Tightly Wound

[Chordling]

Some part of Mr. White's mind believed he had heard of Ms. Stroud's mechanic before, but no strong memory of the man ever crossed. He knew very well he had never met him in person, but perhaps Anna had mentioned his name once or twice before during a senate meeting. At the mention of airships, his eyes widened, and Mr. White knew very well that he would never meet this man. Ever. Not on an airship at least.


After Mr. Daniels had left from delivering the charcoal and stationery, Mr. White watched as Ms. Stroud copied the drawing from the old book. "Wouldn't it be best to tell your mechanic what he is truly getting into? Surely if he is so talented as you say he is, this Andrei of yours will recognize the style of Synge's work," Mr. White began to rationalize. "I can understand why we would want to cover the truth from outside parties, but if we are considering to involve others, they should be involved fully. It would be cruel of us if we didn't inform our guests to the actual task."


Mr. White placed a hand to his side, and was reminded of an important element when he felt his heavy pocket watch by his waist. The watch was pulled from its latch, then clicked open so Mr. White could read the glass encased face. "My heavens," he muttered to himself, and began to calculate the time it would take for him to make his way home. Then he sorted the time it took him to think of those calculations, and came to the conclusion he had ten minutes at most before he would need to leave.

 

[Erica]

Anna shook her head. “I told you he is my friend. Yes, he may guess this has to do with Synge. But I cannot in good conscience involve him fully. That is tantamount to committing him to the same fate for which I volunteered - as you did in turn.” She pursed her lips for a moment as she finished up the details, then reexamined the diagram, making a few edits as she did so. “You and I entered into that risk with full awareness of the consequences. I cannot provide Andrei the same choice: not without either defying Mr. Millberry’s edict to avoid discussion of the matter outside the Senate, or committing Andrei to the same risk we bear. To be fully involved is to risk being deemed ‘too dangerous’ by the King. There is no in between, and I will not strip him of his choice.”


The question he raised had plagued her as well, but she did her best to keep those feelings from her expression. If anyone was callous to the feelings of others, it was Mr. Robert Amos White. Glancing down at his watch, then back up to his face, she ignored his exclamation briefly. “I will do everything I can to protect him from any folly of my own doing. As I am sure you would do for any friend.” Did he even have friends? It was difficult to imagine this man with friends, but surely he had some. Probably with very thick skin.

 

[Chordling]

"But he is at the same risk, than we are, if not greater," Mr. White tried to emphasize. "If we are to be executed, or otherwise punished after this expedition, it is not guaranteed that your friend will be safe from the same fate." He continued to watch Ms. Stroud sketch as he spoke to her. "Dear heavens, you've all ready talked to the man about this situation," he scoffed. "Even if your mechanic doesn't truly understand the task, you've still broken Mr. Millberry's order, and he is still at risk."





The muscles in his jaw and hands started to tighten as he ventured further and further into his argument. Eventually he had to calm himself with a deep sigh. This wasn't the proper time to argue with the woman, at least to the extent at which the discussion was heading. "I would be very careful. You can only protect something for so long. People thought hiding Synge's work behind walls was a marvelous idea, but just look where we are now. Dug up, and under the same scrutiny it had been under centuries ago."

 

[Erica]

His reasoning was sound, which only stirred her anger further. Perhaps she had rushed into using Andrei’s knowledge, out of pride or the luxury of comfort. After all, she did not trust the Blackcastle Engineers, who were likely candidates to assist with this endeavor but would surely have their own priorities. On the other hand, she knew Andrei was loyal to her; she could trust him not to withhold information from her.


Therein lay the irony.


“Part of our task is to find experts. He is one. Mr. Millberry dictated that we not discuss the discovery. Yes, I am walking a line, but you yourself pointed out that we need to know what we are dealing with,” she snapped, and then forced herself to take a breath. She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head, then reached for the paper with the diagram. The strain of the last few days was wearing on her, and the man before her had a habit of bringing out the worst in her.


When she continued, her tone was lined with a contained calm, clearly applied with effort. “My apologies. You have a point, Mr. White; you so often do. But the bell has been rung. At this point, all I can do is continue to attempt to protect him - while ensuring we deliver on our commitment to research the information here.” She motioned to the room. “If we decide we need Andrei’s analysis, we will revisit his awareness. For now, I will ask him to make a series of keys in the hopes that you and I can report out on the nature of the devices he modeled.”


She glanced to the door, then back to him. “Now, I suspect we each must be on our way if we hope to make it to the recital on time and stave off Mr. Millberry’s discontent. Are you certain you do not wish a ride? Andrei is an amazing pilot.” It was the only hint she would supply that it was an opportunity for Mr. White to meet the engineer in question.

 

[Chordling]

Mr. White took another deep breath through his nose as he restrained himself from giving another outrage, the subject would be revisited. He sure hoped she knew what she was doing. The Blackcastle Engineers could be useful to them. Perhaps they could be sent off in search of a key, or information. Loyal subjects to his royal highness, they would do anything for their King. Of course, Mr. White feared Ms. Stroud would not approve of such an idea. The discussion would simply have to wait for another moment.


Casually, Mr. White took his watch again from his waist and looked down to read it. For a moment he couldn't believe his eyes, but the watch was never wrong. A small gasp left his mouth, and his eyes gaped. He knew at this point in time he would never make it back to the music hall in time on foot, but his stomach churned at the thought of the airship. A grimace fell upon his face, and the clock seemed to tick at a faster rate than usual. Mr. White let off another sigh and closed his watch. "If you don't mind," he replied bluntly. "I am afraid I stayed longer than I had wished. Perhaps I will be able to meet this mechanic of yours." He started to lead his way out of the library, assuming Ms. Stroud would be close behind.

 

[Erica]

Chapter III

Was it her imagination, or did he turn a shade of green when he spied the time? Her eyebrows lifted at his change in attitude toward her offer, but she recovered quickly. It only took a moment to set the paper and charcoal outside the room. She fell into step beside him with her drawing in hand: one she fervently hoped would not damn Andrei.


It would be only polite to make small talk on the way to the ship, but she honestly could not think of any. Perhaps if Mr. White had a hobby aside from chastizing those around him, she might speak of it. Instead, she was left with the weather and general pleasantries. Both were unsuitable, so she opted for silence until they neared the dock. She led him to the ship, which was easily the smallest and sleekest in design compared to those surrounding it.


Andrei had seen them coming. Hence he stood at the side of the ship, ready to assist Anna on board - not that she ever took his hand. He glanced curiously at the paper in Anna's hand, but the greater curiosity emerged when he looked between the two senators as it became apparent that Mr. White would be joining them. "Are we taking on another passenger then, Ms. Stroud?" he asked as he offered Anna a hand. To his surprise, she took it.


Anna nodded, stepping on board with confidence and ease. "Yes, but only for a short while. This is Mr. White," she said as Andrei offered the man a hand for stability. "We have a last-minute engagement and we will be dropping him by his house."


Andrei used his free hand to tip his hat to the male senator. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. White," he said with a tempered but genuine smile. His mustache twitched with the grin. "I have heard much about you."


Anna turned away to hide her flinch at those words under the guise of setting the paper down.

 

[Chordling]

The way Andrei's mustache twitched reminded Robert of the Chairman, not in a particularly good or bad manner. He looked to the held out hand and scoffed, then pushed himself onto the airship, just as confidently and gracefully as Anna, with the aide of his cane. "It is no time for formal introductions," Robert began as he walked to the middle of the deck. "In fact, there should be no need for any introduction, since you have claimed to have heard much about me." If those comments had been good or bad, neither had specified, but one could easily allude to their nature.


They hadn't even left the ground yet, and Mr. White's stomach was all ready beginning to get nervous. To distract himself from his early set nausea, Robert glanced around the deck of the airship, admiring the sleek wood work and masterful mechanics. How nice it would have been to have another means of transportation other than foot, but the only other alternatives available left you suffocating from the hideous fumes, or your stomach turning from poor controlling skills. It wasn't a huge matter anyway. Mr. White didn't live too far from the senate meeting building, he piratically lived there.


"However I suppose, if you wish, you can begin telling me about you," he continued as he stood at the center of the ship, "since it seems Ms. Stroud has more to talk about me to you than she does about you to me," he paused briefly, "unless you are receiving your information from the media well then," a small laugh escaped him, "I suppose you can say you have heard a good amount about me." He lifted his hand to fix the black, leather top hat upon his head, then scanned around the deck of the ship for a suitable seat.

 

[Erica]

Andrei regarded Mr. White with curiosity as the man scoffed at the offer of assistance and then proceeded to berate him for being polite. So Anna had not exaggerated. In truth, Anna had said little specific about the other senator, but there had been several times when she had bent Andrei’s ear, ranting about how frustratingly obstinate and rude the man could be.


He smiled as the man mentioned the media and “If I only listened the media, I would not dare work for Ms. Stroud, either, Mr. White.” He leaned forward and shielded his mouth with his hand, dramatically whispering. “Have you heard? She’s methodically stripping Silchester of its dignity, kowtowing to the ungrateful impetuosity of the worker class and their unending demands... All while leaving us defenseless militarily!”


Anna turned, shooting Andrei a look containing a mixture of amusement and a reprimand. Andrei broke into a grin and winked at her before turning back to Mr. White. Having noted the man’s scanning gaze, he motioned to two series of chairs in turn. First, to a few seats near the bow of the ship. “If you like the air and to see where you’re going, there are seats up front, but the ones here,” he said, motioning to ones at the center of the deck with a broad smile, “provide insulation from any minor turbulence - and the added benefit of being closer to the pilot.”


It was probably something that would strike Mr. White: a single person could pilot this ship, unlike the vast majority of other airships. The design was a point of pride for Andrei. Even so, he was not vain enough to call it out directly. Hinting was as close as he would come.


Anna, however, held no compunction about bragging on her friend. “He’s being modest on both counts. I firmly believe there is no better pilot in the skies than Mr. Volos here.”


The ship shifted minutely to float under its own power. Andrei, who had just turned a crank that started up the turbines, touched his fingers to the edge of his hat before turning to the process of untethering them from the dock.


Anna continued speaking to Mr. White. “This ship is also his design and work.”

 

[Chordling]

Robert couldn't help but give off a weak smile when Andrei had whispered to him. He knew very well the information had been false, and needless to say, Robert didn't need to 'hear' things. The two senators never seemed to meet eye to eye with one another, but always had a sense as to what the other was up to. His smile quickly disappeared when Andrei showed the available seats, neither very suitable for Mr. White. He was against the grand view and currents of air near the bow of the ship, and the close presence of the pilot at the center.


"I believe I shall stand for now," Mr. White finally decided, however he still remained close to the center of the deck to protect himself from any violent currents of air. He just hoped the flight wouldn't be any worse than the one he was on before.


His head turned to Anna when she began to boast about her pilot. A smug expression fell upon his face, "We shall see," he said, but truly hoped she was right. If that other pilot was considered to be the best of all Aneora, Robert wouldn't know what to think of the world anymore.


For a brief moment, Robert's feet had slipped underneath him when the ship began to float, but he regained his balance with his cane. Once he felt steady, he began to give directions to Andrei. "I live off of 5th Cog Street," he specified. "Just a block away from the senate, if that is any help to you." The airship slowly moved away from the docking station, and before Robert knew it they were off into the sky.


If you were to look down, you would be able to see the clear difference between Silchester and Ashington. Robert would have scoffed at the sight if his stomach was strong enough for him to even approach the edge of the ship. It was unfathomable that the two cities were even related to one another. They had traveled just far enough so that Ashington was out of view, and Andrei's piloting skills had been keeping to their reputation, so much so that Mr. White had eventually felt comfortable enough to walk about the deck more.

 

[Erica]

Anna's boasting proved justified: Andrei possessed formidable piloting skills. While he could (and often did) dart between other airships at dizzying speeds, he defaulted to a smooth, leisurely ride for most passengers, at least until they asked for a thrill.


They glided through the air with an impressive view. Anna looked at Mr. White as she tucked her drawing away for later. "Did Mr. Millberry indicate whether Krissy's recital will feature her skills with the viola or her voice?"


It was a fair question. While Millberry's daughter had acquired skill with the stringed instrument over years of practice, her voice could only be improved so much with practice. It remained lacking, although few dared to say so to her face.


Before he could answer, however, they met with a surprise. As they neared the Senate and Cog street, a large airship literally arose in their path. The muslin balloon was the only part visible as the other pilot increased the heat for his balloon too quickly. He could not see what was above him - including Andrei's ship.


Anna yelped, "Look out!" and grabbed a rail, but Andrei had seen it first. His hands moved quickly, pulling a cord that increased the heat to their own balloon while turning a crank with the other. Their ship lifted smoothly but rapidly upwards, then turned to barely avoid the offending balloon. The resulting slant to the deck was small, considering, but might require some adjustment.


As they cleared the near collision, the pilot of the other ship finally spotted them and flushed red, muttering apologies as he attempted to correct his course. On the considerable deck of his ship, at least seven men scurried about to assist the pilot's efforts.


Andrei tipped his hat, but muttered under his breath, "Money can buy a license, but not sense."

 

[Chordling]

As Robert walked about the ship's deck, he continued to admire it's wood work and design. Further and further they went, far enough to the iconic senate building in the distance. Cog Street was just to the left, and if you turned your glance a bit to the right, you could spot Coxwell Hall behind a few apartment buildings.


His thoughts had been interrupted when Anna had asked him a question, a question he unfortunately did not have the answer to. He had turned to her to admit his lack of knowledge of the situation, but before he could even open his mouth, something had seemed to distract her. It hadn't been apparent to Robert exactly what was going on until he dared to look beneath them. "What in bloody..." Robert said to himself.


The balloon swiftly rose and caught Mr. White off guard, but he easily regained his balance, now accustom to the proper feel of an airship. Had he heard what Mr. Volos had muttered, he would have agreed wholeheartedly. If Robert had confronted the other airship pilot, he would have had a few choice words to say to him.


"I am afraid the Chairman did not inform me of that kind of specific information," Robert answered in a calm manner, as if nothing had happened between Anna's question and his reply. "I suggest preparing for either performance," he added. Shivers went up his spine at the thought of Krissy Millberry's singing. Sure, some could say there have been worse vocalists in Aneora, but it would be hard task to accomplish.

 

[Erica]

The journey was uneventful after the close call with the other airship. Andrei docked the ship smoothly within a block of Mr. White’s home. The area closest to the senate provided ample docking for airships, but most stood vacant in the evening. Anna was still wondering whether Mr. White had actually attempted a joke when he had shivered at the possibility of Krissy Millberry serenading them. She would not ask, though: either way, he was only likely to reprimand her for not knowing the answer, and for once, they seemed to be on good terms. It was best they departed that way.


Propriety dictated that she offer him a ride to Colfax Hall upon her return. She only hesitated a moment before making the offer, sure he would refuse. Instead, he stumbled through an almost-acceptance that left her wondering how someone so decisive in almost every respect could equivocate so badly. If that was his version of being polite, maybe there was good reason for his constant rudeness. Eventually, she cut him off with a smile. “Very well, then. We shall return here within the hour. That should provide ample time to arrive at Colfax Hall early and acquire our seats where Mr. Millberry can easily note our attendance.”


Before Mr. White could say much else, she waved to him and indicated to Andrei that they should depart. Andrei waited until their guest was sufficiently clear of the airship and the gusts sometimes produced by its turbines before bringing them airborne again. He set a faster course for Ms. Stroud’s house, which sat nestled in an affluent area of Silchester with easy access to the lifts that the working class used to travel to and from Ashington.


Anna seemed distracted as she stood on one side of the deck, overlooking the sunset.


“Is that for me?” Andrei asked casually, nodding toward the rolled-up paper she had tucked away upon boarding.


With a chuckle and a shake of her head, Anna fetched it and crossed the deck to his side. “Yes. This is the key design I spoke of.” But she held it out away from his immediate reach as she waited for him to meet her eyes. “I do not want you to feel obligated, Andrei. This is my project, and may prove ... dubious.” Her tone was light, but her eyes held his with a strong passion. “The game with the keys is meant to be an adventurous exploration, but you, more than most, understand how precarious it can be, courting the aristocracy. They can take offense so easily, and their sense of justice when offended is often skewed.”


The wind whipped between them as Andrei held her gaze for a long moment. Then he reached out to take the rolled up paper. “You have known me long enough, Anna, to know I have a hard time sitting on the sidelines of any game. Even when people may play rough.”


Anna glanced downward, afraid and grateful for her friend at the same time. He only called her by her given name when emphasizing a point, and in this, he had succeeded. Shame washed over her at her earlier assumption that she could fool him. Mr. White had been right about that. She almost wanted to thank him for it, if it would not make him even more of an ass. Still, she would insulate Andrei as she could. It might make a difference if things went south later.


“Besides,” he said as he donned a grin again and tucked the parchment into his coat. “I always have enjoyed keys. The elegance of pieces fitting so nicely together. It’s almost like...” he paused for a long moment, during which a touch of color visited Anna’s cheeks. He chuckled at the sight of her blush and let her off the hook. “It’s engineering at its finest, is all I mean.”


Anna reached for Andrei’s hand and squeezed it gently in thanks before returning to her view of the sunset.


Approximately forty-five minutes after they had left Mr. White at the dock, Anna arrived once more aboard her airship. Her elegant dress in goldenrod and black lace stood out against her dark skin, making her a singular and stunning fashion event. Some would hate it, of course. Especially women. To her mind, they hated it mostly because they were unable to pull it off. She held a small purse in her hand and waited on deck for Mr. White to arrive.


Briefly considering taking out her watch so that she could be glancing at it meaningfully when the other senator arrived, she discarded the thought. He would likely mistake it for insult rather than humor, and she hoped to maintain their tenuous truce.

 

[Chordling]

They had arrived at the docking station near the senate at the proper time, just as Robert had predicted. What he didn't predict was Anna to offer him another ride to Colfax Hall. As surprised as he was, he subtly accepted before removing himself from her airship. Robert watched at a safe distance when Andrei and Anna finally departed before making his way home.


Cog Street, to say the least, was nothing but a bunch of billion dollar homes. The neighborhood consisted mostly of senators, like Mr. White, but some were scientists or mathematicians; your average smart people. Though Mr. White had been living there since his twenties, he never made the effort to meet his neighbors, at least those who were outside of the senate.


According to Mr. White's pocket watch, there was no time to waste when he arrived home. Gently, he rested his cane on the wall near the entrance, then briskly made his way to his room on the second floor. After rummaging through several closets and drawers, he finally found a suitable jacket and hat, both made of fine, navy leather and lightly accented with golden thread. He did his usual task before the mirror, to hide as much of the visible gray hair as possible, then decided to clean the edges of his facial hair.


Cane back in hand, and his pocket watch in it's usual position, he made his way to the docking station, where Anna had all ready been waiting. "A rather interesting choice of clothing, Ms. Stroud," he spoke as he boarded the airship.

 

[Erica]

Silchester ladies considered themselves well educated on fashion. The truth - at least to Anna's mind - was that they knew how to dress, but only in one, limited style. Besides, her complexion would be lackluster at best in the browns and other neutral colors currently en vogue. So she forged her own path, and received multiple comments on her selections. Some of them were outright rude, but most were subtle in their condemnation, like Mr. White's. Whatever the approach, she thought little of them and responses rolled off her tongue. In this case, she opted to treat the comment at face value. "Thank you, Mr. White." If he wanted to insult her, he would have to work harder to do so.


The ship rose into the air, spinning in a slow circle to face Coxwell Hall. Anna took a slow breath. Time had been precious, and she had little time to grab a bite to eat before getting dressed. She could feel this, combined with the fatigue of the past week, fraying her nerves. She said a silent prayer that Krissy Millberry would not be signing tonight before addressing Mr.White. "Obviously this evening's recital will allow for no further discussion of our joint endeavor. I assume we shall resume our discussion mid-morning tomorrow?"


As she spoke, Colfax Hall grew closer. It only took a few minutes for their ship to arrive at the multi-level airship docks for the performance hall. People milled about the cobblestone streets before the steps in front of the hall. Few spared a glance for another airship's arrival - until one senator spotted Mr. White aboard Ms. Stroud's ship. In short order, several heads pressed together, whispering as they looked in Mr. White's direction. Among them was Melva Snyder, a young blonde senator who had been courting Mr. White’s endorsement (and his power) for a year and a half. Most recently, she had been swayed by Anna’s position on the vote about Synge’s research. The sly expression on Melva’s delicate but slightly too sharp features implied she was jumping to all kinds of conclusions about he meaning of their arrival.


Anna could not help the small smile that visited her face. While generating rumors had not been her intent, she did not mind the unintended consequence. It always helped to keep people guessing and wasting their time with the wrong questions. Moreover, she enjoyed the novelty of being fairly certain they were not gossiping about her latest fashion choice. As Andrei finished the docking process, she moved past Mr. White to disembark, remarking with amusement, “It seems we have caused a stir.” She turned to him and winked at him as she passed. “It must be your fashion choices.”


They had arrived a full twenty minutes prior to the performance time: sufficient for the average senator to socialize as required. Since neither of them was average, however, they would need to head directly inside the opulent hall where a host of players awaited along with one performer.

 

[Chordling]

A simple smirk simply crossed Mr. White's lips, thinking Ms. Stroud had actually thought of his words as a comment. Perhaps if Ms. Stroud had a better celebrity status, her dressing style wouldn't be so criticized, but this was not the case. Robert believed he was far more known than she, and he even had to follow under the shadow of certain figures if he wished to remain unjugded. But he appreciated it that way, at least for now. If it had been someone with Ms. Stroud's taste, he wouldn't be sure if he could bring himself to dress as vibrantly like some multicolored peacock.


Before they had departed, Robert re-positioned his hat, then pulled out a pair of white gloves and slipped them onto his hands. He watched from his position at the center of the deck while they flew closer and closer to Colfax Hall, and also made note of the other airships that surrounded them. A few other familiar senators were spotted, and though they had modestly waved towards Mr. White and Ms. Stroud, he did not wave back.


Ms. Stroud's question had caught his attention, and one of his thick eyebrows pushed upward before he turned his head to look at Anna. The answer should have been obvious to her, or so he thought. Not only would it be inappropriate to speak of the subject, but when would they have the opportunity during the performance to do so? Last time he checked, he wasn't telepathic, thank goodness, and neither was she. He turned away after his brief glance, and prepared himself for the airship to land.


A sudden rabble broke out near the Colfax Hall docking station when the senators had arrived. Robert simply ignored the other movements around him, like he usually did during similar situations. It wasn't the first time he was seen around Ms. Stroud in such consequential moments, and it most definitely wouldn't be the last. Why it caused such a commotion among the other guests made no sense to Mr. White. You would think after several years working against the same gosh darn woman the energy would die down. Clearly not.


"Oh dear lord," Mr. White muttered to himself when he spotted a rather familiar face, that of a blond woman. As if something inside him knew his accompanying senator would ask him what the matter was, he spoke under his breath, "Synder." Now his mind couldn't decide who was worse. Anna, or the coquettish Melva. He internally despised the delicate grin that spread across her face, and wanted to reach over and slap it off.


Before Anna could fully depart after her last comment, he sent her a dark glare, and replied, "I wouldn't be too sure, Ms. Stroud." He followed shortly after, and they were directed into the music hall. A feeling of nostalgia washed over Robert. It brought back memories when his parents would bring him once or twice a year to see the orchestra play. He remembered how amazed he was when he first saw the stage, like it was some kind of magic. Mr. Millberry waited for them at the very front of the auditorium, and ushered the two senators over with a large hand.


"So glad you both could come," the Chairman said, and showed them to their seats. "Ugh, did I mention to you about the after party?"


"What?" Mr. White nearly growled, and stopped in his tracks.


"Now, don't get too excited, Mr. White," Millberry replied with a sent him a glare. "My place, right after the concert. Oh everyone else will be there, you wouldn't want to miss out, would you?"


"No, I suppose not," Robert sighed, and took his seat.


"Excellent! And how about you, Ms. Stroud? You'll be able to arrive, won't you?"

 

[Erica]

Anna smiled at Mr. White as he attempted to “correct” her joking statement. The man truly had no sense of humor. She had noted Melva Snyder’s scrutiny of their arrival, and even waved to the blonde as they disembarked. Melva wasn’t a bad person, per se: just spoiled beyond all reason by her father and expecting to gain political clout via all the wrong means. Rather than focusing on the people, Melva was clearly in the game of politics for herself. That wasn’t wholly unusual: many senators’ primary motivation lay in accumulating personal power. However, being so obvious about it was gauche and counter-productive.


That did not prevent Anna from exploiting Melva’s ego, however. Ultimately, the argument that had won the woman over focused on being on the right side of history. Anna had pointed out that, should Synge’s work reveal something of great import, no one - except perhaps Mr. White - could afford to appear to have been a roadblock to progress. It had worked like a charm. At the time, Anna had smiled and thanked the woman, but she also made note of how easily she was swayed.


After passing Melva, they headed inside the Hall. Anna found herself smiling wistfully. She had always enjoyed music and theater. A good performance could transport her beyond the mundane world. In fact, the shared experience of transcendence among the audience was the closest thing to magic in this world, to her mind. Unfortunately, tonight the hall was full of senators and aristocrats who attended mostly out of obligation. Like Mr. White, no doubt. But hopefully the music would help them forget their squabbles for a time.


She smiled and nodded to the Chairman as he greeted them. As he showed them to their seats, she was relieved to see four chairs upon the stage. A string quartet, then, and hopefully no vocal exercises. Unbeknownst to her, her shoulders dropped a quarter inch in relief at the sight.


Then Mr. Millberry mentioned an after party, a pronouncement Mr. White handled with his usual delicacy. Anna smiled genuinely at Mr. Millberry. “I would not miss it,” she said kindly before taking her seat diagonally behind Mr. White.


“Superb. I will see you both there.” He then nodded to someone across the hall. “If you will excuse me.”


Anna turned to chat with the people already seated near her, glad for the opportunity for easily flowing conversation, even if the topics were frivolous. A few people commented on her outfit. She took both compliments and obvious digs in stride, expertly redirecting the conversation into more productive directions.


In almost no time, the audience had settled into their seats in anticipation of the performance. The musicians took the stage, including Krissy Millberry and her viola, and quickly verified their off-stage tuning before beginning. Anna smiled to herself at the hush the fell over the crowd: a collective breath held before the first notes floated through the hall. The first movement swept them up in a fast-paced journey with interesting harmonic twists. Anna adored it instantly, closing her eyes to better savor the complexity. The second movement slowed to an unhurried pace, providing a somber reflection of some of the themes in the first movement. Surprisingly, the viola took a central role here, standing out with ornamented versions of the theme in its mid-range timber. It was likely that the piece had been composed expressly with Krissy Millberry in mind, but it was exquisitely done regardless of the reason for the unusual choice. The third movement returned to a faster pace, although this seemed more peacefully content with its themes, vacillating between major and minor keys as if debating its own nature.


Anna adored it all and joined in with the crowd’s applause at the end of the last movement. She had noted that Mr. Abbott, one of the senators in her faction, was sitting in the row in front of her. He had whispered to his neighbor once during the second movement, and three times during the last movement: each time it had interrupted her enjoyment and she had attempted to catch the senator’s eye. The musicians were taking their bows and all but Krissy departed the stage. Apparently, the quartet was only the first phase of the performance and she would be performing solo next.


As the applause started to falter, Anna leaned forward to touch Mr. Abbott’s shoulder. When he turned to face her curiously, she smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. The applause began to dissipate, leaving her no time to be subtle. “Hold your comments for the after party, please, Mr. Abbott. Miss Millberry will appreciate it. And so will I.”


Mr. Abbott visibly bristled, his double chin gaining additional flesh as he flushed a little pink at being so reprimanded among his peers. Anna did not waiver. She held his gaze and nodded, as if expecting him to follow her lead. While he was not her greatest supporter in the Senate, she would be sure he listened to her here. He did not reply, only clearing his throat and facing forward as a hush fell over the crowd again. Anna sat back, turning her attention to the stage and the performance about to begin with a look of satisfaction on her features. If Mr. Abbott would be displeased with her later, so be it. If he did not have the common sense to be silent during a performance, then he deserved worse than a quick verbal reminder of manners.

 

[Chordling]

After Mr. Millberry had departed, more senators began to flow into the auditorium. Robert watched contently, taking account of each and every guest. Just about the entire senate had arrived. Others however, such as the intern or other lower ranked politicians, were pardoned from the musical event. He began to wonder what he had done wrong to have received Mr. Millberry's "invitation."


Within a matter of moments, the lights to the auditorium dimmed, and the stage glowed. Mr. White held his breath as he watched the four string players raise their bows, anticipating that moment when they would strike against strings to announce the beginning of the concert. Though his mind had been surprised, his body relaxed when the soothing sounds met his ears. It was like he could feel the music inside himself. There wasn't a way he could explain. Every time he listened to music, it was like he was immersed into some other kind of universe.


Robert would have appreciated the music more if the man just two seats away from him would shut his mouth. What made the man think he was more important than everyone else in the music hall that he could talk whenever he pleased, Robert wasn't sure. It was during the brief moment during the applause when Mr. White managed to catch the fellows name. Mr. Abbott. It must have been one of Anna's advocates, since Mr. White neither heard of nor recognized the man.


When the applause had died away, Ms. Millberry was left alone on the stage to perform a solo piece. A weak smile grew over Mr. White's lips when he recognized the melody. He realized it had been transcribed from the original piano piece, and admired the young woman's efforts, for he could only imagine the technique difficulty on the viola. The tune jumped from interval to interval with no sustaining pattern, and flew around a rather wide range. Briefly in the middle of the piece, the melody calmed, but it was quickly brought back to the high energy.


Unfortunately, Mr. Abbott did not learn from his previous scorning, and broke out into conversation with his neighbor several times during Krissy's solo performance. The moment the audience broke out into applause, Mr. White took his opportunity to shut the man's gob for once and for all. He leaned over the two guests between him, and strongly glared at Mr. Abbott.


"Mr. Abbott," he addressed. "You dare to speak during the performance, a rather lovely one for that matter,have the audacity to applause as if you had been paying attention all along, and the will to go against your superiors word? You are worse than a crying baby."


"It's not like I am bothering anyone important!" Abbott retorted.


An expression of shock shifted on Mr. White's face, no matter he quickly responded. "You're bothering me," he growled. "I would reconsider your rationale." You could see the eagerness in Mr. Abbott's face to reply, but the applause had all ready died down, and Mr. White returned to his seat.

 

[Erica]

While the piece was astoundingly complex, Mr. Abbott’s continued rude behavior soured the performance somewhat for Anna. She did her best to put it aside, making a mental note to ensure he had a difficult time getting anything passed in the Senate going forward. As she debated the worth of attempting to correct him again, she was surprised to see Mr. White lean forward to scold him.


Well, that wasn’t true. Seeing Robert White scold someone was commonplace, but the compliment to Miss Millberry’s performance, coupled with what could almost qualify as defending her standing in the Senate? Now that was surprising.


Anna kept her face forward, but she had heard Mr. Abbott’s insinuation that she wasn’t important. She decided then and there that Mr. Abbott would not only have a difficult time getting anything passed; he would find all things difficult going forward.


The last performance was a more traditional piece, slow in pace and sorrowful in attitude. While the first seemed more challenging on the onset and was certainly technically difficult, Anna found this piece more nuanced. It brought out the voice of the instrument in a way that seemed to cut to her core, and she found herself wiping away a tear by the end of the performance.


By some miracle, Mr. Abbott had finally decided to close his mouth and did not disrupt the last piece. It burned a little bit that Mr. White’s reprimand might have held more weight than her own, but at least she could fully enjoy the music.


As the house lights came up, the crowd started moving toward the doors. The conversation centered on the performance, as expected. But soon enough it turned to politics and gossip as the crowd made its way to Mr. Millberry’s home. His house was not far from Colfax hall, and aside from a slight chill from the breeze, the evening was rather mild.


In short order, Anna began making a circuit through the room, doing what came naturally to her: asking after each person she met, and their family, their pets, their latest project. She had a kind word for everyone - except Mr. Abbott. He she purposely passed over to speak to his wife, a snub that was noted by many and caused its own stir. Within a half hour of that act, others in her faction were avoiding him as well.


Maybe that was slightly petty, but she had to admit it felt good.


Servants held trays of food and drink, circulating them through the room or simply standing in convenient locations for the guests. As she sampled one of the hors d’oeuvres, she noted Mr. White, standing - as he so often did - awkwardly near a wall. Unforunately, Melva Snyder had spotted her and strode confidently toward her.


“Ms. Stroud, what a delight to see you,” Melva said, looking over Anna’s outfit. “You really are stunning.”


“Thank you,” Anna replied patiently. “Did you enjoy tonight’s performance, Miss Synder?” Melva was hard to read. The daughter of a wealthy chemist and industrialist, her education was broad in scope but narrow in depth. Her sense of entitlement was strong, but she possessed a quick mind that should not be underestimated.


Melva smiled and nodded. “Of course! That first solo piece!” She looked up at the ceiling, shaking her head so that her blond curls bounced. “It was...” she looked back at Anna with a broad smile. “Astounding! Such articulation and skill - although I’ll admit I don’t think I could follow the tune at first.” She shrugged as if she were dim. “But then again, we know that seeing the big picture takes time and effort, do we not, Ms. Stroud? Perhaps it is a suitable metaphor for our work?”


Anna wasn’t fooled by the younger woman’s act. Melva Snyder might be many things, but a fool wasn’t one of them. “Perhaps. All I know is that Miss Millberry deserves the accolades she is receiving tonight.”


A look of annoyance flashed across Melva’s features before she smiled, pressing her gloved hands together in what might have been a nervous motion in another person. “That she does. Well, I saw you and wanted to say hello. I see Mr. White is here as well, and of course, must pay my respects to him.” She took a step away before turning back to Anna. “You arrived together, did you not? Will you be supplying him a ride home as well?”


Anna actually blinked at the question. The implication was not only impolite; it was scandalous. (Not to mention ludicrous. The thought of her and Robert White as a couple was laughable.) When she recovered, Anna asked, “Why, my dear? Are you planning on courting him? It would require a special woman to do that.”


Melva smiled wickedly, as if they were girlfriends sharing secrets. “That it would. Goodnight, Ms. Stroud.” She winked before crossing the room toward Mr. White, pressing her gloved hands together again as she did so.


Anna watched her approach Mr. White curiously. Was the girl actually interested in him? She took the opportunity to study him, trying to see past the years of animosity between them. Yes, he was tall, and the grey in his hair did lend him a distinguished air. And, she supposed, some might consider him handsome. In the right light. If he didn’t speak. Or glower.


The smile on Melva’s face seemed to imply that she had designs for Robert White. Had Anna somehow missed this development? Despite herself, she could not fully turn away. Even as she chatted with the next person to approach, she kept the interaction in the corner of her vision, fascinated and horrified at the same time.

 

[Chordling]

A smile grew over Krissy's face when the final note of the piece was reached, and she paused a moment before standing and taking a bow. The crowd started to clap, some even stood up and cheered. Mr. White remained in his seat until the lighting in the house of the auditorium lightened. Everyone congregated towards the exit, then straight towards Mr. Millberry's home. His house was rather grand, much like the man himself, but well decorated and neatly kept.


Mr. White immediately made it to the far wall in the living room without making any eye contact towards the other senators. He preferred it when he wasn't caught up in silly conversations with the other senators. Mr. Millberry could be seen pushing his way through the rooms, approaching Mr. White. "Excuse me," he would utter. "Pardon me, oh, I am terribly sorry madame." And so his journey continued until he finally reach Robert.


"What makes you think you're going to let this evening go to waste all alone in this corner of my house, Mr White?" the Chairman brightly asked, trying to motivate Mr. White into socializing.


"You pushed yourself through nearly half the senate, Mr. Millberry, just to speak with me," Robert calmly answered.


"Ugh, yes, well I suppose that is true," Millberry tried to mull over his words. "But I have other people to speak with, I am not going to spend this evening all the way back here with you, you know."


"While I appreciate your efforts, I do not have any interest in socializing this evening."





Mr. Millberry tried to think of another way to push Robert out into the crowd, but his mustache twitched and he eventually gave up. Suddenly, a fine figure began to push its way towards them. Mr. White immediately noticed the figure to be none other than Ms. Synder. His stomach tightened, and he quickly looked around for something to distract him. One of the servants passed by with a silver tray covered with drinks. Quickly, Mr. White took one, then finished it off in one swig. Slightly shocked, Mr. Millberry blinked, but then noticed Ms. Synder was still approaching. "Well, like it or not Rob, you might have to," he winked, then was on his way.


A scowl formed on his face as the blond woman smiled at him. She was stunning, and had a few powerful connections within the senate, but Mr. White would make sure he wouldn't be one of them. He despised her, to the sweet smile and lustrous voice. When the woman wouldn't leave his side, Robert rolled his eyes and sighed. "What are you smiling at? Is there something excruciatingly hilarious about my hat? Or are you just gawking? Whatever the answer is, I have time for neither, and ask you to leave me be."

 

[Erica]

Melva Synder dreamt of power and influence. She already had some: her father’s name alone held weight with many of the influential in Silchester. Yet for real power, she needed to have influence in the Senate. Assuming that her beauty and intelligence would quickly win over her fellow senators, she had initially believed she would be leading a faction within a few years.


Only there were problems with that. First, she was a woman - and a beautiful woman at that, which meant that some men in the Senate would always dismiss her to some degree. She had expected that. On the other hand, the particular politics of the Senate had surprised her. Having sound reason was not enough, even when coupled with the right name. It required maneuvering and manipulation at a whole new level. She had to admit she was still a novice in that area, but she was learning.


But the largest obstacles to her rise in power were at the party tonight. Unfortunately, she believed in the monarchy: which aligned her with Robert Amos White and the stick up his rear end. She had attempted to flirt with him in the past, but to no avail. Then there was “the woman” of the Senate, Ms. Anna Stroud. Melva had attempted to befriend the woman, but that glacier was slow to melt.


Fortunately, Ms. Stroud had opened the way for both of them to fall, and all Melva had to do was be ready to step in when they did. The whole business with the Library could so easily topple their reputations and even lead to their deaths. Not that she wanted them dead. Of course not! But out of her way? Yes, please.


She knew she should adopt an attitude of “wait and see”, but that was not in her nature. So when she heard about Krissy Millberry’s recital and the required attendance of all Senators, she decided to take matters in her own hands. Literally. Borrowed her father’s laboratory, she formulated a powder that would cause inebriation when in contact with skin. She carefully placed the powder in a miniature hidden pocket in her glove, located at the heel of her hand. As she spoke with Ms. Stroud, she pressed her hands together to release it onto her glove, then rubbed it across both gloves as she approached Mr. White.


While the illustrious Senate faction leaders might fall with the Library project, she planned to help them along. Ms. Stroud was already seen as volatile and unpredictable. Mr. White, however, was the rock of the monarchists. She had nearly giggled when they arrived together: it was just too perfect! Loosening Robert White up could either help her sway him to the glory of her beauty or - more likely - help him to make a fool of himself.


So when he tried to dismiss her, she just smiled, her hands still pressed together. “Why should I not smile, Mr. White? We just enjoyed a fantastic performance, and I only wish to pay my respects. You look so miserable in the corner.” She paused, canting her head coyly for a moment. “Although...” She reached out toward his hat. “Your hat is slightly crooked...”

 

[Chordling]

"My goodness you are more bothersome than a sickly mosquito! My misery is from your unwanted company, and if you wish to pay the proper respects, go away and fix someone else's hat." he remarked, and tried to move his face away from Melva's reach. Other senators around the area turned their heads to see what Robert had been complaining about, but Mr. White easily dismissed them with a single glare. For a brief moment, his stare locked with Ms. Stroud's, who had been talking among a group of senators purely of her faction. He quickly turned away however, then continued his methods for ridding Melva. Unfortunately, a physical means of escape was pointless. People were crowded through every room and every hall; it would be an impossible task. Words would hopefully suffice.

 

[Erica]

This is where Mr. White’s reputation helped her immensely. If almost anyone else had protested so loudly, everyone would have thought poorly of her actions. Since it was Mr. White, however, they all assumed the prickly response within his normal behavior. When he turned his head, her fingers brushed his temple. She couldn’t be sure that would be enough, though. “You have the manners of a goat, Mr. White! I am only trying to help,” she said coyly, mostly for anyone listening. Meanwhile, she placed a hand along the side of his neck, ostensibly to steady his head for her work. Then she tapped his hat slightly forward with a knuckle.


Settling back on her heels to remain standing close to him, she smiled her most alluring and disarming smile as she looked up at him. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”


Across the way, Ms. Stroud had been engaged in yet another discussion of the musical pieces of the evening, but now she looked at the body language between Miss Snyder and Mr. White. What was she doing touching him? Everyone knew he disliked any sort of socialization. Touching him was tantamount to kicking him in the shins.

 

[Chordling]

Ms. Synder," he pronounced, "I did not ask for your assistance, Ms. Synder, I asked for your departure." but it was too late. The woman extended herself onto her toes to adjust the tall senators chapeau. "I am very capable of fixing my own hat."





The feeling of her gloved hand near his neck made his jaw tense while Melva gently pushed the had back into position. Robert's eyes scanned the floor for one of the servants. Finally, one of them had came his way, and Mr. White quickly snatched a glass and consumed it withing a single swig. His arm was just long enough to reach over to place the empty glass back on the moving tray.


"If you will excuse me," he rudely said, then started to push his way through the clumps of guests. He had barely made it past the first group when a sudden, strange feeling washed over him. Robert simply thought this side affect was from the alcohol, and tried to continue his way through the living room, but he constantly found himself using his cane as support.

 

[Erica]

Melva could not be more pleased by his reaction. She assumed he consumed alcohol, if only in a social capacity. The two drinks he downed so quickly would easily explain the effects of her powder. Although tempted to follow him, she clearly had been dismissed, and did not want to draw further suspicion upon herself.


Instead, she turned to one of the aides nearby and clucked her tongue, saying softly. “That man could not be more arrogant and rude if he tried.”


To her great satisfaction, the aide replied quietly with a conspiratorial smile, “He does try.”


They both chuckled at the play on words, watching Mr. White push his way through the crowd, and rather clumsily at that. Melva had to suppress a darker smile when she saw him start to lean heavily on his cane. “True. But I have not known him to drink before.” Thus she planted the seed, hoping it would grow into a delicious rumor.


Meanwhile, Anna had seen the exchange. She wasn’t alone: the senators around her all wore various expressions of shock and disapproval. This was nothing out of the ordinary. Mr. White regularly offended others. But when she saw his steps grow suddenly hesitant, she handed her drink off to a servant. “Please excuse me,” she said to the others around her.


They watched her go, exchanging meaningful glances Anna did her best to ignore. With the assured navigation of a socialite, she wove her way through the crowded room to Mr. White’s side. “Mr. White. I assume you are enjoying the party?” she said pleasantly, loud enough for anyone to hear who might still be watching the scene unfold. Although she kept her expression neutral and pleasant, her eyes flitted to his cane and back to his face.

 

[Chordling]

"Dear god, could this night be any worse," he thought to himself as he looked to Ms. Stroud. "Yes," he simply replied out loud, then pushed himself up right with his cane. "I suggest you stay away from the alcohol tonight. I also suggest that you do not waste your time dealing with me. I assume you are enjoying the evening among your comrades, and they seem to be waiting for your presence."


Mr. White found himself surrounded by people, and a feeling of anxiety over came him. He looked about, trying not to look to frantic, for any means of escape. In the end, he found that it would be impossible to find someplace quiet again. The spot he previously located had been taken by another, small pod of politicians, and it was left with staying by Anna, or by Melva.


His decision was not made quickly enough Melva started making her way over again, and Robert rolled his eyes. He looked down towards Anna, then back to Melva. This was a conflict Mr. White never believed he would find himself in.