Steampunk AU

[sliceitwithwind]

It was a nice inn, a crossroads of many people where it wouldn't be unusual to see a Chinese courtesan sitting next to an English trader, or a Katzu warrior chatting with an Olia scientist.

It was a little less likely to see a Katzu scientist chattering excitedly with what looked like an Olia pirate, but...not enough that the majority of the patrons to bat more than an eye. The Katzu in question had goggles shoved up on his dreads, and a leather apron over his slightly charred clothing, leather gloves, and an expression of purest glee. The Olia had a missing eye, a gentleman's clothing, and an expression of long-suffering camaraderie.

"And that's when I realised that by adding another boiler I could get triple the power, which was when the automaton stumbled into the table but the point is that it spoke! Words I hadn't given it yet!"

Comments

[mitochondriaaya]

"A minute or two of eternity in her mind," he chuckled softly. "But Sheeva bears up under it well? You have very forgiving pets aboard."

[sliceitwithwind]

"They are the best pets." Dilan said, laughing, "Absolutely the best."

[mitochondriaaya]

"They have to be to put up with a world that moves through the air!" They weren't winged after all! "Whatever happened with that count that wanted to commission you, Dilan?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"I'd get a bird, but birds don't like me." Dilan said, wounded.

"To be fair, that's mostly the large birds. And the very small ones."

"Oh. He also wanted me to marry his daughter and give up Braig."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Well, you have a great deal more teeth than birds do. It offends them and they don't have much brain for more than that." Nevada chuckled, then winced. "Ah, I see. Was he ham handed enough to outright say that?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yes, but it does make it hard for them to be pets." Dilan pointed out. "Not...quite? But he kept asking when Braig was leaving again, and sitting me next to Maria."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Yes, well, birds are incredibly overrated anyone, and you have katzu children on board." It was hard to convince them not to chase birds really. "As charming as Maria can no doubt be that is rather beyond the pale. Was the project at least interesting?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"True!" Dilan laughed, "It was. Mostly because it showed thoughtfulness for his servants, we were automating a lot of the steps in some of the harder work so that it would be easier on the washers and the like."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Good to hear that the man has some redeeming qualities." Nevada noted with a smile. "It is always a problem when the aristocracy anywhere forgets such things." It led to things like uprisings, civil wars, creative evil scientists...

[sliceitwithwind]

"He's a pretty good man...I just don't want to marry his daughter." Dilan said, nodding, "I'm selling blueprints to the machines, too. They should help the lower classes in general."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Ah, my friend the revolutionist!" he chuckled. "Or perhaps reformer. You'll change the world, Dilan, spreading information like that. And a lot of people won't take it well." Just saying! It was a good thing his home moved a great deal!

"Granted, it could give you quite the excuse to visit the Americas. I hear the moose is well worth hunting."

[sliceitwithwind]

"I know." Dilan said, tilting his head a bit, "But I am Dilan of Lenna Clan, and if they attack me they attack the Clans." Founders were special. Even to other Clans.

"I would like to kill a moose, some day."

[mitochondriaaya]

"That doesn't bar someone from arranging accidents," Nevada noted a touch grimly. "I'll keep an ear out just in case." Because that was what friends did.

"I'm sure the moose are properly terrified. They may not have met any proper katzu yet."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Mmm. True." Dilan agreed, "I should work on that personal armour again..."

"No, Dilan. You shocked yourself unconscious last time."

"I can fix that!"

[mitochondriaaya]

"No, just trust us for now and keep moving as you do." Nevada voted. "Next time you may not wake up with all your faculties intact." Brains were a strange thing, and electricity stranger. It was suppose to help the mad, but he didn't buy into that medical hype and his friend was not mad.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Of course I trust you." Dilan said mildly, "You're about as close to Katzu as a human can get."

Which made Braig snort a little into his glass.

[mitochondriaaya]

"I don't know whether to be flattered at the compliment or worried that you might trust anyone who approaches katzu mindsets!" Nevada laughed and toasted Dilan with his glass.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Oh, no." Dilan said, "I don't trust many people."

"I've managed to get him that far, at least."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Then I'm honored," Nevada chuckled. "And I think I would have enjoyed being katzu."

[sliceitwithwind]

"We would have been lucky to have you." Dilan said gravely, nodding.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Perhaps when I fully retire I'll join your border guards," Nevada noted seriously. It was something he had been considering for some time. "Kika and Marq have both been making noises in that direction and I would hate to disappoint."

[sliceitwithwind]

"You know we'd love to have you." Dilan said, seriously, "The training you could give the others...well."

[mitochondriaaya]

"We will see what life brings," he offered genially. "It is a far more tempting idea than mouldering away on my estate though."

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan laughed, "So could and wet, yes. Not a place you could pay me to retire."

Braig laughed as well, shaking his head.

[mitochondriaaya]

"England isn't a country for katzu," he agreed with a grin. "Nor is it kind on old bones no matter how often people call it bracing." He loved his country, he did, but he loved other parts of the world as well.