the Steamlands immediately.”

“Yes Your Grace,” I replied, automatically reverting to her original style of address.

I headed back home to send the messages via telegraph, wireless and telephone...while the phone lasted.  I swear the St. John Telephone service needs tech upgrades!  In times like these the Telegraph and wireless have actually been more reliable!

STEAMLANDS UNION TELEGRAM

CALLIDUS WEYDELICH MARIKESH MONDRAGO

DESMOND SHANG CALEDON

FUZZBALL ORTEGA STEELHEAD BAY

KLAUS WULFENBACH EUROPA WULFENBACH

MOSSEVENO TENK NEW BABBAGE

SELENA ANANSI ROSEHAVEN

HURRICANE GABRIELLE APPROACHING ST JOHN LANDFALL DUE FRIDAY AUGUST 18 STORM TO CONTINUE SATURDAY AUGUST 19 AND INTO SUNDAY AUGUST 20 REQUEST ASSISTANCE ADVISE HEAVY CAUTION

GABRIELLE RIEL

As I finished the messages, I had one thought on my mind and headed to the closest warehouse:

Sandbags, MORE SANDBAGS

 That sky did not look good...at all.

 There's one good thing about being a {REDACTED BY ORDER OF MAMMA GKIKA, EUROPA WULFENBACH}, I'm damn strong.  Lifting these sandbags was like picking up flowers, and I could quickly throw them into place with just one hand.

 Didn't even break a sweat.

 Did get sand on the hands and would have to redo my manicure.

 But I was satisfied at a job well done.

 Though maybe I should add another row on top?

 Still enough light to cast a shadow...but the clouds would be coming tonight.

 Sandbagged up the other entrance as well.  My Poor Calla Lilies will be ruined.

 The Wireless set was fully operational and working perfectly at full transmit power.

 The telegraph was also adjusted and working within parameters

Poor Gabi the KittyCat, the Hurricane Gabrielle is going to scare her tremendously.  I'll have to pen her upstairs with her food and litterbox, or up in the attic.


(look over at the tags for outfit details)

No Romance Today, starring the Erratic Allure Robe

Imagine a little story starring a fictionalized Avatar me: 

The Lady had prepared for a special evening with her innamorata and had picked up some luscious lingerie and a robe to wear over it. Now to wait:

 The Allure robe has a closed option, Shoes from KC.

And more waiting.....where was she?

 

 Truth Polilla hair and League Erin Skin

 Really, what was taking her.  I've gone to a lot of expense to look pretty!

 Now I'm a little ticked off and getting a bit steamed, so I opened the robe to cool off a bit.  She had BETTER like this look when she arrived or there would be CONSEQUENCES with All Capital Letters.

 The Allure robe has a hud that lets you have it closed, open, or take if off from the hud.

I tapped my high heeled foot on the floor.  My patience is growing thin. And I'm just one of those people who liked being...obeyed.

She's still not here.  Boy was she going to GET IT!  She'd get the Resting Bitch Face for sure...even though some said I always looked Bitchface-y.  But I'm not really angry all the time.... I'm ARISTOCRATIC. Yeah, that's the ticket. Maybe I should pull out the Riding crop, that would show her.

FINE, BORED NOW!  I'm Going to bed, her loss, because I look FABULOUS!

SLURLS:


League skin

IKON Eyes

Truth Hair

Erratic

KC Couture shoes

A Girl Genius/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Fashion Fan-Fic: Report from Vulgarian Agent #1138

This is a fan-fic-y fashion post involving Jägers from Girl Genius, of which I am rather fond.  I recently picked up one of the hardbound compilations of the historical documents (that's what I call them around KlausWulfenbach Outlander in SL), aka the first Omnibus volume, though I had read some online at the Official Girl Genius website.

From Agent #1138, Steamlands Operations Desk

Hallo Mein Baron Bombi.

Forgive me for responding in English, I've spent so much time amongst the Steamlanders that it is easier to report in that Language, Ja?  As you may know I was assigned to follow various and sundry Steamlanders to gather intelligence for our Great Nation of Vulgaria. 

Well then I was assigned to the Steamlander known as Ms. CC Creeggan.  I spent many Jahre studying her, und I know EVERYTING about her.  The clothes she wears, her obsession with redheads, und her obsession with hats. Ms. CC Creeggan is a fashionista.  She shops, it's what she does.  At first glance it would seem she is just some flighty brainless shopping addict, but first glance would be wrong, Mein Baron.   Apparently she was drafted into the Caledon Militia and was promoted to Sergeant.  So how does some fashionista get promoted to non-commisioned officer?  She likes guns, big ones, especially gatlings.  She is Very good with gatlings.

So we have a fashionista who likes guns.  You might think that this is rather common, after all Fashionistas are noted for hunting down those who disrupt their shopping rituals with swords, katanas, guns, und weapons of mass BEWM.  That is verstehe, Mein Baron.

I learned much about her in St. John and Caledon.

One of the things that struck me as interesting was that she seemed to have an affinity for Baron Klaus Wulfenbach.  That might be expected considering Gabrielle Riel is close to him, but with Ms. Creeggan it was different.  She seemed to be "minding" him, watching over him, and always seemed well armed around him.  Not only that, but she was known for clicking her heels und saluting him.

I also discovered that Ms. Creeggan seemed to be FAR stronger und tougher than any fashionista I had seen before.  It was rumored that she had stopped a runaway cargo truck, a Daimler Vehicle No. 42 powered by an internal combustion engine by holding out her hand against it's front fender.  It was also rumored that she could stop potential ruffians by just looking at them, raising her voice, und gesturing towards a VERY LARGE .54 bore handgun that would appear at her waist. 

I managed to bribe a wandering down-on-his-luck seaman in St. John with some rum und he told me of an incident at a dockside pub:

"Now that Miz CC, she aint normal-like.  Hells Bells, she might not even be human.  Maybe she's a demon or some kind of spellcaster, I don't know.  But I saw her toss Baraboo Jack across the entire pub when he got uppity with her after the barkeep called her in to break up a bar fight. And when he came after her with a knife, she disarmed him and BROKE the knife with one hand, and said, and I quote:  " Hyu hain't a very schmot guy, hyu know "  And then she decked him, with one punch.  Lifted him off the floor and carried him back to his ship like he was a purse.  That aint natural.  And she gets shipments labeled "Genuine Fresh Europan Bogz", "Bogz Puree" and "Chocolate Covered Bogz" from someplace called Europa Wulfenbach."

That seemed VERY suspicious so I decided to take a trip to Winterfell, where Europa has an embassy and where the Europan Jägermonsters have a hut. You know of Jägermonsters, Mein Baron, those altered-human warriors who, for the most part, serve the Baron Wulfenbach. Known for their great strength, affinity for big guns and bug eating.

I have managed to sneak into the der Hut des Jäger and found their roster.  In it there is a listing for an "Infiltration agent, Ms. CC" with the description:

"Hyu know, dat redheaded Jäger gurlie vo likes schoes almost as much as hets?  De vun vith de kolor change hepidermoose, retractable fangs, und morpho-chango ears?  Yah her, she makes a goot infiltration agent. Let's send her to de schteamlunds to find schparks und vatch over de Baron und schtuff.  She vill need zum schpeech trainink to schpeak like de non-Jager pipples, but dat kan done viddout too much trubbel.  She's a schmot gurl. It iz a goot plan vith low probability for loss uf hets for everyone.  Authorization: Mamma Gkika"

This changes everything.  instead of just being some wandering shoe-obsessed fashionista, she's a wandering shoe-obsessed, hat-obsessed, utterly dangerous Jäger! Well I suppose there's not really THAT much difference, Fashionistas are known for being rather scary drama filled creatures of avarice und violence.

That said, I do believe this information will require continuing surveillance, und also a promotion.  After all...she's a Jäger.  

Agent #1138

As Agent #1138 was preparing to leave the Hut with his missive, the double doors opened and he saw the familiar face of Ms. CC the Fashionista, but this time her face was green, she was wearing a nice hat, and she was carrying a portable gatling.

"Vere do hyu tink hyu're gun, schmot guy?", said she,  "Hy tink hyu vill need to be hendink over everyddink hyu are karryink, includink you missiff to Vulgaria und hyu schould tink about defectink und retirink... to Zindra vith hall de pretty gurlies on de beaches, yah?  De Baron Bombi von' take kindly to a failure on you part."

Agent #1138 handed over everything without complaint. What could he do, facing a gatling armed Jäger.

She then said, "Dat's a schmot guy, Hy tink hyu vill enjoy you retirement hennyvay, much more fun ten servink dat jerk Baron Bombi"

The Agent thought, "Oh well, alls fair in espionage, and love.  Perhaps he could find a large bosomed oiled up vixen for his very own in Zindra." As he left, he turned and watched the Jager head into the Hut.

I saw this Nikita Military dress when Charlemagne Allen TP'd me over to Valentina E. one day.  She didn't know I was a fan of "V.E."and I didn't know she was a fan of V.E. either.  Anyway, I saw it first and told her she had to have it because it was so Charlemagne-y.  I eventually caved in and got it too.  There's also an all-black/grey, olive green and navy blue versions.

I'm wearing it with the  Lumae Orsimer Adore skin with the included Leevi ears. 

Makeup used is a red gloss from Roslin Petion's Luxuria brand , with Schadenfreude fangs.   I paired it with Lassitude & Ennui's "Flutter" boots.  I had to size them up to M to wear them over the Maitreya body.  Coincidentally, Luxuria, Lassitude & Ennui and Schadenfreude are all located in the Nouveau region.

The dress isn't quite perfect with the body, sadly we don't have enough fine grained control over the alpha, but it's not too bad.  The hair is Magika Honest with the Paulette hat from Pure Poison.

The portable Gatling is one of my cherished SL posessions, being made by the late Nix Sands for his XNT brand. He was a True Gentleman in my book and I still miss him. It is no longer available.

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reference is Vulgaria and Baron Bombi (Bomburst in the film and book), who are often used as "generic steampunk villains" in fiction-y blog posts and stories in the Steamlands.

SLURLS:

Lumae skin

Maitreya

IKON Eyes

Luxuria

Schadenfreude

Magika hair

Valentina E

Lassitude & Ennui

Pure Poison

The Big Trope! My entry into Harper Ganesvoort's Oscar Contest 2015.

Hi folks I'm "Jean Eberhardt", everyone's favorite non-existent SL reviewer of non-existent SL films.  Today I'm going to be talking about that talk of the grid, the low budget homage to B-Movie Noir and Adventure Films... The Big Trope.

The Story of the Big Trope starts with a Science Exhibition where a somewhat Mad Scientist unveils his newest invention:  The Macguffin Device.  We're not exactly told what it does, but apparently it does something because Millionaire Philantropist Kradox Durxok seems to be very interested in it, and with a name like that...he probably isn't a philanthropist.  This is when we first meet his lovely assistant Radclyffe Beaverton who steals the scene by flirting shamelessly with the Mad Scientist's Beautiful, but Hollywood Homely Daughter. (She wears glasses and librarian clothes and looks delicious.) And then when the Beautiful Daughter's Boyfriend Protagonist protests, tells him to lighten up and points out HER comradette-in-arms and Innamorata, Brinksy Corgi, as played by the inestimable Charlemagne Allen.  I'm glad the screenwriter didn't Hide Your Lesbians.

Cue a gloomy scene at the Lynden Lab building, where the Macguffin is housed, and we see Radclyffe and Brinksy fly up in a hover car that is made of the Rule of Cool.  They then proceed to steal the Macguffin, putting the sole human guard, a woman, to sleep with a drug laced kiss, and then having a waif-fu and gun-kata firefight with Lynden Lab's Mekka-Mole security robots on the way out after intentionally tripping the alarm...just so they could have a little fun. And they did all this in short skirts, stockings and stiletto heels with a sort of Sky Captain meets Stewardess meets Elvgren slash Vargas pinup sort of look.

Outfits from R2, Stockings from Blacklace, Heels from Hucci, Hair from Wasabi Pills.

As you can see, the film was shot in black and white in the classic Academy 1.375:1 ratio as an homage to the old days.

We then see Radclyffe and Brinksy hand over the Macguffin to the Big Bad.  They are then berated for not killing the guard, which causes them both to frown, and then are sent to acquire the Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter...they're told she has the secret to actually activating it. After they leave, The Big Bad tells his snivelling weasely junior lackey Peter Leech that she actually knows nothing and will be a hostage to secure her Mad Scientist father's cooperation in unleashing the Macguffin's full power, and that he believes that Radclyffe and Brinksy will do a High Heel/Face turn the moment they realize this since they believe he's a Well Intentioned Extremist whose goal is to Save the World from Itself, and that Leech is to kill them and take their place as his Dragon when he.... Kradox Durxok, rules the World as it's God-King with the Power of the Macguffin.

They then capture her at the University Library, where she puts up quite a fight before they subdue her.  They're so impressed with her spunk that they fly her to Paris for the sole purpose of getting her a glamourous makeover before they take her to the Big Bad.  They get her cooperation by telling her that they work for Kradox Durxok, whom she only knows as a philanthropist, and that on their honor no harm will come to her.  After the makeover, where they turn her into a Taylor Swift meets Mamie Van Doren Blonde Bombshell, they take her to the Big Bad.

Once they deliver her, the Big Bad desires her for her own and declares that the Beautiful Daughter will be his Queen.  She says "never" and then the Big Bad strikes her with the power of the Macguffin, brainwashing her into obedience and give the command to Leech and the Daughter to kill Radclyffe and Brinksy.  This, of course, crosses Radclyffe's and Brinksy's Moral Event Horizon and they do an immediate High Heel/Face Turn.

It turns out they are also Genre Savvy and immediately flee in a jet powered airship and rendezvous with the Boyfriend Protagonist who is on his own airship coming to rescue the Beautiful Daughter.  They tell him of her brainwashing and provide cover fire to the Boyfriend Protagonist in the air while he rescues the Beautiful Daughter, retrieves the Macguffin, defeats the Big Bad and Saves the World.  Their airship is sadly shot down by Leech's just before The Boyfriend Protagonist shoots down Leech's airship.

At first I thought the screenwriter had fallen into a Bury Your Gays trap, but then we cut to first a Medals for Everyone ceremony for the Boyfriend Protagonist and Mad Scientist, followed by a wedding between the Boyfriend Protagonist and the Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter.  There, as her bridesmaids, are Radclyffe and Brinksy who jointly catch the bouquet at the end.

As it is, CC and Charlemagne were, in an  unprecedented move, nominated for joint award for Best Supporting Actresses in a Non-Existant Virtual Film.  Which makes perfect sense, since they're the best thing in the film. It's why I've been focusing on them and not everything else in this modern-day B-picture. The Boyfriend's actor is dull, the Ingenue they got playing the Beautiful Daughter can't even pronounce Tesla properly, and the Big Bad hams it up more than Jeremy Irons, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldham and BRIAN BLESSED.....combined...in a ham canning facility...which is just too much ham

Late breaking news...we have a paparazzi shot of CC and Charlemagne's Award show outfits for Harper Ganesvoorts Oscar Fashion contest 2015:

Ms. CC's Gown by PurpleMoon, Eclair Hair from Amacci. Ms. Charlemagne's gown by Metatheodora

Taking one for the Colonel

Some of you may remember the Great War between Neualtenburg and Caledon" (the fictional just for fun and charity war). Anyway during The War, some brave Neualtenwhoever Husar tossed a grenade at the unit I was in. The officer in charge was Colonel Hotspur Otoole. Great officer, handsome officer, rather successful with the ladies he was. Getting back to the grenade, I tended to be rather alert to the things, wanting to keep the lads and lasses (and tinies, furries, robots, etc) in my squad as non-dead as they could be. It was headed right towards Hotspur's spurs, (He had just had another prim horse blown up from under him and was serving in our foot unit and hadn't taken them off. I, of course, being a valiant I-work-for-a-living, I'd-better-get-a-Posthumous-Knighthood-for-this, kind of Sergeant, I )threw myself of the device to save the Colonel and anyone else within range of the "boom". But after some time had passed there was no boom. As we discovered, some manufacturer of the device had accidentally replaced the explosive that was supposed to be in it with mince. As in mince pie, mince. The only injury i sustained was a bruised (and punctured hip) The pin was sharper than my favorite hat pin. As such, the Colonel said, I was entitled to complain about it and whine a little.

Adding insult to injury War Department I didn't qualify for a "wounded in battle" award. Some mixup the Colonel said. Supposedly I'll be awarded one, "soon". I believe that I'm more likely to be Queen of the Grid before that happens.

(The Colonel came up with that idea of me falling on a dud grenade during the War. Funnny!)

Also I attended a discussion of "Group narratives" at the Library. It was mostly about the Journey to 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Mysterious Island And was very interesting. Zealot Benmergui has to be one of the most quotable Caledonians ever, (and Caledonians in general are pretty darned quotable)

Some Caledon related fiction: The Unflappable Batmen (and women) of Caledon

The Unflappable Batmen (and women) of Caledon

by

Miss CronoCloud Creeggan (Gunbunny, Sergeant of the RFL Militia, Ret.)

Right then, what's a batman? No, not the one of the four color adventures, this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28army%29

A batman or batwoman is an aide/assistant/lackey to a commissioned officer of often higher social standing, and as a role playing opportunity is quite suited to Caledon. Not only because of the presence of military ranks, but because batmen often follow their former officers into civilian life, serving as trusted aides/major domos.

In RL media, Jarvis of the Marvel Comics Avengers, Alfred Pennyworth of DC's Batman books, and Jonathon Quayle Higgins III of CBS's Magnum PI might be considered batmen.

This reminds me of the time I was serving Leftenant Colonel Bernard McLuhan (Lord Thistlebrook) in the Unpleasantness in the Vast Underworld of the Morlocks. Banky, which was his nickname among the men, women, furries, tinies, and other assorted Caledonian residents under his command, preferred his sporting rifle to the standard issue officers weapon. We were facing a rather large Mess of Morlocks, intent on reaching the surface and ravaging the innocence of Caledon's Lads and Lasses. It was the cavorite mines you know, that led us to encountering the Morlocks. The inventors of Caledon must have their cavorite. Right, Mess of Morlocks. Banky's hunting rifle was effective at range in large caverns but not so useful in most of the Underground.

"Dwat and double dwat", said Banky. Not that he had any speech impediment, he just liked saying "dwat", "I apparently forgot to bring extra ammunition for my rifle. And not a great time to realize that. Any suggestions, Sergeant?"

I, of course, being a competent batman was quite prepared.

"I have a boomstick, strike that, shotgun, available for your use, Sir. It will probably be quite effective in these circumstances.", said I, as I was blasting an approaching Morlock with Madame Malaprop's Finest Blunderbuss. I then tossed Banky the weapon and ammo.

"Jolly Good, Sergeant, we'll show these Morlocks what for!", said he, chambering a round.

"Behind you, Sir.", I warned

Banky then turned and let loose a round in the gaping maw of a Morlock two feet behind him, "Swallow this!".

Ah yes, batmen. Competency and preparedness are our watchwords. We need skills and equipment for any contingency at the ready to serve our commander/employer's bidding.

There was this time, after we had been temporarily returned to Reserve duty, Banky had a scheduled tryst with the young Lady AmberLynn Snowcrash. Her father was away on business on the mainland and had ordered that the young lady refuse the company of suitors until his return. However, the young lovers were not to be thwarted. The Lady's own batwoman had agreed to chaperone the young ones, if Banky could manage to get in the Lady's demesne, which would not be an easy task. Her father would know if we entered through the front door, a Babbage Engine kept track of entries and exits, notwithstanding the lowering and raising of the gates. So, Banky would have to enter through an unguarded entry. Using tools at my disposal I had discovered that an attic window would probably be the best method.

"Attic Window eh, CC?", said Banky. Banky often called me CC while we were in mufti.

"Yes sir, that would probably be the easiest way."

"I don't suppose I could fly up there."

"The region is no-fly, sir."

"Dwat and double dwat, the Lady Amberlynn is the most desirable ingenue in all Caledon. I shall not be deterred."

"Of course not, sir. I happen to have a grappling hook gun that should be useful in this circumstance. You may use that while I hold off the Proto-bunnehs"

"Proto-bunnehs?"

"Yes sir, apparently the Lady's father acquired a pair and has been breeding them and training them to guard the manor."

"You're not going to kill them, are you CC? Remember what happened the last time someones favourite pet rabbit was killed? Besides, 'is Nibs is fond of rabbits"

"Killing the bunneh's won't be necessary sir. In my cute tiny form I should be able to convince them not to bother us. If that fails, I've taken the liberty of loading Madame Malaprop's flare gun with soporific gas projectiles."

"Capital, CC! Lets do it!"

The tryst proved successful, with the Lady's father none the wiser.

I must be off now, Banky has entrusted me to acquiring a gift of jewellery for Lady Amberlyn n while he is testing his new aircraft. I am much more familiar with the best places to find beautiful baubles than he is, so the gift will be of better taste. That reminds me of the time when Banky gave the Lady a gift of blinging shoes of rather hussylike appearance. She liked the shoes, except for the bling and charged us with a quest to find a non-blinging pair of similar appearance, but of better fit and quality. That required a visit to the mainland among the natives there. Which is a tale for another time.