Chapter 3: Asenath

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Let's see how this develops before we play our hand."

[Mr. Handy]

"All right," says Alice, keeping an eye on the proceedings.

[evil_scientist]

”Oh!” exclaims Simon. ”What a pleasant surprise! Perhaps I could persuade you to speak to our circle sometime. What brings you to forsaken Arkham, anyway?”

"On the one hand, it's a social visit - meeting up with a couple of friends and a patron of my art. And I wanted to visit the Orne Library, because they hold several manuscripts of Henry Steel Olcott. However, I was told that a death of a student occurred there, and I wasn't able to gain access to the collections. Have you heard about this death? A young man, they say."

[andyw666]

Luck,Luck out 65% and Balzac rolls... [dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Right...

[HoneyDog]

“Of course!” says Simon, his countenance changing. “I’m trying not to think about it. Poor Frank. But we couldn’t sit around at home, moping. He would have wanted us to enjoy ourselves. Frank was very much about living life.”

Simon looks genuinely upset.

Meanwhile, despite his valiant efforts, Balzac cannot entice anyone to talk to him. Perhaps he has drunk too much wine?

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

“Of course!” says Simon, his countenance changing. “I’m trying not to think about it. Poor Frank. But we couldn’t sit around at home, moping. He would have wanted us to enjoy ourselves. Frank was very much about living life.”

Simon looks genuinely upset.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that he was a friend of yours. But I agree: there are many forms of grieving, and it is best to remember what you liked about him, your happier times together. I just hope that we are not intruding on this wake."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Isadora seems to be getting on well with that fellow. Hopefully she will get something useful out of him. I'm not sure Balzac has been so successful - those ladies just turned their backs on him!"

[HoneyDog]

“I think we’re in shock, to be honest” says Simon. “It’s… well, it’s more bizarre than anything, to be honest. I mean, the attack on that girl, Vittoria Nangelo. Why on earth would Frank do something like that? He really didn’t seem the type.” He shakes his head emphatically.

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

"Does Vittoria belong to your circle as well?"

[Starspawn338]

“I think we’re in shock, to be honest” says Simon. “It’s… well, it’s more bizarre than anything, to be honest. I mean, the attack on that girl, Vittoria Nangelo. Why on earth would Frank do something like that? He really didn’t seem the type.” He shakes his head emphatically.

"Wait, Frank attacked Vittoria? Harrison looks shocked. "Are you sure? Were they down here yesterday?"

[HoneyDog]

Simon looks bemused.

“Well, that was one story doing the rounds. I also heard that it was that meathead Biff Williams, and he killed Frank. And I heard it was the devil, who Frank had conjured up in some dark magic. So who knows what to believe. I don’t.”

Simon looks around at the occupants of the café.

“Frank wasn’t here last night. Just some of the regular crowd. And of course Vittoria wasn’t here. Have you ever seen her here Harrison? From what I’ve heard, she’s not the type to be hanging around people with unusual views. A regular church-goer, that one.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Poor Dr. Balzac," says Alice. "He'll find someone one of these days. I just don't think this is the right place for him."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"No one's talking to Asenath. Should we go talk to her?"

[andyw666]

Balzac will contentedly sip dodgy wine, smoke Gauloises, and play chess against himself.

[Starspawn338]

"No, I don't recall seeing Vittoria here before." Harrison shakes his head. "But I'm not here all the time. I still have to do my own studies and can't debate all night every night. He smirks and continues, "Was Asenath here last night?"

[HoneyDog]

“I believe she was. But maybe you should ask her yourself.”

Simon raises an eyebrow. “Why all the sudden interest in Asenath?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, let's," says Alice, rising and taking Henry's arm.

[HoneyDog]

Asenath is sitting quietly by herself, appearing watchful and aloof at the same time. If she is conscious of the looks she often receives from the café’s patrons, she gives no indication of it.

As Alice and Henry approach, Asenath’s head swivels around to watch them. Her ever so slightly bulging eyes are so dark they almost seem black. She has no expression on her face, and offers no words of greeting.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Excuse me Miss but didn't I see you at one of my book readings? The one for Curse of the Gold Sarcophagus in Boston perhaps?"

[HoneyDog]

Asenath looks at Henry with utter contempt, and without a word, but with a curious glance at Alice, gets up and moves to another table, where she is welcomed by some other students.