The North Jolantean train station was very busy this time of day. And who could blame people for wanting to travel? It was lovely weather this time of May, after all.

In reply to Gm (msg # 1):

Alisette stepped off the train, and looked about her. Rowene had promised to meet her, since Richard was busy and couldn't greet her on upon her return.

The doctor had been told that some of his research material had been sent from his previous post and would be on the next train. He needed to find a porter who would know where to collect them from.

He walked to the end of the platform and found a porter having a smoke out of sight. "Yes sir can I help you " the porter said pretending to be busy.  The Doctor explained his problem and the porter afraid he might be reported quickly went to help. "Just wait here and I will bring the crate to you he said."

Rowene Gray spotted Alisette's dark curls of hair in the crowd, and went up to greet her.

"Yes, that one. The green trunk. And those two. The red valise and the brown suitcase with the straps. Those are both mine as well. Can you find a cart? Do be a dear. Thank you."

She stands with her luggage in the busy station waiting for the porter to return with a hand cart, fingering a silver florin to tip the lad when he has her bags safely stowed in a cab. The noise and the press of travelers all around are slightly disconcerting. She's been away for months and somehow Jolant had taken on a more bucolic, tranquil air in her imagination than this bustling metropolis. She could even be in one of the smaller stations in Paris.

The journey from Gare du Nord across Europe has taken only a few days, but she is glad to be back on terra firma, no longer rattling and swaying from side to side. And soon she will be home. With Mama and Papa. Even her younger brother Gabrielle will be a welcome sight after all these months away.

While he is waiting for the porter to return with his crate another porter dumps a lorge green trunk and two other cases beside him and leaves.

A demure young woman elegantly dressed walks over to what is presumably her luggage.  The Doctor gives a little bow to her. "Gooday Madame, I am Doctor Villet at your service"

"Bonjour, monsieur," Camille responds automatically in French, the habits of the past months well on their way to being engrained.

"My name is Dubois, Camille Dubois. Are you meeting someone from the train?"

She lets her eyes travel over the young man from hat to boots. He seems well enough turned out. Well mannered. And a professional man. She smiled encouragingly.

Edward liked being in the company of well turned young women and Miss Dubois was certainly that.  Let me see if my carriage will impress her he thought.

"I am not waiting for anyone just a crate of research material" He replied

"The cabs seem very busy today but I have my carriage waiting outside. I can offer you a lift if you like."

Camille allowed a smile to touch her lips and she fluttered her eyelashes, just a little, as she tilted her shoulders coquettishly.

"How bold, monsieur!" she spoke softly, just for him. "To invite a young lady into your carriage without an escort. You certainly appear to be a gentleman, but who knows? You might whisk me away to your castle in the mountains and hold me, prisoner, to your whims."

She had clearly been reading far too much of a certain form of low-brow literature that had recently become popular on the black market. And from the flash in her dark eyes, she was already imagining what might happen in that very same fantasy castle, not without some level of relish.

But common sense and common decency prevailed, even over the proclivities of her own inner desires.

"The offer is generous, Doctor Villete," she spoke louder now for others to hear if they'd a mind to eavesdrop on their conversation. "But I am expecting my brother, Gabrielle, to meet me here. He must be delayed in traffic."

Or in some gambling den, she added silently to herself. The letter from her mother that had summoned her back to Jolant merely hinted at the excesses the young man had been indulging in since her departure to Paris for the season.

"But I thank you kindly for the offer."

She extracted her calling card from her reticule and offered it to him.

"Perhaps you would do me the honor of calling on us so that I might introduce you to my parents."

The protocols of polite society would not allow any more communication between them without such a sanction, but the mere fact of her offering her card was a bold invitation to explore further if he was interested.

"Rowene, dear girl! How lovely to see you!" Alisette said, and gave the younger woman a brief embrace and a kiss on the cheek.

I apologise for being so forward I just did not want to see you stranded at the station. The doctor replied to Miss Dubois
He took the card gratefully and gave another little bow.  I shall look forward to calling on you later. I hope your brother arrives soon.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:29, Sun 15 May 2022.

In reply to Countess Alisette Blackthorn (msg # 10):

"Good to see you as well. How was your trip?" Rowene said, wondering. She had never left Jolant, after all. She had been born here and raised here.

In reply to Rowene Gray (msg # 12):

"Oh, it was delightful! Next time you should go with me." Alisette said, looping her arm through Rowene's, and picking up her suitcase with the other.

It would be a long trip back to Blackthorn Hall, so she could tell Rowene more about it on the way.

While people came and went at the train station, the conductor checked his watch, and began to wonder where the time had gone.

At last, it was time for the train to pull out, and it did so, leaving the passengers who had disembarked standing there, soon the only people in the once-bustling station.

Camille has waited and waited for her brother, and there has been no sign of the wastrel. And now the train has left and the station is emptying.

Catching sight of the kind doctor, about to depart in his own carriage, having managed to get his crates loaded, at last, she approaches him, apologetically.

"Doctor Villet, it seems that I am stranded. I may have been a little bit . . . abrupt with you earlier, but now I find I must throw myself on your mercy. If the offer of a ride is still open, I will gladly accept it. And do not worry about my luggage. I shall leave it here at the station and have one of the servants fetch it later."

She smiles, hopefully winningly, and flutters her fan. Embarrassed at having to ask a stranger for help, but also excited. He is handsome, and he might yet seize her and do . . . awful things to her.

OOC: OK, if this is going to be a sandbox, Camille and the vaguely steampunk setting are too much fun to abandon. She is bold and promiscuous, and she has a family in collapse to save -- probably by finding a suitor with plenty of money. Along the way, she is quite willing to dally with others. Just laying out my desires. Hopefully, others will be interested in playing with me.

"I understand my dear" said the doctor bowing to Camille.  "I will ride at the front if you will go inside then there can be no thought of any impropriety"


He opened the carriage door for the young lady to enter.  He took his seat along side the driver thinking to himself that that had been the easiest introduction to a fashionable young woman he had had in a long time.  Things were looking up he thought, but slowly does it, I must not frighten here away


OOC I could see a teasing relationship developing here and maybe somewhere down the line an event forces us together. Is that what you had in mind?