Part 1 - Ice and Time

[Mr. Handy]

"He seems to know a lot about advanced math too," says Jacqueline. "Even Mr. Lammons is going to have to consult with an expert on those equations. Where in Louisiana did the Covingtons live? Anything we can learn about the man and his background could help us defeat him."

[SunlessNick]

"The north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, I think... the nearest big town was Madisonville. Alexander's father was thirty when he was born... sorry, I meant my husband Alexander, his father was thirty. So he would have been born around 1860 or so, maybe a few years earlier. I never knew him, I'm afraid. He died just before Alexander and I met. It's why he came to New York."

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm sure there will be records," says Jacqueline, "but it would be an awful long way to go, and I wouldn't want to set foot down there. Let's see what we can find out here in New York before we consider that."

[HoneyDog]

"Do you know anything about this owner, Covington? His history, his character? You described him as a monster. Why is that?"

[SunlessNick]

"His name began with A, but I don't remember exactly. Alexander's father told him the slaves used to say he worshipped the Devil."

"Is Hell where he is now, then?" Alexander Junior says. "Is that where he's trying to come back from."

Charlotte shakes her head. "It's an easy thing to think about a slave owner. He was as cruel as a monster, and he didn't need anything else to make him one."

[Mr. Handy]

"Are there any other members of Alexander Senior's family still around who might remember more?" asks Jacqueline.

[SunlessNick]

"He had an uncle. I think I still have some letters from him, which would have his address. I'll have to hunt around a bit to find them." She goes into her room briefly.

OOC,Charlotte's Spot Hidden: 25 Rolled 1D100: 63

"I'm sorry," she says when she reemerges. "It's going to take me a while to go through everything. I'll let you know as soon as I find them."

"The public records office in Louisiana must have a telephone," Alexander Junior suggests. (Although it would likely not be open until Monday).

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, that's a great idea," says Jacqueline. "They probably won't be open until Monday, of course. Not only could we get the information faster and without a possibly dangerous trip down South, but the another good thing about the telephone is that they can't see the color of our skin."

[SunlessNick]

It's close to the time that JJ will have to head back to Jungle Alley for her scheduled performance (this one at the Savannah Club).

Alexander Junior would still like to stay with Ellis if that is possible, as he remains afraid of staying with his family. It's up to Ellis whether he wants to attend JJ's performance or head home to settle Alexander in.

Charlotte promises to keep looking for the letters from Alexander Senior's uncle.

[HoneyDog]

"Come home with me, Alexander" says Ellis. "We'll both go to work tomorrow. Hopefully I will hear from Dr. Imes, and find something more about those equations."

[Mr. Handy]

"I need to go to the Savannah Club soon for tonight's performance," says Jacqueline. "Gotta earn the money to pay the rent and the bills. Good thing it's something I enjoy doing."

[SunlessNick]

"Come home with me, Alexander" says Ellis. "We'll both go to work tomorrow. Hopefully I will hear from Dr. Imes, and find something more about those equations."

Charlotte thanks you for looking after her son, while Alexander fetches a change of clothes.

Once at your home, he proves a respecful house guest, and the rest of the evening passes without incident.

OOC,Ellis's Listen: 20. Rolled 1D100: 16.

However, during the night you are awakened by what sounds like someone creeping past your room.

[SunlessNick]

"I need to go to the Savannah Club soon for tonight's performance," says Jacqueline. "Gotta earn the money to pay the rent and the bills. Good thing it's something I enjoy doing."

There are three acts tonight at the Savannah Club. The first, which is just coming to an end as you arrive is from a conjurer named Washington Hughes.

OOC,JJ's Singing: 65 Rolled 1D100 3 times: 83,58, 25

Your own act gets off to a rough start - maybe because of Alexander's problems intruding on your mind - but you quickly get back into the swing of things, and by the end you're eliciting cheers (and catcalls) from the mostly white clientele.

There are many clubs who would shove you out of the back door as soon as you were done - the Savannah still want you to leave by the back door, but they will let you stay and watch the third act if you want to - a horn player named Walter Locke, playing something he calls the "Heart Music." Alternatively, you discover that Washington Hughes has also stayed behind, and offers to escort you home should you need it.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," Jacqueline says to Washington Hughes. "I would like a walk home when I'm ready to leave, but first I'd like to stick around and listen to Walter Locke play the horn if that's okay with you."

[HoneyDog]

Ellis awakes with a start.

“Oh shit, he’s going to write all over the walls!” he thinks to himself, and quickly climbs out of bed and opens the door.

[SunlessNick]

"Thank you," Jacqueline says to Washington Hughes. "I would like a walk home when I'm ready to leave, but first I'd like to stick around and listen to Walter Locke play the horn if that's okay with you."

Hughes is happy to stay and do that.

Walter Locke's music turns out not to be jazz, or like anything you've ever heard before. The notes are long and sweeping, yet still somehow fast-paced - they feel somehow huge within your mind - it's hard to pay attention to anything but the sound, and yet a moment later it's hard to remember what you heard in the face of the next piece of melody. The crowd seem to be similarly spellbound, although it's hard to focus on them, or anyone - you keep getting double vision as if there are more people gathered than there should be.

When the piece ends, it's greeted by neither applause nor derision, but simply silence. Locke looks satisfied however. The staff are less so, and with the act finish, decide it's time to bundle the three of you out.

[SunlessNick]

“Oh shit, he’s going to write all over the walls!” he thinks to himself, and quickly climbs out of bed and opens the door.

Alexander is walking down the hallway. As he hears the door open he turns - his expression is very different from the boy you met earlier. "And who might you be, boy?" he asks, injecting bottomless contempt into the last word.

[HoneyDog]

Ellis’ mouth opens as he realizes who Alexander is.

“It must be some kind of schizophrenia” he thinks.

“I’m here to help you, master” he says, thinking that it’s pointless trying to appeal to the personality inside Alexander as an equal.

[Mr. Handy]

Jacqueline heads out the back door with the other performers. "I've never heard anything like that music before, Mr. Locke," she says. "What's your inspiration for it?"

[SunlessNick]

“It must be some kind of schizophrenia” he thinks.

“I’m here to help you, master” he says, thinking that it’s pointless trying to appeal to the personality inside Alexander as an equal.

"Alexander" seems surprised as your answer, but pleased. "Finally," he mutters. In a more normal tone, he says, "I require a large empty room. Clear one for me."