In 1850 I was sent to interview a young man in his early 20s, in the front parlour of a comfortable house in New York. There was a longcase clock in the corner and comfortable, rather elaborate settees. I wondered at first if it was his house, as he appeared to me to be a stable hand. I have to say he smelled like one too. He was wearing worn slacks with a small tear and worn rubber wellingtons, with a traditional long-sleeved, white, button up shirt and a dark vest. Perhaps it was the bowler style hat, but he looked out of place. Something in the way he carried himself and the way he talked, made me suspect this show of appearing poor was an act.
Interviewer: So, perhaps you could introduce yourself and tell me a bit about what you do for a living. You work with horses?
Jacob: *chuckling slightly and crossing his legs* Well, you can call me Jacob for now. My last name is irrelevant, and non-existent really. Yes, I currently work with horses, but I find them repulsive. However, one might call me a jack of all trades, though I’ll never tell what other trades I do.
Interviewer: Then why work with horses if you find them so repulsive if there are other trades you could turn to?
Jacob: Well, I can’t give away much… who knows who you’ll tell, but see… I’m really only here for a short time. I’ve a bone to pick with a Miss Wylie Petford. The Immortal Ones, my creators, made her a Teselym Dragon, and so I’ve come to destroy her. Oops, I’ve said too much.
Interviewer: Um.. *coughs* so – uh – where are you from? You don’t sound exactly local…
Jacob: Oh, I doubt you’ve heard of it… it’s quite ummm… warm… if you’re into a tropical feel. Though, since we’ve only just discovered steamboats… I highly doubt anyone knows what tropical temperature is really like. I, however, happen to enjoy the intense heat.
Interviewer: Do you have any friends in New York?
Jacob: *uncrossing his legs* What exactly do you mean by friends? I don’t make friends, waste of time really.
Interviewer: Um – people you spend time with, attend social events with, that kind of thing.
Jacob: Well, not friends per se… but I am enjoying playing puppet master so to speak. I’ve tricked a few people into thinking that they are working for the greater good. *chuckles again* I used water to nearly drown a person. It was quite fun, not that water is a person. However, its just as easily manipulated.
Interviewer: *looks nervous and gives a rictus grin* Then to finish up, perhaps you would like to tell us a bit about your long-term ambitions. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years time?
Jacob: Long-term ambitions? I’d say to bring down the Teselym Dragon, you may or may not know this… but the Teselym Dragon was created by the Immortal Ones to balance the good in the world. If I kill her, there goes all the good, and then I get to have my fun. *wicked laugh*
Interviewer: *Gets up quickly and heads for the door* Um, right. Well thank you for your time – I have just got to.. Um.. um… Get out of here now! *exits rapidly*
