"Were you interested in the Vril Society?" Mercy asked Maybelle.

"We... were just investigating them... kind of. We've encountered their male counterparts... a bunch of assassins, kidnappers, murderers and terrorists! They tried to kill Lord Kentigern in London and then again in Scotland. They kidnapped a Professor Cavor, and we pursued them here and rescued the professor."

"I must admit, though, the women seem a lot nicer... a lot more civilized. I don't understand why there is such a difference."

"Anyway, I don't know if we can stay for the Exposition. We're still on a mission."

"Oh, no. I'm afraid I've never heard of them." Maybelle replied. "But they sound dreadful. I most certainly would not like to encounter them."

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 981):

Grimsby responds gallantly, "I assure you that if there is any risk of your encountering the dastardly men of the Vril, we will do our best to defend you."

In reply to Connor Holmes (msg # 977):

"So you say Captain Nemo really was just a made-up story, eh?" Dash responds to Connor, "My Great-Uncle always said as much!  Back in the Seventies Uncle Lash would always start shouting whenever the Boston Daily Globe would publish a story about the man's exploits at sea--Uncle called the stories in The Globe nothing more than 'inflammatory anti-British poppycock, spewed out by the idiotic Irish-Catholic morons at That Rag!'.  My Great-Uncle never called it The Globe, he always called it That Rag--said the Boston Herald printed the only trustworthy news for right-thinking Methodists like...eep!"

Dash suddenly goes silent, and the color drains from his lightly tanned New Englander's face.  Dash casts a down-turned look towards Connor,

"I apologize, my friend--I forgot for a moment that you were Irish.  Please don't let my quoting of my Great-Uncle's slurs lead you to believe that I hold to any such absurd racial epitaphs.  I served with many a fine Irish-American in Cuba, and well do I know the mettle of the folk of the Emerald Isle."

"A-a-ah ... to get back to the issue, though, where is Professor Cavor?  I can't remember if he ever told us why the Vril were so interested in this ore they stole from him and Lord Kentigern.  Perhaps knowing the properties of this material might go far in helping us understand why they shipped the ore to Lakshadweep, while keeping Cavor here."

"Cavor is with Remi," Bellgrove repies.

"And they didn't leave Cavor here... we intercepted them."

"If I remember correctly, we had some inkling that Lakshadweep wasn't the final destination... just another stopover."

Not for the first time in the past hour, he wondered how long they should wait for the ladies and Grimsby to return. He had every faith that Grimsby could handle himself, but if he had to deal with female Vril with strange powers...

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 984):

[CHARTROOM OF LE CORBEAU (THE RAVEN); REMI'S AIRSHIP]

Dash picks up and drains the remaining coffee from his cup.

"Maybe so." Dash says, placing the now-empty cup down on the chart table, "But I distinctly remember the Professor saying that they separated him from the ore here--sending the ore to Lackshadweep, while he was to continue on aboard the Black Zeppelin we've been chasing.  And I don't think he thought he was heading for Lackshadweep."

Dash pulled his battered, leather-billed sailors cap from a back pocket and set it on his head,

"Let's go ask the Professor, just to be sure, shall we?" Dash says, starting towards the cabin door, intent on finding Remi and Professor Cavor--likely in Le Corbeau's control cabin, "And we can pin the Professor down about the ore, and why the Vril want it."

---

OOC: unless eiher of his two companions feel the need to stop him--though they are welcome to come with him--Dash will go and find Professor Cavor.

In reply to Grimsby Baskerville (msg # 982):

Maybelle laughed lightly."How gentlemanly of you."

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 986):

Rosabelle had listened quietly as the others spoke, finding herself at a bit of a loss for words at her companions sudden sharing of their objectives with this stranger, forgetting that she had been in the same position a very short time before.

The others also all seemed to know exactly who this woman was, but Rosabelle hadn't been to a play in years, since long before her husband had died, and paid no attention to such frivolities.

It is, indeed, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am actually Doctor Tinker-Plumist, an inventor and builder of clockwork devices. I have only recently aligned myself with this company.

In reply to Rosabelle Descant Tinker-Plumist (msg # 987):

"You invent clockwork devices? How interesting!" Maybelle turned to face Rosabelle.

Marian is unknowingly in sync with Rosabelle regarding her companion's forthrightness. But she lets it go quickly. Surely such a famed actress would have nothing to do with the Vril. Hopefully she could keep a secret though. They didn't need word of them getting around. Oh well, whatever happened they'd deal with it, they always did. Besides, perhaps such an important woman would have connections should they need them. At least she seemed pleasant enough.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:51, Wed 23 Jan 2019.

The only "forthright" companion so far is Mercy. Grimsby, like the others, has maintained a discreet silence about the mission; however, he could hardly prevent Mercy from sharing whatever she chose without ungentlemanly violence.
(OOC: Note that Denholm and Bellgrove are in a separate conversation elsewhere.)

ooc: Yes, I knew that they were in another conversation, don't worry :) But it's a good reminder that Mercy is the only upfront one of us, haha! I fixed my post to indicate that correctly.

"Well, anyway, it was nice to meet you all." Maybelle smiled. "Perhaps we'll see each other again soon."

If someone had asked her a month ago how many Englishmen she'd expect to meet in Bourbony, she'd probably have said zero... or maybe 1 or 2. Of course, that was before she knew of the Exposition.

She also hadn't quite realized that the English had explored, invaded and conquered so much of the world... even if they didn't own the Colonies any more, and were still heavily involved in the Far East. Well, the Near East, too.

And here she was meeting an English actress popular on the English stage!

Maybelle seemed a bit anxious (and maybe a bit reluctant?) to be on her way, but Mercy wasn't quite ready to end the encounter just yet.

"We have an airship!" she blurted out. "Would you like to see it?"

"Well, actually, we may have two airships. We sort of commandeered the Vril black ship. I don't think we've decided what to do about it yet... assuming the government doesn't claim it."

"The Falcon belongs to Remi. He's the captain. So far, he's been good about taking us on our quest. He might not want to go on the next leg, though. It's to Lakshadweep. Have you ever heard of it? I hadn't till now."

Under Grimsby's and Marian's 'glare', Mercy suddenly realized she may have said too much. After all, they really didn't know Maybelle. Mercy knew who she was, though, and that sort of made her feel as if she knew her. Besides, it wasn't really a secret that they had an airship. Half the city had probably seen them arrive... since they hadn't snuck in in the dead of night.

Maybelle blinked at that, a bit startled. An airship? Goodness gracious. She had heard of them, but had never seen one.

"If it's all right with everyone else, I'll come." She replied.

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 994):

Grimsby said thoughtfully, "We might be able to offer you a flight in an airship, if your professional obligations permitted you to take the time." He did not say so, but he was thinking that since Maybelle had been told so much about their mission, politely shanghai-ing her might be the best way to ensure she did not pass on what she had learned.

"Very well, then, if you wish it, I'll come" Maybelle replied.

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 996):

Grimsby said politely "I am sure Captain Remi would welcome such a distinguished guest."

In reply to Grimsby Baskerville (msg # 997):

"I would very much like to meet the captain. Shall we go?" Maybelle replied to that.

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 998):

[ABOARD LE FAUCON VAPEUR (THE STEAM FALCON); REMI'S AIRSHIP]

"Professor Cavor?" Dash calls out, just before entering the control cabin, "Professor Cavor, are you in here?"

Dash steps into the control cabin, looking for the Professor--or anyone--in the compartment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:59, Sun 27 Jan 2019.

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 998):

Grimsby glanced at the other ladies in the party and said, "If you are all quite ready to go, let us go to the ship."

In reply to Grimsby Baskerville (msg # 1000):

Maybelle and the other ladies followed Grimsby to the airship, and Maybelle absolutely marveled at it's size. It was so big! she thought.

"Yes, we're ready to go, I believe," Mercy replies, glancing at Marian and Rosabelle.

"It's not like we've taken hotel rooms anywhere. I doubt if any are even available at this late date, though I daresay the Queen could get us some. We haven't had time to do anything else, so we've pretty much been using the Falcon as our living quarters."

"Grimsby, are we staying here in Bourbony much longer?"

As they returned to the ship at the aerodrome, she couldn't help thinking that it was the four women that were escorting Grimsby rather than the other way around.

Marian gives a polite smile at the sudden inclusion of Miss Diggory. Mercy was a brilliant inventor but apparently social etiquette was beyond her grasp. If she wasn't careful she would invite the woman to live with them within the next hour or two! Of course, she'd joined them nearly as quickly and it had worked out for her, but still! Even Miss Rosabelle had been flung with them only the night before, but the woman had quickly earned her trust. Actresses though...well they could go either way. Time would tell. In the meantime she determined it was not her choice who would join them. She was just grateful the opportunity had been extended to herself. And this Diggory woman seemed alright...Either way though, she'd sleep with her pistol tonight. But then that was hardly out of the ordinary these days...

In reply to Denholm Hawkesbury (msg # 999):

In response to Dash's comments his call for the Professor Bellgrove also finishes his coffee and nods, "Good point!"