Stack Shot Billy at the Fiddler's Green

[Silas Xanthus]

Rustling about in the cold of a litter strewn, overgrown vacant lot crowded around by flats and leaning tenement buildings, the pale figure's moves about low to the ground. Pushing aside junk and scraping through firm earth, the long-coat wearing figure was rooting about and occasionally putting something into a satchel carried slung across his neck and shoulder. Milky white skin is exposed not only on his head but also at bare hands, now faintly stained with soil.

[Administrator]

Enid Geraint, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Ashley McGowen]

One of the ill effects of occasionally hanging out with other graduate students is that they are given to strange flights of fancy. Restaurants in the bad parts of town are more "authentic," they say. They haven't been overrun with corporate evils. And while dinner was delicious and she didn't spend too long wanting to strangle her Sleeper friend, Ashley can't help but think that it wasn't quite worth the walk home. The Mile is pretty far away from here and she's unfamiliar with the bus system this far down. So she walks, hunched over and feeling a bit edgy, trying to keep her bad side toward the walls of the buildings she passes.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie stretched some, glancing at the skyline. The rain kept coming off and on. It didn't bother him but he had a feeling the Bulls cap he was wearing would groan if it had a voice. But things of cloth rarely liked the rain. The same could be said of humans. There were a few who reveled in it, then there were the others who believed they were made of confection. Then there were the ones who were indifferent...rain, hail, or sleet. They had to go somewhere. Charlie wasn't sure where he fell. His hoodie was up, the bill protecting his face, but for the most part...it made him somewhat feel confined. He had stopped wearing ponchos a long time ago. The feel of the water reminded him of certain things. His name being one of them. He was making his way back to the rec center, thinking about whether it might be more prudent to replace the basketball nets with net chains rather then cloth...two of the ones he had gotten from Hibbet at the owner's orders had frayed already in the last month.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid? Has a car. And as there'd been no driving while intoxicated, there's no problem with her license. Yet. It's also not past the hours during which minors are allowed to drive just yet, so when she pulls up outside of a certain amazing-smelling Thai place (in a car that may well be older than she is, but is in reasonably good shape for all that and not fitting in as a 'classic'), it's not that strange to see her. Not really. Maybe. She's about two buildings ahead of Ashley and in easy hailing range . . . but it's she who notices the Hermetic first. ".....Ashley. Hey." It's . . . polite. It's also nervous. It's been less than a day, after all, and a late night last night.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley, who is at least accustomed enough with how to behave in a bad part of town to know that you don't make eye contact and certainly don't look at cars that drive by, only turns her head when she hears her name. She stops, because this way she can both look at Enid and see at least one side of the street out of her peripheral vision. "Enid. Hey." She locks eyes with the girl, whose anxiety is palpable. It has been less than a day. But hell, home is miles away and it's starting to drizzle. "You know, I hate to bum rides off of people, but any chance you're headed up toward Northwestern?"

[Fiddler's]

Bronzeville was old. If you had to count it, you might say it was Chicago's last old neighborhood. It wasn't as old as the loop, for instance. Where Chicago had been born, died in a fire, and born again. It wasn't as old as Canaryville or Back of the Yards, where those that lived in the city worked for the city and made it prosperous through the blood of slaughtered cattle and the filth of organized crime. But it was still old. It was still Bronzeville, where the people that did the unseen jobs lived. The ones that greased the wheels of the city, that cleaned up the messes that needed cleaning. That made the messes that needed making. It was also where they played, those unseen people. Playing in secret corners where others could come and feel, for just one night, that their sins were just as unseen. Take for instance the gentlemen at the corner of South Giles and 3yth. There was a building there, a squat box of a structure with boarded up windows and a 'Condemned' Sign in bright red. And yet they're all outside, passing around a large bottle hidden in a paper bag. They're all swapping stories of the good old days. The days when they ran this town. Now, they're all bald, Greying, Wrinkled and arthritic. One is a bus driver. Another is a Janitor. The third, a man on a rascal, is on disability. They've been here forever. They know some of the stories. But they still don't know them all. They're still not as old as Bronzeville. Its been warm these past few evenings. Chicagoans like these know better than to praise warm nights. When the chill didn't bite and the cold winds didn't blow, they knew to hide in their homes until it finally did. And tonight, there's an occasional light brightness that shoots through the heavy dark clouds in the sky. And at the first sound of a low, grumbling thunder, one of the men whistles and they all go their separate ways.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie listened to the thunder but just continued on his way. He started to idly hum some vague hip hop song he had heard lately..but he couldn't get his legs into the motion of dancing as he walked. The day didn't feel right for it. It was weird weather for Chicago...he was use to a biting wind, a frost like air hanging around his face. Today? Not so much. It was cool....cool in comparison to some cities. But it definitely was not Chicago weather. Charlie idly glanced over, hearing someone flag someone else down...two white girls...at least one of them definitely not seeming to be part of the urban blend. She looked sorta familiar.

[Silas Xanthus]

Scraggly plants rustle and a can skitters across the sidewalk as the man pushes through the 'fence' of tangled vine and rusty bits of old chain link. Hearing the grumble of the sky above he pulls the broad-rimmed hat up from hanging against his back, planting it down over his head for the rain that promises to come along again any time now. Clipping a buckle shut on the satchel, he shrugs to shift the wide mesh band around to a more comfortable spot against the high collar of his jacket. Purple eyes shift along the dull, damp cityscape, pausing to linger over a face down the road...seen in profile the woman could have been one of many in this ant-hive of a place. Still, he hadn't any direction in mind and so heads up towards the face that teased at a memory.

[Enid Geraint]

".....yeah. I'm just picking up dinner," comes the somewhat timid answer. "And. Um. It's okay to ask. I mean, I didn't end up in a tub missing a kidney, and you seemed alright." It's not that Enid's shy, obviously - there's never appeared to be a serious problem with the girl's confidence. She's not the world's greatest people person, perhaps, but she's not the worst either. She's just . . . a kid. Who isn't just a kid any more, and hasn't exactly come to terms with it yet. "It should be ready. You can come in, or wait by the car," she adds with a shrug.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley doesn't hesitate to wander over to the car, open the door and climb in; it's warm, but she still has no desire to be outside on the street, and it's difficult for her to keep an eye both on Enid and on the sidewalk to either side. In the passenger seat of the car, at least, Enid is to her left and anything that might be of interest or concern is to her right, where she can see and hear it. "How are you holding up?" the Hermetic asks, situating her bag between her feet on the floor of the car. She's wearing a light jacket today despite the warmth; beneath it is a light gray collared shirt and a pair of jeans. "Has anything had a chance to sink in?" Her voice is toneless. There wasn't any coddling or sympathy last night, and there is none today either.

[Fiddler's]

The rain comes down suddenly. Its heavy, its cold, and its furious. It dumps down on Charlie quite suddenly, not even the first pitter patter warnings to tell him to start running for cover. Cloth doesn't like water, but his hoodie seemed to like it well enough. It soaked up all the rain it could in such a short time, and quickly grew heavy on his shoulders. Soaked through even further and he felt the sudden chill that was already starting to make his fingers less steady than they ought to be. For Silas, it felt like an assault. At first it battered his wide brimmed hat but flowed around it and kept him dry. But then, as if offended, the downpour struck harder. Raindrops launched themselves at the ground and bounced upward at his legs. The wind carried them sidelong until they flowed under his hat. The wind! The mischievous wind snatched at his hat, at his clothes, at his very self. As if the forces of nature themselves were conspiring to ruin his evening. Ashley was about to answer Enid. She was about to suggest they go in and wait inside when the rain wouldn't bother them or trap them, when with a sudden splashing roar the rain did just that, and with a leap and a spring she was inside, barely dry, and rolling up the windows hurriedly. The rain battered at the cars outsides angrily. Pounding on the hood and on the glass. And as they sat, something strange happened. Of their own volition, the windshield wipers began to turn frantically washing the water fro the front glass. The air conditioner switched itself on full blast, freezing cold, then sweltering hot. The Radio scrambled, changing stations at random until suddenly, clear as dusty vinyl, a woman's voice crooned sweetly over poorly recorded instruments. Everytime it rains, it rains... Pennies from heaven. Don't you know each cloud contains... Pennies from-- And all at once, everything in the car...stopped. The radio, the wipers, even the engine coughed and sputtered and just simply...stopped. And for everyone the rain formed a thin, grey blanket over the world. They were blinded by it, no matter how far or how quickly they ran. The only thing they could possibly see was the water washing beneath their feet, the interior of a stuffy, swelteringly hot car... ...and in the distance...A faint green light, spread wide and carried high. And blinking. On and off. On and off.

[Silas Xanthus]

Plonks a hand down over the hat as it tries to blow off, a smile spreading across pale lips as the wind tugs at him...tugging far harder than it really ought too. Water spatters against his teeth and some into his mouth as he looks slightly up towards the gray sky. "What have we here?" Nature was the man's boon companion, even in her cruelest of moments he loved her well, so this sudden fury was most intriguing. When the cityscape becomes a wash of gray mist rather than gray cement and steel, he pauses to look about at the blinding wall...hands stretching out with fingers splayed to feel for the pulse of things.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley is not an easy person to rattle. The Flambeau she kept company with before she came to Seattle were unpredictable people, given to rapid bursts of either anger or mirth and God knew which one it would be at the time, and she learned to adjust. Before that, her training in House Tytalus was merciless. Most things pass over or through her as though she were a void, absorbing any and all sensory input and digesting it with a level head and a strong Will. That said, when the song plays and then everything in the car is just silent a second later, when the world outside is as blind to her right side as to her left, her breath stills in her throat and it takes her a moment to regain her composure. "Stay calm," she advises Enid, fixing her gaze on the one thing she can see: the blinking green light in the distance. And she watches and waits.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie tried to get beneath an awning, his hat soaked through the brim, dripping water down the tip..his hood was soaked. He could feel the jersey beneath was hanging off him. He wasn't averse to rain but at the same time he wasn't in such a hurry to continue getting soaked. He paused though as things became blinding...hand going to his pockets to remove his shades. Its only when the green glowing hue began that Charlie paused. "...Steven Spielberg, eat your heart out."

[Silas Xanthus]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 7, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6) to Fiddler's [Percep + Awareness]

[Fiddler's]

to Silas Xanthus The world wasn't only obscured to his five senses, but to that special sixth as well. Everything around him felt dulled hidden. Everything except that blinking green light. There was warmth. There was safety.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid? Is a high school girl. While she is used to Chicago weather and it's lake-shore oddities, and thus could deal with the rain, however strange it seemed to come so intensely, so suddenly. She could deal with the bit of damp that caught her before she closed her car door. She could deal with a great many things, really, but then her car went haywire and her face went paper-white. 'Stay calm,' says Ashley, and the red-head next to her tries. She really, really does. "Fucking Christ how the hell am I supposed to stay fucking calm? Alice flooded a damn room when she went down the fucking rabbit hole and stupid Keanu Reeves had a choice even if his best acting is in the myriad ways he can say 'whoa'. My car just turned itself into a character in a freaking Stephen King novel," she says, and for all that it's quiet, it's about as far from calm as she can be. Which is likely why the plastic of her steering wheel shocks her, visibly. There's no other effect, but the car smells like electricity and growing things for a moment - or maybe it's just the imagination. "Ow fucking damn it!" And then, almost despairing, ".....there's a green light."

[Ashley McGowen]

Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 5, 8, 10 (Success x 4 at target 5) [WP] [Mind 2 rote, spending WP. Post forthcoming.]

[Silas Xanthus]

Warmth and safety in this heavy woolen world of water that chilled despite the heavy duty coat, soaking into socks and leeching icy damp down into his boots. Such feelings were more disturbing than comforting and he crouches down where he stands to feel the ground. It should be broken cement from where he'd been walking along the sidewalk, and a curb should be just a few feet to his left. Such solid markings of the physical world would be far more comforting than some flashing light in the distance.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie slid his shades on regardless of the afterglow hue of the light. He glanced around, seeing if he was the only one seeing this before he turned his gaze back towards the light. He wiped his sleeve against his face to get the water off the side of his nose. I'm wet. I know I didn't have some bad Chinese last night and I didn't fall asleep watching The Outer Limits...and last I checked, I didn't fall asleep walking... He glanced again at the light....wondering if he would hear Caroline or the crazy small psychic woman speaking through the TV at this point.

[Ashley McGowen]

There is indeed a green light. And though she has no idea what it is or what it might be, she begins to regard the light with a fierce anticipation: only through challenge does one's Will grow and shape itself, and opportunity presents itself at the strangest times. Not knowing the nature of whatever might be out there - or, indeed, if anything is out there at all - Ashley chooses to prepare herself anyway, to lock her thumb and forefinger around the link of iron at her throat and fortify her mental barriers. Again, even stronger than last night, is that sense of a lurking presence, as Ashley fortifies her Will and her mental defenses against anything that might seek to affect or breach them. Enid is too inexperienced to protect herself, and so if she allows it, that protection is extended to her too. Ashley watches the green light on the horizon. "That chat we had last night was right in time, apparently," she comments to Enid. "I'm not sure what's out there yet, if anything. Just take a couple of deep breaths and watch, you're probably about to learn something."

[Fiddler's]

Ah, the cracked cement, curb, the asphalt beyond it, even that stop sign on the corner. The material world was still there. The street was still there. Bronzeville was old. It wouldn't be going anywhere. The light blinks steadily. A barely perceived green through the curtain of heavily falling water. And the only sound is the sound rain makes on the streets. Oh, and footsteps. The steady splashing plop of footsteps. They come up behind Silas first and, should he turn he would see the blurry outline of a man in a brown coat, a rey hat on his head. he's running, though carefully so as not to slip in the rain. And as he passes by Silas he speaks. "Best get out this rain, Brotha. You gonn' catch your death." And he trots on. On across the street and toward Charlie, this time waiting. Pausing. but oddly, even under the awning, his form is blurred. Hardly solid, but visible in the shapes the colours of his coat and hat make. He seems to bristle for a moment under the awning. "Naw, this'll never work. C'mon man. You wanna freeze to death out hear?" And with that brief invitation he's gone again, this time running past the two in the car, running close to the window, and right up to... The blinking green light. They can see it now, aas if the rain just barely let up just for the man in brown. The square box of a building. The golden light of the windows. And others. Others who are inside. Others who welcome the man in brown. They take his coat and he looks...warm. Safe. He has found refuge beneath the glowing green light. Perhaps they should as well.

[Fiddler's]

to Ashley McGowen, Enid Geraint ((Alright, i've taken the liberty of splitting your 4 suxx evenly between the two of you. You each have a basic mind ward up, which will last for two turns. If you want to continue it, you'll have to roll again.))

[Enid Geraint]

Even if she knew what was going on, it's quite possible that Enid couldn't not allow it - instead, she looks at Ashley suspiciously even as she near-wails, ".....the hell did you just do to me?" It's a lot for anyone to handle, really, just the Awakening bit (which isn't really a 'just', but . . . well). It's then, of course, that she sees the man in brown jogging by and she is, perhaps thankfully, distracted from further lamentation. ".....I only come down here for the Thai. What's that building?"

[Silas Xanthus]

Solid, even if it wasn't the stone he'd rather of felt the physical world was still solid beneath this place that the rain had made for itself. The rain blurred man was indeed seen and warily followed across the street. It was for the open buildings that he knew to be in that direction more than the running man that he crossed the asphalt, losing track of the other only to spot him again out of the corner of one eye. At the same time a faint hole in the rain is spotted and he steps beneath the shelter of an overhang.

[Ashley McGowen]

"I warded your Mind against any sort of outside influence," Ashley tells Enid. As though that explains anything to the bewildered girl. Ashley watches the man jog over to the light, her gaze skimming over the boxy shape of the building as they take the man's coat and welcome him inside. In the depths of the ocean, so alien it might as well be another world, there are fish that use this tactic - in the blackness, a light appears, and with it they lure other fish into their open mouths. "Just stay in the car. I don't know what that building is yet," Ashley says, making no move toward it. She observes the man who ran over there with a detached sort of interest.

[Administrator]

Corran, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Corran]

to Ashley McGowen, Enid Geraint, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus, sunglasses (( was just pinged. anyone mind if I join? ))

[Enid Geraint]

to Ashley McGowen, Corran, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus, sunglasses ((I don't. Enid's upset, heh.))

[Ashley McGowen]

to Enid Geraint, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus, sunglasses ((Go for it!))

[Administrator]

Charlie McGee, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Corran]

*Corran had been going out for Pizza and got off the El at the wrong stop. Down the stairs and onto street level before he fully figured it out.* Damit... .it's harder to move around on the ground... much easier in the air. *The the down pour hit as if it had a personal vendetta aginst the witch, and promted him to hold the pizza box up over his head a some sort of umbrella. Looking around in the down pour hesaw the green light. Natural curiosity pulled him there and he headed that way*

[Corran]

to Ashley McGowen, Charlie McGee, Enid Geraint, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus, sunglasses (( Thanks folks!))

[Administrator]

Silas Xanthus, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie blinks, seeing the figure....before he starts to move towards the light. It wasn't that he was heedless of caution. But sometimes you had to jump first without looking at times. It was almost Zen in concept.

[Fiddler's]

Charlie and Corran seem to converge on the same path, even though they can only make out each other's vague shapes through the curtain of rain and the sound of one another's footsteps. As they draw nearer to the blinking green light it seems to rise above them, spreading wide. And this close they see it for what it is. The green makes it almost exuberant, the way the neon sign flashes on and off, on and off. FIDDLER'S It announces. And everytime the light glows it seems happy to do so. Welcoming. Warm. Just like the young ladies standing by the door. One of them already holds a sodden brown coat in her arms. the other beckons for them to come in. "Y'all better hurry up! You gonn' catch your death o'cold! Come on in and get Dry. Oh and uh...welcome to Fiddler's. They didn't look old. In fact, one of them didn't look much older than 17. But their clothes, their hair, even the way they talked. There was something old there. Old and timeless. But still not older than Bronzeville. A golden yellow light shone through the windows. Inside they could see people dancing and carousing. There was a lively group crowding around a bar, thinking nothing of sharing personal space with someone they weren't having a conversation with. There were a few in front of a stage, on an area that had obviously been cordoned off to form a dance floor. And just to one side, almost out of sight, two men sat at what looked to be a poker table. It looked warm inside. It looked dry. And, unless you were allergic to fun or alcohol, it looked pretty safe.

[Administrator]

Charlie McGee has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Silas Xanthus]

Someone else come out of the 'hole' in the rain even as he enters it, someone other than the running man. Perhaps because this place wasn't much of a shelter after all, though now that he had a wall to go by it'd be only a matter of time before he found the door of one of the nearby restaurants. Sure he hadn't gotten where he was by going away from the odd, but then this wasn't his favored brand of odd.

[Enid Geraint]

"It's hot and gross in the car and I don't wanna stay here but I don't wanna go there Ijustwannagohome!" So pronounces the girl. But. She's just a girl. She's waiting to be told what to do, really.

[Corran]

*Corran tilted his head and looked over at Charlie and then at the door. A brow rose and he shrugged, heading up to the door. He didn't mind normal rain but this stuff was a bit energetic for his tastes. Stepping up to the door he looked around for a place to ditch the now ruined pizza box, shaking water from his hands. The black leather jacket he wore was slick but it was good at holding water from your core. Stepping inside the young witch looked around, curiosity shining in his eyes.*

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley watches the people go into Fiddler's. She's quiet while she inspects the sign, the window, notes the carousers inside. The place looks safe, but given the circumstances under which it has cropped up, Ash is certain that it ought to be approached at least with caution. She doesn't know what it is, though. It's an oddity that has cropped up in south Chicago, where such things seem to happen the most often. She won't know anything about it if she stays in the car, though. "Let's go inside," she suggests to Enid, cracking open the car door. "Stay with me, and be very cautious about who you talk to or what you touch." A girl, yes, but she's Awakened. Ashley will keep an eye out for her, but if she falls victim to a stupid mistake, so be it.

[Fiddler's]

Under the awning, the wind found Silas anew. It tugged and it pushed and it threatened to steal his hat again, blowing at him side on and bringing with it the rain bouncing off the streets. He finds the shallow of a door, but somehow the restaurant he knew to be open had its door firmly shut. They were all shut, come to think of it. Not even the yellow and blue 'Coors' sign in the window was lit. But the green light in the distance blinked on. And in the car, the woman on the radio was back, mid lyric. --If you want these kinds of things... you must have showers. So when you hear that rain a-comin. Don't hide under a tree. There'll be pennies from heaven! For you...and meeee... And with her cool, sweet voice, the hot, sweltering Air conditioner began to blow again, full blast in their faces.

[Administrator]

Charlie McGee, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee, Corran The layout of Fiddler's

[Ashley McGowen]

The gust of icy air makes Ashley's hair fly back for a few seconds like those cartoons of an explosion. For about a second, after the sweltering heat of the car, it's welcome, but then she screws up her face and shoves the door open. "Let's go." And she makes her way toward Fiddler's, presumably with Enid in tow.

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee, Corran http://www.chicagodusk.com/index.php?jove=gallery&picture=4319 Sorry, C&P Phail!

[Enid Geraint]

".....alright." Again, it's a small voice, but at least not quite so frightened-panicked small as it had been last night; that's there, certainly, but this is no talking cat. And yes, Enid is, indeed, in tow - and dressed in no way to handle this kind of downpour. It's lucky, perhaps, that she's thin and not particularly busty - in a way. It's less lucky that her shirt is light colored.

[Silas Xanthus]

Finally letting the hat fall back, caught easily by the leather strap so it hangs down against his back again, tugging and blowing about but still there, he goes to try the door. "Ah..." rapping the glass with his knuckles "so you're solid in ways I'd rather you not be too." With ebony walking stick in hand he turns towards that damnable green glow. "Fine then, lets see whose light this is..." and if it needs knocking out.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie steps inside, glancing around briefly. He felt out of place...like he was slipping into an establishment that was a throwback to the earlier part of the 20th century. But it was warm and he certainly didn't overly mind the smell of smoke or alcohol, even if he would not touch it himself. His fingers reached up and began to remove his hat, sliding his hood off as well. His head wasn't completely soaked at least, which left his hair nice and frazzled looking on the Eurasian youth.

[Silas Xanthus]

Offers the jacket to the women at the door but retains the satchel and the walking stick. The ghostly white man, whose veins are usually quite clear to the naked eye, steps inside to take a look around through half-shut purple eyes. One of the men in the room looked out of place and he starts towards him.

[Fiddler's]

The two women at the door hurry to take their coats, fussing over them, how it was unhealthy being this wet. If they're allowed to take the coats and hats, each gets a ticket to be claimed later. If not, they get a "Suit yourself if you wanna die o' consumption." The club is lively. Hopping, one might say. A band is on the stage with a male singer in dark sunglasses who croons smoothly but, in all honesty, ultimately unintelligibly. One would could settle for fealing the music. For enjoying it just for the sound and the rhythm. Or, one could concentrate, and listen to what the man was saying. It was, for the most part, a matter of preference.

[Corran]

*Corran was still looking around and saw Ashley and Enid appear. A smile crossed his face and then he blinked. Blue eyes widening under his black brows* Oh Shi... um... Enid.... dude. *he whipped off his jacket and offered it to her. Nodding a bit* here, please, um.... it'll keep you warm. Maybe.

[Enid Geraint]

".....consumption? Really? Isn't that the same as TB?" Enid frowns. "There's a shot for that, you know. I had it when I was a baby." And, the girl isn't wearing a coat. She is, in fact, wearing what appears to be pajamas - a yellow tshirt with Aerie across the chest and pants with rainbow hearts on them. Her feet are in sandals and she's shivering, given air conditioner blasts and cold rain and all. Then there's Corran offering her his jacket, and she flushes, hesitating only minutely before accepting it and crossing her arms over her chest. ".....thanks," she mutters. "Was just picking up carryout, or supposed to be." And she is, of course, staying with Ashley; she may be a teenager, but she's a well behaved one.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley does indeed hand her coat to the women at the door, folding her soaked jacket in two as she hands it over. Once she's inside, she takes a look around, again edging her left side a bit close to the wall so that she can feel secure while she looks around, taking in the rhythm of the music that's being played. She looks over at Corran, and he gets a nod as he hands Enid his coat. "Corran. I'm somehow not surprised to see you here."

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie just kept looking around, for the most part getting a feel of it. His fingers reflexively began to form one of the few mudra signs he knew...it wasn't anything flashy but it was opening his senses to the sensation of time itself...trying to discern what was up with this club.

[Charlie McGee]

to Fiddler's Give me a diff.

[Silas Xanthus]

There, two more people looking far out of place, and one of them was the woman he vaguely recalled from up the road. "Good evening ladies, gentleman..." purple eyes turn on Ashley "I believe we've met before miss. Fancy meeting you again, here in this rather strange place."

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee ((One sec. Any modifiers other than Mudra for focus?))

[Charlie McGee]

to Fiddler's None coming to mind. I don't have a book and such after all.

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee ((3+1-1 = Diff 3))

[Corran]

*Corran offered Ashley and Enid a grin* Jus' like a bad penny. How you ladies doin'? *He'd confess a bit of curiosity, seeing the way Enid was dressed. Glancing around again, he raised a hand and waved to Charlie G*

[Fiddler's]

The girls at the door give Enid a concerned look. First at her clothes, and growing more perplexed as she spoke. "Uh-huh." said one of them. And as they walked away she could hear the other muttering: "Crazy ass white girl." "Well, well, well!" Comes a booming voice, and through the haze of smoke and good times a tall man steps forward. He's wearing a purple suit with a yellow tie and a fedora on his head. He's also wearing gold. Lots of it. It glints in the yellow light off his fingers and around his neck. Gold even shines off his teeth as he smiles at the group who, to him at least, obviously didn't belong there. "What do we have here. You folks don't look like our regular crowd. What brings y'all to Fiddler's?" He's tall, though not bulky. He's not a mountain of a man, but a tower. A vaguely handsome, gregarious black tower with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. He considers the group of them, analyzing each with honest curiosity as he waits for his answer.

[Charlie McGee]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 9 (Success x 2 at target 3) Time Magic, Arete 2, Diff 3 + 1 - 1 Foci

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee They were all here. As in...all now. And yet...they weren't. Because outside, as the rain continued to pour beyond the windows, even Now wasn't quite now. it was November Ninth, around 8 PM. And that's the way it stayed, even as time in motion ticked on before their eyes. An hour later, if he checked, Charlie knew that it would still be November 9th. 8 pm.

[Ashley McGowen]

She catches sight of Charlie out of the corner of her eye even as Silas makes his way over to the trio. Ashley appears to be the common contact they all have. She's at least spoken to each of them, however briefly. To Silas, she nods without smiling. "I remember you." Then the man wanders over, wearing a combination of colors that might have been eye blistering but for the fact that he has the personality and skin tone to pull them off. He's a tower of a man, and Ashley is very short. She looks up at him, regards him quietly for a few seconds. "We're just here to get out of the rain."

[Enid Geraint]

"'m alright," she says, still kind of mumbling - embarrassed to be caught in such a way, perhaps, which . . . most people would be, to be honest. It's one thing to run in to pick up one's food and get back into the car to go home in one's pajama's, but another entirely to be in a bar in them. A bar that seems to have dropped into Chicago's south side from approximately 1922. "Dad wanted Thai." Which doesn't say that she spent most of the day curled up on the couch under her favorite blankie, watching TV and trying not to think. The state of her hair and dress does that for her. She doesn't know Charlie. Doesn't know Silas. She acknowledges anyone who talks to her with a nod - she'd been told to be careful who she talks to, after all - and doesn't say much else (other than to Corran and Ash, who seem to get special treatment), but she listens.

[Enid Geraint]

to Ashley McGowen, Charlie McGee, Corran, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus ((Must feed baby and put her to bed, back soon.))

[Corran]

*Corran looks at the guy and offers a tenitive smile, and moves to Enid's other side. Putting the girl between Ashley and himself* Jus' started pissin' hard out side man. Thought we'd step in, get dry, perhaps have a drink.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie blinks...perplexed, intrigued, but at the same time unsure of what to do. He glanced to the man. "Same...getting out of the rain. Something special going down tonight?"

[Silas Xanthus]

"The lady has it right...cats and dogs out there" while he isn't anywhere near as tall as the gold girded man, the wet clothing that usually billows around his frame to hide it was sticking to surprisingly muscular arms and legs. The broad shoulders weren't just from his jacket and particular cut of shirt either.

[Fiddler's]

"Rain?" The man says incredulously, and he peers out through the windows as if doing so for the first time. "Well would you look at that. It really is raining. And y'all..." he pauses, taking a drag from his cigarette and puffing out smoky breaths as he pieced it all together. "Y'all were runnin from the rain...and wound up here? Hrm." Then the man smiles up at the lot of them. "In that case, y'all are with me. You hear that folks!" He announces it to the bar and the dance floor, but no one particularly seems to pay attention. "These here are my guests! Now c'mon. Uh...come sit with me. Lets get y'all dry and get y'all a drink." He turns and heads toward the Poker table, but halfway there he turns back, looking to see if they were following. Either way he gives a wide armed beckoning wave. "C'mon now! Right this way!"

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley sidesteps one of the man's puffs of smoke, pushing a tuft of damp brown hair off to the side. They're his guests, he says. Ash isn't sure exactly what they've wandered into yet, but she does indeed follow the man, albeit cautiously. She weaves through the Fiddler's other patrons, glad to have Enid and Corran on her left. "Looks like you're getting a lot of business tonight," she comments to the man as she follows him back. "Especially for a Monday."

[Corran]

*Corran nodded and moved with the ladies. Keeping an eye out as he moved though the place. Corran wasn't a large guy by any stretch, nor a brawler, so.. he tended to try and make peace and such* Very kind of ya man.

[Charlie McGee]

Charles moved as well to follow the suit. He tried to remember history...recall how the 20s regarded Asian-Americans. Or any of those time periods as old as this. But the only thing he could really recall were the Japanese interment camps. This seemed...older. But it was definitely like stepping into a realm that time forgot...as if it were never going to change...never going to become another date.

[Silas Xanthus]

He moves with the others, there was no reason to insult the man by turning down his offer. Not yet anyway, besides, outsiders had to stick together in strange circumstances like this or they might not get out of things with their skin. The walking cane taps against the floor from time to time as he follows the man over to the poker table, the female faces carved into the knotted wood gleaming faintly in the dull light.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid knows drinking laws were different in the 20s and 30s - she'd looked it up when so much trouble had been caused when the reporters got a hold of the fact that there'd been drinking at the part. She also knows that even during prohibition, when speakeasies and the like existed, it wasn't legal for seventeen-year-olds to drink. Not, of course, that the legality had been so much a thing, then, as it hadn't been legal for anyone. For the first time not to Ashley or Corran, Enid speaks up; it's a nice voice, for all that it's a bit tentative and nervous. "Is there a newspaper around somewhere, Sir?" Who knows? Maybe that will tell them something.

[Fiddler's]

"Monday? Shoot. You gonna have to keep that under your hat, sister. Aint no such thing as Mondays round here. Aint no need for the news either. Only thing peple care about is what's happenin' between these walls. Every night is last night in Fiddlers, if you know what I mean." The tall man seats himself around a Poker table, where two other men seem to have been waiting for him. One man reels in his chair, as if falling asleep. The other shuffles the cards idly. "C'mon now, don't be shy. Have a seat, there's plenty of space for everyone. This here is my old friend 'Young Bill.'" He indicates the man shuffling the cards, and the fresh faced black man smiles welcomingly at them. "And that Ornery cuss over yonder is Stack." The other man suddenly brightens in his seat having heard his name. He turns to the tall man, then to Young Bill, and then to each of the others, looking at them as if he'd just woken up. For a moment there's a look on his face as if he's about to be sick. "The fuck is this?" Stack says. "Who let all these white people in here?" And his eyes glance over Charlie for instance, and then shoot to Silas. "And a fuckin ghost?" "Now Stack. You be nice, y'hear?" The tall man warns, and Stack bristles momentarily before lowering his head, grumbling. "So we got us a game then?" Asks Young Bill brightly. The tall man turns to his guests, smiling. "What do you say? You folks wanna play?"

[Fiddler's]

to Ashley McGowen, Charlie McGee, Corran, Enid Geraint, Silas Xanthus The table is littered with stacks of coins. Pennies, nickles and dimes, mostly. But, among each man's pile sits a few shining tokens. Each of them sees them as something strange. Those with the propper training would recognize them as points of tass. And they were right there for the winning.

[Enid Geraint]

to Ashley McGowen, Charlie McGee, Corran, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus ((I forgot to say - dressed the way she is, there's a gold ring on a gold chain around her neck that can be seen and felt. It's a rather dynamic, changeable little thing (also pretty and very nicely done, but not a particlularly high carat gold) that glows with just a hint of quint.))

[Corran]

*Corran looked around. He'd grown up in a small New England town. It was only just now dawning on him that he was a minority in ethnic-type here. And that something other than a theme party might be going on here at the bar. His bright blue eyes look around the room. To say Corran was white would be an understatement. If he got any more white he might be translucent. He had that milk pale skin that some assioated with Witches that was even more offset by his dark black hair and brows. Hurm. Yes he was feeling out of place now. Pulling out chairs for Ashley and Enid he then took his own.* Um...... not I, but thank you. If not for bad, I'd have no luck at all.

[Silas Xanthus]

Being called a ghost by the crass man once he's awake enough to realize who is sitting around the table, pretty much rolls off like water does over a duck. Resting the walking stick across his knees after sitting, his eyes wander over the money on the table. Not everything that shined was gold, though his purple gaze regards the pj clad young woman with more interest for a moment. "What's the buy in gentlemen?"

[Enid Geraint]

"'Asshole' is hardly exclusive to 'white'," she mutters, just barely loud enough to be heard by those closest to her; her tolerance level for Weird Shit is terribly low at the moment. "Play . . . poker? I don't know how." And she also doesn't have much of a poker face, it must be said.

[Charlie McGee]

"...what stakes are we playing for?" Charlie pipes in...he eyed the tas but had a feeling there was more to this game then just riches and tass. In fact, he had sinking suspicion the stakes might be more then they are up for.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley grew up in a small town. She grew up in a suburb, and when she moved to Boston she spent the majority of her time up near the Hill. These days it's generally spent up on the Mile. Needless to say, she's rather acutely aware of how out of place she is here. It's not quite racism, but it's the subtle discomfort of someone who isn't used to mingling with anything that isn't her own culture. Still, she sits down at the table, eyes latching onto the Tass that they are playing for. "If I explain the rules, you think you'll be able to follow along?" she asks Enid, turning so she can look at her.

[Ashley McGowen]

"I'm Ashley, nice to meet you," she adds to the men seated there at the table.

[Enid Geraint]

".....I think so. Maybe. I'm decent at Spades and Euchre, and it's just another trick-taking game, isn't it? Sort of, anyway." You know, except for the lack of poker-face; she's young, and nearly everything she thinks or feels makes it to her face. It's questionable as to if she could hide things, frankly. But then, this lot don't know her well. "But I only have my debit card, no cash."

[Fiddler's]

"Well uhh...seen as how yall are my guests and all." The tall man begins counting his coins, collecting them into several stacks. He sucks his teeth. All he's left with is a few pennies and three shining coins of tass. Nevertheless he cups the coins and continues to push them forward, a small pile before everyone except Corran. "Paltry measure, I'm sorry. You'll likely be bullied out of the game early on by old Stack over there. Unless...you folks care to buy in with something of your own?" He looks down at the three measures of quintessence energy before him, and back up to the others with a smile. Young Bill smiles brightly at Ashley, offering a 'Well Howdy Do, Miss Ashley?' He eyes the pile of coins the tall man has placed before Ashley, and gathers up a similar amount from his pile, sliding it alongside hers.

[Corran]

*Corran looked around and leaned back in his chair. he was dressed in well worn hiking boots, cargo pants in dark gray, and a button up blue shirt over a tee. Enid had his jacket. Soo as he looked around he tried to get a feel for the room.*

[Fiddler's]

to Corran The poker table doesn't seem to be the focus of anything around here. If anything it was a close split between the bar and the dance floor, and of course by association the stage. The band was still going at full swing, playing rocking blues and jazz music. But strangely, the lead singer sounded like his voice was coming from somewhere far off. One had to really listen to hear what he was singing.

[Ashley McGowen]

"I don't have anything of my own to put in, sorry," Ashley says, sounding genuinely apologetic - she knows it would be more polite to offer something up. "Thanks, Bill," she says, accepting the stack of coins from him and from their host and arranging them into a neat pile in front of where she's sitting. Corran catches her eye, and she just raises a brow at him, shrugs, and gestures toward an empty seat. "If you don't mind waiting a few minutes for me, I'm going to explain how this is played to my friend here." "Enid, here's what you'll want to do..." And she will proceed to go through the rules of playing poker, giving a very thorough breakdown of hands and how the game is played.

[Silas Xanthus]

Scoops up the coin stack and flicks the coins about in his hand before setting them back down in a stack. He was looking at the dates, not that old coins meant anything but he'd be surprised to find any newly minted ones.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie finally sat down as well, moving the pile in front of him as he readied for the game. They hadn't answered his question...but he imagined he might figure it out with time.

[Corran]

to Fiddler's *Corran is going to focous on the stage for a few moments. He's very perceptive (( perception 4, specialty details)) and try and figure out the strange thing with the voice*

[Fiddler's]

Silas would indeed be surprised to find any newly minted coins in the lot. in fact, any of them probably would, including the players they'd met there. And yet, among the shiniest, cleanest, least faded coins he'd found, the latest date on them was... 1932 The tall man smiles Graciously. "Sure thing, Miss Ashley." He says. "We're all friends here." "I aint nobody's friend!" Stack shouts from out of the blue. The two men glare, and Young Bill just sighs and says "Lets just play." as he deals the cards.

[Enid Geraint]

"Okay, so . . ." There are a couple of questions asked that establish her as a newbie to the game, and she idly shrugs out of the jacket as she warms in the room; crazy ass white girl, indeed, but a pretty, young one in pajamas that are barely decent for the time on the most recently minted coin. Couldn't possibly be on purpose, right? Regardless, she frowns as she looks at her cards, even twirls her hair a bit - just a girl, indeed.

[Corran]

*Corran winced and leaned over* Enid.... *Then murmered in her ear*

[Fiddler's]

((Alright, just to make this simple I'm gonna play Hold'em style cuz that's the easiest in my head for some reason. I'll be dealing and shuffling cards on my end. Consider yourselves as having $8 in tokens (50 pennies, 50 nickels and 50 dimes), except for Ashley who has double that amount. I'll PM you your cards, post your reactions and bets. And if you feel like cheating, send me a PM and we'll discuss it.))

[Fiddler's]

to Silas Xanthus Your cards are: Six of Diamonds, Ace of Diamons

[Corran]

Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6, 9 (Failure at target 6) to Fiddler's

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee Your cards are 7 of clubs, 7 of spades

[Silas Xanthus]

Looks around the table after the latest outburst, nodding to the man who'd given them all coins. "Lets see if you can't win some of your kindness back then." Waiting until his cards are sitting down in front of him, he peels them up from the table enough to see them.

[Fiddler's]

to Enid Geraint Your cards are: 2 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds

[Fiddler's]

to Ashley McGowen Six of spades, 10 of clubs

[Corran]

Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 8, 8 (Success x 1 at target 7) to Fiddler's

[Fiddler's]

The tall man starts, taking a quick glance at his cards before tossing ten pennies into the center. The other two do much of the same, and look to the rest of them expectantly.

[Silas Xanthus]

Tossing twenty pennies into the middle he waits patiently for the flop.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley tosses ten pennies in.

[Fiddler's]

to Corran It was as if he were trying to be heard. He really was. He was simply trying too hard. And perhaps he'd been trying for too long. Like the tall man, whatever his name was, had said. It was as if he'd been singing since last night. One line does make it through to Corran's ears though. "Leroy, he more than trouble. He stand about six foot four..." But it fades back into the background after that. Perhaps if he got closer he could hear a litle better.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie tosses in his as well, watching for the flop.

[Enid Geraint]

The ten coins are put in easily, and as she's giggling at whatever Corran's said. The extra ten Silas adds get eyed with more seriousness than anything else she's said since they sat at the table would indicate, out of the corner of her eye as she whispers back.

[Corran]

Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6) to Fiddler's wits + Occult

[Corran]

*Corran rubbed the bridge of his nose in that "Oh goddess, save me" sort of look, and surveyed the room again8

[Fiddler's]

The tall man clears his throat, and eyes Ashley and Enid. "'Scuse me ladies but uh...The uh...fellow over there has raised the stakes. You gonna match his bet?"

[Ashley McGowen]

((Oops, twenty were thrown in, sorry.))

[Silas Xanthus]

"Silas friend, the name is Silas...or ghost if you'd rather use your friend's rather unimaginative nickname" said with a smile.

[Fiddler's]

to Corran There was a strange thing about legends. They could come from just about anywhere. A bit of history. A misunderstanding. A song that made others feel so good it just had to be real. That one line was enough to catch Corran's attention. He'd heard the song before, of course. Everyone had heard that song at least in part. Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown. Baddest Cat in the whole damn town. And as he considered for a moment it might have dawned on him. This tall man. This gregarious tower of bravado who seemed to hold some clout in this place that popped up out of nowhere. He still hadn't offered his name. Could it really be?

[Charlie McGee]

(BRB..lab's ending!)

[Administrator]

Charlie McGee has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley matches the bet. "Sorry, I'm a bit rustier than I thought," she says apologetically.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid looks at Silas thoughtfully, debating; her cards are held close to her chest, like she's watched too many shows in which poker is played, and not the sort where it's real poker. "Yeah, I'll match," she says, putting in the extra ten coins - there's still time to fold.

[Corran]

*Corran looked back to the table* So.... Mr Brown. This your place?

[Administrator]

Charlie McGee, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Enid Geraint]

Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 6, 7 (Success x 1 at target 6) to Fiddler's

[Fiddler's]

The Tall man and Young Bill both laugh at that. "Oh we're all about the nicknames in here, friend." The tall man said. "Ghost it is." When Enid matched bets, the others followed suit. On hundred and forty Pennies sat in the center of the table. Young Bill taps the deck, turns the top card and sets it aside, and lays down three others for all of them to see. King of spades. Seven of Diamonds. Jack of hearts. And before he can react, Corran speaks, and the tall man goes suddenly stiff. His cards, still held face down, get pushed forward. He's folding. "No, son. This aint my place. And I'd prefer it if you kept that name to yourself."

[Corran]

*Corran nodded* Fair enough. *The young witch fell silent then and watched the goings on*

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie watched the river before he put in fifteen more cents into the pot, leaning back into his chair now.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley folds.

[Enid Geraint]

As does Enid.

[Silas Xanthus]

Quirks a brow lazily at the Tall man's reaction, not fond of the racial play...unless of course the other rather pale face at the table actually knew the man's name somehow. He taps the table twice with his fist and waits for the river to rise.

[Silas Xanthus]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 3, 4 (Failure at target 6) to Fiddler's [Charisma. He's no card player.]

[Enid Geraint]

((Strike my folding, as it depends on something else.))

[Enid Geraint]

((Ah, it stands.))

[Fiddler's]

Stack, in the meantime, tosses in another 10 pennies. Young bill tapped the table. He twisted his mouth. He counted his coins carefully and he raised. 10 dimes. Charlie, Silas, Stack, and Billy were still in the game. And now they were forced to meet the bet or fold.

[Charlie McGee]

to Fiddler's Trying to discern if Bill is bluffing.

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee ((PM me Perc + Awareness diff 5 or Perc + Alertness diff 6))

[Silas Xanthus]

"Changing a bet after tapping out" commented on as he folds, the cards sliding across the table towards the burn pile.

[Administrator]

Adam Compton, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Fiddler's]

Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6) to Fiddler's Billy's bluff

[Charlie McGee]

Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 10 (Success x 3 at target 5) Re-rolls: 1 to Fiddler's Perception 4 (Insightful) + Empathy 2

[Fiddler's]

Billy blinked at Silas. "Oh." He said, looking down at his hands. "Sorry I uh...I get awful nervous sometimes. I didn't mean it." there's a hitch in the background. A sudden pause as the music stops, then starts again. The people whoop and laugh and start dancing anew, but the singer is just as hard to hear as he had been before.

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee Billy was a friendly fellow, and he obviously knew the game. If only he knew why he was still playing it. It seems the young man is too nervous to be any good, especially when it comes to this hand.

[Corran]

*Corran ran a hand though his hair and glanced around* You guys remember what Han said to C3po about wookies and games of chance.....?

[Silas Xanthus]

"No need to be nervous, just a friendly game of poker...as friendly as this game gets anyway."

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie stared before he went to match...and then added five more dimes as well.

[Administrator]

Adam Compton has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Fiddler's]

Stack uttered a low "Shiiit." As he tossed his cards into the burn pile, folding. Billy eyed the five extra dimes, hesitated, and then reached for his own, nodding as he matched the bet. The bets were even, and the next card was dealt. An Ace of Spades.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid looks at Corran, puzzled, and then, amusingly, gets it - sort of, maybe. ".....I don't think any of us is the wife of a jealous man." Then there's a frown, and, as she doesn't need to pay attention to cards and players at the moment, she looks around at the other patrons - those she can see through the haze of smoke always attendant at this sort of place, at least in the movies. "Unless one of them is Doris."

[Corran]

*Corrans eyes flickered down to that card and he raised his brows. His hands gently slipped into his pockets under the table*

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie just gave smile and then he put down ten more dimes into the pot.

[Enid Geraint]

Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6) ((Per+Aware))

[Ashley McGowen]

Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 4, 4, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 8) to Fiddler's [Perc + Awareness]

[Ashley McGowen]

Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 8) to Fiddler's [And for the game...]

[Fiddler's]

"Yall think yall are funny, huh?" says Mr. Brown, giving the two of them a wry grin. Billy looked at the ten other dimes, then at Charlie, and then...then he sighed, tossing his cards down, face up. A king and an eight, both hearts, smile back at him. "I fold." he says whistfully and he gathers the cards and starts shuffling again. "Deal me out!" announces Stack gruffly. He takes his Pork Pie hat off his head and sweeps all his coins into a single tight pile, including three of the shining tass tokens. He then sets the hat on top of it all. "I'm going to the Pisser. Don't nobody touch my shit." And with a bit of a drunken stumble he walks off toward the bathrooms. Charlie is left to scoop up quite the pile of coins, and the hands are dealt anew.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie slid them back over, leaning back as he just smiled. "So...how many games have you guys been playing?"

[Fiddler's]

to Enid Geraint The music sounds like its coming from somewhere far away, but more than that it sounds tired. Like its been singing for quite some time now, but can't stop. Its garbled and mumbled, but one line comes to Enid clearly. "...45 pistol down in Stack's right hand..."

[Fiddler's]

to Ashley McGowen The music sounds to be coming from somewhere far off, and it was just dyin to be heard. But it also sounded tired, like it had been playing for an eternity. Still, through the mumbling and slurring, Ashley can make out a few lines. "Stack shot Billy in the back of the head. Stack made sure Billy Lyons was dead. .45 Pistol down ins Stack's right hand Se-- And then its faded back into obscurity. And from the game, she sees that Charlie was confident. To the point of cocky. He was testing billy, and Billy was testing back. Both players were better at this game than they let on.

[Fiddler's]

"All night." Says Mr. Brown, and he watches closely as Stack stumbles toward the bathroom. His eyes fall on Stack's hat, and then to Billy, and then to the cards he's been dealt. He smiles. "No worries. It'll be over soon."

[Fiddler's]

to Silas Xanthus six spades, 2 diamonds

[Fiddler's]

to Enid Geraint 10 clubs, 2 hearts

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee Ace diamonds, six diamonds

[Fiddler's]

to Ashley McGowen King diamonds, seven spades

[Administrator]

scrap, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Corran]

*Corran looked around for a window to check on the rain*

[Silas Xanthus]

Tips up his cards and waits for the minimum bet to be placed, watching the others around the table, eyes landing on the Tall man when he says it'll be over soon. "Have an early morning do you?"

[Charlie McGee]

He glanced at his cards but placed his ante in.

[Enid Geraint]

".....seriously," Enid murmurs, more serious now after a moment of listening and people watching. "Don't nobody touch his shit. Ashley . . ." It's quiet as she tugs lightly on the Hermetic's sleeve. "I think maybe we should go after this hand. Rain or not." She puts in her ante, and then, "Is it okay if I get up while this goes around? Or do I have to wait?" That? It covers both possible bases. And suddenly, Enid is unaccountably nervous.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley accepts her new cards with a smile, lifting a hand and idly hooking her thumb through one of the chain links tied to a leather thong around her neck. There are five, and they appear to be of different metals. She glances over her hand for a few moments and then looks up, locking eyes with Billy. "Maybe you're right, Enid."

[Ashley McGowen]

Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 4, 5, 5 (Success x 3 at target 5) [WP] to Fiddler's [Mind 2 rote, spending WP.]

[Fiddler's]

"Something like that." He threw in 10 pennies to start with. Billy Does the same, and afterwards he looks up at Enid concerned. They both do. "Well..." Starts Mr. Brown. "Its really in your best interest if you stay and tend to your own hand. You can fold. And you can leave the table if you like but uh...that...would be most unorthodox and...I can't guarantee your safety if you do, y'understand?" Outside the Rain still fell heavily, a curtain of water obscuring everything.

[Ashley McGowen]

to Fiddler's Ashley is willing Billy to suddenly feel a bit jumpy, a little suspicious. Maybe he picked up on the song that was being played, or maybe it's just something in his gut. Either way, it's a feeling that maybe he should keep his head down. Especially if he hears any loud noises.

[Corran]

*Corran glanced back to the table and nibbled a bit on his lower lip* Mmmmm gotta love the music here though...

[Silas Xanthus]

Tossing in the ten pennies he looks between the two men "gents, the girl's safety had best not rest on something as paltry as a card game." One hand rests against the wood of the walking stick in his lap, thumb rubbing across one of the many faces carved into its surface.

[Charlie McGee]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 2, 6 (Success x 1 at target 3) to Fiddler's Time Sense, Diff 3 + 1 - 1 Focus

[Ashley McGowen]

She tosses in ten pennies. "Probably ought to stick around here in that case, Enid. Don't worry, it's just a friendly game here."

[Fiddler's]

Ashley locks eyes with Billy, and the young-faced boy suddenly swallows. Hard. He looks at his cards and, before even continuing, he folds. Billy sits low in his chair, suddenly more nervous than usual. "Y-y-you don't understand." he says. Mr. Brown stops him. "What Billy means is. This is Fiddler's. And uh...well...y'all don't exactly belong here, y'see? You're my guests but...that only lasts as long as I'm the one entertaining you. You understand?"

[Fiddler's]

His hands shaking, Billy administers the flop. Ace of clubs, ten of diamonds. Seven of clubs.

[Enid Geraint]

".....I don't care about the game." And then, thinking, and trying to ask in a way that doesn't hint too much (but unsure if the technology of the time), "Is it a .45, the record?" Such a very subtle difference, the way it's said, between if she was actually naming a kind of record or a gun. (For the record, everything she knows about guns, she learned from watching CSI and similar shows.) Her attention isn't quite so much on the game now, as occasionally going back towards where Stack went - though she does look enough to call.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie taps his fingers against his cards, watching the flop...flexing his hands and fingers, forming a brief seal, leaning his chin on it as he stared at the two now...and then spoke. "...this place isn't as frozen as it seems..." He pauses for a moment, looking at Billy...then Brown. He watches Brown before he puts down two dimes for the raise, still in the game for now.

[Charlie McGee]

Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7 (Success x 3 at target 5) to Fiddler's Empathy Check on Brown, Perception 4 (Insightful) + Empathy 2; Assuming diff 5.

[Fiddler's]

Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6) to Fiddler's LB's Bluff

[Silas Xanthus]

Tossing his cards down at the burn pile he glances off in the direction the man everyone seemed so worried about had gone.

[Fiddler's]

"Yall need to stop fuckin' around and play, that's what yall need to do." Said Brown, obviously upset. He glanced at the table, at the two end cards in particular, and he nodded his head. "Alright, lets try some of this." And in one, broad-handed motion, he pushed his entire pile forward. Which, wasn't really much. But it did include four of the gleaming tass coins. "How you like that?"

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee Brown was obviously flustered, and it was making him do brash things. Charlie could see that, as soon as he'd made that bet, he regretted it.

[Charlie McGee]

"...I think you're part in the game is over." Charlie said as he moved to match the pile, having a little surplus from his winnings in the last game.

[Corran]

*Corran looked at charlie* Ya know Charlie.... let the wookie win?

[Enid Geraint]

"I don't have a dick to wave," Enid says quite plainly. "Fold." And, being concerned and nervous, she gets up.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley folds. She knows when the competition is way out of her league.

[Ashley McGowen]

"Enid," she says, a little sharply, "you should really stay here."

[Fiddler's]

"You got some lip, Boy." Brown said. He folded his arms, leaned back in his chair, and glared at the man. He didn't even noticed Enid getting up from the table. The doors to the men's room remained closed and motionless, though some of the dancing spills over into her path. If she continued she'd be lost in the crowd for a few brief moments. The two men square off, and the fourth card is turned. A King of Spades. Then the fifth: The four of Diamonds. "Gentlemen?" Billy announces timidly. "Show your cards please."

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie reaches down and flips over his cards, revealing them.

[Enid Geraint]

She's not going far, doesn't even take a step - for the moment, she's just looking, and thinking. The song had been familiar, the lyrics - though she is out of her chair. And then. "Billy . . . is your last name Lyons?" She really, really doesn't care about the game any more.

[Fiddler's]

Charlie reveals his ten, making a pair of the ten already on the table. And Brown.... Brown seathes. He glares at the Asian American. His jaws tighten and...and he just pushes his cards away. "To hell with you then." He says. His chair scrapes on the floor as he stands abruptly. "To hell with All Yall! I'm gonna go play me some dice before all heck breaks loose in hear. Yall wanna get up and start runnin' around all crazy like? See if I care." And grumbling, he leaves the table and disappears into the crowd. Billy, on the other hand, looks over to Enid. He smiles nervously. "Uh...yes ma'am. It is. But uh...Please. You gotta understand. Don't go spreadin' that about none. It could be dangerous." And left for Charlie is a large pile of coins. And four gleaming points of tass.

[Charlie McGee]

Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 6, 6, 7, 9, 9 (Success x 5 at target 5) to Fiddler's Empathy Check on Brown, Perception 4 (Insightful) + Empathy 2; diff 5.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley's eyes follow Mr. Brown as he gets up to leave, and they finally settle again on Billy. She lets her hand fall away from the link of iron at her throat. "You might want to be careful, William Lyons. I think you might have made a few people around here angry, with as often as you win."

[Corran]

*Corran looked around and raised his brows* Ready to go folks?

[Charlie McGee]

Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 6, 8 (Success x 2 at target 3) to Fiddler's Time Sense again; Arete 2; Diff 3 + 1 - 1 Foci

[Enid Geraint]

"I'm not going to tell anyone. But . . . be careful?" It's almost pleading; she's not sure what else to say, and how much of what she's already said sounds stupid, or crazy, or . . . "I just . . . something bad's going to happen. A couple bad things, maybe." And there's Ashley, and Enid's eyes widen. "I . . . um. What happens if Billy comes to? Or . . . if we stay and . . . things happen?" So very nervous and tentative, she, but . . . well, intent on something, and not freaking out the way many others would.

[Silas Xanthus]

"More than ready" this place was like one bad trip that didn't want to go away and he couldn't figure quite what had triggered the whole thing. He leaves the money where it sits and gets up.

[Corran]

*Corran reached over and took his jacket from where Enid had discarded it. Swinging it on and checked his pockets to make sure things are still there and all that*

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie scooped up the tass coins themselves from his own earnings, leaving the rest on the table. He then looked to them as he speaks. "...he wasn't kidding about our well-being. And things are about to likely go bad...the 'record' moved again."

[Fiddler's]

"NO!" Billy says. Young faced Billy. Innocent Billy. He tries to hide his face and tugs at his vest. It's too short. He reaches for the hat left there on the table and burries his face into it. "NO, NO, NO! You people are gonna ruin everything! Now we're never gonna get to go!"

[Silas Xanthus]

"Its going to go that way anyway...he just touched the hat. I suggest we leave now." Blood spilled long ago was blood spilled, it couldn't be changed, maybe it shouldn't be changed either.

[Enid Geraint]

Not discarded so much as laid neatly behind her, and she hadn't taken anything out - so, while she had noted something vaguely pointy, she hadn't been nosing about in his pockets. It had stayed on the chair when she got up, but with its owner right there, she hadn't considered it a problem. Silas says about the hat, and there's a moment of dismay. Everyone cheats once in a while - on tests or homework, at a game, whatever. It's certainly not something for all this fuss. "Well . . . you didn't take anything, right? Leave the hat and Stack's stuff and come on. We're going, why not you?"

[Corran]

*Corran stands* less talking, more leaving perhaps? *Nodding towards the door*

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley's brow furrows as she watches Billy bury his face in the hat that was left on the table. She hasn't yet risen from her seat. "He can't go with us, Enid. Where are you trying to go, Bill?"

[Fiddler's]

"Because I can't!" He barks at her, tears in his eyes. He squeezes the hat in his hands, twisting it in his grief. "None of us can leave Fiddler's! Not till the game is over." And he burries his face in the hat again, weeping.

[Silas Xanthus]

"He belongs here, we don't...listen to the man" nodding to Corran before starting away from the table. The walking stick is held ready to push aside people should the need arise.

[Charlie McGee]

..Charlie pauses, looking at Billy before he speaks. "...the other guy..the one who went to the restroom. He keeps pausing the game...doesn't he?"

[Fiddler's]

"He doesn't wanna do it. Don't none of us wanna do it. So he just sat there and drank himself stupid. And He got so ornery he chased off all the other players. He don't wanna do it, believe me." And he looks up at Charlie, then at Enid, whose meddling had gotten them to this impasse. His eyes were still teared, but his glare was hard. "Only its got to be done. There aint no runnin away from it. What good is forever if it don't have no beginning or end to break into? What good is paradise if you aint got no pain to compare it to? Its got to be done, miss!"

[Corran]

*Corran raised his brows and looked between them* Um.......

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie watched before he then moved back to the table and sat down. "...then let's finish it Billy...someone go drag him out of there. Time needs to move forward..."

[Enid Geraint]

".....isn't a game over when everyone quits?" Her brow furrows. "I mean, none of us are playing any more. So there's no game." Corran gets a look, and a shrug. . . . and then there's that look. Enid knows that look. It's the 'it's your fault' look, the 'how could you have done this' look, and she wants nothing more than her sweatshirt with the handy hood. The shrinking is visible. "I . . . don't understand," she says as her arms cross in front of her. "He doesn't have to shoot you. You don't have to sit there and get shot. To hell with this place and its stupid card game."

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley listens to Bill's explanation, folding her hands on the table in front of her while she mulls this over. Really, she has no reason to help Billy - she didn't when she warned him, either, save for the fact that she liked him and it was a small favor. "If you really want him to shoot you and end it," she says, "I can see to it that he does."

[Corran]

*He winced* You guys remember what I do... right?

[Silas Xanthus]

Just a few paces from the table he turns to watch the others, the other that had decided to settle down around the table again. "Are there any volunteers to go drag That man out of the bathroom?"

[Fiddler's]

"Easy for you, Miss. You get to quit and go home. I get to quit and do what? Go to the bathroom? Dance to the same damn songs over and over?" He turns to Ashley then, and sighs exasperatedly. "There's an order to these things, Miss Ashley. You don't...you don't go around changing legends." Charlie sat down, and Billy nodded. He straightened out the hat and placed it back on his head. "Lets play."

[Fiddler's]

to Charlie McGee Your cards: Joker, six of diamonds

[Charlie McGee]

"...my hands will not inflict violence if I can help it." He says, his smile faded now. He didn't know the song...he didn't know what they were talking about...but he was putting things together as he started to put his ante in.

[Corran]

*He was ignored and frowned a bit looking around and slipped is hands into his jacket pockets* Oh this is so uncool....

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley just nods, preparing to take her cards and resume the game. "You should sit back down, Enid," she says, without glancing over her shoulder at the redhead.

[Charlie McGee]

His eyes dart towards Corran now as he looks at him. "...I don't think anyone at this table likes where its going."

[Silas Xanthus]

"No it isn't but if Billy here is right, we don't change legends...so we'll be walking out of here." Going back to his seat, he doesn't sit but stands behind it, his hand had already been folded.

[Ashley McGowen]

"This is what -he- wants, Corran. Don't be a coward."

[Enid Geraint]

"So . . . what, Stack's in the bathroom with cocaine? There are better songs to live, seriously. I mean, Croce and the Black Keys are good and all, but . . ." Corran wasn't ignored, really; she does remember what he does, she just . . . isn't at all sure how to deal with any of this. This is newer than the other new, strange shit that's been happening, and she's young, and she really just doesn't understand. "It's not cowardly to die . . . why? Because a song says so?"

[Corran]

I'm not a coward... I'm a paramedic...... if someone's hurt... .I gotta help um, Ash...

[Silas Xanthus]

Moving the chair aside he crouches rather than sits, it was more comfortable for him and he could move faster. Tapping the table "lets play this one through. Sorry Billy."

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie glanced vaguely at the cards before he waited till the ante was in...then raised with three dimes. "...I don't know the song. I just know this sorta seems like an album looping on a spin table...but its skipping and looping that one line. Its been 8 twice so far. The loop has to end...the song has to end..." Charlie watches the other man now, waiting.

[Fiddler's]

to Silas Xanthus Nine, Eight, both spades

[Enid Geraint]

It takes a moment, but Enid, tempted as she is to just leave, sits back down. It hardly does to leave the people one came with, after all. ".....alright," she says, still tense, nervous. "I guess we play."

[Fiddler's]

to Ashley McGowen Five, seven, both clubs.

[Silas Xanthus]

Tossing the ante and the raise in he doesn't even look at the cards, watching the bathroom door instead.

[Fiddler's]

to Enid Geraint A pair of twos, spades and diamonds.

[Fiddler's]

The inital bets all in, Billy is silent, concentrating as he burns and then lays the flop. Jack of Clubs Four of Diamonds Six of hearts.

[Corran]

*Corran watches and looks around, watching their backs*

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie watched, eying Billy before he threw in four dimes.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid looks at her cards, pretends to think, and then, with her eyes firmly on her own hand or the table, she matched the latest bet.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley just watches her cards, not paying attention to the bathroom door. She matches the bet quietly, just focusing on playing the game for now.

[Silas Xanthus]

Silas adds to the pile, not minding that his was dwindling.

[Fiddler's]

Billy smiles wanly at them. All of them. He adjusts the hat on his head and pushes forward with his entire pile, including four of the tass coins. "Thanks y'all. Thanks a lot."

[Charlie McGee]

"....what would happen if you bet the hat?" Charlie asks, pushing his own pile forward to match.

[Silas Xanthus]

Pushes his whole pile in, it didn't come close to matching with Billy but then all in didn't have to match. "Lets see the river."

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley, too, pushes her entire pile in. She hasn't bet much, so she has a fairly decent amount of coins left. Not that it really matters at this point.

[Enid Geraint]

".....I wanna go home," she says, eyes still down as she pushes in whatever's left of her pile. Whether that means her dad's house or something else is unclear, but it's emphatic.

[Fiddler's]

Billy blinks at Charlie, obviously shocked. "Y'know...I never thought tried it." He nodded at Silas, and turned the fourth card: The Three of Diamonds

[Corran]

*Corran reached over and rubbed Enid's shoulder*

[Charlie McGee]

"Well...what's the harm in trying?" He watches the third card turn over as he leaned his chin into his hand.

[Silas Xanthus]

"You'll get to go soon enough" of course it wouldn't be soon enough to spare her from seeing what was about to happen, but soon still.

[Fiddler's]

Billy hesitates over the deck of cards. "There's...there's time. We might be able to end this now but...if I bet...there's gotta be something of equal value put in. Something from...one of you."

[Administrator]

scrap, welcome to Bronzeville (Southside) (Now)

[Enid Geraint]

"What determines value?" A hand goes to the ring that sits just below the base of her throat, hanging on its chain.

[Fiddler's]

Billy's face squeezes into an uncomfortable look of curiosity. "That one of them...philosophical questions, Miss Ashley?"

[Fiddler's]

((Sorry, wrong person. YOU SAW NOTHING!))

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie paused a moment...considering...that foreboding rolling over him before he spoke. "...I imagine the ante would be similar to the worth of the fate of that hat? I'd offer my own but I don't think the a Chicago Bulls cap matches up. I'll pay the price...since I'm the one who suggested it."

[Ashley McGowen]

"It sounds as though it would have to be something of equal importance to any of us. Or..." Ashley looks sidelong at the hat. "Probably something that's been imbued with Quintessence."

[Enid Geraint]

"...........what's Quintessence?" That, though, comes as she shifts and slowly undoes the chain, allowing the ring to dangle. "Make your bet, Billy."

[Silas Xanthus]

Glancing down at the walking stick, he looks from it to the hat that could end the whole affair. Lifting his cards again his head shakes slightly.

[Fiddler's]

There's a relieved sigh and Billy takes the hat from his head and places it down on the table. There's a hopeful look in his eyes as he goes around the table. The stakes had been raised. They could either match or fold. "Anybody else?"

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie took the four tass that he had won from Brown and placed it on the table and then placed his hand over it. "...I offer this...and a bit of myself if that matches the price. Ready when you are, Billy Boy."

[Corran]

*Corran looked around and back to the table and took a calming breath. He waited, gently rubbing Enid's shoulder and waiting for the outcome*

[Enid Geraint]

Now, Enid's eyes aren't even on her cards - they're on the ring. Losing that would be a Bad Thing, she thinks. "My dad's going to kill me," she murmurs, still scared and lightly shaking with it even under the comfort Corran offers. And then, when she's said registers, and there's nervous (though thankfully not hysterical) laughter that carries no mirth whatsoever.

[Corran]

Shhhh it's ok..... don't fret. It'll all work out ok in the end. *He smiled and gently reached up to stroke her hair*

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley, taking one last look at her cards and then up at the others, decides to fold. "Your father won't even know about this, Enid," she says as she lays the cards facedown on the table.

[Silas Xanthus]

Locking eyes with Billy for a short time he sighs and stands, laying the rather peculiar walking stick that he was never seen without, down upon the top of the stack.

[Fiddler's]

"Alright then." Says Billy, and he turns the last card, plopping it down down on the table with a soft pat of finality. The two of Clubs. Billy sighed, and leaned back in his seat with a tired sort of finality. They were all likely tired, even though the ones that didn't belong there had only been there for three hands. Billy turns over his card and reveals the pair to the jack that was already table, and fourth diamond card as well. A five. "Pair of Jacks. Please tell me one of you folks can beat that."

[Charlie McGee]

"Without blinking." Charlie grinned as it seemed he was born under a lucky star...flipping over his cards, revealing the smiling Joker. "They say the gods smile on fools and children."

[Enid Geraint]

".....I have three of a kind," she says, laying down her cards - there's a hint of relief, but not much; there's no guarantee she's won, after all. And for Ashley, quiet, "Maybe not about me being gambling in some strange bar, but he's going to know if I don't have that ring." Charlie's comment gets a hint of smirk, though she doesn't give any indication as to why.

[Enid Geraint]

And she lays down her cards for everyone to see, of course.

[Enid Geraint]

((It's late, haha. I have the redundant.))

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley shrugs, looking over at Enid. "Maybe whoever wins will be kind enough to give it back to you." With a glance down at the cards, "Or you might win."

[Silas Xanthus]

Flipping his cards over he looks towards the redhead and then to Charlie. With any luck whomever won wouldn't horde things away.

[Fiddler's]

Billy looks over the table and smiles. His eyes dart up to Charlie just then. "Three sixes, beats three twos. You're the winner." And, satisfied he leaned back in his chair and let the winner claim the prize. Any minute now... No, not any minute. Now. There's a clatter from the dance floor, from somewhere just beyond it, and here comes Ol' Stack, staggering back to the poker table. For a moment he sits and simply stares at his pile of coins, not quite able to make out what was amiss. Not yet anyway.

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie just smiled a little as he reached his hand to touch on top of the pile...fishing around before he took two tass and the hat itself. "...I think..this is going to be my share. The rest can go back to their rightful owners." He smiled, doffing his Bulls hat and then sliding the hat on instead. "There is nothing set in stone, not legend, nor fact. A legend is merely a dream...and a dream does end...but it can always change to what you wish it to be." He then looked down at Stack as the man sat down.

[Silas Xanthus]

"Ladies and gents, its time we take our leave..." said as the clatter is heard in the not so distant distance. When the winner of the pot returns everyone's items he picks up his, pausing as the hat is donned. That right there was called wookie baiting.

[Enid Geraint]

to Ashley McGowen, Charlie McGee, Corran, Fiddler's, Silas Xanthus ((The ring has a tiny bit of quintessence and a tiny bit of dynamic resonance. The chain is of no consequence. Just so's you all know, since you can all see it sitting there. =D ))

[Corran]

*Corran nodded and stood. Checking behind them and then watching the club closely*

[Enid Geraint]

"Are you sure?" That's asked even as Enid snatches her ring back, clearly relieved to have it back and clasping the chain back around her neck, hopefully before anyone can stop her, if anyone has a mind to. And then, "We're going now, right? Let's go." That's mostly for Ashley and Corran.

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley frowns at Stack as the man stumbles out of the bathroom and sits back down, balling her hand into a fist and tapping her knuckles on the table while she thinks. "Stack, I think you have something you have to do before you start playing again."

[Fiddler's]

Wookie baiting indeed, as out of nowhere a large, strong black hand fell upon Charlie's head. Gold rings gleamed in the clubs like momentarily, and the hat was snatched off his Head. "Legends and dreams, huh?" Booms Mr. Brown's voice. He twirls the pork-pie hat around on his finger, swinging it through the air as he circles the table. As if hypnotized, Stack's drug addled eyes follow the hat, snatching for it akwardly. "Well some dreams you best not fuck with. You five? Y'all don't belong here. But then again, neither do I." Stack watches jealously as the hat floats past him and is placed securely on Billy's head. "Yall were sent here. By Chicago itself. And Yall have won, on behalf of the City Father. The same City Father that sent me here. And on behalf of the city father..." He bends down, bringing his face close to Billy's ear. "I give you this hat." "THATS MY HAT!" Stack shouts, obviously enraged. Billy just turns to him. And Laughs. Mr. Brown turns to the others, and to the pile of coins on the table. "Well what the hell are you waiting for?" He says to them. "Grab your shit and go! The rain's stopped. See?"

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie watches and just nods, giving a sad smile slightly before he moves to take the coins, looking to Brown. "Even stories eventually change..but I hear ya loud and clear, Mr. B." He slid his Chicago Bulls hat back on. He then puts two dross into Ashley's hand...then two into Enid..then Silas. He hands one over to Corran before he pockets the last and then moves to walk for the exit. It was done, one way or another.

[Silas Xanthus]

Watching as the big black man appears rather out of no where it would seem to settle the matter, he pushes his own hat back down over his head. "Give the Father my regards..." and leaving the money on the table, he heads for the door. If the others move with then he keeps pace, otherwise he'll see them on the other side.

[Corran]

*Corran stands with Enid, not going to leave her side and would only leave with her and Ash, he nods his thanks to Charlie and glanced around and to Brown* If the father ever wishes to converse, please extend my inventation. *He bowed his head respectfully to Brown. Raised a hand to salute the rest and glanced to the ladies* Shall we?

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley watches as the hat is placed securely on Billy's head and looks sidelong at Stack. For a long second her mouth thins. She can appreciate that they played him - what she doesn't like is that she herself was played. Oh well. From conflict arises growth, and she'll know better next time. She takes the dross Charlie offers her and tucks it into the pocket of her jeans, pushing back her chair and regaining her feet. "Thanks for the coins, Mr. Brown," she says, giving him a nod before she makes her way toward the door.

[Enid Geraint]

Enid . . . clearly doesn't understand at all. She also doesn't care in this exact moment - she wants her blankie and TV and comfortable spot on the couch. She takes the coins she's given and eyes them curiously, far from understanding what they are, and hands one over to Corran - it's stupid, maybe, but kind of sweet. He seems to know what they are, so maybe he should have the two and she should only have one. ".....you still want a ride home, Ashley?" And yes, she's on her way out, with a glance back over her shoulder at Brown, Stack and Billy, and a quiet, "Yeah, thanks." She's still shaking a little, but the fear's gone out out of it, more or less - now, it's just nerves.

[Corran]

*As they headed out* Well if we were brought together by the City Father, maybe I'm not as bad with ground navigation as I previously thought..... though.. I am Horribly lost now, could I get a ride?

[Ashley McGowen]

"Yeah, I'd appreciate it. Hopefully it isn't too late out there," she says, without a glance backward at the men at the table. "Keep a hold of that coin, Enid. I can explain a little more about it to you when it isn't so late, but you'll find it useful."

[Fiddler's]

"Don't be so goddamn full o' y'selves." Brown warns the men. Ashley gets a smile, and a tip of his fedora. "Pennie from heaven, Miss Ashley. Please, call me L.B." As there leave there is the sound of scuffling. Of fists landing on flesh. A bottle breaks. A chair shatters, and just as the last of them passes the threshold and out into a cloudy, but as yet dry Bronzeville street, they hear a single, clarion clear shot. And should they turn back there would be little more than a squat, square building with boarded up windows. And a man in a purple suit, lighting a cigarette before moving off. They were both old, the man and the building. Perhaps one of the few things still around that were even older the Bronzeville.

[scrap]

ooc: *applause!*

[Administrator]

scrap has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Silas Xanthus]

Laughs at the reprimand, it was odd after all that a city father would call upon a child of the spirits that clawed at the very gates of such a place, the spirits that would take the place over if the world had its way. Once he's outside he tips his hat to the others "well ladies and gents, after that I do believe its time to go and catch some sleep." [*Applauds* Great scene]

[Ashley McGowen]

"See you around, then, L.B. Or not." The shot does make Ashley look over her shoulder, and she just nods to herself as she steps out onto the street. Everything as it should be.

[Fiddler's]

((Thanks for sticking it out, you guys! You made it really special!))

[Charlie McGee]

Charlie glanced back...before he sighed and then slid his hood back to the others and gave a brief nod. "Good night." No 'Oh my Gods' or similar freak out spells...not that Charlie was use to trips to spirit land or the tellurian. It was just...a new facet of his life. He wasn't happy that regardless of what he did, Billy died...but then...it was a legend, wasn't it? Some sort of legend he didn't know...but it was hard to beat a legend...even if you believe it could change.

[Enid Geraint]

"Yeah, get in the car," she says, then, with a frown, "if it's still there. I don't remember if I locked and alarmed it." The gunshot? Gets a jump, and Enid looking over her shoulder . . . to find a very different place than the one they left. And, while Charlie isn't freaking out? Enid is. She's just pretty good at internalizing. One wonders how new of a development that is. "I know where Ashley's going - what about you, Corran?" And of they go.

[Ashley McGowen]

((Thanks for running, cell, it was a lot of fun!))

[Enid Geraint]

((Yeah, thanks Dre!))

[Silas Xanthus]

((Have a good night, or early morning, everyone!))

[Administrator]

Silas Xanthus has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Fiddler's]

((Oh, and in case you were wondering, I've cleared it with Jamie so you guys keep the tass.))

[Ashley McGowen]

((Nice! Thank you muchly. :D))

[Enid Geraint]

((Yay, tass!))

[Corran]

*he gently put his hand on Enid's back at the gunshot and shook his head. Walking with her to her car, and giving her the address to his block. One that's inbetween 'Well to do" Chicago, and "Poor chicago" sort of on the terminator line for both.*

[Charlie McGee]

(^^ Yay for a generous Akashic. ^.^)

[Ashley McGowen]

Ashley follows Enid to her car, which, presumably, is still right where she left it. In fact, if Ashley had to guess, she would guess that not much time has passed, as that is often how these things go. She's quiet on the ride back to the Mile. She is pretty sleepy, after all.

[Ashley McGowen]

((And I'm done, as it is late and I am tired. Thanks again for the scene, Dre. :D))

[Ashley McGowen]

to Fiddler's ((Also feel free to ping me if Wharil wants to get a hold of Ashley, and we can get a scene for that.))

[Enid Geraint]

((Night, everyone! *zooms*))

[Charlie McGee]

(Thanks for the scene all..I apologize if I was grandstanding in any form))

[Administrator]

Enid Geraint has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Corran]

(( It was fine. No problems. Thanks for letting me join

[Administrator]

Corran has left Bronzeville (Southside)

[Ashley McGowen]

((You weren't! I thought it was cool and the NPCs were fun.))

[Ashley McGowen]

(('Night guys!))

[Charlie McGee]

(night!)