Description
1017 Market Street contains the newly established
offices of Gotham Legal Services run by Brujah lawyer,
Mara Ravenclaw. It's in the downtown area of Neon
City, slightly off the main drag, not far from
Raindogs. It is a mixed-use area set between some
small shops and a few offices. The brick built
buildings are mostly on three stories plus basement,
their facades faded and dirty from the passage of
years.
Inside 1017, the offices are clean if Spartan, a sign
of its very new occupancy. The reception area has
chairs, a couple of hastily installed plants and a
desk for Ms Ravenclaw's legal assistant and factotum,
Christine. Ms Ravenclaw has a small separate office.
There is also a bathroom and storeroom on the ground
floor. A corridor opposite the main entrance leads
through to the back door and a tiny yard area with
fire escape. Near the back door on opposite sides are
two flights of stairs. One leads down to the basement
and the other heads up to the apartment above the
office shared by Ms Ravenclaw and Ms McAbee.
The apartment is on two floors. There is a lounge and
a small but functional kitchen area on the second
floor; also a bathroom and a bedroom. The third floor
is really the attic, converted into a second bedroom
with attached shower room.
Atmosphere
1017 Market Street may appear a little gloomy and down
at heel from the outside but there are now definite
signs of rehabilitation. The large office windows
facing onto the street are now spotless, for example.
The clean interior and energetic new management are
beginning to infuse some hope into the air.
You'd have to spend more time there than the average
client to notice odd things about 1017 Market Street.
Small glitches in its fabric - doors that stick
unaccountably; electrics that are always slightly on
the fritz - the lights take ages to come on and
sometimes short out altogether. Also, unexpected cold
spots that make you shiver, like someone walked over
your grave. Also, sometimes you can hear music
playing, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington; sounds from a
long gone era. If you're on your own, working late you
can begin to think that the place is haunted . . .
Story
Ms Ravenclaw has just purchased the freehold from
previous owner Rudy Vygotsky who acquired the premises
as an investment 5 years ago. He got it at a knock
down price partly because it was very run down, having
been empty for decades. The original owner died many
years ago, intestate and with no heirs ever
identified. Vygotsky bought it from the City who had
finally been declared legal owner of the property by
default. Not a very lucky investment as it turned
out, Vygotsky had a real problem keeping tenants. Jack
Gruber of Gruber Security Inc. gave up his lease at
the end of the year; Helen Chen, the realtor only
managed 8 months and Daniel Hathaway, the dentist
upped and left without a word, owing 3 months rent and
hasn't been seen since. Vygotsky sold to Mara
Ravenclaw with a sigh of relief.