Party of Millions (C 1.3, E 1.4, L 1.5)

Canary and Edmund,

As you survey the restaurant, you see a new guard coming into the place - it's John. She's escorting Litch and Kestrel - the Talons.

Litch,

John leads you into a very fancy restaurant, one that's too expensive for most to ever darken the doorstep. Inside is Canary in an adorable yellow dress speaking with Edmund Sterling.

What do you do?

Canary wants to get back to her Refuge, and I also wish to return to mine. I need to monitor Princy. But the way that Dinero keeps glancing over his shoulder is starting to cause a pit in my stomach.

Looking around the room it's starting to feel like Canary and I are in a cage. "That may be easier said than done, Ms. Canary."

Your best way through is to just sit tight. Due to everyone's invitations to be here, Millions is honor-bound to keep your group safe for as long as you're in noa. Step foot out, into Crystal Court, and it's much looser. Millions' guards will put down a fight, but probably only after shots are fired.
As you look around the party, you recognize that the Fountaineer Kamae Santised is here... after he blew off Princy's gathering earlier today. You get the feeling that he's a threat to you specifically. You can't put your finger on it, but you know it's true.
Dinero is the key. If he is with Canary, nobody from Millions' guards will bother you.

My eyes, naturally, are immediately drawn to the bright yellow dress. I'm accustomed to seeing Canary with some kind of headwear: a hood, scarf, or hat. Seeing her without a covering makes me flicker my eyes away to observe the other figures standing nearby, and then back to her. John leads us in her direction and I tear my eyes away from the golden fabric to the object of her focus: Edmund Sterling.

I'm on guard now. I had wanted a low-key conversation with Edmund, but the topic of that dialogue isn't at all appropriate with all of the eyes and ears in this room. Thankfully, John provided me with another reason to be here. Sort of.

"That may be easier said than done, Ms. Canary." I overhear him mutter to her, before he takes a look around the room, hesitating only briefly in his scan. I stop a few paces away from them and clear my throat. "You called for us, Mr. Sterling?" I ask, hoping that by using his surname with an honorific - which I have never used in addressing him before - will be enough for him to play along.

Interesting how Dinero’s attention seems to be on Canary, moreso than me. Seems that Millions’s spawn may be the ticket to helping Canary seek out her refuge. As I’m turning back to Canary I catch the chiseled features and slicked back hair of someone I expected to see earlier in the day, but didn’t. Kamae - and I’ve got a feeling from them that makes my heart race the same way it did on the docks, and the same as when Blue Light reached for his gun - but this time I feel it pointed at me.

A voice snaps me out of these realizations, and I notice Litch and Kestrel approaching us. I can’t help but smile to myself at the thought of feeling like I’m trapped in a cage when the birds join us.

"Good evening Master Litch." I give a polite bow to him, his partner, and John. Frankly, I’m relieved to have Litch here, though how he addressed me is odd. Usually, he refers to me as "Princy’s Pet" or "Ed" neither are names I’d like to have catch on, but maybe he's simply respecting the fact that there are so many people around us. Still, I’ve come to find his irreverence for the ways of the Tower somewhat endearing. Perhaps the fact that he is with John insinuates that he knows more about the events of tonight. "You seem particularly civilized at this late hour. With punctuality like this you’ll put me out of a job. Though I digress, you’re correct. I have a job for you. Please, pardon me for but a moment."

Leaning to Canary, I whisper to her, "It seems you've caught Master Dinero's eye. His apparent interest in you may be the most effective way for you to get what, or where, you want. I can't help but feel I have a target on me, so getting some distance from me may be prudent."

What is Litch doing here? Who cares... actually. I'm happy to see him. I'm suddenly feeling like I'm a prisoner instead of a contractor or whatever... and any situation with Litch in it will skew the right way. I'm sure of that.

"Mister Litch," I smile as politely as I can muster and try to keep calm despite the growing discomfort in the air. I nod to John, I for sure don't know all of the Tower guards by name... there seem to be an unending supply.

I nod quietly back to Edmund at his ... advice. Caught his eye? Really? "Target? You? Why... Edmund..." I stop to take a breath. I've been in much worse situations than this, but being away from the Refuge it feels like the worst. I concentrate on calming down.

I turn my eyes back to Litch for a moment, then take a deep breath, smooth out my dress and turn to where Dinero stands near his father.

"Dinero! Could I borrow you for a sec.. a moment? I have a question."

Edmund, I hope you're right...

Edmund puts my own vocabulary to shame. My eyebrow arcs in amusement when he calls me civilized, but he seems to be going along with my suggestion. The butler has mastered the art of whispering. I'm standing mere feet away and cannot pickup even a single word he murmurs to Canary. I clasp my hands in front of me and wait. I turn my head slightly, taking in the third of the room I can see from my current vantage point. There is a lot of color in this single room, from the bright lights, to the variety of fabrics decorating each body.

I lean over to make whispers of my own to Kestrel. "Anything or anyone look like trouble?"

As Dinero draws me away, I glance at Litch, then take a long look at Edmund, I point at him and mouth, "wait for me" before going with Dinero to a quiet place.

As soon as Dinero says that, though, I'm very pleasantly surprised at his attitude, "frell yeah. Yeah he did!" I glance over his shoulder to ensure nobody's listening as well as to make sure Edmund isn't trying to disappear.

I lean a little closer to Dinero, "I'm thinkin' let's get out of here, then... how's now?"

Canary,
He did mention that cool party. I think you need to Sway him here.

Cap'n... he doesn't really mean it... yet. There's no real respect there. I get it, I have to earn that... I'd rather have it this way than have his father command him to show me respect. That'd probably never get us anywhere.

I smile and nod in return, "then let's do it!" I fiddle with the strap of my dress a bit, then point to Edmund, "Edmund is your man, right? Have him bring my things and meet us at the Refuge. He knows where she's docked."

I try and catch Litch's eye. I'm not sure why he's here and I wish I could ask, but he's welcome to come.

I nod in response to Kestrel's estimation of the threat level. I didn't need to ask her; I know we're outnumbered here. Stands to reason. But hearing her give an exact count gives me a small measure of comfort. The little, yellow bird seems finished with her quick side bar and shoots a glance in my direction. I meet her eyes and lift my head in acknowledgement of her attention. To Edmund, I say, "We'll join you, Mr. Sterling. We can talk about our next steps on the way."

With Dinero leading the way, all of you are able to extricate yourselves from noa without any of Millions' guards bothering you. You can gather Canary's belongings and head outside to the docks together. Do all of you head for the Refuge which is docked at Vassal Pier? If so, go right ahead and tell me what you do.

Mr. Sterling, you notice Kamae excuses himself from the table where he was seated and starts trailing you.

I grab my gear, strap on my sawed-off, but I'll wait till we board the Refuge to take the time to change out of this yellow dress.

I keep quiet on the way down, it's a little awkward not being able to speak freely with Dinero along. Although I was happy to hear his eagerness to get away, I really don't know if his eyes and ears are also Millions', too, so for now... keep it close.

I'm hoping Edmund will come along. It sounds like he's had one of the worst days ever... maybe he just needs a break from this place. With me? I don't know... I can give him a ride anywhere. And Litch... they seem pretty close actually.

With a subtle nod I collect what I must and move to fall in line behind Canary and Dinero.

As I pass Litch and Kestrel I say just loudly enough for them to hear, "I could be wrong but Kamae Santised, the Fountaineer with their hair slick-backed," I tilt my head in their direction to quietly guide Kestrel and Litch's attention, "may be following me for reasons beyond my understanding at this moment. I'm happy to discuss potential payment a little later. If you don't mind following a few seconds behind us I would be in your debt."

I sidle up toward Canary. "If you don't mind, I would be honored to see you back to the Refuge."

I keep pace with Edmund and pick a moment of relative privacy to accept his offer. More than accept, "I was hoping you would... if you need an exit there's a place for you on board."

I don't respond to Edmund, but take another three paces, reach out for Kestrel's arm, and turn down another corridor perpendicular from the direction we were headed. We walk a few more steps before I stop and turn toward her. "Eddie thinks someone has marked him. Someone with slick, black hair. Let's hang back a bit, then we'll trail after this fellow." I reach inside of my oilskin coat for a pack of cigarettes. I don't smoke, neither does Kestrel. But we've made use of the smokesticks as a prop to blend into the surroundings while we observe our marks. I offer one to her and pull out a lighter. Meanwhile, we watch the main corridor out of our peripheral vision, waiting for Kamae to pass.