The day passed quickly like that, and soon I was in bed and deeply asleep. The day had been a wild but fulfilling one, and it had caught up to me at night. I slept quite good indeed.
I woke up to a surprise though; Orna was asleep on top of me.
I stared for a moment, stunned. Usually, I’d have woken up when someone came into my room and climbed up onto my bed. And then climbed up on top of me!
Apparently not with Orna though.
She hadn’t even bothered to cover up, or undress. She’d literally laid down on top of me, and the blankets, in her work clothes, and apparently passed out.
I had to resist the urge to laugh at how adorable she looked, especially as I watched her mumble nonsense words in her sleep. Still, I had to get up, and so did she. Sighing, I went the effort of shaking her awake.
She groaned and curled up deeper into my side, and I felt a wicked grin stretch across my face. I then reached over and started to slowly, and lightly, tickle her. She started laughing, fighting, rolling around and finally she sat up and looked around.
I took a great amount of amusement watching the look on her face when her eyes landed on me, and started to turn redder than cherries with embarrassment.
I may not have laughed, but my grin was certainly very loud all on its own.
“Good morning sleepyhead.” I said softly, smiling the whole time as I watched her look around with quick looks, apparently not remembering the point of when she’d gone to bed. Or where.
Or with who.
“Uh, good morning?” She half said, half asked, before she finally seemed to remember everything. I could tell since she blushed even harder just as her eyes got big.
“Much as I’d love to keep on laying here. I need to get up and prepare for tonight’s big event.” I said to her, cutting off anything she was about to say. “And you probably need to get back to work on your big invention for the exhibition. We both have long days and nights ahead of us, so we might as well get up and get going.”
“Thank you.” She replied with a blushing smile, sounding relieved, and oddly intimate.
“You’re welcome.” I replied, slowly working my way out from under her. “I have to admit, I quite liked waking up with you next to me. Though next time, maybe wear some actual bed clothes. And maybe actually crawl under the covers?”
“Uh, yes, I will!” She squeaked out, almost sounding like our mice friends, as she once again turned bright red.
I really like doing that to her. I thought with a grin as I turned and headed to the nearby bathroom. I may get addicted to it.
After that it was the standard rituals of getting up and going in the mornings, and soon we were both out the door.
I snatched a passing bell boy, and paid to have room service send regular pots of coffee and some high end chocolates to Orna throughout the day.
“Certainly sir, but may I ask why?” The young boy asked, looking at me curiously.
“A crazy engineer I met once during the war told me that coffee and chocolate are like the nectar of the gods for engineers.” I shrugged. “Miss Rowan is going to need all the help she can get to finish her work before the big event. So, this is how I can best help her. Make sure she doesn’t run out of coffee, chocolate, and oh yeah, ice water.”
“Will do sir!” The young uniformed boy nodded enthusiastically before turning and heading towards the kitchens. A hefty tip in his hand as he did so.
That done, I headed over to small sitting room, found a quiet table, and set about cleaning all my weapons and boots. I flagged down another bell boy, and had them put a rush on a my laundry for the clothes I would need tonight. After that, it was back to cleaning and readying everything.
Maggie passed by at some point, with lots of boxes and a very pleased look on her face.
“So, did you find your dress?” I asked, amused at the number of poor bell hops that were moving her boxes to her room past her.
“I did indeed.” She smiled back and purred smugly. “Though you’re just going to have to wait to see it.”
“Fine by me.” I shrugged with a sigh, putting the last of my weapons and buckles away. “At least one of us will be properly dressed up tonight. I’m required to wear what I usually wear on the damn trail.”
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“You’ll look more dashing that way.” Maggie shrugged. “Much more interesting than any suit you could be shoved into, to make you look more like them.”
“If you say so.” I chuckled. “So, you wearing any weapons? Like me? Miss Infamous Gangster?”
“Absolutely!” She laughed, her sharp teeth showing rather prominently. “I bought a nice new belt, sheath and holster just for them!”
“This night might actually be fun after all.” I chuckled.
“I certainly think so.” Maggie agreed. “Oh, also, the two mouse sisters, Tanya and Chenya, will be joining us tonight for the performance. Poor little Phillip wanted so badly to come too, but it’s well past his bedtime.”
I blinked for a moment, then started chuckling. “So, I shall be accompanied tonight, dressed as a cowboy on the range, with a cat and a couple of mice as my companions?”
“All as you rub elbows with the cities elite.” Maggie chuckled back. “What a most memorable night it will be!”
“I’m sure.” I sighed, giving up on making anything other than a wild man style impression with the rich elite of the city.
“Of course, it’s only to be expected by all of them, considering todays paper.” Maggie laughed, tossing me a copy of today’s newspaper. I caught it, glanced at the headline on the top of the front page, and groaned.
WILD RANGER BATTLES GANGS OF FIVE POINTS AND SAVES NEW SPECIES OF CITIZENS!
“I can’t wait to ride out of here on that Albion airship!” I groused, annoyed, as I set the paper down so I could finish putting everything else away. I already knew what the story would likely be, after all.
So, I could read it later, in my room, in private.
Possibly with a lot of fine alcohol.
“It’s funny you think that will change anything.” Maggie started laughing as she turned and headed towards her room. “God’s having to much fun with you to let you escape! Go ask Jonah how well trying to escape from God worked out for him! You even want to get on a ship just like he did!”
“Fleabag!” I shouted at her as she left, which only caused her to laugh harder as she disappeared down the hallway. Sighing, I took the newspaper, and decided to go get some food.
Dinner was always better than getting drunk, in my view.
Usually.
After that, the hours passed by in a blur, as my clothes were cleaned, dried, and repaired as best they could be, until finally, it was time to go.
Orna was all but bouncing off the walls thanks to the coffee, which she happily thanked me for, profusely. Her siblings were keeping Halona company, and the mice were all settling in.
Reporters had also swarmed the hotel all over again, thanks to the paper and the public interest. However, as night began to fall, most packed up and left. Or visited Halona in the stables to chat with her.
Finally, it was time to go, so I headed down to the main lobby to wait, and a few moments later, I heard someone approaching down the stairs. Turning I stopped and stared in shock as Maggie came down the stairs in beautiful dark purple dress. It was in what looked like a modified, slimmed down Victorian Ball Gown style, so less layers, no long trailing cape, and small straps over her otherwise bare shoulders. Her collar, upper chest and a long V-plunge down her back were all uncovered, showing off skin, or in her case, fine white and grey fur.
She had no corset per se, but the middle of the dress acted like a vest around her waist and stomach, latching everything together, tastefully showing off her tight, toned body. Her chest was also emphasized being only half covered and pushed up a bit, daring any man to risk a glance. Around her legs it had been arranged so it still looked like it had folds or layers, but actually looked much less cumbersome, and more easily mobile the whole time.
Her tail twirled around her, catching the eye as it flicked around behind her.
Maggie smiled at my stunned reaction as she covered her shoulders with a dark green shoal, which seemed to work with her grey and white fur, and silvery hair which she had in a braid. At her waist was the promised belt with her weapons strapped on, seemingly partially worked into the style of the dress. Glancing up I saw her bright blue eyes all but shining with pride, and combined with the colors of the dress and her beastkin heritage, the eyes were very bright indeed.
We were both armed and dangerous, but of the two of us, for the setting we were going to, I felt suddenly very outclassed.
Looking her up and down I smiled and sighed.
“You’re going to get me into trouble, aren’t you?”
“You do that just fine all on your own.” She replied with a purr, before she held up a small basket she’d been holding. In it were the two little mice sisters I’d met; Tanya and Chenya. Both were dressed up as best they could with tiny doll dresses as well, and their little basket was even furnished with furniture.
They waved at me, grinning and giggling up a storm.
I smiled and even laughed as I bowed to the group.
“Ladies! You are all so very beautiful tonight! You honor me with your presence. Come, let’s be off for a wonderful performance of grand music, to stir our very souls.” I swept my hat off as I bowed low to them. All three began giggling at my performance, before I smoothly stood up, linked arms with Maggie, and led the little group outside to the waiting carriage.
Said carriage wasn’t a normal one, oh no.
Carnegie wanted to make some kind of statement, so it was the latest in coppersmith technology, having done away with horses entirely.
It instead was long, low to the ground, with a seat at the front for the driver. It’s engine was spread throughout the long frame, as best I could tell, with little steam vents in the front and the back. I had no idea how they thing ran, but it looked interesting enough, and was defiantly eye catching. The seat for us was behind the driver in a well appointed little box, with a sloping pyramid like roof over it. The door was actually facing the driver, with part of the long body acting like a platform to step up to, stand on, or walk on.
Strange design, but looked comfortable enough.
And opulent as all hell.
Which I knew was the point, hilariously enough.
I rolled my eyes at the silly display, but figured we may as well enjoy it. I opened the door, helped the ladies climb in, and then got in myself.
“Carnegie Hall sir!” I called out to the driver as I closed the door.
“Yes sir!” The driver replied, and the horseless carriage began to move forward.
We were off to the performance.
It promised to be fun.