Storms-A-Brewing

                ❝Right, well, is there something I can help you with?❞                    Anna asked, looking him up and down. Maybe she                   just happened to turn around and run into him                   coincidentally, but right now she was too on edge                   to believe in something like that.

❝ D’you know where I could find any mercury? ❞

❝ And monsters, I’ll have you know, come in all different shapes and sizes. The owner of this museum, for example: no fangs, no fur, no scales-- well, he does have a mild case of eczema, but that’s beside the point-- he’s a monster, all the same... ❞

❝ Did you win it fair and square? Given that we’re in a museum, I doubt that to be the case. And then there’s that ‘thief’ idea, again– oh, the mind boggles. That’s a good word, isn’t it? ‘Boggles’. Care to enlighten me? ❞

❝ You’re not my first jewel thief and you won’t be my last. Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page, that’s all...  ❞

               Anna was conveniently “hidden” around the corner, every once in a while peeking out to check if the crew she was trying to avoid had got up and left already. A peek and - nope. They were still here. Eyes squinted to see how many there were, what weapons they might have (could she have a fighting chance if she got too antsy to wait around?) A sigh, turning slightly to look over her shoulder only to be startled by someone who was suddenly standing there. She flinched majorly, cringing where she stood.  ❝Oh my God, didn’t anyone tell you not to sneak up on somebody like that?❞

❝ In one ear and out the other! ❞

❛❛ You’re a doctor? I don’t need a doctor. And that’s not a name! ❜❜ He seemed quite nervous of her. To Elizabeth, this was amusing, but not an unfair conclusion. ❛❛ … Elizabeth. My name is Elizabeth. See- that’s how introductions work. Hey.. is this your airship? It’s bigger on the inside than most airships I’ve been in. ❜❜

❝ Nice name, by the way - ‘Elizabeth’. Pretty. Regal. I married an Elizabeth once; she tried to have my head chopped off. Let’s hope your predilections differ, eh? ❞

“I- I have no idea!” Josephine blinked in utter surprise. “Perhaps I am dreaming? Yes! That must be it! Oh goodness...”

❝ Yes, my dear-- you are dreaming. Of course! This is all just a fantastical dream! ❞

❝ Did you win it fair and square? Given that we’re in a museum, I doubt that to be the case. And then there’s that ‘thief’ idea, again-- oh, the mind boggles. That’s a good word, isn’t it? ‘Boggles’. Care to enlighten me? ❞

❝ I’ve got all the time in the world-- literally. ❞

❛❛ Where am I? ❜❜

❝ The shields are up, and you’re just-- you’re just here? With all due respect, that’s impossible-- well-- it’s improbable. ❞

He grins.