In the Category of Families

Sarah turns to Ed and Harry, "Ed, could ye come over 'ere and knell in front a me? 'arry, please make sure nae one comes through tha door."

Edward looked to her. "Wha' are you planning?" he asked, not quite sure what to expect.

Harry, meanwhile, kept watch at the door.

John, invisible, but present, added snarkily, "Th' girl knows you're in there, c'n see us, an' you on' think she'll be able t' do as she says?"

Sarah gives an angry glance about. "Ah wan' tae 'elp yer Luke, but Ah kinnae do that if yer all gonna treat me loik a simpleton and sneak aboot on me." She crosses her small arms over her chest. "Now, if ye wan' me 'elp, do as Ah say, and will any other dead men 'ere either 'ave tha curtesy ta show themselves, or tha good manners ta leave!"

"Luke"'s eyes moved to offer John's general location a glare, his voice replying, "I see we found the disappointing child to the family. If you are all done wasting my time, you could be more useful leaving and bringing my son here."

Sarah gives the kidnapper a nasty look, which she then transfers to Ed, her irritation starting to manifest as ectoplasm floating around the room. It appears as clouds, until it brushes agiant a ghost, briefly outlinging the form, then swiftly dissapating. "Will you trus me for five blessed seconds? I wan ta elp tha man, but yer makin it 'ard!"

The look of annoyance and disdain was quick to disappear from "Luke's face at the sight of the cloud and was replaced by a look of utter indifference. It was a poker face usually set aside for business ventures. "I see you can deliver on your promise, even if the method is... strange. How long can you manifest this sort of energy?"

Sarah looks around, confused, then realizes she was 'leaking', "Ach! Thought I was learnin ta control tha bettar." Her face is slightly red as she turns back to the rider, "Aboot foive minuets, dependen on wotcha do." She looks around. "Et really 'urts ta do though, so Ah'll 'elp ye, but thars a couple o' conditions"

"And your terms are?" The ghost asked, keeping the same expression.

Sarah gave him what she hoped was a stern, motherly expression, "First, git out a tha' man! Even ittle ones know stealins wrong ye great brute. Second, ye only get ta talk tae ONE person. Ah dinnae loik showin off in front a crowds, they faff aboot too much. Third, ye got ta assure me tha 'oo ye talk to aint gonna go blabbin on me. The less people 'oo know wot Ah kin do, tha better."

The man moved to set down his tea and scratch his chin in thought. After what felt like an eternity, the body Lord Fairfax had been inhabiting slumped back into the chain unconscious while at the exact same moment the ghost himself stepped forward, still scratching his chin in thought. "I had hoped to speak to two people, though I believe I can get my intentions across through only one. I expect you to deliver your part of the bargain, miss...?"

As the former lord spoke, Luke slowly managed to regain consciousness. He remained quiet during the speech, looking quite uncomfortable and doing his best not to attract attention despite the disgusting taste of tea on his tongue.

Sarah smiles brightly at the man, now that the clearest danger to Luke was passed, she felt she could be a touch friendlier, bieng called 'Miss' didnt hurt her mood either. "Cupper, sir, Sarah Cupper." She held out her hand, knowing the ghost wouldnt be able to give her a proper handshake, but also knowing that some ghosts liked to have living courtisies extended to them. "Do ye wan ta wait fer yer lad 'ere, or go run 'im down somewhere?"

The former Lord Fairfax reached out a hand to shake, though his own hand went straight through Sarah's hand. His expression remained the same as he said, "Actually, it is not my son I want to speak to if I only have one person I may talk to. I would prefer to speak to my wife. Well, I suppose former wife."

"Is she on this island?" Sarah started, "Ach where is me 'ead?" She move straight through Lord Fairfax and up to Luke, "Are ye alright thar, sir? Ahve never been ridden, though Ahm told ets na verry pleasent."

Sarah received quite the stern glare from the ghost of Lord Fairfax that she had just walked through, a look unhindered by pride or finesse. He was quick to disappear completely.

Luke himself still looked quite upset. His head felt like it has been split open, his entire body felt chilled and he still had that terrible taste on his tongue. The fact the place remained completely unfamiliar to him didn't help with his complete and utter unease. He replied in his cockney accent, "Fine, jus' a bit cold an'... Who're you? An' where's this?"

Sarah gave a warm smile and a pat on his knee. "Yer on tha boat of a rather rude dead man, but dinnae woory, yer safe now." She casts a stern glare over her shoulder at the present members of the Fairchild family, "Well," she ammended, "as safe as ye kin be with this silly lot 'auntin ye." Stands up and starts checking about for chocolate or cinnamon, "Ahm Sarah, boi tha way, Ah kin see tha dead, loik you. Tha cold should go away in a bit, quicker if ah kin..." Finding none of the items she wanted, she casts an appraising eye on the tea set. After a moment, she gets one of the cups, droppes a sugar cube in it, pours in some honey, and mixes them togeather with a spoon into a paste. She then hands the cup and spoon to Luke. "Et'd be better if et were chocolate, but this aught ta 'elp." After she hands off her 'medicine', Sarah turns her attention to the ghosts. "Ets gonna 'urt quite a bit, though Ah'll be foin quick enough. Tha greatest danger Ah'll 'ave is if some wanderen ghost sees me doin et an' starts blabbin. Ye really wan' ta 'elp? Make sure no ootsiders catch me in tha act." With that, she sits down cosslegged on the floor next to Lukes chair.

Edward cleared his throat and moved to sit down next to Luke. "She's stayin' on your ship now." He gave Sarah a concerned look. "An' much as I can sympathize wi' th' Lord wan'ing to tal' to 'is family, I don' thin' it's worth th' risk of 'arm..."

Sarah waves at the fiddler in an annoyed way, "Ach, dinnae be such a mother hen, music box. Ahve done it afore, Ah'll do et again." She gives a worried look to Luke, "Besides, goin back on me word now will be disastrous for the lot of us. Ah've never seen tha ghost of a mage afore, and as mooch lav as 'e put inta this vessal, Ah'd 'ate ta make 'im mad 'ere."

Luke stared at the cup of sugar in confusing, trying to wrap his brain around what was going on at the moment. He finally settled down on taking the improvised 'medicine', mostly out of a desire to get the taste of tea out of his mouth over anything else. He grumbled in response, "I'd be willing t' escor' you into doing whatever you're doing, but we need t' do it fas'. If we're where I think we are, Fairfax will be back any minute. Don't know abou' you but I don' like the idea of getting fried."

"As soon as tha' bully coomes back an Ah let 'im see 'is missus, Ah'm all fer gettin roit off this boat an' back ta tha 'eat." Sarah says, starting to tap her right leg with impatience.

As if on que, the ghost lord appeared behind Sarah, saying down to her in his usual Coxish accent, "Children have bullies. I, on the other hand, an a businessman. There is quite the difference."

Luke glared at the appearing lord, a small growl being held back in his throat.

Sarah lurches forward in shock "Ah 'ate it when ye smarmy vapors do tha'" She belts out while getting back to her feet, "Did ye foind yer missus, sir, or are ye jus 'ere ta scare tha livin ta yer soid o' tha veil?"

The barest skeletons of a smirk appeared on the dead Lord's face, though it was quick to disappear. No contact with anyone in months certainly had deteriorated his sense of humor and what he considered "amusing". With his previous business face, he responded, "She is on the second floor, in her room. There may be people working on the way there though. I would suggest saying you were sent to retrieve a part for one of the labs or bays."

"Sounds good ta me," Sarah said, anxious to get this sordid affair over with. She then turns to Luke, "Ef yer offer a escort is still open, Ah think they'd believe me more with a strappin young lad like yerself leadin the way." Sarah suddnely slapped her forehead, "Ach, almos' forgot." She turns back to the late Lord, "Did ye an yer woife 'ave any private phrases or somesuch, sommat Ah could tell 'er so she don' call tha guards ootright?"

"I'm afraid, 'Phrases strangers can say so that we know that a ghost is trying to communicate with one another' is not something that came up on conversation," Lord Fairfax replied dryly.

"Are ye tryin tae make this difficult on me?" Sarah give the ghost an exasperated glare, "Where wos yer 'oneymoon? Wot did ye get 'er fer yer first christmas? Jus' tell me some 'appy memory Ahm not loikely ta 'ave been able to 'ear aboot in tha news."