Insanity

[Rezantis]

"I do need to see Holmes sometime," Nathan says, frowning as he thinks, "How far is the constabulary from here? I guess that's where he'd have his office."

[Brian]

"Not too far.  You can have Janson ready your carriage, though.  I'm sure that Marius knows the way."  Molly blushes a tiny bit.  "I've never gotten to ride in the carriage, before."

[Rezantis]

"Well, there's a first time for everything."

Nathan finishes his tea and then uses the pull-cord to summon Janson, intending to put Molly's suggestion into practice.

[Brian]

In short order, Nathan finds himself seated comfortably in the back of a carriage very similar to the one that Holmes took him home in.  Molly bounces on the seat opposite Nathan (facing backwards) and peering through the windows.

A pale and skinny figure, (Marius) directs the horses through the gate and into the streets.  There's a few people wandering around in the neighborhood, most of them well dressed (at least as well-dressed as Nathan, anyway).  It doesn't take long for the carriage to roll down the street and a few blocks further, before reaching the nearest office of the Constabulary.  Makes sense that Holmes was able to summon them so quickly.

Further away, music can be heard, and distant showers of confetti can be seen.  Seems like there's a parade somewhere off in the city.  As Nathan disembarks, Marius warns, "Traffic will be rightly fierce in the city, on account of the fair."

The Constabulary office is a very blocky, unsubtle building that stands an even five stories tall, with a wide stairway leading up the steps to a pair of open double-doors.  Men in uniform stand at either side, and more wander in and out, some of them in their own conversations, a few apparently on their own.

[Rezantis]

Nathan stops the first uniformed person who's attention he can catch.

"Excuse me, but I'm looking for Inspector Holmes?"

[Brian]

The man is a big taken aback.  "Sorry, Sir," he says with a shake of his head.  "The Inspector's stationed in the palace itself.  Is something the matter?"

Molly is following behind curiously, but is silent -- just looking the slightest bit irritated when people walk through her.

[Rezantis]

Nathan shakes his head.  "Ah.  No, nothing's the matter but I would like to speak to him about something that's just come to light."

Well, hey, if I already look ignorant may as well continue.

"What would be the simplest way to get a message to him?  It's fairly important."

[Brian]

The constable blinks for a second, and then says, "We send over couriers several times a day.  Do you know something about criminal activities that he should be made aware of?"

[Rezantis]

OOC: Influence back to the default for now: +1 all rolls, +3 persuasion, +2 conversation.

IC:

Nathan frowns.

Watch gives me access to the palace, right.

"Not precisely; I'll go and see him in person - but if possible, could you send him a note for me, saying that Doctor Shuker wants to speak to him fairly urgently.  We spoke yesterday, so he'll know what it's about."

If the constable's agreeable, then Nathan will thank him and . . . have Marius take him to the palace.

[Brian]

"Certainly," the constable agrees, nodding quickly.  Then he blinks, as recognition sets in.  "Master Shuker?" he mumbles to himself in surprise as Nathan climbs back into the carriage.

Molly is still there, sitting opposite Nathan and swinging her legs from the edge of the bench like a little kid.

[Rezantis]

"To the palace, Marius," Nathan announces as he climbs back in, pretending not to have heard the constable.

[Brian]

"Right away," the coachman replies, closing the door behind Nathan and then scurrying up front.  In short order the carriage is rolling down the streets along the same route that Holmes returned Nathan last time.  It doesn't take long to get to the palace, though Marius stops about a block short with an apology; there seems to be a lot of fair-goers blocking the street at this point.

"You'll need to go ahead on foot," he says with a sorry shrug.  "I'll wait for you here -- closer, if the crowds clear up."

[Rezantis]

Nathan, after thanking Marius, heads into the crowd towards the palace.  Presumably with Molly in tow!

[Brian]

Molly doesn't seem to hold up well under bright light.  She's probably there, but she vanishes as soon as she steps out of the carriage.  It doesn't take too long to get through the crowds to the gates.  And looking around at the crowds, everyone seems to be pretty well-dressed ... though, since this is the palace, that makes sense.

At the gates, though, someone's put up a barrier (basically a row of sawhorses, covered with garlands and ribbons), and behind this, an official looking man is delivering a long-winded speech about the Integrities.  Behind him, Aliester is standing in his robes of state, arms crossed and looking bored.

Holmes isn't in sight, but Aliester's eyes flick to Nathan before he bends down to whisper to a guard.  The guard unobtrusively works his way back into the palace, through the gate.  Only a minute later, as far as Nathan can tell, Molly says, "Oh, there's a guard coming at you through the crowd.  Is he a friend?"

Here, Nathan can't see the guard in question through the crowd.  Molly is also lost to sight.  Before he can answer, the guard in question pops up, expertly fitting between a very large woman in an equally large dress, and a dapper man who can't seem to stop adjusting his vest.  "Sir," the guard says, tipping his hat, "if you could come with me...?"

[Rezantis]

"I can do that," Nathan responds agreeably, "Lead the way."