White Chapel, London circa 1886

"I'm so sorry…"

"It's alright," Julian murmured, side-eyeing the growing crowd that was gathering at the docks. They needed to go. The last thing they needed was someone seeing Billy's markings are getting too close a look at Mila and they were all in trouble. Trouble was the last thing they needed.

"We will need to... to move him, in order to ensure a... private investigation…I don't suppose one in our number has shady contacts in the art of uh... discretionary body removal?"

Before Julian had a chance to say anything, Billy leveled his gaze at HG, "Tact isn't your strong point, is it?"

Julian took a step back from the conversation, his arm leaving Lorena's shoulder. As much as pragmatism wasn't wanted, right now though, it was what they needed, he could grant HG that. The first thing they needed to do was calm Mila down enough to get her to move. Then maybe they could see if Billy had any shady contacts that could deal with this sort of thing. Julian exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. Sometimes, life made him wish he was the trophy son his father had wanted. At least then his life would be easier. Vastly less interesting, but still easier and quieter. There were not grizzly murders in that world. They were some awful thing that happened to other people; a name in a newspaper briefly mourned and then forgotten. They weren't something that happened on your doorstep to people you knew.

"What are we supposed to do?" Lorena asked him.

"We need to go." Julian echoed Lorena's earlier statement.

Billy straightened up as Mila skittered across, snatching something from the ground. Her movements were too fast for Billy to see what it was, but there was a metallic crunching sound as Mila curled her fist around it. Billy made a note not to get on her bad side, even if he did have a marking that could nullify her strength. She soon seemed to regret her actions, apologising profusely to a woman in the crowd. In among the madness of it all, he found Mila's child-like innocence refreshing. It wasn't something that was usually seen in White Chapel. The harshness of life there forced children to become adults. The innocent and naive were soon left behind. Although Billy somehow doubted any of them would allow Mila to be left behind. The Iron Touched were odd like that. They protected their own, even if there was no logic to it.

"Billy, we need to go."

Billy looked to Julian, nodding his agreement. He turned to Mila, "We can fix this back at Julie's, it'll be alright."He said, slowly reaching a hand out, hoping Mila would let him see the contraption she had cradled in her arms. True, machinery was more Julian's area of expertise, but he wasn't a complete novice.

"We need to go."

Relief flooded through her as Julian echoed her own need to escape from the place. Shakily she got to her feet before Mila suddenly crushed the tiny golden lizard in a sudden moment of passion. Lorena let out a gasp, her eyes quickly going to the women. She heard Billy carefully keep the situation in control, again promising that the contraption could be fixed and starting to coax the group away. She started to follow.

"Lorena?"

Her blood ran cold as she heard a familiar voice. All she wanted to do was turn away and disappear but instead a strong hand griped her shoulder and spun her around. Terrified she met the cold green eyes of her brother.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was filled with curiosity and worry before his expression immediately darkened and anger flooded into his features. He turned to Julian and the rest of the group. "What the hell are you doing with my sister?"

Panic flooded through her at the fury in his voice. His eyes were shooting daggers particularly at Julian, accusations obviously poised. Knowing her brother he wouldn't think twice about starting a brawl.

"Jon wait." She cut in front of him, speaking hurriedly. "It's ok, I promise I can explain-"

His gaze suddenly landed on Billy before it locked onto one of the marks on the young man's skin. Jonathon recoiled as though he'd been hit. He stared for a moment longer before moving onto Mila. His expression changed to disgust and revulsion.

"How could you be with the likes of them!" He spat the last words out, glaring at the group with pure hatred. Lorena paled as his hands gathered into fists. Suddenly he turned on her, causing her to stumble back a few paces."You know what they are."

His voice was dangerously low and her hands began to shake as she watched his mind working it out. She saw the question forming in his eyes before he began to ask.

"You aren't…."

"Jonathon it's not my fault." Panicking Lorena responded instantaneously to his accusation. Immediately shock replaced her brothers anger. For a moment there was silence. Jonathon just stared at her in dismay.

"Loren, surely not." She didn't say a word, instead watching him frightened of his response. Finally his features hardened in resolve; a sudden determination that he would make everything work out.

"We can get you fixed. I'm sure we can do something."

"I don't need to be fixed." She replied curtly.

"And if father finds out?" Lorena went white. "Come on Loren. You know what happened to our neighbour-"

"Jon stop!" she cried out, but he continued despite her protests.

"Don't you remember how he hung himself from the ceiling after a week in the mental asylum? You'll end up there too if he ever finds out."

"He won't." Her voice was shrill, pleading.

"He most certainly will if you keep sneaking out here. How could you be stupid enough to trust people like them? They'll do anything they please with you if they feel it will allow themselves to claw their way up the hierarchy."

Katherine walked close and held her arms open for Pan, who nimbly leaped into them, shaking slightly. She looked him over critically, angry at the girl who had hurt him but knowing at the same time that, given her attachment to the dead man, her reaction was somewhat justified. At least Pan was all right... mostly.

Picking up the other pieces from the ground, she said, "He seems all right, just a few minor fixes. I would much rather use my workshop than another's, as I have the right tools, but if this Julie's workshop is closer I can--" Pan nudged her roughtly, looking intently again at the girl. His shaking had stopped, and the small cat golem seemed interested, not afraid, of the girl's offer. "Or, I suppose, you can fix him, under my close supervision of course. I could not lose Pan. He is far too important to me, I must admit." And besides, in the heavy leather bag at her side, reminiscent of a doctor's medical bag, she carried her most essential tools, so if this workshop was lacking she could still make sure Pan was all right as soon as possible.

She turned, Pan's gold, bronze, and silver parts glinting in the sun before he hid in one of her pockets again, her dress especially designed to allow him a place to hide. As they began to walk away as a group, they were interrupted by an argument between one of them and another man, apparently her brother, who felt it appropriate to upbraid his sister on the street. Interesting choice. Made her glad that what little family she had didn't bother interfering with her life, too used to her eccentricities. And what, precisely, did he mean by 'people like them'?

The woman in the dark dress stepped forward, inspecting the small contraption in Mila's hands. She held her arms out and the thing leaped into her arms. A few years ago, Billy would have thought he had been inhaling something odd had he witnessed a sentient machine. Given the life he now lead, it seemed to be just another perfectly ordinary thing. "He seems all right, just a few minor fixes. I would much rather use my workshop than another's, as I have the right tools, but if this Julie's workshop is closer I can..." she trailed off, still focused on the machine, "Or, I suppose, you can fix him," she said to Mila, "Under my close supervision of course. I could not lose Pan. He is far too important to me, I must admit."

Billy nodded, "All depends on where your workshop is Miss." He looked over to Julian who was starting to leave with Lorena. Billy waited for Mila to start walking before following behind her. Billy looked up when he heard Lorena's name being called.

Julian stopped, turning hesitantly when he heard someone call Lorena's name. He saw a young man, close to his own age, approach Lorena. Julian took half a step back, staying close to Lorena. Judging by her face, she didn't particularly want this man here. Knowing as little as he did about Lorena's home life, he assumed that this man was either a well meaning suitor, or her brother.

"What the hell are you doing with my sister?" His question was directed at Julian. Julian met his gaze, taken aback by the sheer venom he saw reflected in this man's eyes. He wasn't happy and he wanted answers. Whether or not he would be willing to listen to those answers was another matter.

"Absolutely nothing," he answered, maintaining his calm while inside he was seething. Who was this man to speak Lorena like that? To speak to anyone like that for that matter.

"Jon wait." Lorena stepped between them. She knew this man by name, so they were close, but Julian was still none the wiser as to the nature of their relationship. There was something in the way they each held their jaw, a slight arrogance that Julian had once held in his own, and their eyes that had Julian leaning closer to 'Jon' being Lorena's brother. "It's ok, I promise I can explain-"

Julian braced himself when Jon's gaze turned to Billy. Billy seemed to sense it too, as he looked up, eyes wide and almost childlike. Billy looked to his wrists and saw that his shirt sleeve had ridden up slightly while he had been reaching out to Mila. He hastily pulled his sleeves down, hoping that this man hadn't seen the marks, that he wouldn't cause a scene, that he wouldn't know and just assume they were normal tattoos.The disgust on the gentleman's face said otherwise.

"How could you be with the likes of them! You know what they are." Jon said, his attention, and fury, turning back to Lorena. Lorena stumbled back into Julian. He placed a hand on the curve of her back, mostly to steady her, but also as a quiet reassurance that she had allies here, no matter what her brother might say. Julian turned his attention to Billy, who was glaring at the man. For all Billy's hedonistic faults, he certainly had a strong sense loyalty to those who found themselves like him. To anyone who was in trouble for that matter. That was the only reason Julian could think of for helping him when he himself had first arrived in White Chapel.

Julian saw Billy's eyes darken, his chest rising rapidly as they both followed the conversation between Jon and Lorena. "He most certainly will if you keep sneaking out here. How could you be stupid enough to trust people like them? They'll do anything they please with you if they feel it will allow themselves to claw their way up the hierarchy."

Julian pressed his lips into a thin smile, maintaining a thin veneer of politeness, "People like us? You must mean people that are a victim of fate, my good sir, for once upon a time I was a gentleman of means, much like yourself. A comfortable upbringing, an overbearing father, all the trappings of a privelliged life. I was at the top of the hierarchy and I assure you I have no wish to return to it," Julian's friendly mask fell away, "But don't you for a minute think that I intend to use your sister for anything," he hissed, "You are the one causing her distress, not myself, nor any of my friends."

Billy fidgeted with his shirt, attempting, in vain, to cover the majority of his markings. He had always been so careful. The man, Jon, looked familar but Billy couldn't quite place his face. Billy paced behind him, trying to see Jon's face from a different angle, "Leave it Julie," he said, finally placing Jon's face, "he's one of those types who likes to think that a few coins makes him our moral superior," Billy laughed, "Though I'm sure there are plenty of pretty folk in White Chapel who might disagree." He tilted his head, looking innocently to Jon. There was a challenge to his words, veiled as it was, but there nonetheless. Billy handed the challenge to Jon to answer, sure that no matter what Jon said, Julian wouldn't abandon him.

"He seems all right, just a few minor fixes. I would much rather use my workshop than another's, as I have the right tools, but if this Julie's workshop is closer I can..." The woman said, her voice trailing off. Mila hung her head in shame. "Or, I suppose, you can fix him," she said and Mila smiled. "Under my close supervision of course. I could not lose Pan. He is far too important to me, I must admit."

"Oh thank you, Ma'am, I promise to fix him, good as new." she told her eagerly.

"All depends on where your workshop is Miss."Billy said and Mila looked at him, and then to Julian and Lorena, they were walking off when a man approached Lorena.

"What are you doing here?" He said, before his eyes found Julian and then the rest of them. Mila tensed. "What the hell are you doing with my sister?"



"Jon wait, It's ok, I promise I can explain-" Lorena said hastily but the man looked at Billy, he eyed Billy's marks and took a step back before looking at Mila. She grabbed a hold of Billy, ducking behind him, as the man, called Jon looked disturbed by the sight of her.

"How could you be with the likes of them!"He spat. His gaze turned on Lorena and Mila gripped Billy a bit harder, hiding behind the taller boy. "You know what they are." He said

"You aren't…." He inquired and Lorena didn't have to answer. He didn't know Lorena was special, she didn't look like it. Mila knew she looked different, her skin wasn't all skin, some of it was copper, her eyes were mismatched, her voice was different, and Billy, he had marks, all over he wore marks. Mila liked his marks.

"Billy..." Mila peeped quietly.

"Jonathon it's not my fault." Lorena went on, and Mila felt bad. Where they a bad thing, was it bad to be what they were? The siblings went on and on, and Mila felt herself becoming more angry, and more sad.

"He most certainly will if you keep sneaking out here. How could you be stupid enough to trust people like them? They'll do anything they please with you if they feel it will allow themselves to claw their way up the hierarchy."

Julian then stepped up, while Billy just glared daggers at the man. Mila held on a bit tighter. "People like us? You must mean people that are a victim of fate, my good sir, for once upon a time I was a gentleman of means, much like yourself. A comfortable upbringing, an overbearing father, all the trappings of a privileged life. I was at the top of the hierarchy and I assure you I have no wish to return to it," Julian said, before he stopped trying to sound... diplomatic, that was the word. "But don't you for a minute think that I intend to use your sister for anything," he hissed, "You are the one causing her distress, not myself, nor any of my friends." He said and Mila looked at the man and nodded. Lorena was the first person to help her, to say anything to her, she was her friend, her first friend, she was good. Mila knew she was good.

Billy began to fidget a bit and so Mila let him go. She would have stood beside Lorena but Julian was there for her, which was good. "Leave it Julie," Billy said, "he's one of those types who likes to think that a few coins makes him our moral superior," Billy laughed sardonically. "Though I'm sure there are plenty of pretty folk in White Chapel who might disagree." He said and Mila didn't quite understand what he mean by that but he knew it wasn't good.

Mila moved to Lorena, smiled at her, and took her hand on the other side of her. "Lorena is a good person, and she is our friend, she doesn't belong with anyone who thinks she's bad, because she's different. She belongs with us." She said, and gave Lorena's hand a gentle squeeze.

Lorena hated her brothers suggestion of how easily she would be used by the group, but she didn't dare cross him. She felt Julian support her from behind and she was thankful that she wasn't facing Jonathon's wrath on her own. However it didn't appear that the group would let him get away with his hateful remarks as Julian spoke up.

"People like us? You must mean people that are a victim of fate, my good sir, for once upon a time I was a gentleman of means, much like yourself. A comfortable upbringing, an overbearing father, all the trappings of a privileged life…."

Jonathon's mouth curled upward in disgust, his cold gaze not wavering from Julian's face. Lorena's eyes temporarily widened in surprise at the words and she briefly glanced up at Julian before worriedly flicking back to her brother. Though in hindsight, she admitted to herself his mannerisms should have made her wonder.

"…I was at the top of the hierarchy and I assure you I have no wish to return to it," Then Julian's tone changed and the previous façade of politeness disappeared. "But don't you for a minute think that I intend to use your sister for anything," he hissed, "You are the one causing her distress, not myself, nor any of my friends."

"A fool like yourself never belonged to the upper class in the first place." Jonathon scoffed back "Hence why you could not last long in our courts. How easily you label yourself as a victim of fate rather than admitting the reason you were probably cast out was a lacking in yourself; nothing as supernatural as fate. And if distressing my sister results in her not following your pathetic pathway than I will gladly do so."

Lorena was mortified at his words. She wished fervently Julian had not spoken of his past for he had only offered her brother a new wound to prod.

"Leave it Julie, he's one of those types who likes to think that a few coins makes him our moral superior," Billy laughed, "Though I'm sure there are plenty of pretty folk in White Chapel who might disagree."

Jonathon flushed angrily at the remark and he felt Lorena's sharp gaze dig into him at the accusation. There was a frosty silence for a moment, no one else seemed about to speak when Mila moved to Lorena's side taking the women's hand.

"Lorena is a good person, and she is our friend, she doesn't belong with anyone who thinks she's bad, because she's different. She belongs with us."

Lorena immediately clung to Mila's hand as she watched her brother shake his head in disbelief.

"I've had enough of listening to this lower class trash-"

"And I suppose that means you don't have to reply to Billy's comment. Or do you have no honour?"
Lorena's tone was icy.

"I do not have to answer to any of these people." He hissed back. "But there is nothing really to answer to."

He turned around facing Billy, his face deceptively calm but his eyes alight with anger. He stared the other man down stepping forward into Billy's personal space.

"Do you really think I would be embarrassed of enjoying the company of a few wenches every now and again?" He let out a humourless laugh. "I can do whatever I please with those whores. Considering where they are in the hierarchy when I pay them for what they offer it should be considered charity."

"Jonathon!" Lorena's voice was heavy with shock and anger.

"A fool like yourself never belonged to the upper class in the first place." Jonathon scoffed back "Hence why you could not last long in our courts. How easily you label yourself as a victim of fate rather than admitting the reason you were probably cast out was a lacking in yourself; nothing as supernatural as fate. And if distressing my sister results in her not following your pathetic pathway than I will gladly do so."

Julian smiled thinly, "Of course, the fault is mine, though I profess, I am glad of it. High society is filled with people like you."

Let him prod, Julian thought. Let him try and hurt me with this. Perhaps if Julian and Jonathon had met years earlier, his prods might have hurt. The wounds were rawer then, still fresh and hurting. It would have only taken a few words to make Julian feel small. But now? Now the wounds were healed. While he retained some of the mannerisms, Julian had long since left his privileged life behind. The wounds had healed so well that they couldn't be seen.

"Lorena is a good person, and she is our friend, she doesn't belong with anyone who thinks she's bad, because she's different. She belongs with us."

Billy smiled resolving to try and be a little more like Mila. She was brave in a way that was often ignored. It was a bravery born of kindness. The world he had grown up in didn't have much room for kindness for kindness' sake. It had even less room for bravery. Keep your head down and get on with it. Don't speak up, don't argue, don't complain. Punch the boy next to you if you had to, but never punch up. Punching up leads to trouble.

"I've had enough of listening to this lower class trash-"

"And I suppose that means you don't have to reply to Billy's comment. Or do you have no honour?"

Billy raised his eyebrows, folding his arms and waited for Jonathon's response, "Well? Are you a man of honour?" But when had Billy ever let trouble stop him?

"I do not have to answer to any of these people." Jonathon hissed at Lorena. Billy noted the tightening in Julian's jaw. "But there is nothing really to answer to." He turned to Billy, "Do you really think I would be embarrassed of enjoying the company of a few wenches every now and again?" He let out a humourless laugh. "I can do whatever I please with those whores. Considering where they are in the hierarchy when I pay them for what they offer it should be considered charity."

"Ri-ight," Billy nodded his head, "Of course. We're not good enough to associate with, but we're good enough to bed, but only if you are paying an Iron Touched. My good sir, I think it's them who are doing you the service, not the other way around," Billy smiled brightly, "But I'll leave you to your view of the world." Billy looked to Julian, "I think we're done here."

Julian narrowed his eyes, "I quite agree," he answered curtly, his gaze remaining on Jonathon. He turned to Lorena, "If you wish to come with us, you're more than welcome. If you wish to return home with your brother, the choice is yours. Mila?" he called to the girl, indicating for her to follow himself and Billy.

"Come on Mila, how are we going to fix Pan if we hang around giving this guy an earful?" Billy asked, slowly heading away from the docks, giving Mila time to catch up with him, and Lorena, if she had a mind to.