You step down into Club Bluebird. Club Bluebird Though the current interior is all modernized neon and Nouveau Art Deco, with minimalist chrome skeleton furniture -- chairs and tables that look flimsy but are actually quite sturdy -- and frosted glass trim, there is clearly an ancient legacy of music here, as the displays of old photographs, ticket stubs, sheet music, and similar papers behind a pane of glass near the door might indicate. The neon, though bright, does not cast light very far, and there is plenty of shadow, and places to sit and watch and listen unmolested save for the occasional waitress asking to refill a drink order. The sound of jazz is constant, though the source and volume vary from soft recordings played during off-peak hours to the live and raucous stuff that plays from around 5pm until about 2 in the morning. During the high peaks, from 10pm to 2am, the place is packed with jazz fans, and wanna-be musicians, of all kinds, and it reeks of sweat and cigarettes and whiskey. Duke meanders out of the back office as the dinner-time crowd starts to pick up. Roger is a large black man, about 6'1 and 180 pounds. His curly black hair is cut neatly and his brown eyes twinkle cheerfuly. He has heavly muscled arms and legs, proof of his time at a gym. His smiles are rare but when they appear they seem to light up the room. Roger is off duty at the moment and his clothes reflect that. He's dressed in clean bluejeans and a plain white short sleeved t-shirt which is tucked into his jeans. Over the shirt is a red long sleeved flannel, the cuffs neatly buttoned at his wrists. On his feet are a pair of white sneakers. Duke is patting another man, who is walking out with him, on the shoulder. That other man appears to be the owner or some other club bigwig. The two exchange handshakes -- Duke's is obviously a bit more ginger, given his age -- and then the old man takes a seat. A very old African-American man, perhaps in his late 80s or early 90s, wearing a camel hair overcoat over a light-colored sports jacket of beige linen over a rust-colored shirt, chocolate-colored slacks, and brown leather shoes. A handkerchief of red and gold silk emerges from the sports jacket's breast pocket. He moves slowly but steadily, his advanced age clearly wearing him down at the edges, and yet his huge hands are rarely at rest. From afar, Duke is led to believe you may recognize him, actually. Though he's much older now. Roger steps though the doorway into the club, hands in his pockets as he looks around. He steps upto the bar and orders a drink before before looking at the stage. You paged Duke with 'Hmm. You the guy I knew back in WW2?'. Duke pages: +finger me for my full name. :) Zach walks in though the door and looks around. He perks up at hearing the music and heads for the bar to get a beer. Duke sits down at Table 3. You paged Fidelity with 'Do I recognize Duke? He isn't mentioned in my birefing..'. Duke settles into his usual table, and is swiftly brought a club soda, with a twist, without asking for it. He favors the waitress -- who looks to be about a third of his age -- with a cheery, gentle smile, and sips at the drink. Roger nods politly at Zach as he walks up "Evening" Fidelity pages: Duke is short for Marmaduke. As in J MARMaduke ESCHer ... as in Marmesh. Duke is the Angel of Jazz. Zach beams at Roger. "Hey, man!" And then he finally notices Duke in the mirror. His face splits up in a grin so wide it nearly slices his head off. You paged Fidelity with 'Oh. OH. !!! :)'. Roger has disconnected. You say, "Well I'll be...!!" Duke focusses on the crowd, eyeing the milling of the folks coming in for their post-dinner Irish coffees and their brandies while listening to the canned music. He smiles and nods at a few fellow regulars, but mostly keeps to himself, sipping at his club soda. Zach rushes over to Duke with a smile so wide and bright it's ridicoulus. "Duke! Hot damn is it good to see you! How are you?" Duke just looked at you. Duke looks up, eyes a bit cloudy, movements a bit stiff. His head ceases bobbing with the music. "Pardon me, youngster?" Zach beams down at Duke. He plain forgot his beer at the bar, and puts out his hand to Duke. "Don't you recognize me? I'm Zach! We met last time in 1962." Duke holds out his own hand and shakes by reflex. You sense Duke's grip, of course, belies his apparent age, and his whisper is firm. "Sit down and don't say things like that so loudly." It's not a request. Zach shakes Dukes hand enthusiastically, and then sits down promptly. He suddently looks embarrased. "Oh.. Uh, sorry.." At your table, Duke nods curtly. "Someone oughtta take that cute little wrench of yours -- you *are* the young Virtue with the wrench, unless my memory is off -- and bean you with it. I couldn't possibly know someone from 40 years ago who don't look a day over 35." He leans back in his chair. "Feel free to put a drink on my tab." Zach looks crestfallen for about ten seconds then he splits into a big grin again. "Yes, I am he. And it is I who should be buying you drinks! How've yo been?" At your table, Duke hisses, "Boy, I'll say again: Keep. Your Voice. DOWN!" From afar, Duke laughs. TT to say something at a table. Roger turns and watch Zach walk over to Duke. A bit curious he picks up his beer and trails after, setting down at a nearby table thansk also gives him a good view of the stage." At your table, Zach says "Oops.. Sorry." At your table, Duke says "Just be careful. We ain't *that* far from Langell House." At your table, Zach stops grinning. "Yeah, true. Look, I'll behave myself. It was just so incredibly good to see a familiar face here again." At your table, Duke grunts a bit, and sips at his drink. "What brings you through town this time? Or are you just late for the funeral?" Roger sips his beer and glances over at Duke and Zach Duke talks quietly with the loud younger man while slowly draining his club soda. Roger nods politly to Duke, a bit unsure if he'll reconize Roger from there few past meetings. At your table, Zach sighs softly. "It was hinted that I might wanna drift around here for a bit. I'm just doing my usual job - fixing things and do some 'cleaning' on the side. No special orders." Zach has sombered down a bit and lowered his voice. But he is still beaming at the old man. At your table, Duke nods. "Fair enough. Most places are where they were, as they were." At your table, Duke says "Except for the Langell House, of course." At your table, Zach says "Yeah, I heard about that. Stupid gits! How's...is Betiah..?" At your table, Zach looks a bit uncomfortable asking. Duke suddenly looks away at something Zach says, very discomforted. At your table, Duke says "Gone." Roger frowns slightly as he notices this but keeps his seat. At your table, Zach bows his head. "Man... That's harsh. I'm so sorry....for all of us." Zach bows his head and says something to Duke. He looks sad all of a sudden. At your table, Zach says "I should'a been there!" Roger sips his beer and stretches his legs out as he lets his attention drift to the band that's getting set up on stage. At your table, Duke says "You couldn't have been, boy. We all got dragged off by the Inquisition. That's how the tether fell. You ain't seen it in its sorry state?" Zach glances around the room noting Roger. Zach turns back to Duke. At your table, Zach says "No, I haven't. Just came to town a couple of days ago. Been driving around a bit to get my bearings. It has changed a bit in the last 40 years..." At your table, Duke nods. "I'll take you to see if you like, and if you give me your Word of Honor you won't do something damned foolish like try and seige it. Drugs has it now, and it'll take more than an old Cherub and a furious Virtue to take it back." At your table, Zach frowns a bit. "Umm.. Right. Okay. Upon my Honor, I will not do something damned foolish to get us killed. That ok?" Roger finishes up his beer and catches the attention of a waitress. He waggles the empty bottle at her and she nods. At your table, Duke nods. "Alright. I'm going to drag that fella along over there." A gesture to indicate Roger. "He's a cop or something. So try to keep things, you know, sutle." Duke pages: subtle, even. Gah. At your table, Zach grimaces. "Oh man... I'll try my best. You a pal of my pa's then?" At your table, Duke says "Hrm?" At your table, Zach says "If he asks how we know each other?" At your table, Duke says "Then let me do the talking. It'll save your honor from being hurt by having to lie to a cop. Come on." Duke has departed. Duke stands and leaves Table 3. At your table, Zach is not *that* good at subtle. Duke motions over to Roger. A 'c'mere' gesture. You paged Duke with 'Help! How do I get away from the table? :)'. Roger notices and stands moving over to the table "Evening sir." Zach nods to Duke and gets up. Duke pages: depart You stand and leave Table 3. Zach follows Duke over to Roger. Duke says, just quietly enough for the other two men to hear over the piped-in jazz, "I'm taking this boy sightseeing. The waitress tells me you're a cop. You should maybe see it, too." Roger pauses and then nods, suddenly 'on duty' so to speak "Yes sir. I think I should see it." Duke says, "Come on, then." He turns to the waitress. "You can tell Shlomo their drinks are on my tab." Zach smiles at Roger and nods a greeting. Roger smiles slightly and holds out his hand to Zach "Officer Roger Freeman." Zach takes his hand in a firm, strong grip. "Nice to meet you officer Freeman. I'm Zach Ellis." Roger looks over at Duke "Lead the way." Duke straightens his blazer, and does so. Duke steps outside. Duke has left. Roger steps outside. Roger has left. You step outside. Zach looks sharply around. He seems to be in a state of readyness now. No longer at ease. Roger looks at Duke "Where exactly are we going? Duke says, "Just down a few blocks, then up a few blocks. Just want you boys to see somethin' before it gets too dark." Duke waves to a cabbie, as he starts down the street. Zach follows Duke closely, almost protectivly. Roger looks thoughtful and nods as he trails after the old man Duke heads north and east. Duke has left. You head a couple blocks east, then shift North on Woodland. Duke pauses for 5 to let you both read the room-desc, which is one of the longest around, apparently. Duke pages: The Old Apartment House is CLEARLY Langell House, but oh, how it's fallen. Roger tenses as they step onto the street, clearly he's fairly familar with this area. He keeps a sharp eye out for trouble as they walk down the street. Even out of uniform more then a few people glare at hm, clearly he's raidating 'cop' vibes. Zach takes in the view with sadness and disgust clearly showing in his eyes. He shoves his hands in his pockets and mutters a curse under his breath. Zach looks at Duke. Anger is starting to build in his eyes. Duke gestures around the area. "This is what happens when young colored kids" -- he's old enough to say 'colored' to refer to his own skin and get away with it, after all -- "grow up without the choices you and I have, Officer Freeman. This is what happens when they don't think they can be anything better." He walks alone fences, trailing one hand along the chainlinks, sadly. Zach spits. "Disgusting! This is just....." He snaps his mouth shut and moves along with Duke. Roger nods slighly "Yes and this is what I try to prevent. I try to let them know that they have more choices then joining gangs or droping out of school. I wanted to give something back to the comunity. That's why I'm in gang prevention and community policing rather then homicide or vice." Long distance to Duke: Zach looks about ready to storm the place, but a promise is a promise. Duke pages: It's a major tether. You'd get 10 feet in, and lose your Vessel at least. That's assuming Fleurity himself didn't show up. :P Zach glances over at Roger. "You from this neighbourhood?" Long distance to Duke: Zach is still righteously p*ssed off, but not completelly daft:) From afar, Duke hee. Roger shakes his head "Not this one, but one like it." My family was luck we were able to get out, get decent jobs and schoolingh Zach nods and than glances around sharply, looking for possible dangers maybe. Duke reaches down to pick up a discarded beer bottle, and toss it in the trash bin not 2 feet away. "Folks don't care if they hit or miss." Roger nods "Lack of pride I think is some of it. Lack of hope is a lot of it." You say, "Hmph! Yes, I suppose so. They don't see a way out and up. But how about renewal projects? This is downtown area, doesn't the city want to clean up this mess?"" Duke says, "I guess the city tries, but not hard enough. I don't know, boys. I don't know." Roger nods "Yeah, they would, but I think that a lot of it is lack of money and "his turns slightly bitter "more important things to do." Zach scowls. He keeps looking around, but puts a gentle hand on Duke's shoulder. "I think we've seen enough for now. This is not a good place to be. Do you have more we should see, or should we go back?" Duke says, "You go on ... Schlomo will put your drinks on my tab tonight ... for a white-bread little Jewish man from New York, he's been a good owner for the club since Roxie had to sell it back in the 70s. He *respects* Jazz. He *loves* Jazz." He shakes his head with a sigh. "It's come to that -- our own people turn away from the music they created" -- with one last gesture at the chainlink fences -- "and it takes a New York City Shylock to keep the dream alive. The Lord do work in mysterious ways, boys." Roger chuckles a bit "He does indeed, but at least it's being kept alive no matter who's doing the keeping." Zach looks worriedly at Duke. "Amen." Duke says, "Anyway, you both go on. I'm meeting with an old friend tonight, then calling an early night of it." Zach removes his hand from Duke's shoulder. "Ok, but at least let us follow you out of this area to somewhere safer. Nobody should walk alone around here." Roger nods and glances around "You going to be ok here? Want an escort?" Duke says, "I'll be fine, boys, I'll be fine. The kind of little punks that would pick on an old man like me are all too busy knocking over liquor stores. You all go on." Roger looks at Duke worried "Well if you say so sir." Zach does not seem happy about this. You say, "I don't like to leave you here, Duke." Duke says, "It's alright. I can call a cab at the corner. I'll let you boys walk me that far if'n it'll make you feel any better." Roger smiles "Sounds good." Zach nods satisfied. "Sounds good to me too. Let's go." He ambles along to the corner with the two others, continually watchful. Roger sticks his hands in his pockets and wanders after them Duke,at the corner, flags down a cab, as promised. Zach waits until Duke has gotten safely into his cab. "It was good to see you, Duke. Catch ya later, eh?" Roger sees Duke safly in his cab and waves to him "Have a good evening sir." Duke says, "And you both, as well." Duke slides into the seat, and then lets the cabbie take him away: "Independence Cemetary, please," is the last thing that can be heard. Duke must idle for a bit, and didn't want you both obligated to wait for him. But thank you. :) Roger says, "hope you come back soon :)" Roger looks over at Zach "Want to go back to the club?" Zach turns to Roger and glances briefly back towards the boarding house. There is a hint of sorrow and anger in his eyes, but he remains calm. Then he crinkles up a smile. "Well, seems we got free drinks tonigh. Would be a shame to waste is, eh?" Roger grins "That is a good point." He heads back to the club. Roger Zach says, "Ditto!" Roger heads South on Woodland. Roger has left. You head south on Woodland. Zach enters the club again with Roger. "Let's get that table over there." He gestures at table #2. Roger nods "Sure, works for me Roger sits down at Table 2. At your table, Zach flags down a waitress. "What'll you have, officer?" Roger says, "A beer please." He glances at the stage, his foot taping to the music "So where do you know Duke from?" Zach orders two beers, and tells the waitress that Duke is buying. Then he turns to Roger and relaxes back on his chair a little. "Long time back. He and my dad were very close. It's been a long time since we last met." You say, "Dad's a musician. Used to jam with Duke."" Roger nods looking interested "Cool. Where did they play? Zach smiles. "Oh, they toured a lot all over. But mostly they got together from here to New Orleans." Roger smiles "Sounds fun. What was he like when he was younger?" Zach chuckles and takes a sip of his beer that just arrived. "Fierce! Energetic and always busy. But also gentle and with time to spare for a kid. He's family as far as I'm concerned." You say, "Mind you, he's been old for quite som time. As a kid I thought he was ancient!" Zach grins. Roger nods and sighs "He seems to have gotten more crotchity as he aged it seems like." Roger laughs "Yeah he must be in his 80's by now." Zach nods. "At least. To tell you the truth I'm not sure how old he really is. I've known him as long as I can remember." Roger smiles "I'm afraid to ask him, he's probably take my head off." Zach laughs. "At the very least." He ruffles his hair. "Nah, Duke's a good guy. He may snap and bark a bit, but he only bites those who deserve it." The current time in Kansas City is 8:34 PM, Wed Jun 12, 2002. Roger nods "yeah I'm sorry I never got to hear him play. Did he make any records do you know? You say, "Hm.. I think so. But they'll be hard to come by these days. You might wanna ask him, I don't think he'll have your head for that." Roger chuckles "Thats always good to know." He sighs bit "Do you come here alot? I don't think that I've seen you before." Zach drinks some more beer. He glances around the room before he answers. "I have never been in this place before. I just came to town a few days ago. Had the place recommended to me by a chick I met at a BBQ place. You a regular here?" Roger waggles a hand "Semi regular at best. MY job keeps be pretty busy if you know what I mean." You say, "Yeah, I know. You guys don't get much time off do you?" Roger shakes his head "Nope, fraid not." He sips his beer "What do you do?" Zach perks up as a familiar tune fills the club. He taps his fingers on the table in pace with the beat. "Me? I'm a mechanic. Freelance. I fix cars, bikes, planes, locomotives... All sorts of engines really, but mostly cars and bikes." Roger grins "Cool, always good to have more of you around. I admit to being hopeless at fixing cars." Zach chortles and lifts his glass. "It's a lot like handling women. You have to know whitch knobs and nuts to twist and fondle, and whitch ones to leave alone. Be gentle and sure while you're at it and never, ever hurry or be sloppy." Roger laughs out loud "I've never thought of it like that but yeah, that makes sence." He grins at the man "I take you're poplular with the ladies?" Zach drinks hes beer and tries to not come across as a complete lecher. "Well.. Some of them do seem to like me. And that's ok, 'cause I like them right back." He smiles and there is sincere warmth in his eyes. Roger grins "I know the feeling." He drains the beer bottle and sets it down on the table "I've just revently met this woman, Roxanne. Pretty little thing indeed." Zach waves over to a waitress for more drinks. He inclines his head a bit and keeps smiling. "She good for you?" Roger chuckles "I like to think so." Zach grins. "Good on ya! Wanna sing her praises to me? I promise I won't try and find her and steal her." He winks, but the grin is open and sincere. Roger laughs and holds up a hand "Promise?" Zach places his hand over his heart and raises his left hand. "Promise. I only steal another guys' girlfriends is they are mistreated." Roger grins and leans back in his chair "Umm lets see...she's really pretty, nice soft hair, has this lovely scent, like flowers..." Roger smiles slightly "She has this really cute kid, just a baby. But he's really cute." Zach stretches out his long legs and grins back. "Oh, she's a mom as well. Excellent! So, are you going for a seriuos relationship then? Or is it too early to say?" Roger shrugs a bit looking embarrased "Too early to say really, I only met her a few weeks ago." You say, "Oh, hey! Sorry if I pried. Didn't mean to snoop." Zach grins again. "But I am curious about how you met her? Does she live in the neighbourhood you work in, or?" Roger shakes his head "Nope, we just started chatting one day when she was out with her son." You say, "Like instant connection?" Roger nods, still smiling a bit "Yeah like that. Ever felt like that?" Zach slowly nods and his smile grows a bit sad. He gets a faraway look in his eyes. "Oh yeah... Yes I have felt like that. Best kind of meeting there is..." He sighs. Roger tilts his head "Who was she?" You say, "She was The One. We lived and journeyed together for years." Roger nods "What happened?" Zach looks pained. "Ah...she died." Roger looks down "Ah, I'm sorry Zach. That must have been horrible." Zach frowns into his beer and takes a deep breath. He tenses his shoulders a bit and controls himself. "Yes," he says softly. Zach shifts on his chair. "Look, let's not get all gloomy and depressed here. It's a long time ago, you've got a good thing going - let's talk about that instead." Roger nods and shifts slightly in his chair "What else do you want to know? Zach smiles warmly to Roger. "Whatever you wanna tell me. I have yet to come across a guy who did not enjoy talking about the woman he has his eyes on. How old's the baby?" Roger grins slightly "Pretty young, under a year I'd say." He looks around for the waitress "She works at the speedway, manages the concesion stands." You say, "Do you manage to see her often then? Being a suitor takes time and effort, y'know:)" Roger sighs "Not as much as I'd like too. Out schedules clashs a lot." Zach nods sympathetically at Roger. "Ah, the curse of the modern, western way of life. It's easier that way for a vagabond like me - I manage my own time. Mostly." Roger grins "Well I hope thatyou make time for you customers at least." Zach laughs. "Sure I do! They pay for the roses and the drinks, dontchaknow!" Roger laughs and "Got someone in mind for those roses? Zach chuckles. He has a nice baritone voice. "Not at present. I haven't had time to get aquinted with any of the local ladies yet. Allthough I did meet a fine looking one the other night. Sarah something... Owns a store." Roger shrugs slightly "What does she look like. Maybe I've met her." Zach thinks and leans back on his chair to strech his legs again. "She is quite tall, slender like a young sapling, beautiful brown skin, great lips, curly shoulder-length hair..." Roger thinks for a moment then shakes his head "Sorry, don't think I've met her." He grins "Still if you know where she works, why not swing by sometime." You say, "Oh, I intend to. She sells leather goods. I could use a pair of leather pants." Roger looks faintly horrified "Leather pants? Not for me thanks. Now a leather jacket..." Zach splits into a grin. "I was kinda hoping to run into her here. She said she often comes here. You say, "Hey, don't knock it 'till you've tried it. Leather pants are great to wear. Very comfortable." Roger grins "Well I'll keep an eye out for her." He shakes his head firmly "Sorry, I guess that's my concervitive bent coming though, but I just can't imanage myself in them. Zach laughs. "You'd look cool, man! You've certainly got the build for'em. But if you don't like'em, don't wear'em. Leather jackets are good too." He takes a swig of his beer. Roger nods "Leather jackets I can get into. Now Roxanne in leather pants..." he trails off with a grin." Zach chuckles softly. "Oh yeah. Sarah was of course wearing nice and tight leather pants when I met her. Some women are just to die for when clad in leather." Roger nods firmly "Oh yeah, that I'll give you." He licks his lips "It's really nice when they have the figure to carry them off and you can watch them walk away." Zach looks whistful and nods. "I will definitely drink to that." He raises his glass. "To women in leather. May their behinds bring sustenance to sore eyes everywhere." Roger taps his bottle against Zach and grins "Here here. How did..err Sarah look in the pants?" Zach states with much confidence: "Hot!" He grins. "Hot as in 'Oh mama!', not as in 'hot and sweaty'." He consideres. "Although that would have been okay too..." Roger chuckles "Bring her flowers when you vist, women always like flowers. You say, "Don't I know it!:)" Roger loks away for a moment and says "I wonder what Roxanne's like in bed." He gives his head a firm shake "WHat am I talking about, we haven't even been on a second date yet." Zach smiles to Roger. "Remember - nice, slow and thorough. If you wanna get with her it's worth a bit of effort. Why don't you bring the next date to her? Bring some nice food and stuff. That way she won't have to get a babysitter." Roger looks thoughtful "Good point. I'll be sure to do that." Zach drinks the rest of his beer. "Look, it was really nice meeting you Roger! I like you." He rummages in his pockets and finds a pen. "If you should need any help with, say, your car, plumbing or anything at all just call me." He jots down his cellphone number. "I'll give you a good price. If Duke likes you, you have to be good people." Roger takes the card and passes him one of his own, with his name, rank and telephone number "Really? Thanks. That's great. Here's my card if you ever need to get in touch." You paged Roger with 'I'll be resonating when we shake hands. It's a +2 CD thing. I'll ask you stuff if I succeed, ok?'. From afar, Roger nods Zach picks up the card. "Thanks. Oh, and I do car rescues as well. I have a small crane on my truck." Roger grins "Hey that's cool. As long as your cheaper then a normal towing company I'll be calling. The end.