Boarding the RMS Arianna should have been much the same as the train station, Irene figured. But arriving at the Port of London was instead an assault to her senses. Having worked in London so long, she knew should have been used to the sounds of the massive city by now, but with her head feeling as heavy as lead, the crowd was a bellowing roar. Masses of people expanded before her. Some fought with each other. Some called to their families. Children ran after their mothers. The horns of ships clashed against her ears and smoke curled through the air. The smoke was thick and dense, or perhaps it was merely the fog that clouded her mind. It wafted through the air, bringing scents of oil, wood and metal with it. Stepping from the trolley with the other passengers, she clutched her case and walked forward. Bodies immediately pressed against her, suffocating as it continued en mass towards the gangway.

The basket at her side rattled as a meow emitted from beneath the cover.

Reaching a hand inside, Irene’s hand met the soft coat of the animal inhabiting it; Bear's fur vibrated as he purred, and the rough texture of his tongue lapped at her palm in reassurance. What had once been such a nuisance of creature was now a steady companion that brought occasional chaos in the form of charcoal paw prints and clouds of soot. Irene could only hope that Cousin Cecilia would find such creatures agreeable.

With her ticket handed to the steward and her name given, she walked aboard the ship and to her designated cabin. It was almost as large as her entire living room. Blinking in surprise, Irene let her suitcase down with a thud. A knock at the door presented another porter who had the remainder of her trunks. After a generous tip as thanks, she bade the porter good bye and bent down to let Bear out of his basket. Before she could, the hinge of the carrier clicked open and the large cat jumped out of its own accord with a satisfied mew.

Yellow eyes fixated upon her, slowly blinking for just a moment before beginning to survey their new apartment for the next week. He held his tail high in the air, and the air practically vibrated as he purred in satisfaction. “At least one of us is enjoying ourselves,” Irene couldn't help but quip to the empty room, with a soft chuckle. She dropped to the floor, her skirts pooling out around her in a puddle of cloth as she began to unpack. Perhaps under different circumstances, she might have unpacked with magic, but in this she took her time, pulling out articles of clothing, folding and stacking them in a pile next to her. She only withdrew what she would need, and nothing more. Some clothes. Her brush roll. Her sketches, and some water colors. And a small sack of charcoal.

She took out everything she needed, save for a box of cedar engraved with lilies of the valley and smelling of lavender and citrus. That, she left tucked safely in the bottom of her trunk and wrapped in her mother’s silk scarf.

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here, have a soundtrack

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