Episode 9 - Beyond the Curtain

"Vee has spent the last day out in the Edgelands tending to a Karina the Sleeper who has contracted the plague, the disease of suspected magical origins that decimated much of the population when it appeared a century ago, around when the sky shattered and the Ozar flooded in. Erion the plagued touched Sleeper who remained behind to support Vee enters the fourth train car that is now sitting alone on the tracks headed into the city of Sayrem."Erion checks in on Karina. It is clear she is not doing well. Erion looks over at Vee, he wonders if they remember what it was like having the Plague.

Vee doesn't remember much. Their grandmother is the one who got them out of it and made them want to become a doctor. The Plague hurt, Vee remembers fading in and out, but doesn't remember at all how long it was: "I remember it hurt, and then I woke up, and I was a little different."

Asked by Erion, Vee explains how they left Belrakam for Sayrem: "I felt there was a call here; I made friends, I found a community that needed me and that kind of fit what I was looking for."

Living in Sayrem, the epicenter of the Broken Sky and the Dream, when you have the Plague, makes it hard to forget that the sky shattered a hundred years ago.

Erion himself caught the Plague three years ago, on his first trip with Karina. He doesn't remember much either: some Ozar attacked, he was out for a long time, it hurt and it was a lot easier when he was asleep, and at the end he was different. He reckons that "just surviving is a miracle on its own."

The conversation moves from Vee considering Erion's offer to become a Sleeper: for now they will stay at Rail Care. Then Vee does their best to dispel the negative impression Erion got about Pashmina when they met: she took responsibility after the job she had hired Vee and their friends for went wrong; she was kicked out from her family and came to stay at Rail Care.

Karina moans. Erion looks at her, shakes his head and asks Vee: "It's not good, is it?" Vee is still hopeful.

Before Erion resumes his watch, he reflects on the fact that "the weirdest part of being outside the city is the Dream stops."

He almost misses it, and even that damn Midnight Message.

Vee agrees "it's strange when it's just me in my head."

Erion heads out. Despite Vee's best efforts, this is a bad night for Karina. Vee would need more time and supplies, or maybe access to the creature that originally infected Karina."While Vee tends to Karina, Pashmina and Pretty Baby head to Yellow Brick Street in Rosebank District. Rosebank is the well to do Merchants district, known for its shops and fine goods, nestled next to the coastline and inside of the wall, here Pretty Baby looks somewhat out of place. Yellow Brick street is lined with, as expected, rusty yellow stone bricks, making a wide promenade for foot traffic amid the upscale stores, a stark contrast to the Midnight Market or Warren Station."Pashmina and Pretty Baby discuss what it means to be rich: you pay other people to have pockets for you, to take care of you; your skills are for thought and planning, for management and wealth calculation.

They reach their destination as Pretty Baby concludes that "All rich people are babies."

They have come to a fine tailor shop—where a wooden sign hanging from the window just says "Myron Fabrics"— to choose a suit for Pretty Baby, have a fitting and get the suit soon after.

Pashmina, who doesn't usually wear makeup, has a thin line of eyeliner today. She goes straight to a door in the back. There she is greeted by a smaller, older woman: Fondant, Pashmina's family tailor.

Fondant immediately starts touching Pashmina's clothing, ready to "do something about that." Pashmina introduces Fondant to a new client: "Do you remember that last time I brought that blank canvas of a boy and you made him a star? I brought you a better canvas."

Fondant then takes his arm, not too gently. As Pashmina brings a tunic-length, long-sleeved high-collar jacket and a scarf that looks like moth wings once draped over it, Fondant has Pretty Baby "put this on!"; when the fitting is done she has him "take this off!"; and then she announces "Two hours!": the suit will be finished by the end of the afternoon.

After this experience, Pretty Baby reckons "Fashion is like being in the military."

Pashmina leads Pretty to a local café, "where the portions are very small but they're very tall."

Pretty Baby is still ecstatic about his experience with Fondant: "A genius!"; "she had a game plan, she was just right there to help and inspire and add on;" "the fabrics, as soon as they touched my skin, they cascaded like I was being drenched in silk and milk."

Looking at the very small and very tall plate in front of her, Pashmina introduces Pretty baby to the concept of Decadence: "This is the best part of each slice of meat, this is the best part of that bread that we could get in Five Irons"; "the wealth is just for merely cutting of 75% of everything you don't want to see, you're experiencing the top 25"; "you are paying for the part that you don't want to endure; that 25% means you only have to live in that luxury." Pashmina recalls that she recently had to light a stove: "that is the part of the life that wealthy people cut."

And with that, Pashmina cuts a very large unusual bite and then takes half of it and just chews it. "More time passes out in the Edgelands, though in the depths of the illness it doesn’t seem to matter much, moment by moment is all that can be considered. Vee continues to try everything in their power to help Karina."Karina has reached a turning point. Vee spends a lot of time trying to help her, but even the blood extracted from Luna is not enough. Erion comes in; both he and Vee can sense Karina is not going to make it past the night. They do everything they can to make her passing as painless as possible and to help her sleep. As some point Karina rouses from her pain and her stupor enough to whisper a small "thank you."

Vee, sensing that this a long friendship coming to an end, leaves so that Erion and Karina can have a moment to themselves. Erion eventually comes out too. He is very, very quiet as he closes the door and leans up against the car. He remains very silent for a while, looking up at the stars, looking around.

The night has drawn on.

Erion breaks the silence to thank Vee, who didn't have to try anything. "Honestly", he says, "most people wouldn't have."

The unfairness of the situation is hard on Vee. Erion reminds her he has lost fellow Sleepers before, and he is sure Karina won't be the last. Surviving the Plague is a question of luck; both Erion and Vee were lucky.

Erion hopes they'll figure it out. He is not confident because "whatever experiment they were doing over in Eze caused the whole Plague in the first place." Vee and Erion agree the government doesn't care much about them.

Vee offers Erion their help to "clean up". "Take as long as you need", Vee says, "I will remain to help." Vee and Erion have a quiet goodbye in the wilderness and go through the ceremonial aspect of burning Karina's body together.

It is time to head back and let Erion's group know what happened.

Erion closes up the car. Then he puts a big warning symbol on it and puts the date. His plan is to tell the government that there was no Plague in their shipment and let it stay here for a little while. He reassures Vee that he'll make sure everything is clean and sterilized before he returns to bring it back and sell it. Whatever the level of risk the Sleepers are willing to take, they don't want to die and they won't even risk bringing the Plague into the city; but they are not going to destroy the merchandise: that's a lot of potential money and if the government thinks it was destroyed, that's a lot of extra potential money."Pashmina calls a carriage, and picks Pretty Baby up outside of Fondant’s, for their evening engagement."The carriage is not extravagant, still more like a private taxi than a public carriage. Pashmina reflects that "a large number of favors are being pulled to pretend like I don't have to pull favors," such as putting Pretty Baby's suit on her mom's tab."Beyond the Curtain is a theatre, located between Downslope and Crescent Hill, the sort of place nobles go to feel like they are engaging in something dangerous or risky, while barely leaving the relative safety of the nobles district."The weird theater is freshly painted deep-red building with black velvet curtains on the outside of the windows. The building invites to "live like the world hasn't ended". All the carriages are coming in and a line forms. The door opens. Extravagance manifests in the road being very thin at that point: everyone has to get off individually and walk the twenty feet to the door. It is like a red carpet that ensures you are seen when you enter.

Pashmina steps out. She is wearing a corset with a white fluffy peacock-blue cravat and floofy sleeves. She wears slight heels, unlike Pretty Baby whom she reckoned would want to be able to run.

Inside the building, Pashmina leads Pretty Baby downstairs and has their tickets checked: she pulls out from her sleeve a bracelet with a season ticket charm on it. They go through and are shown to the balcony area upstairs. Pashmina and Pretty Baby share a box with a couple other people. Pashmina chooses seats near the front—Pretty Baby has no preference, he just wants to be an adequate date for Pashmina. Champagne is delivered to their seats; Pretty Baby declines to drink so that Pashmina drinks both of their cups.

Pashmina introduces the host of the evening: Felix DuBois the First—her ex-fiancé—is the third-in-line in a family of bookbinders and book creators; they hire artists and poets and make sure good novels are released. Being the third son, Felix has no purpose; that is why he's taken his money and opened a burlesque hall. As the host of this burlesque show, he is going to do the introductions, announce the intermission, make the terrible joke that he's made seven times this season and throw the after party.

The reason Pashmina wants revenge on Felix is that "the third useless son decide: 'No, I will pass on the perfect Pashmina Myron'." As Pretty Baby puts it, "it's being outmatched by an inferior combatant." Pretty Baby thinks the best way to approach the situation would be to just wish him well. Pashmina, however, needs to know what Felix is up to; if he's re-fianced, she can destroy that; she needs to know if this burlesque house which she supported him in creating, decides to burn to the ground; she needs to decide if the outfit that she selected is still worn.

Pretty Baby reminds Pashmina that "if you want, I could kill him". This she doesn't want. She is content with making him suffer. Pretty Baby thinks she puts in so much more than she's getting out of it and asks her to "just make sure that whatever happens tonight, you are also taking care of yourself, my friend.

They are offered new drinks. Pashmina gets Pretty Baby's again."As they cheer each other’s glasses, the show begins and Felix DuBois saunters on to the stage. Felix is a dramatic person, to say the least. His black hair, though it is not his natural color, is curled and coiffed perfectly such that it just brushes his shoulders and frames his face. His loose white button up shirt is worn almost completely open revealing his well honed physique. Rich green eyes look out across the audience."With his big cheek bones, deep red lips—he's got work done, cosmetic magic—Felix DuBois would not look odd singing in a band, or on the cover of a romance novel. He talks a little bit higher than you would expect and says, in his foreign accent: "I am here to present tonight's performance for all of you. It is alluring, you'll find yourselves quivering in your seats. Are you prepared for what is coming?"

Then he rips his shirt, and goes on: "Thank you everyone for coming to Beyond the Curtain, our finest establishment . So, with that, let us ... begin!""The curtain falls and the house lights come up as the intermission begins. The audience begins to murmur and mill about as the nobles greet each other and engage in their polite social banter."Pashmina explains they can have snacks here, and there will be more at the after party. Pretty Baby is having a great time, which pleases Pashmina. To Pretty Baby, it seems that people in the audience are focusing more on everyone's outfits and the people that they brought than on the show's acting and dancing.

Pretty Baby leaves Pashmina to get a closer look at Felix DuBois, who is mingling in and out with various guests, talking to the lucky people who to front seats, before making his way to the various booths and schmoozing with all the people who paid more money. This good-looking guy is not trying to hide his presence at all and can't steer all his paramours away.

Pretty Baby tries to assess how "cool" DuBois is: maybe this is just a job for him? And is he good enough for Pashmina? He doesn't seem to have an ulterior motive beyond the fact that he is of a noble family; he is well off and that, if anything, is what he and Pashmina have in common. From what Pretty Baby can tell, Pashmina's ex-fiancé is far more gregarious and far more interested in the social aspects of being a noble than in the business or the conniving aspects of being a noble. Pretty Baby can't be sure whether Pashmina has any feelings for him or not, and whether he's good enough for Pashmina or not; still, he is charming and gregarious enough that someone would want to be romantically involved with him.

Pretty Baby returns to his seat with drinks. The second half of the show takes over. It is great and it is raunchy; there is fire and there is things that are clearly not safe for the stage; it is thoroughly enjoyed by all.

As the performance ends, people begin to filter out of the theater to go to the after party. Pashmina stays for a while, kneels in over, and says: "He looked great on that stage, honestly." Pretty Baby agrees. Pashmina mulls over people who are made for the stage, the lights and the after parties; and people who are made for the books and the knives at the back. Pretty Baby convinces Pashmina that she is allowed to enjoy the after party, too.

Pashmina and Pretty Baby make their way across a small courtyard to the adjacent, slightly more dilapidated, building where the after party is held. On the way, they see a couple of the performers hanging out, smoking and chatting. There is a bouncer at the door, and music coming from inside can be heard. After a short conversation—Pashmina, Lady Myron, hasn't come in a while—he welcomes her and her guest Kasiel in.

Inside, the lighting is dimmer than in the theater. The crystals and the scones are illuminating in different colors. With the performers here, still being paid to perform, it feels like on the stage and inside the performance. People are seated in plush sofas with fancy-looking drinks in their hand. The Who's who of of some of the nobility is here, milling about. Pashmina and Pretty Baby enter the room. As a couple of people turn their heads and some faces are made, it is a good time for Pashmina to activate her Demeanor of Command.

Felix is there in the center; you can't scan the room without seeing him. He is fawning; people around him are jostling for his attention and fawning over him: he is just reveling in it.

Pashmina has an offer for Pretty Baby after enjoying the luxury: "as soon as Felix stops being a coward, we can have a small conversation and we'll leave." Pretty Baby, who has nothing to offer in the way of smiles and politeness, and whose only social skill is intimidation, can help Pashmina make her way directly to Felix, effortlessly, making sure that there is nothing to plow through. As people let them cut their way across the floor, out of a subconscious sense that someone important is coming through, as well as fear, Felix sees Pashmina striding across the room. He looks up, looks over, locks eye contact with her through the crowd trying to keep his attention, and is confused, speechless, for a moment. And then his face puts on that performance, and then he goes into the smile; he says "Pashmina" and steps for her; and there is just murmuring and whispers in the crowd as people pretend they are not circling up around them watching this conversation; and the chatter starts as they are doing just that.

"It's been a long time," Pashmina says. During these few weeks, Felix "heard such tragic things"—some of which, Pashmina reckons, "are probably correct—"such sadness, such falls from grace", he continues, adding "it's so good to see you here." Pashmina retorts: "You could have come and visited, but instead I just received a letter that just says: arrangement has been nulled." Felix can't believe she would expect him to take important time away from his work to go to such places as ... Five Irons—where, Pashmina reminds him, "one of my factories, which helped fund this project, actually is." To which Felix retorts, stressing "your family's factories are indeed still there," that "your family has remained very generous."

This is when Pashmina pulls out a chunky ring and then just holds it out, saying: "Sell it for gold, it's worthless now."

Felix looks at this ring, and replies: "I am deeply saddened that I hurt you. It was not my intention: you know, as you would say, it is only business."

"Oh, I know", Pashmina replies and, seeing that he doesn't reach out to take the ring, she just drops it and continues: "It is only business; so when ... I do ... get back ... and I do get my family fortune back, it will only be business when ... I destroy this."

Felix blinks for a moment as Pashmina steps forward and enters his personal space, saying: "I think you forget that we shared ... a couple of very intimate years, a couple of years where we trained you to be our face, a couple of years where we made this place together; you got the talents, I got the permits and I made sure the branding, and I made sure that the thought of this place showed up in people's dreams". After a silence, she adds: "Consider that in the future you'll think twice before following papers' advice. I look forward to seeing another show; the second act was divine." She also advises him to keep the one that did the trick with sixteen glasses—Eloise —because she's great.

Felix thanks Pashmina—calling her Lady Myron—for coming and she replies in the same vein: "Lord DuBois, it was a pleasure as always. I look forward to the holiday party." After Felix answers "we'll see if you're invited," Pashmina doubles down: "I can't wait to go."

Pretty Baby extends a hand to Pashmina; she takes it and they leave. There is a quiet moment as the door closes behind them and then the volume suddenly picks up again. As they stand outside and the bouncer remarks it was a "short visit," Pashmina counters that "sometimes messages are short and sweet." Before they take their leave, Pashmina asks for a cigarette; he hands one to her; she just pulls one drag and thanks him.