Miracle Cures, seeking remedy

[Lily Clarke]

It was almost midnight and the gas lamps were turned low where they were lit at all. There were no anabarics not this far east. They stopped far west of here and even if the towers had been built the power would have been siphoned off to light people's houses and heat people's water long ago. So it was dark on the street as Lily Clarke walked alone. She didn't look as grand as usual. It was part of not really wanting to be noticed. And she could look just like everyone else when she wanted! She hadn't forgotten the lessons of Whitechapel after all. Her hair was braided into two loose braids and she had a heavy shawl wrapped around her but the bottom of her skirts were already a little brown and wet from all the dirt and melting snow in the street. She squinted her eyes against the wind until she found the door she wanted and then raised her hand. This was the one thing about her that seemed out of place--a lovely fur muff. A present from Mister Lindsey.

"Damn you, Ryan. Ye'd better be 'ome." She muttered and pounded on the door as hard as she could. But it was still pretty feeble and hardly anything above the wind.

[Redjack Ryan]

He wasn't sleeping. No, sleep came rarely these days, the fellow within sat hunched over a fire in the grate, turning a small little thing over and over in his hands. It weren't that the thing was special in itself. It was by all appearance very ordinary, but it had taken up his attention of late. Nonetheless, at the rapping on the door, the Irishman was startled out of his reverie. He replaced the little jewelry box upon the low table beside his half-drained bottle and staggered for the door.

For all he didn't look himself lately, he was stunned to see Lily without her usual finery. He noted that without her makeup and fine dresses, she was really little more than the little girl he'd met on the streets of London those years ago. It was odd, but then, what wasn't?

"Lil," his voice betrayed his surprise at seeing her. "What're ye doin' here? ...I mean, come in," he ushered her inside, closing the door behind her on the cold winter night.

[Lily Clarke]

"Ryan!" The words were almost torn out of Lily as she rushed into the room and into his arms. The comfort she needed from him wasn't even somethnig she understood--just he was safety and everything good. But she didn't let herself enjoy it long. The moment the door was fully closed and her hair settled back around her shoulders she pulled away. Her hands were pale as she wrung them fitfully and she looked up at him. With only a light dusting of powder the shadows under her eyes weren't hidden at all.

"Oh, my darling. I knew I'd find yer. I know you'll 'elp me." she whispered. As if it were a prayer.

[Redjack Ryan]

He was more startled than anything as Lily threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. At first he stood helpless and shocked, but softened and wrapped his own arms about her.

"Hush now, what's this madness, Lil?" His voice was soft as ever as he held her close. "Has someone been botherin' ye? Ye know ye only have t'ask, I'd be more than happy t'break some knees for ye," he joked, lifting up her chin with a finger.

[Lily Clarke]

"No no, nuffin' like that." somehow just having him here made her calm.
"Just running from nightmares..."
Lily gulped a deep breath and concentrated on the feeling of his callused fingers on her chin. His breath fanning her face and the smell of him made her breath easier...until she smelled the liquor on his breath and her mouth twisted. Ryan hadn't been the same. They never spoke of what had happened that night on the docks. She didn't want to. But he'd changed. She closed her eyes and turned her face away from him.

"Had to see you." she admitted. Behind her closed eyes she slipped back through the years...back when she'd been a skinny bit of nothing with a flat chest.

I'd been crying. I remember that because it smeared the makeup on my face and I was sure Mrs. Carter would be furious. I rubbed at my face with my hanky and started bad when you came up behind me. There was something about how silly you looked that made me laugh--that hair of yours! And your thumbs were clumsy when they wiped the tears off my cheeks. But you were so tender with me...always so tender...

With a little hiccup Lily looked up again. She stumbled her way to his bed with her hand clutching the empty bottle in her pocket. "Need t'go into Limehouse." she whispered. She didn't want to hear what he might say and lifted her chin ready to be defensive.