Play@YSDC

RAF Biggin Hill - London, England
9:30 AM - Sunday, September 8, 1940

Elizabeth and John took the train out as close as they could get to Biggin Hill, the RAF base to the southeast of London, and walked the rest of the way. Even from the outside, they could tell that it was a busy hive of activity, especially after last night. There were armed RAF men guarding the gate.

Before they get too near to the gate to be overheard Elizabeth asks John quietly "So, what's the plan for getting me in here? And thanks for offering to bring me along again. I wouldn't normally have the chance to see inside an RAF base, and this tale of the airman and the murdered woman intrigues me." She looks around with interest, trying to take in as much of the location as she can.

John stops and smiles at Elizabeth, taking her hand.

"I promised your dad I'd not compromise your integrity, and I mean to uphold that promise, so don't worry, but if the guards give us any problems, we're going to have to pretend we're lovers."

He grins roguishly.

"I definitely won't have to act too hard."

He laughs playfully, let's go of her hand as he bows, and offers her his arm.

"Ok ...," says Elizabeth, grinning, and puts her arm in John's. "Let's give this a try!"

John smiles as Elizabeth takes his arm and guides her towards the entrance.

"Allons-y!"

There were some long buildings visible from outside the base, most likely hangars. They seemed to be strategically positioned so as to block the view of the base's interior from the outside, which would make sense as far as security was concerned. They obviously didn't want spies gathering information about the types and numbers of planes here, none of which were visible from this position.

The guards saluted as John and Elizabeth approached. "Morning, Captain," said one of them. "Wasn't expecting to see you back so soon. Who's the bird?"

OOC,[b]Elizabeth[/b] and [b]John[/b], please roll Credit Rating.

"Mornin', guys, how's the watch been so far?"

Credit Rating 40%,[dice]0[/dice]

John wasn't at his most winning when talking to base guards...


"This here's Lizzie, she's a local girl, her dad's lost his vehicle in the bombing last night, and I thought I'd show her around a bit to cool her nerve, if you know what I mean."

"Hello," says Elizabeth, smiling towards the guards.

Elizabeth rolls Credit Rating (stat 51%):
[dice]0[/dice]

"Hullo, luv," said the guard who had spoken earlier, smiling back. "We don't normally do this, but you don't look a Jerry spy to me." He opened the gate and stood aside to let them enter. "Things have been pretty quiet here. We weren't bombed last night, for a change. Looks like they threw everything they had at London."

"Thank you," says Elizabeth, smiling again. "We were lucky just to lose our truck in the bombing. Others were much less lucky."

"You're welcome, Miss," said the guard. "Yes, from what I've heard, it was really bad. Our boys were up there doing their best to stop the Jerries, or it would have been worse. If they try it again, we'll be ready."

John agrees
"They had dropped their payload before we could even intercept. We made sure they didn't all get back to the sausage factory, though."

He smiles and salutes again.

"Now if you fellows would excuse us, I promised Lizzie a drink and a dance."

Elizabeth grins, and squeezes John's arm.

The guards waved as Elizabeth and John entered the base. As they progressed, more buildings and the runways came into view. Now they could see a few planes, but only a few. The nearest one, a Spitfire with familiar roundels painted on the wings, was being refueled and rearmed by a ground crew.

"Gosh!" says Elizabeth, looking over towards the Spitfire, and wowed despite her best efforts to stay calm. "So where should we go to find this airman?" she asks John, turning towards him. "Though I must say a drink and a dance sounds appealing too!" She laughs as they walk along, and looks around, trying to soak up as much as she can see as possible.

John is obviously charmed by Elizabeth's reaction to the Spitfire.

"That's why were going to win this war, Lizzie, those wonderful machines and the men that fly them."

He looks at his watch and then looks around base.

"I think we'd best go and have a drink first, and then go see our man."

John leads Elizabeth to the bar.

John saw that it was almost 9:40. He led Elizabeth to the officers' club. The bar wasn't crowded at this hour, but there were still a few airmen lounging around. The bartender was the same skinny, stubbly corporal who had been there earlier this morning. He saluted John. "Welcome back, Group Captain," he said. "What can I get you?"

"Something fine and exquisite for the lady and myself, Corporal."

John crossed a smile between the corporal and Elizabeth.

"Has Major Steadman been in yet?"

The corporal smiled back. "Two scotch on the rocks, coming up," he said, taking out a bottle from behind the bar and pouring it into a pair of glasses containing ice cubes. "No, Major Steadman hasn't been in yet. He's not usually one for drinking in the morning, at least not these days now that he's grounded. When you fly at night, though, you have to drink when you can."

"I got grounded forcibly last night. Damn Jerries got the drop on me while I was taking out a bomber. If it hadn't been for Jones, I'd be pushing up daisies."

John offers Elizabeth one of the glasses and raises his.

"To friends in need and to rare moments of respite!"