Shadows in the Smoke S1E24 - "Welcome Back"

Shadows in the Smoke S1E24 – “Welcome Back”

Kim
Shadows in the Smoke is intended for mature audiences and may contain material that some people find disturbing. Please see the episode description for content warnings, and listen with care.

[Shadows in the Smoke theme]

[Ambient drone]

Kim
Mr. John, backstage at the Songbirds of Shanghai, the Limehouse Lurker, the tiny childlike vampire that is plaguing Limehouse, has leapt from the corner of this hallway in your direction, baring its very sharp fangs. What are you doing?

T.
I would like to try and grab Lurker mid-descent and roll backwards, so that I can pin it under me.

Kim
This sounds like a Night Move to me with Vitality. What are you afraid will happen if you fail?

T.
I will wind up on the bottom. I will be pinned.

Kim
Mr. John, it’s worse than that: the vampire will pin you, but then leap off of your body towards the still recovering Philomena Fu and not kill her, but turn her into a vampire.

T.
Oh, no. [nervous chuckle] Okay.

Kim
This is gonna be a Night Move with Vitality. This is when I ask, is Most Beloved a thing right now? I kind of feel like it is just because your actions drew the attention of the Lurker.

T.
Alright. Good thing I’m wearing my silver knuckle dusters. I’m doing this neutral.

Kim
Okay. Go ahead and mark that Personal Quarters item.

T.
2 plus 5 is 7, but my Vitality is 3 now, so that’s a 10.

Kim
What does this look like?

T.
As the Lurker heads toward me, I grab it by the wrist and fall onto my back. I get my knees tucked up and kick it in the stomach against the wall. And as I do, I turn toward the stage door and yell,

Mr. John (T.)
Al!

Kim
You hear the thunderous sound of heavy footsteps as Al comes up the stairs.

Al (Kim)
Oy, what’s this then?

Mr. John (T.)
I got somebody you need to eighty-six right now.

Kim
He grabs with his big, meaty hands this tiny child by the scruff of its shirt and, like, boots it out the door. You hear the creature hiss as it runs down the street in search of a shady place to escape the sun.

[Quiet hubbub of an audience]

Al (Kim)
What was that child doing back here?

Mr. John (T.)
I think it’s the, uh, bastard son of one of your dancers. I wouldn’t want him disturbing their mother before showtime.

Al (Kim)
Thanks for keeping an eye out, boss.

Mr. John (T.)
Eh, least I can do, friend. You, uh, might wanna tighten up a little bit of security for the next few days. You never know who might be lurking around Limehouse.

Kim
At this, he is looking at the hundreds of flower petals that have been scattered on the floor, crushes a few of them under his boot.

Al (Kim)
I think you might be right about that.

Mr. John (T.)
Stalkers, right?

Al (Kim)
Can’t be too careful.

T.
And I take a few more bills and put them into his hand.

Mr. John (T.)
For your trouble.

T.
Are there any intact roses?

Kim
I’d say yes.

T.
I’d like to gather a few of those on my way out.

Kim
So you do.

T.
And then I give Al a nod and leave.

Kim
Alright, where are you off to?

T.
I would like to head to The Dog and Whistle if there’s time left in the day.

[Hollow ambient drone]

Kim
Alright, you head out of the theater towards Regent’s Canal Dock. Mr. Lloyd, you have, with the help of Cait, coaxed this small pixie into your circle. And as this enormous black cat sets this small winged creature down, it at first looks a little indignant, but then eyes the spread of milk and honey and bread and sits down criss-cross applesauce on the ground and just digs in. Like, breaking off hunks of bread, mopping some of the milk up, taking some honey. Seems completely unbothered by your presence here, not really noticing or caring that you’re watching.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Hello, my little lordling. Nice to see you. Sorry for the rude way in which I summoned you. I hope the food is more than enough of an apology.

Pixie (Kim)
Aye, it’s pretty good. I don’t suppose you got a wee dram of beer or something?

Robert
Rabbit pulls a very small bottle out of one of his pockets and uncorks it, and sets it down on the ground.

Pixie (Kim)
That’s the stuff.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Knowing that you are not sworn to any court, I was hoping to get some information on the goings on of the different powers that be. Now, I know you still have your own bindings and can’t answer any question I ask, no matter how much I might want to know what on earth a clear member of the Unseelie is doing throwing a Midsummer’s fête. And more importantly, what she’s doing, throwing it so late in the year. I’d also like to know why the passageways have opened again after so long being shut. I’d like to know what is going on, cause clearly, there, something is. But I, like I said, know that you can’t answer those questions for me directly. So I merely entreat you to enjoy this little feast, leave whenever you’re wont.

Robert
And at that, Rabbit smudges the circle binding the pixie in place.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
And if you choose to leave me with some knowledge as a parting gift, know that I will be very grateful.

Pixie (Kim)
[scoffs] Ach, all these questions! You can’t just let me enjoy my meal?

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Like I said, whatever you’re willing to tell me, I will be grateful for. Eat, drink. If there’s anything else I can get you, I’d be more than happy to.

Pixie (Kim)
I donnae know why you can’t do all this looking about yourself. All this asking questions yourself. It’s not like it’s hard to find information about the Lady.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Well, like I said, the courts sort of give you free rein to go where you will, you and your folk. Being tied to the land as you are, being important to them for other reasons. I don’t quite have that freedom that you do, my little friend.

[Ambient drone fades, replaced by birds chirping and market sounds]

Pixie (Kim)
[chuckles] Well, as far as the party, I’m sure you know that the Seelie and the Unseelie aren’t exactly, well, friendly.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
It’s a tense peace, last time I was there.

Pixie (Kim)
Aye, and it’s only gotten more unsettled, I’d say. When was the last time you walked the Road?

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
It’s been several years.

Pixie (Kim)
Several years here, mate.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Yes. Sorry, of course.

Pixie (Kim)
Well, I’d say that the Seamstress is throwing a party and calling it Midsummer as a jab at the Summer Court.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
An ill omen, indeed.

Pixie (Kim)
Well, boss, if’n you’re so big and so blind that you can’t find information for yourself, I suppose I could do you a favor. This is awfully good honey after all. And very good beer. I suppose I could fly around, see what I could find, hand it back to ya.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Like I said, whatever help you’re willing to give, I appreciate.

Pixie (Kim)
Well, like I said, this is awfully good bread. Now tell me, why haven’t you been able to find any of this information for yourself? You been looking awful tired. When was the last time you dreamed?

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
It’s been several years, as I suspect you know.

Pixie (Kim)
I can help with that if you’d like a little rest. A little lie down while I fly about.

Robert
Rabbit is really very torn in this moment. Like, this is a big temptation. Like I said, he has not dreamed in years. But him dreaming could also be a dangerous thing, not just for him but also for the residents of Hargrave House. However, in this moment, I don’t think he is strong enough to resist.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Alright then. I’ll take what you’ve got.

Pixie (Kim)
Alright, master, have a nice little lie down while I fly about.

[Market sounds fade, replaced by ethereal ambient drone]

Kim
This little pixie reaches into its pouch and blows some dust across your face, and you feel your eyes growing heavy as your body slumps to the ground. Mr. Lloyd, you dream a very odd dream. Indeed, a dream that is only possible if you have the Cosmic Passage marked. You dream of the Middle Ages in Britain, of a dark feasting hall. Seated at the head of the table in a silver throne dotted with sapphires is Theodora Brathwaite. She wears a fiery crown atop her head, and as she sips from a silver goblet, she has a Book of Knowledge pressed to her breast. That is a Mastermind Clue only available to a Hunter with the Cosmic Passage.

Robert
If I may make one slight change to that dream that I don’t think will affect its nature as a clue?

Kim
Of course, you may.

Robert
In addition to Rabbit being there and Ms. Brathwaite being there, there is a third figure, largely unseen except for a pair of eyes, almost pitch dark but with a faint glimmer in them as though starlight were reflected from distant galaxies, stare intently at Rabbit. For the first time in several years, he has entered her realm again.

[Windlike ambient drone, wind chimes tinkling]

Kim
Miss Douglas, still in the shop of Hazel Beaumont. Miss Beaumont admires the very fine work that she has done on your pelt. She has even straightened up the haphazard silver stitches that you put into the garment initially.

Mistress Beaumont (Kim)
Well, my little creature, there’s still work yet to be done. But I do say, it’s looking much better, wouldn’t you?

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
I thoroughly appreciate the masterful work that you’ve done.

Mistress Beaumont (Kim)
And I fully appreciate all of the very good help that you’ll do for me, dear girl. Of course, you may have a guest at my party.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
I hope you’ll like him. He sings beautifully.

Mistress Beaumont (Kim)
Oh? Entertainment, lovely. We will have so many diverting offerings tonight.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
May I know what else there is in store?

Mistress Beaumont (Kim)
[laughs] I think the surprise will be worth it, dear. Don’t worry your pretty head about it. I've got everything under control.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
I feel that you often do.

Mistress Beaumont (Kim)
Have fun. I look forward to meeting your friend.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Thank you, once again, for granting me this boon.

Mistress Beaumont (Kim)
I promise you, dear, the boon you’ve granted me is far greater.

[Wind chimes fade]

Natalia
Maesie is so unsettled. She doesn’t know– I mean, she knows that she did probably the wrong thing.

Kim
[laughing] She did a whoopsie.

Natalia
And she’s just, like, trying to keep it together to be like, “This is exactly what I wanted. Yes. Okay. Great.” [chuckles]

Kim
And you are led out of the shop. Where to now?

Natalia
Maesie is going to recoup back at Hargrave House to meet up with Ena and do their original plan of going to Cremorne Gardens.

Cassandra
Ena has taken the box with the corset and gloves and has gone up to her chambers. She knows Maesie is going to come around at some point, so she has left the door open to come into the seating area. And whenever Maesie finds her way up there, ENa is just sitting in a large chair, working on that spidery needlepoint that she was working on a few weeks ago. But it has grown and changed, and it looks more complete.

Natalia
Maesie stops at her room to leave her pelt cause she doesn’t want to talk about this right now. This is not… It’s too much. And she just pokes her head in through Ena’s door.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Ena! Shall we go to Cremorne Gardens?

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
Yes, my little pearl. Where have you been? Did you have a busy morning?

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
No, just thinking about the proper channels to approach the Other Folk and, you know, not wanting to step on any toes at the Masquerade.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
Very wise.

Cassandra
She sets down the needlepoint. Ena fully clocked that it was a lie, that that “no” had a very particular tone that she’s come to expect from Maesie, but she doesn’t say anything, considering what she’s been up to this morning.

Kim
[laughing] Yeah.

Cassandra
So she just sets her needlepoint down, stands, grabs her jacket off the back of the chair, starts to put it on, and walk towards the door.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
Shall we go then?

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Right. Yes. Let’s.

Cassandra
She just pats her on the shoulder and, like, walks past her [chuckling] and leads her down the stairs to go out to the carriage.

[Birds chirping, water lapping on a shore]

Kim
Alright, and off to Cremorne Gardens you go. The Gardens are once again full of pleasure seekers, though very few of them are congregating at the dancing platform or dining at the feasting hall. Instead, they are just lining the promenade and looking out into Chelsea Harbor. Everyone is still breathless and tense about any sighting of the Creature of Cremorne Gardens.

Natalia
Maesie makes her way to an area that’s a bit more sparse, there’s fewer people, and makes sure no one’s looking as she vaults over the railing and gets down into the sand.

Kim
You hop the railing. I think it’s like, there’s so many people that no one is really keeping an eye on any particular girl, and, you know, you find a little shadowy place where you can quietly do that and go run behind some rocks or the dock or what have you. Miss Thanero, as Miss Douglas hops this railing, what are you up to?

Cassandra
Ena is not going to hop the railing. Ena is gonna just keep one eye on Maesie from a distance. It’s not really her beat to jump down into the sand.

Kim
Not in those shoes.

Cassandra
But I am looking for maybe some stalls to do a brief bit of shopping in. So, would there be a place here at Cremorne Gardens where I could hunt for some wares? I’m looking for a gift specifically for Mistress Beuamont, specifically for the Masquerade.

Robert
So yeah, actually, at this time, the Chelsea Market would have functioned much like a farmer’s market as the neighborhood was sort of transitioning from being largely rural to more suburban and more middle-class. It was a place where, like, people could go from the deeper parts of the city and get fresh farm goods.

Cassandra
I love that. So would I be able to find some wool in this market, do we think?

Robert
Without a doubt, you would be able to.

Cassandra
Excellent. Then I want to find– it does not have to be fancy. My intention is to find the most mundane, boring wool that I can find because this woman sews with starlight and impossible materials. So, there’s a bit of a challenge in sewing with something so boring when you’re used to sewing with something so fine.

Kim
Okay, alright. A very interesting gift for Mistress Beaumont that you have secured your package. While you are at this little stall, Miss Thanero, you’re noticing a bit of a police presence around Cremorne Gardens, quote-unquote “keeping the peace” and making sure that this influx of people at Cremorne Gardens does not dissolve into a riot or any sort of hysteria. And among these men is a gentleman that you recognize: the mustachioed, tweed-suited Detective Inspector Pettigrew.

Cassandra
Oh, good. I think Ena, seeing him and seeing the police presence, she does a sweep to see where these men are lurking, looks back towards the spot where Maesie jumped down, and notices that Detective Pettigrew is eyeing that spot with particular interest. And starts to just very casually make her way back over there to make sure that Maesie is protected from this man, having already had the encounter we had with him.

Kim
Yes, the Witch of the Harbor herself. Let’s check in on her. Maesie, what are you up to?

Natalia
Maesie is kneeling in the sand, holding her conch shell that sounds like the actual ocean. It’s a very reverent position where she’s, like, facing the water, holding this shell in both hands, and is just whispering into it. And she just says,

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Mr. Fishman, I would like to kindly extend an invitation to, um, the Midsummer Masquerade that we’ve been invited to. If you would be ever so kind as to be my date, I would want nothing more in this world. Um, if you’re not busy. I know you have, I’m sure, fish things to do, and, and, and you’re not– I don’t know what you’re doing. You really only ever come out every once in a while, and I haven’t seen you. I’ve only heard you. This is getting long. I’m so sorry. Please come. Here’s where you should go.

Natalia
[laughing] And then whispers wherever it is that we’re supposed to go, cause Maesie doesn’t even really know. [Kim laughs] She says,

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
You’ll know it when you find it. Um, just please come.

Natalia
And then places the shell, like, into the surf to be washed out to sea.

Kim
So here’s the thing, Miss Douglas: ordinarily, I would say that this is a Day Move at the very least to try to get the attention of this creature. But we have already answered the Question concerning what the creature wants, and what the creature wants is contact with you. So, I don’t think that there is a roll that is necessary here. You set this conch shell into the surf. It sinks below the waves. A few moments pass. Another moment passes. And then, you see a scaled shape rise out of the water.

Natalia
Maesie is in a panic cause she’s like, “Oh, no. All of the people who are here are gonna see him.” And she whisper-shouts at the water,

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Don’t come out now! Now’s not a good time! [strangled noise] Later! Tonight, when we’re going to the Masquerade! God, please, no!

[Romantic violin music rises]

Kim
This creature reaches out and grabs your ankle and pulls you into the water.

Natalia
Maesie yelps and, I mean, goes with it, cause what’s she gonna do? But just sort of throws a little thing at Ena, like

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Ena!

[Waves lapping, ship bell ringing, people walking on docks]

Kim
Let’s go to The Dog and Whistle. Mr. John, you make your way to this very salty, grimy pub on Regent’s Canal Dock. It has dull brass fixtures. Very prominent in this bar is a painting of a dog, inexplicably no whistle. I have a Paint the Scene for you all here as Mr. John is making his way into the pub. This pub caters to sailors and folk who work at the canal. How do you know this?

T.
So if you walk in, the bar is on your right, there are seats on your left. It’s fairly cramped. But the far wall is the main focal point of decoration, and there is a mural of an old nautical chart from the dawn of this empire of ships, and it is complete with writing in the middle of where the Americas would be that say, “Here there be monsters”.

Cassandra
I think at the edge of the bar, we see a large wooden barrel and in the top of this barrel, easy access for the kitchen staff, are oysters.

Robert
While the bar itself serves a variety of drinks from the mixture of cheap rum, sugar, and lime juice that the sailors are used to, to some more moderately expensive whiskeys, they’re all served in simple copper mugs.

Natalia
There are ships in bottles decorating the entire bar, but every single one of them is an actual ship that actually stops in the harbor here.

T.
I love that.

Kim
I would say that the bar is barely empty as you're walking in. There is a man standing at the bar wearing a black apron. He’s got very hairy arms, a perpetually sweaty forehead. There is a small, old woman that’s kind of, like, wrapped in, like, a blanket that’s, like, a barfly just hanging onto the edge of the bar, and a couple other sailors that are in this pub. But otherwise, it’s fairly quiet here at this time of day.

Mr. John (T.)
Afternoon, friend.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
What can I do you for?

Mr. John (T.)
Nothing at the moment, I’m waiting on a friend of mine. He’s a regular here, suggested the place. I ain’t never been. Zhao Donghai told me to meet him here a few days ago. We had a regular rendezvous. The last one was close to my home. We figured we’d do one close to his this time.

Kim
The man leans over the bar close to you. I think you absorb in that moment just how large of a man this is, and he is trying to make that very clear.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Now you wouldn’t be with the police, are you son?

Mr. John (T.)
The only time I’m ever with the police is when I’m in their custody.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Have you been talking to Ms. Jenny Johnston?

Mr. John (T.)
Jenny was a friend of mine. 

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Friend of mine, as well.

Mr. John (T.)
Then we’re on the same page here.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Aye. And so you’ll understand why Ms. Johnston and I are trying to keep Zhao Donghai and everyone else a bit quiet.

Mr. John (T.)
You have a better place where we can talk, then? Something more secluded?

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Why don’t you come meet me in the back?

T.
I turn around as I’m going to the other door to make sure I’m not being followed. I’ve let my guard down one too many times on these hunts. I’m starting to get paranoid. I’m cocky, but I’m still paranoid. Great combination.

Kim
Mr. John, the proprietor of this bar, a Mr. Horsford, leads you into his very dingy little office. That’s being very charitable. It’s basically a storage room.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Sorry for the cloak and dagger. We’ve been having some, uh, officers that’ve been poking their nose about, trying to make trouble for the people of Limehouse.

Mr. John (T.)
I understand entirely, and I’m not trying to make trouble for the people of Limehouse. Quite the opposite. I’ve got some ties to this neighborhood. But I trust you’ll understand why I had to give you the false impression that I was here looking for someone alive.

 Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Of course. Though if you keep repeating that name, there’s a sailor here who’s been asking very much the same thing. A Lin Bohai.

Mr. John (T.)
What do you know about him?

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Good fella. Young. He was a friend and shipmate of Mr. Donghai. Their ship is set to sail in a week.

Mr. John (T.)
Any idea where he usually frequents?

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Oh, I imagine you’ll be able to find him around Regent’s Canal Dock. Especially if you go around loudly talking about Zhao Donghai. He’d be happy to talk to you about him. He seems very keen on finding out exactly what happened to his friend. And you understand why I’m keen to try to keep that quiet.

Mr. John (T.)
That I do. My docket’s rather full today, so I’ll pay him a visit later. If there’s anything you can tell me while I’m here about Zhao and the manner of his death.

Kim
Mr. John, go ahead and roll the Information Move with Presence.

T.
6 and 5 is 11, plus 2 is 13.

Kim
Two Mastermind Clues in one day.

T.
Let’s fucking go.

Cassandra
Let’s go!

[Birds chirping, a lively outdoor market]

Kim
Okay. Mr. Lloyd, you feel tiny hands about the collar of your shirt that are gently shaking you, a little small hand slapping you across the face.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Oh, yeah, no, sorry. Hello. Yes, I’m awake.

Pixie (Kim)
Well, it does seem as though it’s been a while since you dreamed. You were hard to rouse.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
It’s hard to leave that realm.

Pixie (Kim)
Was it a nice one?

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
An informative one.

Pixie (Kim)
Eh, I prefer the fun ones myself, but you do you, I suppose. I found something for ya.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
And what is that, my little friend?

Pixie (Kim)
I suppose you didn’t mind if I borrowed your wee beastie. He’s able to carry things that I quite don’t have the strength for.

Robert
Morgan looks over at Cait.

Kim
Cait is holding a letter in his cute little mouth.

Robert
Rabbit takes that from him gently and holds it up to see, you know, has it been opened? Is there writing on the outside of it?

Kim
The letter is not even in an envelope. It looks as though this was swiped very shortly after it was written. It is a letter that appears to be calling off an engagement to a young woman. No real reasoning is given as to why this young man has changed his feelings. He just writes simply, “I regret that no worldly explanation could suffice.” That letter is a clue for the Spidersilk Seamstress.

Pixie (Kim)
Well, I flew over and I saw the Seamstress. She was entertaining a gentleman. He had feathery hair, fine clothes. But after their little, well, meeting…

Kim
And the pixie sort of waggles his eyebrows at you.

Pixie (Kim)
She set him up at a desk, handed him a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote it himself, but, well, she was telling him what to say.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
I thank you most gratefully for everything you’ve done for me today. And should you feel the need to call on me in the future, I would be more than happy to give you more to eat and drink.

Pixie (Kim)
Well, you know how to find me. Or rather, your beastie does.

Kim
And he gives Cait a sort of tentative scritch, considering the size and the power of this creature. And then flits away.

Mr. Lloyd (Robert)
Right then, Cait. I think we’ve got some things to talk about with the rest of the fellas back at the house. Maybe we should head back there.

Robert
And Rabbit gives Cait a scritch, and they both head back towards Hargrave.

[Birds chirping]

Kim
Miss Thanero, I think maybe you caught out of the corner of your eye some finned hand grab Maesie by the ankle and pull her into the water.

Cassandra
Ena just watches Maesie slowly sink beneath the waves. And if this were any other person, she might be concerned. But she knows Maesie is interested in this fish man and Maesie can swim, so Ena’s not too concerned. If there’s ever a place where Maesie is capable of handling herself, it is in the water. So Ena just kind of stands at the railing, still kind of head-on-a-swivel, trying to see if this incident draws the attention of any of the police presence that is around. So if she needs to intervene, she can.

Kim
Maesie’s little yelp of surprise and her call for you does catch the attention of DI Pettigrew, who starts leaning over the railing.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
Sounded like there was a person down there.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
I’ve been standing here for a while, and I saw nothing.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
Well, madam, respectfully, you do not have the trained sense of a member of the Queen’s police.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
That certainly doesn’t sound respectful, Detective.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
Pardon, mistress. I just mean that I’ve got years of experience. Ladies do better focused on, I don’t know, flowers and fine clothes. Not matters of public safety.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
You called me mistress, and yet you would dare disrespect your mistress in this way in so public a place?

Kim
Cass, this does sound like you’re setting up Giveth.

Cassandra
Yes, I am setting up Giveth for this fucking cop.

Kim
On DI Pettigrew?

Cassandra
Absolutely. I don’t like this guy.

Kim
The move reads, “At any time, you can declare that a Side Character is secretly one of your worshippers. Describe how the Side Character subtly or not so subtly debases themselves before you in the scene, and then scar your reflection.” So what all is happening with the Detective Inspector Pettigrew?

[Ominous hum rises in pitch slowly]

Cassandra
I think after Ena has scolded him for how he has spoken to her in front of all of these people, he immediately drops to his knees—and there’s a lot of people around—drops to his knees in front of Ena and starts tearing his uniform off. And then presses his forehead into the ground in front of her, and averts his eyes, stays there for a moment, and then slowly raises his head, still not looking at her, and brings it back to the ground, faster this time. And he starts to repeat this over and over and over, until he is at a feverish rhythm, smashing his face into the pavement. He is whispering a prayer as he does this, proclaiming himself unworthy of reason unless she blesses him with thought. Ena is standing there, stoic eyes bright gold at this moment as this man does this in front of her. And then she just quietly says, 

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
Stop.

Cassandra
And when he pulls his face back up off of the ground after he has flagellated himself in front of her, his nose is crushed and his forehead has a giant, like, crater that is sending blood cascading into his eyes, temporarily blinding him.

Kim
Well, that sounds worthy of a scarred reflection if I’ve ever heard it.

Cassandra
I believe you are correct.

[Ominous hum ceases, spooky windlike ambient drone]

Kim
How does the Masterwork change?

Cassandra
We see a third eye open on Ena’s forehead in the painting with blood trickling down, making it look as if the reflection is crying tears of blood.

Kim
The debased DI Pettigrew is whimpering at your feet. His fingers are reaching out, trying to clutch and kiss the hem of your skirt.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
Forgive me. Forgive me. I was merely trying to protect your anonymity, goddess.

Cassandra
Ena steps back from him, out of reach of his hands, looking absolutely disgusted.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
You are not forgiven at this time. But there is a way to reearn my favor.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
Anything, mistress.

Cassandra
Ena reaches into the small bag that she’s carrying with her and produces the sloyd knife of Sally No Face. She tosses it, catches the handle, still looking at Detective Pettigrew. And then flips it one more time and catches it by the blade, and hands him the handle.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
You will take this blade, and you will see yourself to Limehouse. You will look at no one, you will terrorize no one, and you will find what they call the Limehouse Lurker. And upon finding them, you will slit a wrist in front of them and submit to their will.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
Yes, of course, mistress. Is a wrist enough? I could do a throat.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
A wrist will suffice. I do still need you.

Detective Inspector Pettigrew (Kim)
It will be done.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
As I expect. Now, get out of here. I do not wish to look at you anymore.

[Waves crashing softly, echoing high-pitched tones]

Kim
Detective Inspector Pettigrew pockets the knife, rises, gives you several quick bows, and then runs with speed out of Cremorne Gardens towards Limehouse. Let’s go elsewhere in Cremorne Gardens. Maesie Douglas, you are pulled with surprising force through the waters of Chelsea Harbor, and then you surface beneath a dock, safe from prying eyes. And rising out of the water is this fishlike creature. He has very large, very black eyes. His skin is covered in mottled green scales. He’s got gills on his neck. And he looks at you, and you see his mouth trying to work as if he is still trying to understand how it is one produces the English language.

Creature of Cremorne Gardens (Kim)
Mmm… Mmm… M-maesie.

Natalia
Maesie hasn’t been in the water, not in seal form, in over a year, and so part of her is very scared, but she’s also incredibly relieved to be reexperiencing this. And then to reemerge and have the Fishman say her name, she is bawling but smiling. And she thinks this might be confusing for the fish.

Kim
The creature reaches out with its webbed fingers and thumbs one of your tears.

Creature of Cremorne Gardens (Kim)
M-maesie sad.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
No, no! I mean yes, but also no. I’m incredibly happy and also sad. It’s not bad, though. Sad can be a good thing.

Kim
And he reaches out for one of your hands.

Creature of Cremorne Gardens (Kim)
Good thing.

Natalia
Maesie takes his hand and grips it so hard, but also it’s slimy so it’s kind of hard and keeps sliding out of her hand.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
What is your name?

Kim
At this query, the creature’s brow furrows. Its eyes kind of narrow in confusion.

Creature of Cremorne Gardens (Kim)
N-no name. M-maesie name.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
You don’t have a name?

Creature of Cremorne Gardens (Kim)
N-no.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Can I call you Merlin?

Merlin aka Creature of Cremorne Gardens (Kim)
M-merlin. Yes, Merlin, yes!

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Merlin. Did you receive my invitation?

Merlin (Kim)
Y-yes. You received pearl. Pearl for Mmaesie.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
I did! It was beautiful, thank you so much for it.

Merlin (Kim)
Mm… Party.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Yes, we’re going to a party. [stutters] Do you like to dance? Cause I love to dance.

Merlin (Kim)
Like watching Maesie dance.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Well, it’s way more fun when you dance with me. I’ll show you. You don’t have to know anything at all. I’ve already shown John how to dance, and he doesn’t know anything at all. You’ll be so much better than him.

Merlin (Kim)
Yes, dance. Dance with Maesie!

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Yes, dance with Maesie. I’m so thrilled. You really shouldn’t be out. There’s so many people here who are trying to find you. I mean, I was trying to find you so I appreciate you… finding me, I suppose? But I don’t want you to get in trouble.

Merlin (Kim)
I am strong and fast. N-no trouble.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Alright, Merlin. You sing really well. I heard your song one night, and it was gorgeous.

Merlin (Kim)
Sing about Maesie.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
You were singing about me?

Merlin (Kim)
Saw you change.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Yes, I’m not this all the time.

Merlin (Kim)
You are from w-water.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
I am. Not like you exactly, but I also have fins sometimes.

Merlin (Kim)
Tonight, Maesie.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
I’ll come get you, and we’ll go together.

Merlin (Kim)
Yes.

[Underwater rumbling]

Natalia
Maesie holds both of his hands, treading water, and then, like, pulls him under with her and sort of swims around him so they do a fun little underwater swimmy moment.

Kim
Yeah.

Natalia
Kisses him delicately [Kim gasps] on the cheek, and sort of waves goodbye and swims back to shore. [Kim squeals] Maesie reemerges up to where Ena is, absolutely soaking wet, [Kim cackles] the biggest smile on her face.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Ena, he got my invitation and he’s coming to the party!

[Birds chirping, water lapping at the shore]

Cassandra
Ena has gotten a towel or, like, a large piece of fabric from one of these vendors while she’s been, like, she was looking for something to, like, kind of like, wipe her hands off after her interaction with DI Pettigrew, and tosses Maesie this piece of fabric.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
Dry yourself off, dear. I can’t wait to meet him.

Cassandra
As if nothing happened. As if she did not just smash a man’s face into the pavement. Just completely nonchalant and very excited for Maesie’s date night out.

[Seagulls crying, people walking on docks, ship bells ringing]

Kim
Fantastic. Back to Hargrave House the two of you go. Mr. John.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Well, I saw both sailors come into The Dog and Whistle. They were fine, nicely behaved boys, telling me all about their adventures. I didn’t, uh, find the body until the next morning when I was opening up. He was back behind the building, pale, bloodless. I found something next to him. It was a Bible, but a torn one. Here, look.

Mr. John (T.)
You still have it?

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
I do, sir.

Kim
And he rummages through some of the crates back here, and pulls out a small Bible. But there seems to be a large chunk missing, as if some particular pages have been ripped out.

T.
Would I have any idea what book that might be?

Kim
It seems as though the pages that have been ripped out are the pages that concern the story of Noah and the Ark and the Great Flood. That is a clue for the Limehouse Lurker.

T.
I know the Bible is written all thees and thous, but would there be any indication if this is a recent edition of the Bible or if it’s from an older era?

Kim
I would say that would be some excellent context that you could put forward to help answer the question in either direction of your choosing.

T.
Cool.

Mr. John (T.)
Mind if I take this with me, friend? Might be useful in the investigation.

Mr. Horsford (Kim)
Course not, sir. If you’re a friend of Jenny Johnston’s, then I trust you to see this through.

T.
I pocket the Bible in my interior lapel pocket, the you know, ‘I got something for you’ pocket. And thank him for his time, tip my hat.

Mr. John (T.)
You’ll forgive me, it’s a little early in the day for me to be, uh, patronizing your business. But I’ll just slip out the back if it’s all the same to you.

Kim
Mr. John, as you leave, a young man catches your notice. He looks to be about seventeen or eighteen. He is dressed in dark clothes, and he is writing in a notebook and glancing up at you.

Mr. John (T.)
Can I help you, friend?

Kim
The young man runs.

T.
I chase him

Kim
Easily done. You are older and stronger and faster, and you tackle this young man.

Young Man (Kim)
[stutters] Look, it’s, uh– I wasn’t meaning any trouble, sir.

Mr. John (T.)
And yet, you found me.

Young Man (Kim)
I was paid a lot of money to follow you, see where it was you were going.

Mr. John (T.)
By whom?

Young Man (Kim)
It was, um, uh, a man, sir.

Mr. John (T.)
You coulda said a number of things to me, boy, and that would not have been something I expected you to say.

Young Man (Kim)
I don’t know his name, sir. He’s a shoemaker. More than that.

Mr. John (T.)
What more than that? You don’t have a name, you gotta give me something better.

Young Man (Kim)
Employs a couple boys around town to keep the peace for him, look out things for him. He’s got a wealthy benefactress, he does, dresses all in blue.

T.
That catches my attention. And I stand up and put my boot on the side of this boy’s face and press it a little bit further into the mud.

Mr. John (T.)
I’m gonna need a shop, a location. I’m gonna need something to go on.

Young Man (Kim)
Here, sir, take the n-n-notebook! The notebook, sir. Just l-l-let me go.

T.
I grab the notebook and, with my boot still on his face, thumb through it to see if there’s something relevant. And specifically, I want to see if he has been following me where I sleep, if he knows about Hargrave House, if he’s been tracking my locations as I’ve been on the run.

[Dock sounds fade, replaced by slow, pointed, unsettling piano music]

Kim
You thumb through this little notebook. And you see your activities today written in one set of handwriting, your activities of the last week in another set of handwriting, farther back, farther back. This appears to be a little journal that has been passed around through numerous hands, all keeping an eye on your activities, your whereabouts, where you are going, where you are sleeping, who you are talking to. This is a Mastermind Clue: evidence that a Hunter that is Most Beloved is central to Mrs. Brathwaite’s plans.

T.
When does it start? With my arrival in London? With my employment beginning for Hargrave?

Kim
I, as the GM, I only know what it is that you’ve told me, so I think it’s safe to say it starts with your employment in Hargrave House.

T.
Okay.

[Piano music fades, dock sounds resume]

Mr. John (T.)
This your first day tailing me, son?

Young Man (Kim)
It is, sir.

Mr. John (T.)
See to it it’s your last. Keep that tail tucked between your legs.

T.
And I take my boot off, kick him in the side, and then leave.

Kim
The boy speeds down the canal dock.

T.
I go to put the notebook into my jacket pocket, realize the Bible’s already there, and I just carry it in one hand on the way back. Do I see anybody else as I return to Hargrave House for the first time in several weeks?

[Birds chirping]

Kim
I mean, I would imagine that you would see Miss Douglas and Miss Thanero exiting their carriage, Miss Douglas absolutely sopping wet.

T.
I do that thing animals do when they realize they’re not alone, where I just get very, very still.

Cassandra
Ena looks down the sidewalk, not expecting to see Mr. John and is almost startled, but then realizes that he is standing stock still.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
Have you turned into a statue, dear? Or are you planning to come inside for once?

Mr. John (T.)
Need a change of clothes.

T.
And you can see, yeah, covered in mud, shit, muck of the Thames, just absolute– sweat stains. It’s a mess.

Miss Thanero (Cassandra)
I’d say you need a bit more than that. Come, come.

Cassandra
And she beckons Mr. John to come with her, and starts walking up the stairs to her quarters.

[Kim gasps]

T.
John follows. And looks at Maesie, gives her a nod.

Miss Douglas (Natalia)
Hi, John. Welcome back.

[Shadows in the Smoke theme]

Kim
Shadows in the Smoke is a Kitten Marlowe production. This episode was edited and produced by Kim Dalton, and featured a theme song by Jake Pierle. You can find out more about us by visiting kittenmarlowe.com, signing up for our newsletter, or following us on socials. For Discord access, an exclusive behind-the-scenes show, and more, visit Patreon.com/KittenMarlowe and join our favorite colony of feral cats, our Kitten Marlowe patrons, in supporting artist-driven storytelling. Thanks for listening.