Play@YSDC

Keeper,She'd have considered doing that if [url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TooDumbToLive]she'd[/url] [url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HeadTiltinglyKinky]failed[/url] [url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NightmareFetishist]that[/url] [url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InLoveWithYourCarnage]sanity[/url] [url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StrangelyArousing]roll.[/url] As it is, she's not about to go messing with THAT business :P

Lily considers the book of poetry she was given last night, and decides to read until her brother is finished with whatever business he has.

Charles exits his room wearing a dapper suit with his hair slicked back with brilliantine. He checks his wristwatch with a slight frown and a tut of tongue against teeth. "It appears we'll be far too early to meet with her but I'll never get back to sleep now." His gaze flicks up and he takes in her appearance with a smile that seems a little too eager. "Regrettably we're also a little too awake a little too early for breakfast. We may need to have someone rouse the kitchen staff.... Now to dine in our room or in the lounge car? Which would you prefer, dear sister?" He goes over to press the buzzer by the door.....

Lily nearly drops her book and scrambles to her feet. "No, don't!" she hisses, and then immediately bites her tongue. "I mean-- it's not..." She balls her hands into fists and grimaces, at a loss for words.

Charles pauses, a flash of anger crossing his face, but then he composes himself, straightens his tie and turns to regard her fully. "Yes?"

Lily struggles mentally for a second before she manages to answer. "The conductor is... he isn't right. Another passenger woke me last night because something had happened to him--I don't know what, but I... none of it feels right, do you understand?"

Keeper,[i]Damn it! What can I say that won't have him thinking I've succumbed to hysteria?! Damn it, damn it, damn it![/i]

"Another passenger woke you?" asked Charles, struggling to keep the anger from his voice. "Who was it? Did they enter? Man or woman?!"

"I-- I don't know," Lily says helplessly, taking a few steps backward. "He was a man, he didn't come in, he just wanted help-- I don't know, I don't know anything!" She raises her hands defensively, palms out and empty.

Charles advances upon her and grabs her wrist, yanking her arm hard to draw her towards him. "A man? You opened the door to a man? Who was it? What did he look like?!"

Lily cries out in shock and pain, shaking badly. "I don't know," she whimpers again, utterly paralyzed by fear--how tiny her wrist is in his hand, how easily he could take her painting from her! "I didn't know you'd be angry, I don't know what I did wrong! Please, let me go!"

OOC,A note to all creepy CoC families: please educate your very sheltered daughters on the dangers of predatory manfolk. And don't leer at your sister, or she'll start thinking that's just a brotherly thing to do.

Charles narrows his eyes at her and then jerks her by the arm down to the floor. "Next time you will inform me if any man knocks on your door! And you had better point out the gentleman caller by lunchtime else I'll start to make assumptions about you." And with that he goes and rings the buzzer.

Lily falls on her hands and knees like a dog, shuddering and drawing in ragged, shallow breaths. She picks herself up slowly, clutching her wrist, staring at the compartment door. Her lips move, but no sound comes from her throat.

The door opens and a familiar fellow stands in the doorway dressed in a conductor's uniform. "Ah, good morning," he says with a Russian accent and a twinkle in his eye. "Very sorry about this but the conductor had a nasty spell and fainted. For fear of the train being delayed by the German Administration any further than those fireworks have done so, I thought I would step into the uniform and get things going." His gaze drops to Lily's quivering form and he looks troubled for a moment before returning his gaze to Charles with a rather chipper air. "I've sent a lord's son off on errands to get the SS officer who recently boarded some apple juice. Perhaps I could have him fetch something for either of you as well?"
"We should like our breakfast delivered to us shortly," says Charles with perfect politeness. "Though I would imagine that we can wait should it prove too difficult for you. I do hope the conductor feels better shortly ... I should hate to think anything untoward were occurring on this train."
"I should tell you if I knew anything." The Russian nodded, more to himself than to anyone else.
"Before you go, if you could ask the conductor as to who the late night caller was who visited my sister while I slept I would be much obliged."
The Russian looks thoughtful. "Of course."

Unless Lily makes some kind of response, the fellow leaves.

Lily's facial expression flickers between confused and upset as she watches the exchange, but she stays silent until the man leaves.

"His name was Cecil Linscott," she says, almost unnaturally calm. "He asked if I could help the conductor. I said I couldn't and so I shut the door and went back to bed."

Charles almost doesn't seem to hear her. "What do you think of that fellow, eh? He seems a nice enough fellow to me." He's clearly indicating the man who just left.

"He seems so, yes." Lily sits on the banquette and stares at the far wall. "How kind of him to see to things in the conductor's absence." Her voice is flat and hollow.

Keeper,[i]I shouldn't have said a thing. Stupid girl. This mess is my own fault.[/i]

Charles looks thoughtful. "A lord, did you say? We could work with that." He comes over to sit beside her. "You could be a lady, if you liked."

Lily gives a halfhearted shrug. "I could." Her tone is exceedingly matter-of-fact. "If that is what you believe I should be."

Charles looks at her with an expression of utter confusion. "Are you upset with me because of my earlier outburst? I only wish to see you safe. You have no idea what some of these men are like and what sort of rancid thoughts flicker through their minds." He gives her an irritable look. "What do you want? I only want to see you happy on your birthday!"

Lily flinches away from him, then swiftly straightens her back and closes her eyes. "I'm sorry. I know you want nothing more than my safety. I know so little of the people out here... even in London, as we left for Paris, they were all so strange to me." She gingerly flexes her wrist, quietly grateful that she isn't injured. "You are very strong. This, I think, is the first time you've..."

That thought goes unfinished. She looks at him with a tight, forced smile. "It is my birthday, isn't it? I can be happy for that alone."