Topic: Did I ever tell you?

James Roe

Date: 2013-04-19 23:44 EST
"Eugene... Come here please" James called his butler Eugene to him from the other room. The room he reclined in was quite large, with white, marble walls that held many different portraits of himself and other famous figures he had met.

Eugene walked in, a calm older gentleman dressed in a fine tuxedo "Yes sir?"

"Did I ever tell you of the time that Tesla managed to get me sent here, and also, get me some scotch would you? " James gave that winning smile over to his butler.

"Yes sir, scotch it is. And sir I have not heard this story, I would be delighted to hear it. " When infact he had heard it a million times. He quickly left to grab the bottle of scotch, a crystal glass, and some Ice cubes.

Upon returning he placed the scotch on the small, ancient table next to his employer, placed the 2 ice cubes inside, and poured the scotch.

That is when James began his story; Hearing it for the one millionth and one time won't hurt, right?

James calm, but expressionistic voice was at least easy to listen to

"Well it all started that morning really you see, I got the call from Tesla himself saying he was demonstrating a new machine he had made. Something to do with electricity and all that. Now, being the biggest support and financier of this project of his I could not wait to see what the man had in store for me. So I made sure to put my best clothes on, seeing that the demonstration got into Cornell. Cornell! Either way I left around 10:00 Am that morning, Eastern standard time of course. Now I took the Yellow Coupe that day, mainly because it was sunny out, a perfect driving day. Now the main road to the western part of New York State was always a traffic hole. So I took some of the back roads, went through some different towns. Did I mention that I was seeing Tesla? Right, anyways."

He took a sip of the scotch, allowing it to wet his throat before going on.

"Anyways around lunch time I stopped at this gas station somewhere off in the country to get food and fill up. I have never met Nicer people. Had some sort of Roast beef pie that would make most of the things we eat at these parties. Boy was it swell. After that they filled me up, washed my tires and windshield, and gave me food to eat on the way. These people were so generous I paid them $55 plus another $10 in tips! So I was back on the road, thinking this is swell. A perfect day. A great meal. Nice people. What more could I ask for right? Oh it gets better."

He takes another sip of the scotch.

Eugene simply stands at a semi-relaxed attention listening and using his pre-rehearsed "oohs" and "amazing sir" and "that is quite swell"

"So I was nearly to the Campus of Cornell when my car starts to sputter. I hadn't been paying attention to my gas reader and found myself nearly empty. But of all the luck of the world I landed myself right at the very spot another gas station came to view. Now Tesla was scheduled to open at 9:00 PM so I still had 4 hours or so to spare. So I went on in and tried some of their food. It was good, but nothing to the Roast Beef I had before, so I only paid $40 for the food and tipped $5. I was back on the road, and arrived about an Hour and a half early. I parked nearest to the front as I could. I grabbed my Fedora --- Did I tell you about that Fedora, the one I got from a frenchman during the war? No..? Maybe another time. Anyways so Tesla was already set up inside, a towering machine this thing was. He told me it was going to revolutionize the way I looked at my world."

He finished off that last bit of his Glass of scotch and handed it over to Eugene. Eugene simply tucked it under his arm and listened.

"So the time came and Tesla let me start the machine up. Power turbines spun and spun and spun, apparently to speeds of 100 Miles per hour. I heard something, a slight pop maybe? Next thing I knew there was a flash of light and I found myself laying down in a grassy field looking at the sun in Rhy'din."

"A splendid story sir." He smiled graciously "Is there anything else you want sir?"

"No thank you Eugene." James crossed his legs and read an article in the Rhy'din Times.

James Roe

Date: 2013-04-20 21:16 EST
The black car pulled up to the site of the new construction. Large machinery moved around, clearing out the grass and digging into the ground to make way for the foundation. Jame stepped out of his car in a cream suit with a cream fedora.

"Ahead of schedule boys?"

The manager of the project stepped forward "Yes sir, so far a day by the quick clearing, we might even get to pour the foundation today"

"Don't." James ordered him

"What do you mean sir?"

"Don't pour today, when It comes to the point that you have no more work send the boys home but give them full pay. They need this job, so make sure they get all the pay they can get out of it. You understand me."

"Well... Yes sir, thank you. I think they will be grateful to you." the manager replied

James nodded and looked at the work being conducted. All of the hired workers were members of the Rhy'din homeless shelter who were able to work. He asked for them so they could earn some money, enough to get themselves some small homes so they can start a new life.

His phone soon rang loudly, loud enough that one of the men on a jackhammer breaking up a stone heard it. James picked it up "Hello."

"Hello Mr. Roe. The shipment is in, already being handled. Keeping you updated like you asked" The man on the other end had a deep, shady voice.

James voice became that of a stage whisper "Take it to the warehouse, double the guards for now, that shipment could be worth millions you understand?"

"Yes sir, good luck with the construction."

"Thank you." He ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket. Tapping his foot for a second he had to think something through before he turned and got back into his car.

"Jello wrestling league huh. I think investing into that will be good." He spoke to himself before shifted the car into gear and speeding off down the street. Dodging people he got another call. "Hello"

"Sir" It was his manager "You do want a basement going through the..."

"Yes, do that with your crew tonight, you know my payment."

"Yes sir." his manager ended the call

James kept driving through rhy'din silently before speaking one more time to himself , almost a riddle "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." And with that he smiled.

James Roe

Date: 2013-04-23 20:10 EST
The Black car pulled up beside one of the Dockside Warehouses. Outside two armed guards opened the door just as James got out "Thank you boys." He pressed the front of his suit coat down to make it flat and pulled his fedora off as he stepped inside.

What seemed the like site manager approached him "Here you go Mr. Roe, all 100 shipments have come in. I know you said something about 50 going to the shop and 50 being shipped down to stars end port Correct? "

James nodded to him "Yes it is Jon. It is important that these.." Motioning to all of the sealed crates "Get to the market, high demand around here apparently."

The one called Jon nodded then asked "What are they sir?"

James laughed a bit and cut a crate open, and grabbing a box "You would never think of this but it is Child's toys, Quality Child's toys, bought at a price that we can sell to the public at such an affordable rate that the local shelters can buy as many as they want and give them to the kids. Most of the profit goes to our interest groups, but we still will get our fair share. "

"Right...." Jon looked at him "Then why double the guards?"

"Because, You don't want people stealing this much stuff do you, more stuff means more guards, regardless of what it is. "

"Well you are the boss. Anything else."

James shook his head and looked around "Did I tell you about the first jobs I had in Rhy'din.. By the nine that was two years ago too!"

"No sir you haven't told me" Jon replied enthusiastically, only because he had heard them a million times by now.

But A million and one would never hurt right?

"Well when I ended up here because of Tesla.... Yeah you have heard that story... anyways I walked around a bit, trying to figure out what I could do. I mean I went from having a mansion and 3 cars plus a whole service staff to nothing. Now most would see this as a problem and not know what to do. But no that isn't me. I saw an opportunity to create a new wealth for myself. So I turned the corner and found a help wanted sign at a small garage. I had done work on cars before, only minor stuff. The owner, an older gentlemen hired me, gave me shelter in the apartment above his garage and clothes and food. I saved all of my money for about 9 months. I walked into a small bakery one day, got acquainted with the owner, he was needing money. So I invested into his business for a part of the profits. In a matter of months I had tripled my investment. That is how you make money Jon, you invest in a trustworthy business that people will love. With the new money I kept investing all around until I had enough to kick start my own investing and banking Company. And look where that has brought me, a new company with almost 4 locations now. I believe I have done well for myself. "

Jon nodded "Well sir I have to start getting these toys out."

James gave him a two fingered salute "you do that old boy." He turned on his heels and marched back to his car. "Boy I have done well for myself." Stepping into the Black car he shifted it into drive and drove off, back towards his home in East Rhy'din.

James Roe

Date: 2013-04-27 22:55 EST
Home at last. It had been a busy time recently, between running business deals, merchandise, to over watching the construction of his businesses fourth location, to socializing with people in the inn. He had rarely set foot in his large home. But Today was different, he had nothing to do, which meant walking about his home and looking about it, making sure it was in tip top shape.

There was one room, a study that was etched out of the expansive library on the second story, it was the smallest of all the rooms, but one that wore heavy on his heart. He hated and cherished that room at the same time. Days like today were when he walked into this room.

"Old sport." He patted the door like it was a human being, someone he cared about. He opened it gently and looked about, the room smelled of Whisky and old pencil shavings. He gulped shutting the door behind him.

A glance around the reveals grey painted walls with numerous mounted trophies. On the right wall, his war memorabilia, His rifle, a German rifle, and a numerous collection of accolades and medals from his service. Pictures of him and a German soldier after the war, picture of his squadron, everything a man could get from that war, he had.

On the left wall he had all of the news papers that had talked about his business, some of the accolades from the mayor of New York, and his best friend at the time too. Pictures of his home, his cars, his plane, his waiting staff, everything a man needed to remember about his past, he had.

On the wall behind the large oak desk that had files and papers and contracts thrown all over the top of it were the things he had collected that were special to him from Rhy'din. Unlike the other walls, it was empty. Not that he hadn't found Rhy'din interesting at all, but nothing had made him truly feel special yet.

James meandered over to the right wall, holding up a picture of him and his right hand man. "Well old boy, We made it." He placed the picture next to a jar and smiled slightly. His best friend had fallen next to him in the heat of combat. He carried him to the field hospital, across open ground to try to save him. For this many of his medals were awarded, but his friends life, was one thing that was robbed from him. He had no need for all of the medals, he just wanted his brother back.

He walked out of the room and shut the door behind him. "Best head to the inn." He pressed his cream suit down, grabbed his Fedora, and walked down the stairs and out of his home.

James Roe

Date: 2013-04-29 23:11 EST
James sat behind his desk, silently drinking away at his whisky as he nonchalantly read over some reports that, while they mattered to him, he did not care for at the time. His pen tapped against the paper in a simple beat as his thoughts were else where. Finally setting down his reports his turned to the window, stepping up to it to get a good look at the moon that was just appearing behind a cloud.

"Well old sport, you have guided me so far, I pray that you always will..." He placed his hand on the window. His mind played a solemn trick on him, as his hands became that of his younger years in the army, young, teenager hands that were rugged and muddy. He went at such a young age, sometimes he regretted it. He clasped his hand together into a fist and turned away. At other times he knew that it was what he needed.

Eugene knocked and entered the office "James, a phone call. Didn't say whom or where from, sounded familiar though sir."

James nodded "Patch them through, and yes you can listen, you know that"

"Thank you sir" He turned and ran back to the phone where he press the 'sent to line 1' button.

The phone in James' office rang only once before he picked it up. "Hello?"

"James roe?"

"Yes whom Am I speaking with..." James trailed off

"Its your manager at your first bank sir. Sometime tomorrow could you please stop by. It is important."

"Ah yes Mr. Draper. I will be there right at opening time."

"Thank you Mr. Roe. Good night." The man hung up before James had a chance to reply.

"Eugene, clear my early appointments, I have business to attend to my friend." And with that he trotted off to work out some before heading to bed.

James Roe

Date: 2013-05-14 22:12 EST
James clambered up the steps after a long hard day of work. With all of the turmoil that circled around the marketplace as well as the steady streams of people wishing to open accounts or looking for loans and such, he needed to relax in a warm salt bath.

Turning the water and tossing the Epsom salts on the bottom of the sparkling white, porcelain tub. After a few moments the tub was ready and left to sit for a moment as he padded his worn feet against the floor. He gently started to undress himself. Starting with his top, heavy jacket shed off, followed by the button up. Next came the under shirt used to catch the sweat. All of it off he looked at himself in the mirror.

He was fairly skinned, just enough tan to saw he got out and about but not enough to say he was a physical labourer. But there were things that alluded to different parts of his past. A gentle scar running down the length of the top of his shoulder where his father had been working with a saw that dropped to hit him on the shoulder.

But there were others that had a more recent affect on him, and even longer lasting feel. His left chest was his first war would. A small, nearly half inch area of black skin. He ran his hand over it gently, his eyes widening as he traveled back to the moment. He was 22 at the time in 1914 when the war kicked off for him with a bang. An artillery shell landed right next to his trench, shrapnel and debris flying in everyway possible. One of those ways was right into James. The problem with the wound was, it wasn't found before it was too late, so the piece of metal is still sitting inside of him.

A few inches away there was another, longer scar, thin in stroke, but measuring 5 inches down from his mid torso. The first charge he ever go to participate him left him fighting a 14 year old German who had the upper hand, and got the slash down onto him before James could turn and unload two quick shots from his rifle into the kids chest. The look in the dead boys eyes are something that will never leave him, and haunt his dreams even now.

From there two small holes at the dead center of his figure. Both hit him at the same time, how he survived that one no one realized. Some of his platoon called him the Mircale of the Somme, since he made it out with such and extensive wound like that. But he did.

Then on his right leg was a large area of brown scar tissue where he turned his back on a grenade that landed two people down from him on the line. Although no shrapnel went into him the large explosion caused by the chain reaction of explosions burned his legs severely.

He turned from the mirror and looked at the still water of his tub. A deep breath as he stood and finished undressing before entering the waters, trying to ward off any thought of his past and what impact it had on him.