AND THEN... Harry hears something outside.

It's pretty quiet-- the fog outside probably helped muffle it some. It doesn't look like Isaac's heard it (he is farther from the windows than is Harry...), because he turns to go...

It's not so foggy, though, that Harry couldn't probably see who made the noise if she went to the French windows and looked outside...



Sounded like a woman's voice out there... but not a voice she's heard before...
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:58, Wed 26 June 2019.

Harry steps to the French windows and peers outside. "Did you hear that? Sounded like a woman's voice."

"Oh...?" says Isaac, and he starts casually walking over...

OOOPS. Harry sees a young woman out there who is obviously from 1966. She's wearing jeans, a cute brightly-colored top, and boots. She looks confused and a little anxious, so she may not yet know when she is, either... She's starting to head around to the front of the mansion...

Isaac hasn't seen her yet...
This message was last edited by the player at 21:40, Wed 26 June 2019.

Harry meets the elder Collins halfway to the windows. "Just one of the servants calling to another, it seems. You're quite right: the sooner various arrangements can be made, the sooner we can get to the bottom of this." She walks with him to the drawing-room door and opens it. "Need a few minutes alone to review my thoughts and prepare for my next interview. Can you see that I'm not interrupted? Thank you." Harry shuts the door in Isaac's wake and makes her way immediately to the French windows. She opens them as quietly as she can and ducks out to intercept the stranger. "Miss," she calls in a low voice. "Miss! Over here by the fountain, quickly!"

Lilith's head turns around, eyes scanning for the voice. She heads towards the fountain. "Hello? Where's Ms. Collins, Ms. Ross or Mr. Stokes?" She whispers to the blonde woman who comes into view.

Harry simply grunts. "Two centuries in the future, less a couple decades." She jerks a thumb at herself. "Harry. Harry MacLeod. Welcome to 1795. Try not to get burnt as a witch."

Lilith arches an eyebrow. "If I didn't see the way you're dressed, I might think your nuts." She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Ok. So first, nice to meet you Harry. I'm Lilith Grey, you can call me Lili for short.Considering the times we're in, it might be best to not go by my full name or my normal profession." She looks Harry square in the eyes."I've got four questions for right now. 1) Exactly how did I get here? 2)How do I get back? 3) Any idea on where I can get appropriate clothing? 4) What am I supposed to tell people? I didn't have a traditional education, so history and me are acquaintance at best. Let alone I'm not from town. I grew up further south, in a gypsy caravan.

Harry taps her thumb. "First, witchcraft or sorcery near as I can tell." She taps her index finger. "Second, dunno as I ain't found a way yet myself." She taps her middle finger. "Third, beg, borrow, or steal... or pass yourself off as a man." She taps her ring finger. "Fourth, make something up. Tell folk you're from Somesville or Otter Creek, came looking for work or a missing kinsman."

Lilith sighs. "Well crap. Ok. I've got cleaning skills so I could possibly pass as a maid. Can you help me get clothes? Please? Maybe we could even work together and get back home? She looks at Harry, clearly tired, lost and confused.

Harry grunts. "Ain't as simple as that. No Sears-Roebuck hereabouts. Everything's bespoke." She sizes up Lilith as best she can. "Only person who don't need what clothes she got is the recently-deceased Abigail Collins." Harry glances back over her shoulder. "Someone's bound to come into the drawing room, soon. Hide here by the fountain, I'll see what I can scare up." With that, she ducks back through the French windows into the house.

Lilith simply nods as Harry talks. Once Harry disappears back into the house, Lilith sits down behind the fountain. She opens her bag and pulls her tarot cards out. She runs her hands over the cloth covering them, tempted to use the cards. She mutters to herself in Romani, a protective prayer. After a moment she puts them back and pulls out the necklace she had been working on.

Harry slips through the French doors perhaps a quarter-hour later and deposits a bundle of appropriate clothing beside Lillth. "Ain't sure where best to change. Fog oughta cover you as long as you stay away from any windows."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Thu 15 Aug 2019.

Lilith puts her jewelry making kit away and puts the finished necklace into an other pocket on her bag. "Thanks." She takes the bundle and stands. She heads off to the wooded area to change.

When Lilith returns, Harry looks her over and nods. "Will have to take it in at the waist and let out the hem some, but should do until we can get you something properly tailored." She glances back at the French doors. "Caught me amidst interviews of the Collins household. Old Man Collins' sister died night before last, look of sheer terror on her face. Folk are missing, too. Hired me to look into both matters. Couldn't say why, but am sure glad for all those detective movies I seen."

"Wow. Definitely a mystery. Maybe one that must be solved before we can go home." Lilith says as she looks over the outfit. "I can tailor it myself if I get somewhere private to do so." She looks at Harry. "So now what?" Lilith asks as she adjusts her bag.

Harry briefly ponders the fog before answering. "Ain't a night to be wandering without a lantern, whether you know the lay of the land or no, and the fog'll get thicker closer to town." She returns her gaze to Lilith. "Let me excuse myself and I'll take you there. Feed you and find you lodgings too. Would invite you in, but ain't my place to do so."

“Works for me. Where should I wait?” Lilith looks around as the fog rolls in more and shivers slightly, in the ‘Someone just walked over my grave’ kind of shiver.

Harry gestures to where Lilith had been sitting before. "Good a place as any. Lurk too close to any window and you'll give someone a fright, like as not. Folk are a mite jumpy just now."

"Ok. I'll be here then, working on my jewelry." Lilith says as she resumes her seat.

Harry nods and ducks back through the French doors.