Chapter 1: The Blue Heaven Ballroom

[HoneyDog]

Boston, August 24th, 8 pm

The entrance to the famous Blue Heaven Ballroom is a non-descript, unmarked blue door in the centre of the city. It stands out though due to being flanked by a large pair of smartly-dressed and serious looking doormen, sweating in their evening suits in the warm summer night’s air.

Inside, a night of good jazz, dancing, fine food, and of course fine booze, beckons.

[Mr. Handy]

Alice is wearing her little black dress tonight. Even at this hour, it is the height of summer and isn't too cold for her, though she also has a lightweight coat that will go right into the cloakroom once they enter. She smiles when she sees her friends gathering outside and goes to greet them.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Splendid to see you all! Here's to a relaxed evening with no ghosts or aliens! And you'll finally get to meet Verena - she's due to perform tonight."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

Henry turns to Isadora:

"How is George? I heard he had a nasty cold?"

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

Finally a place where Isadora's dress doesn't cause an outrage!! On the contrary: her exquisite turquoise robe with the trademark spiderweb-like silver ornaments are met with approval.

When Henry mentions "cold", however, she shivers... The unnatural freeze of the Mountain is still a vivid memory.

"George is getting better, thank you for your concern! But he decided to stay at home... Besides, he is not a devotee of this type of music. Makes his head hirt."

"As for me - this scene reminds me of my years spent in Paris. Satie was played in every café, and jazz music reminds me of him a lot."

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh," says Alice when Henry mentions Verena. So it is true, she thinks. "I'm glad to see you too."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Let's go in and find a good table" says Henry, ushering the others towards the door.

[Mr. Handy]

Alice nods and turns towards the door. "Is Dr. Balzac coming?" she asks.

[andyw666]

At that moment, a taxi pulls up and out bundles Balzac in trademark bowler and green suit, deftly passing a few bills back to the cabbie as an afterthought. He raises the bowler to his friends, "Bonsoir, mes amis!"

With Gallic gallantry, he shakes male hand and delicately kisses female hands. "I trust we are in the mood for some fine jazz, food and liquid refreshment. There are some excellent bands who play here regularly. Ah, if only I had the time to properly develop my trumpet, but there are not enough hours in the day."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"This is the best place. McCluskys was better but they got raided last week."

[Zeppo]

"Balzac! That is you, isn't it, you old swine!" a booming voice imposes itself over the group's conversation and an equally imposing figure of a man pushes his way into the centre of the group and places an arm around Balzac's shoulders.

"How is civilian life treating you? I see you're dress sense hasn't improved any since the war."

The stranger extends a large hand to each of the others in turn. "The name's Ron, pleasure to meet you." The smell of whiskey on the man's breath suggests his night may have started some time ago.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Henry Glynn. Say why don't you join us Ron? We were just about to go inside."

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm Alice Stanton," says Alice, shaking Ron's offered hand. "Pleased to meet you too."

[andyw666]

Balzac's eyes widen with surprise and a slight degree of alarm. "M. Ron Smith, it has been a while, mon ami."

He turns to the others. "M. Smith was quite the dashing man of action, during the war. And when he wasn't winning glory, he was in the brig for illegal boxing, as I recall." Balzac says this with a half-smile.

"So Ron, how does the Canadian Merchant Service suit an Englishman? Have you learnt to say 'eh?'"

[Zeppo]

"I seem to remember you making some money off my boxing more than once," Ron grins. "And the canadians suit me very well thank you. They can drink better than most of the English. And they've very agreeable ways of keeping themselves entertained during cold nights. Speaking of entertainment, shall we be going in?" The big man gestures towards the door of the ballroom.

[HoneyDog]

The doormen step aside to allow the companions entry, although they regard Ron with a critical eye. Luckily he is wearing a tie and is in fairly presentable shape, which is compensated for by the appearance of his new friends. Isadora, as usual, raises an eyebrow.

Inside, the heroes encounter a blue-carpeted staircase which leads up to the ballroom. The sound of jazz can now be heard, along with the buzz of excited talking. The check-room faces the stairs and here the investigators drop their coats. To their left is another door which Balzac informs everyone leads to a gentlemans club and another set of stairs for a casino, which unfortunately perhaps they won't be visiting. They climb the stairs and to their right is the ballroom proper. Here they are greeted by a member of staff, who confirms Balzac's reservation.

The man eyes them quizzically.

"Dr. Balzac, we were expecting just the four of you" he says politely.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Picked up a stray." whispers Henry to Alice.

[Zeppo]

Ron gives a wide, disarming smile to the club's employee.

"Yes, we had a late addition to the party," he says. "But it would be a shame to turn her away, wouldn't it?" He nods towards Alice.

[Mr. Handy]

Alice's jaw drops, but she says nothing yet, not wanting to contradict him. Balzac may have told them who to expect anyway, and even if the man believes Ron, she supposes that she's pretty enough that she'll be permitted to stay.

[andyw666]

Balzac smiles at the staff member, adopting his most friendly, if perhaps bumbling manner. "Monsieur, I do apologise, some days you meet up with old friends out of ze blue. I would be happy to compensate the club for the inconvenience." He discreetly hands the waiter a $5. "We will, of course, have to put a dent in the club's finest champagne and whisky too."