Leo nodded at his report when Vincent returned. It was as quiet as they had hoped, and that seemed to be a good thing. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing and where they were going according to Bishop's plan.

Leo left his own Lambda to join Annabel in Bishop's car just after his niece had left the woman behind. Avery would likely be fine on his own. "Keep your eyes open and the engine running." Leo sat in the back seat, but swung a leg up on the seat to allow him to check behind the car while the drivers were vigilantly watching the store.

As they quietly approached the store, Moretti glanced around at the group, his eyes resting on Rosalie momentarily. He felt a surge of protectiveness which he quickly stifled, reminding himself that she had faced dangers in the war, and alongside Jackson in the Amazon, that he couldn't begin to comprehend.

He wondered if it was his sense of morality that was bothering him. It was one thing for the Elias family to understand the kinds of activities he, Bishop, and Brandon involved themselves in. It was another thing for them to see them firsthand. Not that anything that they did to the animals at the JuJu House would be unjustified.

Maybe the place would be as empty as it appeared.

Moretti steadied his breathing. It was a job, just like any other.

He eased his pistol out of its holster, carrying it low and near his side. He reached into his coat pocket with his left hand, his fingers curling around the pair of brass knuckles that resided there.

Keeping pace with Bishop, he listened closely to Cotton. He could certainly help with the locks if the reporter found them troublesome.

"As fast as we can," he whispered in agreement.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Fri 28 Aug 2015.

"The quieter we get on the better. But make it fast." Bishop replied with a whisper. The big man found a spot where he could put his back against the wall and cover the others as Tommy picked the lock.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Sat 29 Aug 2015.

Bo hangs back for a moment, watching Cotton take his leave of Annabel. As the young man passes him, he puts a hand lightly on the reporter's shoulder.

"Make sure you hit what you're aiming at, kid. You shoot one of my friends and I'll be mighty pissed." Then he lets Tommy catch up to Stan.

As the others cluster by the door, Bo grips the sawed-off under his coat and walks over to the pawnshop. He glances in its windows, watching for any movement inside the dark building, downstairs or up.

Turning back to face JuJu House, he sees Rosalie slipping along the sidewalk to join the raiding party. He frowns.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:31, Fri 28 Aug 2015.

OOC: Tommy make your Locksmithing roll.

"Oh, I am going with them," Rosalie confessed.  "They have the firepower, but they still might need the skills of a nurse.  Let's hope not."  She slid out of the seat to make room for her uncle and hurried to catch up.

Following along after the others, Rosalie gave Bo a challenging look, canting her head as if to daring him to say something.  Unsurprisingly, she'd chosen dark clothing for this venture as well as flats instead of heels.  She carried her Luger openly, safety off, and finger resting above the trigger rather than on it.  Jackson had ensured that she knew how to use it, and she wouldn't hesitate to if it was needed, though she was far more comfortable nursing than killing.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Sun 30 Aug 2015.

Looking up the alley, Bishop spotted Rosalie coming towards them. He had hoped she would have stayed in the car. She had not made a point of joining them, so Bishop had not made a point of telling her to stay. Now it was too late to argue. Bishop hoped it would not matter. But he had learned long ago that hope had no power to change the future.

Bishop scanned the alley and hoped Tommy knew how to pick a lock.

  Annabel was a bit surprised as Rosalie got out with the men and went with them. The woman certainly had spunk...or foolishness. She game a hushed "Oh, do be careful," and watched her go; Annabel hoped she would be ok. Moments later Dr. Elias came over to her vehicle and got into the back seat to be a lookout.

 "Should she have gone with them," she asked the Doctor. "I know she's a grown woman but still, we don't know what awaits them in there."

Leo nodded at Annabel's question. "Yes, she should have gone with them. As you say, she is a grown woman, and is well aware of what might await. If she wants to be a part of discovering how the people that operate here are connected to Jackson's murder, then I fully support her decision to join those that are entering the shop. I believe we still have enough eyes outside the shop, though I think three of us is probably the fewest number that can be an effective look-out. Also, should any need immediate medical attention, her presence with the others might be the difference between life and death."

Leo looked around, not wanting to fail in his duties, then glanced over at Annabel. "Do you ever plan to have children Miss Ashcroft?"

It took Tommy a couple of fumbling attempts with the lock, but in not too long he was able to fully turn the knob and push the door in.

OOC
17:37, Today: The Keeper, on behalf of Thomas Cotton, rolled 75 using 1d100 with rolls of 75.  Locksmith  (57).

The attempt is at reduced difficulty because you had time for multiple attempts

 Annabel was a little surprised at Dr. Elias's approval of Rosalie going off with the others. After what happened with his son, she figured he would be a bit more cautious of his other family members. But as he said, she was not a child and could make her own decisions, foolhardy or otherwise.

  At the question of having children, Annabel turned and looked at the good Doctor, a bit of surprise on her face at the question. She hesitated for a moment, then answered.

  "I suppose one day, when I meet the right man and get married I will. After all, it is what is expected of me right, at least according to mother and society. A daughter is expected to marry well and raise lots of children for the family line, though I suppose they really wouldn't be Ashcroft's too much would they, taking the fathers name and all that."

  Annabel gave a sigh, "I know I am doing this right now, having a bit of Independence and all that, but to be honest, I really don't want to end up an 'old maid' Dr. Elias. In a way, I guess my Mother is going to eventually win and have her way. But," she added slyly, "I will never admit that to her."

Leo nodded at Annabel's response, but only briefly glanced at her - he didn't want to be taken unaware so he continued to scan the streets in their vicinity. Annabel's admission came as a bit of a surprise to Leo, though perhaps it shouldn't. "If you do have children, you will have the ability to shelter them from any possible ills, of course, or at least you can try. But I believe that for boys and girls alike, their lives are less complete without the bumps, bruises, scrapes, and even broken bones that come along with exploration. By limiting a child we limit their growth, and by limiting their growth we don't give them the opportunity to achieve their potential."

Leo remained vigilant as he spoke, unsure of what might pop up out of the dark. "If we limit them too much, children tend to rebel, and then parents and children learn to dislike and distrust each other rather than building the bonds of trust and love that should be forged during childhood and adolescence. Even worse if we continue to treat grown sons and daughters as if they were still adolescents. It further strains the familial bond, affects the adult offspring's self-confidence, and further causes distrust and shows a lack of respect."

"As parents, we can still provide our grown children with advice, which is often not taken, but we have to rely on them to use their own judgement that has been learned through a combination of experiencing those childhood bumps and bruises as well as receiving advice from a parent that they trust, love, and respect."

He briefly shook his head. "No, I will not try to limit Rosie any more than I did Jackson. Yes, he died, but he also lived most every day to the fullest extent possible. She has experienced danger and seen the ills of war. Moreover, she is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. The only thing that gives me pause is wondering if a desire for vengeance will overcome her good sense at some point. But I think we all have that same potential weakness."

Leo again glanced at Annabel. "I hope you find a better reason within you to have children than it's what is expected of you. What worries you about having a child?"

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 24):

[Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 42 using 1d100 for Spot Hidden 50% examining pawnshop.]

Not seeing anything inside the pawnshop, Bo starts across the street. As Tommy fiddles with the lock, he gives Rosalie a grin.

When the door swings open, Bo snaps his fingers twice. Having gotten Stan and Vince's attention, he points to himself and to Vince and gestures to the door. If neither man objects, he goes past Tommy and through the open door, stepping to the right and sweeping his shotgun in an arc across that side of the room.

[Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 98 using 1d100 for Spot Hidden 50% sweeping the room.]
Edit to add Spot hidden in JuJU House.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Mon 31 Aug 2015.

Bishop spared a glance to Bo. After a quick nod of agreement Bishop went back to watching the alley with his back to a wall.

Moretti gave a quick nod of understanding, following Brandon through the door. He moved to the left, sweeping that half of the room with his pistol, his eyes searching the gloom for any hint of movement.

20:47, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 61 using 1d100 with rolls of 61.  Spot Hidden 60%.

Missed it by that much.

The door opens without so much as a creak revealing an almost inky blackness on the inside of the shops. The interior of the shop is small, a mere fifteen by twenty feet. Shelves line the wall and the interior as well, piled high with African tribal artifacts, bric-a-brac devil masks, leather headed drums, stuffed model giraffes, carves Wildebeests, dull hand weapons intended for display, ivory warthogs, and a great number of other miscellaneous items.

There is no sign of movement, and the room appears to be deathly silent saved for the sound of Bo and Vince breathing.

Bishop sees precious less in the alley, his only companion the dread silence and spectre of anticipated.

Rosalie patted Thomas on the shoulder as she passed as if to say 'good job' and stepped inside the shop after the boys.  Following their lead, she kept her flashlight off, pausing a moment to let her eyes adjust to the gloom before taking a glance around.  It was a pity they hadn't stopped by during the day.  She would have liked to have inspected the shop's selection of African imports by more than just the lamp light streaming through the windows.

In reply to Dr. Leonardo Elias (msg # 26):



Annabel listened to Dr. Elias's words of wisdom with interest. He was many years older then her and knew much in many subjects. She felt she should take some meaning from them. But his question still surprised her a bit. She blinked in surprise and looked at him.

  "Why do you say that Dr. Elias? Nothing really worries me about doing it, it's more when it's going to happen." Annabel gave a little pout. "I guess it's my own fault for rebelling against my mother and going off to do my own thing; not that I regret it mind you," she added in a hurry. "I just sometimes think of the women in my family who aren't married and wonder if I will end up like them as I get older; alone and forced to live off of family charity because they never learned a useful skill live on their own. You know, that's another reason I left. To try to be more than just a pretty face and learn some useful skills."

  In the distance she saw the others finally enter the store. "Good luck guys," she said softly half to herself. Turning back to the good Doctor, she continued. "When I do have children Dr. Elias, I hope I do have a good a job as you did in raising yours," she said with a smile.

Without a flashlight, Rosalie didn't see much more than the others. She couldn't detect any movement, but she also didn't see much more than small dark shapes on the shelves, and she could only make out the vaguest details of those closest to her. Very little of the scant light from outside made it past the edges of the curtains.

The air inside the shop was thick and musty and cold, being made now ever colder by the open door. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, their other senses picked up ever so slightly. The shop smelled of leather and wood and old things. The longer they spent in the cramped corridors of the small, all but completely dark shop, the more an oppressive feeling of unease seemed to wash over them.

Leo raised both eyebrows momentarily at Annabel's response, shaking his head lightly at her suggestion that rebellion was her fault. He smiled when she complemented his ability to raise children, though much of it had come through study later in life than simply ability. "I thought you worried because of your hesitation when I asked about children - your suggestion that you would do so due to societal pressure rather than for other reasons implies that you don't actually desire children, but perhaps I'm reading too much into it. I will tell you that it isn't easy - raising children may be the most difficult task you ever undertake, but you likely won't fully realize what I mean until you have started a family of your own."

Leo looked about so not to let his guard down. "As for your rebellion, it is a natural reaction to structure and discipline, moreso in some than others. So don't be too hard on yourself. However, it may be best if you are more understanding of why your mother treats you as she does. Does she do it out of love? As in she wants you to be the best woman you can be? Or does she do it because you reflect on her, and she wants the world to see what an amazing person she is? Where her heart is should matter greatly to how you receive any instructions she gives you."

Bishop continued watching waiting to enter only after Tommy had done so.

Putting his tools away carefully, Thomas slipped into the door, though before doing so he gave a beckoning hand to Bishop to let the man know that it was safe to follow. At least, he assumed as much. He hadn't yet seen any signs or heard any sounds of the battleground Bishop had assumed this place would be since the first three had gone in. Still, you never really knew till it hit you, so Tommy kept a hand close on his sidearm.

Seeing that they were bathed in darkness, Tommy decided to flick on his flashlight, shining it around the room for a better view, walking around as he was able to without bumping into anyone or anything.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:53, Wed 02 Sept 2015.

Tommy's flashlight brought the shop to life just a little bit wherever he focused it, showing the first hints of color where before there had only been shadows and darkness playing on objects. The curios, art, and tribal artifacts in the room came to life, though nothing in particular stood about about any of them.

The area Tommy wandered over to was the shop counter, which featured a glass display case showcasing still more foreign curios.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:03, Wed 02 Sept 2015.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 37):

"Douse that light, you damn fool!" Bo hisses, furious that Tommy had revealed their presence and ruined their nightvision with one careless act.

Tommy shrugged, and flicked the light off. "Fine, but how long do plan for us to sit around in the dark? I suppose we should ignore the trap door behind the counter, too, though surely you would have found it without light somehow."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Wed 02 Sept 2015.