The longer I spent engulfed in the sea of people on the sidewalk the more I felt out of place, drowning in unfriendly strangers without a shred of direction. I didn't know what I was looking for, just anything to cling to. Anyplace to be that wasn't the dark, old, empty house. 

Stopping to look into storefronts was near impossible in the crowd, the shops filled with glass and lights reminded me of the shop back home. Then It caught my eye a sign scrawled in red, "Mechanics Needed! Inquire within." I ignored the huffs of people around me, annoyed that I took a moment to stand still. Above me, the sign proclaimed in flashing lights and flamboyant pastels, "Lady Tris's Unsinkable Flying Machines." 

My heart lept as the doorbell rang behind me and the familiar scent of machinery filled the air. Model airships floated around, buzzing with tiny motors, each in their own glass display filled with painted scenery.  

"Is there anything I can help you with?" The girl from behind the counter popped up, looking frazzled and swamped by paperwork. 

"I'm a mechanic," I answered.

"Are you even old enough to work?" She tossed her braid over one shoulder, looking concerned. I could have easily asked her the same thing. Mostly I was glad she didn't laugh. 

"I'm sixteen, I'm sure that's plenty."

She nodded thoughtfully, "Alright follow me."

Behind the store, there was a workshop that broke clear through to the street behind us and up to the roof. Any walls it once had were replaced by frosted glass. Suspended above us was an airship and I was in awe. The engine was far quieter than the automobile that brought us back from the docks, it had a gentle purr. The woodwork was exquisite, scrolls adorned the sides giving way to a carved octopus on the front, griping for dear life. 

The shopkeeper cleared her throat, "That's the Land-and-Sea, Lady Tris is on board and will be with you in a moment. In the meantime," She presented me with a black box while pulling out a white slip of paper, "My name is Liz and you can find me at the first desk if you have any questions. This box is your skills test for employment all prospective employees are given the same skills test. Lady Tris's Unsinkable Airships does not discriminate, we simply want the best woman or man for the job." She pocketed her script and left me to my devices. 

The black box had a clear front panel and a dent on the side where a frustrated mechanic made contact with a wrench. It's just like an arm or a leg. Moving parts and something to make it go. I thought, prying off the front cover. It looked like two different systems I recognized the gears but not so much the section with pistons on the other side. The gear side looked to be powered by the piston side and with no way to start it I was at a loss. 

"Excuse me, Liz," I popped my head into the shop side once more, "Do you have a wind-up key for the box?"

She shook her head, "Sorry, no wind-up key, you have about two more minutes before Lady Tris will be here."

I ducked back into the workshop feeling a sudden sense of urgency. I needed to make it go somehow, even if it meant cranking the pistons by hand. My hands grew tired quickly, airships, for one, were not meant to be worked by hand.

"And that's time," a sultry voice called from the deck of the airship. The woman descending the ladder from the ship was far too well dressed to be a mechanic, I felt underdressed in her presence, my own frock marred by grease off the shop floor.

Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in succulent curls, paired with a peacock feather fascinator. Her dress was tight, too tight, each breath brought with it the threat that her breasts would come bursting out, I wondered how she got away with being so scantily clad, a workshop was hardly the place for such a dress. 

"You don't need to eye me like that, these are hardly my work clothes." She gave me a quick smile, a flash of white between red. "I see my engine is working," She extended a gloved hand, "Lady Tris, this is my workshop." 

"Oh, I'm Ellowyn Von Heikenroter."

She eyed me suspiciously, I was certain from the way others talked the Von Heikenroter name carried some weight. I wasn't myself anymore.

"I think you have potential, Ms. Von Heikenroter," she rose her delicately sculpted eyebrows, "I like that you created a solution and I like that you knew when to ask for help instead of taking a hammer to the contraption like a parentless man-child. When can you start?"

"I have until dinner today and anytime tomorrow." What was I saying? Or thinking? How was I ever going to tell the doctor I found permanent employment in a temporary situation? 

She gave me an approving nod, "Liz will give you aa brief orientation and a uniform."

I joined Liz in the storefront. 

"Lady Tris does not like us to use cue cards when we talk about the models," She adjusted her glasses, "So I have cards for you listing pros and cons as well. They will need to be memorized by tomorrow."

"I'm sorry, I thought I applied to be a mechanic."

"You did," Liz responded firmly, "We rotate between the storefront and the shop, everyone does everything."

With that, Liz introduced me to all four of their models. The newest, le nuage, was their newest and most inexpensive model. It featured a small cabin and required little fuel to run but it was not suited for cross-sea voyages. In its glass display, it circled a valley painted with grass and flowers. The second, medium-sized model, Sparrow, could fit a larger family, or some cargo. It had several wood options and the sails were customizable making it popular with the fashion-conscious customer. Its display showed a family admiring mountains up close from the airship. Then there was the Land-and-Sea, a ship meant entirely for commercial use, perfect for land voyages as well as sea. The sails even converted for water use in case of emergencies. Then there was the final ship, The Raven, Liz explained that no one was allowed to work on it. Seeing how grand the woodworking was on the palm-sized model I could only imagine the amount of work that went into the finished product.

"That's about it," She concluded, returning to her post behind the front desk, "I'm so excited for you to meet everyone, Ellowyn."

"I am too." I waved after her.

***

Back at the Von Heikenroter house, I found the doctor buried neck-deep in books, just as he had been in Fairburg. It was a comfort to know things hadn't changed, but I was concerning that it meant he hadn't given up on chasing S.E.B. I considered asking him what he was reading but he was so engrossed he didn't lift his head to see who had entered. I missed his customary greeting, Hello, Ellow.

"Welcome home, Miss Elowyn." James greeted me, "Dinner is on the stove and your stationery and stamps are on your desk." 

"Thank you, James." I rushed upstairs looking forward to writing Everett about my first day in New Ellington.

"I wanted to get you papers with flowers but Edward insisted you must have cats." He called up the stairs. 

A smile crept across my face, I hadn't been forgotten, "Cats is the answer," I called down the stairs.

On my desk, paired with stamps of New Ellington's grey skyline in silhouette, was the stationary. Lined paper in buttercream complemented nicely by the additions of kittens and yarn balls around the border. I lovingly labeled the black cat "Capricorn" and sketched a key under his paw. I missed that cat, right down to him demanding food at all hours. 

With the addition of the key, the stationary was complete and I began to write. 

Dearest Everett,

My first day here was eventful, to say the least. It isn't as cheerful as it is in Fairburg. No one says hello to each other on the streets, the houses are so dark. Everyone is cold.

The Von Heikenroter family butler, James, is very nice though. He bought me this stationery and stamps so we can write. The doctor is back to exactly the way he was back home. He ran off to the library as soon as we got here. I'm worried about him, Everett. I didn't get the chance to tell you everything I found in the house, and honestly, I don't want too. Either way, S.E.B. is bad news and I need the doctor to stop chasing him. I'm afraid it'll end with him getting hurt. 

In other news, I found employment so at least I won't be bored while I'm here. It's an airship store, I've never seen one up close before and they're beautiful. Lady Tris the owner is beautiful, too. I've never met a woman who made me feel so unfeminine or intimidated before. She didn't look like it but shes the owner, and the designer. I'm pretty excited.

I look forward to our continued correspondence.

Sincerely,

Ellowyn Von Heikenroter

P.S. I picked up a new last name since I've been here. I don't know how to feel about it. Oh, and thank you for taking care of Capricorn for me, I miss him terribly. 

I addressed the envelope and slipped it into the mailbox before sitting down to dinner with James and the other servants, the doctor nowhere in sight.