Peking-Hankow Express

[Tabs]

Mingzhu takes Posie by the hand; they exit the compartment. Through the glass Elisabeth and Caroline see Mingzhu bow down to Posie's level and point toward the front of the locomotive, "Shall we try this way?" are the imagined words.

ooc,If you have a copy of the picture I could host it on photobucket? Who is she? P.S. I've gone and ordered Eldritch Horror.

[DrPeterson]

Caroline watches Posie and Mingzhu leave and then turns to Elisabeth with a playful smile, leaning closer as she whispers conspiratorially:

"I didn't know I was -that- good at scaring away people. Are you still here because of your diplomatic training, Elisabeth?"

She lets the tension of her closeness and the whisper hang for a moment and then leans back in her seat with a big smile.

"I'm just playing with you, darling, take no offence."

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth grins. "None taken," she says. "They can't escape from you that easily, anyway. We're all on the same train."

OOC,I don't have a copy of the picture, and I couldn't find another, but I did find an alternative picture of her to use until the site comes back (I think the domain name expired). The actress is Vilma Banky. I ordered Eldritch Horror too last week, and I just got it last night! I haven't had time to play it yet (still reading the rules), but I got it just in time for a four-day weekend, so I expect to be playing it a lot. I recently got a bunch of new board games and haven't had a chance to play most of them, but of course this jumped right to the top of my playlist.

[DrPeterson]

"That doesn't really sound like an incentive to tone it down a little."

Caroline winks slyly at Elisabeth.

"For your sake, darling, I'll try not to rattle their cages too much."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Elisabeth with a slight laugh. "I wouldn't want you to stop being yourself, but I appreciate you slowing down a bit."

[DrPeterson]

"So tell me, Elisabeth, where did you meet this dashing husband of yours. He doesn't look like the type to hang around at embassy parties."

[Mr. Handy]

"I did meet Santiago at a party, as it happens," says Elisabeth, sticking as close to the truth as she can, "although it wasn't at an embassy. We just both happened to be invited to it."

[DrPeterson]

"That must have been quite the party!"
Caroline's wink implies she knows exactly what kind of party that must have been.
"How long have you been married, dear? "

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth chuckles. "Why, how old do you think I am?" she asks.

[Tabs]

A tap upon the compartment's door.



The red swastika is garish. "Would you ladies care to subscribe?" says the man in execrable English.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, thank you, I would," says Elisabeth, opening up her purse and checking to see how much money she has. She's always glad to contribute to charity. "How much is it?"

[DrPeterson]

You look very young, dear, but I can see in your eyes that you've already seen quite a few things. I'm not going to guess, even I am not that brash.

She winks with a smile and then the chinaman appears. Oh how she loved the garish sense of ornament of the East.

Caroline puts a hand on Elisabeth, stopping her for a moment.

"What are you collecting money for? A woman likes to know where she puts her money."

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh, the Swastika Society is the Buddhist equivalent of the Red Cross," says Elisabeth.

[DrPeterson]

"Of course, dear, but don't you want to know where your money is going? What regional projects they are funding with it?", Caroline replies and she then turns to the man.

Well, don't leave us hanging!

[Tabs]

[ooc: I reckon that, for the party at the Golden Pumpkin, Elisabeth took a total of $5 in her purse (I think a "Yuan" is the base coin)--so she'll have a number of those and a few silver dollars. Do you agree?]

"How much is it?"

"What are you collecting money for? A woman likes to know where she puts her money."

"The poor are grateful for our help," replies the Swastika Society man obsequiosly, "and we are thankful for all donations; please give whatever you can."--At least this is what you believe he says, what with his missing consonants and warbling tone.

[ooc: Do you wish to try and converse in Chinese, Elisabeth 31% and Caroline 39%?]

[DrPeterson]

Chinese,[dice]0[/dice]

Caroline thinks for a moment about further continuing the conversation in the man's language, but decides against it.

"Thank you"

She smiles and pulls some change from her pocket, handing it to the man.

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth chats amiably with the man in his native language and hands him one yuan. Good old Gresham and his Law, she thinks. The silver Mexican dollars have intrinsic value unlike the yuan, so spend the yuan first and save the Mex.

OOC,Yes, that sounds about right.

[Tabs]

He accepts the coins from Caroline and Elisabeth with a bow, placing them into a collection pot. When Elisabeth speaks Chinese his face lights up and he answers:

Elisabeth,"You cannot know what a pleasure it is to hear my own tongue on the beautiful lips of a Westerner. Have you far to travel, madam?" [color=#0000FF][ooc: Put spoken Chinese behind a spoiler.] [/color]

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth smiles and blushes.

Chinese,[color=violet]"Thank you, sir,"[/color] she says. [color=violet]"Yes, we'll be traveling far. First we're going to Chengchow, and then to the interior. We plan to visit Kumbum Monastery."[/color]

[Tabs]

Elisabeth,"We, too, are traveling to Chengchow--the Society has a base there." He adds: "No doubt you have reservations at[i] Zofitel International[/i]?"