<strong>Lilith, Talking with Doctor Mephiston, Going to Greet Lee Chang, T3, and Charlotte</strong><br/><br/>“I must confess, I’m also perturbed by the missing elements. They should be quite obvious, to my way of thinking, but the solution still eludes me.” Lilith frowned. “Still, your assistance in uncovering this matter would be of great value, so I appreciate your grand offer to aid me in my studies. Who knows? Perhaps their may be a co-written treatise on the matter to the scientific community if our efforts prove successful.”<br/><br/>Lilith glanced around the room. There certainly were a number of people to engage with in conversation, moving around the Pleasure Dome … the one who certainly caught her eye, though, was Lee Chang, her host and benefactor. The man moved with effortless grace around the room, a calm stillness about him, yet his mere presence commanded attention. He intrigued Lilith, very much so … as did the radiant blonde beauty who followed him everywhere. Lilith didn’t know the young woman’s name – which troubled Lilith, as she’d extensively research just about everything possible about Lee Chang, and his activities. Presumably, the young woman was one of Lee Chang’s concubines. But there was something about her – a childlike innocence, perhaps? – that seemed, well, unexpected and different.<br/><br/>Lilith knew who she wished to speak to. Immediately.<br/><br/>Gracefully, Lilith took Doctor Mephiston’s arm.<br/><br/>“It would be rude not to greet our host, I believe,” Lilith said. She smiled gently at<br/>Doctor Mephiston, and slowly made her way over to Lee Chang, who seemed engrossed in conversation with another invited guest – Thaddeus Thudpucker the Third, the rather alliterative adventurer and explorer, if Lilith judged correctly.<br/><br/>Lilith gave a formal curtsy to Lee Chang. “It’s an honor to be here, good sir,” Lilith said to him. “I’m Lilith Van Stratten … I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank you for your invitation, and your exquisite hospitality. Your impeccable taste, in all things, is to be commended … I look forward to engaging with you on other matters at a later time, when it’s appropriate.”<br/><br/>“It’s also my honor to meet you, Mister Thudpucker,” she said to Thaddeus, acknowledging the traveler with a solemn nod. “Or is it Sir Thudpucker, or Lord Thudpucker? I confess to not knowing your formal title, if you have one. Regardless, I also look forward to conversing with you … I’ve heard quite a bit about your marvelous traveling contraptions. I’d love to better know the mind that created them.”<br/><br/>Curiously, Lilith’s gaze wandered to Lee Chang’s young blonde escort. “Forgive me, Lee Chang, but is this lovely girl available for demonstration purposes? Or any of the girls who enjoy your companionship?” She glanced around the room, looking for the other women that Lilith believed were termed ‘harlots’. “When demonstrating the full effect of my clockwork android, I may have need of a female volunteer willing to help demonstrate its more exotic functions.”<br/><br/>Lilith gently squeezed Doctor Mephiston’s arm, as if for reassurance, and smiled gratefully at her companion. His company soothed her … she didn’t think she’d be even able to look at such esteemed colleagues like Lee Chang, let alone talk to them, without the confidence the good Doctor's simple presence gave her.