When Agnis had hurried in, Leigh'd stood up immediately from his spot at the end of the booth and moved to grab a chair to park himself at the end of the table top -- well out of range of having to brush shoulders with anyone. He reached out, snagging the ashtray with one hand as the other dug a Lucky Strike out of his breastpocket and Werner broke the proverbial ice.
Leigh lit his cigarette, took a drag, then a sip of coffee, and let the smoke escape his lungs as he replied: "Eh, half my class is determined that they're going ta save the world with jus' a pen and a smart mouth; the other half thinks they're going ta get an easy Comm Elective credit; ninety-percentuh'them will probably hate meh by the end of term, but thas t'be expected. The last five might actually go on ta do some good someday. How about you lads? An' lass," he added, gesturing as if he was toasting Agnis with a snifter instead of a coffee mug. "Dead people still coughin' up secrets?" He glanced to each of them in turn, talking fast and trying to include them all so some of the tension would finally give way at the table. "Money still in demand? Plants still a'growin'? What about you, Wildstrom; how goes the term suh far?"
Post by Evan Wildstrom on Jan 19, 2016 3:37:29 GMT
Evan responded to Leigh, "It's been okay for me so far. I've just been trying to stay busy." He looked around the table and added "Out of curiosity, is this only a casual meeting? Or is there news of..." he glanced towards the other groups in the diner and finished in a slightly hushed tone "Unusual phenomena?"
Werner's question took Albert by surprise; he had been far too engrossed in the three eggs, toast and bacon that he had ordered several minutes prior. "... Humph," he cleared his throat. "My older students lack the finesse I would ask of them at this late in the game, Dr. Werner, but I fear we may have some surprises yet! In fact I recently assigned a paper on the short comings of the communists economic gestures ..." He trailed off, noticing the lack of attention from the other other professors. "But I believe we did not meet here to discuss the current events but rather the recent ones, did we not?"
Albert wiped his mustache with his napkin before folding and placing it next to his coffee. "I going to come right out and say it; What we all saw that day was a damn good show and I believe that any man worth his tenure at this very institute we call a university would not hesitate to investigate further."
Agnis made her order, requesting a simple salad with the chicken it came with on the side. She was not particularly hungry, anxiety and uncertainty knotting her stomach as the others ordered and made small talk. There was little stopping her from vaulting into conversations about the nightmares that had been haunting her, and how everyone had been doing so far. They seemed okay, or at least spoke as if nothing had happened and their lives were normal. 'A good thing' she thought, somewhat relieved.
Leigh replied as Agnis thought about what she wanted to say, taking a sip of tomato juice and smiling softly as Leigh raised his snifter at her. "Things have been going well for me. I'm looking forward to a variety of the students looking into taking my class.. I fear there will be less as the year goes on, once they realize that trips abroad are few and far between.."
The tomato juice almost went down the wrong pipe as the conversation turned to Evan. Not in the wildest of her boarding school etiquette classes had someone been quite so forward. Even if they had already been here a handful of minutes and gotten settled.. Agnis sat her class down and wiped her mouth with a napkin, looking towards Leigh she quirked her head to the side. "Do you have a cigarette to spare, Professor Sharpe?" Non-demanding, gentle.
As Albert spoke, Agnis nodded. "I.. have been having a myriad of dreams since that night. While I cannot say that the dreams and events do not haunt my waking hours.. I desire seeking more knowledge about what happened, what those.. things were. The unexplainable has always been fascinating to me, but things I look into don't often come looking for me."
Leigh gave a smarmy grin, fabio-esque fan ruffling his perfect 1920's moviestar hair in the chair just outside the diner booth. "I can spare ya more'n a cigarette, bird," he rumbled, teeth glinting as he leaned forward, putting the cigarette in his own mouth, lighting it with the cherry of his already lit smoke, then holding it out to her. "But fer now, this'll have to do, seein' as how we have company."
Leigh nodded absently, dug the pack of smokes and book of matches out and tapped them onto the table toward Agnis. He didn't look at her though, his eyes trained on Albert: "I agree -- I want'a hunt down as much information as possible, but e'rr time I pick up a book on tha occult or speak to a palm readuh or self-proclaimed witch or summat, I get the most terrible night visions, wakin' up in tha courtyard of the complex, or standin' the kitchen with a knife..." He finished his cigarette with a long pull, then reached for another one out of his pack, leaving it between he and Agnis in case she should like another.
He lit it quick, eyes flicking over the group, "It's downright pissin' me off, not being free ta research the way I want. The less I sleep, the more I wonder abou' things I see outta the corner uh my eyes. I need ta... find a way to research, there must be wards or summat we can protect ourselves with." He turned his eyes on Agnis then, addressing her like an equal -- and the person most likely to have the answers he wanted.
"You've been havin' dreams, too -- have yuh done any digging in your artifacts n'such, see if any help? Have yuh ever come across anythin' like this before?" He learned forward a little, perching his elbows on the table and tipping his hat back a bit to peer at her.
Last Edit: Jan 24, 2016 23:26:27 GMT by Leigh Sharpe
Taking the smoke from him, Agnis took a long drag and turned her head to breathe out the smoke, away from her dining participants. It burned hot down her throat compared to the chill that rocked up her spine from Leigh's words. He spoke fast and quick, betraying his career-driven nature. She leaned against the table, in turn betraying her etiquette and formal nature. Her arm braced her weight, elbow digging in as she leaned towards Leigh. Eyes sharp, focused. Agnis' voice lowered. "A little. The university's library is huge and sprawling, it's hard to find exactly what I want to find.. almost like it's fighting being found. I think someone with more knowledge of the library might be able to help me find something related, but thus far searches have not resulted in much.. There's some sections of the library are off limits to even the better of the professors at the university, and it's.." Agnis shrugged upwards and leaned away, moving her arm to just under her chest as she leaned back into her chair and took another long pull from the cigarette.
She was almost scowling, thinking back to the last month that she'd spent basically scrubbing the library with her knees and elbows, reaching into any nook and cranny she could spot a tiny, scrunched up book that might hold the secrets of the monstrous world that lay out there..
Agnis shook her head and huffed, blowing a puff of hair up and in turn pushing a wisp of hair from her forehead. She looked at Leigh again, keeping her gaze steady on him. "If you want to spend some time in the library with me, or.. well, I'm sure you have more resources available to you than just our library. Getting into contact with my colleagues outside of the University is taking more time than I would have liked.." In truth, Agnis had been very busy with classes and getting things ready for them, and driving off the need for sleep. She had done little more than ask a few vague questions..
Post by Werner Hoganmüller on Jan 29, 2016 23:37:58 GMT
Evan's query caught Werner off guard. He failed to notice the other mingling conversations as he thought up a response. "Well, it was my hope we could...", he fumbled here for a few seconds - trying to find the appropriate word -"...inquire into these matters a little further. Though our last endeavor was profound and difficult(to say the least, he thought), I cannot say I'm not curious to know more."
Leigh watched Agnis as she spoke, eyebrows knitting together as his brain processed the information. He smoked quietly, also listening to the conversation Evan and Werner were having, then responded to Agnis, "Afteahours library would work best for me, I've got classes all day an' some darkroom hours to fill aftahwards. I've sent some lettuhs but haven't seen anything back as of yeh; I have uh feelin' we're not gonna find a whole lotta help in modern texts anywa'."
He stubbed his cigarette out, glancing around at Werner, Albert and Evan: "O'course Albert wants to limp in, guns a'blazing, but what about you two? Evan, you seem a little paranoid -- been seein' weird things? Anythin' strange happening to you?"
Leigh thanked the waitress as she dropped off a plate of two eggs, sunny side up, and some toast. He tugged his hat off and dropped it in his lap before he picked up one of the slices of rye and started eating, watching the other professors' faces, body language and demeanor as they answered.
Post by Evan Wildstrom on Feb 10, 2016 23:50:54 GMT
Evan slumped a bit, shrugged and said "I'm afraid I haven't seen much of anything interesting. Mostly just keeping a watchful eye over my shoulder". He took a drink of his coffee then added "Even though I don't expect walking corpses to burst through my front door, I can't shake the feeling that it will happen. And I never really expected I would have to shoot at anything again..." he trailed off.
For a moment his eyes went unfocused, then he blinked and continued "Of course, if a fellow professor is in need I would help without question. Two heads are better than one, right?"
"Two heads are known to be better than one, Dr Wildstrom, and unless my mind is completely gone" Albert swallowed the last of his breakfast, "five is of course better than 2 two".
"My esteemed colleges, I must be off I have suits I need to pick up from the cleaners and classes that need guidance... I shall meet all of you at the Library after-hours... and for goodness sake try not to get into any trouble be for I can limp in guns blazing". With that Albert stood up bowed in a slightly dramatic fashion and shuffled toward the door.
Post by The Storyteller on Feb 28, 2016 22:47:48 GMT
Thursday, September 13th, 1928
Morning in Arkham. A cool breeze blows gently from the north. Students and residents of the New England town were awoken a few hours ago by the sound of sirens, but preoccupied trying to get a little more sleep before their classes and their jobs, most dismissed the occurrence. At least, until they walked down West College street and the Orne Library.
Professor Ward was one of those people, on her way to the old granite building trying to secure a study room for her planned activities that night. What she encountered however, shocked her.
The first thing she saw was the small crowd of students who, like her, had noticed something strange. All three of Arkham's police cars were lining the street, and officers were keeping people away from the library. Finding a clear spot, Professor Ward looked past them to the library steps. At first, she thought she saw a homeless man sleeping on the steps leading to the front door. But what was that brown stuff all around his face, vomit? But when she looked closer, and saw the way his head had been caved in, she realized what had happened.
She knew she would need to speak to her colleagues, but first she needed more information. She decided to ask a police officer who was away from the crowd on lookout.
Easing her way through the crowd over to one of the few officers not keeping curious onlookers at bay, Agnis adjusted the collar of her turtleneck and straightened the edges of her jacket (she had dressed in cool shades that day, her skirt an almost maise yellow, paired with a matching yellow scarf that draped loosely over her shoulders to mid-stomach). Once she was satisfied that her clothing was in place, Agnis gave a polite but attention-gathering cough, hoping to gain the cop's attention before she burst upon him with questions.
"Good morning, officer." A smile followed her words, warm but visibly anxious. "What seems to have happened to the gentleman on the steps?"
Last Edit: Feb 28, 2016 23:26:36 GMT by Agnis Ward
The officer looked over Professor Ward for a moment. The name on his badge read "Darcy." After considering her, he replied.
"Poor kid." The officer began, in a mild, but detectable Irish accent. "A Miskatonic student. He was reported missing two days ago, turned up here." He sighed. "Some lunatic threw him off the roof last night, and attacked another student. She managed to get away, but they had to check her into St. Mary's. Heard she's a wreck."
Officer Darcy looked over his shoulder, to see if his Sergent was watching, then leaned in close and asked quietly "I've seen you around. Aren't you a professor here? Do you know Vittoria Nangelo?"
Agnis couldn't help herself. As he started speaking she leaned in, eyes wide in self-induced suspense and interest. "That's awful, I can't believe anyone would attack the students.. and so gruesomely." Having seen, even if over the shoulders of the crowd, exactly what had happened to the young man made her stomach roll. Not to mention the thought it had been an intentional act. Someone had gone out of their way to outright murder someone who was basically a child..
When the cop leaned in, Agnis couldn't help herself from leaning further, eyes following his gaze. She nodded and one hand went to gently rest on her purse, where an I.D card lay from the school. "I am the Professor of Anthropology, yes. I don't know anyone by that name, though.. she's not one of my students. Why? What happened to her?"
A disappointed look crossed over the officer's face, but was quickly replaced with a stoic expression. "She's the lass in the hospital. We're just looking for a little more information is all." The officer turned away and looked over the students who were continuing to gather, then turned back to Agnis. "If you hear anything, let us know, alright?"
Darcy then called over to a fellow officer who had set up camera equipment nearby. "Hey, finish up with the pictures, we need to get him to the morgue."
OH NOES
