Aboard the Queen Matilda
Nov. 1st, 2012 10:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janestarzSetting: semi-historical or steampunk, alternate Earth. Very British.
Main characters: Lydia and Roland Browning, husband and wife.
Other important characters: several Swashbuckling gentlemen, some boring and not-so-boring wives and ladies, the servants and of course Sebastian the cat.
The plot: Mr. Browning is an inventor and a scientist and he's moving with his entire household to another continent. Aboard the steam ship, the Queen Matilda, Stuff Happens. Lydia Browning is the typical smart but bored housewife, who gets to go on the adventure, while her husband is mostly just busy with his work. The cat is important.
Word count: 2611
Noteworthy Snippet:
Lydia was about to thank him for the compliment, but Roland ploughed on.
“I have asked William to make sure my research is not stowed in the hold either. The journey takes more than three weeks, I dread to think what I would do in the mean time if I didn't have my work to keep me occupied.”
Lydia patted his arm and smiled up at her husband. “I believe it is expected of us to socialise with the other passengers. Didn't mr. Brockham tell you there would be a programme of delightful activities to keep us busy during the journey?”
“What, those concerts, matinees and vaudevilles and such? I know you enjoy them, and I shall accompany you if I must, but I never did like such entertainment very much. You know that of me.”
“I do, and I shall try and not impose upon you too often.” Lydia smiled. “I believe there are also very gentlemanly things to do like smoking cigars in a library and playing billiards. Who knows, you might make a few new friends.”
“Damned silly waste of an evening.” Roland checked the time on his pocket watch. “We will leave for the docks in a few hours, and there's still a lot to be done. I told William to arrange matters for his family first, so they will already be belowdecks when we arrive. Don't forget Sebastian. I don't think we can turn the ship around if you forget your cat.”
Main characters: Lydia and Roland Browning, husband and wife.
Other important characters: several Swashbuckling gentlemen, some boring and not-so-boring wives and ladies, the servants and of course Sebastian the cat.
The plot: Mr. Browning is an inventor and a scientist and he's moving with his entire household to another continent. Aboard the steam ship, the Queen Matilda, Stuff Happens. Lydia Browning is the typical smart but bored housewife, who gets to go on the adventure, while her husband is mostly just busy with his work. The cat is important.
Word count: 2611
Noteworthy Snippet:
Lydia was about to thank him for the compliment, but Roland ploughed on.
“I have asked William to make sure my research is not stowed in the hold either. The journey takes more than three weeks, I dread to think what I would do in the mean time if I didn't have my work to keep me occupied.”
Lydia patted his arm and smiled up at her husband. “I believe it is expected of us to socialise with the other passengers. Didn't mr. Brockham tell you there would be a programme of delightful activities to keep us busy during the journey?”
“What, those concerts, matinees and vaudevilles and such? I know you enjoy them, and I shall accompany you if I must, but I never did like such entertainment very much. You know that of me.”
“I do, and I shall try and not impose upon you too often.” Lydia smiled. “I believe there are also very gentlemanly things to do like smoking cigars in a library and playing billiards. Who knows, you might make a few new friends.”
“Damned silly waste of an evening.” Roland checked the time on his pocket watch. “We will leave for the docks in a few hours, and there's still a lot to be done. I told William to arrange matters for his family first, so they will already be belowdecks when we arrive. Don't forget Sebastian. I don't think we can turn the ship around if you forget your cat.”
