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Cage Talk

Jimmy led Ivory down a rusting set of stares into what, in Ivory's mind, was the epitome of a dungeon; it was just missing the satanic torture devices. Although, she bet, as he led her deeper into the hold, those tools were probably just packed in a crate somewhere.

"It's kinda depressing down here," Ivory commented, reaching out automatically for Jimmy's hand as something tiny and black scurried just beyond their feet.

A small smile spread across Jimmy's face, "Aw nah it isn't that bad."

"What are we doing down here again?" Ivory swayed, clasping both hands to his like a sort of lifeline.

Jimmy didn't answer, just continued to smile as he led her through what seemed like a maze of rusting cages and vicariously stacked wooden crates.

"You know your uncle Jack stayed down here last time he was on board," Jimmy stopped walking, leaning casually against a cage and entwining his arms in the bars loosely.

Ivory approached a large cage. Old straw carpeted the cage like most of the hold's floor. Everything smelt musty, and all the sounds of life above were muffled out by a dull hum Ivory assumed was the tram's engine room. She didn't have a response for Jimmy, what are you supposed to say when someone tells you your uncle stowed away in the hold of a tram steamer like an animal?

"That very cage, actually," Jimmy smirked as Ivory's eyes grew silently.

"Oh," she exhaled, studying her surroundings a few moments longer she added sarcastically, "Cozy."

The air felt tight to her, or maybe the fact she found it harder to breath was the confirmation her uncle had kept something from her. He'd traveled on a tram – had probably filmed that movie everyone kept referencing too. He and Ann hadn't met at opening night of one of his plays. He'd lied to her and had a secret. Acts she didn't think he was capable of, had hoped he wasn't capable of, unlike his brother…her father.

Ivory shook her head, physically trying to remove the thoughts that had been creeping into her psyche every since she and Ann had rushed through the city streets and hoped aboard a tram-steamer last night. The same thoughts that had kept her awake, tossing and turning in her tiny designated cabin and hadn't let her sleep.

"It's a bit creepy down here." Ivory said.

Jimmy came to stand behind her, slowly.

"I find it peaceful down here." Jimmy said quietly, as if sharing a secret.

A small smile found it's way onto Ivory's lips.

"It's where I come to think," Jimmy continued. Ivory decided he'd definitely just shared a secret with her.

Maybe this place wasn't so bad.

"What can you tell me about before?" Ivory asked in a whisper, "The last trip Jack and Ann and Preston and you… and everyone, was on?"

At first she thought Jimmy hadn't heard her, the hum drowning out her voice. Ivory turned and saw a retreating form, wrapping its arms back through the bars on the other side of the tiny makeshift hallway between the cages.

His eyes had darkened, he looked unsure and, Ivory realized, scared.

She felt bad, but curiosity often trumped all other emotion. She went and leaned against the same cage, focusing her eyes on his face though he wouldn't look at her.

"I dunno if that's really somethin' you wanna know about, Ive." Jimmy said, using Preston's nickname for her unknowingly.

Ivory smiled at the fact it wasn't just Preston's anymore. She opened her mouth to say something but the boat swayed sharply. Jimmy moved, unconcerned. Ivory lost her balance, cursing she swayed, stumbled backwards and knocked her legs into a stack of crates she hadn't noticed before. There was a loud clang-ing sound, like bottles knocking against one another.

Jimmy froze as Ivory reached down and pulled a rather large and heavier than she expected bottle up to the light so she could read the label.

"Chloroform?" Her eyes grew again, she knew what it was, ranchers had used it to put animals to sleep for the vet and such back home.

"What are you trying to do?" Ivory asked sharply, "Put the whole ship to sleep?"

Jimmy winced, looking guilty.

Her words came out harsher than she had intended, but she was definitely shaken. There were a lot of crates, she saw now that she was actually looking, and that meant a lot of Chloroform.

"Jimmy!" Captain Englehorn's voice rang clear through the hold, making Ivory jump and Jimmy wince again.

The Captain rounded the corner then, Ivory noticed he was tense, but still a commanding force, "The Sea's getting choppy, we need you in the nest."

He nodded silently, not meeting the Captain's cold eyes or Ivory's disappointed ones.

Jimmy leaned into her and whispered, "Pretend you never saw those."

He turned and started walking, as he passed by Captain Englehorn leaned in, grabbing him by the collar, he whispered harshly in Jimmy's ear, "and later you can make sure the cargo is packed away properly."

Jimmy still refused to meet the Captain's harsh eyes. He nodded weakly and was released from the menacing grip. And then Jimmy was gone, winding his way through the maze of cages with a startling familiarity.

The Captain focused his gaze on Ivory. She felt her stomach twist, but refused to take even one step back, turning her exterior manner to steel, though her nerves wildly disagreed.

"The hold is no place for young girls such as yourself." Captain Englehorn said, matter-of-factly, with a slight edge.

"What is the hold for?" Ivory challenged, her curiosity had begun to get the better of her nerves, as per usual.

Captain Englehorn studied her for a moment, "Food storage."

"And the cages?"

"We used to do live animal capture."

"Used to?" She asked pointedly.

Captain Englehorn sighed.

"I think Miss Darrow has been looking for you." He said with finality, than turned and started walking in the direction Jimmy had fled moments before.

Ivory pondered staying pat, showing this commanding Captain figure she could take care of her self, the dark didn't scare her.

Captain Englehorn turned the corner and was lost from her sight.

Ivory's stubbornness heaved way to the realization she might not be able to find the stairs, and would be left wandering the hold, alone, in the dim light of a few gas lanterns, stumbling into who-knows-what and maybe knocking into a few more crates full of Chloroform bottles.

With a final deciding look around the hold, and at her uncle's old living space, she hurried after Captain Englehorn.

Once they exited the hold the Captain turned, with a small nod to Ivory, and walked to deck. She watched him go. If you stripped away the stern demeanor he could actually be somewhat of a gentleman. She shrugged and began swaying down the corridor towards uncle Jack and Ann's room. The sea really had gotten fierce and she seemed to be the only person aboard without a clue of the past and was also the only one not to own a pair of sea legs.

The ocean slammed into the steamer and Ivory hit the side of the corridor, cursing, she pushed open the cabin door and entered. Ann greeted her with a faint smile, sad almost.

"Where's uncle Jack?" Ivory asked, though she was more curious where Preston was. He might be the perfect person to share her chemical discovery with.

"Oh," Ann waved her hand in the air distractedly, "He's somewhere with Preston reviewing the script and blocking."

Ivory nodded, trying to hide her disappointment, she was hoping they'd be done by now.

Slouching on the bed she and Ann began to talk about anything and everything not related to tram-steamers, Chloroform, mysterious Captain's, animal capture or walnuts.