Mercedes Dupont; All Aboard!
Subject: Leaving for India Where: London Docks Who: Mercedes Dupont Warnings: None Open to: Rupert, Sabana.
Mercedes was usually restless and eager to get back to sea. The ocean called to him, begged him back to her, lulled him back with the sound of her waves. But today had been different. He had hung back, stayed in his lodgings until the landlord had come knocking, and then he had walked to the docks with his belongings, rather than take a carriage. He walked, laden-down with the bag slung across his back and the trunk in his arms. Had it not been for the reasonably expensive and pressed suit he wore, he might have been just another sailor, pressed-ganged, and wary of leaving the delights land had to offer him.
For Mercedes though, those delights hadn't been women and drink. They had been, for a few brief weeks, the thought of Aimé's company. That had all been dashed now, broken into a thousand fragments. But still, Mercedes believed that any moment, any second, Aimé would appear, hug himself to his lover, and the two would be happy together again, Antoine-the-whoremonger forgotten.
He knew it would not happen, in his heart-of-hearts. But he could not make himself walk any faster towards the docks. He was heading towards something uncertain. He had not even heard if Rupert's quest had been sucessful, he had no idea if the Company would have him back. If they did not, then Mercedes would simply sail to the edge of the world and jump off. It seemed to him that leaving England would equate to doing such a thing.
True, if Rupert had been sucessful then somehow, god willing, Mercedes would make his fortune, return, and sweep Aimé up into his arms and the pair would never have to be parted again. A week ago, that had given him hope, but he had hoped, then, that Aimé would come and see him before he went. But as they days had passed...
A familiar shout forced him from his thoughts, and he looked up to see the docks before him, his second waving him over to the last crates of provisions still to be loaded. Work would keep his mind busy.