[u][b][color=ed1c24]Franz[/color] [color=aba000]Kaufmann[/color][/b][/u]

Franz was slowly waking up from a fitful sleep. He cursed himself again for buying a new bed back home. He had quickly gotten used to its soft depths, amplifying Amelia’s warmth next to his…

Constantin shivered. Franz groaned and opened his eyes. The cramped interior of the coach he hired and the bodies of his old Kameraden greeted his eyes. Despite the little space they had, John was, of course, making tea. The peculiar aroma of the tea was soon all he could smell. Although he preferred coffee, the Englishman had rituals of tea drinking, and Franz decided it would be easier to accept the generosity than discuss it. Franz threw himself up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and smoothing his clothes.

“Kaufmann, pass me the water,” muttered Constantin as he got up. 

“Ja,” he passed him the skin from its perch. When Constantin handed it back, he took his own drink.

As he stretched, Constantin decided to antagonize the Englishman again. There was a petty struggle between them, he knew. The French hate the British like the Serben hate the Kroats. "So Rosbif, remind me again, why are we marry band of comrades on the way to this Selina? Could we not have performed what every business you had in mind in Doge City?"

"well Crapaud" John replied as he poured a cup of English Grey tea and offered it him. He muttered a crude “thanks” in his heavily accented English. "I trust these Americans even less than I trust you."

Franz shrugged. “I don’t see any problems with the Americans. Better than the Kroats or the Bosnier…”

John then poured himself a cup of tea, placing the Tea cosy back on the teapot he took a slip before continuing his conversation with Constantin "There have been all sorts of stories and rumours about this new "ghost rock" material and before I invest in anything I would like to confirm what it is and what it can do for myself"

"Likewise we also heading out here for Mister Franz's investigation for the  Imperial Society of Science and Magic but I'll let Kaufman explain that to you... again." John added on as he took another sip of tea and turned to look out window.. 

Franz sat down and sipped from the steaming bitter drink. He could explain it to his old friend again. “I’ve worked some with the Kaiserlich Verein for a few years since Sedan. They’re a part of the Universität. I tell them about those things we fought, die Untoten, and I show them the newest guns I come up with. Now they’re paying me to come to where all this magic Scheiße started and give them observations and samples. They want to know about the ghost rock too. From their pay, I’m paying you.” He grinned a little. “Besides, I figured you’d be used to fighting around the world. I still have that Qing coin you mailed me from China.”