In reply to Andrei the Amazing (msg # 61):

Dixon is juggling his valise, his cigarettes, and his lighter as they walk along the platform.

"Hrm... Of course, old man, happy to share some sartorial guidance with you. We'll have you all spiffed up in no time."

He nudges Andrei in the shoulder, almost dropping his cigarettes: "Won't cost you an arm and a leg, either," he adds with a chuckle.

"Please, call me Georgia", Mrs. Taylor said as they rattled past the dog track, a quantity of new housing and then the vast Ind Coope Brewery with its railway sidings before coming to stop at Romford station.

The group of them stepped out the train, the last of them closing the door behind him. They could hear the succession of doors being slammed shut as others got out and did the same, followed by a cry of "all aboard!", a guard's whistle and then another whistle as the train pulled out of the station to their right.

Descending the stairs, a ticket inspector was waiting to collect their used tickets. Just beyond this, a young man was standing next to a shoe shine stand, ready for another who wanted shiny shoes.

At Anderi's comment Daniel looked down at himself. A 'really?', look crossed his face as Dick was asked for clothing advice. Daniel frowned. He always thought he wore working class well. Maybe when he got back home he'd seek out some fashion advice. He obviously needed it.

Daniel passed a coin at the shoe shiner. He didn't want his shoes shined but liked to help others where he could. The fact that this kept eating into his savings and ambitions tended to cross his mind later on when it was too late.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Thu 18 Apr 2019.

Jock took in the scene. He wasn't really expecting trouble at this stage, but he'd been hired as a troubleshooter - literally or not - and he took his job seriously.

The very fact that the group had been hired meant that someone could know that they'd been hired. They'd have a bit of an uphill struggle if someone were onto them at this stage of the game, but complacency was seldom a good idea. He would continue to keep his eyes and ears open.

Georgia stopped suddenly and raised her hand to her head.

"Of course, he won't be at the dogs tonight... it's Friday, he'll be at the synagogue. We'll go there after the service finishes, which will be after 8pm."

She stepped onto the street and turned to the left.

"This way please."

As they walked, she turned to Jock.

"Have you ever snuck into or out of Germany before?"

In reply to Georgia Taylor (msg # 66):

"Who's that, Georgia?"

"Doctor Key. Our planned medic and German speaker."

They kept walking down the street, the sounds of the market ahead of them increasing in volume as they approached. The air was getting chilly and a low rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.

"Looks like a storm's coming", she said.

They got to the end of South Street, where a truck was being loaded up with two cows who weren't particularly keen on getting into the truck.

Another truck was standing next to and an old man with a beard casually touched his flat cap.

"Mrs Taylor," the man said, "I got something nice and 'andy for you. Yours for a shilling."

Taylor turned to the others.

"This is George. Local rag-and-bone man. Sometimes sells me some stuff on the cheap that gets thrown out."

She turned back to him.

"What have you got."

"German p'rasebook. Whole batch of foreign phrasebooks in fact from a local farmer who kicked the bucket last month. A shilling each or all twelve for 'alf a crown."

He saw the others as he reached for a cheap cigarette.

"Can I do you lot for anything? I got some interesting spoons."

"Have you a camera?" Andrei asked the man. "Not new, but in working condition."

George grinned a grin that showed a couple of missing teeth and laughed.

"I did find a camera lately, but I sold it to Mr. Gorton the pawnbroker. He's down the other end of the market. Probably closed now, but he'll be open tomorrow. You'll easily recognise him on account of the fact he's got only one arm. Lost the other in France.

Anyway, it was a nice affair. German, I think."

Andrei nods politely.

"Thank you," he says, "that sounds as if it will do nicely."  He looks at Dixon.

"Shall we find somewhere to purchase clothing?"

"Mmmm... Supper first, I should think, what?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Thu 02 May 2019.

"We'll have to do the clothes shopping in the morning", Georgia said, "Shops will be shut by the time we've eaten."

She turned to George.

"Put those to one side for me and I'll pick them up at the yard in the morning".

They carried on walking and were just about to enter Dempsey's Pie and Mash when a man in a black shirt walked up to them. A black shirt with a red armband with a bolt of lightning on it.

A literal blackshirt then. He had short dark hair, a sleazy moustache and was looking rather upset.

He saw Dick Dixon and became apoplectic.

"I know you!" he said, "You're Dick Dixon! You cost me my job!"

Dixon cocks his head at the man, his expression a study in neutrality. His eyes glance briefly at Jock, as though to assure himself the big man is with him.

"Sorry, chap, don't have the foggiest notion what you mean. Was it something in The Mirror?"

Jock stood ready, but was strictly observing for now. This could be a problem or an opportunity.

Andrei moves casually around to the rear of the indignant man.  If needed he could provide a tripping hazard if someone else was pushing the man.

"Yes, it was actually. You wrote an article about someone in my old firm who was taking money from the till."

Georgia looked at him.

"And that was you I assume?"

"For good reason. My old firm was Burtons, the department store chain. I was keeping valuable money out of the hands of the Jew who owns it."

In reply to The Whip Cracker (msg # 77):

"Well, chappie, you can't blame the store for sacking you, then. Obviously, they felt the purpose of their business was to put money into the hands of the owners, be they Christian, Jew or Mohammedan. I reported facts, as you have confirmed. You got no beef with me. Write a letter to the editor.

"By the bye, were you prosecuted? Might be worth a follow-up story."

Jock had been in many a fight during his military career, but one thing the army had taught him for sure was that if you could avoid a fight without losing ground, that was far preferable to anything other than total destruction of the foe. And total destruction simply wasn't an option in this case. He positioned himself so that he could make a pointed stare into the reporter's eyes.

"Evidently, this gentleman and his employers had differing ideas on the best use of the money, Dick. I'm sure you faithfully reported the facts as they were seen, and told to you, by the employers at the company, but did you interview this young man and hear his side of the tale?

"By his own admission he took the money, but he evidently believes he had good reason to do so. For all we know, his employer was a Scrooge who was abusing his staff. Perhaps we should hear him out? It may be that any follow-up story ought to have an entirely different slant?"

"He doesn't have any good reason", Georgia said, "He's a Jew-hater, pure and simple."

The man looked at her.

"I know you. You're the woman who's married to a d*****e. Why don't you go back to where you came from?" he said.

"When you go back to your swamp."

OOC: Roll Initiative, please.

11:54, Today: Andrei the Amazing rolled 6 using 1d6+3.  Initiative.

Dick Dixon rolled 4 using 1d6+2 for Initiative.

My rules are on a different machine. I'm guessing that's 1D6+Quick?

15:21, Today: Jock Tavish rolled 3 using 1d6+2.  Initiative.

I see the dice roller hasn't grown any fonder of me since we last met...

Yes, 1d6+ Quick. For an hand to hand attack, it's 1d6+Strong+Bludgeon

The man was clearly telegraphing the punch he was about to throw at Dick Dixon. Georgia spotted it and her own fist moved first... but clearly he wasn't that bad a fighter, because he was able to dodge her blow...

Andrei is up next.

Andrei moves up behind the man and slices his belt/suspenders, in an attempt to get the man to trip as his pants fall down around his ankles.

21:35, Today: Andrei the Amazing rolled 10 using 1d6+4.  Slicing belt/suspenders.

I'll roll now, in case I'm not online over the weekend:

03:51, Today: Jock Tavish rolled 10 using 1d6+4.  Round 1 Punch.

Hmm, maybe the dice roller heard me!

That's +3 for Strong, +1 for Bruiser.

"Or not," Jock answered his own suggestion as the situation exploded.