NationStates Jolt Archive

BANG

A crack of lightning could be heard outside of the small, poorly lit tavern Jim Harding was sitting in. He was waiting. In the past two weeks, some things that he had never dreamed of actually occurring, had in fact, occurred. He had been reading through his notes on the Fountain of Youth, when he noticed what he had never noticed before. In this very old handwritten book of his, written by some unknown man long before Harding's time, there was a pattern on the pages. He looked closely and to his amazement realized that the letters on the page were written in the exact placement with extreme care, and that most of them bore no resemblance to another letter of its kind. One "e" looked like "e" while another looked like "e." Letters did not match up with each other. They all spelled words but…they seemed to form a sort of…shape on the pages.

After pouring over the pages for over an hour, Jim Harding made one of the most important discoveries of his life. The letters on the pages were written in just the right way, so that they formed themselves into a map. A map of South America.

Jim ran to his very extensive library and began searching for one book in particular. After several minutes of frantic scrabbling about, he found it. Panting, he sat down and flipped through its worn pages to the very back of the book. Hand written on the inside of the back cover, in very old, faded, loopy handwriting, were the words "Over the river and through the woods, to grandma's house we do go. Through rain and leaves and sycamore trees, we find her hidden burrow."

These words had always puzzled him. The resembled the old children's Christmas carol, but it was definitely changed. They seemed to have some sort of meaning to him. Directions perhaps…maybe this is what I have been looking for for years… he thought to himself. He had mulled this over for almost an hour, before getting up from his armchair and sending out a telegram. In it, he had stated that he was looking for a group of people willing to accompany him to South America in search of the Fountain of Youth. A mere day after this, he had received a message from a man willing to be his benefactor for the trip. He had readily accepted this offer and eagerly awaited, almost like a small child, the coming of more…

And now, he was here, sitting in a tavern lit only by old rusted oil lanterns, waiting for people to arrive. He had received several telegrams in response to his, and he had told them to meet him here, on the coast of Brazil, right here in this little dark tavern.

He waited…



OOC: I will be back in around 1 1/2 hours

Reinhard Speer inloaded off the boat. He checked his two lugers and went to the tavern where he was going to meet with Jim Harding who was trying to find the fountain of youth. Reinhard went inside from the rain into the small tavern. He looked around to see a man sitting down in the tavern. Nobody else was inside execpt him. So he went up and said. "Hello I'm Reinhard Speer are you Jim Harding? If you are I have come to go with you on your expedition."

Toma walked up the muddy street, pulling his jacket tighter against his body. He had lost all of his luggage when his ship sunk in the storm, luckily he had managed to get the majority of his money back. Soaking wet, and shivering cold he looked for the tavern where he was specified to meet.

He saw a tavern matching the name, and he went inside, hoping not to catch his death. Once inside he stood by the fire, ignoring all others who were in the tavern. After a minute he hung his jacket by it so it could hopefully dry. Regardless the rest of him was still soaking wet. He sat in front of the fire, waiting to dry himself up a bit.

Henry Scarlett sighed, scribbling on a note of paper in his private study. The lghts were all out save one. Stacks of papers surrounded him. He was currently authorizing the transfer of funds to pay for an expedition lead by a Mr. Harding. He stopped as he came to the memo field... What should he write?

Tapping his quill pen several times, he dipped its tip in ink and wrote once more. Fountain of Youth. He wrote in the memo section.

"Daddy. It is late. Why are you still up?" Came a young voice through the door to his study.

The man sighed once more, putting the check into an envelope and writing the address where Mr. Harding was staying. "Just attending to some business. What are you still doing up?"

"The telegram machine woke me. Daddy, what sort of business?" Came Alexia's voice once more.

"Daddy's business, dear. Be a good girl and go back to bed." He stood, sealing the envelope and going over to the door, opening it. Alexia was still standing there. "Dear, what did I say?"

Alexia was looking at the envelope. "A letter? Shall I drop it in the mail deposit, daddy?" She requested.

Henry yawned, he was tired. He pushed the letter in her hand. "You may. But then I want you to go straight to bed." He walked past her as she left the study, climbin down the stairs to the front room.

Already knowing the particular way her father sealed such business envelope, she carefully undid the seal, aking sure she didn't rip the paper, and opened the envelope, looking at the check. She narrowed her eyes at it, seeing the name and not recognizing it. She was half tempted to tear up the check right then and there. Then, she noticed something. "Fountain of Youth?" She said aloud. This man means to find the Fountain of Youth? What an utter child's dream! But then... Father would not be giving him money if he did not believe he could actually find it... Meaning... I could be young and beautiful forever! Hmmm... This calls for action.

Resealing the envelope, she memorizes the address, then goes out to the mail deposit box, dropping the letter in there.

Next, she heads into her room, and begins packing for her trip to Brazil....

Several hours had passed since the appointed meeting time. Just as Jim started to get slightly nevous that no one would actually show up, a soaking wet man walked calmly into the tavern, brushing water off his jacket. He approached Jim, told him his name and that he was here for the expedition.

"Ah, I'm glad you were able to make it Mr. Steer." He gestured to one of the chairs next to him, "Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Almost immediately after he said this, another man came hurrying into the dingy little pub. Ignoring the both of them, he went over to the fire, apparantly trying to dry off. Jim watched him hang up his jacket before addressing him.

"Hello sir. You wouldn't be looking for a "Jim Harding" by chance would you?"

"By every chance I am. I just happen to be a little wet, with my ship sinking right off the shore and losing all my luggage. I am Toma by the way. Pleasure to meet you."

Jim reached out to shake the man's hand.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Mr...?"

The sun was already beginning to rise as Alexia stepped into the smokey Mexican pub.

She had made it this far already using a personal taxi. She of course, told the driver the wrong location she was heading, to throw her father off track if he came looking for her.

Now she was in Mexico, visiting a tiny pub, in order to find someone to be her bodyguard.

She entered the bar, looking around. mostly Mexicans, but she spotted one who looked American, as well as resembled what she imagined a Mercenary would look like. Hoping he spoke at the very least passing English, she strode up to the rugged looking man with the ten-gallon (AKA Cowboy) hat. "Hello. You speak English, yes? I need a bodyguard. I can pay you handsomely..." She was, of course, drawing attenation like a sore thumb, but she didn't seem to care.

Jack loooked up from his mug of beer to see a beautiful young woman speaking to him. "I would say you do..." he replied, "Doesn't look like you fit in around these though parts. But I like the cut of your jib... how much does the job pay?" he asked as he downed the last drop of beer and slammed the mug on the table.

The locals there knew him and they knew not to mess with him or anyone he was protecting, so they went back to their drinking and card games while Jack and the young lady spoke.

"It would be Mr. Faolán, but just call me Toma, easier to pronounce and remember."

He grabbed the mans hand and shook it.

((OOC: Please recall this is 1916. Seven hundred dollars at that time is a lot of money... At least, I think it is? *Shrug.* Should be, at least.))


Alexia smirked, glad she had read him right. She dug in her purse, crimson in color like the rest of her outfit. She dug out a wad of bills, and dropped it on the table in front of it. from the looks of it, there was a couple hundred American dollars in this wad. "That is for starters. Two hundred and fifty dollars. You shall recieve the rest when we arrive safely at my father's manor."

She took a seat with him. "Seven hundred dollors in all."

She leaned in closely as he accepted the money. "There is a man, named Jim Harding. My father is funding his trip. I want to be on that trip. We have to leave now if we are to make it to Brazil in order to catch up with him."

"It would be Mr. Faolán, but just call me Toma, easier to pronounce and remember."

He grabbed the mans hand and shook it.

The man had a very strong grip. Jim heard one of his fingers make a slight popping sound. He smiled.

"Very well Toma." He let go of Toma's hand and leaned back in his chair.

"Well Toma, as I belive you allready know, I am conducting an expedition into a rain forest located a mere 14 miles away from here to locate the fountain of youth. One or two days walk if we hurry. Have you ever been to this part of the world before?"

"I haven't ever been anywhere but where I used to live. I saved up enough cash to go looking for adventure, and this is where it brought me."

((ooc: by my calculations 700 dollars would be something around 11500 now.))

Jack pondered it for a moment. "It's a deal," he finally replied as she handed him the money. Its been a while since I was on a good adventure, anyway. And she doesn't look like the worst person to be guarding... "Alright, I got my guns, my whip, and my hat... I'm all ready to go."

He walked to the door of the bar before turning and saying, "I assume you are paying for expenses like travel?"

"By the way, I am Alexia Scarlett." She introduces herself to her new bodyguard.

Alexia lead the man out of the bar, sighing as he asked about expenses. "Well, of course. It is not like you can afford it..." She looked around. "I am not familar with this area. do you know the best way to get to this location in Brazil?" She showed him the address of the bar in Brazil where Jim was going to recieve the check.

"Where are my manners," Jack said as he smacked his head. "My name is Jack Irvine III at your service, ma'am," he said as he bowed slightly and removed his hat.

He looked at the address briefly as he rubbed his head, "Well... I haven't done much work in the jungle down there, but my guess would be that we could take a boat - seeing as it is on the coast."

"I haven't ever been anywhere but where I used to live. I saved up enough cash to go looking for adventure, and this is where it brought me."

Jim grined. This was his first time out in the world as well.

"Well, you and I are alike in that. Oh, pardon my manners, please take a seat." He pulled a chair out from an adjacant table.

"Now Toma, I feel it is good you know what your getting into first. We will be heading out into a rainforest, probably four or five or us. I must tell you, I have no idea what sort of creature could be in there. During this expedition, safety is going to be our first priority. While finding the Fountain of Youth would be an incredible discover, I fear the euphoria would be damped quite a bit if one of us were to perish or become lost in the rainforest." He looked over at Mr. Speer and said "You Mr. Speer, appear as though you know your way around firearms." He gestured to the two lugers. "Have you served time in a military force perhaps?" he asked curiously.

Alexia nodded. That much she figured. Letting Jack lead the way, the two eventually find a local boatman willing to take them, as well as much of Alexia luggage. Although, quite a few bags had to be left.

As they travel the route to the Brazilan pub, Alexia takes the time to try and know her body guard better. "So, John. What kind of creditenals do you have? Have you ever been a bodyguard before?"

After loading her numerous bags, the two found a comfortable spot on the boat to settle down for the time being. Jack sat down on the floor and leaned against a wooden beam as he stretched his legs out in front of him. His hands lay clasped together on his stomach, looking as if he was quite relaxed.

"Yeh, once or twice," Jack replied as he remembered back to his adventures. "I could certainly tell you some stories from where I've been," he said jokingly, "Though... never for someone as beautiful as you."

"I grew up hunting, so I'm a really good shot with a rifle, pity it was lost with all my other belongings."


((OOC: Sorry fo rthe one liner, I'm not feeling terribly inspired right now))

"Ah, I see. Yes that is a real shame. I'll look into getting you a new one while we're here."


OOC: I'm sorry for the dinky little post as well, but I'm in a rush. I'll be back around 9:45,

Alexia was actually quite used to being told she was beautiful. although, it was usually by seveants when she asked them how she looked. One had the gull to say she looked average. She fired him on the spot, and had him forcibly removed from the manor. From that point on, whenever she asked, the servants always told her she looked radiant and beautiful.

Although, this time, it was different. She hadn't asked him his opinoin of her, he had just came out and said it. Her voice got caught in her thorat. Gulping, she manages to regain her composure in front of business. "Why, thank you kind sir."

She leaned back, the boat swaying as it made it's way along. "Yes, I would like to hear of your adventures."

"Wha? oh..." Jack said suprisedly as he hadn't expected her to actually want to hear his stories as they were more of stories you told at a bar. "Well... let me see," he said as he thought. He chuckled for a moment as he remembered his trip to the land of sands. He began telling the story to Alexia has the boat set off, bound for Brazil.

"About a year ago, I was hired by some nutjob archeologist who thought he knew where to found the tomb of some Pharoah... Tut, I think his name was. So, anyway... after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, we took a train all the way from the coast to Cairo, Egypt. There was six of us in total, though only me and other bodyguard, but the problem was that we could only afford five horses... I said we should have rented six camels, but no... the archeologists thought it would be faster to take horses. Turns out the are we were exploring, which was a large valley, was extemely hot during the day and the horses all died...

Anyway, we searched and searched for weeks before we finally stumebeled over some old Egyptian ruins. We traveled back to Cairo and hired a digging crew to start excavating the site. It was a long process and when it was nearly through a band of traveling... I guess you would have to call them pirating nomads... came across our site and attacked us. About fifty of them in total, all with swords and a couple with guns, against six guys - four of which never used a gun before. We fought and fought... did pretty well too, took about forty out... but eventually we were forced back across the dunes. We returned to the sight a week later but found it had been sacked of anything valuable - though it turned out to be some random prince's burial sight - nothing significant."

Alexia listened intently to the story, quite intrigued by it. Sure, she had read about Egypt, even went with her father on a business trip there, but she had never went 'exporing' there. She found it intriguing. She leaned closer to him. "Do you have any more? Stories? I want to hear more."

They probably hadn't much time left now. Maybe room for one more story before the boat arrived in Brazil.

"Well... I have a couple more interesting ones..." Jack thought for a moment before deciding on which story to tell. "Alright... I don't know how interesting this story is... but anyway... a couple years back I ended up in a gunfight in the west - of America that is. I got shot pretty bad; still have the scar from it on the lower part of my stomach... Anyway, I had to have a doctor remove the bullet, patch me up, and watch over me as I recovered. We grew quite close and eventually after he found out what I did for a living, he asked me to accompany him on a short trip...

The trip turned out to be to the fareast, to the rolling lands of Mongolia. The doctor was trying to find a cure for some disease - forgot the name - and he thought he might find it among the wild plants that grew there. We ended up staying with a tribe of Mongolian horsemen while we were there, and though they didn't take kindly to us at first, eventually we grew on them; even taught me how to ride a horse better. So, anyway... we spent about seven months there as the good doctor spent time searching for his plant. I didn't know it at the time, but apparently he was sick from the disease he was trying to cure... he died there," Jack paused for a moment.

"So... I buried him there... I think he would have wanted that; the tribe said they would watch over his grave. Then I returned home to my life..."

"Mr.Harding, I joined the French Foreign Legion at the age of seventeen. i was shipped off to North Africa in the middle of the desert. During a attack by arab warriors on our fort. I held my own and killed twenty of the arabs with my lugers. After the attack half of the fort staff was dead so I was made a Lieutenant." Reinhard said after hearing the two men talk.

Jim was slightly taken aback by this statement.

"At the age of seventeen? Dear lord Mr. Speers, thats very impressive. Well, I'm very glad your with us here now."

Jim checked his pocket watch.

"Hmm, I do hope some others arrive shortly..."

"Yes i have gained a lot of experince with my journey with the Legion. So what is going to be my job on this expedition?" Reinhard said while twirling around one of his lugers.

((OOC: [Spelling Nazi]It's actually 'twirling,' Canadstein. [/Spelling Nazi]))

Once more Alexia was intrigued. She had never been to Mongolia, and she doubted her father ever has either.

At the end, she started to sniffle, "That is so sad he died." She said. "One day... Will you take me to see him?" She asked, referring to the doctor's gravesite...

Jack was taken aback by her obvious sincerety, "Yeh, sure... if you want to go, though it is a long journey and there aren't any trains or boats that can reach the area."

"But don't worry about that journey now... we are almost in Brazil and we can start out search for-" Jack stopped midsetence. "Say... what are you looking for?"

Alexia folded her hands in front of her. "If I tell you, you must promise not to laugh." She raised an eyebrow at him, doing her best to try and show him she was serious. "Promise you will not laugh?"

"Well... I mean, what can I do if it really is stu-" Jack looked up at Alexia who was seated on a bench next to him and noticed the serious look in her eyes. Sigh. "I promise I will do my best not to laugh," he said.

Alexia nodded. It was good enough. "Mr. Harding, the man my father is funding... Believes he knows where the Fountain of Youth is! So, we are going to Brazil to find the Fountain of Youth!" She gets a faraway look in her eyes, already lost in her own fairyland, where she's young and beautiful forever. Soon, I will be young and beautiful forever, just like I have always dreamed!

"Well, I guess if anything is worth searching for... the Fountain of Youth would be amongst the worthiest," Jack replied. I guess I have heard crazier things, he thought as he fought to hold back his laughs. He fully managed to force them away as he adopted a more serious tone, "Alexia... is it okay if I call you Alexia?... I have heard similar hopes many times before... and... and it's rare for someone to actually find what they are looking for - especially when it has only been speculated about."

Alexia didn't seem phazed by Jack's words. "You do not know my father. He is a very swuave businessman. He would not fund Mr. Harding if he did not believe that Mr. Harding was honest about what he was talking about. So, The Fountain of Youth is as good as mine!"

Jack sighed deeply as he thought Well, she certainly is strong and persisted... whether that is good or bad is left to be determined.

"I have told you a little about me," Jack said trying to change the subject, "And unless you have any questions still... I would love to know a little about you... er... if you don't mind, that is, ma'am."

Alexia sat down again, looking at Jack. "Well, John. I am Alexia Scarlett. My father, Henrey Scarlett, is the founder of the Scarlett group, the richest, most powerful group on the planet!" She holds her chin high, proud of the fact that she's so filthy rich. "While, I have never been on adventures quite like yours, Mister Ivy, I did once accompany my father to both Cairo, Egypt and Begledash(sp?), India during his business trips." Twice she mispronounced his name, yet never seemed to notice.


((OOC: The way I'm trying to swing it is that the Scarlett group is the 1916's eqivulent of modern day soulless, faceless multi-national corporations. Except the Scarlett group has a face. Henry Scarlett. :P))

Jack was in the difficult place of correcting his employer and risking his skin or being called the wrong name for as long as he knew her. She certainly is proud of herseld and her father's accomplishments, Jack thought as he listened to her story.

"Sorry, to correct you ma'am, but... er... my name is Jack Irvine," he finally said as she finished.

Alexia blinked at him. "Jack Irvine? Did you not tell me it was John Ivy? Ah well. No matter."

The boatman came down from the deck, looking at the two. He spoke something fast in Spanish. Jack seemed to udnerstand, and nodded. Alexia looked at Jack. "What did he say?"



((OOC: Umh, yes. We are there. :P))

"I probably did... my mistake," Jack replied.

As the Brazilian boatman walked down the dock towards them he spoke something quick in portuguese. "Ah..." Jack said after he finished, "He said, welcome to Brazil - don't make trouble and you won't be troubled."

The boatman was about to turn away and walk down the dock when Jack stopped him and asked for directions, "Onde está este tavern?" The man looked at the paper before pointing a little ways down the shoreline at a building. "Ah, obrigado," Jack said as the man walked away.

"Well... lets go..." Jack said as he turned back to Alexia.

Alexia smiled, getting a few of her luggage, "Oh, Jack, be a dear and fetch the rest of my luggage, yes?" Although, the particular way she said it made it seem more like an order and less like a request.

She looked towards where the boatman had pointed out to Jack. Night had already fallen. Seems like they were just in time... Hopefully...

"Bu--" Jack stared at the young girl for a moment as he cut himself off. "Yes, ma'am," he replied as he jumped back onto the ship and began unloading her bags; six in total plus a small hand bag type thing.

Once they were all off the boat, he thanked the captain and returned to the dock. He began trying to accopmlish the tremendous feat of carrying all seven bags at once as Alexia stared at the tavern. Eventually he managed to lift all of the bags; two under each arm, on in each hand, and the handbag he was carrying by the strap in his clenched teeth. He began an odd walk down the dock after Alexia.

Dr. Trent Jackson had finally made it to Brazil (work and laptop difficulties keeping him from doing his job at Princeton University had not allowed him to leave for Brazil until late). He had received the telegram from Mr. Harding a few days prior, and now found himself unsuccessfuly trying to communicate the fact that he needed help getting his lugguge off the boat to the brazillian boat hands. Practically giving up, he walks off the jetty, up a small incline and towards what looks like an old, beaten up tavern. On his way he passes by a beautiful young woman, at which point Dr. Jackson flicks his long, flowing brown hair back, as if to try and impress her with the charm he thought he had. He also notices a man behind her, carrying what looks like seven bags of lugguge and walking sort of funnily. Not thinking twice about it, he walks into the tavern.

Before steping inside, Dr. Jackson looks inside his leather napsack. Yes, his two sketchbooks and notebooks were there. He was ready for the journey.

Dr. Jackson is not suprised to find that there are already several people there. He singles out the one that he beleives is Mr. Harding (And it is), and politly holds out his hand, "Dr. Jackson. I take it i'm in the right place."

OOC: It is 1916 there is no laptops.

OOC: My bad. Forgot.

((OOC: If I'm not on, and you need to go on, feel free to piggy-back my chara, DMG. Same for anyone else, too.))

Alexia made her way towards the pub, pulling out an umbrella from one of the bags she herself was carrying, opening it and resting it against her shoulder. Like the rest of her dress, it was a deep scarlet color. She never looked back at Jack.

Alexia enters the pub, and as Jack enters behind her, she motions to one corner of the pub, clear and away from the fire. "That spot right there will do, Mr. Irvine." She says, glancing over the gathered group, and heading up to them. "Pardon me. Which of you is Mr. Jim Harding?"

Reinhard saw a lady come in with a dress on. She was wondering where Jim Harding was. He got up and went over to the lady she was beautiful. "Miss Mr.Harding is over by the fire." Reinhard looked out the window to see a man carrying a lot of luggage.

Toma ignored the lady that came in. Women were trouble. He doubted this would go very well, and from the sound of it she hadn't worked a hard day in her life.

((ooc: All right. Same with my character.))

Jack walked into the pub in the same strange waddle as he was attempting not to drop any of the bags. He finally made it over to the corner and dropped the bags in a heap before taking a deep breath. "Beer me," he said as he walked over to the bar and sat down on a stool. After recieving the mug from the bartender, he walked over to where Alexia was and stood slightly off to the side and behind her.

Alexia nodded to the man who spoke to her. "Thank you sir." She turned and saunters up to Jim Harding. "Good day to you, Jim Harding. I am Alexia Scarlett. My father, Mr. Scarlett, is funding your little trip. I am here to ensure that our group's funds are not put to waste." She nods to him.

She then motions to Jack behind her. "And this is my personal bodyguard, James Irvine." Well, at least she's getting his name right half of the time...

Jack didn't want to correct her twice in the same day so he simply introduced himself to the man. He took a step forward and extended his hand, "Jack Irvine, please to meet you."

Reinhard walked up to the man called Jack Irvine. "Hello I'm Reinhard Speer. I'm Jim Harding's bodyguard on this expedition."

"German?" Jack questioned apprehensively as the man appeared behind him. There is a war going on... and... and this German is this man's bodyguard? How wierd... Jack thought.

"Ja. I left Germany before the War started. I never joined the German Army unlike my brothers. I joined the French Foreign Legion before the war started. In 1913 I got back from my tour and left Germany to live in Africa." Reinhard answered the question to Jack. Reinhard knew that this american would think him as a spy.

"I see..." Jack replied, "So did you just leave Africa to come here recently or have you been gone a while?" he asked curiously.

"Ja, i have just recently got here" Reinhard was wondering why this man was asking so many questions.

"Ah... so I guess you don't know much more about this place than me... bummer," Jack replied. "Well... it was nice meeting you, considering we will be working in the same group." Jack never used the words work and together in reference to another bodyguard or soldier type person - it was just his style to work alone, or at least feel like he was.

"Ja, it is nice meeting you too." Reinhard put out his hand so Jack could shake it.

Jack met Reinhard's hand with his own and gave it his usual firm handshake. After he turned back to face Mr. Harding and the young lady.

Reinhard went to a chair and went to his backpack. He loaded up his two luger and also loaded his Lee-Enfield rifle. Putting the rifle back into his pack and the luger in their hoslters he went up to the bar to get some beer.

Jim was slightly overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of new arrivals. He reached around, shaking all three of their hands before settling back down in his chair.

"Well Mr. Jackson, it's a pleasure to meet you. I always appreciate having another man of learning with me."

Jim looked him up and down. He certainly appeared to be a man of a university. He was fairly well dressed and had quite the nice leather backpack. He seemed to be a man of similar qualities of Jim, although he would have to observe him later on to be sure.

Jim turned to look at another new arrival. He looked up at this Alexia Scarlett. She was wearing a dark scarlett dress with a matching umbrella. He was fairly suprised at her outstanding appearance. She spoke to him with a very demanding tone; it sounded as though she was used to getting what she wanted, whenever she wanted it, whatever it was.

Hmm, shes here to observe eh...Her father did not mention anything of this sort. Well, he is paying, I suppose we'll just have to deal with her.

"Well Miss Scarlett, that sounds allright to me. I'm sure us poor men here will be glad that we have something more interesting than leaves and tree trunks to look at while we're here. And I ensure you, these funds your father has so graciously allowed me to tap from will not be wasted in any manner. Unless of course you consider one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the century to be a waste of time. Then of course, these funds are most definitely to be wasted."

He turned again to look at they last arrival. This man was very unlike the other two. He had a sort of rough and tumble appearance. He also appeared to be either Alexia's servant or body gaurd. Or both.

"Well Jack Irvine, it is a pleasure to meet you. I see you have carried the many bags of Miss Scarlett in. Do you work for her?"

ooc: you never updated it :( ... must mean you don't love me (jp)

Jack sighed though didn't let it be known to the others; he didn't like his job being equated or thought of as her bag handler. At least he got my name right... he thought as he remembered how Alexia had already mistaken his name numerous times in their short acquaintance. "Ah, yes. Ms. Scarlett hired me to be her bodyguard on this trip," he replied to Jim's question.

"Ah, I see. Well," he leaned closer to Jack, "I think she needs to relize that your a bit better off without seven bags in your arms. Is she as dim as she first comes off?"

Reinhard went over to the right side of Jim to make sure Jack didn't do anything to Jim. Reinhard had his hand on one of his lugers.

Jack chuckled slightly at both Jim's comment and how protective Reinhard was. "That's a good point," Jack replied, "I don't think she is too dim... just used to getting it her way."

Jim glanced over his shoulder to see Reinhard put his hand on one of his two lugers. He smiled inwardly. Good to know he's this protective...Probably come in handy...

Jim leaned even closer to Jack and wispered, "Well, if she thinks she is going to get her way around here, then she is indeed dim..." He straightened up with a slight smile. "Well, does anyone know of any other people that may be travelling here to join our ever-growing group?"

Jack chuckled before winking at Jim. As he stood upright again and took his step back he spoke up, "Heh.. don't ask me. I just found out about this trip a short time ago. Alexia just told me what we are looking for about thirty minutes ago... so... yeh - I have no idea who is coming."

"Ah, I see. Well, anyone else?"

OOC: very short post, but I'd like it if we managed to get past the 5th page without just me and DMG and Canadstein...

EDIT: terribly sorry canadstein, forgot about you.

((OOC:*whistles innocently* I'm in a really goofy mood, so this might take a bit to get down right))

Toma watched the body guards show off to each other, and felt like he was in a pissing contest.
"How immature," he thought to himself, "grown men needing to show off by waving their pistols about."

"I would like to address the issue of my not having any supplies. I have some money, it's not much, as I don't come from a very poor background unlike some of you. I would try to buy from the villagers, but I have a feeling that what I do have won't get me very far. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

"Hey man," Jack replied as he turned to look at Toma, "I know what you mean. Everything I got is what you can see here," he said as he showed the clothes on his body, his hat, his guns, and his whip.

ooc: I don't really think Jack was showing off... he certainly didn't say anything or do anything to show off (he didn't even touch his guns).

Turning to Toma, Jim said "Actually, I have already hired a guide that promised me food for at least ten others. If he caries through on his promise, we should be quite well taken care of. Although I would recommend simply looking around this little village for some kind of marketplace and getting something that suits your taste. The guide is a local, and for all I know, we could be getting whole bags of bat guano."

He smiled a little then relized that this was entirely possible. His smile disappeared.

Jack didn't quite know what guano was, but he figured it to be bat "droppings..." something that didn't sound particulary appetizing to him. "So... when are we leaving?" Jack said as he attempted to turn the subject away from something that could be sickening.

"I believe we can leave as soon as it stops raining. Our guide told me he would meet us here tommorow morning, so everyone here should probably get some sleep. I imagine there is going to be a very interesting journey ahead of us. With that, I bid you all good night. I am needing my beauty sleep more and more in my age." With a slight chuckle, he heaved himself up from his chair with a grunt, and walked upstairs.


OOC: As soon as everyone has gone to bed, I believe we can finally get moving along.

"Right then," Jack replied as Jim made his way up the stairs, "Ma'am, would you mind paying for our rooms for the night?" he asked hopefully to Alexia who he hoped would pay the tab as he only had the money she had given him so far.

Reinhard pulled out a silver coin. He had saved a lot of his money during his stay in the French Foreign Legion. After getting his keys he went to his room. Setting down his luggage he took out his lugers. Putting them on the stand right next to his bed. It had been along day. He took off his boots and then went to sleep in the bed.

Alexia sighed, going up to the counter where the receptionist was and depositing some bills to him. She was handed a pair of keys, and Alexia looks at the number on them, going up the stairs with Jack and finding their room.

One must remember that at home, Alexia slept on only the softest bed, under only the warmest, softest wool comforters, and her pillow was filled with real goose down.

What greeted her was a culture shook, to say the least. The bed was very worn, and it looked solid as a rock. Although to a soldier or a mercenary or one acustomed to such things, the bed would be comfortable enough. But, to one so used to luxary, it was down right insulting. "I am not going to sleep on that. It reeks."

Indeed, she didn't, spending most of the night sulking.

"Well... seeing as you aren't going to find anything softer or that smells better to sleep on, I would suggest trying your luck with the bed. You are going to need your energy on the trip..." Jack commented as he dropped Alexia's bags in her room.

"And now, I bid you good night, ma'am," Jack said as he removed his hat for the first time on their trip and left the room. How is she ever going to sleep in the jungle if she can't even sleep in an inn, he thought as he entered his room and plopped down on the bed; instantly asleep.

Reinhard woke up to hear the complaining of Alexia. This beds were better than sleeping in a hole. In about minute he fell back to sleep.

Morning came as the sound of birds chirping was heard from just outside Jack's window. Lifting his hat from over his face (which is how he usually slept), Jack turned his head to look at the bright rays of the sun bursting through the window and blinked a few times. He was a morning person and was able to fully wake himself up quickly and so as soon as he had hopped out of bed and done a few quick stretches, he was already for the day.

Putting his shirt on, Jack grabbed up his guns and whip and headed out of his room. He noticed that most of the others weren't up yet as he made his way down the stairs to the bar area. He sat down at a table by the fire, which was already roaring warm, and began inspecting his guns for the day...

Reinhard woke up and saw the sun come up. Checking his two lugers and for the magazines. Then getting up he saw the ocean from his windows. Reinhard turned away from the windown got his Lugers and backpack and went downstairs.

Seeing Jack by the fire, Reinhard went over toward the bar. He ordered a beer and sat with Jack in a chair. Staring at the fire and drinking some of his beer he turned toward Jack.

"Those are nice guns you have their Jack. What kind are they?"

"Customized version of the Colt 1911," Jack replied. Beer already? Its only five in the morning... he thought as he saw Reinhard drinking. "Yep... just spent my last dime on them," he continued, "well... before the lady payed me to come on this trip with her."

He knew drinking beer was early, but it was 9 o' clock in the morning in Germany. That was when he had the first beer of the day. He pulled out his Lugers.

"This is a Luger. Most American have never seen this pistol. Before I shipped out for North Africa I bought this with my first pay. This two lugers saved my life when the fort got attacked. Arab raiders attacked the fort. I shot a couple with my Luger after my rifle got jammed. In my backpack I have a Lee-Enfield rifle. Just incase we ran into something pesky on this mission.

"Trust me... I have seen my fair share of Lugers," Jack replied to his comment, "And trust me that these Colts have saved me dozens of times on my adventures."

After those words, Jack had quieted back down and returned to inspecting his pistols and bullets. Though he was quite a good shot, his real pleasure was getting to use his whip in whatever means possible.