Play@YSDC

"We may have to do some legwork if we can't find anything in the records. We know something happened 15 years ago so maybe some of the locals will remember. We could go somewhere nearby and ask around. Or else we could stay late here for another hour of research, see if we can dig something out. Otherwise we don't have a whole lot of information to trade with the others. What do you think?"

"Sure. Let's go to a bar or something and try to see if here's anyone there who remembers what happened 15 years ago. The library doesn't seemed to offer any fruitful leads so far." Tobias said, "Besides, I'm in the mood for a drink. Any speakeasies nearby? I'm sure strong alcohol helps."

Being during the middle of prohibition, bars aren't to be found.

Bret,you have been to a small place a couple times that sells alcohol. Its a dump and sometimes their choice of alcohol is extremely limited. But its the only place in town you know of.

"Well, professor, as you know liquor is pretty hard to get a hold of these days but there is a place I know of where a few of us reporters go for tip-offs from time to time. It's not exactly Buckingham Palace but it's probably more fun than talking to a farmer in the middle of a swamp."

"Well, I imagine many things are more fun and worthwhile than talking to a man who lives in a swamp." Tobias said sardonically.

Bret gets his coat.

Tobias packs up his stuff and leaves with Bret Parker.

The 2 of you drive to a small farm on the outside of town. Several cars are parked outside a barn. Bret leads you into the barn and behind some bales of hay. A trap door in the floor, leads to a lighted basement with music playing, and several people drinking behind a bar and a couple tables. The floor is dirt, and dust floats in the air.

As you come down the stairs everyone turns to look at you, then goes back to their drinks.

"Okay, professor, make yourself at home," Bret mutters to Tobias as he heads over to the bar while glancing around at the customers for a likely mark -- someone old and local enough to remember what happened in the Hockomock 15 years ago.

As you look around most everyone here fits that description.

"All right. I'll go buy a few bottles of beer, and go talk with the bartender. Mr. Parker, there's a few suspicious characters over there, you wanna talk to 'me?" Tobias said analytically, as he made his way towards the guy with hollering about alcoholic beverages. On the way, he checked his wallet and made sure he have enough money to buy a drink or two.

Bentherat,so what does the bartender look like. Do I need to roll fast-talk as I try to weasel out a few bottles for cheaper than it should've been whilst prying information from him?

OOC:   Yea do a fast talk roll.

No one here is drinking beer. They are all drinking something out of dirty glasses that the bartender is pouring from some large brown bottles. From what you can see the liquor is clear to possibly a cloudy yellow. A hand written paper nailed to the wall says 25 cents a drink.

Tobias casually walked towards the bartender, and handed him a $1 coin. The bartender stared down at him, and then handed him two dirty bottles. Tobias gingerly cleaned the bottles with the cuff of his shirt as the drinks was slowly filled up."Greetings, kind man. Would you mind telling me who got the loosest lips 'round 'ere? There's more where that came from." He whispered to the old man, wearing a charismatic smile.

Fast Talk 65%,[dice]0[/dice]

The bartender laughs, "Do these men look like they are here for talking?" The 2 glasses clink on the bar. As he pours the grain alcohol, your nose burns from the smell. You notice the $1 coin has disappeared, you just aren't sure when, and no change was offered.
"What story has you snooping around here?"

Tobias laughed dryly without humor. Clearly, he needs to work on his people skills. "You wouldn't happen to know a thing or two 'bout The Hound, do you? Me an' ma pal over there Mr. Parker are looking to get a scoop about the infamous case." For some reason, his Australian country accent started to slip through as he continued talking. He cursed inwardly; he thought he worked the foreign accent out of his system already. Apparently, he was wrong.

For a few moments Bret observes Tobias' efforts to get himself mugged, then heads over to a vacant seat at a table. "Evening all. Do any of you guys remember hearing about some weird stuff happening in the Hockomock 15 years ago? Me and my big-spending friend over there are interested in local history."

After a while of fruitless chatter with the bartender, Tobias finally gave up on the notion that he could weasel anything out of the damned asshole, and ended up paying double for the two cups of bad alcohol that was so awful it was as if someone had distilled it from a repugnant mixture of rotten fish, lumpy milk, and barley. He decided to leave the drinks for later and headed towards Bret Parker with alcohol.

This time, however, he wisely chose to let Mr. Parker do talking instead, and handed him the other cup of moonshine.