"I do find it interesting that he's asking for a team. He usually likes to do this sort of thing on his own. He writes to us, but he usually won't even tell his mother what he's working on till he has already written the book! If he's letting people in on something before he writes it...that'll be a rare thing indeed," she said.

”You’re an educated woman, Miss Ashcroft.   I like people, I like the company of others, but surely, surely you’ve seen people trying to cheat you out of experiencing their personality.  Part of living is being frightened of forgetting the right lines.  A drink is near the most comforting companion I’ve ever met, with a few exceptions.”  Abraham replied, gesturing with his hands to emphasis his words.

When someone brought him a glass of water, Abraham offered his thanks multiple times.  An order of straight black would be out soon enough, or so the staff member assured Abraham.  No matter, so long as Abraham hydrated himself before drinking coffee.  Hydration would speed the process immensely, as would food, and the coffee would keep him from wanting to drift off to sleep on one of Dr. Elias’s sofas. He’d want to get up and walk around, get his body moving and his blood flowing after the coffee.  A little light exorcise would do him some good about now.

”That experience will be valuable, maybe more valuable than formal education.” However, the conversation around them had begun to change subjects as those gathered nearby Leo and Catherine began chatting about the news that had recently arrived by telegram.

”As much of a help as Jackson’s been to me through the years, ah, coffee?” Abraham tossed back what was left of the water and looked around for the man who claimed he was getting him something more to drink.  ”Weren’t they—the Carlyle crew—bound for Egypt?  Though, if memory serves—coffee.” Abraham’s eyes lit up with something like childish glee at the sight of steam rising out of the mug being ferried his way on a saucer by one of Leo’s people.  ”There was a horrible incident in Africa.  I don’t believe anyone survived.  At the very least, I’d like to see what Jackson has been doing since our last correspondence.”

_{14:31, Today: Abraham Hargrove rolled 45 using 1d100 with rolls of 45. Know (70).}
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 19:29, Wed 16 July 2014.

     Annabel paused, not sure of what to say to that. She waited until Mr. Hargrove quenched his thirst then said. "In my own way, yes, I have been nervous, anxious, though frightened might be too harsh of a word, in certain social situations. But I'm afraid being of the fairer sex as well as one of the so called upper classes; I don't get the luxury of using drink to deal with my nerve. I think it is better dealing with them then the wrath of my Mother if I had displayed drunkenness in public and damaged the Family's reputation." She shook her head at that, looking amused at the thought of her mother reacting.

  She was glad to see the coffee finally arrive. Hopefully it would help the poor man. When he talked about the Carlyle's Annabel nodded.

"Yes, I believe so, a tragedy it was. It was in all the society papers and all anyone talked about for a while. People speculating what happened, all kinds of crazy theories. I guess we'll never know the real truth. So you know Jackson then, what's he like, anything like his father?"

"Since Jack is in town best we meet with him. Given what happened to the Carlyle Expedition and where, it is likely that this investigation will require a bunch of gumshoes. If we need men of that type I am able to recommend a number."

Bishop addressed Dr Elias "If Jack is in town and here is not here, maybe he is held up by weather. Did he mention if he is on the way?"

This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Thu 17 July 2014.

Walter clears his throat. "I know he was in London about a month ago. Leastways that was the postmark on my letter. I figured if he wanted me it meant the tropics.

"If it's the Carlyle bunch, I expect that means Cairo and Kenya. That's not my patch exactly, but Jackson knows he can count on me for anything." He takes a healthy swallow of his drink.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Thu 17 July 2014.

Abraham sipped warm coffee.  He slipped his hand inside of his formal coat and he’d pulled the flask halfway out when he became aware of what he was about to do.  He glanced sheepishly at the shiny metal container he’d been about to crack open and pour into his coffee before pushing it back inside his coat.  ”That’s a little naïve. You see, I usually find that the ladies of that caliber tend to drink almost as much as I do, but they are much better at hiding it.”

”I read about the expedition it the paper while in Paris.”  Near the start of his stay in Paris that would have been.  ”The article appeared in the paper around five years ago.  I’d have thought with Carlyle family’s modest resources one of their relatives would’ve acted.” Like sending a second team, perhaps hiring some mercenaries or adventurers to recover what they could, save whatever archeological data remained for science, and possibly get a little vengeance for the fallen.  Perhaps they had done something like that but kept word of it out of the papers.  ”Yes, we’re… distant cousins.  I could draw you a chart if you need an exact reference.  He’s been quite helpful through the years, assisting me with critiques, tips, and suggestions.  Granted, his work is strictly nonfiction.  Harder to say.  I know him better than I know Leo.”  Abraham put his palm against his forehead over a spot that was beginning to ache.

Catherine placed a motherly hand on her nephew's shoulder for just a moment. "It seems you've the better of it than we do, Walter. We haven't heard from him for longer than that. And you're looking quite well yourself, if unrested. You should stay with us for a bit."

       Annabel looked at him with a bit of surprise on her pretty face. "You don't say? Now that I think about it that would explain a lot of some of the behavior that I have seen from some of the ladies of my acquaintance." She blushed slightly, "as you see Mr. Hargrove; Mother did her job a little too well, sheltering her daughters from the 'wickedness' of the world, and I am now only getting to experience it for better or worse. I will do my best to deal with it but I fear that I may make the wrong decision time and again. If I do, I will deal with it to the best of my ability."

  Annabel's eyes widened at the revelation of the kinship between the two men. "Really Mr. Hargrove? Why it is a small world after all. No doubt you will be pleased to see your cousin again; has it been a very long time?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:59, Thu 17 July 2014.

In reply to Catherine Elias (msg # 40):

Walter's smile was very grateful: "Thank you, Aunt Catherine. It would please me very much to impose on your hospitality for a few days, if you truly don't mind."

To be among family again... an unlooked-for benevolence considering his father's disgrace. He finished his brandy and used the empty glass as an excuse to walk away for a moment.

Leo listened with interest at Walter's commentary about the postmark on Jackson's telegram, then nodded his assent at his wife's suggestion. "Certainly you should stay here - we've plenty of space. I'll have Lawrence bring your bags upstairs." He then nodded at his valet, knowing the man would take care of things appropriately and efficiently.

"Yes, of course sir," he said in response to the doctor's statement about getting Walter's bags seen to.

Before he could take any steps towards that end, the telephone rang, and he went to answer it, as was custom.

"Good evening, Elias residence," the valet said, pausing.

"Yes? Mr. Jackson, sir, yes, one moment, sir," he said, moving the receiver from his ear.

"Dr. Elias, sir, your son is on the line." He held the phone for Leo to take.

Leo quickly moved to where Lawrence held the phone for him and put the earpiece to his ear. "Jackson? It's your father."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Thu 17 July 2014.

The noise of someone speaking could be heard through the receiver, though the words were only audible to Leo.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Thu 17 July 2014.

"I just have a small valise with me tonight, Lawrence," he said quietly to the man, "My other things are checked at the Grand Central. I'll pick them up tomorrow."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:49, Thu 17 July 2014.

While the others talked and speculated, Rosalie settled on the chaise near the fire, sipping quietly at her wine.  Her eyes drifted to the flames while she drew up fond memories of Roger Carlyle and his charming attempts to win her affections.  He had only been a silly boy then, and hardly serious about pursuing her, but she hadn't minded the attention in the slightest.  "I remember when Carlyle's expedition left for Egypt," she mused aloud.  "I desperately wanted to go along, but was tied to other projects at the time.  After we heard of their disappearance, I counted myself lucky for staying behind."

Falling silent again, she rested her chin in her hand as she waited for her uncle to finish his conversation, glad that Jackson had decided to at least ring them.  Privately, however, she thought it very ill mannered of him to steal the limelight on his father's birthday.

"Just like Jackson, isn't it?" asks Walter, as he stands by the chaise that Rosalie occupies, reading her thoughts from her face and their old association, "He could have arrived yesterday or tomorrow and accomplished his business, but that just wouldn't be enough attention for our cher cousin, now would it?"

He passes her an affectionate, if slightly rueful smile: "How have you been, Rosalie?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 10:56, Thu 17 July 2014.

Leo pressed a hand to the ear that wasn't trying to listen to Jackson and concentrated on what his son was saying. "It's good to hear from you, too, Jackson! I just received the telegram today, but already have two members of a team for you as Walter and Stanley were both in attendance. How many people do you want, and what sorts of skills? And when are you going to be here? Your mother is quite excited to see you again."

Chin tipping upward a fraction, she cast her attention upon Walter.  A knowing, though slightly guilty smile tugged at her lips.  "I was not going to speak ill of our cousin, but you know where my thoughts lie.  It is good to see you, Bo.  It has been far too long.  How have you been?"  She offered her free hand in greeting.

Again, a voice through the receiver.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Thu 17 July 2014.

In reply to Rosalie Elias (msg # 51):

"Well, I've never got rich, but I'm still around," said Bo with a shrug, "I've been places and done things, but I felt like it was time to come home while I still can.

"You look great, by the way. Never married?"

As he listened to Jackson, Leo made affirmative noises in all the right places, and when Jackson provided him with instructions, Leo made writing motions with his hand and expected Lawrence to bring him a writing instrument and paper. Once he had those in hand, he repeated back Jackson's instructions while he wrote. "Right, 8 o'clock at the Chelsea, room 410. I'll bring those interested, plus your mother who deserves at least a hello and a kiss on the cheek, I should say. Stanley also seems to know some number of other gumshoes that might bolster your number, though perhaps not on such short notice. It will be good to see you soon, son." He waited to see if there was any more instruction or response from Jackson, or if the boy would hang up the phone.

He also wrote down: libraries, archives, curiosity, wits, guts.

A few more words, before the call was disconnected.

---

Leonardo, make a Psychology roll.

"See you then, bye now!" Leo closed the connection on his end as well.

Leo looked down and reviewed his notes before raising his eyes again to look at those around him. "Seems he is looking for more than a pair of fellows to help him on his work, happy as he is to hear that Walter and Stanley are on board. He wants us to meet him around 8 at Hotel Chelsea. It's a little bit of a drive." Leo pulled out his pocket watch from a pocket on his tweed vest, looked at it and put it back.

"He also mentioned a need for anyone that knows their way around libraries and archives, or even those with any sort of wits or guts. Sounds like quite an interesting adventure he's got planned."

<sub>11:00, Today: Dr. Leonardo Elias rolled 42 using 1d100 with rolls of 42. Psychology (75).

OOC: Also, what time is it right now?</sub>

OOC: Right now, it's around 4:00 pm. The Hotel Chelsea is probably about a half hour drive in good conditions, maybe closer to an hour in this weather.

One caveat to his earlier remark, and one which he would be keeping to himself because even if weaving through the vines of inelegant conversation were routine Abraham could on occasion keep his mouth shut, those who didn’t, Abraham guessed a fair percentage qualified, were likely to find solace in the refuge of another institution.  Normally, this inclination tended toward creating fussy and invasive behavior.  ”What a noble and honorable decision.  It takes a certain kind of devotion to build a perfect cage around one’s children.  I can’t say my own mother was all too different, except the cage was left a little to one of the windows.  There’s worse out there and sins come in different sizes.  There’s a place in Midtown you must visit.  If for no other reason than to understand some of your patients.”  But again, the conversation was shifting toward talk of Jackson’s team.”Are you married, Miss Ashcroft?”

”Devoted to his work,” Abraham dropped his hand away from his forehead as some of the pain disapaited allowing him to clear his thoughts so he finally could give some detail about his opinion of Jackson’s personality.  ”More than five years.  After the War, I only stayed in New York for a few weeks and then boarded a ship back to Europe.”  Abraham went silent and listened to the others gathered nearby.  ”Have you given any consideration to the offer, Annabel? I was a little busy with my education,” Abraham chuckled to himself at the word as if it were part of some sort of private joke, ”the last time Jackson called for a team and from what I heard about the Amazon, I missed out on a great opportunity.”
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 17:41, Thu 17 July 2014.