Tea and Scones.

Captain Alexander had a seat on the Patio of the little tea shop. He had a few newspapers on his hand which he spread out on the table. Mabel came out with her usual smile, "Captain Alexander! Welcome back, it's been a while since I last saw you. What can I get for you today?"

He gave her a smile and said, "Cup of coffee, cream, and sugar. Also, what scones do you have today?"

She smiled and standing up straight, "Blueberry, plain and lemon poppy seed."

He nodded and then said, "Let me try the Lemon poppy seed, that sounds good."

A few minutes later she set down the coffee and the scone, she looked down at the papers, "Aren't those old editions? Why would you want to read old newspapers?"

He smiled and said, "A strange thing. These ten articles have stories in them directly related to conversations I had right here at this tea shop. Almost as if someone here, took down the things I said, embellished them, and then printed them in the paper. Only, every time I have been here I was only here alone or with Lady Connaissance. Isn't that odd?"

Mabel smiled and then said, "That really is odd. Do you think someone on the upper floors listens in out their window?"

He shook his head slowly, "I would think that if these buildings were in the old style with windows that opened. These buildings are all built with Obsidian glass. So tell me, Mabel, how did these things you overheard end up in the newspaper?"

Mabel's smile disappeared and she sat down across from him, "I write under an assumed name. At first, I was just trying to earn a few extra Sprite, but they gave me a bonus when I wrote articles about Lady Connaissance."

He nodded his head, "That's so interesting. I asked your editor to retract some of the things said about her and he said that they weren't responsible for these articles because they were written as opinion pieces. Isn't that funny? So tell me. How do we fix the damage you have done?"

Mabel suddenly looked at him with a smug face, "I only wrote the things you yourself said, Captain. Maybe you should think about why you would say things like that to a total stranger."

He leaned close to her and asked, "Are you sure you can't do me a favor and retract this story?" He turned the paper to her and tapped on the article outing Lady Connaissance and Teslaimia.

She smirked and said, "As if I would retract a story about those shameful degenerates. I want them to suffer. They think they are better than us just because they were born pretty and wealthy?"

He smiled at her and leaned closer lifting her chin up and looking into her eyes, "Maybe we could lock up the shop, and go up to your residence to discuss this in private?"

Mabel blushed and licked her lips, "Alright."

*****

Emily was having a cup of coffee and a croissant when Teslaima gasped, "Look at the front page! There is a new killer on the loose, they are killing him the Westside Ripper!"

Emily looked up and shook her head, "Whenever you have large groups of people, there will always be murders." She took a drink from her coffee and went back to reading through reports.

Teslaimia shook her head and said, "Listen to this, he had sex with the victim and then murdered her. Ew, she was almost decapitated it says. How awful, the poor woman."

Captain Alexander walked in shortly after with a big smile on his face. He took his customary seat without asking. He looked over at Teslaimia and asked, "What has you all excited?"

She looked at him strangely, "You had sex didn't you?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"

She smirked and said, "Look at your neck, idiot." She rolled her eyes and then said, "It says here that the killer took a trophy again. This is the third woman in the last two weeks!"

Emily looked at Jon's neck and asked in an annoyed tone, "I thought you went to see Mabel this morning?"

Teslaimia looked up from the paper with her mouth open, "You dog!"

Emily shook her head and did a slow facepalm, "I don't want to know anymore. As long as it's going to be fixed."

Captain Alexander leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head and a guilty smile on his face, "Hey now, she has some strong opinions, but she's a good listener."

Emily shook her head and asked, "Then she will print a retraction?"

"Better, I explained to her that you and I are a couple and that you and Teslaimia are just best friends. I explained that I was just angry that you didn't take me with you to the Holy Chadtom Empire so I made up a story about you to get even." He smiled.

Emily's eyebrow twitched, "And how did you explain your morning workout?"

"I cheated on you with her. It made her really excited too." He shrugged.

Teslaimia threw a couch pillow at Jon, "You are so gross. I thought it smelled funny when you walked in. You could have taken a bath first."

Emily pinched the bridge of her nose, "Teslaimia I think I am going to publicly dump him."

Teslaimia nodded and said, "Womanizer."

Captain Alexander shook his head and said, "I would gladly choose either of you over Mabel any day of the week."

Teslaimia made a happy face, "Aww that's sweet of you."

Emily was back to reading reports and asked, "Seriously, why don't you two find work you can do instead of just coming in here to discuss everyone's love life?"

Captain Alexander replied, "This is my job..."

Teslaimia shrugged and said, "I am a Princess, we don't have to work."

*****

Captain Gibbs was leaning back in his chair watching the scenery out the forward observation window. He turned to Nate Butler and asked, "Do you ever get tired of it?" Pointed out the window.

Nate smiled and shook his head, "I am blown away every time I look out that window. we are some of the luckiest human beings on the Hanston. I understand the danger that comes with our job, but I look out at that and think, they are paying me for this?"

Captain Gibbs nodded and then picked up his cup of coffee to have a drink as one of the Far Speaks buzzed loudly, he picked it up to hear, "Captain, we have incoming soldiers from the northeast."

He brought the cone to his mouth and asked, "Do you have an identity yet?"

"No captain, we request you change heading to ten clicks east"

The Captain called out, "Helm, ten clicks east."

Nate looked at the Captain, "What did they see?"

"Unknown force heading to us from the northeast." He frowned, "Grab the chart who would be coming from that direction."

Nate unfolded a large cloth trade map. He pointed to two nations, "This map is pretty old, but it looked like we have the Khahzickstan Empire and the Mongonians that could come from that direction."

Captain Gibbs nodded, "The Mongonians are a nomadic hunting people, usually raid on horseback. From what I know of them, they are rarely grouped more than a few hundred at a time. As for the Khahzickstan Empire, they are known for their fierce navy. I don't even think they would care to send an army overland."

A few minutes later the Far Speak buzzed loudly. Captain Gibbs put it up to his ear, "We count an army of one million men, the standard is not recorded. No idea if they are friendlies or not."

The Captain brought the cone down to his mouth, "How many on horseback?" He brought the cone to his ear.

"More than half on a horse, they have two horses for every one of those. The rest are in wagons."

A few moments later a sound like several rocks hitting the ship sounded.

The Far Speak buzzed again, "Several hundred black puffs of smoke and then something hit the ship, recommend taking the ship up to seven hundred."

The Captain called out, "Take us up to seven hundred, I want a damage and injury report!"

Several Far Speak buzzers sounded on the bridge and then men began to report, "Beehive reports several injuries from projectiles similar to Bees."

"Boiler two reports one dead from Bee injury."

"Boiler one reports the main water line severed. Time to repair, thirty minutes."

"Bag room reports lift bags received multiple punctures. Gas pressure stable."

Captain Gibbs called out, "Prepare to return fire!"

"Beehive reports no steam pressure unable to fire."

Captain Gibbs called out, "Helm, bring us around, best speed back to the city!"

*****

Mabel's cheeks were blushed and she was singing and whistling happily as she worked in the tea shop. Emily walked over and sat down. Mabel suddenly felt something was off. She walked out and asked, "Hello Lady Connaissance, can I get you the usual."

Emily looked lost and confused, she nodded at Mabel. Emily waited without really talking. Mabel set the scone and tea down for her and couldn't stop herself from asking, "You seem troubled, Pixie for your thoughts?"

Emily nodded her head and asked, "Do you think that people can be cursed?"

Mabel raised an eyebrow, "How do you mean cursed?"

Emily blinked away tears that started to well in her eyes, "My parents were murdered, I was exiled from my country and the man I fell for has been cheating on me. On top of that, some cruel people spread rumors about me having an improper relationship with my only friend. I went to my best friend's fiancé's father's funeral was struck in the head during a kidnapping and I lost my physical abilities. That's why I carry this cane now." She looked up at Mabel with tear-streaked cheeks and asked, "Do you think I am cursed?"

Mabel had an odd look on her face. She sat down and looked at Emily and said, "But you are so beautiful and all these people love you and want to trade places with you."

Emily shook her head and said, "I have almost no freedom." She looked over her shoulder, "See those men? They follow me everywhere now." She took a sip of tea and then continued, "I am surrounded at all times by handsome men who want to possess me, but not one of them wants to love me. I am just a piece they need for their collection. Or a way to get funding for their next project."

Mabel's look grew more and more complex she said, "I never imagined that your life was like that."

Emily looked at her and took a bite of the scone. She wiped her mouth with a cloth and asked, "What should my life be like?"

Mabel thought for a moment, "I thought your life was glamorous, nothing but parties, the best food, the best company. No bills to worry about no stress in your life at all. Just one great day after another."

Emily set the scone down, "I am rich, yes. There is nothing I can't buy if I want it. Only, I have bills and more stress than any person should ever have to suffer." She pointed to the buildings, "All of these buildings, the construction for the city? I paid for it all. The new dam? I paid for that. All of those glamorous events you mentioned? I have to pay for those. Anytime something happens in this city, someone has their hand out to me asking for me to pay for it. I don't get anything out of doing any of this, it's just my duty as the appointed city lord." She looked down, "No one ever asks me what I'd like unless I am a customer. Even here, one of my most precious escapes, I still have to pay."

Mabel looked a little pale, "I'm sorry, I never thought of that."

Emily nodded, "Sometimes I just hope that a handsome prince will come and take me away. Only, the truth is... Those handsome princes aren't here for me, they come for my money."

"I thought that Captain you used to bring around was nice..."

Emily shook her head, "He wants what he wants just like any other man, once he gets it, what use does he have for you?"