(Untitled)

[iliketodruitt]

John wasn't sure what the island normally looked like, having arrived after it changed, but he was conflicted about its current appearance. The Victorian period held one of the happier times of his life, but also one of the darkest. He was thankful that there was no Whitechapel here, already it was hard enough to be here. It seemed as if half

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[arrownomore]

"He was here last year," Cissie said, not sure if he was talking to her or to himself but he looked newish so figured there was no reason not to answer. Of all the times to show up here, this was probably the worst.

"Though I think I'd rather have everything back to normal. The snow's bad enough but these clothes are totally the worst. How anyone stood to dress like this, I have no idea!"

[iliketodruitt]

Of course it had to be a blonde. It seemed like half the island was made up of them. To see so many dressed in the Victorian style was more than a little guilt inducing. Thankfully none of them were dressed as prostitutes.

"How very interesting, I should very much like to meet him," he said with a grin. He had always wondered if Santa Claus was perhaps real in their world. It would be amusing if he was some sort of Abnormal. Someone with an ability similar to his own could definitely pull it off.

"And it's not all that bad. Though I must admit even during the times, corsets were less than popular with the women."

[arrownomore]

"Well sure, that's easy for you to say," Cissie grumbled as she fidgeted with her hat, trying to keep it falling off again. "You guys don't nearly have as much layers as we do. I can't even get dressed in the mornings without help. But anyway, sorry. That was probably way more that you wanted to know."

"I'm Cissie," she said brightly. "And I'm going to guess that you're kind of new?"

[iliketodruitt]

"John," he said with a matching smile, offering his hand out. Her complaint about the clothes was one he had heard a lot of, even in the time they had first come along.

"And that's true, our layers are not so complicated as yours. But do not feel too bad, women of this era often required the help of others getting dressed."

[misanthrope_md]

As far as the annual winter changes to the island went, this wasn't so bad as most. Though House didn't care what his clothes turned into, he sure as fuck wasn't wearing a cravat. The fact that it was cold outside was the only thing that had gotten him into a long, nicely cut coat and a hat.

Okay, fine. He kind of thought the deerstalker was cool.

He was crunching by on the snow as well (carefully, on his cane, which was now wood and bone instead of metal, and stereoscopic for some reason) when he heard the man talking to himself, and he couldn't resist a sarcastic, "Yeah, he shows up every year and widdles a bunch of toys out of wood. Even Santa Claus is pretty useless here."

[iliketodruitt]

The man's sarcasm wasn't lost in John, but he cared very little for the opinions of other people and what they may or may not think of him. He turned to the voice and smiled politely at the rather unhappy man standing there.

"Well, perhaps he'll be able to do a bit more this year given the various technology this particular incarnation of London seems to hold," he said. Even for someone like John who had been on the cutting edge of technology back in Victorian England, some of the things he had seen were rather extraordinary for the time.

[misanthrope_md]

Which was actually why House was out exploring. Who knew what he might stumble across that would be interesting or useful - even if it wasn't pain relief. He'd even been considering risking bursting into flames by walking into a church and seeing if there was a pipe organ.

"Yeah, I would imagine there are some people here who are right at home," House said, thinking of Helen in particular. "Me, I'd prefer London with big screen TVs and maybe a football stadium."

He held up his cane, snapping it so that it telescoped impressively in, leaving mostly the bone-carved snake on the handle. "I mean, what use is that?"

[iliketodruitt]

"Yes, though even this is a somewhat romanticized version of it all," John said, glancing around at everything. The people who were merely shades tended to take away from some of the overwhelming press of humanity that true Victorian London had. As well as some of the stench.

"And I imagine that it's primary use tends to be to make it easier to misplace, or fail to completely extend or retract so that before long, you merely have half a cane."

[shewaswarned]

Ellen's not entirely overwhelmed by the sudden change in the weather - or in the transformation from island huts to a London city overnight. If anything, it reminds her more of home than ever and leaves her with a bittersweet feeling. She'd arrived with a winter coat on, after all, but when she'd gone to try and recover it from the depths of her closet, she'd only found herself with armfuls of dresses, corsets, petticoats and jackets. By some miracle she'd managed to figure out how to put them on correctly - and maybe it was all the period films she'd watched over the years, but she also finds a way to wear the corset without the feeling of being asphyxiated.

Navigating the streets in a pair of high-heeled boots is a breeze. She's had enough practice doing that at home. Doing it while carrying a heavy skirt is another story entirely. She's so busy concentrating that she isn't sure whether or not the man is addressing her as she focuses on stepping around a patch of black ice.

"Pardon?" she asks, looking up at him.

[iliketodruitt]

"Forgive me, I was mostly speaking my mind out loud, wondering if Santa Claus was going to come. A bit of a childish curiosity I suppose," he said, giving the woman a warm smile. She looked rather comfortable in the outfit, or at least she had put it all on properly, which was a feat in and of itself. Victorian layers were not all self explanatory sometimes.

"But I have heard that he makes an appearance here most years."

[shewaswarned]

"I don't think that happens until later in the month, anyway," Ellen answers, adjusting her skirts briefly until she can stand in front of him without feeling like a ringing bell. "Sorry to dash your spirits."

The admission from a person who she's originally pegged as a newcomer has her glancing up in curiosity. "Really? I hadn't heard that, but leave it to the island to be a continual font of surprises."

[iliketodruitt]

"I have not witnessed it myself, having only just arrived on the first, but several of the people I have talked to have told me that he does come," John said. Out of all the crazy things he had heard about this place, Santa Claus probably wasn't even in the top five, which was saying something.

"And I have heard that there seem to be quite a few surprises to keep the inhabitants on their toes."

[seeyousoonthen]

Savannah had waddled out into the city to find herself something nice. What she'd found was the fanciest hat she'd ever seen, complete with ribbons and feathers. It was almost busy enough to distract the eye from her belly. She couldn't wait until she had this stupid baby.

Oh, what a thought. She shouldn't be so hateful.

Straightening her hat a bit, she heard the comment and turned to see who was talking.

"Oh, he was here last December, for real. I haven't seen him this year, but this year the city is awfully big, don't you think?" she replied cheerfully.

[iliketodruitt]

Like all the other blondes that seemed to generously populate this place, this one twisted the guilt inside of him, threatening to flash the faces of his more famous victims across his memory. As if to make things worse, this girl was even pregnant. With an effort, he pushed them aside. The guilt he fully deserved could come later, at a time that was more appropriate for it.

"I don't know, it seems to be only a fraction of what I recall of it," he said, glancing around. "Though I suppose that it's big enough for one person to go unnoticed by people for several days."

[seeyousoonthen]

"That's just what I mean. I've been staying close to home but I had to get out a little bit. I have a feeling that I'm going to miss so many people this month. Why, oh, I've missed you! I'm Savannah," she replied.

She thrust out her hand to shake his. Nothing stood in the way between Savannah and a true and genuine greeting. She loved meeting people and the island was just one opportunity after another to meet new people and broaden her horizons.

[iliketodruitt]

"John," he said, reaching out to shake her hand. She was so impossibly eager and cheerful, it was impossible not to smile at her. It was probably a very, very poor idea on his part to continue talking to her, but a friendly conversation sounded so nice.

"And forgive me, I realize that it's not the politically correct thing to say, but I would not feel a gentleman if I did not... should you be out alone in this weather in your condition? The ground is terribly slick without someone to steady you."

[submitwithwill]

Exploration was my only goal that day, walking through the unfamiliar streets and wandering in and out of the various shops. When I had been warned of the massive changes that could occur with the seasons, I certainly hadn't imagined anything such as what I found myself in, but I also found I didn't mind it so much. For one the fashion, while not familiar, was at least cut to lengths that were familiar to me outside of the bedroom or the Night Court. For
my own garments, once I had determined exactly how everything was to be worn, I was quite comfortable. The island had even been kind enough to provide a warm cloak to wear over my ensemble so that I did not catch a chill walking through the town

[iliketodruitt]

"Oi, Mademoiselle," he said with a nod, slipping momentarily into what he hoped was the native French of the woman. If not, it was a remarkably good accent she was putting on. John didn't have quite the talent for languages that say, Nikola and Helen had, but he'd been alive long enough to come to a good understanding of the more common romance languages.

The woman herself was beautiful, dark haired with a sense of sensuality that conveyed itself without a single word or action. It simply was.

"I assure you I'm quite fine. Merely wondering out loud. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

[submitwithwill]

I smiled at his use of what the locals called French, and was tempted to respond in the same until he continued. It was obvious he felt more comfortable with the common, English, speech and with my fluency in both it mattered little to me.

"Not at all. I was simply concerned. Can I offer you any assistance?" As I had no definitive plans of my own, it would be a simple enough matter to detour and assist someone.

[iliketodruitt]

"I think I am quite alright on my own, but I would not be opposed to pleasant company," he said with a smile. He had not seen the woman about before in the few days that he was here, he was sure he would have recognized her.

"I was alive when London was first like this, or quite similar, so it is interesting to see it again. I was merely wondering out loud if Santa Claus was going to make an appearance, I have heard from several others that he comes to this place this time of year."