1 Free spirit

Alexei admired the golden glow of the evening clouds in the sky that he loved so dearly. His father would have loved this. He looked foreword at the bow of his airship, small compared to the others there, and adjusted the wheel to fit the space he was aiming to fill. He slid in perfectly, and started tying down his ship.

The ocean waves below the air base crashed against the stilts and supports of the base, and it scared him just a little. Water was never his element. For him, it was the sky. He folded down his gangplank, and made his way onto the large shipping dock.

A man approached him. He held a clipboard, and had suspenders and a handlebar mustache with a monocle and steampunk jointed gloves. "40 Lan, please, to stow your ship. And if you request new batteries or fuel, we will be happy to care for these services for 20 Lan." Alexei gave the man 40 of the 80 Lan in his pocket, and asked only for a refill of fuel, a half tank. The man nodded, and Alexei gave him ten more. The man hurried of to get fuel, and to get other new arrivals stowed away.

As Alexei turned around to walk back onto his ship to unload cargo, a young man, perhaps his own age, knocked into his side. Alexei tumbled and would have hit the ground, if naught for the person that knocked into him. He pulled him back onto his feet, and both brushed themselves off. They both muttered apologies, until their eyes met.

They went silent. A twinkle grew in both pairs of eyes, Alexei's hazel colored ones and this strangers green and blue ones. They were frozen with the feeling. The breeze blew Alexei's light brown, thick hair. His flying goggles glinted in the late day sunlight, and his white button up shirt fluttered in the wind, along with his brown baggy pants. The stranger had black hair, that glinted in the afternoon light, and a Victorian patterned vest with a button up dark green shirt underneath, and some dress khakis. He wore polished shoes. He was a little taller than Alexei.

Suddenly, his voice came back to him, and he muttered another faint apology. The stranger seemed embarrassed. "Oh, no, really it's alright. I wasn't looking where I was going, and you were just going back onto your ship. It's alright." Alexei smiled slightly. "What's your name?" He asked, a glint in his eye. This person was quite cute. "Hugo. And yours?" "Alexei." They stared at each other a little more. "I-I have to be going... would you like to meet up sometime today at the bar on the Main Street?" Alexei asked, hoping he would be free. He really was quite cute, and he longed to get to know him better. "I... my parents don't approve of me seeing any New Worlds, not that I agree at all... but I'm not sure it would be safe to come by. Should we write? I would gladly exchange letters if you would like to know me." Alexei grew sad that they couldn't talk at the bar, but as long as they could talk he was happy. He had to get to know Hugo. "Of course. I would... appreciate it if I knew you better." Another moment of silence. Hugo's cheeks grew hot. "I....I would too." Alexei smiled inwardly. "Alright. Well here's my mailing address." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a paper with his address and mailing information on it, and handed it to Hugo. He always had his information ready for business, and for new friends. He was an extrovert. Hugo handed him his family's house address. He thanked him for talking, and they parted ways.

About a half hour later, as Alexei was leaving the docks to get dinner and see some old friends, Hugo spotted him again. Alexei saw him as well, and the two approached. Alexei looked at the setting sun, then back to Hugo. "Hugo... do you think we could meet next time my cargo ships in again? I must confess... I have some feelings for you," Hugo's cheeks grew a scarlet red, and he smiled slightly. "Of course, I would be happy to meet you again. Perhaps we can arrange even more over letters?" Alexei looked back towards his airship. "Perhaps." With just an affectionate look, he left Hugo to go to town.