Play@YSDC

Monday, March 13, 1922
around 8:00
Providence, Rhode Island

After leaving the landlord's residence the previous day, you decided upon a meeting place. Everyoneagreed to meet at the town hall at 10AM in order to check any records of the house as Dan suggested.

Dan and Pearl
As the morning sun sheepishly creeps into your rooms, you awake to the most horrid headache you've experienced in at least a year. Must have been all the booze the previous night. These are troubling times indeed.

Dan's hand goes to his head as he tries to sit up and feels his head pounding. "One glass too many, I think," he says to himself and then struggles to make his way to his feet. A trip to the bathroom was necessary... take care of some business, splash some water on his face and get a glass to drink... then some nice strong coffee would be best, yes.

Once he was done with all that, he dressed himself in respectable clothing so as to make the right impression upon the town hall employees. He dragged a razor across his stubbled cheeks and chin, and then found his way down to get some coffee.

One thing working on the stage taught Pearl, how to be punctual. If you were late for ANY appointment, you lost out - it was a tough lesson to learn, but it didn't take long to sink in. So having woke up in a strange room, it took her a few moments to recognise her new lodgings. When the realisation sank in, then came the nausea and the pounding hangover.

"The fact I have to downsize is only a temporary glitch I'm sure," you tell yourself, trying to force some order on the inside of your head. Though deep down you cannot admit, not even to yourself, that this is the third downsize in the last fourteen months.

After getting a quick comfort break, a wash down and brushing your teeth, you are ready to take the world on ... well you would be if you had come caffiene inside of you ... and if your head din't feel like a dance troupe were doing their thing on the inside of your head. Normally you don't get hangovers, but it must be bacause you hadn't anything to eat before you started drinking.

It is just gone half eight and so you have plenty of time to grab a quick bite to eat and a coffee before you need to be at the Town Hall at ten. You are looking forward to seeing Dan once more, he seemed better than the usual class of fella you wind up with! Maybe he will ... steady girl, you only just met him last night! Is there a chemist on the way you wonder.

Dan saw Pearl make her way in to the restaurant and nodded with a smile... though the smile seemed somewhat strained. Seemed he was suffering with his own little headache at the moment. He'd hoped the answer to relief was at the bottom of his cup of coffee.

Well that's a bold assumption

Having found her way to a chemist on her rather wobbly legs and despite the Turkish March being danced in her head, Pearl manages to get herself an aspirin and slowly walks to her destination. The fresh air and the drug slowly clear her head from the pain and she decides to try to find a cafe near the meeting place. She finds one just vis'a'vis the Town Hall. An even more pleasant surprise is waiting for her inside... The cafe grandfather clock boldly strikes nine times.

Standing just inside the doorway as the clock stikes, Pearl grimaces for the first couple of strikes and then hangs her head, slowly shaking it from left to right. Any positive effects from the Asprin have just been chased away by the loudest clock ever made. Damn the Swiss and their insidious evil machines.

When she opens her eyes she can see a friendly face smiling wanly back at her.

Trying to put her best actresses skills to the fore she smiles and tries to hide the pain in her head, the queasiness in her stomach.

"Hey there Dan, how are you this morning. Thank you she adds to both the waitress and to Dan By all the Gods I really need this." She gets another couple of Asprin out and offers the bottle to Dan. "My head is fit to burst this morning - don't know about yours. Do you want some Aspin?"

"A lot of ground to cover ... we better get stocked up on supplies then."

Dan accepts the bottle of asprin and pops a couple tablets in his palm, throws them to the back of his mouth and drinks the last of his coffee. "Thank you, Pearl," he said as he replaced the asprin bottle cap and pushed it back to her. "Yes, lots to do. There is the research, of course... and we need to stock up on supplies as you suggested."

Dan rubbed his temples to try to get his brain back into detective mode and thought about what all they needed to undertake.

"Once our other two friends show up, we should split up. Two of us who have spent a good deal of time in libraries and researching ... to town hall. We need to get floor plans and boundary lines for this place, history of all the previous owners, wouldn't hurt to get the names and addresses of all the neighbors too." He stopped rubbing his forehead and looked around the room at all the others, wondering if any of them felt nearly as bad as he and Pearl did.

"After that, they could make a stop to the local library, do some digging in the news archives and see if there is anything to this history of ill fortune to the residents of this place. Any sort of history on the house or its residents would be great." Dan looked back at Pearl. "The other two of us could go to the store and procure some necessities. What exactly do we need? We're not going camping, but we can expect to stay there a few nights at least. Food, bedding, camera and film, maybe some other items that we could use to try to trap or signal an intruding by outside parties. I've heard of some people using supernatural folklore to lower the price of property, and maybe that's what's happening here."

"When they're done shopping, they can meet the other two at the library to help with historical research. After all, it will be the proverbial needle in a haystack to find anything about that house," Dan advised.

Pearl looks slightly crestfallen;

"I really do wish I could plan things out as thoroughly as that Dan ... I can follow instructions and remember stuff, a result of being an actress I suppose, remembering lines and all that. But when it comes to looking at a situation and working it all out ... <sigh> ... I'm just not cut out for it I suppose." She looks at Dan her eyes wide. "Each to his ... or her own I suppose."

kouchpotato,So where is it exactly that Calum is currently?

everdarkgreen,You say your goodbyes to Will and decide to head out to the meeting point. You managed to get a rather good description of the people you're to be meeting. You get there a tad early, and start looking around for a place to sit down. There's a cafe just on the other side of the street. You decide to enter it. An elderly grandfather clock strikes the half hour. You sit down, order something and start looking around. As you scan the people, a couple at a nearby table strikes you as curious. You slowly realize that they fit Will's description rather well.

Calum Childs woke with a start, turning over in his bed and looking at his alarm clock. He woke, showered, ate and was out the door in good time, still half asleep. Last night had been a late one, examining an early Chinese artifact that one of the professors at the museum seemed to think was some sort of mechanical device. He walked out to his car, and placed the bag into the back. It contained the tool for an archaeological dig, as well as a basic aid kit in case of injury and several other items of importance. The drive to the arranged meeting spot was rather uneventful.

Dan smiled as the waitress refilled his coffee mug and thanked her. Then looking back to Pearl, he stirred a spoon full of sugar in without looking as he said "I wonder if maybe it might be a good idea to cover more spiritual necessities? Like some holy water? A bag of salt? What sort of things are good against ghosts anyway? Garlic?"

Karl smiles coyly to himself and interrupts, "A stiff drink and a healthy distrust for all you see, hear and have been told... Or so I have been told." He stands and extends a hand in greeting to Dan but almost loses his balance, side effects of a home distilled gin and absinthe breakfast. "Mr. Werner, Karl."

Dan, not being completely devoid of manners, stands and shakes Karl's hand, "Hi, I'm Dan Marrison, and my lovely associate here is Pearl Wealstone. Can't say that I object to your views, but being as how such things are illegal these days..." he eyes the room looking for anyone else overhearing their conversation. "Won't you join us, Mr. Werner? We were just waiting for a couple friends to join us, but there seems to be no shortage of chairs."

Dan is a tall and broad man, in excellent condition, with wavy hair greased in style and parted on the side. He was clean-shaven, and the red puffy eyes gave away his own hangover. He was an average looking man to look at far as good looks were considered... but there was something in his eyes that hinted of an intelligence one might not normally assume a large man such as himself to possess.

Karl bows to Pearl "Frauline.", he smiles, "How very nice to meet you both." He pulls up a chair and seat himself at the table, "Now, before you both start wondering 'who is this man?' or 'what in the world does he want from us?' or perhaps 'what terrible things will he do to us? oh no!' or 'what is this man trying to sell us quick get the police!' or... uh...", he pauses, confusion in his face, his grey, bloodshot eyes darting, "Uh, where was I? Oh yes! Mr. Crigley! He's feeling a bit under the weather today, I'm here in replacement from the Miskatonic Trident." Karl spies a waiter approaching his previous table and alerts him of his new position. He thanks the waiter as he places the coffee before him, eying him as he walks away. After a few quick glances over his shoulder he reaches into his coat pocket to produce a flask, pouring its contents into his coffee and returning it to his pocket, quite swiftly. With a few more cautionary glances about he turns his attention back to the conversation with a sly smile as he lifts the cup as if to say "look what I can do", "Freshly squeezed juice, good for the nervous system." He winks.

Pearl looks aghast at the newcomer and places her hand on his arm;

"Mr. Werner, Please! Are you trying to get us all in trouble ... who knows what supporters of Volstead and his nanny-state followers there may be in here ... A bit of discretion, I beg of you!" Pearl blushes as she hastilly removes her arm from Karl's arm.

"I don't mean to be rude, but why are you here Mr. Werner? And what does the Miskatonic Trident have to do with our meeting here this morning? " Her eyes look to Dan for some sort of explanation.

"Sorry, I meant no offence Mr. Werner, Karl was it? Lord knows we could do with more help ... and we all seem to have a monster hangover today What did you say was wrong with Mr. Crigley again?"

Dan leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest with a sly smile as Pearl and Karl went on. He too casually glanced about to see if they were drawing unwanted attention before saying, "Well, if Mr. Crigley has fallen ill, then I guess a replacement is just as good. He didn't strike me as a gutsy fellow anyway. Probably would have been the first to go running out the front door."

Karl too blushes, though in his current state he's unsure of whether it's of embarrassment or intoxication, quickly deciding on both. "Do accept my apologies, er, Miss Wealstone, I do need to learn to restrain myself."

"Ah, well, as for The Miskatonic Trident, it is a small paper I run, I use it as an excuse to explore and fund my true calling as a paranormal investigator." He adjusts his tie, "I've seen the most incredibly unbelievable, all of it! Once, in a small town not far from here, there was a goat... at the top of a staircase! How did that goat get to the top of the staircase?!? It's a mystery. Creeps me out." He gazes off into nothing, shaking his head with confusion wreaking havoc with his brow.

"No apologies, please Miss Wealstone, there was none intended and none taken." He smiles. "Mr. Crigley too suffers heavily from the aftereffects of..." He looks around and whispers, "The sweet nectar of existence."

Karl turns his attention back to Dan, "Truth be told it would not be a first."

Calum opens the door cautiously, glancing around at the occupants. He smiles, walking up to a group of people sitting around a table. Hi there, how's it going? The names Calum.

OOC,mixed up characters. My investigator is actually named Calum ><

Dan looks up at Simon, then peers over to Pearl and asks, "Do I have some sort of sign on me saying 'Walk Right Up And Introduce Yourself'?" He chuckled and nodded to Simon, "Well... take a seat fella. Might as well. This here's Pearl, Karl... and I'm Dan. What can we do for you?"

Peearl has a slightly confused look on her face. "Hello there Si ... err I mean Callum." WHo were all these people who kept coming up to her and Dan's table and introducing themselves ... I mean to say ... I have not been in anyone's aquaintence here for even eighteen hours yet and now she is on speaking terms with Dan, Karl and now this stanger Callum. As the silence stretches out, Pear,l never at a loss for words, says;

"Well I know that Dan and I were both at the party last night, I cannot really remember seeing either of you there?" Pearl looks puzzled before adding "But then again, I seem to have been and caught a slight chill iff traipsing around last night."

Calum smiles. That's quite alright ma'am. He turns to Dan. Mike asked me to fill in for him. Mike Peterson? Something about a haunted house... not really my forte but Mike and I go way back. He had a little bit too much... He makes a drinking motion with his hand and winks. It's a pleasure to meet you all. He takes a seat.

Dan nodded and looked to Pearl and said with a wink, "Well, if any of those guys from last night had to show up today, I'm glad it was you." He looked back to the others and said, "We need to form two parties right now. Lots of work to do. Some of us have to go the court house and try to dig up the floor plans for this house as well as any history on it, and information about the neighbors. The others need to head to the store and buy some provisions. We'll all meet up at the library to search the archive newspapers to see if we can find any news articles about the house and its residents. So ... anyone any good at court house documentation?"

Dan looked uneasily as the others at the table were stuck in an awkward silence, looking toward each other questioningly. He spoke up, "I have better luck at getting good prices than hunting through some old archives. So I think I should go to the store. If anyone can think of anything we might need for our investigation, please speak up and I'll make a list." He looked around again asking, "Who wants to go with me to the store? Because the other two are going to the court house."

I am used to reading though paperwork fast - I'm an actress you know ... you may remember me in such movies as ... sorry wrong character.

Sorry I been absent for a few days, I have had router problems - but the ol' guy he's back!

Pearl beams at everyone and says;
"I am used to reading though paperwork fast - I'm an actress you know ... so I can go to the court house and see if I can find anything in their archives. Another source may be the local papers. Now I could try and find something in their back issues if you think that is worth looking at. What's the address of this place again ... Oh my head!" Pearls head sinks into her hands as she groans.

The big man at the table dug in his pockets and pulled out a piece of paper that he had scribbled a note on the night prior. "Narrow Lane 34," Dan commented to the others. "That's a good idea, Pearl. Perhaps with those smashing good looks of yours you can sway the journalists into helping you find something especially useful."

Calum watched the exchange with quiet bemusement. To be honest Dan I don't think there's anything there, and any money spent would be a waste. But that's just me...

"I've been to dozens of stake-outs... and let me tell you, you better be prepared to stick around for several days before we dismiss this as overactive imaginations. We got money up front for some equipment, might as well make ourselves comfortable," Dan responded.

Smiling at Pearl and patting her hand, Karl says: "Interestingly enough, I myself never suffer from hangovers, but I commiserate with you, dear lady. And with you my friend," nodding at Dan.

"Running my magazine, The Seer, I am quite proficient in researching and would be happy to assist Miss Pearl in that task. Also, I have a fair amount of equipment from my time out West as a young man, if you truly feel we will need to be 'camping out' to do our investigation of 34 Narrow Lane. I could provide a couple of cots and bedding, a fry pan and coffee boiler, some eating utensils and the like. Much better than wasting money on new things, I'm sure you'll agree. What other things do you think we require? I, of course, have my photographic gear in my auto."

Short and slim as he was, Calum looked for all the world like a be-spectacled mole in a battered seersucker suit, bowtie and fedora.

Positively bouncing with enthusiasm, Calum looked about at the others. "Well, I was more a fan of the bar than the library in my college days, but I'm happy to lend a hand researching."

But if two are already off to do that, why don't I help with provisioning."

That's how we would approach an archeological dig, first provision and check previous records, then start peeling it back."

Calum paused at this point and went from eager puppy to serious mole look, focusing on Karl.

"Is that a German accent, by the way?"

Karl smiles at Calum for a moment before replying. He has dealt with unreasoning prejudice caused by his accent -- however slight -- before.

"I was born in Austria, actually," he says slowly, "I'm afraid eleven years in America hasn't sufficed to erase all traces from my speech."

He tosses off the last of his coffee and smiles at his companions. "So, it's settled then? Pearl and Karl will look into dusty old records, while Dan and Calum obtain supplies. I am content to leave our provisioning to your expertise, fellows."

A waitress advances to your table, all of you notice the tight dress she is wearing and her swaying hips, the click clack of her high heels. Dark curly shoulder length hair jumping around every which way. She strikes you as desperately trying to pass off as pretty as the rest of her features aren't really all that attractive. She weaves her way around the tables with ease which shows that she's been working here for some time now.

Will there be anything else?

"The check please, dollface," Dan says to the attractive waitress as if it were second nature. "I think we're done here."

He looks to the others as he fishes out his wallet and says, "We'll meet up at the newspaper archives later."

Karl looks at the coins Dan leaves for a tip and adds another quarter. Then he rises and offers his arm to Pearl, "Shall we go, Miss Wealstone?"

Pearl links in with Karl and giggles.

"Why certainly Mr. Werner, I believe it is not too far." She leans in towards Karl a little and says quietly;

"Which with my head the way it's ponding may be a good thing!"

Calum looked rather doubtfully at Karl and Pearl. 'Grief,' he thought, 'Not just a potential Bosch but an "actress" as well, my ma warned me about women like her.'

Looking at the marginally more reassuring Dan, Calum thought provisioning thoughts.

"Can I suggest the sort of thing we might need if this were a Dig? Torches, a shovel or two, some rope, a pick-axe perhaps?" He suggested to Dan.

Dan nodded to Calum, "I plan on covering every aspect so yes, shovels and the like are a great idea. With Karl's provisions from home, as well as some of my own, we have almost everything we need... but I still want to make sure we are fully prepared with enough supplies to last us a week. If it stretches beyond that, we'll send someone out shopping... but I'm sure we'll have our conclusion by then."

Responding to Dan, Calum says: "I have to tell you that I don't believe in ghosts. That is not to say that there isn't something unexplained going on, but I am confidant that modern scientific principles will determine whatever it is."

OOC: Calum will suggest the following items be bought for the party, being an archeologist at heart:
2 shovels
1 pick-axe
1 good rope
4 torches
2 hunting knives
Notebooks, pens and rulers etc for making plans of the house
A good map of the city

andyw666 wrote:OOC: Calum will suggest the following items be bought for the party, being an archeologist at heart:
2 shovels
1 pick-axe
1 good rope
4 torches
2 hunting knives
Notebooks, pens and rulers etc for making plans of the house
A good map of the city

<ooc - I take it you mean what Americans refer to as flashlights? How about a lantern as well, carbide or kerosene.>

Karl Werner

At the door to the restaurant, Karl pauses and calls back to Dan and Calum, "Shall we meet back here at 1:00 for lunch?"