Tuesday, 4 November 1800. 8:03 p.m.
basement of a small (but growing!) textiles factory
"What do you MEAN you don't know if there's an alchemist?! Doesn't anyone ever get sick in this town?"
"We have to go soon, people! The shops are gonna close!"
"I can't wait! I love shopping! I wonder what Swiss dinner clothes look like....."
"What kind of moron buys clothes only to wear them to dinner and no where else?"
Carleigh rubbed her temples, trying to block out the banter of her companions. It had been so good to get back to her own people--even if they were just the ghouls of her own people. She had never in her wildest moments thought she would ever be so happy to see Richard. Though that didn't stop her from making the mental note that the ghoul had defied her orders and stayed in the country. Another shortcoming to hold against him. Another improvement to her night.
But now everyone was clamoring to go out. Well, there was no need to baby sit them. If they wanted to go, they could go. She told them as much.
"Wow, you mean you're relinquishing control over your flock? Unbelievable." Sugar muttered. Carleigh pretended she hadn't heard that...again.
"Hey...where's the wolf girl?" Sobek asked, glancing around the basement.
"Outside the city." Sugar told him. "She said when we were coming in that the smokestacks and houses were the ugliest abominations she had ever seen in her unlife. But I got her to promise to meet up with us tonight."
"Okay then, let's just get going before the shops close!" Maria called impatiently.
"What do you want with embalming fluid, anyway?" Mei asked the Giovanni as the group filed out the back door. "I thought your clan was only concerned with bringing ghosts back from the dead...and money and temporal power and all that other stuff that doesn't really require embalming fluid."
Carleigh didn't hear Maria's answer. Nor did she particularly care what it was. She sighed happily, glad to be alone in the darkness. After a few moments of enjoying the blessed silence, she hurried up the stairs to the factory.
"Well, Richard. Seeing as how you haven't left the country as I had expected, perhaps you will allow me to make use of your presence by asking you to show me the workings of this plant."