[center][img]https://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/Soly222/f56a3a19-e7e0-46f5-8973-1ed29b4f7dc1_zpskinoijyw.jpg[/img] [h3][color=peachpuff]𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪 𝓛𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓷[/color][color=sandybrown] ➳ ♥[/color][/h3] "Beauty may be dangerous, but intelligence is lethal." [/center] [center][color=#f4a460]︾[/color][color=#f7b276]︾[/color][color=#fabf8d]︾[/color][color=#fccda3]︾[/color][color=#ffdab9]︾[/color][color=#fccda3]︾[/color][color=#fabf8d]︾[/color][color=#f7b276]︾[/color][color=#f4a460]︾[/color][color=#f7b276]︾[/color][color=#fabf8d]︾[/color][color=#fccda3]︾[/color][color=#ffdab9]︾[/color][color=#fdcfa7]︾[/color][color=#fbc495]︾[/color][color=#f8ba84]︾[/color][color=#f6af72]︾[/color][color=#f4a460]︾[/color][color=#f7b276]︾[/color][color=#fabf8d]︾[/color][color=#fccda3]︾[/color][color=#ffdab9]︾[/color][color=#fccda3]︾[/color][color=#fabf8d]︾[/color][color=#f7b276]︾[/color][color=#f4a460]︾[/color][color=#f7b276]︾[/color][color=#fabf8d]︾[/color][color=#fccda3]︾[/color][color=#ffdab9]︾[/color][/center] Mr. Livingston raised an eyebrow as Xavier went on about the different parts and their repair. Victoria could tell that his father was somewhat impressed with his knowledge of these things. Victoria herself was more so patting herself on the back for not bringing home a complete lunatic to her father. Still they would have to be somewhat on their toes, as he was still a stranger. [color=brown]”You really seem to know your stuff, Xavier. Very well. I can give you a place to sleep, and Victoria is an excellent cook.”[/color] He beamed when he mentioned Victoria, and her face went slightly pale. Oh no, he was about to go on his tirade. See, Victoria was at an age where it was still odd that she wasn’t married, but more odd that she didn’t have a steady suitor to begin that process. Sometimes he made it sound like she was an item to be auctioned off to any man that seemed suitable enough to her father. Victoria could only assume because he was handsome, and mildly knowledgeable, that he could be a potential suitor. [color=brown]”Yes, Victoria is an excellent cook, a kindhearted and sweet young lady. Her penmanship is more perfect than any person’s I’ve seen in the entire state. I’ve seen her make quilts and hem clothing faster than a rabbit runs from a hungry fox. She is very literate and knows how to read and write properly. She can play the violin, she is good at arithmetic, and she-“[/color] With that Victoria quickly intervened, pulling her father aside. [color=peachpuff]”Papa! Why don’t you tell Xavier all about your model steam engine? It is perfect to scale representation, and he is so proud to talk about it.”[/color] Mr. Livingston’s face lit up again and he turned his attention back towards the steam engine. [color=brown]”Wonderful invention, isn’t it? It uses the pressure of coal and steam to power locomotives and boats. In fact, I’ve done several maintenance works on the steam engine ferry that goes back and forth on the Savannah river.”[/color] With that Mr. Livingston got off his tangent of his daughter and onto the mechanics of the steam engine. Victoria let out a gentle sigh and hurried back to the front desk while the two men were distracted by their work. Reaching for her basket behind the desk, Victoria grabbed her book on mechanical devices and hurried up the stairs to her bedroom, being very careful to upon reaching the hallway just above her father’s workshop. She quickly stowed the book under her pillow and tiptoed back out into the stair well, where she heard her father’s voice [color=brown]”I don’t have any clothes to give you… As I’m the only gentleman of the household, and any of my clothes would be too small…”[/color] Victoria was just getting back into the main entryway when she saw her father emerge from his workspace, pulling out the tin box holding the day’s earnings. He pulled out a two dollars and handed them over to Victoria. [color=brown]”Take that and this young man to the town. Get him some new clothes.”[/color] Victoria overheard his question about a piano and Victoria pointed down a small hallway to a sitting room. [color=peachpuff]”We do have a piano in the sitting room… It may need to be tuned though, as it hasn’t been used in a few years.”[/color] [center][color=#f4a460]︽[/color][color=#f7b276]︽[/color][color=#fabf8d]︽[/color][color=#fccda3]︽[/color][color=#ffdab9]︽[/color][color=#fccda3]︽[/color][color=#fabf8d]︽[/color][color=#f7b276]︽[/color][color=#f4a460]︽[/color][color=#f7b276]︽[/color][color=#fabf8d]︽[/color][color=#fccda3]︽[/color][color=#ffdab9]︽[/color][color=#fdcfa7]︽[/color][color=#fbc495]︽[/color][color=#f8ba84]︽[/color][color=#f6af72]︽[/color][color=#f4a460]︽[/color][color=#f7b276]︽[/color][color=#fabf8d]︽[/color][color=#fccda3]︽[/color][color=#ffdab9]︽[/color][color=#fccda3]︽[/color][color=#fabf8d]︽[/color][color=#f7b276]︽[/color][color=#f4a460]︽[/color][color=#f7b276]︽[/color][color=#fabf8d]︽[/color][color=#fccda3]︽[/color][color=#ffdab9]︽[/color][/center]