Mon, February 06 2012
| TITLE: | Phileas Obtains the Aurora |
|---|---|
| AUTHOR: | Tonja Moore |
| CATEGORY/TYPE: | MissingScene, In The Beginning |
| RATING/WARNINGS: | List the story rating (G, PG-13, R) and if it's Gen, Adult-Het or Adult-Slash |
| MAIN CHARACTERS: | List any main characters or adult relationships |
| DESCRIPTION: | Write story summary here. |
| STATUS: | Complete |
In this scene I have tried to capture the way Phileas might have felt suddenly finding himself with the Aurora. It takes place immediately after the card game in which Phileas risked his home against the Baron’ airship. The Baron lost the game on purpose. The episode actually shows the Queen and the Baron talking as the Aurora lifts off, but I’m ignoring it. Phileas didn’t know about it.
So, using Around the World in Eighty Days as a reference, here is my alternative attempt at the first conversation between Phileas and Passepartout.
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Phileas was dazed. He had risked everything in the hopes of ridding himself of all responsibilities and instead found himself with a large new toy and an unusual new servant. He stared at the cards, then at the Baron.
Baron von Breslau’s voice was calm. “The Aurora is yours now, Phileas. Enjoy her. “
“Don't you need to go back there and get your personal belongings?” Phileas finally snapped out of his trance. “I don't want to take advantage.“
The Baron shook his head. “I don’t keep anything on board that I would miss. Passepartout took my personal items to my club earlier. The only thing I ask of you is your word that you will take care of her. “
“I can assure you of that.” Phileas stood and offered his hand to shake. The Baron took it solemnly.
Phileas led him out into the foyer. “Good-bye. And thank you.” He opened the door.
The Baron gave him one last smile. “Don’t sit at home and brood, my friend. I’m sure you can find something to do now.” He left. Phileas noted that a carriage had drawn up in the street. Had it been ordered? He shook his head and returned to the study.
The cards had been cleared and the table was tidy. That was fast, Phileas noted, nodding in approval. “Thank you... ah... Passepartout, is it? “
His new valet clicked his heels together and gave a bow. “Yes, Mr. Fogg.”
“You are French?” The accent was almost right, but there were traces of things Phileas couldn’t identify. “What is your Christian name?”
“Jean, if you pleases. Jean Passepartout.”
Grammar problem, perhaps. “And you are the pilot of the Aurora?”
“I do many different things, sir. With name like Passepartout, you can guess many professions have been tried.”
“So your name fits you, does it?“ Phileas managed a smile.
“Yes, Master.” The man seemed to be losing some of his nervousness. “I have crossed the countryside singing ballads, traveled with circus as tricksy rider, taught gymnastics at university in Nice, and been sergeant fireman in Paris. I fight many big fires with tall ladders.”
Phileas blinked in surprise. “Well. Let us hope you will not be employing those skills any time soon. “
Passepartout continued earnestly. “But lately, in England, have been learning domestic arts. Passepartout is truly excellent valet.”
This time Phileas’ smile was ironic. “Truly excellent?
“Baron, he say so.“ Passepartout gave one of those French shrugs as though to say, “What else could you expect?”
Perhaps this wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Phileas said, “I have been without a valet since Forster brought me that icy water for shaving. I'm afraid I dismissed him rather abruptly.”
Passepartout looked very solemn. “If water was not at precisely eighty-six degrees, he was barbarian and you were correct to bag him, Master. Passepartout very particle about temperatures.”
“We should get along quite well. I think.” Those speech patterns would take a bit of getting used to however. “Would you be good enough to go upstairs to my room and pack a few things? A day or two should do. I would like to take the Aurora up, now that she is mine.”
“Certainly, Master.” Passepartout nodded and clicked his heels again. Phileas made a mental note to stop him from doing that. “I will meet you on board in fifteen minutes. “
Phileas raised an eyebrow at him. “Shall I time you? “
“If you like.”
Phileas suppressed a chuckle as he made a show of checking his watch. Passepartout disappeared upstairs. =How the devil he would know where to find things in that short of a time?= The keys to the Aurora had been put onto his desk alongside the deed to Shillingworth. With a sigh, he thrust the latter into a pigeonhole and weighed the former in his hand. =Where should we go? Where did Rebecca say she was going? Paris, wasn't it?=
The Aurora was waiting in an open space in the park. Phileas paused to survey her by the light of the stars. The gold gas bag floated serenely above the gondola. The red paint and the brass fittings gleamed in the starlight. She was beautiful.
He was startled out of his reverie by a knock on the door. On an impulse he checked his watch. It had been exactly fifteen minutes since he had last looked at it. Somehow he wasn’t surprised to find Passepartout on the other side when he finally managed the unlocking mechanism. He carried a portmanteau and Phileas’ shaving tackle. “Good evening, Master,” Passepartout said. “Do you wanting me to take these up or would you be taking off the ground first?”
It was too much. Phileas laughed as he had not done in months. “Let us take off the ground first, Passepartout. To Paris.” He followed his new valet to the globe at the front. “Do you know if the Baron kept any port onboard?”
“Yes, sir. I will fetch it when once we are on course.”
Phileas went out to the front deck again. He watched the ground falling away and heard the gentle chuff of the motor. The harsh memories that had hounded him for so long began to recede. Perhaps the Aurora would be a way to bury them. He found that he was looking forward to it. Forward to adventure.