| Ravensgate PBEM | ||
| [The Foundry]
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Issue #18, “Whisky In A Jar, Part I” PBEM Intro Pan over a panorama of the Pacific Ocean shoreline near Ravensgate. Boats of many different sizes are lined up near Hamilton Point at L. Frank Baum State Park. On the shore are thousands of people, many dressed in 1920s-vintage finery, from pinstriped gangster suits and flapper dresses to those corny flannel one-piece bathing suits. Ferris wheels and amusement park rides beckon to children, who run past rows of 1920s-vintage automobiles. The autos are on display underneath a banner reading: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, "BOTTLE" BILL!! RAVENSGATE ROARING TWENTIES DAYS, JUNE 1-9!! A 1922 Ford police flivver overloaded with beefy Hawaiian cops rolls through the crowd, a Philip Snow For Mayor sticker on its rear bumper. Flanked by three violin-case-toting bodyguards and very much dressed in-character, Dominic "The Chef" Spanno and Paulie Vincense are buying candy for an enormous crowd of children while their flapper "dates" stand around looking bored. Also flanked by bodyguards, and Max and Dani, Mayor Salome Throckmorton-d'Aubaine is working the crowd in a bead-fringe flapper dress and dodging reporters. Campaign workers are on the fringes of the crowd, handing out bumper stickers and hip flasks bearing the mayor’s likeness. After a few moments of shaking hands and posing for photographs—-one of them in a Betty Boop-type pose—she boards a speedboat. The rest of her entourage follows, and the speedboat roars off toward the yacht Roma. On the yacht, Kachina keeps a steady hand on the helm as Joshua and Vic look back at the shore. "Never knew you had this puppy," says Vic. "Haven't taken it out of mothballs in ten years," Joshua responds. "I think it's about time, don't you?" "Yeah." Vic pauses, then continues: "So, what do you think about searching for Dr. Morii?" "She may come looking for us sooner or later. Best to take the initiative, but we should be cautious about it." "How very Zen of you, Joshua." "Speaking of Zen, how do you plan on approaching Morii's ex?" "He's an outsider now working an insider’s job. He's probably so used to being on the outside looking in he'll welcome a sympathetic ear." "Vic, he hates reporters." "Most reporters in this town work for d'Aubaine, Joshua. I don't. And I haven’t decided yet if it’ll be Vic Charlton who befriends him." On deck, sunning themselves, are Oscar and Margaret, lounging in bathing suits. Francois leans against a rail, taking in the wind and sun. "Here they come," Francois says, turning back toward the sunbathers. "Well, I guess it's back to work," Margaret says as she dons a shirt over her one-piece red swimsuit. "I sure hope Joshua knows what he's doing." “Joshua and Vic have everything under control,” Oscar replies. “Team Hyperion is on patrol, we’re in reserve.” “Yes, but what happens if we’re needed,” Margaret says, “and she’s on the boat?” "Easy as pie, my dear," Oscar intones. "At the first sign of super-powered trouble, her bodyguards will haul her off the yacht faster than you can say, 'Throckmorton Device.'" "I'm not talking about her exit strategy or ours, Oscar. I'm talking about loose lips. Especially the kids, if they find Joshua's secret stash." Francois is now facing forward: "Secret stash!?!?" "Joshua has some old mason jars of moonshine he found down in the grotto," Margaret replies. "Holdovers from when it was Bottle Bill d'Ambrosio's house. Why else do you think Jack and the Club Kids are below deck?" Oscar smacks his forehead with his right palm: "Oh, sugar, honey and iced tea." Below deck, a flashlight beam plays about the compartment as things go BUMP! in the darkness.
"Where the $*&#@! is that light switch, Jack? I thought you
could see in the dark." "Hey, where does this door go?" "It's not a door, Namor, it's a hatch. Don't open it. It goes to the bilge." "The what, Jack?" "The bilge. Think 'sewer.'" "Oh, so you can see him in the dark but you can't find a damn light switch? What kind of darkness elemental are you?" "I'm not a darkness elemental, Jason, and I'm trying to make sure you don't trip over anything or open the wrong, uh, thing," says Jack. "Uh, wait a second. I think I found—-YAAAGH!!" Jack recoils and covers his eyes as the cabin is now illuminated. Jason and Namor look around at the hatches and pipes. "So, Jack," says Jason, "how is it you know so much about boats?" The speedboat ties up alongside the Roma. Mayor d'Aubaine, her two bodyguards, Max and Dani step aboard. The Mayor, her date and her cousin are in mid-conversation. "No, really, Dani, it's not as exciting as it sounds. Just a bunch of policy wonks sitting around trying to impress each other." "Sounds like Jason’s internship, oui?" Max wisecracks. Salome giggles. "Sal, I just want to see how the wheels of corporate power grind," says Dani. "I have few, if any, illusions and now is as good a time as any to prepare myself." "Bring along some Vivarin, just in case." "How can you say that when you have to chair the Assembly meetings?" asks an incredulous Dani. "Because, Dani, the Assembly is a freaking zoo. It’s lively." "Yes, and some of its denizens are lovable and cuddly," Max interjects. "I'll get some new lawn signs printed. Mayor d'Aubaine: Lovable. Cuddly. Decisive." "You’d get my vote," Max quips. Salome laughs. "Say 'Cheese'!" calls out Oscar as he snaps a digital camera at the group. In the viewfinder behind the smiling Salome, Danielle and Maximillian are two slumping bodyguards with needle-darts in their necks. Oh, yeah, and a pair of scaly blue-skinned humanoids with bright purple eyes. They hold odd fish-shaped pistols in their hands and have the view of their armor blocked by the smiling trio. Salome gasps, turns to face Max, then looks down at the needle in her left shoulder. She slumps to the deck and is instantly enveloped in an odd gelatinous cocoon thrown by a third humanoid. |