Lechance

Mr. Parsons,

I am writing to ask whether you would be interested in attending the holiday festivities. I would be glad to escort you, if you agree. Please send word at your earliest convenience.

With regards,

Daisuke Shimada

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Daisuke had brushed his best suit clean and made another trek to the hotel. He waited patiently in the lobby for Missy to come down in answer to the card he sent up. When she appeared on the stairs, he stood and bowed, then straightened and asked, "You are Miss Lee, yes? I am Daisuke Shimada."

Wednesday daytime, and Jonas sends out personal telegraphs to the following people, either to their own residences, or addressed privately via the Hotel:
Santiago de la Vega
Simon Belgrave
Julian MacKallister
Benjamin Simoneaux
Daisuke Shimada
Missy Lee
Jonathon Stanton

The message reads:

'The Acting Sheriff of this town, Mr Jonas Wilder hereby invites you to an informal meeting to take place on this Sunday the 26th of October. The meeting will commence at 6pm in the Sheriff's Office. This meeting is to gather together a consultancy of sorts to discuss ongoing and current reports of unusual activity received by the Office.

Light refreshments will be available, and appropriate chaperones will also be in attendance.

Please feel free to bring along any persons you may feel will assist. Your help and assistance in these matters would be much appreciated.'

Jonas also talks to his staff, including new employee Leo Coleman, to inform them of the upcoming meeting, and to request their attendence also.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Santiago had taken time to go inspect all of his tools, something he normally did later in the season but he'd decided he'd rather not take a chance. Finding some of them lacking in a proper blade, he loaded them into a small wheelbarrow and made his way into town.

He propped the barrow outside the smithy and went inside in search of the town's blacksmith.

Daisuke arrived a few minutes before the appointed time with a chaperone in tow, of course. He waited in the lobby of the hotel, arms folded behind him, and when Edward came down, took a study of him as politely as he could. When the other man reached the bottom stair, he bowed a bit before stepping forward to offer his hand as well. "Daisuke Shimada," he introduced, and then the chaperone. "Good afternoon."

Mr. Parsons,

I would like to know if you would allow me a meeting with you. Thursday, perhaps, at three o'clock?

Thank you very much.

(There are characters first, and then the name, in script, Mr. Daisuke Shimada).

A package and letter are delivered to Miss Sadie Blackwood at the hotel.

The letter reads: Miss Blackwood,
I would like to thank you for your hospitality and company. I enjoyed myself and hope that you did the same. I hope, also, that this gift is not to much after one meeting. I hope you use it well and that perhaps we can meet again.

With sincerity,

Daisuke Shimada

The box contains a pair of thimbles, simply shaped and ornamented.

Daisuke arrived at the hotel shortly before three o'clock to meet the man who'd agreed to chaperone. Stanton McCall was not quite thirty himself and had a new baby that kept him awake at night, but he was a friendly sort and he'd been all too willing to help out. They chatted briefly, then Daisuke had word sent up to Ms. Blackwood that he'd arrived.

When she appeared, he stood, as he'd been sitting, and bowed deeply from the waist, despite the fact that he wore western clothing: a suit, complete with stiff collar and tie, vest, jacket, and polished shoes.

A card is delivered to the hotel for Sadie. It's thin and distinctly uncommon paper.

The writing on the card is tidy and legible, but quite sharp and angular, despite being in script.


Ms. Blackwood,

I write to request the honor of audience with you. Please to let me know if three o'clock on Saturday afternoon is an acceptable time. I will arrange with a chaperone to be available for us.

I look forward to your response.



There are much more elegantly scripted characters, and beside them, the signed name: Mr. Daisuke Shimada

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

The party had ended. He'd seen the people of the town, if not met them all personally. He'd talked a bit, he'd eaten. He'd avoided dancing, fortunately for him. No one wanted to look like a fool on their first night in public, did they?

He'd unpacked his things into the house he'd chosen, across the street from the smithy and down a few doors, just as he'd said. Everything was in it's place, arranged and waiting for when he came home at the end of the day and relaxed.

Now it was time to work. He'd gotten up early, before the sun was up, and started the fire in the forge. He donned the leather apron that was a hallmark of his trade and when the sky lightened, those closest to the smithy would have heard the rhythm of metal against metal, his own unique "tune" hammered out.

He was making tools at the moment. Wasn't that what people needed when starting in a new place? He'd pinched off several dozen nails already, and worked now on a shovel blade, hair pulled back and an all-too-common smear of soot on his forehead. He glanced up at the person lingering in the open doorway of the shop, made a few more blows to the slowly-shaping plane of metal, then thrust it into a bucket of water, dusted his hands together and stepped closer. He bowed from the waist before saying, "Is there something you need?"

The market square was covered in a large tent, glittering candles lighting up the green and the cobblestoned area. There was a feast, laid out for all new arrivals from the week before. Not all of the city were there by any means, though all had been invited. Still. The party was some 500 strong, food was readily available wine flowed, and there was dancing, a live band playing lively music.