After a faintly uneasy glance at Irene, Marlene nodded.  "Yes, perhaps the three of us could speak, Herr Neumann," she replied.  "I am still very much learning about my gift, and Fraulein Wolter's help has been invaluable to me.  We would both be glad of any insights you might have, I'm sure."

Erna didn't believe in dreams. She'd come to Berlin with enough of them and had burned them to keep warm.

"There's a stage manager I know, Max Frick at the Theater der Welt. He might know more about whoever Fantine was seeing."

Visiting this Max Frick at the theatre is a wonderful idea. Fantine had not spoken to me regarding any liaisons they were involved with at the moment but they were a very private person. Hans finishes off whatever was left of his drink and decides not to partake in any further alcohol now that his interest has been piqued regarding the nature of Fantines demise.Perhaps we should not all descend on the theatre manager en masse, I would volunteer to accompany Fraulien Klug or if she’d rather go alone or with someone else, that is ok with me

"No theatre for me," Johann said, in a mild tone, "It would remind me too much of Fantine.  Maybe I'll head back home.  I wish you all good luck."  He slowly pushed his chair back.

"There are the reporters to be spoken to as well," Marlene ventured, fiddling nervously with her half-empty glass.  "You mentioned one of them was a good man, Herr Becker -- do you know him?  Would he speak with us?"

Fräulein Wolter gestures to Johan: "Herr Schmitz, if you would be so good as to remain for a little time? There is yet an important matter to be discussed.

“Apparently, Fantine is… was estranged from the family. In their absence, her friends, those of us gathered here, must arrange and pay for the funeral. It is my understanding that Fantine followed the Roman Catholic faith, attending services at St. Paulus church. Someone must speak with the priest about arrangements and costs. It would be best if these individuals are Catholic.

“Also, does anyon know how we get the remains from the police?” She gazes imperiously around the table.


This woman's name IS Wolter, no matter what autocorrect may think.
AND the church is St. Paulus, Gott verdammt.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Mon 09 Jan 2023.

Johann had hoped to slink away, but he also felt a debt owed to Fantine, namely the handkerchief of money he'd wrapped up with her cut of the last job they'd done together.  "Fräulein Walter, I will be happy to contribute," he said quietly.   The only way he could think of to get Fantine buried in a Catholic cemetary involved a moonless midnight and shovels.  "To get Fantine - which we'd have to do first...maybe claim to be a relative, with papers?" 

Becker turns to Marlene with a tight smile. "You misunderstand, Fräulein Eisler. Bernie Solingen is a good man. But he's a cop, a detective in fact. Reporters are scum," he snarls, "I wouldn't cross the street to spit on any of them." He gives her that rictus smile again. Clearly, Becker has no use for any journalist.

The smile he gives Irene is more charming. "Fräulein Wolter, the Polizeiärztlicher Gutachter at the morgue, old Doc Herzl, sends all crime victims to the municipal burial ground when he's done with them for interment for a pauper's burial, usually in a mass grave. Unless, as Herr Schmitz suggests," a nod to Johan, "It is claimed by a parent or member of the immediate family- or their representative with written authorization.

"Same thing for information from the post mortem. I'm a licensed private investigator and even I would need to show I was working for the family."

He stops, struck by a thought and looks closely at Johan: "Where would we get such papers, Herr Schmitz?"


Polizeiärztlicher Gutachter = police medical examiner
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Mon 09 Jan 2023.

Johann held his gentle, practiced smile, and made a noncommittal gesture with one hand, a casual move of his fingers, regarding Becker with a calm look. "I may know someone who can help," he said simply.  "What kind of papers would we need, to convince the police to release Fantine to us ?"

"I'm a Catholic" says Marzie, "Well sort of.  And the only way we can get her body is... and this makes me even more angry than the murder itself, is by claiming to be a relative and having her birth name.  I know the birthname but I'm not sure I can do an Alsatian accent.  Fantime's real family is in Metz but they haven't spoken to her since before she became Fantime.  I think I know someone who can help though, Dr Hirschfeld.  He knew Fantime well.  I could talk to him?"

Though he had said nothing against her, reserving his venom for the reporters, Marlene shrank away from Conrad as he spoke, a strange look coming into her eyes.  Surprise, perhaps, or fear?  In any case, she seemed unable to look at him for several moments after this, only managing to rouse herself again when talk turned to arranging Fantine's funeral.  "I am a Catholic also," she said, then gave the ghost of a smile.  "Sort of.  Do you think this doctor will help us?" she asked Marzie.

"I think he'll help Fantime", says Marzie.  "And he'll probably help me."

"Who's this Hirschfeld and how could he help?" Becker is not quite growling but he is clearly skeptical, "And why would he help?"

"He is the head of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft," said Marzie, "and has helped Fantime already, it is thanks to him that Fantime was able to express her true gender rather than that assigned to her by the authorities in Alsace-Lorraine."

The group around the table is quiet for a bit, maybe calculating how much they can kick in for funeral expenses.


Krüger, the proprietor, comes over and puts down two ten-Mark notes on the table in front of Irene: "Fantine shouldn't get a pauper's burial, shoveled in with a bunch of strangers." He turns away and goes back to his stool.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:00, Thu 12 Jan 2023.

In the parlance of Johann's life, there is little justice to be had for the lowly folk.  He silently takes the handkerchief of Fantine's cut and sets it on top of the two banknotes.  If the police aren't taking an interest, though, it could mean several different things.  One, that they just didn't care about or approved of the crime, two, that they might already know who was behind it and that person or persons were well-connected, or three, basic human laziness.  It did also mean that the lack would enable any meddling he might get into would probably not be noticed.  Not being noticed was the best camouflage in the world.

Becker finishes his drink and puts a few coins on the table to cover the cost.

"Well, I intend to look up Bernie Solingen and see what progress he's making, if any. Shall we all meet back here tomorrow evening and I'll tell you what I've learned. Those that go to see the priest about a funeral can let us know if more money will be needed.

"Goodnight, all."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Sun 15 Jan 2023.

Johann casually stood, settled his wool cap on his head, and said his farewells not long after.  "Good night, all; see you tomorrow." He made his way outside as if heading out for a slow saunter homewards.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:40, Wed 18 Jan 2023.

"You must excuse me. I cannot help in this matter."

The haunted-looking young man rose and departed the shop, leaving behind a few coins for his tab but nothing toward the funeral.

The woman collects the funeral donations--her money, as well as Schmitz' and Becker's--and folds them into an envelope.

"Anyone else care to contribute before we say goodnight?"

Marzie hands over a twenty Mark note.  She doesn't say anything but her expression speaks sadly of limitations.

Leaning back slightly in his chair, Hans closes his eyes and reflects on the conversations during the evening. Once his quiet moment of reflection is over, he stands and says his goodbyes to the group what time shall we reconvene tomorrow? turning to Erna Luise Klug he asks politely would you like some company while you visit the theatre manager?

After Conrad's departure, Marlene seemed to relax again -- at least as much as she ever did.  Taking out the last of what she had earned yesterday, she reserved only enough to pay for her drink and a meal or two, putting the rest into the collection.  "I will go with you to speak with the doctor, if you like," she said quietly to Marzie.  "Tomorrow morning, perhaps?  We can all meet about nine before we go our separate ways?" she suggested.

Marzie nods and smiles. "I would welcome your company, Marlene, if you don't mind being seen going into the Institute."

In reply to Irene Wolter (msg # 50):

Erna checked her purse and handed over four ten-mark notes. It didn't matter what Fantine had believed in, she wanted a proper funeral for her friend.


In reply to Hans Neumann (msg # 52):

Erna nodded.

"It would look better. Stage managers like to be in control of gossip, not the cause of it. Thanks."