Unwanted

Amelia frowned as Mr. Murray looked over the credential sheet she had written for herself. He asked, "Do you have experience with chemical propellants? Or any weapons design experience at all?"

Amelia shook her head and said, "Just as I've written there, I designed built and tested the automobile. I also designed, built, and tested the first functional dirigible airship."

Mr. Murray didn't bother looking up as he replied, "In Langland you mean. I took a look at your airship, it had some clever ideas but your work was shoddy. You're risking your life anytime you climb aboard it." He looked up at her, "You should check with Mr. Hudsucker over at the port, they might need an Airship tech. You might learn a few things that would help you clean up your design. You just aren't suited for the kind of work we do here."

Amelia bit her lip and then said with gusto, "Look, Lady Connaissance sent me over here to get a job. It's not like I am coming in off the streets!"

Mr. Murray rubbed the bridge of his nose looking a little frustrated, "I should give you exactly what job, miss Earnhardt? You don't know the things you'd need in order to work here. Your math isn't up to our minimum standard. Your machining quality is shoddy. You have invented a couple of machines by rearranging other inventor's work into logical designs but the quality of the build makes it obvious you only managed this through a lazy combination of trial and error. What exactly would you do here? Fetch coffee? Sweep up?"

He walked over to the chalkboard and held up a piece of chalk for her, "Here is the problem I want you to solve, how would you disable a man three hundred yards away without killing him but leaving him unable to battle."

Amelia thought for a minute and then turned around and walked out, "You better hope that you can still be this much of an asshole once I talk to Lady Connaissance about you. I know what you are doing here, you just don't want a woman to work here."

Mr. Murray frustratedly shook his head and sat back down at his desk going over his work once more.

*****

Teslaimia took a seat in the tea shop as the man behind the shop counter walked out smiling at her, "Good evening, you're in luck I was just about to close up shop for the day, what can I get for you?"

She smiled and pointed at his glass counter, "I'd like Jasmine tea and a couple of your scones, please. Do you have blueberry?"

He nodded and with a grin on his face asked, "to go, or would you like to try some here?"

She shook her head, "To go please, I wouldn't want to keep you here at closing hour."

"How much of the Jasmine? I do tea bags for two Fairies each, or I can measure and weigh it, one Fairie per cup."

She thought for a moment, "Ugh, we have that annoying house guest, can you give me six of the teabags and three scones, please?"

He chuckled and asked, "Your husband invited a friend over to stay with you, then?"

She nodded, "They both talk about things only they understand and enjoy. I feel left out of any conversation they have."

He smiled and handed her the bag, "That will be two Sprite, please." He accepted the money from her and said, "It can be hard watching your best friend enjoy someone else's company, laughing, having a good time. You just have to remember it's not because they see you any differently or love you any less, it's just because they are finally able to talk about the things they have a passion for with someone that shares that same passion. He chose you to be his partner in life from young to old. Those other friends come and go over the years."

She smiled, "Thank you, I think I understand." She got up and headed for the door she stopped and turned back to him, "What if the new friend is a woman?"

He smiled, "Punch him in the nuts."

They both laughed as she shook her head walking out the door.

*****

Amelia sat on a bench in front of City Hall when she saw Teslaimia walking over. She grinned and whistled, "Hey beautiful, want to wait here with me? Emily said she'd be down in a minute."

Teslaimia tried to keep the annoyance off her face for walking over and sitting down on the bench with Amelia. Amelia slid closer and smiled at her. Teslaimia rolled her eyes and said, "I'm sorry if I came across as rude this afternoon, I was annoyed with Emily and I probably took it out on you."

Amelia chuckled and said, "Oh, it's alright. I get that a lot. I know I am loud and annoying." Amelia's arm draped over Teslaimia's shoulder smoothly, "I wasn't trying to move in on your girl or anything you know, I am just a friendly gal." She laughed, "Hey Emily was telling me that you design clothing, would it be possible to try some on when we get to Emily's place?"

Teslaimia started to feel a little worried as she replied, "You said they gave you some sheer clothing at my father's harem? Those are my designs."

Amelia turned a bit red in the face, "Oh my! I hope we can all try some on then." She chuckled happily.

Teslaimia brow twitched. She reached over and lightly took Amelia's arm and moved it off her shoulder, "I am not sure what your game is, but Emily and I are not like that. When she invited you to stay over it was out of kindness, not because she wanted to see you romantically."

Amelia laughed loudly, "You really are the jealous type, aren't you." She smiled at Teslaimia and said, "I'm not here long beautiful, don't get your panties in a twist. Once I have what I need, I'll be back on another adventure."

Teslaimia frowned at the woman and asked, "Isn't this just another adventure for you?"

Amelia lightly touched her lips with a finger, "Clever girl. That is exactly what this is for me, a grand adventure! To me, you and Emily are just the beautiful damsels in need of rescue from your boring humdrum lives."

Teslaimia laughed loudly, 'You think Emily and I lead boring lives?"

Amelia shrugged while keeping the smug smile on her face. "I think you two are like bored housewives. You do the same routine day in and day out. There is no excitement or passion to either of you."

Teslaimia saw Emily leaving the City Hall's main entrance and stood up, "Interesting, so I guess that means you really haven't bothered to do your homework about either of us. I hope you aren't as sloppy with your inventing as you are with your detective work or the people who use your inventions are doomed." She waved at Emily and her guards and shouted out, "Emmy, I bought tea and scones for us all."

Emily smiled happily seeing that Teslaimia and Amelia were waiting together.

*****

Cardinal Gibson's procession began to climb over the steep Vernmont pass when defeated looking soldiers began to pass by, one of the soldiers in the Cardinal's procession asked one of the men, "What happened to you guys? Why aren't you formed up?"

A soldier from one of the nations called out, "You sent us to be slaughtered in the name of the Lord. I wouldn't go that way if I were you. Only death will greet you down that path."

The Cardinal asked his carriage driver, "What's going on?"

The driver said, "It's the same with all of them, Your Eminence. They say death is all we will find over the pass. I don't think the army turned back. They probably wanted some spoils for the long trip and attacked the Windsor Kingdom. From the looks of it, they were routed."

The Cardinal sat back in his chair and prayed, he then spoke up to the driver, "Tell the Captain to look for an officer, have that officer come aboard my carriage when we find one."

*****

Teslaimia brewed tea for Amelia and Emily as Amelia once again told a story about one of her adventures, "In Landon the Capital city of Langland there is a great bridge that spans over the River James. I had always wanted to see it, so I hopped in my ship and flew under it and then over it. Next thing I know, they start firing crossbow bolts at me as I am screaming at them that I am from Langland!" She started laughing loudly.

Emily smiled and Teslaimia brought over tea and scones for the two of them. Emily clapped happily, "Oh you found a new tea shop! You'll have to give me the address or better yet, take me with you."

Teslaimia nodded happily. Amelia laughed and said, "Come on that's exciting right?

Emily took a sip of the tea and then set her teacup down, "Amelia, what happened with Mr. Murray?"

Amelia rolled her eyes, "Men being men. They just can't accept a woman working with them so they gave me a ridiculously hard exam and then insulted my work."

Teslaimia nearly spit out her tea as she started to laugh.

Amelia frowned at her and then said, "No, I'm serious. That... Mr. Murray has his standards so high that there was no way for anyone to pass it. I know he only gave me that exam because I am a woman."

Emily frowned and then added a cube of sugar to her tea stirring the cup steadily, "Amelia, Mr. Murray doesn't own the Future Art of War Company. He is merely the lead designer."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Then I can find the owner and sweet talk him into giving me a shot! I wondered how he had been able to see my Airship, he was just making that all up."

Emily tapped the spoon on the edge of her cup before setting the spoon down and taking a sip, "Where the things Mr. Murray said wrong?"

Amelia puffed out her chest, "Wrong? No, not really, they were just embellished. He made everything sound much worse than it was just because he wanted to discredit me."

Emily picked up a folder and opened it up looking over a few documents, "I have the report from my Airship techs that went over your ship. They fear that if you continue to fly it in its current condition you'll meet a bad end. I had a copy of this report sent to Mr. Murray. I asked him to give you that exam because I wasn't going to hire you at my company if you had been lying about your credentials. I might be kind, but I am not willing to sacrifice my people's lives by giving them lazily made equipment. I understand that Mr. Murray suggested that you interview with Mr. Hudsucker about an Airship tech job. Why didn't you follow that lead?"

Amelia looked shocked as she stared at the woman who had been so kind and attentive to her all-day. "I am an inventor, why would I settle for being someone's laborer?"

Emily tilted her head and said softly, "Even a knight has to start as a squire. Your skills aren't at the level they need to be, did you think that just slapping a few parts together in a workshop was the same as studying for years and working to get the needed experience? I do enjoy the way you tell a story, Amelia, but you shouldn't confuse what you call being an inventor with real science. I am willing to help you become a real inventor, but you need to work to get that experience and knowledge." Emily set her cup of tea down and said, "Both companies are owned by me. Mr. Hudsucker is my employee as well. He invented the Dirigible airship you followed in here, I paid for it and also gave him a workforce. If you think you can earn money here in Connaissance without working for me, you can try the industrial area, just keep in mind they will check with my people to ask for a recommendation."

Emily smiled and continued, "I am willing to allow you to stay here in my guest room until you find a place of your own, or you can leave on your ship anytime you wish. My airship techs fixed the worst of your ship's catastrophic problems, but they aren't willing to sign off on it being airworthy. That being said, if you choose to leave knowing that, we won't stop you."

Amelia stood up, her face bright red from the scolding, partially from anger and partially from the embarrassment. Instead of saying a word she just walked defiantly out the door giving it a healthy slam as she left. Teslaimia was slightly shocked, "I think she was expecting a more romantic evening Emmy, that was fairly harsh of you."

Emily raised an eyebrow at Teslaimia, "You disapprove, Mia?"

Teslaimia smiled and curled up on the couch next to her and said, "No, no, I just meant that you were so forceful with her, I was wondering why?"

Emily picked up a scone and ripped a small bite off of it, "I don't care for her attitude. You know how hard I have worked since I was a child to be where I am today. How hard I work on this city. She is someone that wants the world but isn't willing to pay that price. That kind of person doesn't interest me."

Teslaimia frowned, "Wasn't that the kind of person that I was?"

Emily raised an eyebrow, "I never saw you that way. You put your all into everything you do as well. Be it designing your clothing or even making a simple lunch. The things you know you have spent years perfecting. Like me, you spent your childhood advancing yourself for a goal. Once that goal was stolen from you, you didn't give up, you just refocused yourself and kept going forward. That's why I fell in love with you, Mia."

"It wasn't that kiss?"

Emily chuckled, "The kiss you gave me just allowed me to see you and made me want to pay attention to you."

Teslaimia leaned into Emily and gave her a deep kiss, "Think we will ever see Amelia again?"

Emily smiled, "Mhm, she left her bag here. She'll be back in about five minutes."