IC Day One, 1 January 1857

[Lammomedes]

Arthur Dodgson

Dodgson lays an avuncular hand on Granville's shoulder. "Now now, lad, that won't answer," he says in a soothing tone, "They'll never understand what's wrong in it. Can't see the correspondence, don't ye know. You go in and get your shirts and I'll stay out here and see to it no harm comes t'th'young lady. Off ye go. There's a good gentleman"

Arthurt steps up on the porch and sits down in a rattan chair. "Priya," he says once Michaels is safely inside, "Come sit here by me an we'll take a little snooze in th' heat o' th'day."

Both Dodgson and Granville are quite sure, from the context at least, what the slang term vashya means. Especially considering the young woman, Priya, starts to blush.

OOC,I'll allow the scene to continue if either wants to make an example out of the gentleman

If nothing happens, Priya watches Arthur fall asleep in the rattan chair. She comes and sits on a small stool next to him, resting her eyes and staying close to the Englishman.

[ghill]

largely finished with his business for the day, Strachan walks up the steps of his hotel and subtly drops some loose change into the doorman Rajet's hand. Mr Kunwar Singh was most helpful Rajet, thankyou. Then in a quieter tone of voice. Tell me Rajet, is there anywhere near here where a man with a few hours to kill might find himself a game of cards with likeminded men?

[Gaffer]

Arthur Dodgson

"Pay him no heed, lad, empty barrels make the most noise, right?" He fixes the man with a glare and an evil grin, "On yer way, you tub o' guts. Else we can see which of us might be th' better man in a dust up."

[Seon]

Lovell smiled, tipped his hat at the cobra charmer, and dropped a few coins into the wicker basket.

It seemed like that was what he was supposed to do. Lovell let out a whistle or two as he twirled his cane around a couple of times. He walked away from the snake charmer as fast as he possibly could, meanwhile.

"I'm lost, aren't I?" he said, after a while, with an amused look on his face. This was turning out to be more interesting a day then he had hoped. Trying to find his way back into the hotel would be a challenge. He entered the first shop that he saw.

"Excuse me, but..." he found himself staring into the faces of Dodgson, Granville, and Ms. Kaye.

"I am not interrupting anything, I hope," he said.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,[b]Julia[/b] is not with the others currently.

Julia waits in the front of the shop, sitting down to drink her tea and looking out the window at the passersby, both to see if her escorts are returning and simply to watch people. If the sweets are still available for customers and guests, she gladly tries some. It is about lunchtime anyhow, and she is eager to sample more of the local cuisine.

[Philulhu]

Arthur Dodgson

"Pay him no heed, lad, empty barrels make the most noise, right?" He fixes the man with a glare and an evil grin, "On yer way, you tub o' guts. Else we can see which of us might be th' better man in a dust up."

"I don't know who you are, sir," said Granville to the Englishman, "But your manners seem to have deserted you. Would you behave this way in England? I should think not." He turned his back on the man, effectively dismissing him.

OOC,Lovell seems to have arrived at a different point in time. Granville and Dodgson are now in a different shop to Miss Kaye.

[markh]

Thomas strode down towards the scene, intruigued. Walking up to Lovell, he watched the snakes "dance" for a few moments, then started to dig in his pockets for a small coin.
"A strange spot to choose, eh?" he opined in Lovell's direction. "He'll not gather much dhan in such a deserted spot". Thomas used the Hindu word for money, confident that any man with such a deep complexion must have been in country for some time.

The European gentleman strode away, oblivious. Thomas wondered if perhaps he was a Frenchman, and therefore hadn't understood him. He tipped a coin at the charmer from a safe distance - although he knew most of these snakes had their fangs drawn, he wasn't taking any chances - calling out "Namaste". He continued on towards Harcourts, eager to complete his errand before the heat of the day had truly set in.

[Lammomedes]

Arthur Dodgson

"Pay him no heed, lad, empty barrels make the most noise, right?" He fixes the man with a glare and an evil grin, "On yer way, you tub o' guts. Else we can see which of us might be th' better man in a dust up."

"I say sir, there is no call for such a use of language for a fellow Englishman. And if you have a reason to be difficult, there are ways this can be settled, like gentlemen."

While you both know that dueling is both passe and illegal, Lord Cardigan fought a very public duel (and was acquitted of murder) as recently as 1841. Though Her Majesty has decreed such conduct unseemly in the eyes of high society and the army cracks down harshly on those who fight duels, it still does occur from time to time. But could the man really be challenge you both to a duel?

OOC,Both of you make psychology rolls to determine if he is a windbag or not.

[Lammomedes]

Lovell smiled, tipped his hat at the cobra charmer, and dropped a few coins into the wicker basket.

It seemed like that was what he was supposed to do. Lovell let out a whistle or two as he twirled his cane around a couple of times. He walked away from the snake charmer as fast as he possibly could, meanwhile.

"I'm lost, aren't I?" he said, after a while, with an amused look on his face. This was turning out to be more interesting a day then he had hoped. Trying to find his way back into the hotel would be a challenge. He entered the first shop that he saw.

"Excuse me, but..." he found himself staring into the faces of Dodgson, Granville, and Ms. Kaye.

"I am not interrupting anything, I hope," he said.

The snake charmer simply moves his flute in a circle, and then nods when the coins hit the basket lid. Lovell, however, seems to have been in a daze as he walks absently minded past the other Englishman who was standing next to him. He will, eventually, find those he is looking for.

OOC,You can go back and see that [b]Wakeham[/b] was standing next to you at the snake charmer. If you want, you can redo this scene.

[Lammomedes]

Arthur Dodgson

"Pay him no heed, lad, empty barrels make the most noise, right?" He fixes the man with a glare and an evil grin, "On yer way, you tub o' guts. Else we can see which of us might be th' better man in a dust up."

"I don't know who you are, sir," said Granville to the Englishman, "But your manners seem to have deserted you. Would you behave this way in England? I should think not." He turned his back on the man, effectively dismissing him.

OOC,Lovell seems to have arrived at a different point in time. Granville and Dodgson are now in a different shop to Miss Kaye.

The man looks at Granville. "You lad, you are no better than your companion. You must be one of those recently arrived griffons, fresh out of East India College or Addiscombe to be so uppity. And do not turn your back on me. I am not common street trash or guttersnipe."

OOC GM,Noted. I'll try to get him back on the same page as someone.

[Lammomedes]

The European gentleman strode away, oblivious. Thomas wondered if perhaps he was a Frenchman, and therefore hadn't understood him. He tipped a coin at the charmer from a safe distance - although he knew most of these snakes had their fangs drawn, he wasn't taking any chances - calling out "Namaste". He continued on towards Harcourts, eager to complete his errand before the heat of the day had truly set in.

The snake charmer circles his flute and nods his head at the additional coins in the lid. Before Wakeman gets too far down the alley, he hears the snake charmer change his tune. It is a much more haunting and seductive melody. If he glances back, the shadows on the wall show three human sized shadows, where there should only be the one.

Could the sun be beating down that hard?

[Seon]

Spoiler:

Yeah, I miss a lot of things

Lovell woke from his stupor. "Huh what? What am I doing here?" he mumbled. He found that he was back at the snake charmer.

[markh]

Lovell woke from his stupor. "Huh what? What am I doing here?" he mumbled. He found that he was back at the snake charmer.

"Almost mesmeric, isn't it?" smiles Thomas. "This Sapera is very skilled. I was saying it was an oddly quiet spot for him to choose. I wonder if he is a new arrival." Turning to the charmer he says "Aap kahaan sey hain? Where are you from?"

[Seon]

"Well, I suppose that large din of a crowd may distract him from keeping the...eerr...deadly snakes...docile," Lovell muttered.

[markh]

"Well, I suppose that large din of a crowd may distract him from keeping the...eerr...deadly snakes...docile," Lovell muttered.

"Ha, yes, I suppose so." Thomas agrees. "Ah, Thomas Wakeham" he says, sticking out a hand.

[Seon]

"Hermann Lovell," Lovell said, accepting the hand. "I do wonder how he is able to control the snakes though. Fascinating creatures, snakes are."

[markh]

"Hermann Lovell," Lovell said, accepting the hand. "I do wonder how he is able to control the snakes though. Fascinating creatures, snakes are."

"Don't care for them much, myself. Out on patrol, it's a bit worrying to wake up to find one has bedded down next to you." Thomas looks over at the charmer, then back to Lovell. "You've been in the country for some time, I collect?"

[Seon]

"Does that happen often?" Lovell mused, his eyes fixed on the charmer's pipe. "Oh yes, I've been in the country for...quite a long while, actually. Made some money working for the Company."

[Gaffer]

Arthur Dodgson,rolled 29 using 1d100. Psychology 05.

"On yer way, you toffy-nosed blowhard," Dodger growls standing up and shoving his chair away, "You'd never meet me over swords or pistols, but I'll pull yer nose for you if you don't take yourself off at the quickstep!"

[markh]

"Does that happen often?" Lovell mused, his eyes fixed on the charmer's pipe. "Oh yes, I've been in the country for...quite a long while, actually. Made some money working for the Company."

"Only a couple of times, to be truthful, and they were only pythons, but it's enough to give a man pause." Thomas motions towards the swaying cobras. "Luckily, the frontiers of Oudh tend more towards bandits and dacoits than these poisonous naga." He pauses, following the movements of the snakes with unease. "I've served here for a while myself, but I've yet to see a pagoda tree, let alone shake one."

Thomas makes to throw a coin to the man. "Well, I have to get to Harcourts, and get my dress blues put in order before the ball this evening."