Limehouse
January 31, 1925

Stanley wheeled in the vehicle carefully into a streetside spot near the Limehouse Docks. With no parking available offering a direct view of the docks themselves, they were forced to find a spot on the next street over. The neighborhood was no less grimy in the late hours of the night and the small hours of the morning than it had been when they visited it earlier. Activity was diminished, but some gambling dens and taverns still seemed to be open and serving patrons.

   Millicent sat in the car not feeling the cold too badly despite the early hour thanks to her warm attire, not to mention the scotch she had drank they left. Some called it liquid courage, she didn't care, anything to keep her warm.

   She looked out the window, she had seem a few placed like this in her line of work and no matter where, they all looked the same, just the names of the streets change.

  "Well now," she said, "as much as I would like to stay in this warm car, it's time to go see if this little trip was worth anything. What's the plan, just watch the docks till we get bored?" There was a slight tinge of hopefulness in her voice at that.

"Those peacoats, a couple sea bags and we should be able to get pretty close." Bishop said.

"Perhaps Doc and Miss O'Connor, a drunk sailor and a girl. Meanwhile Bo and I use your distraction to slip inside and take care of anyone who might cause trouble."

"We can slip a couple shotguns into a sea bag if you all want. Otherwise you will have to depend on Bo and I as we will go in heeled."

Bo shakes his head.

"Not me, Stan, I don't want that kind of trouble. I'll use a gun if I have to, but you can stow mine in the boot, as they say hereabouts."

He can feel the sheath of his bone-handled camp knife in his left boot, as well as the solid lump of his blackjack in his right hip pocket. The switchblade nestled almost weightless in the right pocket of his unbuttoned second-hand peacoat.

"So we go in and prowl that place looking for a crate that might hold that mirror, eh? Then what? I'm not sure I quite grasp the plan."

"Drunk sailor?" Leo shrugged. "I think I can handle that. So long as they don't get a good look at me." The eldest of the group smirked. He did look back to Stanley at Bo's question. This sort of business wasn't Leo's strong suit, but he would pitch in as well as he could.

Bishop hoped it would go smoothly and there would be no need for firearms. But if there was he was happy to have his own shotgun, and pistol.

"Knew you were up for it Doc." Bishop said with a comforting smile.

"Bo if we encounter a watchman, we will let you do that honors with that cosh of yours."

"What about you Miss O'Connor?" Bishop asked.

  Millicent gave the man a mischievous smile and laugh.

    "Me, a bar floozie, is that how you see me dear Stanley? Oh why not, I've seen enough of them in my lifetime, it wouldn't be too hard to look the part. She looked down, "should have dressed more tart though." She shrugged, "well wouldn't be the first time a society gal has ventured into these places."

 Opening up her hand bag, she pulled out a compact and some makeup and tarted her look some to make her fit in.  "There," she said as she looked over her effort in the mirror, "that should do. Well my dear Doctor, if your ready, lets go play our part.

 Oh," she added pulling out a handgun from her bag to show the others before tucking it back in. "I'm good in case we run into trouble hopefully though no one will bother us."

Stanley was a bit embarrased, and glad the darkness concealed his reaction.

"Doc if you two make your way down the street slowly. Bo and I will come come the the other direction, being a bit less obvious." Bishop said.

"Perhaps once we have made our way inside, you could pull Miss O'Connor into the door way of the warehouse for some hanky panky. If every thing is clear we will get you inside and the four of us can quickly search the place. Everyone make sure you brought your torch with you. But be careful where you shine them during the search." Bishop said holding up his own flashlight.

"The sooner we are done here. The sooner we can make our way to the Penhew Foundation and make sure the others are OK as well." Stanley said thinking of Rosalie and wishing they were together.

  "Hanky panky, mmmmmmm," Millicent purred with a seductive smile, "if only your wife knew what you were doing in your investigations," she said in a teasing tone. "I'm sure we'll have no trouble being convincing." 

  She opened her bag again to check, "yep it's in there, I learned my lesson from last time of having only one light." 

Leo nodded. "I will happily tell my wife about everything I have done during my investigations when I next see her." He knew Millicent was kidding around, but being away from his wife and aware now that there was a chance he wouldn't see her again - it was a bit of a sore spot. "That said, let's go make this look convincing."

Leo dressed in his 'costume' such as it was, then held out a hand for Millicent.

"Ready when you are, Stan."

Bishop handed Elias his flask "Best you two have a nip, just to make it convincing."

Dressed in a dark peacoat and watch cap, Bishop nodded and joined Bo in the cold. The stench of the rotting flotsam and jetsam that filled the damp air of the docks filled Bishop's nostrils. He could not help but think that no matter where he went in the world the same stink filled the air.

Bo grins and winks at Leo and Millicent.

"Lots of giggles and guffaws should put it across."

  Millicent took Leo's hand and climbed out of the car. She flinched at the smell for an instant before continuing out and stood beside Leo. "mercy, it is a wee nippy out here isn't it," pulling her cost tighter.

  Her eyes lit up at the site of the flask, "just what a floozy needs on a night like this," taking a sip and then some after Leo was done with it. She let it linger on her overly red lips. "ahhhh, not bad, though one can't really complain in this cold." She held out her arm for Leo to take, "shall we go play our part dear Doctor?"

OOC: I think our planning is complete and I'm going with what was outlined in the last PM?

Leo raised the flask in a toast to his comrades. "To being convincing." He took a couple nips as Stanley had suggested, then nodded to them and pushing his hat lower on his head. He looked at Millicent's arm, but that wasn't going to be quite right. Instead he circled his arm around her waist and pulled her tight so they could walk hip-to-hip. Or rather they'd stumble that way.

The 'walking' was going to be relatively slow and somewhat serpentine. Leo leaned over toward Millicent's ear. "Just remember to giggle every time I talk to you. I'll obviously be playing the part of very drunk and terribly funny sailor."

  "Oh," Millicent gasped surprised as Leo grabbed her, "You sly dog you." She gave a smile as she did the same to him making sure to alters her steps too. At his suggestion, she gave her best interpretation of a drunk lass's giggle, which she had seen her fair share of and occasionally done herself after a few too many.

 "oh you!" she said in a silly, slurred giggling tone, "youure a funny guy, you know that? You should be one of them actors or something." She gave another giggle at the end.

From where they had parked the car, the group walked down the street and turned the corner, headed toward the area where the docks and the warehouses were. Walking down the block, they soon came to a street crossing, after which they would find themselves in the area immediately approaching the warehouse that Bo and Bishop had described having seen a transfer made to earlier. At the far end of the pier was a dilapidated merchantman freighter, likely the one the pair had described seeing earlier in the day, though the details were less clear by moonlight than by sunlight.

The warehouse was a tall, long building that jutted out onto a narrow pier, with room for docking on either side, and in front of it there was enough driveway to receive deliveries as well. It stood alone from other buildings nearby, unlike some of the other warehouses in the area that were adjacent but independent operations. The lighting throughout the dockside area was minimal, as it was in the streets in Limehouse, save near the pubs, and a light fog rolled through the area.

---

OOC:

Let me get Spot Hidden rolls from everyone except Millicent.

Stanley and Walter, from you two I'd also like a pair of Stealth rolls (with Advantage on account of the preparation and distraction). 

Millicent's Spot Hidden: 96 (skill 50%) - she sees only the obvious - probably the alcohol, and Leo's manly embrace distracting her

Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 27 using 1d100 with rolls of 27.  Stealth 60%.
Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 3 using 1d100 with rolls of 3.  Spot Hidden 58%.

20:39, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 93 using 1d100 with rolls of 93.  stealth roll for advantage 80.
20:38, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 34 using 1d100 with rolls of 34.  Spot hidden 80.
20:38, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 93 using 1d100 with rolls of 93.  stealth 80.

18:21, Today: The Keeper, on behalf of Dr. Leonardo Elias, rolled 15 using 1d100 with rolls of 15.  Spot Hidden 28.

"What are you doing here? This is not a place for kisses by moonlight," a man's voice said, his accent wholly foreign. It called attention to his presence, as he stepped out of the fog a few feet away from where Leo and Millicent were.

He turned to look at Stanley, not sure what to make of him. "We are not open for business tonight. Come back tomorrow."

   Millicent turned to look at the man, her eyes giving him an unfocused look. "Oh honey," she said slurring her voice and giving him a smile; "any place is the place for moonlight kisses." She proceeded to demonstrate that statement by showering Leo with a series of kisses to his face getting lipstick all over it. "Mmmmmm, isn't that right funny guy?"

Leo nodded and leaned into Millicent a bit. His response was directed at Millicent, but was loud enough to be heard by the man that had challenged them. "That's right, sugar. No better way to warm up on a chilly night." He wrapped both arms around the woman, placing his right hand on her upper back, and wrapping his left arm around her waist. Leo smiled and brushed the nip of his nose against Millicent's before going in for another kiss.

"Get lost," he said. Someone called something out in a foreign language from not far away. He called back to them, speaking something similar, and turned to walk away from them towards the voice.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 21):

PM:

OOC:

Other than Walter, I'm trying to figure out what the others are up to. Are you still proceeding towards the warehouse?

Let's get another round of Spot Hidden rolls.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 26):

In reply to Walter 'Bo' Brandon (msg # 28):

 Coming up from her rather surprising kiss with Leo, Millicent gave the departing man a snarky look calling back slurring, "Yah that's right get lost yourself you palooka; showed him, right Daddy?"

  She said in a lower voice, "I wonder what they're doing over there?"


  14:47, Today: Millicent O'Connor rolled 12 using 1d100 with rolls of 12.  spot hidden (50).

'Just looking for work." Bishop said in a feigned Irish brogue.

"I'm strong and willing to work hard." Bishop added. As he spoke he tried to see what was going on. Specifically what was being loaded and who was loading it.

OOC:

Bishop, give me a Fast Talk roll.

OOC:

00:09, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 94 using 1d100 with rolls of 94.  Fast Talk LOL 05 really need to do something about this.

PS since I roll in the 90s at the moment, doesn't really matter. ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:28, Thu 26 Jan 2017.

"So, these two are coming here for kissing, and this one is coming for work," the man who had first spoken with them said, a sneer in his voice, gesturing to Millicent and Leo for the first part, and Stanley for the second. It seemed as if he was explaining something to someone. The fog seemed thinner than it had been but a few minutes ago, and they could see the figures of seven men forming a rough semi-circle around them, between them and the warehouse they had approached.
 
Each of them seems to be holding something out to their sides, as told by the extension of their arms and the muted glint of metal in the dark night, save for one, whose hands seemed as if clasped behind his back. He stepped a bit forward from the others. In what little light was there and the fog, his features were hard to make out, but his skin was a slightly lighter shade of brown than his fellows and he seemed a little taller, his figure more filled out.
 
"We are asking you to leave, but you are wanting to remain here?" one of the other men asked. His lilting accent was similar to that of the other men, but less thick, and the pronunciation clearer.
 
"Surely there are other warehouses for kissing and finding work, no?"
This message was last updated by the player at 21:27, Thu 26 Jan 2017.

Leo looked over at Millicent and moved to speak quietly in her ear.

"Sure is pal, didn't know ya were so touchy. We'll go somewhere else." Leo made to start slowly walking/stumbling wide of where the men were.

 "Yah touchy," Millicent said slurring her words and giggling. She wobbled alongside Leo moving away  from the man. "Comon funny guy," she said a little too loudly, "lets go somewhere more fun!"

 She leaned down to whisper, "With that many men, they can't possibly be doing something on the level. How in the world are we going to get close?" 

The man laughed softly into the night.

"These two fools have the right idea. And you, big fool, will you be joining them? Or you are still wanting to stay here, ulloo ke patthe?" he asked Stanley.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Fri 27 Jan 2017.

"I don't think they will be wanting me to join them." Bishop answered looking at the two love birds, seeming a bit confused and none to bright.

A bit dejected, Bishop turned and walked away. Heading off as if looking for another ship that might be loading cargo late.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Sun 29 Jan 2017.

Walter remains motionless and silent in the deepest shadows.

The man laughed softly at Stanley's attempted obfuscation. They watched while he left, till they could no longer see him, and then they walked back towards the warehouse, entering it again.

---

OOC:

How long does Walter remain in the area?
Are Leo and Millicent returning to the car?
What does Stanley do after he retreats?

 OOC: Where are we in relation to the warehouse? Is there anyway to come around from the other side or will it be too obvious? This might be up to Walter if we can't do anything without them noticing.

OOC:

You all had to cross a street to get to the area where the warehouse area is. There's a turn-in for vehicles to access the warehouses in that area. Then there's a series of docks just beyond the warehouses, several of which are empty, or housing smaller craft, one of which houses a merchantman vessel.

There is a way to come around from the other side, if you would like, but as to whether that would be too obvious, that's something you'll have to judge for yourself.

But what I can tell you is certainly too obvious is trying to come back around from the other side while they're watching you walk away - though you're welcome to do that if you'd like.

Otherwise, I'm curious as to what you had planned.

Leo leaned over to Millicent and spoke quietly to her again.

The night seemed still and quiet save from the ambient sound of water lapping against the docks and the sounds of people drifting in from establishments a few streets down, dark except for the intermittent lighting of the docks that was scattered and sometimes lost in the fog, sometimes eerily reflected back.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:05, Fri 03 Feb 2017.

In reply to Dr. Leonardo Elias (msg # 43):


 Millicent nodded to Leo and started talking very loudly. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?! What kind of girl do you think I am!"

"Try to help me up," she whispered.

  She pushed him back, pretending to stumble fall to the ground.

"You lush," she continued in her loud voice, slurring her words. "I can't believe I fell for your lies, Bastard!"

Bishop continued on his way. With Leo and Millicent playing their part, he figured Bo still had a chance to sneak in and look around. He planned to sneak back himself in a few minutes.

Leo took a step back at the push, and feigned a stumble of his own. "I know zactly what kinda girl you are."

The physician seemed to regain his footing and then helped Millicent back up, or tried to do so at least.

"Oh really" Millicent said loudly as Leo tried to help her up. "And I knows what kind of Mmmmm..MAN you are," studdering before saying the word with an air of distaste in her voice. "A...A... ooph," her voice cut out as she purposefully fell backwards trying to get up, trying to make as much of a distraction as possible.

"You haven't even scratched the surface, honey. There's still a lot for you to find out." Leo grabbed at Millicent's back to act as though he was keeping her from falling. He could follow her dance steps as easily as he could lead.

Walter stood there in silence, his dark clothing blending in with the limited lighting and the fog, marking him for the moment as undetected. Stanley had wandered off in one direction, Leo and Millicent in another. The men had retreated to the warehouse.

OOC:

What is Walter's next move?

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 50):

Once all has been quiet for several minutes, Walter shuffled his chilled feet and started to move. Keeping to the darkest patches of shadow, he approached the warehouse.

There were no windows on the warehouse, though there was a door on the side he approached from, and several larger sliding gates that appeared to open vertically. He could see a hint of light around the edges of the door. Listening to the door, he can hear some conversation quietly.

OOC:

Make a Listen roll.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 52):

Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 35 using 1d100 with rolls of 35.  Listen 40%.

Walter heard a few men talking in a language he didn't understand. He had been around the world enough to identify it something Indian, supported by his estimation of the darker skinned mens' appearances.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 54):

Can he access the back of the warehouse, the dock side?

And I take it there is no upper story, no fire escape or access ladder to the roof on the front.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Tue 14 Feb 2017.

In reply to Walter 'Bo' Brandon (msg # 55):

OOC:
There is no upper story, no fire escape, or access ladder from the roof. He can access all other sides of the warehouse by walking around the building.

---

OOC:


The above image represents a rough map of what is going on in your various scenarios. 

The green square represents where the car was parked, and where Leo and Millicent decided to return. 
The building outlined in red is the warehouse. 
The blue rectangle is the merchantman vessel that you all saw as you approached.
The yellow dot is where Stanley headed presumably in search of more work.
The orange dot is where Walter remained undetected.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:05, Thu 16 Feb 2017.

Some noise came from the boat, and looking there Walter could see a series of figures disembarking, heading to the entrance of the port area towards the town.

---

Make a Stealth roll.

Trying to keep an eye on the aproaching figures and on the warehouse, Walter blunders into an empty ash can, sending it careening and clattering down the slight incline toward the river.

He flees, taking a circuitous ramp toward the car.

Those zany madcaps, Stanley and Walter, in Laurel and Hardy Rob a Warehouse

The sailors seemed surprised by the revelation of Walter's presence, but didn't give chase when he fled.

OOC: Please move to the Docks thread, Part C. Closing this one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:58, Wed 22 Feb 2017.