(OOC Here if you still want to join, sign up and you will just be on the ship already if approved, unless you have some crazier idea of being picked up in the middle of the ocean or something.)
Port Gallagher May 29, 1888 The globe trotting ocean liner RMS Caloris so named for Kuronami's port capital, was now officially on the last leg of its 18-month journey. Commissioned by the Green Sea Line, she first took the seas in 1881 and had optimal time to break in, first mostly circling around Kuronami then a few cross regional trips and leading up to this particular voyage. This was her first long haul trip, what she was built for; having gone from Caloris, to the South Seas, to the far off archipelago of what is today the Freelands of the Selkie people, and now stopped in Port Gallagher in what is present day Cartoonia taking aboard the last batch of immigrants, tourists and crew and dispatching others for the next month and and a half of this trip. At the helm was the experienced Captain Edward Jonah Braun. For a man his young age having such high captain's honors didn't come without a lot of work and a little sacrifice.
That's what made this trip all the more special, because this time he had his two daughters, Histoire and Victorique along and their servant, Beatrice. The two girls had come along on previous voyages but usually shorter ones around the nation, maybe to a nearby country for a couple weeks but this length of time was a first for the family. The two girls were excited just at the prospects they may get to see their sea captain father more often by being along for the trip, which is why it was important for them to behave. But kids will be kids, even well mannered young ladies like them could find themselves into some mischief every now and again. Beatrice had her hands full keeping track of them and keeping them in order. It was good thing she was paid so well.
The Captain had other issues though to think about, his First Officer, Williams, had taken ill a few days before arriving here in port. That meant getting a replacement. But this place was well outside the company's area of influence thus the Captain had to take matters to his own hands and see if a shipping company here in port could offer up an experienced seaman to fill the shoes of First Officer. A few days before arrival a telegram was sent out to get the message out and now it was the moment of truth to see if a replacement could be found or if he'd have to shuffle the ranks among his other officers which meant changes in routine, gaps in chain of commands and should an emergency arise that would cause problems. Should a candidate come forward but not quite the material of a F.O. then a reshuffle would be a bit easier because Looking over his pocket watch which just struck 9AM, two and a half hours till departure. He was nervous sure, but this was no time to panic.
"Captain," The voice of one of his telegraph operators came holding a message. A woman in the role no less. Kuronami classist as it was, certainly was an equal one even for this time period. "Good news for you, Captain, we should be expecting a potential candidate within the hour."
"Thank you." She nodded and made her exit from the bridge. Second Officer Ichiro Ito, entered the bridge with the latest in maps for navigation. "Captain, Medical has just evacuated Officer Jones and should be in treatment here."
"Very good. Did they say about the extent of his illness?"
"Appears to be a simple case of flu. That said they also said because he quickly quarantined himself so the risk to passengers and crew should be minimal."
"All right, very good. In the meantime, continue to oversee the port duties until we're set to ship off."
"Aye, Captain."
Histoire along with her sister, Victorique had yet again given Beatrice the slip. They'd take a moment to come off the ship to see a little of the land, even if only just the port. "Wow!" Victorique exclaimed to her sister "There are so many people here to board the ship!"
"I don't think they're ALL here for that, there's many ships and boats here so many will their own ships to board and call." The fact was, Kuronami just wasn't that well known or thought of, despite it's land size. It's imperial ambitions were still small and sometimes unsuccessful. Though they had just recently gobbled up a cluster of islands to their south so that was something.
"Oooh what's that?!" Victorique pointed to something she hadn't seen before, a strange motorized vehicle (ooc: just something like that, an early motor car). "It's probably half-a-cart."
"But then where are the horses? And it has something unlike anything I've seen before!" Drawn to the unusual sight of some kind of invention neither had seen before they had to go see just what it was. It looked like a horse cart but with no horses or operator to be seen as of yet.
Now at the low end of the social structure, a young couple whom had recently arrived for a new journey. Ashby and his wife, Bianca, two young people recently married and seeking a new life. From Smalltopia, a no-name-back-water island near the arctic circle known mostly for fishing and didn't really draw big ships like The Caloris to its shores. So it became a two week trek over the seas from Smalltopia to Port Gallagher. Bianca looked on with wide eyes, like a much younger than 17 school child. She'd never seen such a massive ship, only the little fishing and tugs of her homeland. While her husband had a bit more travel and had seen, he was more impressed by his wife's awe at the size of the ship.
"She's a beauty." Ash admired with a smile.
"I can't believe how massive she really is!" Bianca exclaimed. A few people bumped by and Ash scooped his wife close to prevent pickpockets.
"She really is. This is it, my love, our last stop before our whole new life. Are you ready?"
"I guess.." She sighed a little "Ash, I'm still...Just....We've left everything behind and we're off to a whole new land with new faces and people. And more seas ahead. I must admit, I'm starting to feel more frightened than before."
"I understand. I'm feeling nervous too. But we'll be okay. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Hold on just a while longer, Honey Bee, we'll be better, I promise that much. And no man is worth nothin' if he doesn't keep a promise!"
they kissed each other before being called NEXT IN LINE, the inspection queue to check their health and check them for lice and mark their tickets. Both given a clean bill of health they were allowed to board, each carrying little more than a simple bag of a few affects from home. Down deep into the bowels of the ship they went, darker, dimmer into the third class section, beyond just third class, Steerage. The place of mass amounts of immigrants in search of a new life. This wasn't going to be the best journey in their lives but it would be the most important and one they'd have to make the most of. A single lantern for light, a coal stove for heat. Beds to sleep on at least, relatively clean for such a place.
The first class might as well be a different world, a different ship at this point. It was bright, classy, luxurious. The first class wouldn't have to worry about a lice inspection cue or health check. Young eager maid, another immigrant working aboard the ship, Kirie Tachibana was making her way between first and second class, assuring all cabins were set and made for order. Beds set, fresh linens laid out, flowers to brighten up. Miss Beatrice Smith had been frantically seeking out the two girls in her care. "Stewardess, begging your pardon but have you seen two little girls? One in her early teens and the other still growing?"
"Afraid no, Miss. I'd keep an eye out for them if you wish?"
"Please do so. And keep things quiet if you would?"
"Sure, Miss. Anything else I can get you?"
"That'll be all, thank you." She gave a polite curtsy for the stewardess as a fellow working woman. She hoped she'd be able to find them without having to inform the captain, because for sure the ship wouldn't leave without the Captain's children.
