====Chatting at the Tower====
**Date:** 1870.04.04
**Previous:** [[Afterdinner]]
**Next:** TowerChat2 or Whatever happened with Cole, Shawn, and Cal

**When people arrive in the tower Cal is lighting the oil lamp. When Ollie arrives Cal says, "Sounds like you got some stories to tell" With a smile and hands him one of the two paper crowns.**

<#bill: Cole is red faced when he arrives, very obvious on his pale complexion.#>

<#jonah: Ollie takes the crown but doesn't put it on. "Mr Black just thought I was actin like I wasn't feelin myself. And he wanted me to know that he noticed and that it was ok. I got the feelin' that he knew more than he was lettin on, though."#>

<#court: Jeanne looks at Ollie sharply, gauging him as he speaks.#>

<#ann: "Do you think he knew about Arkadeus yesterday? Why wouldn't he say nothing?"#>

<#jonah: "So I explained to him about how I could tell what some animals were up to by their smell, or how they sound... and I think he got the idea, seeing both how Jackson seems to like me, and the animals that I take care of. And he wanted to make a deal with me — I can do all the animal stuff I want in the orphanage and hotel, provided that I don't bother the guests, but I should be real careful to not do it outside, seeing as other people might take notice and not be as understanding as he is." @Celeste: "I don't think he knows, and I didn't make to tell him, neither. I just wasn't sure what I wanted to say. But maybe he should know... What do you all think?"#>

**Erin says, "I’m not sure I understand, what do you mean do your thing...what do you do with the animals?"**

<#court: Jeanne looks confused. "Why does he think other people will have a problem?"#>

<#jonah: @Kel: So Erin and Deco and the other folks who didn't come out to the Bayou aren't in the know at this point?#>

**They are in the know. Erin is just not following you. She heard the story about you scaring off the alligator though.**

<#jonah: ok. Ollie turns to Erin, "I've been trying to figure out what I mean, and here's what I think it comes down to. I think I can hear real good, and smell real good, and maybe I just can tell a bit more about some of the animals I see than most folks. That's how I scared off that gator — I could tell it didn't want to be there, and it just needed a good reason to head off. So, I gave it that reason. I don't think it's anything too special, but Mr Black does."#>

**Erin clearly understood the words but still looks confused, she doesn’t quite grok it, but nods, with some understanding.**

<#bill:"But Mr. Black said you're not alone. Does that mean he can do it too?"#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks uncomfortable. "It's not really my place to say, if you'll pardon me, Lieutenant" (Using the rank with polite respect)#>

**”More like spymaster general," Shawn says.**

<#bill: Cole raises an eyebrow. "So you know?" he says with a smile.#>

<#kate: "But it may not be his to share."#>

<#court: Jeanne turns to Ollie. "Ollie, is he the one Arkadeus was talking about, who is trying to protect us?"#>

<#jonah: Ollie: "I was wonderin' about that today, trying to remember the words that Arkadeus said... I think maybe, but I couldn't ask him without revealin' what had happened."#>

<#jonah: Ollie: "So I don't know if everyone here has heard, but a few years ago a few of us had a run-in with Arkadeus in the swamp. Jeanne, me, and celeste were out gettin some mud in the swamp, and he came by out of nowhere and started sayin all this creepy stuff... mostly about us not bein ripe yet. But he did say somethin about some soldier who was protectin us... I wonder if that's Mr Black? Or Abner?"#>

<#kate: Ella shrugs, but looks thoughtful.#>

**Cal rubs his arm where he got hit by Mr. French earlier..."He dont do too much protecting o' me."**

<#kate: "They might be something special," she says with a smirk.#>

**Valarie says, "I am not a fruit."**

 <#jonah: (kate: said to who?)#>

<#kate: (Countering Cal) "Maybe he like's different fruit) (to Val, re: Ark)#>

<#jonah: (ahh ok)#>

**"You mean what he did to that Gator?" Shawn asks.**

<#kate: "Huh?"#>

**Shawn says, "I mean, what Ollie did to that gator seemed pretty special to me."**

<#kate: "Oh, exactly. Maybe 'cause he did it today, he's ripe."#>

**Npcs look at Ollie.**

<#court: Jeanne looks alarmed.#>

<#ann: "But Arkadeus said Val and Jeanne were ripe, and that's why he wanted to make soup from them. That was before Ollie hypnotized the gator."#>

<#kate: "So maybe ya'll ripe too," she says, looking expectantly at Jeanne and Val.#>

<#court:(ann, I am checking something).#>

<#jonah: Ollie shrugs to the NPCs, "Maybe so. I don't feel so special, but i do hear a lot more goin on than I used to... Or, maybe I always heard it, and I just understand more now."#>

**Jefferson frowns, "Hear more?"**

**Val shivers and folds her arms at Ella's statement.**

<#jonah: Ollie to Jefferson: "Like I said, I let Mr Black know that I was acting a bit distant because I can sorta tell what some critters are up to by the way they sound, or how they smell, or how they are actin."#>

<#court: Jeanne furrows her brows. "We were not ripe yet... but soon, he said" she murmurs to Celeste. "At least, I was not yet." (oh sorry, looks at Ella too -- Court was looking up something, behind).#>

**Cal says, "And Mr. Black seemed to know all about this?" He has a suspicious look on his face.**

<#jonah: Ollie: "All what, Cal?"#>

**"About hearing more stuff, and smelling critters?" He didnt take that as odd?"**

<#jonah: Ollie to Cal: "Well, I think he was concerned, yeah... and maybe surprised a bit, too..." Ollie looks a bit unsure.#>

**Cal grins devilishly. "Sounds like there may be a bit ya' anit saying.”**

<#ann: "If he was surprised, maybe he's not the soldier man Arkadeus said was bargaining to save us. Cause that was years and years ago."#>

<#kate: "Might not be someone you know either."#>

<#bill: Cole makes eye "knowing" eye contact with Ollie, but doesn't say anything.#>

<#ann: "Why would someone we don't even know care what happens to Ollie or any of us?"#>

**Cal catches Coles look, but keeps quiet.**

<#kate: "Just saying you might not know them, but they might know you. They might care about you without you realizing it."#>

<#court: Jeanne gives Ollie and Cole a quick suspicious look.#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks confused with all this looking around.#>

**Valarie says, "Nobody cares about us."**

<#kate: Ella gives that a conceding shrug. "Sounds like someone cares about them though." (re: Celeste, Jeanne, Ollie)#>

<#jonah: Ollie: "Val's right. We gotta watch out for each other, cause maybe there's someone protectin us, and maybe there ain't, but all we can count on is us."#>

<#bill:"If some of us are special enough for Arkadeus to care about kidnappin' then it's not so crazy to think we'd be special enough for someone to protect. Doesn't mean they like you...just that they're protecting you."#>

 <#court: Jeanne looks at Ella. "Or maybe not. This was just what Arkadeus said, and I do not trust him."#>

**Cal says, "Question is can we trust Mr. Black."**

<#ann: "But protect you from what? Mr. Black seems nervous that other people will notice you, are there more like Arkadeus running around? People who want to make you into soup, or maybe even something worse?"#>

**Jefferson says, "What’s worse than being made into soup!"**

<#ann: Celeste shivers. "Exactly."#>

<#kate: Ella looks at him, then away.#>

<#jonah: Ollie: "Arkadeus said something about us being protected from HIM."#>

<#kate: "Us being the two of you?" (re Ollie and Jeanne)#>

**”Or all of us?” asks Deco.**

 <#jonah: Ollie: "And Celeste, I think. He didn't exactly spell it out, though. And I wasn't gonna ask him, neither!"#>

<#kate: She nods in understanding.#>

<#court:"We were just the ones who were there. He did not say any names."#>

<#jonah: Ollie nods at what Jeanne said.#>

**"Can you like protect us?" Deco says, "Like call up animals to guard us while we sleep?"**

<#kate: Ella looks expectantly at Ollie, as if this is entirely possible.#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks ashamed, "I wish I could... I don't think I know how."#>

<#bill:"I think we should figure out why he wants to make soup out of anybody. If we know, maybe we can better protect those people. I don't figure that Arkadeus wants to make soup of you just for the eating.. Must be some kind of magic. We should talk to Madame Laveau?”#>

<#kate: "Or he could just be a creep."#>

**Jefferson says, "I wouldn’t go messing with no vooodoo, it will only make things worse"**

<#kate: "That being though, we should get him before he gets any of them." she says with an agreeing nod to Cole.#>

 <#ann: "If it's a voodoo thing, then she'll want to get Ollie too. That's not going to help."#>

<#bill:"Voodoo ain't bad...it's just a tool. Depends on whose using it whether it's good or bad. I hear Madame Laveare is nice."#>

<#kate: "I'd prefer a bat."#>

<#court:"Voodoo is dangerous."#>

<#kate: (or club - being corrected on sports history over here)#>

<#bill: Cole shrugs, "So is a bat."#>

<#kate: "But I know how to swing a bat."#>

**Cal says, "What we need an't no club, we need a gun. Voodoo or no"**

<#court: Jeanne looks defensive, glaring at Cole. "With a bat, you can at least see who is coming. You can see what is dangerous."#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks down at the ground.#>

<#kate: "Gotta get bullets then," she frowns as if thinking of where they might be.#>

**Deco takes Ollie’s hand, "Don’t be scared Ollie, we's will protect you."**

<#kate: "Damn straight."#>

**Shawn says, "We can get the rifle above the mantel."**

**Cal nods, "You think he comin tonight?" Cal is looking at Ollie when he speaks.**

<#jonah: Ollie, "I dunno. He left the girls there with that gator, so maybe he don't know that they've escaped yet. I think his power is a lot less out of the swamp. But he might be comin’.”#>

<#kate: "We could set some traps around. Catch him, or anybody, coming round."#>

**Cal nods to Shawn.**

<#bill:"But maybe catch Ms. Lizzy by accident too."#>

**"You all sit tight." He glances at Cole.**

<#ann: "We could put them on the window and things, though."#>

<#kate: "That's what I was thinkin'" She frowns at Cal who seems to be up to something.#>

 <#ann: Celeste looks thoughtful, trying to think of all the noisemaking alarms she has access to or could make on short notice.#>

**Cal and Shawn are on the move.**

<#kate: "'though I don't know much 'bout traps." She looks to Jeanne and Ollie. "How about you guys?"#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks to Jeanne. "Can we get some lime? I don't know if it'll work on arkadeus, but it can't hurt, right?"#>

<#bill: Cole moves out with them.#>

<#jonah: Ollie to Ella: "I can trap a squirrel or a fish... but a man?"#>

<#kate: "You boys need a hand?" (to the trio) "Maybe just configure something that'll make noise."#>

<#court: Jeanne is pale, but she smiles at Ollie. "Can't hurt. I will get some."#>

<#kate: "We just need to know he's there - not stop him altogether."#>

<#ann: "That was my thought, make noise to wake everyone up."#>

**Shawn says, "We got it."**

<#jonah: Ollie thinks a bit, and then brightens up a bit, "I can probably get something together, yeah."#>

<#court:"Yes... I can catch a rabbit, a squirrel, a fish... might make a man yell, but don't think it would catch him."#>

**The trio slip off.**