Tea Time (Part 2) or Adventures in Driving

JP with Redsword, Lorem and Cindy

“I have seen Paris, as a whole, from a bird’s eye view; however, we always find purchase back inside the Exposition grounds.” Lorem replied. Her posture was impeccable. It was obvious she was trying to play the role of high society though based on what she had read. To anyone born and raised in it, they would be able to tell she was out of her element.

She smiled, “The History of Habitation is intriguing. I did not mind any of the poetic decisions they made regarding the exhibits. While some were more historically and architecturally accurate, I found the ones that were adjusted by the imagination to be more attractive.” She paused. “The Gallery of Machines was my favorite, especially the elevator demonstration. Though I can also say with confidence that the theatrical performances we attended yesterday were a real delight as well.”

"Yes, the airship you work on, is quite impressive. The Fliegender Fisch, is it?" The German words, said through a British accent, were not pronounced excately correct though it was not terrible. "I must admit, your English is better than my German." She paused because the tea and food was being served.

Soon enough servants came out with a variety of finger sandwiches, fruit, small tea cakes, crudette, among other foods. The tea was poured with the expert care of the servants. This was not a overly formal tea but still this was an upscale home so the servants would offer the food to those at tea first before placing it on the table.

After putting two sugars into her tea and while stirring, Elizabeth spoke. "Feel free to help yourself to more food if you wish." As Elizabeth was the lady of the house, once that was said it was permissible to serve oneself.

"I did enjoy the History of Habation. The Eldren one did take some poetic license. I must say, I am a bit of a History buff so it was one of the exhibits I most wanted to see." There was no surprise the gnome enjoyed The Galley of Machines the best. "Machinery is so intriguing now, especially with all the advancements over the past several years. The theater? I just adore attending the theater. Please tell, what did you go see?"

It was easy to see that Lorem was trying to act high society but wasn't. Still it was in a way that was charming and not annoying or silly. Elizabeth appreciated the effort.

"So, tell me, if you can, what kind of interesting machinery have you worked on besides the flying machine." The Eldren realized that Lorem might have some trade secrets she could not speak of. Elizabeth wasn't asking for those, just what Lorem could discuss.

Sung, when everyone was being served, was quiet saying nothing nodding now in then to acknowledge anything thing sed to the group. Sung moved with the most fluid and graceful motion. His etiquette was flawless. in some ways different than Lady Elizabeth's maybe some foreign influence.

Sung just seem to listen intently to every word said at the table. He did not look like he did not understand more studying the people talking. being very interested in them.

Nostrud was keen to observe Mr. Sung, using the gentleman’s conduct as the metric for how to behave, just like Lorem was trying to emulate Lady Ellington if even possible. They both gratefully took their tea, the cups relationally larger in their hands, meaning they handled it differently than what the others present might have been accustomed to.

Lorem smiled reliving the shows in her memory as she mentioned them. “We were able to see the dancers of Les Follies Parisiens, The Opéra Comique performing Jules Massenet's Esclarmonde, Buffalo Billy Cody's Wild West Show, and Barnum and Bailey’s Circus.”

When Lorem went to answer her second question, she glanced briefly at her father who gave her a knowing look. They had discussed on the ride over how she needed to be prudent, minding her passion, when it came to sharing technical details which may very well be intellectual property of the Wuppertal Company. No need to lose their jobs and get a lawsuit brought down on the family in one fell swoop.

“I have been a part, to differing degrees, on most of the larger projects at Wuppertal over the last seven years. So I’ve had experience within their aeronautic, marine and terrestrial departments. Some you may have heard of are the floating tram system and the underwater yacht, and the passive solar designed mobile homes. I also have many side projects, smaller in scale and most of them personal … like the Dampfewagen we rode here in.”

Elizabeth did not pay much attention to Sung's proper behavior because he was just like that. Nostrud and Lorem were copying Sung and herself, which was fine.

"I have had the pleasure of partaking in all of those, except Buffalo Bill's show." Elizabeth glanced at Sung with a slight smile. "Mr. Sung we must attempt to take in that Wild West Show before it leaves. I did get to see, Barum and Bailey's show when they were in London a few months ago. It was a wonderful performance."

Lorem spoke about her work, it was impressive that someone sp young had accomplished so much and Elizabeth remarked as such. "That is quite impressive to have worked on so much. I would love to see your Dampfewagen, after tea. If you wouldn't mind." Elizabeth did mean that, it wasn't something she was privy to on a regular basis.

Lorem seemed to relax ever so slightly at Elizabeth’s request. Tea time and proper etiquette seemed unfamiliar; however, looking under the hood of her contraptions was comfortable territory.

She smiled, “That is very kind of you to say. The Wuppertal Company took me in as an apprentice, becoming my benefactor at a very early age. That plus my parents, allowed me the opportunities to get hands on training earlier than most. Plus I’ve gotten to shadow some of the greatest minds of Germany in the process.”

She took a little sip of the tea. It was a new flavor for her. Typically she stuck with water, because she preferred not to take any substances that could hinder thinking or alter performance. But she wasn’t abject to other options.

“I would be delighted to show you the Dampfewagen. If you are interested, perhaps I can show you how to operate it as well?”

Sung was listening intently for other reasons. Sung had a lot of talents one was medieval armor and weapons smith he was more interested in the metal that was used and what it was made of. his current was a third of dwarven steel, a third of Eldren steel, and a third of human tool steel. he would be interested to learn stronger steel metals. but his questions would have to wait. "yes it would be fascinating to see this Dampfewagen." Sung commented.

Elizabeth smiled and her voice became more excited but not so much that would be considered inappropriate. "That sounds wonderful. I love to learn how to operate it."

There might have been a slight bit of wanting the neighbors to see. It would certainly be the talk among the proper upper-class women, if for a short time. As proper as Elizabeth was, she had a sense of adventure that was hard to contain sometimes. Besides, Sung seemed to be interested in the vehicle as well.

Tea continued with small talk in-between bites of food and sips of tea. It took about an hour to get through the meal, which was about average. When everyone was finished, Elizabeth said. "Well, if you please, I would really like to see your Dampfewagen, now. Then after, perhaps the two gentlemen would care to speak in the study. While we women retire to the parlor." It was common, after tea, for the men and women to split for a short time while after tea drinks were served. Elizabeth really needed that time to speak to Lorem in private about the offer.

Nostrud and Lorem escorted Elizabeth and Sung to the go-kart looking vehicle that they had parked out front of the house. Lorem, who was tentative to talk freely during the tea time, suddenly had a lot to say. Without even taking a beat to breathe, a non stop string of explanations and details came bubbling to the surface. She gave them a thorough tour of how it functioned and some side commentary on things she had to contend with along the way to make it finally operational. She was definitely in her element.

All the while, Nostrud helped assist and helped translate her more technical talk into laymen’s terms.

Afterwards she demonstrated how one turned it on and manipulated the different levers, pedals and wheel to make the vehicle bend to the drivers will. After she felt like she had demonstrated enough, she readjusted the driver seat and offered Elizabeth a turn. The little gnome climbed into the passenger seat. She indicated that riding gloves, hat and goggles were beneath the seat in a compartment; however, they were most likely going to be too small for your average size person.

Elizabeth paid close attention to everything Lorem showed her. While the Eldern had learned to drive a few years back. She barely ever had the chance to as she was driven everywhere. So to say her skills in this area were not great might be an understatement.

Still she figured, going down the street fairly slowly, a short distance, what could happen?

Elizabeth got into the seat and familiarized with the levers and gears. The vehicle started and down the street she went.

The thing about driving a vehicle designed for a gnome apparently is the vehicle is designed for a gnome. Elizabeth hit the petal a bit to hard, and quickly went faster she had intended.

In her panic she completely forgot what lever did what and took her eyes off the road. When her blue eyes looked up again what they saw in front of them was the quickly approaching brown bark of a tree.

Quickly turning the wheel but too hard. While the tree was missed the Dampfewagen flipped over, with the Eldren still at the wheel.

Sung did not want to go with them but did watch besides there was not much room. He watches with some humor watching his Lady drive. But Sung knew he could not be much better at it. Everything looks good for the first minute or two. then he hears the engine blast some steam and pick up speed way too much speed. Sung saw them heading for a tree.

Sung said a few words in focus on his breathing. He could feel his feet sink into the ground as the strength in his body gathered. Without warning, Sung dashed off moving so fast he was hard to track watching him. the speed was almost superhuman.

Arriving Sung slid to a stop his shoes were smoking some. he pushed some people out of the way gently. Sung kneeled "My Lady are you hurt?" Sung asked looking her over. The to women busted out laughing. Sung was not amused he was more relieved that all they had was a few scapes and some bruising was going to form. The dress that Elisabeth was wearing had seen better times.

The people there with Sung and the Father when he arrived shortly after managed to get the Dampfewagen back on its wheels. Sung turned to Mr. Ipsum "I will let you drive back if it can drive." The crowd had gotten bigger and the house they were in front of the people there were watching from their lawn. If people did not know Lady Elizabeth was in town every one would know it now.

Sung would help Lady Elizabeth back to the house. Sung was not too worried about etiquette at this point Sung just scooped her up in his arms and started to walk back to the house. He just gave a scary look to the crowd and they moved out of his way. there was a lot of talking and whispering in the crowd as Sung walked if anything was said he did not like he just gave them a look and they stop. People could tell this is not a man you would want to be mad at you.

The whole thing was just ridiculous and Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh. Of course, people had started gathering and also of course Sung made it to her in record time.

Well, she would be the talk among the upper-class women of Paris for a little while, at least to the next exciting thing happened. She thanked the men who had put the vehicle upright.

"Yes, I am fine. Mr. Sung." Elizabeth did know that look, Sung was not amused.

Knowing what might be coming next, Elizabeth turned to Lorem. "I am sorry. I hope you are alright. Please come back to the house."

Hopefully, she didn't make a mess of the rest of the visit. There was not much else to do just return to her home with Sung and hope Lorem and Nostrud followed and didn't decide to just leave.

Nostrud assured Lady Elizabeth and Mr. Sung that everything was alright and made sure his daughter was fine. This was par for the course in his experience. She was dangling from her harness and he needed to help her get out.

The moment she was free of the machine and it was obvious everyone was alright, Lorem and her dad did a quick inspection of the vehicle that was set back upright. Aside from some new dings, dents and scrapes, it was still in working order. Fortunately it hadn’t reached that great a speed before rolling or else the wheels might have taken more strain. The two gnomes fired her back up and went to park it back near the house.

As Lorem was giving her invention another last look, Nostrud caught up with the other two. “I hope you are alright Lady Elizabeth. And don’t you worry about Miss Ipsum. I guarantee the next words out of her mouth will probably be most encouraging.”

True enough Lorem finally made it over to them and she seemed positively aglow with enthusiasm. “That was fantastic. Now I know we need to fabricate a roll guard and weld it to the chassis. We never would have know that if we didn’t crash like that. Oh yes, and the resistance on the pedals should be modified perhaps based on the weight of the person in the driver seat. Or maybe, we just lower the suspension and raise the wheels through the frame so the whole vehicle rides lower to the ground and is harder to roll?” She was teaming with lessons learned and new ideas. Lorem was oblivious to the fact her hair due was slightly disheveled and there was some new wear and tear on her outfit.

“Thank you Lady Elizabeth for that fine experiment.” She grinned. For a follower of Invento, that experience was practically akin to worship during a service.

"I am fine, Mr. Ipsum, thank you." Even if she might become slightly bruised, the Eldren had healing as one of her magical gifts, but really did not think it would be necessary.

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at Lorem's excitement over crashing. "Well, then glad I could be of help." She responded lightly. She said to Lorem. "Shall we go to the parlor, and let the two gentlemen go into the study?"

Lorem nodded, “Yes milady.” Her father likewise agreed to separate and go with Mr. Sung. He had a series of questions already lined up regarding the impressive physical feat the older gentlemen just displayed outside.