Play@YSDC

Surprised and more than a bit nervous, though he'd never admit it to the rest of the group, Seamus hustles to the nearest window to see what he can see.

Seamus went to an eastward-facing window and moved the blackout curtain aside slightly so that he could peer outside. There weren't any lights on in the room, so hopefully nothing would attract the attention of the bombers to this building. A direct hit would kill them all, shelter or no shelter.

And bombers there were. High in the sky, dull gray shapes flying in formation made their way inexorably closer from the east. He noticed that there were no RAF planes visible trying to stop them. Where could they be?

A dull whump in the distance reminded him that the air raid was in fact still occurring.

Seamus' eyes widen and he bolts from the window, back to the basement. He slams the door behind him and braces himself against it, breathing hard. He remembers himself and turns to the group again. He pulls his suit downward to straighten out the creases. "Yeah, raid's still on." He walks calmly back to his lonely pew and lies beneath it as casual as he can muster.

"Thanks young man, that was very brave. Now at least we know it's not yet safe to go out...", says Benjamin.

"I guess the only thing we can do now is wait...", he pauses a bit, "and pray..."

Unaccustomed to being called such, Seamus, for the first time in his life, is at a loss for words.

But not for long.

"All is not well, I fear. None of our tin cans are in the sky. For a raid this long, that's highly unusual."

Archie looks briefly skyward (a bit further than the Luftwaffe) for inspiration or at least patience. He gathers up and starts shuffling Benjamin's esoteric cards again.

"Well, no one was hurt and that's the important thing. Shall we play another hand?"

"But, shouldn't we stay under our pews? Our Irish friend here just told us the raid is still on..." Benjamin is looking a bit worried and pale around the nose.

When Seamus comes back, Mrs Cruckshank puts down her needles and examinines her handiwork, "Well Mrs Duncan, I think that's all I can do now; the light is getting too dim for my poor old eyes. A nice bit of pink ribbon will finish them off nicely." She carefully folds away the volumious drawers and puts them in her bag.
"This air raid is beginning to be a bit tiresome. Does anyone have the time on them? I was supposed to be at the meeting ofThe Band of Hope in Bethnal Green soon but I'm sure I'll miss it at this rate." Mrs Cruckshank looks slightly hopeful.

Maggie put away her own knitting as well. "I don't expect the Band of Hope will be there either, Mrs. Cruckshank," she said.

The well-dressed gentleman with the newspaper checked his watch. "It's ten to nine, ma'am," he told Phyllis.

OOC,Everyone, please roll Listen.

Mrs Cruckshank's ears aren't as sharp as her tongue anymore.

listen,(25%) roll: 73

All of the occupants of the air raid shelter could now hear the planes overhead, as well as some distant explosions that sounded as though they were getting closer. However, those noises kept most of them from hearing anything else.

Benjamin Klein,[b]Benjamin[/b]'s hearing was sharp as ever. Even over the noise of the raid, he could hear the church doors opening upstairs and clearly made out four sets of footsteps moving quickly inside.

Benjamin's eyes grew wide. "Did you hear that? There are people upstairs!"

Archie is instantly alert. "More souls seeking an inn for the night."

Quick as a flash, he's out the door and up the stairs. "I say, the bomb shelter is down this way! Do mind the stairs!"

Seamus hestitates in shock. "What in the blazes are ya doin', boyo?! All the grief in the world for a curious Irishman, but ya run headlong into the furnace for any old schmo. Who knows who they could be."

Benjamin looks in disbelief at Seamus as Archie dashes up the stairs. "Absolutely, Archie, do be careful! The raid is still on and we don't know if these people are friend or foe!"

Archie calls back down the stairs, "This is a bomb shelter, after all, we actually want Londoners to find their way in, not but stuck upstairs. By all means keep the door shut till I return though." Directing his attention back to the ground level where he now is, Archie calls out loudly, "I say, there's a bomb shelter here if you need it, here in the church basement!"

Seamus, knowing the seedier sides of London, goes back to the door. "Your sense of honor, while annoying, is honorable. But these folks could be looters. You're putting everyone down here in danger!