Play@YSDC

London, December 9th, 7pm
The Army and Navy Club in Pall Mall is exclusively for the use of serving and former officers of the armed forces. It has a library, a reading room, a bar, a dining room, and a billiards/game room which is popular for card games. Of course, there are innumerable sporting and battlefield trophies donated by members scattered around. There is an annual membership fee, and it is a good place to catch up on gossip regarding the progress of Britain’s colonial endeavors, to reminisce about old campaigns and glories, and to seek contacts and opportunities for use in civilian life.

After having the afternoon on their return from Kent to pursue their own interests, the companions meet at the appointed time of seven pm. The non-members are directed to a waiting room until they can be escorted by a member.

Paice arrives and rubs his hands in anticipation. “Right then. Let’s see if we can find Colonel Hollingsworth or Major Gower. We might see some other old friends too.”

He looks at Helena apologetically. Although not an officer, Reg won’t stand out although he might have to endure some snobbery. Helena, however…

“I’m very sorry about the rules. We’ll try not to keep you too long.”

Helena,You can wait around or you can act on your own initiative. You never know, you might turn up something.

Harry arrives by Hansom cab, resplendent in formal evening wear, top hat, cape and his ever present cane. He waves genially to a few friends and acquaintances as he ambles over to join the others.

"Dinner, drinks, cards. What say you all?"

"That sounds good to me," says Reg, who is wearing his best suit, a dark gray one.

Dr. Francis Preston

"Fine. Paice, we're relying on you or Norton to point out the right chaps to us, since I don't believe any of us have met them before."

Harry leans closer to Reg and has a quiet conversation. "Sar'nt, you're kept me out of the high grass many times in the field. Perhaps this evening you'll allow me to return the favour? May I suggest you let me do the ordering at dinner, I have established the best meals and wines available through prior reconnaissance."

"Quite right, Captain," says Reg with a smile. "I trust your palate."

The club is quite busy as it is a Saturday night. The companions might well recognize someone from their own army days. They get drinks and something to eat, with Harry ordering some fine wines.

All the while, Paice is looking around for his former commanders. He asks several acquaintances if they have seen Colonel Hollingsworth, but the answer is always negative – “Haven’t seen him in a while”.

Francis,Roll Luck at half - so you need to beat 38.

Meanwhile, Helena is enduring the curious glances of assorted interested cads and bounders as she lounges in the waiting room. Frustrated, she steps outside for some fresh, if cold, air.

Helena,Roll Spot Hidden

Dr. Francis Preston
Preston fears luck may not be with them. "When was the Colonel last seen?" he asks. "We can only hope something awful has not befallen him also."

"Has Major Gower arrived?" asks Reg. "He may know where the colonel is."

Spot Hidden 45%,[dice]0[/dice]

Frustrated, Helena missed something as she blindly wandered around outside. The day wasn't going very well for her. Nothing really seemed to work.

OOC:   Sorry about the irregular posting. I have no clue as to what to do next.

OOC:   Don't worry, things have a way of resolving themselves.

Paice has made some other inquiries, but unfortunately Major Gower too has chosen not to make an appearance tonight. Norton is also nowhere to be seen.

Their meal and card game finished, the men join an extremely bored Helena back at the entrance to the club.

“Well, I’m sorry you weren’t able to meet anybody” sighs Paice. “It’s very grand of you all to take such an interest in these unfortunate events, but honestly, I don’t think you should concern yourselves unduly. I hope the Dover police will turn something up regarding Crouch. I had an enjoyable evening though, I hope I’ll have the opportunity to see you again.”

He shakes hands and shares a warm farewell with James, before boarding a cab to take him back to the flat above his bookshop.

OOC:   Oh dear. It wasn't such a productive evening. You can have a chat among yourselves if you like but I'll assume you'll return home. I'll start a new thread for the morning.

"How's the Talk?" Helena said, feeling slightly frustrated.

Harry feels enlivened by French Bordeaux and Scottish scotch.

"Perhaps we should beat the bushes a bit, flush these gentlemen out?"

He approaches the club reception. "I say, my good man, I rather urgently need to get in touch with either Colonel Hollingsworth or Major Gower. Would you be able to tell me if either gentleman is regularly checking his messages here at the club?"

The man consults a ledger.

"We'll, we haven't seen the Colonel for a while, but the Major is a regular visitor. You're welcome to leave messages for them, sir".

Dr. Francis Preston

"Didn't Norton say he was working here tonight?" Preston wonders.

“Norton?” The man frowns. “You mean Toby Norton? Yes, he’s working, but he generally works down in the kitchens. He’s not serving staff, he’s more of a uh… dogsbody.”

Harry borrows pen and paper and writes each of the colonel and major a short message - please contact Capt Addison care of the Army & Navy Club, at your earliest convenience.

"I don't suppose Mr. Norton would be able to talk with us at the moment?" Helena asked.

"I do hope they're all right," says Reg. "It is rather odd for them all to be gone at this time."

"Indeed. It's curious why they are all gone at the moment." Helena said, agreeing with Reg.

Harry wrinkles his nose slightly on hearing the term 'dogsbody'. He turns back to the club staff at Reception and enquires, "I say, are there any other chaps here tonight from The Buffs?"

“Yes, I’m afraid we do need to enquire after a few things. Could you please allow us to talk with Mr. Norton?” Helena asked.

Fast talk 70%,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC,You don't have to roll, it's a straightforward request. Just give me a chance to reply.

"I'll see that your note gets passed on, Captain" promises the attendant. He then sends a servant to fetch Toby Norton, who appears after about five minutes.

"I'm afraid Norton is the only Buff you'll find here tonight sir" says the attendant apologetically.

Norton seems nonplussed to see the companions. "Hello again" he says. "Isn't Lieutenant Paice with you?"

Dr. Francis Preston

"He already departed. We were just a little concerned that no one has seen your Colonel in quite a while, given the unfortunate happenings which have already occurred. Perhaps you have his home address? We could call and make certain all is well."

"You want to visit the Colonel? Norton looks surprised. "I hear he doesn't like visitors. But he lives in Hampstead. I don't know the exact address, but it's called Kandahar House. I heard it's pretty big, so it shouldn't be too hard to find."

"Have you ever known the Colonel to have lengthy public absences before?" asks Reg.

"No" replies Norton. "But then he doesn't usually inform me about his plans. I was just a private in his battalion, after all."

Dr. Francis Preston

Preston checks his pocket watch to see if there's time to take a carriage through Hampstead tonight or if it will have to wait until the morrow.

"Perhaps we could just take a carriage to visit the good sir." Helena suggested.

Dr. Francis Preston

"It's a little late to go calling but it may put our minds at rest."

Harry shakes his head in a definitive no. Time to be the voice of reason or at least social acceptability.

"No, no, no. Let us not get ahead of ourselves. We cannot show up, unannounced, at the house of someone we have never met, and a colonel no less, at this unsociable hour. All based on the murder of a former sergeant and supposition. We are getting far ahead of ourselves. It could cause a minor scandal and make us look fools."

"I suggest we meet tomorrow morning at a coffee house and make plans, as though we were still on campaign. Some preparations may be in order, we might perhaps look for any published writings on whatever the Buffs experienced in Africa. Then either we come back here for another foray, or hope my messages are received, and only then consider attending the colonel's home."

Harry is all for unusual entertainment for an evening but has no intention of risking his reputation (such as it is) "knocking up" the colonel at this hour.

"Right you are, Captain," says Reg. "If, God forbid, something has happened to him, it's already too late. We may as well wait until tomorrow."

Helena sighed, "Very well, let's wait 'till tomorrow, then."

Harry collects his top hat and cape. "Well, shall we say Lockhart's Coffee House, 10 am? Miss Jerkins, do you wish an escort home?"

"No need. I'm quite certain that I can get home safely by myself." Helena smiled, attempting to decline the offer with grace.

"Lockhart's at ten it is," says Reg. "Good evening, all."

"Evening." Helena waved.

Harry dons cape, gloves and hat. "Till ten then." He raises his hat to his friends then departs by Hansom.