Evangeline meets Alicia

"Purchase all the mechanical devices you need in your everyday life, at Ms Evangeline Hyde's Automated Emporium!" A harrowed voice calls out from the street in front of the society. The voice is hoarse and desperate, loaded with so much well practiced cheer and salesmanly charm as to almost counteract that tiredness.

A small, dirty canvas sign is hung up over a table, proudly designating this "Ms Evangeline Hyde's Automated Emporium." Not that it seems much of an emporium. A grubby table, littered with small robotic trinkets, tools and toys, stood over by an exhausted looking woman. She's smiling broadly, but her eyes look weary and darkened, her hair tangled, and the hem of her skirt muddied and filthy. There's some money on her table, but not a lot, and no wonder. If it weren't for the table and the trinkets, she wouldn't have looked much more than an ordinary beggar.

'''Alicia Ghast:''' *Alicia had been taking a walk when she heard shouting. Ms Evangeline Hyde's Automated Emporium? Interesting. She decided to take a look*

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  Hello miss! Can I interest you in a mechanical trinket? The prices are labelled as you can see, feel free to take a look! * On the table there is a small array of little machines. In one corner, a small metal frog hops into the air over and over, and in another, metal hands grip around a teapot, pouring into a cup. There's a few other things, but most of them seem pretty pedestrian, except for the life-sized, beating metal heart stashed under the table.*

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  *smiles, walking over to the frog* I love frogs, they're so cute! *she looked at the sign again, thinking*

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  Why thank you! *She watches you nervously.*

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  Hyde...? * frowns faintly*

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  Uh, yes. *She gives you an odd look.*

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  That's... interesting.

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  What is?

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  Your name...

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  What's so interesting about it?

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  Did you know Edward Hyde is a serial killer...?

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  Well, yes. But Hyde's not that uncommon of a last name. I'm pretty sure there's no relation.

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  It's not? I've never heard it anywhere else. That's cool!

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  *She looks away and mutters* "Cool" didn't earn me any favours with the metalworkers....

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  Hm? * frowns, looking at her*

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  Oh, it's nothing. I just. There was this group of people that I worked with. They helped fund my projects, helped me sell things. But they kicked me out. Uh... * She quiets down towards the end, realising she's probably said too much to a complete stranger.*

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  *she listened, blinking when she stopped* that's rude!

'''Ms. Evangeline Hyde:'''  They didn't really approve of what I was using their funding for. It's not their fault.

'''Alicia Ghast:'''  Oh...

Obtained From
Ms. Evangeline's Emporium