Realistic or Modern The Golden City: A Tale of Two Flames - IC [Open]

[Jabroni]

Rosewater Pharmacy
- Downtown San Francisco, California -

Interactions: Pagemaster Misty Gray ReverseTex

James Hawthorne

James followed John inside and posted himself near a corner of the room facing the entrance. He wore simple suspenders over a white collared shirt, no jacket. The bags under his eyes spoke to the back-breaking fatigue they recently endured. James literally had his hands full shoveling dirt and unblocking collapsed tunnels. His older brother ran circles around him, barking orders and setting everything back on course. Having only just begun, he felt as if years had passed. Manual labor wasn't so much the challenge as was the sheer closeness of it all. You couldn't extend an elbow without banging into something.

"Father. Miss Baker," he greeted them, opening a steel case and offering up a cigarette before striking one up himself. He wasn't very familiar with Walter's assistant, having only just met at the wedding. She dressed..."different". Maybe it was one of those European trends racing across the Atlantic. According to the papers, America was entering a new age after all.

He flicked a smile at John's comment. "Like he said, getting our hands dirty." Truthfully, it reminded James of the trenches back in France. In stark contrast, he wondered how Daniel fared out in the big city with his pharmacy. It looked like a clean enough joint. Far away from the abuse his brothers put up with elsewhere, that's for sure. What's more, there was the prospect that they didn't all just come here to "talk". What's this all about?​

 

[ReverseTex]

Rosewater Pharmacy
-Downtown San Francisco, California-
Mentions: Misty Gray , Pagemaster Jabroni

Daniel Hawthorne
​

Daniel’s morning simply left him in the dust following his first patient. After dealing with an older gentleman with a particular nasty case of influenza, he was playing catch-up with the rest. He had to dampen his charm a bit to make wise use of his time. Booking the family meeting was a risk on a work day; he knew that. But if everyone was cooperative, this idea couldn’t wait. The only part of his plan that fell into place was the location of his last patient being a five-minute drive to Rosewater Pharmacy. By the time he came screeching to stop out front, he noticed his brother’s and father’s cars out front. Shit! In a bit of a panic, he rushed himself out of the car and into the empty pharmacy…

Rosewater Pharmacy had the bones of a proper pharmacy. A L-shaped counter sprawled the back wall, where empty soda taps waited to be filled and medicine shelves to be stocked. Metallic barstools were planted into the ground, symmetrically around the counter, with cherry red leather seats adorning each. Miscellaneous empty stock shelves littered the rest of the floor space, none taller than chest-high. A door could be seen behind the counter, leading to the store room and spare office in the back.

The small doorbell chimed aggressively, Daniel blundering through the door a bit more rushed than he intended. He hadn’t had time to change his coat or work clothes, so he stood in his white coat awkwardly. His entire family, plus Grace, sent equally annoyed glances his way. “I’m sorry!” He puffed, holding his hands up as if he were at gunpoint. “Listen, if I expected to deal with a serious case today, I would’ve set this up differently. But look, we’re all here now, so let’s get on with it.” He scanned the room, trying to figure out the best way to start this. His father and John were one of the same, a bit gruff and hard-headed. His baby brother, James, was a bit more sympathetic towards him. Grace was an even mixture of both.

“Ok, I know I didn’t necessarily explain why I bought this place.” Daniel sent a glance at Grace, who he knew had suspicions as to his real-estate investment. “I want us to get in the liquor business.” He proposed bluntly. Before anyone could argue, he raised a finger. “Hear me out first, then you can rip me apart.” Walking past the group, he made his way across the store to the counter. In a swift move, surprisingly, he slid over the bartop behind the register. “On top of acquiring this fine establishment, I’m also in the process of acquiring my pharmacist license. Since I'm already board-certified, it’s not a hassle for our lawyers to deal with… I digress; you don’t care. Basically, what that means is that I’ll have a legal license to sell and distribute medicine here.”

“Medicine has all different forms these days. Sometimes it comes in pills, sometimes a syrup, and sometimes a liquid… Alcohol surprisingly falls under the umbrella category of legal medicinal stock I can buy.” He let the facts sink in for a moment before continuing. “The profit is just to good to ignore right now! Dad, you saw an opportunity with the mines, and you took it. This is the same thing—liquid gold, if you ask me! You saw at the wedding how much people were drinking and how not a soul cared they were breaking the law? No one gives a shit what Uncle Sam says when a bottle of bourbon is in front of them. It’s simple: we start small, run distributions out of the pharmacy, and slowly invest in the area.”

“I recognize that I keep saying we.” Daniel paused, scanning the room to make sure he hadn’t lost anyone yet. “Like the mines, this is a family business. I want everyone to have a shot at the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I don’t want to horde it all like some people in this city.” The dig wasn’t targeted at their father but rather at his father-in-law. Arthur Flemming had an ostentatious amount of money, yet he never flaunted it. Moreover, he was in the liquor business as well. Sure, he could use his resources if he wanted to. But he knew Arthur would never help him in his affair. His father-in-law’s opinion didn’t matter. If Lily saw no issue, then he didn’t either. “John, I’m going to need someone as tough as you. Legally, we should be protected well-enough. But once word gets out that this back room has booze, the risk of robbery and other issues arises. If you want to get out of the mines, this is your chance to try and rejoin society again.” He raised a brow, knowing his brother tended to retreat from the real world rather than face more complicated problems. “James, you’re still getting your bearings. That’s quite alright. If you want to work with John, you can. But I need someone I can trust behind this counter, making sure nothing funny happens on a daily basis. You’ve got a sharper mind than you let on; don’t waste it.” He encouraged. “Dad, you can do what you want. I have the funds on my own to get this done, but I wanted you to hear all this from my own mouth rather than after the fact.” Done with his pitch, he puffed out a sigh of relief.

 

[Misty Gray]

Around Downtown SF
-Downtown San Francisco, California-

Oliver Walton​

Since the wedding, Oliver had been busy working on more contracts and projects across the city. Granted, he tended to put ample effort into making sure his days were an equal mix of work and play. If he wasn't having fun and socialising, then what was the point in it all? Despite this, he hadn't yet had chance to reconnect with James who had finally returned to San Francisco since they'd served together during the war. Having seen him at the wedding, Oliver had made a mental note to check in with him, but their schedules had so far appeared to clash.

Oliver did have visiting one of the Hawthorne brothers on his list today, but this time it was the eldest. There was still some paperwork the newlyweds needed to sign and he'd sourced contacts for an improved apartment for Lily for whenever she needed to be in Los Angeles. He'd given Daniel and Lily a few days to settle in after the honeymoon before checking in with them. As he drove from his office at work back home, he decided to see if they were home as he was passing through the neighbourhood.

After standing on the front doorstep for long enough, Oliver determined nobody was home. Deciding to call ahead in the morning, he made his way back to the car. Before he got to his vehicle, he stopped and saw a familiar woman approaching the house. "They're not home," he called out to Emma, flashing her a friendly smile as he approached her. She'd looked stunning at the wedding and evidently that carried through into day-to-day life too.

"How have you been doing, Emma? Just about recovered from the wedding party last month?" he lightly asked.

neverbackdown (Emma)
Mentioned: Jabroni (James)

 

[Evie Maiden Of Apples]

Elias "Eli" Redding - SFC Cartoonist Extraordinaire
The San Francisco Chronicle - Home Sweet Home!
Interactions: Lawrence ( ReverseTex ) and Soo Hyun Woo ( FelixTheCat )
Mentions: N/A

Another day, another dollar; so the saying goes - though Eli himself genuinely loved his job here at the Chronicle, it wasn't just about the money. And that cartoon he made of the "Royal Hawthorne Wedding" was one of his favorites, depicting the happy couple as the King and Queen of California while the monarchy of England stood by furious and jealous of the whole affair. And he had to admit, the wedding itself was fun, though he didn't really speak to anyone and kept to himself, just observing and detailing how those people would look drawn in his next cartoon column.

Even in the meeting with Soo and Lawrence, Eli's mind was elsewhere, doodling on the page of his notepad some nonsensical things until he heard the meeting being adjourned. He perked up and went to gather his things when he froze and looked wide eyed to the publisher himself, who told him to stay. He let out a breathy nervous chuckle and sat down, "Forgive me, Mr. Lawrence, you gave me an awful fright. Thought I'd done something wrong to get into trouble." He zipped his lip and paid extra attention to the boss, and it seemed Soo stayed as well. Boy, did Eli feel mighty important around these big boys!

Hearing praise over the cartoon Eli carefully crafted from the head honcho of the Chronicle himself earned a happy grin from the brunette, and he bowed his head to Lawrence, "Thank you, sir! I aim to please." When Lawrence mentioned the file and about learning more of some family History, Eli's eyes widened in surprise. He glanced to Soo for a moment, bewildered, then back to Lawrence as he nodded. "Sure thing, Mr. Lawrence. Though I must confess, I'm surprised to be present for such an important discussion, I'm only the cartoonist, after all."​

 

[ReverseTex]

Around Downtown SF
-Downtown San Francisco, California-
Mentions: Kovacs

Amelia Flemming​

Amelia strolled along the lip of the concrete dock, carefully placing one foot over the other. It was early morning at this point, and the rest of San Francisco was unaware of the hardworking men they were losing today. The dawn light twinkled on the bay, a welcome sight for all to see. The last few weeks she’d spent organizing the logistics behind today’s strike with union members and fellow IWW members. While the legal side of the strike wasn’t her forte, she knew before most of the workers that negotiations were likely to fail. The wage increases and representation on the boards of directors were a large ask, especially in this city. But that wasn’t her job: she was tasked with organizing and inspiring these men.

By the time she reached the portion of the dock that met the shipyard, she spotted Barney, a fellow IWW colleague. The man was a bit older than her, typically sporting a worn newsie cap along with a five o’clock shadow. Perfect fit with this longshoremen bunch. He waved a handful of pamphlets in the air to flag her attention. She gave him a thumbs up and began to slide through the crowd to meet him. “Amelia! We’re going to have to move! The crowd is getting to large to keep just on the dock!” Barney shouted over the chatter. She nodded, glancing around at the lumbering men. “That’s smart! Let’s get these boys downtown.” She said it wryly, wanting nothing more than to cause a bit of trouble. Barney raised an eyebrow, unsure of her idea for a moment, before nodding. If they wanted any chance to incentivize the dock owners and the city, then they needed more people to see this. That meant invading downtown, full of white-collar workers who wouldn’t normally see these men. “Get me up, will ya?” Amelia asked, pointing to her shoulders with her thumb to indicate to Barney to let her hop on his back. He chuckled, dipping down to let her up. Thankfully, she was wearing pants and a work shirt, completely unladylike.

“Gentlemen!” Amelia shouted at the top of her lungs as the large crowd of longshoremen slowly stopped their chattering to listen. “We’re going to march downtown! People need to see you! They need to see the faces of the men who are responsible for getting their goods off the ships that live in our waters! They need to hear your voices! They need to see what you’re fighting for!” A few members of the mob shook their picket signs, others raised fists in agreement. Either way, the die was cast…

The rest of the morning was spent hiking into the city. By time the mob reached the city, it was clear they’d be disrupting some businesses. Amelia lost Barney in the fray of longshoremen and didn’t bother trying to find him again. Her job was to bob and weave through the crowd to keep morale high and ensure none of these men got arrested. Despite the disruptions, she wanted this to end peacefully. As she drowned out the crowd, she momentarily remembered that she was missing a family outing. Shit! Hopefully her farther wouldn’t pry, but any good look in the paper tomorrow morning would explain her absence. “Amelia!” Barney called distantly, unsure directly where it came from. After a few more calls, she managed to ecolocate him. His face looked much more concerned this time around. “There’s a lawyer who wants to speak with you; he’s up by the courthouse steps!” Barney pointed behind him towards the building. She tried to scan the casual crowd of passersby before Barney continued. “Over there, smart-looking fella!” He honed his point to a younger man. “Him. He asked to speak to the organizer. I hope he doesn’t want a fuss.”

Amelia scoffed, annoyed at the fact she even had to deal with a lawyer. Sure, it was her job to handle this, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed it. “He picked a fight with the wrong woman today,” she smirked, tapping Barney on the shoulder to thank him. Bobbing and weaving through the crowd was a skill she proudly used. It took her little time to reach the steps and slowly trot her way up. “Excuse me, sir?” She cleared her throat and puffed her chest a bit, the mess of her blonde hair all over the place. “I’m the organizer of this rally. I can assure you, we have all the necessary permits to be here.” While that was a blatant lie since she relocated the bunch from their previously agreed location, this suit wouldn’t know. Hopefully. “Is there an issue?” She crossed her arms, raising a challenging brow.

 

[Misty Gray]

Rosewater Pharmacy
- Downtown San Francisco, California -

Walter Hawthorne and Grace Baker​

James and John had arrived at the meeting before their older brother, but Walter kept his thoughts to himself on that matter. John had pointed out that James had been proving useful in assisting him at the mines. Walter was glad to hear that. He wasn't sure if that was what James wanted to do in the long-term, but the last month had been a test more than anything. The fact his son had stuck to the job and had the seal of approval from John gave Walter some reason to believe James was serious about putting in the effort now he was back.

The sound of the doorbell drew Walter's thoughts to Daniel. His eldest soon soon joined them and made an apology for his tardiness. Whilst Grace didn't much care about Daniel being a little late, she did care about the possibility of having to hear Walter grumble about it at some point. She was sure tending to patients was a valid priority, even if others didn't view it that way.

When Daniel revealed he wanted to go into the liquor business, Walter folded his arms and sent him a questioning glare. When his son compared his idea to his own business with the mines, he couldn't help but scoff. Still, he had a point about how much people were willing to overlook the law to get their fix of alcohol. There was money to be made in it and it seemed Daniel had already spent time planning on how the operation would run.

Walter stayed silent as he listened to Daniel suggest the parts John and James could play in the venture. When he was then told it was up to him what he did, Walter understood Daniel wasn't asking for his help or part in the proposed scheme. This was all Walter needed to hold his tongue on the matter - for now. He had thoughts to express on what he'd just been told, but he wanted to hear what John and James thought, without his own influence.

Pagemaster (John), Jabroni (James) ReverseTex (Daniel)

 

[Kovacs]

font call font call font call

MILO J. CULPEPPER

the hawthorne lawyer

LOCATION. JAMES R. BROWNING COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

"Damn you, Culpepper. By God, damn you. They should have hung."

Now that the battle between legal minds was over, the words were a venomous dart, aimed straight for the heart. But Milo Culpepper was not a man so easily rattled. His smile, cold as a marble statue, remained fixed in place.

"By all means, Knowles," replied the young lawyer, his voice as glossed as velvet stretched over steel. "Turn back time. Better yet, go on and corner a jury member now, see if you can catch a last-minute reversal."

Smooth as almond oil, his hands hovered over his wrinkled tie, tightening it with all the swiftness of a whip's lash. "But until then, I suggest you take your righteous indignation elsewhere. Perhaps to a penitentiary. A rather unpleasant one, if I may say."

Knowles advanced as he did this, pockmarked face inches from Milo's. "You're a snake, Culpepper. A slithering, despicable snake. That old woman, she was a harmless soul. Why couldn't you just leave this alone?"

"Now, now, Mr. Knowles," he replied, his voice dripping with sympathy. "Such dramatic flair. This past year has been hard on the both of us. Take care not to strain that heart of yours."

Knowles lunged forward, finger shaking in the air, his voice lowering in pitch. "Your closing argument hinged on a singular despicable trope, exploiting the jurors' sympathies. They no longer saw it for the heinous crime it was. To be boiled down to a children's tragic love story, I don't know where you get the gall-"

Milo leaned away, resisting the urge to wipe off spittle that had landed on his suit. Knowles had always been a moralizing tempest within a fat, rounded teapot. "Mr. Knowles, let us not forget the evidence. The medical reports clearly indicated the victim's declining mental acuity, her propensity for keeping the girl in complete isolation. And who could overlook the undeniable bond between Ms. Carter and Mr. Fellman? You've been in love before, haven't you? It often blinds people to the good sense around them."

Knowles scoffed. "Love. And where was that love, when they purposefully locked her grandmother in a shed to starve in the suffocating heat? To resort to such a convenient narrative to shield your clients... Their actions were premeditated, their cruelty unconscionable. By all rights, they should face the chair, or the noose."

Milo smiled. "An unfortunate lapse of judgement. Fuelled by the desperation to lead a life the old woman refused to give her blessing to. Going so far as to lock the poor girl in her room for weeks, like Rapunzel up in her tower. That is what the jury's eyes were opened to: evidence of prolonged period of emotional and psychological abuse inflicted upon my client. Her and her lover's actions, while undoubtedly tragic, were the culmination of years of oppression."

Knowles gritted his teeth. "Oppression? She was provided a home, food, shelter. What more could my client have given!?"

Milo raised an eyebrow. "Freedom of choice, perhaps? The right to pursue a relationship without fear of reprisal? Instead, she was forced to be a captive in her own home. And frankly, your star witness, the so-called 'concerned neighbor,' was hardly the picture of credibility!"

Knowles scowled. "Do not speak to me of credibility, Culpepper. The jury did not deliberate for nearly long enough. The case should have never been held here, not when you have that judge wrapped around your true employer's finger. This miscarriage of justice will not stand."

"Or perhaps I've merely clarified it," Milo countered. "Think what you will, Knowles. In the end, twenty years for the man, and fifteen for the girl. Even with parole, it is hardly a walk in the park."

A bitter silence fell between them. A vein pulsed in Knowles’ temple. He shoved Milo out of his way and stormed out of the courthouse, slamming the heavy wooden door behind him. The echoing crash seemed to reverberate through Milo's mind, a stark contrast to the quiet satisfaction he felt. Milo turned back to the courthouse lobby, the marble floors cool beneath his feet. After a grueling year, it was time to leave the confines of this beacon of justice, or at least, the closest approximation of it they could manage. Here, he had played his part, a necessary evil perhaps, in a system that often felt broken. As a defense attorney, he was a cynic by trade, so this revelation hardly felt soul-stirring. Adept at finding the cracks in the facade, the flaws in people. It was his job to shape these imperfections into a statue that could withstand the scrutiny of a courtroom, of a society bent on revenge.

Slipping through the door, Milo watched his rival descend the courthouse steps, a flicker of tired amusement in his eyes. The old lion, roaring impotently. The man had a talent for drama, but little for substance. He turned his attention to the skyline. Usually a comforting sight, it now seemed to shimmer with an irritating distortion. A growing crowd was gathering on the steps below, giving Knowles an amusingly hard time getting to his car.

Milo recognized the IWW. He’d dealt with their kind before, their disruptive tactics often overshadowing the legitimacy of their cause. But this was different. A frown tugged at his lips as he considered the implications. Traffic would be a nightmare, his colleagues would be stranded, and the building's security would undoubtedly be stretched thin. It was a recipe for disaster.

And disaster was brewing. The crowd had begun to press further up the courthouse stairs, their collective force trespassing on hallowed ground. Knowles, caught in the surge, was struggling to maintain his footing. A particularly zealous protester jostled him, sending him tumbling to the ground. The little group around him erupted in cheers as Knowles, looking both humiliated and enraged, clambered back to his feet. He glared at the crowd, his face a mask of fury, before storming back towards the top of the courthouse stairs, where Milo was. As the man cursed the communists and crowd to him as if their own spat earlier hadn't happened, Milo's eyes were on a particular figure in the distance. A woman, her blonde hair a wild mane, stood at the forefront, her voice carrying over the crowd's roar like a force of nature. Milo watched her for a moment, a flicker of admiration mixed with professional curiosity gliding over his expression.

A plan began to form. Spotting a nearby security guard, he gestured him over. "There's a bit of a situation here," Milo began, his voice low and urgent. "I need you to find the organizer of this protest. Tell them I’d like to speak with them." The guard nodded, disappearing into the crowd.

A few minutes later, the guard returned. "I found someone who says they'll bring the woman in charge," he reported. "One Amelia Flemming. She's coming."

Milo's eyes widened briefly at the name. Amelia Flemming—a daughter of the Hawthorne Family's arch-nemesis. This was an opportunity, a golden chance to solidify his position with his new employers. The Hawthornes had sought a fresh start when they replaced their old lawyer two years ago, and Milo had seized the moment. Proving his worth by bringing trouble to the Flemmings would cement his place within the family.

A slow, confident smile spread across his face as he prepared for the encounter. Here she was, practically delivering herself to him on a silver platter. He could already imagine the look of approval on the Hawthornes' faces when they heard how he had handled this.

As Amelia drew closer though, a different strain of thinking emerged. Milo realized, with a start, that he was drawn to her in a way that transcended mere calculation. The lady approached, seemingly unperturbed at the prospect of law agents poking at her assembly. Milo offered his hand, a gesture of both respect and challenge. "Call me Milo."

In return, he got a coquettishly raised eyebrow. "Yes, you seem quite comfortable in that role," he began, voice sure and measured, in reference to her position as organizer. "A shame, then, that your apparent leadership skills haven't extended to crowd control. If you can't even manage to clear a path for two honest, working men to leave your little... demonstration, I question your ability to lead anything of substance."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he turned to Knowles, a mock-serious expression on his face. "The courthouse would have been notified of a perfectly legal protest today, wouldn't it, Knowles? Otherwise, this sort of red rabble-rousing isn't exactly conducive to the peace and order of an American city."

INTERACTIONS. ReverseTex

 

[Saix]

Aurelia Flemming
-Flemming Ranch, North of San Fransisco, California-​

Aurelia woke early that morning to Odin pressing his warm wet nose into the palm of her hand, his familiar gentle touch rousing her from her cozy slumber in order to start their day. She had fallen happily back into her regular routine once her sister’s wedding had concluded and they shipped themselves off to Europe while the rest of the family remained in California to go about their everyday lives. Aurelia took a moment to stretch in her bed though never bothered to move her right hand that her loyal German Shepard had pressed his snout into in order to scratch underneath his bottom jaw, the vertebrae of her spine popping in a satisfying symphony as she arched her back and extended her remaining limbs out to help wake the rest of her body. Well toned muscles flexed underneath the blankets as she did so; a sign of her commitment to athleticism, some good old physical labor around the ranch, and a form of rebellion from the cultural norm of what a woman should be.

Once fully awake and ready to leave her bed, she threw back the thinner light grey satin sheets that had served as her summer bed ware and brought her long legs over towards where her dog had stood so that she could slip her feet into slippers that she had left at the side of the bed after climbing in the night before. The ivory nightgown she wore hung loosely against her body and only clung to her body as she moved briskly into her on suite bathroom to clean her face, teeth, and change for her morning run to the stables to care for her horses. Odin had long since moved from the side of her bed to lay across the carpet in front of her massive bed in order to calmly watch her morning movements before they went out to start their day.

——————​

By the time Aurelia returned back to the main house, she could hear her father’s VCP plane start up and take off into clear blue skies which left her plenty of time to rid herself of the smell of sweat and horse after running to and from the stalls to take care of the horses. Having left her running shoes behind for the staff to clean, Aurelia’s sock covered feet carried her briskly through the halls of dark stained hardwood floors and perfectly smooth white walls with exposed wooden crossbeams that decorated the ceilings back to her rooms on the second floor of their Spanish style home leaving Odin to make his way towards the kitchens to have a drink of water and breakfast while she bathed. The theme of the house continued into her personal rooms that included an on suite bathroom, a spacious walk-in closet, and a personal office/library that had an additional access to the hallway. Attached to her bedroom across from her bed was a personal balcony that looked out towards the ocean with double glass paned doors that opened towards her bed. Her father had always given her the option to redesign the space however she liked, but honestly loved the simplicity and elegance of a Spanish home. The wooden floors did not continue into the bathroom and instead gave way to pristine white square tiles that covered the entire floor. The walls were covered in a more decorative tile that were still mostly white but contained steel blue flowers and lining that created a diamond checkered pattern. These tiles only climbed about halfway up the walls before breaking away to white plastered walls and more exposed wooden beaming on the ceiling. The statement piece of that bathroom was the two person sized tub with exposed golden hardware that sat in line with the wooden doorway to the bathroom. This meant that if there was ever another person within her room, they would have a clear sight line to that very same tub so long as that door was open. When entering through the doorway, on the left was her vanity dresser that sat in front of a large glass window and served as the place where she did her hair and makeup. To the right was a sink with matching golden hardware that sat nestled in a beautiful dark wood vanity against the adjoining wall that matched the rest of the wood of the home and a closed door that hid the loo. On the opposing wall towards the right was the entryway to her walk-in closet.

While she certainly would have enjoyed a longer soak in the tub, Aurelia allowed herself half an hour’s worth of bath time before she had to dry up and get dressed for the family boat ride. Her short blond hair was brushed back out of her face and tucked underneath a wide brimmed cream colored sun hat that complemented the light blue day dress with a pleated waistband and matching custom Mary Janes. The dress itself was thin enough to help keep her from overheating and was something she could easily switch out of into her bathing suit should they decide to visit the beach. Elizabeth had stopped by the room earlier to take a bathing suit and an extra set of clothes to bring down to the boat for her along with towels for the family to use should they need it which left Aurelia with nothing else to do other than to meet with her family so she made her way back downstairs. The sound of her two inch heels echoing down the hallways announced her approach to her father and eldest sister who stood in the entryway exchanging pleasantries.

“Lily, Welcome home! How was Europe?!” she exclaimed while extending her arms to hug her sister.

Arthur ( Pagemaster ), Lilian ( Misty Gray ), Lucille ( neverbackdown )

 

[neverbackdown]

Around Downtown SF
-Downtown San Francisco, California-

Emma Carmine
​

The last month had been a blur for Emma, filled with cameras, scripts and a whole lack of sleep and while she was sad to say goodbye to her castmates and leave the character of Mary Ogden behind she was glad to finally get back to her home soil of San Francisco, California.

Emma had left bright and early for Los Angeles the morning after Lillian and Daniel's wedding, having been given the week before the wedding off filming to complete her maid of honor duties, she had stupidly not realized the date of her return until it was too late. Had she previously thought things through maybe she wouldn't have had to endure the horrific 6 hour car journey extremely hungover but the pure excitement at the fact that her best friend was marrying the man of her dreams had wiped all reason and rationality out of Emma's head. She didn't regret any of it, even the fact that she had to pull over in the car multiple times to get sick out the door, she didn't regret a thing, after all your best friend and soul sister only gets married once (at least she hopes so).

Emma had arrived back in San Francisco sometime around the afternoon of the 20th June, she had the intention to go visit Lillian and get all of the details about her honeymoon after she had unpacked her bags but tiredness had overcome her and Emma ultimately ended up sleeping for a record time of 15 hours.

Emma woke in the early morning, normally she would complain about being awake that early tending to be a night owl herself but she felt refreshed for the first time in almost 4 months and for the first time in her life she happily got out of the bed ready to face the day ahead of her.

After a quick breakfast and shower, Emma got changed into something relatively comfortable before leaving her house and driving to Lillian's house. It didn't take long for her to arrive at her destination, with the couple living fairly close to Emma's home, potentially a coincidence, Daniel will never know...

She parked up at the side of the road and made her way towards the door, solely focusing on the door in front of her she didn't even notice Oliver standing at his car until he spoke up. Turning around, Emma locked eyes with Oliver as a smile played on her lips "You'd think after being away that long they'd be hibernating" she joked as she step towards him.

"I've been good, just finished a movie down in LA so happy to be home now though and oh god yeah that took a lot of recovering, might have overdone it with the free bar" shaking her head an amused look played on her expression as she placed her hand briefly on her temple in an almost embarrased tone before she turned the attention back to Oliver "How have you been? were you more behaved at the wedding or was it a long recovery too?"

******
Int;-
Misty Gray - Oliver

 

[neverbackdown]

Flemming Ranch
- - North of San Francisco, California -

Lucille Flemming
​

Lucille was extremely excited for the family day out, so much so, that she had woken at an ungodly hour and couldn't get back to sleep. Accepting defeat and unable to take the tossing and turning anymore, Lucille got out of bed at around 7am and had a shower readying herself for the day ahead. Once showered and dressed, Lucille made her way downstairs and into the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee. As the water boiled, she walked across the table and picked up book, the Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne and quickly opened it to the page that she had gotten to the previous night. Beginning to read as she walked back over to the stove and made her cup of coffee, already invested in the words once again. It was a skill she had aquired to be able to somewhat function whilst being entirely distracted by a book or otherwise. Once the coffee was made, Lucille closed the book and picked up her cup to make her way outside to enjoy the morning sun.

After getting lost in her book, Lucille finally forced herself to close it a few hours later as she decided it was time to join her family at the ranch. As she closed the book in her hand, her eyes landed on the author's name and she raised an eyebrow curiously softly repeating the surname to herself "Hawthorne ... it couldn't be, it must be a coincidence".

The name of the Author was still playing on her mind as she quickly packed her bag for the day. After a little deliberation, she decided on putting the book in the bag, just in case the opportunity to read it arose before she left her house and got into her car to drive to the Ranch.

As usual, Lucille was the last to arrive but honestly her family would expect nothing less. She had terrible time management skills at the best of time it seemed that she only had the ability when she was working but in her social time, well she was rarely on time to anything.

"Morning" she greeted as she approached her father and siblings. She noted that Amelia was missing and frowned for a moment before walking over and giving her father a hug, before hugging both of her sisters. "Oh yes tell us all about it" excitement clear in her voice as she looked at Lillian "I need to go to Europe someday" she mused.

*****
Int;-
Misty Gray - Lillian
Saix - Aurelia
Pagemaster - Arthur

 

[Misty Gray]

Flemming Ranch
- North of San Francisco, California -

Lillian Hawthorne​

Lily was happy to see her father accept the gift and seem to like it. A smile remained on her lips as he welcomed her back and gave her another hug. His glance towards the ocean served to remind her that she would once again be going out to see - thankfully not for days on end this time!

She was quite surprised to hear she wasn't the last of her sisters to arrive at the ranch. Given her lethargy and the slower than usual pace she'd had getting ready to leave her house, she'd been concerned she'd be late.

Aurelia soon joined them and Lily didn't hesitate to hug her in return. "Thank you! Italy and France were so beautiful. The trip was amazing," she beamed. "The journey home, not so much. But I made it back and apparently I'm ready to voluntarily spend time out on the ocean again," she remarked.

With Lucille being the only one left to arrive, Lily sat down on the bench outside the ranch as she awaited her sister's arrive. Given that she was used to Lucille's humorous lack of time management, she knew better than to stay on her feet waiting. With a sun hat on her head to protect her skin and shield her eyes, she relaxed in her seat. "We should all go on vacation some time," she mused aloud to Arthur and Aurelia.

Lucille eventually arrived and Lily got up to greet her with a hug. "I will bore you will all the details of my trip, don't you worry," she assured her. "And I was just saying we should all go on a vacation at some point," she suggested.

Locking eyes with her father, she looked expectantly to him. "Is that everyone? Are we ready to go?" she asked. She wasn't sure how long her energy would last, so she wanted to get on the boat whilst she still felt good.

Pagemaster (Arthur) Saix (Aurelia) neverbackdown (Lucille)

 

[Pagemaster]

Flemming Ranch
- North of San Francisco, California -

Arthur Flemming
Interactions: Saix Misty Gray neverbackdown
​

The family, minus Amelia, were quickly loaded onto the small railway Arthur had built from the house down to the jetty where the family vessels waited. The track, a narrow gauge railway similar to those one might find in a mine, ran at a leisurely six degree grade through artfully manicured gardens, including several "rose tunnels". A path, made of neatly cut stone, ran parallel to the track should someone decide to walk instead of ride. The track dropped a total of hundred vertical feet to the family boathouse, a sprawling 3,000 square feet of storage space, showers and bathrooms, and living quarters for the vessels crews. Built in the fashion of the main house, it's Spanish style walls were painted a brilliant white, bordered on all sides by neat gardens that revealed small fountains and pools one could view comfortably from benches of white marble topped with plush pillows that had to be brought in every night.

The jetty itself stuck out into a small natural harbour that had been part of the reason the house was built here. The little lagoon, known as "Flemmings Landing", was protected from the Pacific swells by a long spit of land covered in palm trees and mangroves along the waterline. It had been suggested Arthur develop the spit but he refused, noting how much of a calming effect it had on the waves that hammered the shoreline during storms.

Two larger vessels rose and fell with the slight waves, their gleaming hulls protected from the tire rimmed dock by large rubber fenders that served to provide some cushion between the two. The MV Flemming lay idle, her powerful Detroit engines silent today, her wood trimmed hull showing the care and attention that has given it by the Flemmng staff. She could reach speeds of fifteen knots and sleep ten passengers, along with seven crew, when fully loaded. She was a favorite for inner-harbour events when visiting San Francisco so the family could arrive by sea; it was one of the few places Arthur tolerated non-family when he was out and about.

The second vessel would take anyone's breath away. The SV Talisman was 75' sailing yacht built by Abeking & Rasmussen. Able to sleep six passengers and three crew, she was one of the most expensive, and finest, vessels on the American West Coast. This was Arthurs baby, now that his girls had grown. Money was no object when it came to Talismans care or upgrade. Even her sails, hand made in Britain, cost more than the average American made in five years. No one set foot on her deck without Arthurs say so.

The small train puffed to a stop at the boathouse and the family made their way down to the jetty, chatting about Lilly's trip and what she hoped to do next. For Arthur it was nice to listen to the girls gossip, laugh, and giggle. Something he missed most was moments like these and a small part of him felt deep sadness that it was forever over. Sure, the girls would be around, but they would be doing their own thing and even Amelia not showing today was an excellent indication of what was to come.

As they climbed aboard they were greeted by Francisco, his teeth almost painfully white against his olive skin, darkened even further by the California sunshine. He helped each of the women into the boat with a grin and wink; he was often carefully flirtatious and toed the line to Arthurs satisfaction. At least Francisco had the intelligence to pretend he wasn't ogling the bathing suit wielding trio from behind his dark sunglasses.

"Welcome aboard, sir," Francisco said as Artur swung himself aboard. "Will Miss Amelia be joining us as well?"

"No," Arthur shook his head. "Cast off."

The Spaniard nodded and waved to the two crewmen who knelt next to the forward and aft lines. They quickly spun the ropes free, slung them over the stanchions and threw their body weight into pushing the Talisman away from the dock, jumping on at the last possible second. The crew moved quickly to run up the sails even as a stewardess, Emma, appeared to offer the Flemmings a drink and snack. She was in stark contrast to the Flemmings with her raven black hair and sing song voice tinged with a trace of her Costa Rican heritage. Spanish was the language of the crew, something to be expected given Francisco's mother tongue, and Arthur enjoyed practicing his own language skills with them.

As the sails slowly filled with wind the Talisman heeled slightly, shuddering briefly as the win bit and she surged forward to the entrance of the bay. It was an ideal day for a sailing trip.

Rosewater Pharmacy
- Downtown San Fransico, California -

John Hawthorne
Interactions: Jabroni ReverseTex Misty Gray
​

John's eyes narrowed into slits as he brother began to speak. He had assumed this would be some strange family meeting, possibly for Daniel to flex his marriage to Lilly on them, but this was so much worse. The more Daniel spoke the more John could feel his anger beginning to build. To be lectured about "rejoining" society by an entitled pretty boy who had never actually had to work a hard day in his life was more than John could take. His huge hands slowly curled into fists and it took a considerable amount of self-control not to smash his brothers teeth in.

He caught Graces eye and saw a pleading look in them - for what he wasn't sure - but it served to caution him and he took a deep breath before he did something that he was likely going to regret. It was one thing to beat the wheels off a drunk in a bar fight, quite something else to smash your brother, the current golden boy of San Francisco, in the face. The hot rage cooled to pure cold fury even as he fought to keep it his lips from peeling back into a snarl. Only when Daniel had stopped talking, and it was clear Walter wasn't going to chime in, did John tear into his elder brother.

"Well, that's really swell of you Danny, giving me the chance to "try" and rejoin society again. What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You've, quite literally, got no idea what you're referring too." He held up one massive fist and extended his pointer finger at Daniels face. "You sit here, with your fancy smock on, with nary a hard days work beneath your feet, and dare to belittle to work I have done to keep this family where it is!?" He wasn't yelling as he advanced on Daniel but his voice was rising to a roar.

"Now that you've got your Flemming Princess you think you can just tell the rest of the family how to do things? You and your damned ivory tower! This is going to be a shock to you, boyo, but I happen to enjoy the work I do and being your hired muscle is certainly never going to happen. You don't own me, you don't own this family, and you sure as hell don't know anything about business. Running your little medical practice and shagging your way around town qualifies you for sweet nothing."

John stopped short as he crowded Daniel toward the countertop. He knew he could kill a man, and he'd likely done it more times than Daniel had saved lives, but he knew that laying a single finger on the elder boy would raise hell from Walter; not that John feared his father, but he did fear being cast out of the family. At least, he thought he did.

"In the immortal words of those who have served their country digging mines, you can go pound sand." He stepped back at last and turned toward his father and youngest brother.

"Father," He nodded his head at the Hawthorne patriarch. "James, I'll be outside if you decide you want to stay, I'll understand. But I won't be going through my life serving as some sort of dogsbody to this spoilt bastard."

He offered Grace a tight smile and walked out the door.

​

 

[Jabroni]

Rosewater Pharmacy
- Downtown San Francisco, California -

Interactions: Pagemaster Misty Gray ReverseTex

James Hawthorne

​

The tension in the room was palpable. James figured this wasn't a topic suitable for a family of high esteem, but he experienced his fare share elsewhere. In the interim months he'd worked at the docks in New York City. Longshoremen brought in truckloads of bottled goods every day from all over the country. He didn't know whether they were moonshiners or what, but whatever went on seemed to be filling someone's pockets. So maybe Daniel was onto something here. He had to admit - the plan was pretty clever from a public view standpoint. Who ever questioned a doctor's legitimacy? James always took for granted that they operated on some higher plane of ethics and rarely mucked around. The thought made him chuckle. Oh Danny, you've been a very busy man.

His train of thought was abruptly cut short as John spoke up. What Daniel said, or the way he said it had lit a fuse under the angry ox. John had him practically prostrated up against the countertop. James ushered towards the two of them, expecting it to come to fisticuffs. He actually wasn't sure he could even break up a fight where his brother was concerned. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and nobody ended up on the floor. The message was clear though - nobody told John what to do, especially Daniel.

After his brother left the store, James' mouth became slack-jawed and the cigarette he was smoking teetered downward. He felt a bunch of eyes on him, as if representing the kingmaker in a dispute. Or more likely, they expected him to be a pawn that played along like a good boy. Problem was, whichever way he sided somebody was going to get their britches in a bunch.

"Dan..." he began. "You know I've always been in your corner since day one...but John's right." Everything this family had was because of what Walter created, and because of what John sacrificed to keep everything going. It was really a poor choice of wording how Daniel talked about the mines. "You just...I don't think you appreciate how much dad and him have given." He turned his focus to both Grace and Walter, trying to suss out whether they were on board with the plan. "Look, I'll try to talk to him. Alright?" He then said his goodbyes and hurriedly made for the exit as he hoped to catch up with John outside.

 

[ReverseTex]

Rosewater Pharmacy
-Downtown San Francisco, California-
Mentions: Misty Gray , Pagemaster Jabroni

Daniel Hawthorne
​

Instinctively, Daniel raised a brow at John’s reaction. He hadn’t meant anything with his initial comment. John was the best person for the job, like it or not. But it was clear that his brother took his words the wrong way. He couldn’t stand his brother’s gruff attitude at times; it reminded him of their father’s. Both men lacked creativity and politeness, and John’s reaction proved his point. As John rushed in, his tone rising along with his temper, he couldn’t hide a pretentious grin. He raised his arms up defensively, palms facing John, as he stopped short. “Do it; I dare you.” He narrowed his eyes with a sneer, matching those of his brother. John was a cold-blooded killer, and that fact was undisputable. But he knew his brother wouldn’t touch him here. Plus, if he laid a hand on him, he’d only be proving his point.

Despite the tension, the room was dead-silent for a moment. He could feel James hovering nearby, but he firmly kept his eyes on John. He wasn’t going to let his baby brother off easy. Alas, John stepped back and relented. He had nothing to say for now, so he didn’t protest when he had a chance to leave. There were plenty of people who would accept the job if his brother opted for the selfish route. With his back leaned against the counter, he stayed still until John turned his back to the group. Once the bell chimed at his departure, he sighed, running an anxious hand through his hair.

“Go ahead, lay it on me, Jamie.” Daniel looked at his brother with a bit of exhaustion. Where his shortcomings as a brother fell with John, they weren’t with James. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the counter again, his gaze at the floor. James was right—little bastard. Even though he hadn’t meant anything by his comment, it was helpful to have his brother translate John’s misinterpretation. “You know I didn’t mean it like that, though,” he sighed. “Dad’s given us a lot. And there’s never a day that goes by when I’m not grateful for the opportunities we have. I just thought this idea could be a bit of the same.” James seemed to understand his side, at least. He nodded to his brother, knowing he’d likely run off after John.

Once his brothers were gone, his father and Grace remained. “Well, that went better than expected.” He chuffed, trying to make light of the awkward silence. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure how John would’ve reacted, even if he had phrased it better. Lily was certainly idealistic in her assessment earlier that morning. “It’s a miracle you have a family business when the three of us can barely stay in the same room for an hour.”

 

[ReverseTex]

James R. Browning Courthouse
-Downtown San Francisco, California-
Mentions: Kovacs

Amelia Flemming​

Amelia accepted the lawyer’s introduction apprehensively, a brow raised as she returned the confident handshake. Seemingly, this man had no issue other than the mere inconvenience of the demonstration. Milo certainly was the white-collar type—devilishly sharp as a tack and easy on the eyes. However, she knew better than to judge a book by it’s cover. It wasn’t how she’d been raised or how she wanted to treat others. However, as soon as the silver-tongued lawyer landed a blow about her lack of leadership, her lip curled in frustra

tion. “Honest, working men? Pff!” She scoffed, raising her brows. “You can’t be serious? You look as though you’ve never seen a day of hard work! Although I’d be one to consider your line of work particularly difficult. I know how hard it is to stand and talk for hours with a glass of water a mere few footsteps away.”

When Milo turned to his counterpart, the next pawn was slid into place. Once again, her icy, narrowed eyes met his. “These men are protected under the same laws men like you swore to protect. If you want to go about your day, last time I checked, just say excuse me; it works wonders.” She retorted. “Or have lawyers lost all sense of civility these days?” She didn’t care what this lawyer was toying with. These longshoremen deserved the right to protest whenever they saw fit, regardless of what this prick thought.

“If you’re going to sit here and complain, then at least make it worthwhile.” She glanced behind her back at the amassed crowd; it certainly had grown a bit since the march from the docks. From the vantage point atop the courthouse, she certainly noticed problem spots amongst the crowd. Small, isolated skirmishes were apparent. In the original plan, outlined by the union, the IWW clearly reminded these men to remain civil. But clearly, that was easier said than done. Amelia knew first-hand the effect mob mentality had; mix it with any slip-up with booze, and there was a powder keg waiting to blow.

If she could keep this lawyer at bay, then perhaps he’d fixate on her. The protest was working as-intended, despite the arrant individuals. But if he had intent to prosecute, she was the only one he had a name for and a face for. The cost of doing business, she supposed.

 

[Misty Gray]

Rosewater Pharmacy
- Downtown San Francisco, California -

Walter Hawthorne and Grace Baker​

Walter remained where he was standing as he anticipated John's response to Daniel's proposal. It was obvious his middle son wasn't impressed with the idea and the way his eldest had phrased it. The old man tightened his jaw with the hostile words John used. He wasn't keen on seeing such severe hostility between his sons. He shook his head as John continued his tirade and crowded Daniel towards the counter. Walter took a step forward, but maintained some faith his sons wouldn't be uncivilised enough to attack each other. Still, he held out his arm in front of Grace to command her to step back from the commotion. Daniel goading his brother didn't help matters, causing Walter to shake his head in disappointment at the pair of them.

Walter's trust in his offspring having common sense was rewarded when John backed off. John acknowledged his father on his way out. "John," Walter replied. His tone flat after what he'd just witnessed. Still, he was content that John had controlled himself and stopped short of making any moves he wouldn't be able to take back.

Grace remained a few steps removed from the centre of the situation, but had closely observed the scene. She knew John had a short fuse, but she also believed he wouldn't go overboard with his own family. As expected, he'd reined it in and maintained control, despite being clearly offended by Daniel's offensive comments. She acknowledged John's tight smile with a reassuring one of her own. As much as she wanted to follow him to at least let him offload away from his family, she knew it wasn't appropriate. Walter and the others would easily read between the lines.

Walter's attention landed on James to see what his youngest son thought of Daniel's proposition. Perhaps he would be on board to find a way to support the business and not get as filthy doing so as he was working in the mines. Surprisingly, James favoured taking John's side on the matter. Even though James was clearly trying to figure out his father's thoughts on the matter, the old man gave nothing away before James said he'd try talk to John. "Sensible idea," Walter agreed.

With just three of them left, Grace moved closer to Daniel and Walter. She scoffed at Daniel's comment. "All things considered, it could have gone much worse..." she joked. Nobody had asked for her opinion, but she thought the business idea was a good one. The way it was put forward to his brothers hadn't been so good. Had she known in advance what Daniel was going to propose to John, she would have objectively told him to abort the mission and scrap that idea.

"It's a miracle I have an ounce of bloody patience remaining," Walter replied to Daniel. "Though, you're usually in your white coat, John's down in the mines, and James up until recently doing whatever the hell he was playing around at. It was peaceful," he drily remarked. "As for your business idea. I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but you're going to get it anyway. I think it's a good idea. Business has to stay relevant and capitalise on the lucrative avenues. Worryingly, you young folk are the future, and you all love alcohol." Walter looked towards the door, wondering if John and James were going to get a grip enough to return to the meeting. "Businesses need different types of people to keep everything ticking. Innovators and opportunists, like yourself, to keep the ideas flowing and the business relevant. But that's useless without people like John. Those who get their hands dirty and drive the workforce; putting the physical graft in."

Walter folded his arms and sighed. "There's plenty of folk who will provide the security you need. And there's others would can be trusted to work behind the counter. You offered your brothers a part of it and they refused, but you should continue with the venture. No point taking it personally. Don't let family hold your business back."

Pagemaster (John), Jabroni (James) ReverseTex (Daniel)

 

[Saix]

Aboard the SV Talisman
-Off the coast of Flemming Ranch, North of San Fransisco, California-

Aurelia Flemming
interactions: Pagemaster neverbackdown Misty Gray​

Aurelia fully understood the crew as they spoke with one another to bring the Talisman out of the bay and into deeper waters, though did not care to focus closely on what it took to actually take a boat out to sea. Their romantic speech was simply enjoyable background noise for her as she gazed along the Flemming shoreline and while she had certainly gleaned enough information to theoretically sail a boat herself, she currently had no intentions of doing so. From her spot against the railings she could still see the countless u-shaped tracks that had littered their private beach for miles, evidence of the large reptilian creatures that emerged from the sea at night to lay their eggs in the sand anywhere from mid shore to within the vegetation line. Since coming home from college Aurelia has been involved with the local secondary education institutions and their research staff, allowing strictly monitored access to the ranch in order to study not only the local fauna that called their property home but also the exotic ones that had been brought from lands far away to inhabit the personal zoo that was nestled deep within the property. This year, studies were focused on the very creatures that had left the tracks she now stared at and their young that emerged a few months later to return to the ocean.

It took much of the launch for her body to mostly adjust to the rhythmic rocking of the boat as it traversed the clear blue open shallows to enter deeper waters. Luckily, she was not someone who often experienced sea sickness though standing was much easier than walking and her first steps would be akin to a toddler’s early stages of mobility until she got her bearings. Aurelia used her left hand to grip the warm toned wood of the top rail while her right sat atop her head to keep her hat in place as the same wind that filled the large sails was also threatened to steal away the accessory while it pulled at the skirts of her dress and engulfed them with the cool salty taste of the Pacific. Turning to her right, Aurelia looked to her family to search for signs of illness in them as standing at the railing often helped better than sitting at the prepared tables and it was better to empty your stomach contents into the ocean then onto the deck.

“How are you all feeling? Do you think we could make our way to the tables to continue our conversation or would you like to keep to the railings?” she spoke at a slightly higher volume than normal so that she could be heard above the sounds of working men and the waves.

Were it up to Aurelia, she would stay at the railing or even move towards the bow of the yacht to see if a family of dolphins had taken a liking to the vessel. Observing and interacting with animals was one of the few outlets where she could express childlike wonder and vulnerability as the rest of her day to day dealings did not allow such luxuries.

 

[neverbackdown]

Aboard the SV Talisman
-Off the coast of Flemming Ranch, North of San Fransisco, California-

Lucille Flemming
​

Lucille followed along behind her family as they boarded the ship giving polite greetings and nods to the crew as she passed them. She listened intently as the deck hands began to shout orders and watched in gleeful silence as the lines were cast off the dock and their passage began to get under way. She scanned the sky line until her eyes landed on the mast and a grin spread across her lips as the sails began to slowly unfurl.

Realizing that her family had moved on, Lucille forced her attention of the sails and quickly followed after her family. As her twin spoke asking how everyone was feeling Lucille turned her attention towards her "I'm good, I love being out at sea" she commented, the excitement clear in her tone as she spoke but she quickly scanned the rest of her families faces to ensure that they were feeling the same. No-one looked particularly unwell which was always a good sign and with the weather conditions as good as they were she knew that it would be a smooth sailing trip today.

Lucille joined her twin at the railings, grinning as the sea breeze ran through her hair and the undeniable smell of the sea found its way to her nose. Stepping onto her tiptoes, Lucille leaned over the railings slightly to get a better look at the ship cruising through the water, finding comfort in the way the ship broke through the waves, the dark mysterious water hitting against the bow as they gracefully sailed through. She could have happily stayed like this all day staring at the waves crashing against the boat below but it was a family day out, granted no Amelia.

Turning around, Lucille placed her back against the railings and turned to be facing her father and older sister "so are we going anywhere in particular or just going out for a sail?" she asked curiously as she realised that she, as usual, didn't really know the plan for the day. She had heard the word sailing and had jumped onto the idea without giving it any more thought.

************
Int;-
Misty Gray - Lillian
Pagemaster - Arthur
Saix - Aurelia

 

[Misty Gray]

Aboard the SV Talisman
- Off the coast of Flemming Ranch, North of San Francisco, California -

Lillian Hawthorne​

Lily smiled brightly as she allowed Francisco to take her hand and help her climb aboard the boat. "Thank you," she sweetly told him once she'd steadied her footing on the deck. She watched as her father boarded. She couldn't help but pout at the reminder Amelia wouldn't be joining them. Still, even with her mother and one sister absent, there was enough of her family present to satisfy her. She'd missed seeing them over the last few weeks.

She stood aside as she watched the crewmen prepare the boat to set sail. With each movement, she knew her chance to back out was rapidly fading. She delicately adjusted her silk shawl over her shoulders, securely pinning it so it didn't blow away in the expected breeze. She was snapped out of her thoughts when the stewardess offered her a drink, which she didn't hesitate to accept.

Lily held onto the railing with her free hand as the boat left the shore. When Aurelia asked everyone how they were feeling, she quickly nodded her head and smiled back at her sister. It wasn't quite an answer to any of Aurelia's questions, but she expected it would show she was content either way. She was still feeling tired and light-headed from her long journey home, but she was sure the fresh sea breeze would do her some good.

The dolphins caught Lily's attention and she couldn't help but smile at how happy Aurelia and Lucille were at the sights around them. Not wanting to draw anyone away from the beautiful sight, Lily discreetly stepped away from the railings and moved to sit at one of the tables instead. Sitting back, she closed her eyes and listened to the sounds around them. It was good to be away from the troubles back home. Between her concerns about Jesse and those about Daniel's meeting, she was keen to switch off if only for a short time.

Pagemaster (Arthur) Saix (Aurelia) neverbackdown (Lucille)