That Steampunk Vibe

#lincolnsteampunkfestival

Lincoln steampunk festival is well underway, and will no doubt be seen as a great success as usual – helped on by the weather no doubt.

To celebrate, I’m attaching my short story – That Steampunk Vibe, first issued in Dark & Fluffy II.

Enjoy!

That Steampunk Vibe

Every August Lincoln holds the largest Steampunk festival in the world, but not everyone gets it. This is a story about finding common ground with people we may not think we have much in common with.

‘Bloody hell, what’s she come as!’

‘Dad!’ Becci remonstrated. ‘This is what a steampunk festival looks like, I did explain it.’ She looked at her mum for reassurance.

‘I know you explained it, but now I’ve seen it in the flesh it’s bloody baffling.’

Becci’s brother Ed sniggered. ‘Told you sis, bringing dad here this weekend was a baad idea.’

‘It’s not a bad idea, is it mum? It’s just a lot to take in when, you know, you’re sort of conservative.’

Ed chipped in again, ‘a boring old fart you mean.’

‘Now that’s enough everyone,’ said mum, ‘let’s find somewhere a bit quieter and have a breather.’

Becci’s family were visiting her for the weekend. They had come to the city of Lincoln where she was in her first year studying medicine at the university, and it was the first time that they had heard of or seen steampunk. Her brother and mum were fine, but her rather stuffy dad was struggling to be around the eccentric and colourful groups of enthusiasts. Perhaps she’d made a mistake inviting them this weekend.

They went and stood in the cathedral area, and although this was still busy, they tucked themselves just around the corner of one of the great stone archways that lived in its shadow, and re-grouped.

‘Right Dad, I know you’re finding it all a bit baffling, but lunch is booked for 1, and it’s 12:15 already. So why don’t we go and have a look in a couple of antique shops, you’re still looking for some more books aren’t you? You never know you might find something here.’

‘Yeah come on dad, you’ll feel better when you get among the old things.’

‘Ed!’ Mum again.

‘Come on, this way, its quieter.’ Becci continued, ignoring Ed.

Becci led them a slightly less crowded way. Rather than heading back into the crush of Steep Hill and the Bailgate area, they went past the cathedral front, with the Minster yard behind them and onto Eastgate. There were a couple of shops around here that she thought might interest her dad.

The first one they went into appeared to be a tiny receptacle of all things old. Trinkets, jewellery, clocks, toys and books were crammed into the window in a jumble of eras, but once inside the shop it was apparent that the place was much bigger on the inside than it had first appeared. After they had squeezed there way through the narrow entrance, the shop opened into a large room and signs indicated that there were another two floors to explore.

Her dad instantly homed in on the books. All his life, he’d been keen on Jules Verne, and had quite a large collection of his books. All variations, all editions, and everywhere they went he looked to add to it. He was looking so intently at the titles on offer that he didn’t see the splendidly dressed man come up beside him. Becci was looking at some particularly lovely earrings with her mum, when she spotted the man and watched slightly nervously for her father’s realisation.

She heard the man speak, although she wasn’t close enough to hear what he said. Then she saw the look of shock on her father’s face as he turned and looked over his glasses at the man standing next to him.

The man had a handlebar moustache, a full beard and he was wearing a red bow tie. He wore small round glasses and the lenses were reflected so that you could not see his eyes. The rest of his attire was breath-taking. On his head he wore a grey top hat that was adorned at the front with two small clock faces and an assortment of cogs and gears above them, all arranged in an organised jumble. He wore a grey tweed suit with leather lapels, and these were also laden down with smaller metal cogs, keys and assorted nuts and bolts. A metal pipe with an attachment ideal for releasing steam into the atmosphere sat on his left shoulder like a parrot. This in turn was connected to a backpack that looked like a mini time capsule of some description. Only it was made of glass and had brass ends and Becci could clearly see that it was empty.

Becci saw her father taking this all in, a look of wonderment and horror on his face, and she wondered what the man had said to him. Perhaps she should rescue her dad?

Just as she decided to head over, her mum looked up and realised what was happening too, she put down the brooch she was holding and went over to dad. The steampunk guy smiled widely when she appeared, doffed his hat and her mum smiled back. Dad looked fed up, and Becci headed over, just as the steampunk guy replaced his hat, and turned to walk away.

‘You ok dad?’ Talking to him but directing a shrug of her shoulders, in a what was that all about way, to her mum. Her mum in turn returned the gesture.

‘Yes, fine thank you, I can handle myself with those types you know. He reckoned he knew about Jules Verne, but I doubt that very much. He probably can’t even read, just showing off a bit.’

‘Dad!’

‘Yes, well, never mind that now, I’ve got the books they have here, so I’ve finished.’

‘Ok love, let’s find Ed and have a look in another shop before lunch then, Becci tells me there are some lovely clothes shops up here.’

Dad placed his glasses back in their case with a slight sigh.

Whilst dad and Ed waited for Becci and mum to finish in the clothes shop, they people watched, and Ed couldn’t help noticing the varying degrees of shock and incredulity flashing across his dad’s face as he watched all the characters walking by. It was incredibly busy now, and the outfits were amazing. Guys in leather vests, some carrying heavy guns and time machine backpacks, there were tweeds, masks, and metals galore. Cogs, keys, wheels and brasses everywhere. The women wore bustles, corsets, elaborate gowns and petticoats. There were timepieces, parasols, and lots of flying goggles. A nod to military themes, and days of old where fantasy and fiction merged.

Finally, Becci and her mum emerged.

‘Right, I think we’d better get to lunch. It’s just over here dad in the White Hart. You’ll have to squeeze yourself through the crowds to get to it.’

Inside the hotel, the atmosphere was still buzzing but it wasn’t as frantic as outside and Becci could see her dad relax a little. They gave their name and were shown into the lovely dining room.

An hour later and dad and Ed had finished their sausage and mash, Becci had finished her burger and mum was just finishing up her fish and chips.

‘Phew, I could do with a sleep now,’ laughed mum.

‘Walking around the castle will soon perk you up,’ Becci smiled.

They all declined a pudding when offered, feeling far too full, and headed back out into the crowds.

‘At least everything is close by up here dad, you don’t have to walk for miles. Have you all got your wristbands on?’ She checked with mum and Ed.

They surged through the castle entrance with the hoards of other visitors and were greeted with a spectacle of days gone by, and a dreamlike world that was beyond imagination.

They didn’t know where to look first. There was an exhibition of all sorts of contraptions and devices showcasing such things as push bikes with wings, mini steam-engines with weapons attached and elaborate weaponry. There was a competition taking place by the Tiffin group called Tea Duelling, something dad just couldn’t get his head around. There was a loud and colourful traditional fair, and the most bizarre forms of transport were taking place in the Wacky Races. Although he was reluctant at first, dad soon found himself engrossed by the riders and their machines.

When those races had finished, he spotted some jet pack races that were just about to start, and he couldn’t hold himself back. He rushed over to the starting line determined to get at the front so that he could get a good view. There were some hilarious antics taking place, and he was laughing so much that he didn’t see the man from the antique shop squeeze through the crowds and stand at the side of him.

But Becci, Ed and mum saw him. They were watching from the back of the crowds, on a grassy slope next to a statue of George III, and they saw steampunk man before dad did.

‘Oh, oh,’ said Becci, ‘dad won’t be laughing in a minute.’

‘I’d better get down there.’ Mum said.

Steampunk man was saying something to dad, but instead of silencing him with one of his icy stares, dad didn’t stop smiling, he entered a perfectly civil conversation with the man. By the time mum got there, they had finished chatting and dad was shaking his hand. Mum got another doff of the hat as the man left.

‘Right. I’ve got to go to a shop on Steep Hill, it’s close by so I’m told.’ Dad explained as he and mum walked back to Becci and Ed. ‘My steampunk friend has just told me where I can get hold of an 1874 edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. He’s a Jules Verne fan as well see.’

‘Becci, I need to go to Steep Hill.’

‘Ok, it’s just outside of the Castle.’ She answered, looking at her mum for answers.

‘If he’s such a fan, how come he doesn’t want to buy it?’ Mum wanted to know.

‘Buy what?’ Said Becci, but by now they were in the crush again, this time to get out of the castle, and were getting separated.

‘He can’t buy it, it’s too expensive for him.’ Dad replied to mum.

‘And just how expensive is that, might I ask!’

‘Sorry love, you’re too far back, I can’t hear you! Oh, and by the way, after I’ve bought it, I’m going to book us into the White Hart for next year’s Steampunk festival, might as well be in amongst the action don’t you think?’

Becci threw Ed an astonished look and started laughing. ‘I’m lost, do you know what’s going on?’

Ed shook his head, ‘Well I can’t believe it’s happened, but I think dad’s go the Steampunk vibe sis.’

And that made her laugh even more.