The Will-Reading

<> Demiurge says "Ladies and gentlemen."

<> Demiurge says "You have all received a letter. With a date and a time."

<> Demiurge says "Who is Early, who is On Time, who is Barely On Time, and who is Late?"

<> Gabriel says "And the incentive of hard cash."

<> Gabriel will be Late.

<> Justin says "Barely On Time."

<> Raquel wishes to be Early.

<> Kate-Lynn will be early.

The hotel is one of those nice old places. Expensive. The carpets are thick, the walls are thick, the staff are neatly uniformed and polite. The reception desk awaits the casual querent as you enter.

<> Demiurge says "And yes, Kate-Lynn and Raquel arrive more or less simultaneously."

<> Raquel says "Do we know which room to head to, I presume?"

<> Carlotta says "Barely On Time, and pissed about it cause she got lost on the way."

<> Demiurge says "It's not mentioned in the letter. But you can ask at the desk."

Raquel heads for the reception desk to enquire, the several-times-read-and-neatly-refolded letter in her hand.

The reception clerk smiles nicely at her. "Can I help you, madam?"

Raquel holds up the letter and says, "Ah, I'm supposed to be here for a will-reading?" She displays the letter as if it explained everything. Hopefully, it does.

The receptionist glances at it, then nods. "Certainly, madam. You're in the Prince George Room on the third floor. If you'll just go along to the lifts there, then it's on your left as you come out."

Kate-Lynn, five or six steps behind, takes note of Raquel's request and its answer, and deviates towards the elevators.

Raquel smiles. "Thank you." She heads for the lifts, mumbling, "Prince George, third floor, left."

The lifts are nice old things, with heavy enamel and brass. One slowly opens as the two women reach it.

Raquel continues to mutter to herself, "Prince George, third floor, left."

Carlotta stalks in the entrance to the hotel, looking irritated.

<> Demiurge says "Justin may also turn up at this point."

Kate-Lynn glances over at Raquel, attempting to ascertain whether it is a fluke of genetics or the normal process of heredity that made this person a potential relative.

Raquel hangs back to see if there's anyone in the lift who wants out, and does not notice she is being glanced at.

The lift is empty, conveniently.

Raquel hangs back slightly, then, to let anyone else claim the lift first if they want.

Carlotta consults with the front desk clerk. The consultation consists of holding out the letter and looking at him intently.

The clerk nods, and gives directions to the Prince George Room, on the third floor, lifts are just there, madam.

Raquel has fine brown hair, clipped short. Large gray-brown eyes. A bit waifish. Good wallpaper.

Carlotta says "Gracias."

Carlotta walks towards the elevators. Quickly.

The clerk says, politely, "De niente."

Kate-Lynn blends neatly into the nonexistent shadows in the back of the elevator and waits for the third floor to arrive.

Raquel mouses into the lift after Kate-Lynn.

Carlotta just misses the elevator going up, which does nothing for her mood.

The lift with Raquel and Kate-Lynn smoothly glides up to the third floor. Another one arrives on the ground floor for Carlotta.

Justin rumbles into the parking area that the valets indicate.

Raquel hangs back, at the side of the lift, to let the other lady off first, then mouses out of the lift.

The attendant nods, and is in every way polite and helpful.

Justin doesn't even bother locking up the battered Spitfire and sprints for the elevators from the garage to the lobby.

An elevator takes Justin up to the lobby, just as he can see a Spanish-looking girl stepping into another lift.

Carlotta stabs the third floor button. She shifts uneasily in her new dress, which the saleswoman said would be fine but she's not sure if she likes at all.

Kate-Lynn makes no effort to be equally polite; there's no point in wasting time.

Kate-Lynn strolls out and heads for the Prince George Room.

The third floor corridor is clear and airy. Indeed, to the left, there is a small plaque on the heavy old door indicating the PRINCE GEORGE ROOM.

Justin eyes her cheerfully enough, but then sprints for the front desk, skids to a stop before the clerk, "Kin ya point me tah where this meetin' is, mon?"

Raquel then turns to the left, muttering, "Prince George" under her breath. She blinks to find herself following Kate-Lynn.

The clerk nods politely to Justin. "Certainly, sir. On the third floor, in the Prince George room, just to the left of the lifts as you come out."

The lift doors open for Carlotta with a *ding* to let her see the two other women in the third floor corridor.

Justin says "Thanks, mon!"

Raquel belatedly brushes at her dark charcoal dress, making sure there are no wrinkles on it.

Carlotta walks out, takes a practiced look around, and heads for the Prince George Room.

Justin sprints off towards the elevators.

The door of the Prince George room is closed.

Kate-Lynn knocks on the door of the Prince George Room, and endeavors not to think of Black Adder.

Justin bangs the up button cheerfully.

A lift shortly arrives, and elevates Justin to the third floor corridor.

Raquel now glances around at Kate-Lynn and Carlotta, who are evidently here for the reading as well.

"Please, do come in," a male voice calls from within.

Justin jitters a bit in the car until it hits the third foor, when the door opens, he sprints to the left.

Justin is used to being bigger than the average person, yes.

Indeed, Justin is in time to see three young women on the point of entering the Prince George room.

Raquel hangs back and lets the other two in first.

Carlotta looks at the two anglos, shrugs, and opens the door.

The room is large and airy, with a table at one end, and a number of chairs. Around on the walls hang several old-fashioned rapiers and pistols, paired as decorations. The man at the far end is clearly the person who spoke.

Justin grins at seeing that they've just entered and so slows down to see them properly before coming up on them.

Kate-Lynn enters.

Raquel follows Kate-Lynn, radiating shyness like an aura.

Kate-Lynn, on the other hand, looks completely confident as she strides in and drops herself into a chair. Her back is as straight as the chair allows.

Justin slows enough so that he isn't completely breathless before walking into the room after the three women.

Jerome stands in front of a bay window, his figure outlined by the midday sun. He is holding a large leather briefcase, cradled in his arms. "Good day. I'm.. ah... well, I'm pleased to see you. Might I ask for your names?"

Across London, Big Ben strikes twelve, the slow strokes audible.

<> Demiurge says "And, at this point, Gabriel realises he's late. Oh well. These things happen."

Kate-Lynn says, "You might; and I am Kate-Lynn Costello."

Jerome spares a glance through the window, towards the striking clock. He exhales slowly and surveys the other occupants of the room, one by one.

Carlotta seats herself, slouching comfortably. "Carlotta de Gama, senor."

Gabriel eyes his watch. Oh, well, they'll wait for him, right? He actually increases his pace an iota as he hustles across town.

Justin listens just inside the door.

Jerome puts the briefcase down by the corner and walks across, wiping a hand on his trousers before offering it politely to Kate-Lynn first.

Raquel says, quietly, "Raquel. Raquel Azure."

There are coffee-pots, teapots, bottles of fizzy or nonfizzy water, red and white wine, biscuits...

Carlotta ahas.

The entrance to the hotel comes into Gabriel's field of view.

Carlotta gets up, and gets herself a nice big glass of water.

Gabriel strolls over to the entrance. The English have to drink tea and shit, right? It's like a preview. He can miss the preview.

Justin contemplates saying "Bond, James Bond," in his accent, but doesn't, just says, "Justin Cambell, sir."

Kate-Lynn accepts Jerome's hand and allows him to shake.

Raquel studies the others, trying not to seem like she's staring.

Jerome glances round the room again, and again. "Delighted," he says to Kate-Lynn, "Who could mistake you. Jerome Guersson..."

The receptionist at the desk gives Gabriel a friendly smile. Clearly the Patent Gabe Charm is working.

Jerome moves on to Carlotta, methodically extending a hand.

Carlotta shakes Jerome's hand. "You're the lawyer?"

Justin then eyes the food, and gets a handful of biscuits, slops milk into a teacup before pouring tea with a spoonful of sugar and stirs that in and carries it all precariously to a seat looking for a table to put things on.

Gabriel pulls out his invitation out of one of the many pockets of his flack jacket. "Um, hi." He shows it to the receptionist. "Do you know where this is in this building?"

Kate-Lynn murmurs, "I am, indeed, rarely mistaken."

The receptionist nods to Gabriel, and helpfully directs him -- like all the others -- to the Prince George room, third floor.

Jerome smiles at Kate-Lynn, "You're so like him. I hadn't expected that."

Gabriel says "Thanks" and takes the stairs.

There is, indeed, a table to put things on. It's bare except for the standard hotel phone.

Justin sets his biscuits and tea on the table and settles into it.

Raquel busies herself getting some tea before her hand is shaken.

The stairs are standard English hotel stairs. Nice and carpeted. Gabriel finds himself on the third floor before he realises it.

Jerome says "I ah.. " he gives Carlotta a schoolteacher look. "Something like that. Indeed. I asked you to meet me here. Yes.. ah..""

Jerome says "Carlotta.."

Gabriel wanders through the hallway, looking for this conference room. Wander wander wander.

Jerome struggles for conversation. "Such a pretty name..."

The room is obvious. Nice plaque on the door.

Justin slouches in his chair.

Embarassed silence curdles in the corners of the room.

Jerome politely extends a hand to Raquel next, "And Raquel. I had the hardest time... "

Raquel asks, quietly, "Would you like some tea, Ms. Costello? Ms. de Gama?"

Raquel blushes and sets the tea cup down. "I'm sorry, sir."

Carlotta smiles. "Thanks. Y'know, the subway here's even harder to figure out than New York?"

Jerome says "Ah, but don't let me get in the way of the tea. No."

Carlotta 's accent takes on broad, flat tones when she says New York. Closer to New Yawk.

Gabriel, tall, thin, ponytailed, army jacketed, camera wielding, and entirely too American, slips in through the back door. See? They're drinking tea and being polite and shit. He's missed nothing.

Raquel arranges tea for Carlotta. "Would you like some tea as well, Mr Guersson?"

Carlotta keeps sipping her water. Tea's a diuretic.

Kate-Lynn says, "Tea would be nice; thank you."

Gabriel finds a chair in the corner to flump into while he awaits his check so he can get the hell out of here.

Justin , broad, muscular, purple haired, nose pierced and near-armor suited in black leather slouches near a wall by the table with the phone with his handful of biscuits and his tea.

Carlotta says "So, if I can ask. How's this anglo supposed to be related. I asked mamma, and she had no idea. I thought mamma knew -all- of our relatives."

<> Demiurge suppresses the urge to say, "Look, everyone! It's Kate Adie!"

Jerome says "No, not for me, thank you, dear." He adds, to Carlotta, nervily, "I always found the tube system quite impossible myself. You have to be a little careful down there."

Raquel arranges tea for everyone. Including the nice young american who just walked in.

<> Raquel says "Well, okay, not Mr. Guersson."

Justin eyes all the folks in the room and just shakes his head.

Jerome offers a hand to Justin and relaxes visibly as the final guest arrived.

Gabriel looks for one of those hotel-standard standing ashtrays.

There are no standing ashtrays in this room. There is a wrought-brass one on a shelf to one side, just under one of the crossed pairs of rapiers.

Jerome says "Carlotta, what's bred in the bone will come out through the blood. I'm hoping to explain this to you today, or at least, enough to be going on with. I fear that I haven't begun very well though."

Carlotta blinks.

Carlotta says "Que?"

Carlotta wonders if she heard that right. She's not sure she gets this anglo's accent.

Raquel brings tea to Kate-Lynn, then goes to offer some to Gabe.

Gabriel decides it's too far to get, so he just slumps.

There is an odd feeling of tension in the room. Like a circuit being completed.

Kate-Lynn says, faintly amused, "Perhaps we all descend from Japheth."

From afar, Raquel . o O (Nice, normal, sane things like tea are good. They defuse tension. Just keep to routine.)

Justin listens to Jerome silently, dunking biscuits in his tea and eating them.

Jerome watches Justin for a moment, and nods to himself. Finally, he turns to Gabriel, "I fear you missed our earlier introductions, sir. I'm Jerome Guersson."

You paged Raquel with 'Biblical reference, which Raquel probably gets: Japheth was the youngest son of Noah. (Older sons were Ham and Shem.)'.

Carlotta says "Japheth? Who's Japheth?"

Jerome retreats to stand in front of the window again, from where he can get a good view of the rest of the room. He folds his arms, and looks downwards, composing himself.

Kate-Lynn says, "One of Noah's sons."

Gabriel eyes Jerome like someone who is, well, here for his check. "Gabriel Knight."

Raquel murmurs, "Noah's youngest."

Jerome says "Delighted, Mr Knight. I'm very glad you could make it."

Gabriel says "The free tickets and the money incentive helped."

Carlotta looks at Kate-Lynn.

Justin nods at that, grinning a bit.

Carlotta wonders if there's something in the tea, or if all these english are just weird.

<> Demiurge says "We're all weird. ;)"

<> Gabriel says "YES! I killed Ms. Peacock with the knife in the conservatory!"

Raquel finds a seat and sits, neatly, her hands folded over her small pocketbook-purse.

Jerome nods to Raquel, with a warmer smile. "Traditionally, each of Noah's sons was the ancestor of a human race. It all comes down to ancestors in the end, children. Can you feel it?"

Justin blinks at the words.

Jerome rubs at his jaw.

Raquel looks a bit wistful.

Carlotta says "This isn't like some Santeria thing, is it? I didn't think Anglos did Santeria."

<> Demiurge says "BTW, Kate-Lynn, your extensive experience with expensive lawyers does suggest that Jerome is a *little* unusual for an expensive old-fashioned lawyer."

Jerome says "Let me try to explain a little better. You all deserve that. You always did, but we never had much to give you. There was a notion of inheritance in the letter which you all received, and that's the truth."

<> Kate-Lynn nods. "I'm aware. Kate-Lynn finds it rather amusing."

Justin raises an eyebrow.

Gabriel actually gives in. He gets up to snag the ashtray and bring it back to his chair.

Raquel . o O (We?)

The noon light falls across Jerome through the window, like a benediction.

Jerome says "Santeria." He tilts his head, then back again. "Dealing with spirits, and creatures not of the corporeal world. It's not impossible -- undesirable in many ways, but not impossible. But even for those spirits, there are some things which they cannot do alone. But I digress..."

Kate-Lynn says, "Personally, I am here to pay respects to the dead; the odds are against an inheritance split so many ways being of any significant value to me."

Justin says, suspiciously, "You crazy, mon?"

Justin says "Spirits?"

Raquel blinks, and whispers something under her breath that ends in "Amen."

Carlotta just sort of stares.

Gabriel sits in his chair, and feels around for his pack to light up. Eventually, these people will get the show on the road.

Jerome says "We may not have much time, so please listen to what I have to say. Your ancestors once were given the opportunity to carry out a very important mission. Where they failed, you must succeed. Oh, there may be money involved, and danger, but you won't be alone. Once you knew each other like brothers and sisters, in another life. You /must/ stay together -- it's taken too long already."

Jerome closes his eyes. Takes another deep breath. Sweat beads on his forehead, probably from nerves

Jerome says "You don't know how long."

Gabriel perks up a bit. Danger. And money. Money is good.

Raquel continues to blink at Jerome, again with that wistful look, as well as a fair amount of "say what?" expression.

Carlotta says "Another life?"

Justin mutters softly, "Totally bedlam-mad." and sighs in mild disappointment.

Carlotta says "Hey, I have a race in France in two days. What's this about some other life thing."

Justin methodically finishes his biscuits and tea as if it's all he expects to do before leaving.

Jerome says quietly, "Reincarnation. Last time around, your ancestors failed, children. Thus they were denied heaven." He sighs and shakes his head. "I have gathered as much information as I could to find out where it is. You have to find it."

There is a crack, sudden and sharp. Jerome's eyes open as he's jolted backwards, blood already spreading from the wound in his chest, and he falls to the floor silently. The tinkle of shattered glass from the window is almost an anticlimax.

Kate-Lynn says, politely, "I suppose the Templars figure into this somewhere?"

Raquel asks, "What's 'it'?"

Raquel then gasps.

Justin yells, "Get DOWN."

There is a soft, pawing knock at the door.

Justin gets up, contradicting himself and hurtles himself at the shattered window to See.

Raquel bends down and goes for Jerome, trying to remember if she knows any sort of first aid.

Carlotta says "What the *HELL*?"

<> Justin says "Is there anyone out there running?"

Gabriel stands up fast. He goes "Woah."

There's a glitter of metal in the fourth floor window opposite -- a gun-barrel, perhaps, and the window half-open.

Carlotta gets down. She's from New York. She doesn't shut up. "What the hell is going on here. Someone's *shooting* goddamn it!"

Gabriel yells, "Will you people get DOWN? Sniper!"

Gabriel then gets down.

Kate-Lynn curls out of her chair onto the floor and pulls a thin-handled knife from the lining of her jacket.

<> Demiurge says "Raquel, he's dead. Dead dead. First aid isn't going to help."

Jerome is motionless on the floor, only a trickle of blood escaping from the bullet wound, and even that is already slowing

The soft thudding knock on the door is repeated.

<> Demiurge says "Nobody obviously running, Justin."

Kate-Lynn pulls a cell phone in her other hand.

Gabriel decides that this trip wasn't a lost cause after all. He pulls out his camera. Snick. Snick. Snick. Snick. Goes the shutter. Gun barrel in the sunlight. Dead body. Through the glass.

Raquel covers her mouth in an "Oh my" way and tries to think of what's next. And what the heck he was talking about.

<> Raquel says "Where's Jerome's briefcase?"

Justin nods at Kate, "Tell 'em someone on the third floor opposite, shootin' at us."

Carlotta's english slips into spanish. Really rude spanish.

Kate-Lynn thumbs the cellular British equivalent of 911.

<> Archfiend says "In a corner of the room, not far from the body"

The thud on the door is louder. It starts to swing open.

<> Justin imagines the fourth was American equivalent? Third is British?

Carlotta pulls out her own knife.

Gabriel starts to reach for his nine in his jacket.

Raquel snags the briefcase and attempts to look as if it were hers. And hides behind the desk.

A female operator takes the phone call, "Emergency services. Which service do you require?"

And these three men stumble in. Men? They're pale. They smell of the grave. One of them has flesh falling off the bones of his face in lumps. They're groaning. Toothily.

<> Raquel says "Or table, or anything hide-behindable."

<> Gabriel says "Yeah. Gotta love a glock, even if you can't shoot for shit. :)"

Justin can't help it, he laughs.

Carlotta screams something about the undead. In spanish.

Kate-Lynn says, " hotel. Shots fired through the window. Men in halloween gear staggering through the door. Prince George room."

The three creatures - men - whatever - look around the room. One's eye lolls out on his cheek as he orientates on Justin.

Gabriel goes woah. He takes his hand off of his nine and burns more pictures on his roll. Snick. Snick. Snick.

Justin then picks up a chair and gets between the women and the undead and swings the chair at the first one that comes to him.

Operator says, "Thank you madam. That would be the police then. If you hold the line, I'll just put you through."

From afar, Raquel asks if she has any instinct to grab a sword or something from the wall? Or is she a non-combatant?

Kate-Lynn moves to where she can stand by the wall, or at least crouch, without being in the line of fire.

You paged Raquel with 'There is a sort of instinct suggesting that you should try and tackle these creatures. Though more the hit-with-chair than cunning-swordplay.'.

The first creature gets hit by the chair. It staggers backwards, with a moaning noise, black ooze running from where the flesh of its face is broken open.

Justin is swearing a blue streak as he does this, "FUCKin insane old bloater with FUCKin' promises and these *stupid* fuckin'... what the *shit* is this?"

Carlotta finally shuts up, and picks herself up, and holds the knife in a streetfighter's grip.

Carlotta says "We've got to get *out* of here."

Justin keeps swacking at the undead as they get in range.

You paged Kate-Lynn with 'The swords on the wall look ... attractive.'.

Raquel pokes her head up from where she crouches, and looks for something to throw. Or a nearby sword to hand to someone else.

On the phone, after a click and brief silence, another female voice picks up the line. "Metropolitan police emergency services. What can I do for you?"

You paged Gabriel with 'The swords on the wall look ... attractive.'.

There's a chair next to Raquel, and a small stool.

Gabriel crawls back against the wall, well protected by furniture, and burns off pictures on his roll of the undead and the Heroic Battle. Baby.

Kate-Lynn looks fairly unruffled, in part because she's been at biker gang parties.

The first creature lurches for Justin again, as the other two try and move round to flank him.

Carlotta says "Look out behind you!"

Kate-Lynn repeats, " hotel. Shots fired through the window. Men in halloween gear staggering through the door. Prince George room. This is Kate-Lynn Costello."

Gabriel lets the camera drop on it's strap, and eyes a sword on the wall. He looks at it and looks at it and looks at it and then grabs the sword off the wall.

Raquel grips the briefcase with her left hand, and hefts the stool to see if she can throw it at the flanking creatures.

Justin growls and kicks a chair into the legs of one of the flankers and tries to bring his chair down on the head of the one facing him.

The sword fits into Gabriel's hand and feels *right*.

Kate-Lynn ponders. Third floor. That's a long way down.

The operator chirps, "Thank you madam. I'll have an armed response team to you as soon as possible."

The flanker with the chair amid its legs goes down in a tumble, and starts pawing across the floor.

Gabriel makes a few experimental passes with the sword. Well, he's seen this done on TV, so he could probably do this himself. He launches himself in the fray, swishing butcher-like with the sword and attacking the nearest mutant.

<> Raquel would like to hit the one on the floor with the stool.

Kate-Lynn thumbs the disconnect. Whether she takes defensive action or calls her driver depends on whether they're almost in reach or not.

As Justin brings the chair down hard on the other's head, the skull *fractures*. There is a nasty cracking noise. Black and yellow goo gurgles out. The creature goes down on its knees, still pawing.

<> Archfiend says "(Brains...)"

Carlotta gasps, "Madre di Dios, it's *dead*."

You paged Kate-Lynn with 'You're getting an Urge. Those swords look real attractive.'.

Carlotta says "It's *really* dead."

Carlotta says "And it's still moving!"

The third zombie gets distracted by the stool amidships, and staggers back, in time to be molested by Gabriel with Sword.

Justin kicks the one that's down in front of him, "Stupid fucker, go down."

Raquel . o O (It's not dead enough.)

Justin says "Stay down."

Gabriel slashes it across the midsection, his stance wide, and lets his weight carry through the cut.

The creature gropes faintly at Justin's ankles, though most of its motivation seems to have gone.

Justin stomps on its wrists, disgusted.

The third zombie's stomach gets laid open, yellow-green guts tumbling out through sliced flesh. With a gasping moan, it reaches for the reporter's neck.

Raquel cowers behind her cover, saving the chair next to her in case any nasties get by the others.

Kate-Lynn hits the speed dial for her driver, tosses the phone into the chair, and grabs a sword from the wall. Her knife falls unattended to the floor as she performs complicated feats involving too many hands.

Gabriel spins and cuts high across the monster's head, to separate head from neck.

The second zombie recovers from chair-amid-legs, and wobbles towards Kate-Lynn, grasping for her.

The first zombie's wrists finally crack, and it stops moving.

Justin flinches away from the peripheral vision of moving steel, and sighs, "Shit."

<> Demiurge says "Give me a roll for that, Gabriel."

<> Gabriel rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 1.

<> Gabriel says "It just looked good in my head. :)"

The sword sings cleanly through the air, and the zombie's head parts company with its shoulders. The creature pauses for a moment, and *falls*. In two pieces.

Justin takes another chair and brings it down on the back of the second zombie, which is going for Kate-Lynn.

Kate-Lynn backs away, pointing the sword at the zombie. "I'm a goddamned CEO, you bastard. Back off."

The chair takes the zombie in the back. It staggers, then turns to reorient on Justin, drooling a length of black fluid.

Carlotta clues, and grabs a chair, swinging it from behind at the one approaching the woman.

Gabriel lets the momentum of the slash carry him through and spins, looking for more targets.

The chair swung by Carlotta then hits the zombie, who staggers again. Unnamable goo oozes from several broken portions of its anatomy.

Carlotta screams, "Kill it!" which seems altogether redundant, considering.

Justin grins at Carlotta, "Yes, ma'am."

Gabriel tries to dance in there to stab the beast. (They stabbed it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast.)

Justin smashes his chair into this ones head, too.

The unmistakeable smell of rotted flesh seeps from the fallen zombies, permeating the room...

Between chairs and steel, the zombie finally goes down, twitching on the ooze-and-blood-covered carpet.

Raquel covers her mouth and seriously wonders what she might find in Jerome's pockets.

<> Demiurge says "Welcome to the Hotel Regency, Gabriel. ;)"

Carlotta says "Dios mio, I think I'm going to throw up."

Distantly, from some streets away, can be heard what might be the faint sound of a siren.

<> Kate-Lynn says "Any of them still up?"

Gabriel stops, hair askew and out of his ponytail, breathing heavily, pupils dialated with adrenaline. He goes, "Woah." Then he looks at the sword in his hand and goes "Fuck."

<> Demiurge says "All down. Broken or decapitated."

Raquel hands Carlotta a trash-canister, if any are about.

Carlotta doesn't. Quite.

Kate-Lynn looks thoughtfully at the sword in her hands. "Just as well. I don't know how to use this thing."

<> Demiurge says "No trash-canisters. There's a discreet little bin in one corner."

But in the room, more loudly, a mobile phone rings, to the tune of 'Onward Christian Soldiers'

<> Demiurge says "Actually, Kate-Lynnn... you have a feeling that you could, though."

Raquel looks for the phone.

Carlotta says "Where?"

<> Demiurge says "The metal in your hand feels comfortable."

Carlotta grabs for the phone.

Gabriel looks for something to wipe his new friend off on.

<> Carlotta rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 3.

<> Archfiend says "Who's looking? It isn't obviously out in the open..."

<> Carlotta fails utterly, oh well.

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CHECK: 5.

<> Demiurge says "Gabriel, there are cushions, carpet, and (if you must) the body of Jerome."

<> Raquel is looking.

Justin growls quietly, stands there panting a bit.

<> Gabriel uses a cushion.

<> Archfiend says "Raquel, it must have been Jerome's phone. It's definitely coming from his body, somewhere."

Kate-Lynn walks over and picks up her own phone.

Raquel goes to Jerome's body and pats around for the phone, in that calm which is at least half shock.

Kate-Lynn says, "Hello?" in case her driver answered and is still on.

Justin bends over the body he just made and examines it carefully.

Carlotta puts her knife away.

Gabriel walks over to Justin. "Pretty cool," he says to the hulking punk with the purple hair.

The driver says, "Ms Costello?"

As she cautiously searches the body, Raquel can find the ringing (and vibrating) phone in Jerome's top pocket -- the oposite side from where he was shot.

Kate-Lynn says, "Indeed. Please be ready for pick up; I believe that I and certain associates will wish to leave as soon as the police have taken our statements."

The body of the creature is icky. Very icky.

Carlotta looks out the door into the hall, to see if there's any more of those *things* out there.

Justin grins more with teeth than humor at Gabriel, "Good work, man."

Raquel takes the phone out and opens it up. "Hello?"

The hall is empty.

The driver says, "Certainly, Ms Costello."

Justin shakes Gab's hand and then bends over the ick to see if he can find mechanisms that motivated it, he can smell the reek, see the gore, but can't believe they're really undead.

Gabriel says to Justin. "Yeah, pretty good. Now, I think I'll vacate the country. It was fun for the whole ten hours I was here."

<> Demiurge says "And at this point, Gabriel realises a great sorrow. Nobody was filming him."

Gabriel goes "GodDAMNIT."

There aren't any obvious mechanisms in the zombie-creature.

Justin pokes at the gore with one of the legsof one of the chairs to get through the stuff to see any glint of metal.

<> Raquel says "Gabriel will have to teach Raquel how to film him."

Gabriel kicks one of the dead bodies with his steel-toed combat boot.

Carlotta says "Information. He said he had information stuff. In the briefcase."

"What an unexpected pleasure," says a smooth male voice on the other end of the mobile which Raquel is holding. "How are you all?"

The body goes *squish*.

Gabriel kicks it again. And again.

Raquel says to the voice, "Who are you?"

Carlotta says "Stop that! It's splattering!"

Gabriel kicks it again just to piss that chick off. Kick.

Justin kicks his body as well, in anger at not finding what he thought should be there.

Carlotta says "I said stop it, you asshole!"

Ick splatters over the boots of both men.

Gabriel pulls his nine. "Yeah? You wanna discuss this in detail?"

Carlotta says "Oh put the fucking gun away, you think you're fucking Bruce Willis or something. We just got attacked by the *DEAD*."

Justin gets his anger out and then looks over at Carlotta and Gabriel, "Hey, what?"

The man says, "Doll, lets just say that I'm someone who has your best interests at heart. What can I say? I'm a sucker for those big grey eyes. And that's a pretty skirt you're wearing."

Kate-Lynn says, calmly, "I don't believe the circumstances justify murder, Mr. Knight."

Raquel looks out the window, past the bullet hole, calmly. "Thank you, sir."

Gabriel says "Yeah? You know that for a fact? How do we know you didn't send them?"

Gabriel cocks an eyebrow.

There is a pause on the phone, then he adds, "Could you do me a favour, sweetheart? Check the bullet entry wound. Whereabouts is it on him?"

There is no sign of motion in the building opposite. The glitter of metal has gone from the window there -- but it's still open.

Carlotta says "Oh right. I only deliver messages on the weekdays. On the weekand I'm a bad-ass voodoo brujah."

Carlotta says "Hellooooo."

Raquel crouches down and checks Jerome to see where the bullet wound is.

Gabriel says "Hey, maybe, babe. I've seen weirder shit."

Carlotta mutters, 'Pendejo' and goes over to Raquel, who isn't being a dick.

Gabriel slides the nine back away into his jacket.

<> Archfiend says "Hmm. Should Raquel roll for medical skill...?"

<> Demiurge says "I think she can see where on the body the bullet wound is."

<> Archfiend says "Amuse me. Roll ;)"

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 2 5 CHECK: 3.

Justin says "Watch da window, lasses, that sniper might still be out there."

Kate-Lynn says, "I am going to stand in the hallway, where I am not in the line of any future fire. If anyone wishes to accompany me, they may do so. If anyone wishes transportation away from here, it will be available shortly."

Carlotta says "Good idea."

Kate-Lynn says, "I admit to some curiosity regarding the briefcase, incidentally."

Carlotta grabs the briefcase, if nobody's got it, and goes out to stand with the smart anglo.

Gabriel crouches down to prod the bodies a bit. Then he stands back up and takes a series of pictures. Snick snick snick.

Raquel says, "Straight through the heart. From the back, sir. Is this important?"

Kate-Lynn heads to the hall. Moving fast.

Raquel has the briefcase, but will relinquish it to Carlotta.

Justin stays to watch the women still in danger.

Nobody attempts to shoot Kate-Lynn or Carlotta.

Carlotta takes it. She hefts the heavy briefcase with surprisingly little trouble.

Gabriel looks for a blanket to wrap this sword in. The murder weapon is coming with him.

Kate-Lynn keeps the sword with her. She inherited it.

There are no spare blankets in the room. There are a couple of small rugs that might do the job.

The voice on the phone sounds relaxed, easy, friendly. "Of course. I like to check my target practice wasn't all in vain. I'll call that a '9' then. And tell your friend that no-one needs to worry about snipers .. at least, not if you are willing to do a little favour for me."

Gabriel 'borrows' a blanket.

Kate-Lynn says, "Is the briefcase locked?"

<> Demiurge says "No."

Carlotta says "No, it's open."

Raquel says, "Not a perfect 10? Tsk. What sort of favour do you wish, sir?"

Carlotta says "You want to look at it here, or go somewhere where there's no dead people?"

Raquel covers the handset for a moment and says, "Elsewhere -- either he can see us, or the room is bugged."

Raquel can hear something on the other end of the line. A quiet, rhythmic tapping of something hard against something else hard.

Gabriel starts making his way out the door. He takes a few more pictures of the scene before he takes off. He's already trying to figure out how he can dump the sword and get out of the damn country.

Raquel sits on the desk and looks out the window, as if fearless.

Kate-Lynn says, "I am concerned regarding the lobby, through which the creatures most likely came, and regarding the probable police confiscation of the case when they arrive."

Kate-Lynn says "Still ..."

Carlotta says "You gave them your name, I didn't give them mine."

Kate-Lynn walks down the hall towards the lifts.

"When you find it, be ready to hand it over. OK, sweets?"

Carlotta walks with Kate-Lynn.

Raquel asks, "Sir, what is 'it'?"

Nobody tries to stop Kate-Lynn or Carlotta. Nobody threatens to kill them. Everything seems ... normal.

Kate-Lynn thinks.

Kate-Lynn looks for a stairway door.

Carlotta checks herself for dead people splatter.

There's a stairway running parallel to the lifts, just next to them. Neither of them are particularly splattered. In fact, most of the Zombie Splatter is on the men's boots.

<> Raquel says "Wipe your feet after kicking zombis."

Gabriel grabs a cushion, wipes off his boots, and leaves. He figures that his prints are already all over the place anyway, but he's not from this country.

Kate-Lynn opens the stairway door, steps into the landing, and suggests, "Here?"

Across the phone, the tapping stops. "Don't give me that, adorable. Jerry gave you a brief, that much I know. Now, work with me here. He didn;t know what it was for or how to use it. I do. If you want to know, you'll have to come to me eventually. And I need it."

Carlotta looks up, looks down. "Hokay."

Carlotta pops open the briefcase, and starts looking through.

Carlotta mutters, "What are those idiots doing back there?"

Raquel says, "Oh, you don't have the room bugged, then. He had not given us anything before you shot him. Please, can you not give me a hint?"

Gabriel saunters toward the elevator.

In the briefcase are papers. Many papers. Most of them seem to be about the Wars of the Roses. Essay plans. Course descriptions.

Kate-Lynn mulls.

And in the inner top pocket of the briefcase, there's a small piece of card -- a used railway ticket -- folded around a small key.

Carlotta says "I thought this guy was a lawyer. Looks more like a professor."

Justin cocks an eyebrow at what Raquel says, and so starts to methodically search the room for something else.

"Nothing?" there is a brief, warm chuckle. Then a long sniff, as if the man on the other end has problems with his sinuses. "Ahhh. Mmmm. can you remember a number?" He reels one off, and then giggles.

<> Carlotta says "Oh, great. Cokehead snipers."

Gabriel digs weirdness, ya know, but hey. There's real weirdness, and there's the walking dead. He waits for the elevator to arrive.

Raquel repeats it back, fumbling the letter to her uncle out of her purse and scribbling the number down on the back. "All right. I have it. I should call this, if we find the something you are so mysterious about, sir?"

Justin looks through the desk, what he can open of it and what is locked he'll break open.

As he searches the room, Justin is forced to conclude there's nothing particular to find. Though Jerome's briefcase is gone. Wait, Carlotta walked off with it.

Kate-Lynn sighs.

<> Demiurge says "There isn't a desk. There are just a couple of plain tables. No hidden drawers."

<> Justin says "Hokay."

<> Gabriel says "Any sign of an elevator?"

<> Raquel says "Search the body's pockets."

Kate-Lynn opens the stairway door again, if it was closed, and says, "Mr. Knight, I would consider it a great courtesy if you remained with me for the time being."

The lift seems to be taking its time about arriving.

Carlotta pulls out the ticket and key. "What's this?"

Justin looks through Jerome's pockets, at the end.

Gabriel says "Fucking-A." And jerks open the door to the stairs.

<> Demiurge says "Carlotta, Kate-Lynn, Gabriel, gimme an Int roll."

<> Carlotta rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Gabriel rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 6.

The far-end voice agrees, "Fabulous idea, adorable. I wish I'd thought of it myself. You might want to take out those damned zombies whilst you're at it, if they haven't shown yet," He breathes deeply, and giggles again. "Next time," he says, "Let's do lunch." Then the phone goes dead.

<> Kate-Lynn rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 1.

Jerome seems to have a plain wallet in his suit, and several pens, including a nearly-used-up one in red ink.

Kate-Lynn looks thoughtful.

<> Demiurge says "Gabriel, Kate-Lynn, you've seen that sort of key before. It's a Left Luggage Locker key."

Raquel contemplates the phone with annoyance, and then folds it up and stuffs it in her purse, with the letter. "I do wish he'd stayed on the phone longer. Did you find anything?"

Gabriel stands there with the door half open, and gazes at the key.

Kate-Lynn thinks.

Justin almost pockets the wallet on reflex, then just wordlessly shows Raquel the wallet and pens.

Gabriel reminds his reporter instincts that he is no longer being paid for this. They're not listening.

Raquel takes the wallet and opens it up, looking for any slips of paper.

Kate-Lynn says, "The key's for luggage."

Kate-Lynn frowns thoughtfully.

Gabriel decides to, well, lurk. The door to the stairs closes.

The railway ticket that the key was folded in is a single, from *Christ's Hospital* to *Victoria*, for today.

Carlotta says "Aie, it's like a stupid movie. Maybe he is Bruce Willis."

Kate-Lynn says, "We have two options, I think."

Gabriel says "I have all my hair."

The wallet just contains money, and what looks like some "household" type keys.

Justin cleans his boots off with a pillow while waiting for Raquel to look through things.

Raquel takes the household keys thoughtfully, wondering if they will be missed, and looks for an address.

Kate-Lynn says, "We give everything to the police; or we do not mention the key until we have checked the luggage compartment at the station. In either case, I believe I can obtain xeroxes of the papers after the police have made the initial investigation."

That's the nice thing about heavy metal-capped boots. The slime cleans right off.

There aren't any addresses or names in the wallet.

Raquel lifts her eyebrows. If the keys don't look like they'll be missed, she puts them in her purse and puts the wallet back.

Justin nods as she puts the wallet back and then ushers Raquel out the door?

Gabriel says "Or we don't give anything to the police. I opt for Plan B."

Kate-Lynn says, "And why is that, Mr. Knight?"

Raquel allows herself to be ushered, trying to make her little purse zip closed again.

Carlotta says "How about Plan C, just go back to New York and pretend like the dead don't walk around."

Kate-Lynn says, "I don't much worry about charges of obstructing justice, but why hamper their investigation?"

Gabriel says "I'm not from in-country. I don't feel the need to be involved in a murder investigation, and I don't feel the need to tell the cops what was found."

As Justin and Raquel pass the stairhead, they can hear the others through the door.

Raquel pages: (sent to AF as well) Does the wallet have a built-in keychain, or indentations of where the keys were, basically.

Gabriel says "I also advocate leaving. Like, now."

Justin blinks mildly and then opens the door for Raquel.

From afar, Raquel takes the keys.

Raquel smiles up at Justin and goes through.

Kate-Lynn flicks her left index finger against the side of her right index finger, snapping it off her thumb. Nervous habit. "Well enough. We leave first."

Carlotta says "She already told the Police her name, 'Bruce'. She's gotta stay."

There is still no sign of the police yet.

Kate-Lynn says, "Not if I'm in real and present danger."

Kate-Lynn says, "I have just decided I am. Let us go."

Justin watches Raquel gravely and listens to the rest with half an ear.

Kate-Lynn heads down the stairs, sword in hand.

Carlotta stares at both of them. "You really do think you're in some movie, don't you. Aaaah, we're gonna get killed!"

Gabriel just blows this chick off. Down the stairs he goes.

Carlotta shuts the briefcase and follows along, muttering more insanity.

Raquel says, "The assassin wants us to give 'it' to him when we find it. Whatever it is. He gave me a number."

Kate-Lynn says, "I don't think I'm in a movie."

Justin says "A killer shouldn't get what he want, I'm thinkin'."

Kate-Lynn says, "I'm simply willing to discuss things further while driving Mr. Knight to the airport rather than while standing in the building where we were attacked."

Justin follows the rest of them, bringing up the rear and watching as they go.

Raquel trails down the stairs. "I agree. But it was... interesting. He said he knows how to use 'it' and we and 'Jerry' did not."

The stairs down are quiet. Nobody jumps out on them. Nobody attacks. It's a peaceful English hotel.

Justin says "Ah."

Kate-Lynn says, "Men and their symbolism."

Carlotta looks back, "What's *it*?"

Justin says "Nah clue here, m'um."

Raquel says to Carlotta, "He wouldn't say. He says that he quote knows Jerry gave us a brief unquote."

Carlotta says "There's nothing in the case except some history stuff and a key."

The stairwell gives onto the lobby. It all looks perfectly quiet and pleasant. The same receptionist is still at the desk.

Carlotta says "They," she points at the two people in front of her, "want to see what goes with the key.""

Gabriel smiles and waves at the receptionist while he walks on out.

Raquel says to Carlotta, "Maybe he meant the key. I have no idea."

Kate-Lynn says, "I'm rather fond of the Wars of the Roses. I suppose I just find it terribly amusing that it was the only time in history when two Kings of England were held captive simultaneously at a single castle."

The receptionist smiles back.

Justin just kind of blinks at Kate-Lynn.

Raquel murmurs to Carlotta, "I'd like to see it too, actually." She also smiles at the receptionist.

Justin follows quietly.

Kate-Lynn keeps the sword concealed -- not hidden, it's impossible to hide, but on the side of her body most away from people -- as she walks out the driveway to her limo.

Gabriel thinks carefully about getting rid of this weapon, and pondering getting his film developed.

The driver has the limo idling, purring quietly in an expensive way.

Gabriel says "Oh hey. Style."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 1.

Raquel blinks at the limo. "Oh my."

Justin grins at the limo, "Bar?"

Gabriel says "Bar?"

Kate-Lynn opens the door. "All aboard who's going aboard," she says, smiling faintly. "And yes, full bar."

Justin grins with teeth.

Justin gets in.

<> Archfiend says "But not for long, we suspect ;)"

Gabriel follows Justin into the movable bar.

The movable bar is well-stocked.

Raquel looks around to see if she can see the assassin's window from here, then gets in.

The assassin's window isn't in view from this angle.

Kate-Lynn hesitates slightly, but decides she'd rather discuss than drive. So she follows everyone into the back rather than ousting the driver.

Justin finds some nice, old Scotch and takes it neat.

Carlotta looks around nervously, thinks about running elsewhere, thinks about it some more, and decides that company's better than alone with the dead, and hops in.

Gabriel says "Oh, hey, man. Pour me a shot of that, will yeah?"

The driver murmurs, "Where to, Ms Costello?"

In the distance, as the limo slips into gear, the sound of police sirens drifts closer, approaching.

Kate-Lynn looks around. "Victoria Station or the airport, Mr. Knight?"

Justin pours Gabriel a glass of the stuff as well, and when he gets his first belt down he sighs slowly. "That, man, was verrrra weird shit."

Gabriel leans forward toward Justin, his grin all teeth. "I really liked that killin' people with throwing furniture at them. You kill people al-" his head whips around. "Wha?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Do you wish to return home or do you wish to pick up the package first?"

Justin's eyes hood a bit with the question and takes another slug of Scotch.

Gabriel waves around his glass of scotch. "I'll go with the floating party, ma'am." He slams it back.

Raquel taptaptaptaps on her purse, on the hardness of the phone.

Kate-Lynn says, "Victoria Station," to her driver.

Carlotta opens the briefcase again, and looks through the papers.

Carlotta says "Here, your war of the roses."

The driver says, "Certainly, madam," as he drives off. The police sirens fade away behind.

Carlotta passes some papers to Kate-Lynn.

Carlotta looks through other stuff, trying to organize it in her mind.

Gabriel leans forward to Justin again. "I just ask because that was some weird shit, baby. Interesting, but weird. And where there's weird, there's bound to be more weird. I did like how they squirted, man. Never killed no one before, myself, not even with a piece, but it was definitely a rush."

Kate-Lynn says, "If you continue to wish to leave, Mr. Knight, I am happy to support your ticket; one can never say how things might have gone if you had not been there, but I may owe you my life."

Gabriel shrugs. In his mind, many a hot chick owes him his life. "Don't worry about it."

Justin just nods at Gabriel's words, picking up that the rush of words probably doesn't need much answering, he's talking the rush out.

Kate-Lynn looks over the papers.

Raquel also looks at them, curiously. "Is there anything in there that looks like a brief?"

<> Demiurge says "No."

Kate-Lynn says, "I expect that's at the station. Security."

Justin says "I've never killed anyone, either, mon. But if that lass there is right, we didn't kill anythin' that wasn't already daid."

All the papers look like lesson plans, essays, or similar.

Justin nods Carlotta's way.

Raquel says, "Ah." She taptaptaps in her purse. "Does anyone know how to tell if a phone is bugged?"

Gabriel turns back to Justin. "I just ask if you've killed anyone before, baby, because you were so calm and cool. No, I like that. I like that kind of style. Calm and military, my kind of chick, baby. I'm all over that." He then looks down at the sword wrapped in the carpet across his lap, and tucks the stray hairs back behind his ears.

There is a nice colourful Plantagenet family tree on one sheet.

Carlotta says "Looks like some professor, like I said."

Kate-Lynn mulls.

Justin says "Y'all carry swords around norrmally?"

Carlotta pulls out a reading list.

Raquel looks at the family tree, curiously. She's big on family, having so little of it.

Carlotta says "See? History books, like in class."

Gabriel says "It seemed like a good thing to grab at the time."

Kate-Lynn looks at the limo roof. "You have *got* to be kidding."

Justin nods at Gabriel.

Carlotta just sort of stares at Gabriel. Like she'd stare at a bug.

It takes about ten minutes to get through the traffic to Victoria Station. The chauffeur murmurs, "It will be difficult for me to park here, ma'am. Would you like me to circle the station, and stop again when you want to be picked up?"

Justin grins at Kate-Lynn, "Jus' wonderin' as y're carryin' it about now."

Gabriel just grins at Carlotta. A nice wide grin.

Kate-Lynn looks for branches of the Plantagenet family included in this genealogy that seem likely to have vanished from standard histories.

Alas, none are obvious.

Justin eyes the papers dubiously.

Kate-Lynn says, "Circle, please."

(To: Kate-Lynn Demiurge) Archfiend pages: So.. how well does Kate-Lynn know her history?

Carlotta shakes her head, mutters, 'Pendejo', and goes back to looking at the papers.

Gabriel grins wider.

Justin lets the women read and takes another slug of the Scotch before they have to get out.

The chauffeur nods. He cruises in towards a dropping-off point.

(To: Kate-Lynn Demiurge) Archfiend pages: She could take an intelligence roll on deciphering 15th century royal family trees, I think?

(To: Archfiend Demiurge) Kate-Lynn pages: Kate-Lynn has a fine if informal education, because she hates looking stupid.

(To: Archfiend Kate-Lynn) You paged 'Okay, try an Int roll.'

(To: Archfiend Demiurge) Kate-Lynn pages: What you'd expect for 5 Int / 3 Eth, really, and not much more or less. But she is an England native ;)

<> Kate-Lynn rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 3.

Carlotta says "I don't see anything."

Kate-Lynn says, "Do you have the key?"

The chauffeur says, "Whereabouts around the station would you like me to drop you, ma'am?"

Carlotta says "Yes."

(To: Demiurge Kate-Lynn) Archfiend pages: (That was pretty close) Nothing obvious. You're havnig to concentrate quite hard to figure this through though. SOme of the names you know immediately -- you can spot the Yorkists and Lancastrians.. the princes in the tower. But you just can't remember how many children everyone was supposed to have had...

Raquel makes a mental note to look through the papers and see which ones have five or six copies.

Kate-Lynn says, "Main entrance, I think."

The chauffeur brings the limo round, and halts it in one of the temporary parking spots.

Kate-Lynn slips out.

Justin follows her.

Gabriel follows Justin out of the limo.

(To: Demiurge Archfiend) Raquel pages: BTW, would Raquel have thought that the assassin had just snorted up some coke while on the phone with her? Or is she clueless about those noises?

Carlotta follows along, staying well away from Gabriel, who is both an idiot and armed, and neither's good.

Raquel follows, probably last-out.

Kate-Lynn leaves the sword in the car.

(To: Archfiend Raquel) You paged 'I don't think that innocent Raquel thought of that.'

Kate-Lynn would feel rather conspicuous otherwise.

(To: Demiurge Raquel) Archfiend pages: She's quite innocent, 'd have.. yes, exactly ;)

The chauffeur cruises away again once the door is shut.

(To: Demiurge Archfiend) From afar, Raquel snickers. Thought so.

Carlotta keeps the suitcase, just in case.

A glance at the overhead signs, suspended well above the mob, points in the direction of the Left Luggage Lockers, over by platforms 15-19.

Justin circles back to the end of the group, with Raquel.

Kate-Lynn moves confidently in that direction.

Raquel smiles up at Justin.

The station concourse is busy, crowded with peple rushing every which way except the direction in which you want to go. Shops are crushed around the outside, big newsagent chains, expensive but grotty cafes, usual station fare.

Justin gives Raquel a slow wink, but then tries to see if anyone is following the group or interested in them beyond his odd looks.

Long distance to Archfiend: Demiurge snickers.

Raquel . o O (He's tall, scary, has purple hair, and beat up on zombis so they didn't get noncombatants. I like him.)

(No signs of the walking dead, apart from British Rail officials)

<> Demiurge says "Make a roll, Justin."

Gabriel looks around with interest.

<> Justin rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 5.

Raquel giggles, though with a slight trace of nervous-energy.

Nobody seems to be paying their group any particular attention.

Justin just watches, carefully anyway as they go.

Carlotta, perhaps oddly, relaxes somewhat now that they're in a crowd.

Gabriel plays in his mind various variations on interesting chase scenes, complete with explosions and screaming civilians.

After a couple of minutes, they come to the ranked luggage lockers, each with its own number (and key).

Raquel also keeps an eye out, her fingers making a constant tappitytap on her purse. If there is a bug on that phone, someone's getting an earfull.

Carlotta matches up keys with lockers, with the one in her hand.

A couple of voices can be heard, speaking in an Eastern European-sounding language, at the far end of the row of lockers, out of sight,.

The key is numbered 111. And there's the locker that it fits.

Carlotta points to the locker. "That's it."

Carlotta hands the briefcase to Raquel. "Hold on to this?"

Gabriel ponders, suddenly, the concept of strapping dynamite to his back, gnawing weasels, and explosive meat geysers. He does not know where this comes from. Must be England in general.

Raquel looks around, as alertly as possible. "Sure." She takes the briefcase.

<> Archfiend says "Demi, we could put ferrets up his trousers..."

Kate-Lynn moves neatly towards the far end of the row.

<> Raquel tells Gabe, "It's tea fumes."

Kate-Lynn doesn't know any Eastern European languages, but it would make perfect sense to blame all of this on the Russians.

The voice level of the Eastern European languages drops. There are soft noises.

Kate-Lynn takes off her leather jacket and holds it in one hand.

Gabriel tries to get a good look at the case.

There is a long, low moan from round the corner.

Kate-Lynn walks diagonally out to where she can hopefully see the voice-makers without being close to them.

Raquel holds the case up a little so Gabe can see it. She continues to keep an eye out, rather like a little wren.

Carlotta looks around, and carefully slides the key into the lock

The voice-makers are apparently two students. Locked in each others arms. Kissing.

<> Kate-Lynn says "That is, towards the middle of the row we're in, but past the end."

A couple of loud female voices with Australian accents argue stridently about whether to go to a party in Earls court tonight, as a pair of tanned backpackers walk past, unheeding.

The key slides into the locker lock, and fits neatly.

Gabriel reaches around into the rug the sword is bound in and takes a nice firm grip on the hilt.

Carlotta had the general attitude that she's going to open this door, and something horrible's going to come out. So she stands to the side and lets it boil out at Gabriel, if it's going to.

Kate-Lynn looks thoughtful.

The key turns, the lock clicks open, the door opens -- and inside is a neat Samsonite briefcase.

Kate-Lynn finds it rather more difficult to blame all of this on young love.

Kate-Lynn returns to the group.

Carlotta pulls the briefcase out, judging carefully how heavy it is.

Justin watches the opening, then puts his back to Carlotta and the others just to see what might come.

Gabriel takes his hand off the hilt, and starts putting fresh film into his camera and winding it.

The briefcase is not too heavy. Might be containing several books or wads of paper.

Nobody seems to be paying any particular attention to the group, still.

<> Gabriel says "Gotta love holding a sword in your armpit. :)"

<> Demiurge says "Adrian Paul does it all the time!"

Carlotta says "It's pretty light. Let's get out of here."

Kate-Lynn nods.

Carlotta looks inside the locker just to make sure she didn't miss anything.

<> Gabriel takes a moment to idolize Adrian Paul.

The locker is otherwise empty.

Raquel pauses, opening the briefcase _she's_ holding, and stuffs her purse inside, with the phone.

Kate-Lynn slings her jacket over her shoulder, looking somehow out-of-place now that her color scheme has less black in it, and heads back towards the entrance.

Carlotta wipes the key off just in case (fat lot of good it'll do), and shuts the door. "Okay."

Carlotta hauls along the suitcase.

Raquel follows along, with Suitcase 1 in her hand.

The limo has circled the station, and is just cruising past as they reach the open air again.

Justin follows Raquel.

Gabriel trails along behind the group.

Kate-Lynn hails the limo with her free hand.

The limo slows to a stop.

Raquel asks, "Can I put my purse in the trunk, in case that poor man's phone was bugged?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Sure."

Kate-Lynn knocks on the front seat window and tells the driver to pop the trunk, before she gets in again.

Carlotta says "Put the other briefcase there too. That'll leave room for this thing."

The driver does so.

Gabriel slides back into his place in the car, to get ready access to the floating bar.

Raquel puts the whole briefcase #1 in the trunk, then.

The bar is still there, and hardly touched.

Gabriel pours himself a shot of Scotch.

Raquel slams the trunk and gets into the limo.

Carlotta hauls the bigger suitcase into the passenger cabin.

<> Raquel says "Or closes it neatly, depending. O:>"

Justin helps Carlotta get it in, if she lets him.

Justin then follows it into the limo.

Carlotta accepts the help. She's a messenger, not a luggage hauler.

Once everyone is on board, the driver sets the limo in motion again. "Where to now, ma'am?"

<> Demiurge notes this isn't too big or heavy a briefcase. Though it is Samsonite, and clearly new.

Carlotta says, a little bitterly, "Somewhere that won't kill too many people if this is a bomb?"

Justin lifts like he's done a lot of lifting in his life, gets it smoothly in and collapses bonelessly into one of the seats.

Kate-Lynn says, "Has anyone eaten?"

Raquel shakes her head.

Justin says "The biscuits weren't bad."

Carlotta says "Not really."

<> Archfiend says "Yeah! They were free!""

<> Justin says "Exactly!"

<> Justin says "<- cheap."

Gabriel slams back the shot of Scotch.

<> Demiurge laughs.

The briefcase just sits there, smooth and shiny and black.

Raquel suggests, "If this turns out to be 'it,' shall we call the assassin, arrange a meeting, and then capture him and convince him to explain?"

Kate-Lynn names a fine traditional pub or restaurant, then, as she's been in America and hasn't finished reacquainting herself with British cuisine.

Gabriel just says "No."

Kate-Lynn looks at Raquel.

This convenient pub is close to Victoria. The driver heads thataway.

Raquel looks back.

Carlotta clearly thinks you're all crazy.

Kate-Lynn says, "Honestly."

Carlotta says "Do you want to open the case now or later?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Open in the car; discuss over lunch?"

Raquel shrugs. "He said that he could use it." She tilts her head. "I vote for opening it now, yes."

Carlotta says "Okay, okay."

Outside, people move past on the street, traffic honks, lights flash, and nobody knows about the contents of this limo. Or this suitcase.

Carlotta cracks open the suitcase. If it's a bomb, at least it'll be quick.

The briefcase opens. It wasn't locked, just shut. In the briefcase are -- a French/English dictionary, a battered copy of Hugo's _Notre-Dame de Paris_, a guidebook to St Albans, a folded map of London with some scribblings on it, a sheaf of handwritten papers, and a small linen bag containing something round and heavy.

Raquel reaches for the bag.

Justin watches, relaxed as it opens, then looks mildly disappointed at all the paper.

Kate-Lynn says, "Russian dolls."

Gabriel says "Man, this shit is becoming like Foucault's Pendulum."

Justin cocks an eyebrow at Gabriel.

Raquel murmurs, "Onions."

Gabriel says "Soon, we'll be following around the Comte de St. Germain and looking for Ley Lines."

Carlotta says "What?"

The linen bag has something small and heavy in it. Feels like it might be a ring.

Raquel starts calmly opening the bag. But carefully.

Gabriel says "Foucault's Pendulum. All the evil in the world has to do with the Templars, babe. Don't you watch the Discovery Channel?"

There is a flash of gold as the contents of the bag are revealed. It is a ring. A heavy signet ring, plain gold, sized for a man's hand, with a five-petalled flower engraved on the bezel.

Justin says "Nope."

Raquel blinks. "Scarlet Pimpernel?" she muses, idly.

Gabriel says "Me neither. It sounded good, though."

Kate-Lynn sighs.

Kate-Lynn takes the map and looks at the scribbling.

Justin grins his lazy grin and eyes the gold thoughtfully.

You paged Kate-Lynn with 'There's something familiar about that ring, btw.'.

The map appears to have little crosses or pentacles drawn at various locations on it.

Raquel pages: Any odd feelings about the ring, strange urges, or peculiar familiarities?

<> Demiurge says "All of you have an odd, faint sense of recognition about the ring."

Kate-Lynn sighs again.

Gabriel leans back in his seat.

Carlotta looks at the map. She's good at maps.

Raquel murmurs, "I feel I should do something significant with this, or tuck it in my bodice with a flourish."

Kate-Lynn says, "Well, I believe I know how to use 'it'. You put 'it' on your finger and you show it around flashily."

<> Demiurge | Areas marked by a cross:

<> Demiurge | 221B Baker Street, the Tower of London, Victoria Station, Old Bailey, the Globe Theatre, the Royal College of Music (South Kensington), St Pauls, the Science Museum (South Kensington), Barmoth St in Shoreditch, Temple Church, the Stock Exchange, the War Rooms, Kew Gardens, the British Library

<> Demiurge | Areas marked by a pentacle:

<> Demiurge | Poland St in Soho, Traitor's Gate, Tyburn, Queen's Rest Road in Sevenoaks, Vanway Road by Liverpool Street tube, Pudding Lane in the East End, A spot next to Knightsbridge tube, the Royal Opera House, Big Ben, the British Museum (two pentacles marked), the Houses of Parliament, Telecom Tower, a point in Whitechapel, Imperial College of Science and Technology

Justin reaches for the ring.

Raquel hands the ring to Justin, trustingly.

<> Raquel says "Baker street?"

Justin sets it on his palm and studies it thoughtfully.

<> Demiurge says "Yes. The street exists. It's in the north-west of central London."

Justin then compares it against the size of his work-rough hands.

<> Raquel giggles.

<> Gabriel just knew the British Museum was Evil!

<> Gabriel says "That clock room was too cool to be on the side of good."

The ring flashes in the light. It's made for a thinner hand than Justin's, though definitely a man's hand. It's also clearly been polished and cared for.

Carlotta doesn't know much about any of these places, and shrugs.

Raquel looks for the handwritten papers.

Justin hands the ring back to Raquel.

One set of notes apparently deals with the Templars. Another deals with a group called the Hellfire Club. And the third, least bulky, is five sheets of paper -- each showing a part of a family tree.

Kate-Lynn considers. "I would assume that the crosses marked places friendly to Jerome's associates. However, they do not look like good candidates."

<> Gabriel says "TEMPLARS!!!!!!"

Raquel concentrates on the family tree.

<> Gabriel dances around happily.

Kate-Lynn says, "I suspect that Jerome believes we descend from the Plantagenets."

Kate-Lynn says, "I find the notion rather silly."

Carlotta says "That's royalty, right?"

<> Demiurge says "Carlotta, you can orient yourself on the map. You're currently at Victoria. The closest "marked" locations are the Science Museum, the Royal College of Music, and Imperial College, in South Kensington."

Raquel says, "I wouldn't know, one way or the other. I ... don't remember my parents."

The family tree bit consists of five sheets. Each ends in a circled name. One is Raquel's own. And there is one for each of the others.

Kate-Lynn says, "Yes, Ms. de Gama."

Each of the family tree bits has the air of being a section from a larger document.

Carlotta says "I think he was mad."

Raquel examines all of them, looking for the common ancestor(s).

Kate-Lynn says, "Yes, Ms. de Gama."

Carlotta looks at her sheet.

Raquel says, distractedly, "If he was mad, so was his killer. He did sniff and giggle strangely on the phone."

There is no "common ancestor", though clearly the trees go further back than just this sheet. Oddly, Raquel's uncle is listed as a great-uncle. Must be an error.

Carlotta says "Sniff?"

Carlotta says "Like drugs or something?"

Raquel nods. "As if snuff, or a cold."

Kate-Lynn sighs.

Justin looks at his sheet thoughtfully.

Justin's sheet shows the rest of his family, including his dead sister, who is marked as such. All the sheets go back to great-grandparent level.

The limo pulls up outside the restaurant.

Raquel frowns. "This lists my uncle as a great-uncle. I am not sure I think much of his research."

Gabriel eyes the sheets. Hmm.

The sheets seem correct about Gabriel's family. They've even got that illegitimate half-sister of his on the tree. But it's his name which is circled.

Raquel slips the ring back into its little bag, and ponders where to put it.

Kate-Lynn takes her sheet, pro forma.

You paged Kate-Lynn with 'You'd ... like that ring. You really feel you should keep hold of it. It's important.'.

Kate-Lynn holds out her hand towards Raquel. "May I?"

The sheets also seem correct about Kate-Lynn's family.

Raquel hands the ring over to Kate-Lynn, assuming that's what's being requested.

Gabriel puts the sheet back. Nothing he didn't already know.

Justin's eyes close a moment at the name of his sister, and then he sighs and scans the rest of the sheet for unknown cousins, aunts or uncles, hadn't known he had family.

Kate-Lynn takes the ring, nodding. "Thank you."

Kate-Lynn considers.

On Carlotta's sheet, it's actually managed to get all her relations, even the ones by marriage. But again, it's her name that's circled.

Kate-Lynn says "If all this boils down to smoke and shadows, I shall be more than happy to have the ring appraised and pay each of you a fair share."

---

The League