Retrieving Merrill Wilkinson

Objectively, Victor is clearly a Bad Boyfriend, but when you correct for the quirks of the lady in question, maybe not so much.

The only lead we have --

We have no lead!

I thought _Alice_ was a threat to Alice's social life.

Sophronia: You keep iron in your pockets!

Victor: Not this pocket -- only _this_ pocket!

It would be an invisible (illegible in my notes)

Archibald, Emile

What happens in the Kerberos Club -- very often spreads over the entire effing world -- but may stay in the Kerberos Club.

Somewhere we may be lost for some indeterminate amount of time -- Ireland

How are you going to explain going to Ireland?

(simultaneously): They're not!

Well, one has to be prepaed for all kinds of occasion.

Did you like it?

I made the storm, but that hardly constitutes blowing us off course!

And since Winston isn't here -- she will _tell_ you what they say about fairy men.

Fairy illusions are easy to pierce.

Hey!

It is true.

Martin will roll athletics!

Sad wet fairy.

I talked to Winston -- he said it was all right.

I make an illusionary letter. We're awful people!

17 worth of illusion -- she'll never talk to us again.

Angelina takes notes.

Victor stirs fog with a finger.

Alice: Sophronia, is it widdershins or deosil?

Sophronia: Widdershins.

Alice: Oh, yes, of course.

Victor guides Angelina -- holding her arm so she can continue writing notes.

As people seem to be paired off, Alice (illeg -- I think agrees to dance with Lord Mace? Stands next to him? Suggests they dance?)

3 things from Mars

And Merril might be needed to reach Mars

Gregory: Perhaps I _might_ have overreacted just a touch. (about the Creahador business)

Alice: I will write this down.

Somewhere between Date of Entry into Faerie and Whatever Date we Emerge from Faerie, Gregory Sage came the closest to an apology I have ever seen him come.

Gregory: I am quite sure that is neither fair nor true.

I'm afraid the house is going to be a little dirty -- well, you probably won't notice.

You know, if someone were to use our names against us, it would work on all of us _except_ Gregory.

Truce of a year and a day, and at least one interesting client.

Sophronia: A year and a day starting when we get out of Faerie!

Gregory (to Lord Mace): George! Remember! Don't eat _anything_!

Winter Solstice or New Year's Day, 1839 or 1840

Oh, I want to watch! I just want to see!

Alice! No!

Very well. I suppose you don't trust me enough.

That's _not_ why!

You can watch him make the saddle!

I suppose it will have to do.

Voyeurism

(about opening up Sophronia's clockwork anatomy so as to upgrade her. The saddle was for Martin the cat.)

(something illegible about noise and something big)

_Not_ that I am (something illegible)

Does anyone think we can make her _believe_ that? Because I think we can.

Sophronia's Letter to Talos

							January 3, 1840
							Sophronia Wilkinson
							Wakefield Hotel, Dublin
Talos
15 Maida Ave., London


Dear Talos,

We’re back. I hope you haven’t been missing me too badly. I couldn’t really write you 
letters from Faerie. I’m having Alice transcribe this for me so you’ll be sure to be 
able to read it, since I think my handwriting might be too small for you. You remember 
her, she helped me rescue you. She sends her best regards, of course.

You’ll be glad to hear we have my father – your Uncle Merrill, that is – back in one 
piece.  He expects he ought to be able to do marvelous things for you! I know you must 
be very excited after waiting such a long time, but I do promise we’ll be home with 
him soon.  He’ll be ever so pleased to meet you.

Faerie was – strange.  Musical.  My wings work better there, once I’m inside.  I expected – 
I don’t know what I expected, actually.  I don’t suppose Faerie ever gives you what you 
expect.  We met a king.  He seemed happy enough.  It’s funny to think of Faerie as a 
place where people can be happy.  I suppose Father was, for however long he thought he 
was there.  I wonder what he’ll think of being back in London.

Anyway, I’m glad my friends came with me.

We’re headed to Paris briefly next (you probably don’t want to ask why, it’s sort of a 
long story involving Alice’s cousin and new dress patterns and something about art) 
before coming back to London. Victor and Angelina are all a-flutter over museums and 
hospitals, and Lord Mace seems to have some plans of his own (although I do hope he 
won’t simply wander off, it would give some people the wrong impress--, actually never 
mind) and perhaps Reginald will accompany him for some of the time.  Although I won’t 
mind having Reginald around for a bit as well, he keeps Marten company while Father is 
working on my wings and it’s sort of splendid how his trick of turning into another brass 
fairy seems to befuddle Father.

In any case, you should decide what sort of Christmas present you want me to find for you 
in Paris and let me know! I’d bring you a new suit of clothes, since I gather there will 
be a lot of that sort of thing there, but I don’t quite have your measurements, and you 
must admit that they’re unlikely to be able to make any guesses.  But don’t worry, if I 
don’t hear from you I’m sure I’ll figure something out, and then it will be a surprise.

Oh, one other piece of news – my friends and I might be going to Mars soon.  Yes, the 
planet.  We haven’t quite sorted out how we’re travelling yet, although at the moment I 
suppose the obvious options are clockwork ether carriage and telekinetic bubble.  It will 
be nice for Alice to visit her old home, I’m sure.  I’m a little concerned about the iron 
dust in the soil – I expect I’ll be airborne nearly the entire visit, and I hope there 
aren’t a great many dust clouds ? – but I trust we’ll sort something out with our usual 
stunning competence.  I suppose you’ll have to think over whether you’d like to come 
with us. Er…well…when you can.  Take your time. No need to bother about it until Father 
is done.

I miss you, cousin. All my love,

Sophronia

"Well, I've written it down in my best hand," Alice says, "but I'm not certain how Talos will learn it. He has not yet learned to read, you know."