Horror's Heart (Call of Cthulhu) IC

[littlebottom]

"Look, im sure you will understand why i would be hesitant to accept that offer, how about here, or the church since then there is no one else to listen in, and you explain whats going on before i go to somewhere that you have a bunch of bouncers and guards at your beck and call?"

[Voshkod]

Averell follows along, wondering why the group was getting distracted by LaVoie's when their friend was in danger.

[Dark Seeker]

Ian examines the man, trying to recall if he saw him at the funeral. If not, this could be some trick by the LaVoie's enemies, and he will be cautious.

The doctor can't place him, and gives up after a moment of frustration.

[Xsesiv]

"If you're going to be that suspicious, sir, then good day," says Hugh LaVoie, bending over painfully to pick up his hat. "You can reach me at the Canterbury Club if you change your mind," and he continues to hobble on down the street.

[Voshkod]

"A drink at the club!," Averell says, perking up. "Now that sounds like a marvellous idea, old boy." He steps up to Hugh. "Which way is your club? Do they have billards? I could use a drink and game - billards or darts, either one - been a damn trying day."

[littlebottom]

Averell's eagerness causes Mortimer to sigh, but then Mortimer nods and follows the man with Averell to the club.

[Dark Seeker]

Ian follows the others, sticking close to them. He does not trust this "Hugh".

[Xsesiv]

"I was thinking of something more along the lines of a light lunch," says Hugh, looking at the sun.

Before too long, he reaches one Victoria Square and approaches a six-story Gothic building. The building appears to be shared by two businesses, because a large sign on it reads "The Canterbury Club", while there is also a flag with a fleur-de-lys reading "My Lord's Fire". On the ground floor, surrounded by suits of armour, a very old woman rocks in a chair, crochets and stares intensely out of an angled window overlooking the front door.

The front door opens into a short passageway, with a side door leading into My Lord's Fire and another straight ahead leading to the Canterbury Club. Hugh LaVoie strides up the passageway to the door and knocks sharply.

A smallish, round-faced man in a bright blue blazer opens the door. "Good morning, Mr. LaVoie, sir."

"Frederick. These are my guests," says Hugh, and indicates his invitees as he steps inside.

"Do step into the lobby, sirs," says Frederick the Doorman, holding the door open.

[littlebottom]

Mortimer will continue to follow him inside.

[Voshkod]

"Perhaps a private room, sir, or a quiet booth, so we can discuss your family and that unfortunate event on the train?" Averell says quietly to Hugh.

[Xsesiv]

"I'll do the best I can, but visitors are allowed only on this floor and the floor above. This is a truly private club, you understand, and they are prepared to protect their privacy," says Hugh slyly.

Coming through into a large lobby, a young, personable woman clips several white carnations from a vase of flowers and steps out from behind a desk. "Welcome to the Canterbury Club, gentlemen," she says, affixing a carnation on each of the guests as a sign on visitor status. On the other side of the lobby is a longer desk, bustling with blue-blazered young men.

Hugh leads his visitors up magnificent marble echoing stairs to a vast barroom which contains at least a hundred wealthy men and women. Racially and sexually, it is a surprisingly mixed crowd.

The walls are adorned with paintings and antiques, the latter mostly armour and weaponry and all mostly French in origin. The walls are oak-panelled, the drapes are purple, and a fire roars in the marble fireplace, casting shadows over the black-and-white-tiled floor. There are dozens of Louis XIV chairs and tables, alongside couches and low tables and a long stand-up bar.

Hugh leads the group to a vacant table in the corner, relatively far from most potential listeners-in. "Just a chicken salad for me," he says to a waiter in a blue blazer who steps up to the table, "and another bottle of that 1896 I had last time, if you've got it. And for the rest of you?"

When the waiter finally goes away, Hugh leans across the table. "Now, that incident on the train was staged, as you've probably guessed, to find suitable candidates for dealing with that curse Uncle Lucien decided to put on Jean-Claude. People known to us werent suitable for the job, because it involved magic. Québec's mostly devoutly Christian, so we feared the possible repercussions here, but we didn't know anyone suitable from the outside world. Your appearance was a great stroke of luck."

[littlebottom]

"The question must be asked, why she didnt tell us this when we took the job? I was almost ready to punch you in the face when i recognised you. That probably wouldnt have ended well for either of us."

"So, why did helping on the train mean we had any sort of expertese to deal with this curse? It seems like a lot of effort for a most likely useless bunch of individuals to help you on a matter most urgent."

[Dark Seeker]

Ian orders a sandwich and water.

"Indeed. I should also add that Celine mentioned one of her bodyguard's had been murdered on the train. Was that part of this elaborate act as well?" he asks.

"I will be glad to help you, provided you're telling the truth. We're already aiding the LaVoie family. If you've any further advice we'd be glad to hear it. I confess, we're at a loss as to how to break the curse." Ian says this last part as an attempt at misdirection. If the man's not who he says he is, he should at least be relived to know that the investigators are apparently incompetent.

[Voshkod]

"A ham on rye and a bottle of what he's having," Averell orders. He turns then to Hugh. "A risky gamble. If one of us had a gun, you could be dead. Was the scene at the club staged as well?"

[Xsesiv]

"I wouldn't suggest starting fights in your condition, sir," says Hugh, looking at the enormous bruise on Mortimer's head. "You'll have to ask Céline why she didn't tell you. I can't answer for her. Jean-Claude rigged this up to find brave, compassionate and intelligent people, not experts."

He turns to Ian. The food arrives and Hugh waits for the waiter to withdraw before continuing. "The bodyguard was played by Stéphane, who's alive and well.

Unfortunately, I can't help you. From my understanding, anyone of LaVoie blood trying to reverse the curse will be consumed by it, and I've been erring on the side of caution as to how far that extends. I don't want to end up turned into an animal because I've been researching a curse."

"I suppose it was risky, but it served its purpose, didn't it?" he continues to Averell. "The scene at the club? I don't know what you're talking about, there."

[Dark Seeker]

"That's a shame," Ian responds with mock disappointment. "We'll figure it out though. Every curse can be unbroken, after all."

The doctor finishes the rest of his meal in silence, unless addressed. His mind is focused on retrieving the translation and finishing the nasty business with the LaVoie's, so the group can get back to attempting to save their dear friend.

[Xsesiv]

Hugh finishes his salad and half of the vintage wine, then rises, leaving half the bottle on the table. "It's been nice to meet you gentlemen, but business elsewhere calls, you understand," he explains.

The waiter approaches him again and Hugh signs for the bill. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like after I leave," he says, "but there are two rules. First, you can't come in unescorted after you've left, and second, you're allowed only on this floor and the floor below. I bid you adieu," and Hugh tips his hat and leaves the building.