Chapter 3: Asenath

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"That went well. We're about as welcome as Balzac. What now?"

[andyw666]

OOC:   Hey! Balzac didn't get actively sneered at and snubbed!

[Starspawn338]

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

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

"Isn't everyone interested in Asenath? I'd ask her myself but I've never actually met her and there's something intimidating about just walking up to her." Harrison pauses and looks plaintively at Simon. "Could you maybe introduce us?"

[HoneyDog]

“Feeling brave, eh?” chortles Simon, although he seems a bit nervous. “Sure, it’s probably time you met her. Be warned, though, she’s not afraid to say what she thinks.”

He leads the way over to where Asenath is with some other students.

“Hello, Asenath!” he says loudly, getting her attention. “I’d like to introduce you to some friends. You might have seen Harrison Matthews around the campus. He’s in graduate school too – history. This is his friend Isadora Carmichael, an artist and member of the Theosophical Society. Harrison, Isadora, this is Asenath Derby.”

Asenath regards them both in silence, as if sizing them up. Although beautiful, up close her intensity is a little unnerving.

[andyw666]

Balzac commences the chess game against himself with an unorthodox and reckless attack. Caught by surprise, he finds himself losing pieces and frantically shoring up his defences. He grunts, impressed by the tactics and his eyes narrow through French tobacco smoke as he considers a counter-attack...

[Mr. Handy]

"Well, she did seem like she might be interested in me," says Alice. "I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but maybe I should try talking to her without you. She has the most haunting eyes I've ever seen."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Yes, that might be worth a try. I'll go and help Balzac lose to himself at chess."

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

"Nice to meet you, Asenath. I'm sorry about Frank Charlton. I've heard he was a friend of yours."

[HoneyDog]

Asenath nods her head almost imperceptibly.

“Yes, I knew Frank” she says in a voice which seems out of place to her appearance. “It’s tragic.” She doesn’t seem particularly upset though.

[Mr. Handy]

Alice walks up to the table. "Hello," she says to Asenath. "I'm Alice Stanton. Would you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

[Starspawn338]

"Pleased to meet you Asenath." Harrison says with a polite bowing of his head. Then he steps to the side as Alice comes forward.

[andyw666]

Balzac waves at Henry. "Mon Ami, come join me for a cigarette and some bad wine. You must help me with this chess game. I am proving to be the dangerous and wily opponent, and I am losing at a rate of knots." Cigarettes are shared and "teacups" ordered...

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

Henry watches with interest as Balzac makes an error with the white Queen but fails to take it with a black Knight.

[HoneyDog]

Asenath ignores Harrison and speaks to Alice directly.

“I know who you are. You work for the University. Why do you want to talk to me?”

[Mr. Handy]

"It's regarding the untimely demise of Frank Charlton," says Alice. "I'd like to ask you some things about him, please."

[HoneyDog]

“And why exactly should I talk to you, Miss Stanton?” replies Asenath with a smirk. She fixes Alice with her strange gaze.

[Mr. Handy]

Alice returns Asenath's stare and gives her a smile. "Why, because you have absolutely nothing to hide," she says.

[HoneyDog]

Asenath shakes her head slowly and wags her finger.

“No, whether I have anything to hide or not, which I don’t, is irrelevant. The question is, I repeat, why should I talk to you?”

Asenath’s gaze is more intense now. Her eyes seem to Alice to be filling the room.

Alice,Roll POWx5.

[Mr. Handy]

Alice steels her mind, meeting Asenath's gaze without blinking. "You'll find I'm much more pleasant to speak to than the police," she says.

OOC,POW x 5 roll (65% stat) when [b]Asenath[/b] stares: [dice]0[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

Unfazed by Alice’s resilience, Asenath continues, smiling.

“Ah, but if I was obliged to talk to the police, then you wouldn’t get to hear what I have to say anyway, would you? I already told you, I have nothing to hide. You cannot threaten me with something I don't fear.”

She sips from her cup and shrugs her shoulders. “Quid pro quo, Alice. I can help you, but you and your companions will have to help me.”