[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=b8860b]Reginald Keystone[/color][/b][/i][/h1]
[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/bded91a9-c816-490a-8fb9-8745db8e4e8e.jpg[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=darkgoldenrod][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Ferry (Main Deck -> Lower Deck -> Cargo)
[color=b8860b][b]Skills:[/b][/color] N/A [/center][hr][hr]

	Still in steady motion for the next flight of stairs, Reginald tried to answer the question posed by the younger Miss Benaszewski as best he could. While the letter of what she was saying seemed tinged with disrespect, he could not blame the thought. It was one he had mulled around in his own brain some many times, himself. The lady was prone to her own brand of peril, and there was no getting around this. [color=b8860b]"Madame, Lady Munn has her own set of challenges, as do we all. I prefer to concentrate on the pure decency of heart the woman possesses, which stacks neatly alongside her formidable intellect."[/color] 

	The Lord Major had to pause for just a moment as he showed his ticket yet again, allowing him continued access to the deck below. [color=b8860b]"But to be perfectly honest, yes. All the same, let us maintain propriety. They have both been through a shock."[/color] He continued along his way, looking about until he remembered where the descent to Cargo was located. [color=b8860b]"Aha, here we are..."[/color] 

	He was delighted to see that a fair amount of his Fellowship was already below, waiting upon the wet and worn out persons who had gone for their involuntary swim. But first, [color=b8860b]"Lady Munn! Mr. Zalil! It is highly, [i]highly[/i] fortuitous to see that you both are in good health and spirits! I do not know what I may do to assist; you have but to name. Please, please do not delay seeing to yourselves on my account. I am here to serve."[/color] 

	Turning to the heroes of the occasion, he continued, [color=b8860b]"Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Benaszewski. Indeed, i should wish to buy you a scotch later. And [i]you[/i]..."[/color] he stressed, looking to the man who had jumped in to save Mahendra and, as it turned out, assisted Vera as well, [color=b8860b]"...are as impressively skilled as you are impulsive, sir! My thanks for seeing to the safety of these fine people! But quickly now, before I hear you speak; the Captain and I have a suspicion... You wouldn't by chance be American, now would you sir? There's a drink in it for you either way, of course."[/color] Reginald was bubbly with relief, and grateful that his Fellowship hadn't come to more serious harm. It showed in the jovial manner of the occasionally stereotypically old-fashioned British officer. 





[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=bdb76b]Haring Reddish[/color][/b][/i][/h1]
[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0601b69e-741d-4a58-84ce-2a2d876a43a3.gif[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=darkkhaki][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Ferry (Elite Deck, Josephine's Stateroom)
[color=bdb76b][b]Skills:[/b][/color] N/A [/center][hr][hr]

	At first, Haring was a little uncomfortable with the situation. He was a man who had been in some of the most harrowing and anxiety-filled years that could be had by a grunt soldier, where it paid to shut down one's ability to emote for fear of the numbing horror and loss moving one to do something foolish. Or worse, detrimental to those around you who were going through the same hell. It was even expected that the greener men would succumb to these emotions at first, and to give them space until they grew a callous over their feelings. It was how you lived to see another day. No shame in it, but it was to be avoided. Things were different now. He was no longer living the life of a front line soldier stuck in a ditch squaring off against the enemy. One might say very accurately that he lived in much more favorable conditions, and now working as the batman to a living legend. Still, the habits of a line soldier were hard to break. Perhaps this was why he was uncomfortable when Josephine began to weep in earnest. 

	The soldierly matter of propriety was to be taken into consideration, not to mention the fact that his own words had been questionable just earlier. And now he stood in a private stateroom, alone with an unmarried woman with whom he was supposed to be conducting a report. He was a man of duty before everything else. Professional in demeanor. [i]Reddish didn't know what to do here.[/i]

	A few seconds passed as he stood there in indecision while Josephine expressed her feelings of loss and anger. If he continued to do [i]nothing[/i], he would be considered a cad. Perhaps he even was, but that was not the issue. This was not about him. He could not be a soldier and get involved, and he could not be a gentleman and not. The young lady had been nice to him when she had no reason to be. Accommodating when it wasn't necessary. Reddish made his choice. He quietly shut and slipped closed the lock to the stateroom door.

	Holding his long bayonet to the seam of his trousers, Haring carefully sat upon the bed next to Josephine and wrapped his arms around her. [color=bdb76b]"Miss Clarke?"[/color] he whispered with lingering uncertainty, [color=bdb76b]"I mean nothing untoward by this. But you take your moment and let it all tumble out. [i]I shall not tell a soul[/i], I promise. If you should like for me to shut my eyes, I will do just that as well."[/color] 

	[color=bdb76b]"The boat does not dock for two more days, Miss Clarke. We've time between now and then for the Captain's men to search this place from bow to stern, top to bottom. And if we find the blackguards that did this before they do, I shall try to arrange it that you have the first run at them. Right now, I've got you. You go ahead and cry. No one else needs to know."[/color]