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Temperance Trouble

Sky’s body visibly tensed at the mention of the name ‘Foehammer.’ In an attempt to keep calm she leaned back against the fireplace and closed her eyes for a moment as she replied to Scottie’s question, “Remember back about a year ago? The crazy temperance lady that burned down the New Champagne Rooms?”

After offering a nod Scottie answered, “Well yeah, I was there. I was a part of the mo-“

In that moment Sky’s eyes flew open and she pointed her finger directly at him, as if she was only just now remembering, “YOU were a part of that mob that was going to string her up!” Scottie’s eyes widened in surprise at her reaction. “Ugh, why didn’t you tell me to back off when I took her to the Church for safety?!” Sky growled as she balled her wrapped fists in frustration. One fist came down with a hard thud against the mantle.

Shaking his head in confusion, Scottie offered, “You didn’t want her to get hurt. It seemed the decent thing to do, really.” He watched his wife carefully, it wasn’t often that she spoke of regrets and she even more rarely got so upset.

“Decent,” Sky muttered, bringing up the hand that she had just slammed into the wooden mantle and pulling in a breath as she wrapped the tape tighter around it. “I shoulda let you lot have her. Would have saved the trouble…”

Not able to handle the vagueness any longer, Scottie interrupted, “Trouble? Huh? What’s wrong?”

Sky’s piercing blue eyes met Scottie’s, “She’s back. The battleaxe is back and she visited here just the other day, calling the place ‘wicked’ and threatening to burn it to the ground.” Scottie’s jaw set in a familiar way that showed he was just as displeased as Sky was, if not moreso.

After a moment of silence, Scottie said, “So the Church released her? Another bright idea by the boys in black, eh?” He had never hopped on the bandwagon against the Church of the Builder. He had even attempted to be more sympathetic than most towards them due to Sky having a soft spot for them, but as far as he was concerned they rarely followed through well with a task.

At that point Sky knew exactly what he meant and for once did not offer a sigh or ‘the look’, she simply said, “Yes, they obviously released her…or she broke out. Either way she’s loose about town. I even got word she tried to set fire to the Bucket.”

Scottie shook his head again, but this time in disbelief, “Damn, she really is insane. She needs to be locked up for good.”

“Ha, I actually ran into Underby down in the Gut that same day. We discussed it and he mentioned the possible use of stockades,” Sky’s countenance brightened at the thought as she laughed.

Scottie laughed with her, imagining aloud what that would possibly look like in a town like Babbage. Soon the couple was struggling to breathe from the hilarity of it all. People walking by ‘Cuffs gave them strange looks for making such a ruckus. Eventually, Scottie calmed enough to say, “So I guess we best find this Foehammer woman?”

Sky nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes, “Whew, yep. That and warn all of the other bar and pub owners in town to be on the lookout for her. In a town like this we must be careful of these temperance folks, they are a friend to no one.”

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6 Comments

  1. Verlia Bilavio Verlia Bilavio July 20, 2011
    I’ll show her what it means to be an activist. *shakes fist*
    telling me what I can and can’t drink…
  2. Cadmus Lupindo Cadmus Lupindo July 20, 2011

    This Foehammer woman does not have a chance in stopping drinking in New Babbage. We have more bars than anyone can count.

  3. Emerson Lighthouse Emerson Lighthouse July 20, 2011

    It’s a bit of a slippery slope all that temperance nonsense. It might be alcohol today but who knows which medication it will be tomorrow. No… I say this must be nipped in the bud.

  4. Gabriell Anatra Gabriell Anatra July 20, 2011

    I quite agree with the consensus. The woman is clearly unhinged and needs to be dealt with.

  5. Sky Melnik Sky Melnik July 23, 2011

    Scottie and Sky went around Port pasting up posters and handing them out to anyone who asked:

    [img_assist|nid=3042|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=center|width=400|height=512]

  6. Emerson Lighthouse Emerson Lighthouse January 11, 2012

    As they approached the shores of New Nublar, Emerson unpacked his hookah which he’d carefully wrapped in paper in order to protect it during the excursion on the magnificent sub-aquatic vessel. Captain Maynard had forbidden him to light it while the vessel had been below the surface.

    “What’s this?” asked Gadget picking up one of the pieces of paper.

    “I’m not sure.” replied Emerson glancing over as Gadget started to fold one of the sheets of paper into a series of triangles. “I needed some scrap paper last summer so I grabbed a pile of these off the bar at Cuff’s. Sky was giving them away. Why?”

    “Trouble is all.” said Gadget, opening and fashioning the paper into a remarkable aeroglider and tossing it into the garbage.

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