Work Text:
You walk the cobble streets of the city, its buildings soar to the sky. The gears on their massive visages crank and click as steam bellows through the giant funnels on their roofs. Zeppelins fill the skies above you, some playing ads from their speakers, while others have giant ads painted on their airbags vying for your attention. Ornithopters, with their patterning wings, zig-zag their way in between them. Looking streetwise, an automaton wearing a bowler hat quickly moves down the road, its hands full of knick knacks, doodads, and groceries for its master. The discs it uses for locomotion rapidly spin down the cobbled path, but in its haste, a man with his face in the day’s newspaper walks into its path. The two collide, sending the automaton's goods into the air as well as the man, knocking the automaton over in the process. The man gets up and begins to berate the knocked-over automaton, but his words are drowned out by its head spinning in circles and its steam whistle blowing loudly.
“New Beacon never gets old,” you think to yourself, letting out a small chuckle as you continue to the town square.
The town square is filled with people as per usual around the fountains. Women wear their big dresses and even bigger hats, their umbrellas providing shade from the hot day as they gallivant along. Men wear their bowler caps and brown suit jackets as they walk with a prideful stride while children gambol in the grass or fly their kites high into the skies.
On the sides of the walkways, men stand on stages with all different types of goods to be sold. The men in dazzling suits and boater hats beckon and call to the passersby. One booth catches your eye: the Sterling Automaton booth. Their clockwork robots all stand at attention—workers, personal robots, and a robot performing a song. You’d swear some of these automatons were alive.
The man on the stage sees you glancing and points at you. With the voice of a salesman, he preaches, “You there! Yes, yes, you, my New Beaconite! Come see what newfangled technology Sterling Automatons has made just for you! Not on the stage today as it would simply blow the crowds away! Come, come, look in the kinetoscope. I assure you, you won't be disappointed!”
Since you were mostly just meandering, you think, “Well, I wouldn't want to be rude.” So you make your way to the kinetoscope and peer in. All you see is nothing but a black screen with.
“Five cents, please.”
Just then, you hear the salesman chime in again, “You wouldn't want to forget this, my good friend.”
You hear the clatter of a coin into the machine as it flickers to life. Chipper music begins to play as image after image flickers forward to create a moving picture.
The title begins to flash on the screen: “Sterling Automatons Presents.” The announcer says in a booming voice, “The Sterling Automatic Maid.”
The black and white footage begins. You see a man standing next to an automaton you have never seen anything like before. She stands on two legs and has minimal gears sticking from her long updo hair, similar to a headdress. A brass pipe sprouts from her back, letting off a steady stream of steam. She has two round glass cheeks with lights turned off behind them and round eyes.
“We at Sterling Automatons have made a revolutionary machine, but instead of me introducing her, she would like to introduce herself. Say hello, Lizzy!”
“Hello, my name is Lizzy,” she says with a buzz when she enunciates the Zs.
“With our new patented artificial soul, they think, act and feel just like mankind. You will almost believe they were a part of it!”
“Oh, thank you, sir!” Lizzy buzzes, a light beginning to flicker on behind her glass cheek panels as she puts a hand over one of them in a fluster and a chuckle.
“Our new domestic maid automatons come with so many advancements of mankind, so much so that I would rather let her tell you herself. So, Lizzy, why not tell us about yourself?” the announcer says, moving his hand to signal at the automaton, to which she stands proudly.
“I am just one of the Sterling Automatons revolutionary Sterling Automated Maid series, automated with the latest achievement of mankind's care!”
She begins to walk the stage as she speaks. You are awestruck. You've seen automatons talk and sing before, but nothing like this.
“We are meticulously tinkered together with the finest steam technology of the day, as you've come to know from this company. We guarantee you a lifetime of convenience and care!”
She continues, “You will be confident knowing that you, your children, and your loved ones will be in our good hands, as we are capable of learning on the job with our automatic adaptive systems.”
“Thank you very much, Lizzy. Now, if you would like to meet Lizzy here or are considering purchasing one of our automatons come to our Sterling Atoll location for the historic release of our Automated Maid series, one lucky customer will be able to take Lizzy here home with them for no cost in celebration of this historic release.”
The camera then pans to just the announcer as he points to the viewer. “In the words of the founder of this company, Johannes Sterling, ‘At Sterling Automatons, excellence isn't just our motto, it's our promise.’”
The machine then displays “The End” as its music concludes.
You take your eyes out of the kinetoscope, stepping back with an agape expression. You go to check your pocket watch to see that today is the day of the release.
Noticing this, the salesman says, “If you want to make it to the release, I'd suggest taking a sky sailor to the atoll. It'll get you there just in time. The next one leaves in ten minutes, by my reckoning. They leave right over there.”
He points at a small airship tied over one of the many canals of the city.
“And take this card with you. It will let you ride for free,” he says, giving you a wink.
You say “thank you” to the man as you hastily make your way to the sky sailor. Handing the pilot the card, he gives you a nod as you take the stairs up, taking a seat on one of its benches. As you sit down, the pilot makes his way into his seat. You then see the giant propeller begin to turn as the sky sailor slowly rises above the city. Underneath you, you can see all the majesty of the city: its cathedral-like skyscrapers reaching to the heavens, adorned with gears and gargoyles; the streets filled with steam cars and sidewalks with automatons and people in the latest fashions.
You soon make your way past the buildings and over the harbor. As you glance to the bow, you can see the Sterling Atoll up ahead, a circle of tall buildings encircling its port in the middle. After flying well over the water the airship begins its descent into its port. The dockhands scurry to tie it down and push the stairway up. You make your way off the sky sailor and follow the stone path to Sterling's flagship store. There is a stage in front of it with a larger banner hanging over it celebrating the release with a crowd of people below , listening to the presenter on the stage. You can see the presenter, of course, but also Lizzy and some other automaton maids behind her. Seeing her in color is unlike any automaton you have seen. Her wavy updo is a bright orange, her glass cheeks are red with Edison bulbs behind them, the gears on her head the ones similar to a headdress are brass, as are many of the other gears and the large brass pipe that peeks past her shell. She and the other automaton maids behind her wear the same uniform: a maroon short dress with a black corset.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are mere minutes away from the grand historic release. If you would kindly turn your attention to the motion picture filmers behind you, give them a wave to cement yourself in not just this moment but the future it'll bring.”
You give the filmers a wave as you join the crowd.
“Now, ladies and gentlemen, if I could have you all get organized into a line, we are going to usher you under the stage and through the store. Those who wish to purchase may step out of line, and those here to witness the future, please stay in the orderly line,” the presenter says. The crowd then tries to get into a straight line. It takes a few minutes for everyone to settle into place, and you are slightly disappointed that you are near the end, but the excitement you have quickly overpowers the feeling.
The ceremony then soon commences. You wait excitedly as the line draws closer and closer to the store, people waving at the maid automatons as they pass under the stage. You do so as well and are delighted to see them politely wave back and give you a smile.
The line continues to make its way to the massive store. Eventually, you pass through the threshold of the shop, a giant space filled with tinkerers working at their benches and automatons on pedestals. Ahead of you are all the new maid automatons, unactivated and waiting for their new owner and some interested buyers in front of them. There's an odd silence for a moment before you hear two loud pops. You jump before you realize it was just two confetti cannons.
“Congratulations, congratulations,” you hear a man say.
You assume someone who bought one of the new automatons became the lucky winner of another, or maybe one of the executives who just so happened to come in won. But to your surprise, the man comes up and shakes your hand.
“You are our lucky 100th customer today, I must congratulate you.”
You are still processing what's going on. You continue to shake the man's hand for an awkward amount of time before he lets go and states,
“Come, come, let's not lollygag. The papers are going to want pictures; we don't want to make the paper pressers wait!”
The man hurries you back outside onto the stage right next to Lizzy, who gives you a smile and a wave.
“Congratulations,” she says, giving a smile.
You watch a photographer set up his camera. And the filmers zoom in on you as the finishes finishes, he says quickly,
“Let's get a picture of you two.”
He goes under his sheath for the photo, and you, not knowing the correct stance, and still amissed on what's generally happening you scramble for a moment before going for the classic handshake with Lizzy as you look into the camera with a neutral face.
The camera flashes with a bright light; you hope that you didn't blink.
A few journalists come up to you for interviews you weren't prepared for. You keep it simple and try to hide your growing excitement that is slowly surfacing as you acclimate to the fact you won. After the interviews are done, you are escorted though the stone walkways going to a large gemotrical skyscraper, the largest on the atoll, you pass though its giant foyer that has more geometric paintings of men building automatons and then automatons building automatons until you are led to an elevator that takes you up to to a offices high up in the Sterling Atoll's skyscrapers.
“Congratulations,” the round man with the large top hat and monocle says happily as he stands up from his large leather chair.
His office is large, paintings adorned the walls and ornate mahogany wood paneling and rugs adorned the floor, the two giant windows behind him provide a magnificent view of New Beacons harbor and the city that held it.
“We would have loved for you to meet our founder, but he has very important work to tend to in Zurich. He sends his regards nonetheless.”
You give a nod of thankfulness as you look out the windows of the office. You can see the sun start to set on New Beacon from across the water, and the small ships and airships settling back into the city for the night.
“I'm just here to give you some things to sign before you can take your new Sterling Automated Maid home with you. Nothing troublesome, just a signature here and there.”
He then signals you to take a seat as he hands you a pen. It is just one or two pages, ensuring the safety of Lizzy as well as the protection of the Sterling parts used to make her. Nothing unreasonable. You sign the papers and stand as you shake the man in the top hat's hand to officiate the deal.
After a few more words you are led back down by one of the assistants. You walk the marble floors admiring the stylistic design of Sterling Atoll. It has a uniqueness with its simplicity but symmetrical and geometric imagery. Statues holding up pillars and faces of men stare down at you instead of gargoyles like in the city. The hallways are golden and black, all of it so streamlined. Once you arrive back at its monumental lobby, you see Lizzy waiting there with a Sterling employee talking with her. Upon noticing you, they walk up to you.
“Good evening. If you wouldn't mind, could you kindly write down your address here so we can deliver all the effects we provide you with your Sterling Automated Maid? We can have her delivered with them, but since you have all the paperwork done, you can just take her home with you today. Her boiler can last till the aftermorrow; we will have her refill station for you by then.”
You write your address on the paper he gave you, informing him that Lizzy can accompany you.
“Here's a ticket for the Sky Sailor back to the city. The last one leaves,” he stops for a moment to check his pocket watch, “in an hour.”
He then gives you a tip of his hat as he walks off.
Lizzy then turns to you and gives a courtesy.
“My name is Lizzy. We met before but never introduced ourselves formally.”
You give a small chuckle. All of this happened so fast, from you hearing that the release was today to the shock of being the 100th customer, and meeting a Sterling higher up to sign papers that may have made you come off as a bit distant. As such, you introduce yourself to Lizzy.
“I'm very delighted to meet you,” she says, cupping her hands together.
“As you know, we are automated for cooking, cleaning, and managing general household duties. I also believe I am decent at conversation,” she states with a factual tone, adding a slight joke at the end.
At that notion, you suggest that the two of you return to your home, not wanting the conversation to draw on and cause you to miss the Sky Sailor back. So, the two of you make your way on board. After a few minutes of getting settled, the Sky Sailor saunters up above the Sterling Atoll, and the propeller begins to turn, making its way back to the city. You look down at the water, which waves reflect the almost set sun, and soon over the city.
“This is the first time I've been off the Atoll,” Lizzy notes as she takes in the lights of the city. “I could have never imagined all these colors. I was always used to seeing it from a distance.”
Lizzy's observation causes you to take in the city more than you usually do. The near phantasm of all the lights mixed with the quiet of the city; there are many types of quiet, notably normal quiet, which is pure silence. Then there is city quiet, where you hear the cranks and clicks of the gears of the buildings, the soft whooshing of the distant airship propellers, and the pattering of ornithopters. The odd couples' conversations on the street, along with the pattering of a steam car's engine, while it isn't quiet, it's peaceful.
Lizzy seems to be feeling the same peacefulness as you. When you glance over at her, you wonder what the tinkers at Sterling managed to do to make metal and gears seemingly feel more than just where to go and who they are owned by. You knew it wasn't impossible, as it had been succeeded in small capacities, like when an eccentric scientist stricken with the loss of her old school-time love managed to bring his soul back and placed it into a body of metal and gears, or when a group of college students managed to make a sustained artificial soul of a genius who they used to help them cheat on their midterm exams.
On that thought, you inquire how she feels.
“I am excited,” she says calmly, still focused on the city lights. “There's just so much down there.”
You decide to continue the ride in silence, looking at the city with a fresh perspective you've never had before.
As the airship lowers itself back down and the dockhands help you and Lizzy off, you are just in time to catch a streetcar that leads you back to your home near the outskirts of the city. Lizzy has trouble at first keeping her balance but professionally plays it off, which provides you a good chuckle. After passing many manners of cars and automatons on the road, you arrive at your home on the outskirts of the city. While it wasn't a mansion or a villa, it was nicely sized and draped in the gothic aesthetic of the city.
“This is your home, I assume. It is beautiful,” Lizzy says, a wide smile on her face, an underlying excitement in her voice undeniable.
You tell her that you used to have a small fossil fuel company and managed to sell it before the whole industry went belly up as steam maintained its dominance, letting you afford it. You then inform her that the guest bedroom is hers; it's not used much anyway, and she would enjoy the view of the city.
“I can't wait to see more of it,” she says, looking over at you, almost asking to have a whole tour of the city then and there.
Catching the hint, you tell her that you will help her acclimate to the city. As you grew up there, you know where to see the sights the best, the best secret spots, and the best benches at the parks.
Her excitement is palpable. As you stop at your door, she opens her arms wide, and you question what she is doing.
“Hugs are only acceptable when a person initiates the embrace, and hugs should not last more than ten ticks of the long hand.”
You laugh at her bluntness and give her a big hug.