Jossem wipes his mouth and shakes his head, trying to clear the first bit of effects from the wine. He stands to greet her. "I spoke to Mr. Watson, Madam. He is quite taken with young Collette. She is starring in his newest play. I was able to make your message heard, however. I think he is adequately motivated to pay out any debts he and Collette may have earned."
"When his new play opens, I believe he can begin to pay you back. I'll remind him to visit you for a discussion of what he owes. In the meantime, he needs something done as well. Help him and it helps you. It seems worth effort."
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The priest looks to the Madam and allows himself to enjoy the repast after such an odd turn of days. Did not Chirst himself take a woman of ill repute as his closest confidant? "Being familiar with the nature of his plays, Madam, I can assure you that they have universal appeal and have a record of being highly profitable."
The woman's eyes narrow, slightly, and she peers hard at Jossem.
"I will complete my end of the bargain when you have completed yours. Monsieur Watson pays his coin, I find out what I can for you. As for Collette, that matter is not your concern. She is my employee and will stay that way through the termination of her contract."
She is gone just as quickly as she appeared. Long moments pass before the kitchen begins a slow crescendo to its previous din.
Jossem sighs "It seems our hostess is impatient to have this resolved." He glances at one of the kitchen staff. "Is there a reason Madam Corbeaux values Collette so much? At this point, I would think she might just be willing to be rid of her."
He takes a long drink from the wine glass. "Well, fellows, are you up for a trek to see if we can find those plays for Mr. Watson? I'm hoping we can find out more about us being delivered here too."
The morning comes, and the party emerges into a silent house. The girls, it would seem, have yet to rise, and the servants and chefs still slumber off the nights' labors.
Passing through the front of the house strands of daylight filter through thick curtains. Opening the front door reveals a city shrouded in a thick fog, clinging to the streets and edifices of Port au Lucine.
Passing through the city, few others are up and about yet. The lowing of a fog horn sounds, echoing strangely through the thick miasma.
Reaching the east gate is simple enough, the cobblestones extend out into the distance, out into the countryside, and vanish in to the mist.
Feeling better without having needed any of Angs medicine just yet, Richard decided he would make the concoction last as long as possible "Im feeling a lot better today, lets leave the medicine for tomorrow. No point using it when I dont need it...who knows, I may make it through this without it entirely." Richard looked hopeful, but it was clear his hopes werent high.
Heading out the door, he started whistling softly, trying to get his mind off the subject. His tune trailed off almost immediately however, as he spotted the thick fog. He could feel a bead of sweat on his forhead instantly "Well, that doesnt look promising now does it?"
Jossem peers at the mists. "Well, what's the worst that can happen? We end up back in London? Or China? Or maybe just back with the gypsies." He laughs. "Come on, Dick. Let's see what's out there."
He walks up and through the gate.
Richard blurted out a forced laugh "Hah, the worst Jossem? Maybe being gutted by the Ripper? I guess you could think of worse things if you tried, but I imagine thats a tall order."
As they walked, Richard pulled out his revolver, checking it was fully loaded. He repeated the process several times, but of course every time it remained the same. It wasnt until the third time, when his shaking hands caused the weapon to rattle audibly that he finally managed to leave it in its pocket for the rest of the walk.
Ang shakes his head.
"You take every day. No skip!"
He hands the man his daily dose of the elixir, and watches as he take it, making sure it all go in.
"Seems a bloody waste" Richard complained, uncorking the vial and staring into it for several long moments, before glancing sideways at the china-man. Finally he sighed, apparently having given up on formulating an argument, emptying the vials foul tasting content in one practiced motion "Well at least all this vice has taught you how to handle shots of vile tasting liquids."
Ang nods once as Richard downs the content of the vial.
You may feel better, but you no better. You body needs to purge all poison. This help to get it out, then you start healing!"
Jossem nods in encouragement as Richard takes his medicine. "Dick, you know those Chinamen know their herbs. They have some strange, but powerful remedies. Tiger bones and dragon's teeth and the like."
After the man has drunk the vial, Joss smiles at him and follows the Father into the mists. "He said it was a few miles east of the gates. A train accident. Maybe we can find some wreckage from it."
Not far down the path, the clatter of a carriage and the drumming of hooves surrounds the party, the sounds thrown by the surrounding fog. Not a moment later, the source of the noise bursts from the mist, bearing down on the group.
The driver swerves, cursing loudly, and rushes past, vanishing again into the mists.
Shaken, but otherwise unmolested, the party presses on, and the path suddenly fades from cobblestones to well-trodden earth.
The sun rises higher, and the day's temperature slowly climbs to a near-stifling heat. The mists abate, and the party finds itself on the edge of a thick deciduous forest. The sounds of insects drone in the background, and the breeze stirs up new secrets shared between whispering trees.
The steady sound of axe meeting trunk sounds from somewhere nearby, and a thin path looks to provide a way to reach the origin of the rhythmic chopping.
Jossem pushes forward, his coat unbuttoned and sweat pouring down his back. "Like, we're back in Palestine, eh, Dick?" He stops for a second to wipe his brow, but then continues forward. He looks up, trying to locate the sound of the chopping, but just points towards the small path.
"Let's try this way and see if these boys know anything about where Mr. Watson might have come from."
The apothecary hadnt been kidding when he mentioned side effects. If anything, Richard felt more nausious than he had without it, and with the driving heat he felt like he had the flu. Stopping beside his young friend and leaning on his shoulder, he none the less managed an almost cheerful rebuttal. "Hah, with all thats happened, I wouldnt be surprised if that were the case. Just imagine if we could control that fog business. We could travel the world practically for free!"
Acting on Jossems suggestion, he let go of his shoulder and started towards the path, unlike Jossem leaving his forehead covered in sweat. If Afghanistan had taught him anything, it was how to try to stay cool in the heat. "As good an idea as we are going to get my friend." he said over his shoulder.
Ang doggedly follows the others, looking this way and that in the strange, yet somehow familiar, landscape. He keeps himself ready to act, like a coiled spring, the heat only adding to his nervous behaviour.