Alchemechanical (HugoxDrina Oneshots)

Steampunk AU (Part One)

It was a gorgeous day, and Drina's first day flying.

Alexandrina Schreiber was a fanatic for technology. And here in 1900 Germany, technology has made its breakthrough and she was loving it! On July 2nd, started the reign of airships. The Zeppelin flew! The first ever airship to fly holding passengers. As long as she could remember, she'd always wanted to fly. Now, she's got her wish.

It was mid-October of 1900 and another Zeppelin has been manufactured where the poor could fly once as a chance to feel rich. Drina had thought that was quite rude, but she wanted to fly anyways. Her parents, Cora and Tim, warned her sternly about oppressors of the poor, but she didn't care. She needed to get on that blimp and feel the wind on her face.
That morning she had jumped out of bed, changed, and ate as quickly as she could. She kissed her parents goodbye and sprinted to Varian's house.
She threw opened the front door and was relieved when she saw Ulla and Quirin up. Maybe she's been a little bit too excited.

"Good morning, Mädchen." Ulla smiled. Didn't even flinch when Drina barged in.

"Good morning, Fräulein!" Drina entered and sat at the table across from Quirin, who was eating. "No food today, Fräulein. I already ate with my parents."

"Ah, okay." Ulla sat down next to her with her own plate. "Varian should be awake soon, if he isn't already." She placed a napkin onto her lap.

"Thank you." Drina giggled excitedly.
She heard thumps coming from upstairs-where Varian's room was. She hadn't noticed that her legs were bouncing. He couldn't hurry enough. She would leave without him if he didn't come down this second.
She heard the familiar thuds and creaks of someone descending the steps.
He was fixing his vest when his face lit up.

"Drina! You're already here."

"I'm just really excited. It took ages to convince my dad to let me go. I am not going to waste this."

"Varian, you should eat before you go." Quirin said in his low, rough voice.

"Yes, Vater." Varian briskly sat down as Ulla stood to fill a plate of oatmeal. The typical ration for the small districts. That's all they were allowed to have. Oatmeal. Gross as it was, at least it was something. Something to fill the gaps of poverty. The only really clean thing anyone has around here. Even the water was somewhat dirty. Drina wouldn't waste time on a shower when she had her chores and sometimes hang out with Varian when she wasn't helping her father with his mechanics booth. She was sort of his apprentice on the way of mechanics. Being their oldest child (a baby was on the way), she would take over his business. She had been distracted by the coming of the new baby, hoping for a girl. He had scolded her more than once about not paying attention to his lessons while she had been daydreaming about dressing up her sister and teaching her words and to teach her how to dance. She couldn't think about work when a whole new life would be coming in their family!

Varian grabbed his cap off of his chair, startling Drina. She hadn't realized he had stood. As a gentlemen, he pulled out her chair so she could stand. She smiled and out the door they went.

"Bye, Kinder!" Quirin and Ulla called.

"And be careful!" added Ulla.

"Yes, ma'am!" they called back and off they went to the town's huge field where the glorious second Zeppelin hovered over the ground, strained only by ropes. It was huge! Bigger than Drina had ever imagined. They stopped at the end of the line where there was ropes on either side. Only two people could fit in each row. Varian stood next to her, his eyes glued to the airship. His eyes sparkled with awe. She couldn't help but turn her gaze back to it. Ah! It was so beautiful. With its egg-liked shape, fins at the end, and the windows beneath where the passengers were placed. The whole thing was painted brown, the windows tinted and the frame was painted gold. She was told this was bigger than the original. This was it. Her chance to fly.

A man-who must've been the pilot-stood on a podium at the front of the line. Drina could barely see him but his voice echoed from whatever he was holding in his hand.

"People of the Lower Domains, today and today only you will fly. You are going to fly!" Applause erupted around them. She and Varian joined in. Varian whooped and clapped as hard as he could. "Now, now, I know you all are excited. This is a momentous occasion! Just take it all in. The AS Zeppelin the Second, in all it's gloriousness."

"It's amazing in all, but why praise a piece of machinery?" Drina whispered to Varian. It must not have been quiet enough because one of the people in front of them glanced back.

"I know, but this is one of the first flying contraptions to hold passengers, Drina!"

"Man surely is advanced."

"You betcha." Varian nodded as he leaned away from her ear. He was taller than her now and she never liked to acknowledge it. Although, she knew she was a girl and girls rarely grew taller than five feet, she hated being short. She loved having an advantage.

"Now that that's all sorted out, I welcome you to the AS Zeppelin the Second!"

"That's a lot of words." Drina remarked. Another set off clapping and cheers.

"Shh!" Varian reached down and placed a dirty gloved hand on her mouth. She shoved it away.

"Blah!" she gagged. The line started moving. Drina peered around and realized that journalists were there, taking pictures with their photographs and notes with their pencils and small notepads. She put her head down, fearing them. Watching her feet, she walked forward along with the crowd.

Varian put his arm around her and tugged close, as if she could disappear without a moment's notice. She nudged it off and gave him a reassuring smile. Her insides were burning with nerves, adrenaline, and excitement. If she didn't get onto the ship soon, she feared she would explode.
After five minutes, they stepped onto the ramp and walked into the large viewing room. It was HUGE! There weren't any walls, just windows. Seats were attached to the wall so people could view comfortably. That was it. Everything else was empty.

Drina grabbed Varian's wrist and ran toward one if the windows, giggling. They sat on their knees to see better. Drina's face glowed with happiness. This was happening. She couldn't keep it in anymore and squealed and turned to Varian, hoping to see the same emotion on his face. It surely was. She turned back to the window.

A man walked into the middle of the room, the same man from earlier. The pilot.

"Guten Tag, ladies and gentlemen! It is quite a day for the classes. What a momentous occasion that we picked you as our first official passengers! Now, sit tight as we fly about. Enjoy the show!" He walked into an open door she hadn't noticed he was gone. She plopped around to sit normally, as did Varian. Then she heard the engines fire up and commands being shouted outside. Drina looked behind just as the ropes were being released. She looked forward again, legs bouncing. She felt the sensation of leaving gravity and her stomach flipped.
After a few moments they were over the bustling hills. Drina and Varian were both on their knees again, watching the grass dance in the wind.

That was when things went wrong after the explosion hit.