Act One, Scene One: The Grand Salon

[masteroftricks]

The Coordinates directs the players into a large and vast room that has mostly been surrendered into darkness. Here and there, some candelabras were lit as a token effort against the night

Comments

[doctorbluebox]

Flashes of light.

Darkness.

The wind howls and beats and the basso wheezing ululation of reality being rearranged may go unnoticed.

At the next flicker of light, the one that stays, one will see an addition to the decor--a tall, weathered blue box, bearing the words 'POLICE CALL BOX.' As if to make matters even more incongruous, the door in said box opens and a small man steps out, clad in plaid trousers, a wine-coloured waistcoat, white shirt, dark paisley tie, and brown jacket. He pulls the door shut behind him and locks it with an ornate copper-coloured key before looking about his surroundings with piercing grey eyes under the brim of a small straw hat.

"Hmmm. No welcome party," he murmurs to himself. "Unsurprisng, really. Let's see what's beyond the door, then, shall we?" Hooking the red question mark handle of an umbrella over his arm, he heads in just that direction.

[metody_green]

Metody hesitates at the edge of conversational space, Myra with him. He has never actually had to introduce a pair of people before, unless you counted introducing a boyfriend to his family, and that was more like bodily blocking a wolverine feeding.

When the Doctor had a free moment, he spoke up.

"Doctor? This is Myra. She's a friend of mine. Myra, this is The Doctor."

[myra_reldon]

Myra gives a pleasant smile and gives a small bow of her head to the Doctor.

"Hello Doctor. A pleasure."

[doctorbluebox]

The Doctor hasn't the faintest idea why Metody is introducing her to him, but no-one else would ever know that. He smiles, a gesture that actually reaches his eyes this time--such a rare thing at this point in his seventh life!--and briefly doffs his hat with one hand, offering the other to shake. "How d'you do?"

[myheadisnotbig]

The door slams open with a sudden noise, and the lightning and thunder crash with perfect cacophonous timing, highlighting a ghastly-thin, spiky little silhouette in stark black-and-white in the doorframe.

The lightning fades... and it turns out to be Dib.

"It just had to be raining, didn't it?" He gripes and steps in, squeezing out the tail of his trenchcoat as well as he can.

[devilsmaiden]

Lillith PINs in shortly afterward, her hair gathered up and pinned back with white roses, and wearing a dark blue dress.

"...I'm a bit more concerned about the dead tree to be honest," the young lady remarked as she touched the opened letter against her mouth in a thoughtful gesture.

[myheadisnotbig]

"So they forgot to water their plants, big deal." He stops from wringing out his hair-scythe and takes his first good look around.

"Come to think of it, this place looks completely abandoned. I'd wonder if I got the address wrong, but you just PINned in too." He hasn't seen the Doctor yet, as he's gone walkabout in the creepy wilds of the empty manor.

[doctorbluebox]

"Oh, no, I'm certain if you've got one of these, you've gotten the address perfectly." The Time Lord he didn't see until now flicks a card into his hand out of thin air in front of Dib's view.

[telekineclectic]

Shadow needs none of your silly umbrellas, neither does he need your doors. But, to be polite (and yes, politeness is important), he solidifies. He tries the knocker, and when no one arrives he tries the door. It's unlocked so he invites himself inside. Serves them right for leaving the place unattended anyway.

As soon as he steps over the threshold, he gets a chill up his spine. There's a sudden draft, and it nudges the door closed behind him.

"What in bloody hell."

[myheadisnotbig]

"--Shadow?!"

This from the Dib-shaped figure sitting in half-dark under the skeletal umbrella tree.

[evillurks]

The tall figure clad in black turns his head at the sound of Dib's voice, but hesitates to reply. His eyes narrow slightly at the strangers.

[myheadisnotbig]

"Uh." Blink. "No, I meant him." He adds quickly with a point at the skinny tattooed guy next to him. Then he gets up off the couch again. "I'm guessing... Do you go by that name too? That... Miiiiight make things a little confusing."

[evillurks]

The Shadow's arrival is very quiet, and in a conveniently dark corner. While he makes no special attempt to remain hidden, his presence is unobtrusive by habit. He is dressed in black, and a broad-brimmed hat effectively conceals his face and silver hair. For a few moments he stands silently in the spot he has arrived, listening and watching as other guests arrive.

[devilsmaiden]

The girl glances around, and noticed the dark shape in the mirror. She traced the outline, and rubbed it. Not a smudge. Lillith turns, and head over to Shadow. She curtsy.

"Good Evening, Sir."

[evillurks]

While he is not accustomed to being noticed so quickly, The Shadow takes it in stride, at least to all outward appearances. He gives the young lady a slow nod, then steps forward and removes his black gloves, gnarled hands and a heavy fire opal ring on the left of these coming into the light. He's been listening to the discussion of cards. "I wonder if we're expected to wander around working out who sent the invitations?" His voice is deep and expressive, but no louder than it must be to carry over the atmospheric sounds.

[devilsmaiden]

"I somehow don't get that impression." She pushed a stray strand of ashy hair from her face. "Considering this storm, could it be possible that they are late? No one could live in a place in this state."

But that begs the question of who turned on the gas lights.

[myra_reldon]

Myra appears near one of the many tables, dressed in a dark, skirt that reaches her ankles, and a long sleeved shirt that comes to stylish points on the tops of her hands. The neckline hugs her throat as she studies the room almost with an impassive look. She stays quiet and still as she notes each person in the room.

[evillurks]

The Shadow turns at the new arrival, and both eyebrows rise. For the first time this evening his masklike face registers an expression, and it is surprise. "...Myra?"

[myra_reldon]

The surprised look is returned in almost a mirror fashion. She moves towards him, and stands at his side, looking around at the eclectic collection of individuals.

"Hey." It's about all she can muster for conversation with him at the moment, seeing so many others around. "Interesting seance."

[evillurks]

He is not sure whether to feel subtly reassured to have an agent on hand, or to berate her for stepping alone into what might be an absurd trap. The latter course would invite criticism for his doing the same, and is therefore quickly dismissed. "I take it you received some kind of invitation and card..." The gesture is swift and subtle, the card abruptly arriving in his hand to be offered over. There is a raven-headed man on it, contemplative and commanding.