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The Thane-Cash Rebirth Hall settles into that charged, breath-held quiet that only comes just before a performance. Gaslight glows warm against polished wood and silver inlay, throwing flattering shadows across a packed main floor where townsfolk in their finest stand shoulder to shoulder, eyes fixed forward. Above them, the private boxes form a ring of velvet and gilt: Missy sits close beside Jane Montgomery in the Montgomery family box as Jane’s attention never leaves the stage. Adelaide Montgomery reclines beside them, silk and jewels catching the light. Edmund occupies his own box, partially veiled by curtains, a glass in ha

The Thane-Cash Rebirth Hall had been built to be admired from a distance and to be felt once inside. From the street, its polished facade and high arched windows suggested restraint, history, respectability. From within, restraint fell away. Gaslight spilled warm and honeyed from wall sconces shaped like laurel wreaths. Ivory trim caught the light and threw it back softened, flattering every face. The scent of beeswax polish, expensive perfume, and fresh-cut wood hung thick in the air. The main floor was packed shoulder to shoulder. Townsfolk in their best coats and dresses, pressed wool, borrowed finery, carefully mended lace, sto

The air was electrifying....and yet a little strange. His eyes closed just a little hiding those strange orbs as he listened to the hum of things. Life, as it were, was music in its own way and its bore its crescendos and went through its calandos it was all performance. Constant. It was hard not to notice when the crowd would hush and the previously excited atmosphere would shift just a little. Kojo would peel back the certain just a little and peer out. It was hard not to notice the wide-berth certain segments of the crowd gave a short, pale woman with golden hair and eyes of fire opposite his own. A figure of myth even if it was merely rum

Kaida was not too worried about Jumi possibly trying to hide things from her. In fact, knowing Reika, the girl showing up where nobody expected her was perfectly reasonable to believe with her. "My friend will be quiet. If the temple is in danger in any way, it will be the only reason it will wake up to alert you and defend us.", she explained to them. The topic turning to Shinigami made the Little Dragon curious, especially hearing about the fox having gone to the kitchen, being left apparently free in the temple. She did not question it as it was not her place to do so but it did make her want to see her a little more. Reika came closer wit

Jumi had enough trouble at times figuring out what Reika was saying, she tried not to overthink the tone, read too much into things. She was not too surprised about tension between Reika and Kaida based on what Kaida said earlier, but she had the feeling she did not have the whole picture yet. Hopefully Reika would not to be too bothered about what happened between Jumi and Shinigami showed up either. She was not sure how Shinigami would take the surprise of Reika being here again, hopefully it would be a nicer interaction between Shinigami and Kaida. She looked to Umi, suspecting she and Shinigami got up to things that might leave her wi

Reika only looked more intrigued when Jumi mentioned it. "Of course she would... I am not worried about her, though. She might just end being another girl she plays with.", she replied in a snarky manner. Still, a slice of annoyance could be heard in her tone as well if someone listened well enough to notice. Her gaze turned to the fairy. "That will be interesting to see. Her and I, we have a story to finish. In all of its due time.", The tone of annoyance increased a little but she otherwise remained calm. Once they were allowed inside, Kaida made sure to follow the car at a safe distance, walking dragon steps to a safe spot near the temple,

Jumi let the waking come, still relaxing for the moment before hearing that voice again and opening her eyes. “Staying with us, hm?” She had expected Reika to go back to watching Mitsuko, not seeing her again until their private moment. The comments about Kaida shifted her thoughts. Looked like Reika did not listen to everything that was said earlier, if she listened at all. “Surprised? She wanted to see Shinigami for herself after hearing about her.” Did not age though? That brought up questions about Kaida again, perhaps more than she seemed after all? A hint of Nall’s recognition? She would not ask though, it might come up on its

Reika only seemed to watch in amusement as they disappeared painlessly in the void. Nall didn't really like it, even panicking a bit but slumber did take him just the same anyway. Only then did Reika also disappear to leave nothing. They both would wake up soon after, probably close to the temple now if they were still on the road. Nall looked grumpy by it, opening his eyes slowly only to shoot them open as soon as he noticed Reika's butt near him, realizing she was still there. "Yikes.", he slipped out, moving away. "Now now, not a way to behave... I hope you had good dreams.", she replied with a smile to him then checked on Jumi. "Time to w

Jumi could not blame Nall for his suspicion. His attitude felt similar to what Jumi felt about Reika before last night. Jumi would like to believe that side of Reika she saw was genuine, that she at least sometimes showed it to some people. That Mitsuko would see more of it over these few days, but it looked like she would not get to see more of it, unless Reika showed her later. She did not say anything about the state of Mitsuko’s body or the sword. If it was here and not part of Mitsuko now, they would not likely be able to touch it. She thought the place was probably real, but she and Nall were not completely present. “Probably

I think we'll just go with it, then!

Back at Gearhart Repairs, besides the locomotive station she was employed for, there was almost always a scent that clung to the place. And she lived there. The dry, woody notes of sawdust, smoke from any manner of fuel she required, and as of these last few months the acrid scent of gunpowder. Living there, Millie had fully accepted- and even welcomed- that she wasn't to be at home with the others in this town. After all, she wasn't at home anywhere. But it was one thing to smell like a machinist in your workspace, and quite another outside of it. Millie could care less what people thought, usually, when she went about her business around th

Capacity. Over capacity? This is safe. The loud droning murmuring of so many people awaiting the coming show near one of the few entrances into the hall quieted into hushed whispers and brief, peaceful moments of silence. It spread like a bubble, drifted down along one of the crowded lanes of traffic, and the way it parted people lingering within the crowded aisle made it appear almost physical in nature. As it passed some within the crowd left behind grew louder. Others kept their conversations low. Most of the conversations were dreadfully boring, the same sort of thing that had been discussed again and again. "Who is that?"

The tamping of the fine carpet under Missy's heels was like the slow tapping of fingertips behind the rainfall cacophony of the music hall crowd finding their seats: dramatic, deliberate, nearly a ceremonial step. Walk slow-like. You move fast an' you'll blend in. Everybody's in a hurry, so you rush and all of a sudden you're just part of everybody. And you're not, Missy Fisher. They don't know it yet is all. So it's up to you to convince 'em. Clarence Whitty's sideshow barker cadence cracked through into Missy's mind, tucking itself between the cool silver blossoms of her Art Nouveau earrings and the silent recital of her prepared

The air was electrifying, and jovial. It was days like this would remind any performer be they vaudeville or melodrama, opera or realist that they were in it for a good reason. Back stage the hired hands were moving about nervous and prepared. The other musicians sat prepared with the instruments held closely to their form. These were men and women of undeniable skill, dedicated adherents of a craft that demanded untold hours of practice. Their manner of dress immaculate, clad in evening coats of darkest black and brilliant and dresses of brilliant white. All sorts, from all over getting the chance to shine on the stage for the people of this