The Alchemist (Closed for Scarlettnuit)

[Dirtydave1974]

This is closed for Scarlettnuit and myself. If you decide to read this, please let us know via private message if you are enjoying it.

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The Nostromi towered over Kings Street Station casting a shadow that stretched down high street. It was the first of its kind. A steam powered caravan travelling from London to Edinburgh in just a day. She was four stories of luxury and technological brilliance. Developed and paid for by the Queens own engineer, Rupert Von Strap.

Every eye in the crowd was fixed on Von Strap who he smiled and waved before making his way across the platform. Children waved the union jack flags, women in red bodices and flowing black dresses screamed in excitement and men punched the air cheering. All except Richard Carnegie whose eyes were fixed on the machine itself.

Small devices attached to the lenses of his goggles twisted and turned, magnifying his view of the incredible vehicle. Richard’s pale eyes followed pipes and pistons, doing their best to decipher each tube’s purpose and reason. He should never have given up tinkering. Not when possibilities such as this were becoming a reality.

Richard removed the goggles from his face and allowed them to hang loosely around his neck. Imagine changing the world, bringing such a thing into other peoples lives. Life had become tough since the war with the Dutch. Their relentless terrorist attacks on the city had created such an immense climate of fear.

But now things were changing. Getting better, and perhaps once Richard showed Von Strap his own invention things would get better still. Alchemists were not held in such high regard as tinkerers. But that could change. Everything could change.

With wide, excited eyes Richard Carnegie placed his leather Top hat on his brown hair, pulled his briefcase up beneath his arm, between the folds of his leather coat and pressed forward with the rest of the crowd. He showed his ticket to the inspector, who nodded him through. The crowd surged forward at a run and boarded the Nostromi.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Vivien Bardsley [/URL]walked confidently down the crowded road before her. She had been traveling for some time and was glad that the journey, so it seemed. While she drew interest from some of the men she passed, she had a rather large and impressive piece strapped to her outer thigh that seemed to keep any heckling at bay. She was running late which made her exceedingly annoyed but it couldn’t be helped. As she saw the caravan start to moved she held onto her leather hip bag and ran for it.

She managed to hop onto the step just as it was about to leave, giving the conductor her ticket. Without waiting for him to check it thoroughly, she took the ticket back and began to search for a seat. It was crowded, not that she was surprised she supposed. Everyone and their mother’s dogs were trying to escape the recent attacks. Normally, she wouldn’t have given a damn but she had business to conduct.

Finally, on the fourth floor, she found the only vacant seat. She moved through the isle and sat down next to her Richard, her gun bumping against his thigh.

“Sorry.” She said as she sat down. She pulled a pocket watch from between her breasts and checked the time before clipping it shut again and looked at Richard for a moment before leaning back and trying to make herself comfortable.

“Scared of the Dutch?” she asked, assuming he was fleeing like everyone else.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Wide eyed, Richard wandered through each cabin looking for his assigned seat. The excitement in the cabin was contagious and Richard soaked it up like a sponge.

Children ran up and down the aisle pushing past families who seemed to have packed all their belongings. So many were leaving London for good. These people would be alright, but what about the ones after them, or the ones after that. Wales had already closed its borders, how long before Scotland did the same.

Richard clutched his case closer to his body. He didn't want to contribute to the war effort. He was a man of peace. An artist. but his latest discovery had direct application and he couldn't ignore the opportunity to do his bit. It was his duty to King and country. Well he would see if his formula would be of use in an hour. When he finally see Von Strap.

Richard found his place and settled into the cushioned seat. The wooden hand rest under his fingers was mahogany. Von strap really had spared no expense. The squeak of leather announced a companion next to him, but he was focused on getting his brief case under his chair and didn't pay much attention until she spoke.

"Scared of the Dutch?"

"Excited by opportunities," he replied before looking up.

When his eyes finally fell on the beauty next to him has gasped. His eyes wandered up and down her body pausing significantly on her weapons.

"You don't seem like the kind of person who would run from a fight. You have business up north?"

His pale eyes fixed on her blues.

 

[scarlettnuit]

She looked over at the gentleman sitting next to her as he spoke. She had to admit for a moment that she was rather surprised. Most blokes that looked like him were usually too scared to say boo to her, much less attempt to muddle in her business. However, it was a long trip and she decided to have a bit of fun and presume he meant no disrespect.

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she tried t stifle a small laugh as he gasped. She looked around for a moment and saw that the other passengers were settling in and children were starting to doze off. She reached into her hip pack and pulled out a small silver flask that was wrapped in tan leather the same shade as her leather pants.

“Opportunities you say? And what might they be?” she asked as she took a swig from the flask and then offered it to him. “Might as well get cozy, we’ve got plenty of time before we reach out destination.” She offered with a smile.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Richard ran his hand through his dark hair. It was a little early in the day for a drink, and he had an important meeting in an hour. Hmmm maybe a sip.

The liquid within burned its way down his this before igniting a fire in his belly. Richard's eyes went wide and it took all his will power to stifle a coughing fit.

Gasping he handed the flask back to the woman before settling into his seat.

"What is that stuff?"

Being an alchemist it behooved him to know all the different alcoholic beverages, but whatever that was had been custom made.

She repeated her question about opportunity and he found that the mixture had loosened his tongue.

"I am an alchemist. I am meeting Von Strap in an hour to talk about my latest formula."

 

[scarlettnuit]

She smiled a bit more as he almost sputtered on the drink. “Mother’s milke.” She grinned and then took one more swig before sliding the flask back into her hip pack. She hadn’t slept yet, it was typically safer to do things like that during the day, but she imagined that he had never had the need to watch his back.

“Von Strap huh? Well isn’t ha a big todo.” She smiled pretending to be impressed for her sake. “I didn’t know anyone like him would want to see an alchemist. That’s not to say that I mean to diminish your work but…” was there a nice way to say dime a dozen? She suspected not.

She reclined the seat a put and put her booted feet up on the chair in front of her, the position causing her breasts to push up a bit as she looked at him. “And what kind of Alchemy do you Dick? I don’t know much about it, perhaps you could enlighten me.” She smiled at him. After all, they had the time didn’t they? Might as well attempt to entertain herself. “What does your new potion stuff do exactly?”

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Richard's eyes travelled from her boots up her her long leather legs up to the generous curve of her bosom.

“I didn’t know anyone like him would want to see an alchemist. That’s not to say that I mean to diminish your work but…”

She said with a cheeky half smile. Richard bristled at her mocking tone. So what if he wasn't a tinker, an engineer or a soldier. Alchemists kept his machines oiled. Lubricated the gadgets and kept the nobility high. Fine maybe they had a reputation as a bunch of dirty poisoners.

“And what kind of Alchemy do you Dick?"

Instead of answering Richard reached beneath his seat for his case and pulled it into his lap. With two clicks it flew open. Ravelling twelve test tubes filled with a blue liquid that sparkled in the light of the caravan.

Richard lifted one and showed it to her. "I call it sweetfire. It's a stimulant. Along with other effects."

 

[scarlettnuit]

She sat up a bit when he pulled out his case and unlocked it. He really was naïve to be pulling his wares out in front of a stranger. One never knew where trouble could come from. She leaned in closer, her breast pressed against his arm to get a closer look.

“They sure are a pretty color…and I like the name.” she said. She boldly grabbed one of the viles and leaned back in her seat, holding it up so that the light shone through it better.

“And what exactly does this sweet fire do?” She as pulled out the cork and sniffed it for a moment and then corked it again. “Gotta work on that smell though. If you can’t handle my special brew then I worry you might be able to handle your own work.” She smiled at him, really looking at him for the first time.

He wasn’t bad looking, truth be told, she tended to get herself into trouble with men that looked like him. Tall, dark, not overly muscled, but a frame that suited her. Of course, she imagined that this guy wasn’t as dumb as most of them, but then again, one never knew.

“What made you decide to come up with a stimulant?” she asked curiously.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Richard frowned, she certainly was nosey. Here she was interrogating him about his life's work, and she hadn't even introduced herself. Nor was she shy about flaunting her body either. Maybe there was more to this woman than what met the eye.

Despite the sweet sensation of her soft flesh against his Richard pulled away from her. He leaned back looking at her side ways. "Well, I shouldn't give away all my secrets. A fellow needs to retain a little bit of mystery." He winked at her.

He ran his fingers over the test tube and the
concoction that twinkled within.

The truth was he had discovered the formula by accident. A random bunch of chemicals mixed together to produce something miraculous. This wasn't just a stimulant in terms of strength, endurance, reflexes although it did enhance all of that. The true magic was that it stimulated the senses as well. Auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile senses sharpened to almost super human levels. Of course testing had been limited and subjects had always been sober and straight. Much like most medicine there was a risk that other side effects could result if the subject were on other medication, or even drunk.

"What about you? Why Edinburgh? Visiting a Boy friend?"

Richard was about to place the vial into the brief case when they were interrupted by a tall thin conductor. "Excuse me, Mr Carnegie?" Richard nodded. "I regret to inform you, sir, that Mr Von strap, has had to cancel your appointment."

Richard blinked. Cancel? That didn't make any sense. "Why?"

The conductor sniffed significantly and brushed some lint from his jacket. "I do not know, sir. I did not presume to ask."

"But I ...."

"Thank you, sir." The tall man said and left before Richard could say another word.

Richard slumped back into the chair dropping the vial into the padded case. He closed the case without a word, failing to notice one of the vials was missing.

 

[scarlettnuit]

He winked at her and she couldn’t help but feeling amused. When he asked if she was visiting her boyfriend she raised her eyebrow at him. She was tempted to snap and tell him that just because she was a woman didn’t mean she only traveled in search for her mate but she held her tongue.

“No.” she said simply. She was about to expand on her response when the conductor came to their seats and announced Mr. Carnegie’s bad news. She took the opportunity to slip the vial into her hip pack. As soon as the conductor was done he slumped back and looked like a kicked puppy.

“Why so low? If you want to see this guy, just go in and see him.” She shrugged. “Don’t let some conductor with a stick up his rear crash your dreams.” She told him, placing her hand on his for encouragement. She then took her hand back and leaned back. She crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes.

“Let me know when we get there…oh…and you might want to make sure no one tries to touch me or my gun. I’d hate to have to gun someone down in front of kids.”

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Clearly this woman had no respect for authority, which if he was being honest with himself was kind of sexy. The problem was Von Strap was one of the most heavily guarded individuals in the kingdom. More than one assassin had met a grisly end at the hands of his personal bodyguard, Mr Smythe.

Richard stared at the seat in front of him. His mind forming a plan.

"That milke of yours. Mind if I have some more?" He said.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Viv opened her eyes and grinned bit. She pulled her flask from one of the compartments of her sack and then took one more drink.

“Easy on, you’re not used to this kind of octane.” She grinned. She then sat up and held the mouth of the flask to his own and poured a little in. She then pulled it away, screwed the cap back on and put it away once more.

“Well, at least you can have some fun while you’re in Edinburgh. Perhaps some racing…you look like a man who could use a good whoring. I hear they have some of the best down Decatur. But then again. I suppose I wouldn’t know.”

Just then the sounds of guns being fired echoed outside. She immediately sprung up and pushed her way over Richard’s lap so that she could see what was going on.

“Shit.” She responded as the caravan came to a stop. There was chaos in the caravan as women grabbed their children and tried to escape the through the emergency exit of the caravan before he bandits boarded. Vivien stood up and pulled her gun from it’s holder on her thigh and held it’s big barrel up to the light and gave it a spin. She thought there might have been the slight chance she would have made to Edinburgh before they noticed her absence, but it would seem that that would have been too easy. Then again, she really did love a good fight.

She looked around and people yelled and pushed. Realizing there was no way out she aimed her gun upwards and blew a few gaping holes in the roof causing further screams from the women. She stood upon the seat and holstered her gun so that she could pull herself up. She was about to head up through the hole when she looked down at Richard.

He was still sitting, dust and soot in his hair and on his face from the blasts she had just given the roof. She was about to leave him there but he still had that kicked puppy look. He didn’t look as if he had been in many fights in his life. Normally, she wouldn’t give a scrap but for some reason, she couldn’t leave him there.

“Jesus, follow me Alchemist.” She said as she pulled herself up through the hole in the roof. She then stood an reached her hand through the hole to help him up through it.

“Hurry up, we don’t have much time.”

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Everything's started happening at once. The orange head next to him had her gun out in a second. Almost like she half expected the attack. The twin Cannons on the Nostromi ground around with agonising slowness.

The raiders shot first. Twin cables launched from their vehicles attaching themselves to the side of the giant caravan. Raiders grabbed hold of twin bars and were lifted up by pulley and rotating gears towards the caravan.

Orange fired at the roof, blasting a hole. The next moment she was squeezing through the tight space.

Richard took her hand and she started to help him up. "Wait! My case," he said letting go for a moment to retrieve his brief case. Orange hissed at him impatiently but then let him up.

They were in the kitchen, which services first class customers. Richard followed behind Orange who was keeping low. Richard found his eyes lingering on her backside for longer than gentlemanly behaviour. Her tight leather pants moulded to her buttocks which swayed hypnotically to and fro.

A sudden roar from the external cannons followed by an explosion brought Richard back to the danger at hand. This wouldn't do. Richard scanned the table tops and benches looking for a weapon, but then he stopped he had the greatest weapon of them all in his case.

"Wait," he said, placing the case on the table. Before she could protest he undid one buckle. He was about to undo the second when the sound of breaking glass from behind the door interrupted him.

 

[scarlettnuit]

She crowed low to the ground and scanned the upper cabin for a strategy. She wasn’t sure why she dragged the guy with her, other than he had just received bad news and she couldn’t let him get kicked when he was down, proverbially or literally. She was about to ask Richard what the hell he was doing when she heard the glass break behind them.

In through the window came a tall muscled man. He was wearing a long brown coat, worn brown pants and a burgundy shirt that was equally worn. His thick boots crunched over the broken glass as he looked around the cabin to spot Richard and Vivien.

“Nate! How the hell are you! What are you doing here?” she said with warm familiarity though she kept her gun firmly gripped.

“Dammit Viv.” He growled as he walked towards her, smart enough not to get too close. “Where is it?”

“Where is what?” she asked innocently.

“I was supposed to drop that key off to Alistair tonight. I get up, feeling great, get dressed and what happens? I find that bloody key gone!” He yelled.

“What makes you think I took it?”

“Probably the fact that Miko saw you selling it to Wents down at the Twisted Screw!”

“Oh that…” she said, still calm as a cucumber. “Well I guess you’d better go talk to Wents then.”

“It’s already gone and used.” He growled at her.

“Oops…” She said as if she were a dumb girl.

“VIVIEN!” he growled and rushed towards her.

She lifted her gun to shoot at him when it jammed. “Dammit!” she yelled and tossed the gun aside. She then ran towards Nate and wrapped her arms around his neck and swung onto his back. She put her arm around her neck and grabbed her fist trying to choke him, but he was strong and it was difficult for her to hold on.

“Get out of here!” she yelled at Richard, not sure how much longer she could hold Nate before he threw her off and made her sorry.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

“Get out of here!”

There was no time to think. Using the only weapon that he had at hand, Richard leapt forward and swung his brief case up and around striking Nate across the jaw. The big man lurched to the left and the force was enough to dislodge the Orange woman named Viv from his back. Nate staggered back to his feet and moved in front of Richard. His eyes narrowed and each of his hands curled into fists.

“I’m sorry,” Richard whispered, his legs turning to jelly beneath him.

Nate smacked Richard across the cheek sending him spinning. He punched again and Richard used the case to block the punch. The sound of glass tinkling was almost overwhelmed by the cry of rage from the giant raider. He grabbed at the case with both hands and wrenched it away from Richard. Then he started beating Richard with his own case. Each blow struck Richard's body with a wet crunching, smashing sound. A mixtures of glass and flesh being pulverised filled the room. Nate threw the case on top of Richard's head and then turned to face Vivian, failing to see the blue liquid leaking from the case. Soaking Richard’s clothes and bloody wounds and dripping into his mouth.

 

[scarlettnuit]

“Damn it!” she yelled as slid of his back. When she saw Nate going after the considerably smaller guy she became even more enraged. She looked around for her oversized pistol and picked it up. She then walked towards Nate.

Just as Nate turned around Viv gave him a sweet smile for a moment before pistol whipping him hard across the face, knocking the big oaf out cold. She went through his pockets and took his money and his gun and then looked to Richard.

“Are you ok?” she asked as she looked him over, the poor guy looked like a tenderized rib eye. She noticed his briefcase leaking and then looked back to him and saw he liquid had broken over him.

“Come on, we’ve got to get going. If Nate isn’t back down stairs soon, Bog will come looking for him…And I don’t know that I can handle Bog…” She said as she moved to help him up. “Are you going to be ok with this stuff on you?” she asked as she tried to help him towards an emergency escape tube.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Richard came to with a sudden jolt. His eyes snapped open as the liquid part potion, part chemical courses through the blood cells of his glass cuts. The pain felt heightened and his muscles spasmed causing him to twist and convulse. He almost choked on the liquid in his mouth but managed to swallow most before coughing bits up.

Sounds became sharper, taste richer, his whole body felt like it was tingling and buzzing with electricity. He breathed in and the smell of perfume and sweat filled his nostrils. He lay there savouring the aroma and feeling the subtle, and not so subtle effect Viv's smell had on his body.

Viv was kneeling over him. Providing him with an excellent view of her cleavage From where he was lying.

“Are you going to be ok with this stuff on you?” she asked

"I'll be roses," Richard said. His head was spinning and he felt kind of high. Too much of the potion? Interesting. "Let's go, then." He stood and allowed her to lead the way to the door.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Viv helped Richard towards the escape hatch when she was suddenly pulled away from him by the waist of her pants.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” said a deadly voice. Viv looked up to see Bog, his eyes red with anger. He wasn’t much bigger than Nate, but he was twice as dangerous. She opened her mouth to say something but no sound came out.

“I see you laid out Nate. Can’t say I agree with it.” He told Viv and then back handed her. Her head reeled from the blow as a high pitched ring echoed in her ears. She turned to look back at Bog but everything was blurry.

Without much difficulty, Bog slung Vivien over his shoulder, and at the moment, she was powerless to stop him.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Richard was still feeling a spacey. He watched the big man appear from behind them and pick Viv up and over his shoulders, but it all happened in slow motion. Richard cocked his head to one side and smirked.

Not one to strike a man in the back, Richard leapt into the air. His foot touched the steel bench and he used his leg to bounce past Bog. He landed on his left foot and allowed his momentum to spin him 180 degrees until he was facing his opponent.

"Excuse me, sir. But I am going to have to-"
Big didn't wait for him to finish before throwing a punch. Richard leaned back and it passed harmlessly past his nose. Richard could feel the air brush his cheek, which was very pleasant. "-put the lady down."

Bog growled and threw himself at the shorter man. But Richard kicked him in the belly. The force from the blow was so strong it sent Bog flying backwards. Coughing bog dropped the girl. He bared his teeth and prepared to attack.

Richard glanced at Viv who was staring at him wide eyed. His eyes darted to the counter and back to her again. "Saucepan?"

His white teeth flashed at her.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Vivien wasn’t entirely sure what was going on as Bog suddenly was thrown back, dropping her on the ground in the process. She was only started to get her sense back when she looked up and sat that Richard was the cause of Bogs losing fight we gravity.

She looked up at him half in shock half wondering if someone had spiked her flask with something. She stumbled to stand up and then looked at him a bit daftly and tossed a sauce pan in his direction. She hadn’t been roughed up like Bog had done in quite a while and she cursed herself as her wits took too long to come back.

“We’ve got to get moving! Nate won’t be out forever!” she told him as she stumbled towards the escape hatch which was not blocked by Bog’s body. Bog looked angrier than she’d ever seen him as he got up and started to charge towards Richard. She ducked out of the way and looked at Richard. There was nothing she could do to save him now and she was sure he was about to die.

 

[Dirtydave1974]

With an almost lazy movement, Richard swing the saucepan in an arc and sent Bof flying into the wall. Bog used his face to slide slowly down the wall.

Richard frowned. With his enhanced hearing He could hear shouting in the room next door. He glanc d around the room and noticed a square outline in the roof.
"Not that way," Richard said, and too Viv by the hand. Using Bog as a stepping stool he reached up and pushed the hatch. It slid to the side easily. Richard grabbed Viv by the waist and hoisted her up and into a darkend storeroom. He jumped and using the edge lifted himself up. Closing the hatch behind him.

"So. Alone at last," he joked.

 

[scarlettnuit]

She was shocked as Richard, the seemingly mild mannered alchemist she had just met had suddenly turned into a super strong hero. When he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her up into the store room, she felt like she was the heroine in some novel.

Once they were safely stashed away, she took a moment to look at him for a moment, and to her surprise, her heart fluttered a bit. She cleared her throat softly and stepped away politely, glad of the darkened room that hid her blush.

“I guess we should just hide out here until the caravan gets moving again…I don’t think they’ll find us up here…hopefully this will all be over soon.” She said, somewhat annoyed with herself for having to be rescued.

For some reason when she looked at him, her pulse sped up. She bit the inside of her cheek as she felt herself...attracted to him? She suddenly felt a lust for him that she didn't comprehend. Not that she didn't find him attractive, but she had just met him and they were in a dangerous situation. She normally didn't feel this away until after she had successfully gotten away...

"What all does that blue stuff do again?"

 

[Dirtydave1974]

It was hard for Richard to keep the smile off his face. He was so pumped right now. He just wanted to jump back down and kick some arse. It was like he was super charged. He shouldn't feel this way. The sample had exceeded the recommended dosage.

His eyes fixed on the woman in front of him. Exploring her curves, her plump lips. He could hear her heavy breathing as if she were standing right next to his ear. He found himself wanting to erase the distance between them. Take her in his arms and run his finger over those plump lips. To make her his.

But it was the potions talking. Regardless he crossed the room. But before he reached her he forced his attention on a bag of apples. He picked one up and rubbed his finger of the surface. His eyes darting from the apple to her and back again.

"Thank you for saving me earlier," he said.

 

[scarlettnuit]

“Thanks for saving me back.” She said as she found herself moving towards him. Damn he smelled good. Did he smell this good earlier? She moved her hand over his chest for a moment and then pulled it back and made herself move across the room.

“I think breathed some of that stuff in or something…” she said as she felt herself start to throb between her legs. She crossed her legs in frustration and jumped a little as she heard the commotion below them. She prayed they didn’t find them up here, she was out of energy to fight with the whole crew. The key hadn’t been that important, she didn’t know what the big deal was.

She looked back up at Richard as he ran his finger over an apple. She bit her lip and squeezed her legs together for a minute. She listened as the gang finally gave up, assuming that they had escaped through the escape hatch. She breathes a sigh of relief as she heard them leaving and then looked at Richard again.

“Damn it, stop looking….like that.”

 

[Dirtydave1974]

Richard grinned. "If you don't want me to look, then don't dress like that." He waved his hand up and down. "I'm sorry If I'm making you feel uncomfortable."

Richard didn't feel tha cofortable himself now that he thought about it. The temperature in the room felt like it had increased several degrees. Or make it was the potion at work. He slipped off his leather jacket and wiped sweat away from his forehead.