Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 3 2009, 14:39:45 UTC
“What’s your name?” Murphy asked.
Councilman House had never talked about his family. She had heard from the other members that he had a son, but none of them had mentioned a granddaughter. Once again she realized how little she knew about the Mages she worked with everyday.
“Bree,” she grinned. “My dad’s the best medical Mage in the world. He’s even cured Nulls with it.”
“What? That’s impossible,” she said, scowling at Bree.
Her opinion on medical Mages was the same as her opinion of other Mages only they were less useful to her. Mage medical treatments wouldn’t work on her or any of the Null as they were immune to all Mage magic. It was why they couldn’t operate the crystals that gave the Mage class their powers.
“No it’s not. My dad did it. His powers are strong enough to overcome the Negation Effect.”
Murphy’s scowl deepened. She had never heard of any Mage capable of overcoming the Negation Effect of Nulls. Even the three Celestial crystals that gave the Kings they’re power were useless. Surely any Mage who was able to overcome it would be famous by now.
“It’s impossible,” She said firmly.
Choices: 01. “I’ll prove it!” 02. “Bree, what are you doing back here?” 03. “Who needs to brag when you’ll do it for me?”
Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 3 2009, 23:57:04 UTC
“Bree, what are you doing back here?”
Bree winced and then turned to face the man who had joined them. He was older than Murphy, wearing the rings of a Mage and the crystal holding belt of a Medical Mage. Princeton University was famous for its advanced medical magic program.
“I was just talking to the Councilwoman,” Bree said, gesturing to Murphy.
She drew herself up when the Mage looked at her. She always felt like Mages were judging her.
“You’re Councilwoman Murphy.” He offered her a hand, “Doctor James Wilson, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Surprised, she shook the offered hand, “Uh, thank you.”
“What you did in stopping the madman last year, that was incredible. How is Inspector Lassiter? Do you two still talk?”
“Wilson, you’re embarrassing her,” Bree broke in when she noticed Murphy was blushing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just not every day I meet a real hero.”
“I just wanted to save my daughter,” Murphy said. She desperately wanted to change the topic. “Can either of you show me how to get out of here? I have business in the Null quarter.”
Choices: 01. Wilson offers to escort her there. 02. Bree says that’s where her dad is. 03. They’re interrupted by the other Council members.
Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 4 2009, 14:18:13 UTC
“The Null Quarter?” Bree perked up considerably at the mention of the city that was where the majority of Nulls lived. “My dad’s there. Can I come with?”
“Bree,” Wilson scolded. “The Councilwoman is very busy today. You’ve taken up enough of her time.”
Murphy felt an initial rush or relief. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the girl, but all the questions made her uncomfortable. She preferred to keep things to herself. Except, she remembered what the girl had said earlier about her father and her curiosity came back. If he could really treat Nulls, he could do a lot for her people.
“No, it’s quite alright,” she said with a smile. “Are you supposed to meet him there?”
“She’s not allo…”
“Yes!” Bree jumped in, obviously catching on to what Murphy was trying to say.
“Then I’d be happy to give you a ride.”
Wilson was scowling at them both, but Murphy only raised her chin and offered Bree her arm. He didn’t make any protest as Bree started to lead her out of the maze of hallways that made up Princeton University. The funny thing about Mages was for all their power, they were content to follow the laws and as a Coucil member, Murphy was to be treated with respect. She often used this to her advantage.
“Wow, an air carriage. I only got to ride in my grandfather’s a few times.” She climbed in as soon as the footman opened the door for her and then started to look around at the expensive fabrics and decorations.
“The gates of the Null Quarter, please,” Murphy said as she climbed in and the door was closed behind her. The footman went to the front and after a second of silence the carriage lifted a few inches off the ground and started forward.
“So, tell me about your father.”
Choices: 01. Bree gets suspicious and asks why. 02. Bree starts to talk about her dad without questioning it. 03. Bree asks about Murphy.
Re: Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 4 2009, 16:25:46 UTC
Bree’s excited look disappeared in a flash as the young Mage sat in her seat and faced her again. “Grandfather didn’t talk about him?”
“Your grandfather was a private man, even with the other Mages,” Murphy said, somewhat surprised at the girl’s sudden change of mood. She had been so eager to talk about her father before. What had changed now?
“Yeah, I bet he never said a word about dad.” She sounded bitter, angry too. Something had definitely changed.
“Bad blood?” she asked, curious.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Murphy raised an eyebrow, but Bree was looking out the window of the carriage and ignoring her. Something in the girl’s eye told Murphy it was a sore subject, whatever it was. She leaned back in her seat, thinking over what she knew about Councilman House, which was very little. He was a hard man and very firm about the law. What had he done to his family?
“Do you know where your father is in the Quarter?” Murphy changed the subject. The direct approach wasn’t going to work.
Choices: 01. “Probably in the market.” 02. “He likes a bar there.” 03. “There’s a Null he works with.”
Re: Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 4 2009, 17:10:00 UTC
“There’s a Null he works with,” she said. “I think on Shore, maybe Singer. He mentioned it once.”
Murphy knew both of those streets. Between Shore and Singer was the Null underground market. It was illegal for Nulls to own certain items, usually anything the Mage deemed dangerous for them to own. She couldn’t understand why a Null in the underground market would trust a Mage enough to work with him.
“Your father must be one impressive Mage,” Murphy said softly the knocked on the front of the carraiage. “Take us to Jacobs Street please.”
“Yes ma’am.”
They passed through the gates that designated the Null Quarter and were instantly engulfed in the sounds of steam engines and the smoke of burning coal. They couldn’t use the crystals that powered Mage Alchemic technology. The carriage they rode is was supported by a mixture of different magic and without the footman, Murphy couldn’t work it. What the Null had were horses, steam engines and coal. While the smell of it made Bree wrinkle her nose up, Murphy felt like she was home at last.
“You don’t have to wait for us. We’ll find our own way back,” Murphy said when she stepped out on the carriage and onto Jacobs street. The footman looked relieved to leave. Standing on the corner with Bree she waited until the carriage was out of sight before she started to unpin her hair, and take off the bracelets that marked her new rank. She hated wearing them inside the Quarter.
“Stay with me.” She put a hand on Bree’s shoulder and started towards Shore. The Null around them looked at her suspisciously. She had lost a lot of their trust when she got her position on the Council. Not everyone hated her though. A few smiled and reached out for both her hands, the traditional Null greeting.
“There, there he is!” Bree pointed to a man with a cane dressed nothing like a Mage walking out of a building with another man, a Null, right behind him. “Dad! Dad!”
The man looked over and Murphy saw the resemblance to Councilman House immediately. Their eyes met and…
Choices: 01. … her heart stumbled in her chest. She had never seen eyes that blue… 02. …he scowled at her, looking more like his father. 03. …then he looked away, focusing on Bree.
Re: Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 5 2009, 14:32:12 UTC
Their eyes met, then he looked away and focused on Bree. “You got into a stranger’s carriage? Did you at least get the candy first?”
“Dad.” Bree rolled her eyes. “She’s on the Council. She knew grandfather.”
“That doesn’t speak to her character at all.”
Murphy scowled and stood slightly back from the group. The Null had crossed his arms over his chest, a traditional Null sign of rejection, and Bree’s father certainly wasn’t welcoming at all. She expected very little hostility since he worked with Null. Perhaps wanting to meet this Mage was a mistake after all.
“Yours seems to be very similar to your grandfather’s,” she said smoothly. “He dismissed me as well.”
House glared at her, but the Null broke in before he could say anything. “What are you doing here, Councilwoman? You’re not welcome in these streets.”
“You’re the Null Councilwoman.” Instantly House seemed more interested.
“She didn’t believe me that you could cure Null with magic.”
“You told someone on the Council?”
Bree winced at her father’s anger and Murphy frowned in confusion. There was something going on here, something more that she didn’t understand.
Re: Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 5 2009, 15:31:38 UTC
“Grandfather ignored her, she doesn’t know,” Bree said quickly. “I didn’t tell her anything else.”
“Oh well that makes everything okay then. We’re going home now. Say good-bye to the hypocritical politician.”
“So you can cure them?” Murphy took a step forward, tempted to reach out and grab the man to keep him there. “I’ve spent very little time in Mage culture and very little time with your father, but I can figure some things out. The reason your father hated you as because you can actually do what you claim and heal Null. The reason he is shunning me but not you, a Mage, someone a fanatical Null would hate on principle, is because you can heal Null and he’s helping you.”
Everyone went quiet at that, but one corner of House’s mouth tipped up ever so slightly. She raised her chin.
“I am more than a hypocritical politician,” she said.
“Can she stay around? She’s cool.” Bree asked with a grin.
Choices: 01. “No.” 02. “Only if she can pass the test.” 03. “She’s still a hypocrite.”
Re: Wandering Lost - Steampunk AUlieu_murphySeptember 5 2009, 21:08:54 UTC
“No.”
“Dad!”
“I want to help you, help my people.” Murphy grabbed his arm this time, glaring hard at him. “If you can really do what you claim, I want to help you prove it, I want the whole world to know.”
“And I don’t want to be part of your crusade.” House yanked his arm away.
“Then why are you here?” She wasn’t going to let this go that easily.
“Because it’s interesting, because all I care about is the next puzzle and how to solve it,” House said with a smirk. “Your cause, your people, they mean nothing to me.”
“So you’re only here…”
“To prove that I can do it.”
“Well then.” She took a step back and drew herself up, adopting her Council attitude. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. House, Bree. May you find your way with more helping hands than you need.”
“And may you get over your self-righteous attitude.”
“Wait, Dad maybe she…”
Choices: 01. “… can help you.” 02. “… can fix things.” 03. “… can give us a ride back.”
Councilman House had never talked about his family. She had heard from the other members that he had a son, but none of them had mentioned a granddaughter. Once again she realized how little she knew about the Mages she worked with everyday.
“Bree,” she grinned. “My dad’s the best medical Mage in the world. He’s even cured Nulls with it.”
“What? That’s impossible,” she said, scowling at Bree.
Her opinion on medical Mages was the same as her opinion of other Mages only they were less useful to her. Mage medical treatments wouldn’t work on her or any of the Null as they were immune to all Mage magic. It was why they couldn’t operate the crystals that gave the Mage class their powers.
“No it’s not. My dad did it. His powers are strong enough to overcome the Negation Effect.”
Murphy’s scowl deepened. She had never heard of any Mage capable of overcoming the Negation Effect of Nulls. Even the three Celestial crystals that gave the Kings they’re power were useless. Surely any Mage who was able to overcome it would be famous by now.
“It’s impossible,” She said firmly.
Choices:
01. “I’ll prove it!”
02. “Bree, what are you doing back here?”
03. “Who needs to brag when you’ll do it for me?”
Reply
Reply
Bree winced and then turned to face the man who had joined them. He was older than Murphy, wearing the rings of a Mage and the crystal holding belt of a Medical Mage. Princeton University was famous for its advanced medical magic program.
“I was just talking to the Councilwoman,” Bree said, gesturing to Murphy.
She drew herself up when the Mage looked at her. She always felt like Mages were judging her.
“You’re Councilwoman Murphy.” He offered her a hand, “Doctor James Wilson, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Surprised, she shook the offered hand, “Uh, thank you.”
“What you did in stopping the madman last year, that was incredible. How is Inspector Lassiter? Do you two still talk?”
“Wilson, you’re embarrassing her,” Bree broke in when she noticed Murphy was blushing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just not every day I meet a real hero.”
“I just wanted to save my daughter,” Murphy said. She desperately wanted to change the topic. “Can either of you show me how to get out of here? I have business in the Null quarter.”
Choices:
01. Wilson offers to escort her there.
02. Bree says that’s where her dad is.
03. They’re interrupted by the other Council members.
Reply
Reply
“Bree,” Wilson scolded. “The Councilwoman is very busy today. You’ve taken up enough of her time.”
Murphy felt an initial rush or relief. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the girl, but all the questions made her uncomfortable. She preferred to keep things to herself. Except, she remembered what the girl had said earlier about her father and her curiosity came back. If he could really treat Nulls, he could do a lot for her people.
“No, it’s quite alright,” she said with a smile. “Are you supposed to meet him there?”
“She’s not allo…”
“Yes!” Bree jumped in, obviously catching on to what Murphy was trying to say.
“Then I’d be happy to give you a ride.”
Wilson was scowling at them both, but Murphy only raised her chin and offered Bree her arm. He didn’t make any protest as Bree started to lead her out of the maze of hallways that made up Princeton University. The funny thing about Mages was for all their power, they were content to follow the laws and as a Coucil member, Murphy was to be treated with respect. She often used this to her advantage.
“Wow, an air carriage. I only got to ride in my grandfather’s a few times.” She climbed in as soon as the footman opened the door for her and then started to look around at the expensive fabrics and decorations.
“The gates of the Null Quarter, please,” Murphy said as she climbed in and the door was closed behind her. The footman went to the front and after a second of silence the carriage lifted a few inches off the ground and started forward.
“So, tell me about your father.”
Choices:
01. Bree gets suspicious and asks why.
02. Bree starts to talk about her dad without questioning it.
03. Bree asks about Murphy.
Reply
Reply
“Your grandfather was a private man, even with the other Mages,” Murphy said, somewhat surprised at the girl’s sudden change of mood. She had been so eager to talk about her father before. What had changed now?
“Yeah, I bet he never said a word about dad.” She sounded bitter, angry too. Something had definitely changed.
“Bad blood?” she asked, curious.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Murphy raised an eyebrow, but Bree was looking out the window of the carriage and ignoring her. Something in the girl’s eye told Murphy it was a sore subject, whatever it was. She leaned back in her seat, thinking over what she knew about Councilman House, which was very little. He was a hard man and very firm about the law. What had he done to his family?
“Do you know where your father is in the Quarter?” Murphy changed the subject. The direct approach wasn’t going to work.
Choices:
01. “Probably in the market.”
02. “He likes a bar there.”
03. “There’s a Null he works with.”
Reply
Reply
Murphy knew both of those streets. Between Shore and Singer was the Null underground market. It was illegal for Nulls to own certain items, usually anything the Mage deemed dangerous for them to own. She couldn’t understand why a Null in the underground market would trust a Mage enough to work with him.
“Your father must be one impressive Mage,” Murphy said softly the knocked on the front of the carraiage. “Take us to Jacobs Street please.”
“Yes ma’am.”
They passed through the gates that designated the Null Quarter and were instantly engulfed in the sounds of steam engines and the smoke of burning coal. They couldn’t use the crystals that powered Mage Alchemic technology. The carriage they rode is was supported by a mixture of different magic and without the footman, Murphy couldn’t work it. What the Null had were horses, steam engines and coal. While the smell of it made Bree wrinkle her nose up, Murphy felt like she was home at last.
“You don’t have to wait for us. We’ll find our own way back,” Murphy said when she stepped out on the carriage and onto Jacobs street. The footman looked relieved to leave. Standing on the corner with Bree she waited until the carriage was out of sight before she started to unpin her hair, and take off the bracelets that marked her new rank. She hated wearing them inside the Quarter.
“Stay with me.” She put a hand on Bree’s shoulder and started towards Shore. The Null around them looked at her suspisciously. She had lost a lot of their trust when she got her position on the Council. Not everyone hated her though. A few smiled and reached out for both her hands, the traditional Null greeting.
“There, there he is!” Bree pointed to a man with a cane dressed nothing like a Mage walking out of a building with another man, a Null, right behind him. “Dad! Dad!”
The man looked over and Murphy saw the resemblance to Councilman House immediately. Their eyes met and…
Choices:
01. … her heart stumbled in her chest. She had never seen eyes that blue…
02. …he scowled at her, looking more like his father.
03. …then he looked away, focusing on Bree.
Reply
Reply
“Dad.” Bree rolled her eyes. “She’s on the Council. She knew grandfather.”
“That doesn’t speak to her character at all.”
Murphy scowled and stood slightly back from the group. The Null had crossed his arms over his chest, a traditional Null sign of rejection, and Bree’s father certainly wasn’t welcoming at all. She expected very little hostility since he worked with Null. Perhaps wanting to meet this Mage was a mistake after all.
“Yours seems to be very similar to your grandfather’s,” she said smoothly. “He dismissed me as well.”
House glared at her, but the Null broke in before he could say anything. “What are you doing here, Councilwoman? You’re not welcome in these streets.”
“You’re the Null Councilwoman.” Instantly House seemed more interested.
“She didn’t believe me that you could cure Null with magic.”
“You told someone on the Council?”
Bree winced at her father’s anger and Murphy frowned in confusion. There was something going on here, something more that she didn’t understand.
Choices:
01. “She won’t tell anyone.”
02. “Grandfather ignored her, she doesn’t know.”
03. “It slipped out. Sorry.”
Reply
Reply
“Oh well that makes everything okay then. We’re going home now. Say good-bye to the hypocritical politician.”
“So you can cure them?” Murphy took a step forward, tempted to reach out and grab the man to keep him there. “I’ve spent very little time in Mage culture and very little time with your father, but I can figure some things out. The reason your father hated you as because you can actually do what you claim and heal Null. The reason he is shunning me but not you, a Mage, someone a fanatical Null would hate on principle, is because you can heal Null and he’s helping you.”
Everyone went quiet at that, but one corner of House’s mouth tipped up ever so slightly. She raised her chin.
“I am more than a hypocritical politician,” she said.
“Can she stay around? She’s cool.” Bree asked with a grin.
Choices:
01. “No.”
02. “Only if she can pass the test.”
03. “She’s still a hypocrite.”
Reply
Reply
“Dad!”
“I want to help you, help my people.” Murphy grabbed his arm this time, glaring hard at him. “If you can really do what you claim, I want to help you prove it, I want the whole world to know.”
“And I don’t want to be part of your crusade.” House yanked his arm away.
“Then why are you here?” She wasn’t going to let this go that easily.
“Because it’s interesting, because all I care about is the next puzzle and how to solve it,” House said with a smirk. “Your cause, your people, they mean nothing to me.”
“So you’re only here…”
“To prove that I can do it.”
“Well then.” She took a step back and drew herself up, adopting her Council attitude. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. House, Bree. May you find your way with more helping hands than you need.”
“And may you get over your self-righteous attitude.”
“Wait, Dad maybe she…”
Choices:
01. “… can help you.”
02. “… can fix things.”
03. “… can give us a ride back.”
Reply
Reply
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