Talking About the Weather (RP)

- Benji -

"Hmm? What? Oh. Talking. Yes, thank you." Alasdair says, sounding oddly genuine in his thanks. Maybe he does not want to be hiding in this dark corner either, and appreciated the company, however brief. He is not really the sort one introduces to one's friends.

What do you do?

- Jacob -

"You surely have a point there." Hali agrees when you suggest a team-up. "Things are arrayed against us."

Crowley-Hali surveys you for a long moment before continuing. "Have you ever been inside Arundel?" She asks, trying to sound casual, but it occurs to you that it is a Place of Power for someone else, and normally has wards that keep out more than just the weather.

"I hear there is a vault... marvelous to behold. But hidden. Filled with the sorts of trinkets you find so invaluable to your existence." Crowley is trying to entice you, to appeal to your interests, but has his own reason for being interested in this vault. "I was thinking about taking a look around, since we are here. Even confirmation of this vault would be valuable."

Just like you don't have Crowley's abilities with illusion and disguise, he does not have your ability to 'sniff out a secret stash, even when expertly concealed or hidden'. Finding this vault for him would definitely address his immediate need. But you are sure that will not be the end of it, once found there will be a further complication, there always is with Crowley.

Crowley-Hali looks on eagerly. "What do you say?"

What do you do?

- Emma -

"Well! That is something I would like to see." Hali says, and you are only half sure she is joking with you.

"Ah, you are Elliot's newest." She says with no judgement in her voice. "Where are my manners." She apologises. "You can't know everyone. I am, regrettably, 'the Lady Halifax' but I absolutely forbid you from using such titles. Call me Hali.

"As for Mister Parry? If he arranged an invitation for you, he, presumably, was invited and plans to be here, but has not shown his face so far." She looks you over with an extra level of barely-hidden avarice. "Until he does show, If you want to stay by my side, I can keep you company and introduce you to the best people."

Your 'spidey-sense' tingles and warns you that, if Federico is to be believed, accepting such an offer of accompaniment comes with strings attached.

What do you do?

- Jacob -

Focused as Hali is on her fawning, she does not introduce you, possibly leaving it up to you how you wish to be identified to maintain your cover.

What do you do? (Or what does Emma do?)

- Emma -

"Benji picked out that for you? Hmm?" Hali sounds surprised and it seems her estimation of Benji has gone up a bit.

What do you do?

- Emma -

"That makes more sense." Hali nods, also looking over at Benji and his best-smart-but-still-tattered clothing.

Mention of how new you are, coupled with how quickly you seem to have formed a bond with Benji has Hali looking at you with a surprisingly appraising eye. She carries on from her offer that you can stick with her, and, possibly to Jacob's horror, extends that invitation further. "How do you feel about a little ... side-quest?" She asks.

"This soirée really isn't any sort of celebration." She explains. "But we need a veneer of civility in order for everyone to come together —under the umbrella of pax— in order so we can discuss shared concerns... about the weather, of all things. I think it's the vampires' doing, the lack of sunlight benefits them most, no?

"But everyone here has their own reasons for coming. I am sure you did not come to talk about the weather. You came for the action. So, while waiting for Elliot, why don't you join us on our caper? It could be fun."

You can't know this, but it is unlikely 'fun' is the only reason Hali is inviting you along, she is adept at reading people —how else could she 'imitate' Lady Halifax so impeccably— and obviously sees some value that you could provide.

What do you do?

- Jacob -

Has Crowley really just invited a stranger, and an outsider, to join your heist. You know he never does things without reason. You also know that his skills in reading people (and manipulating people... he is a demon, after all) are legendary, so there may well be a good reason for asking this mortal along.

There are so many reasons you should send Emma away... but Crowley is the one doing the arranging, and therefore the one who will be in hot water if things go wrong.

What do you do?

- Emma -

"Of course, of course." Hali says breezily. "I, too, fully intend to see what everyone is thinking... and who they plan to blame." She does not seem overly worried about how people plan to 'fix' it, though.

"But afterwards, I was hoping to have a look around the castle... you know the bits people usually don't get to see. Who knows when one will get such an opportunity again."

She is right, this evening soirée affords an unprecedented opportunity to 'see behind the curtain' and learn more. But she is clearly up to something... or two somethings, you suspect. Her 'escapade' is only one of them, the covetous nature of her offer of protection in Elliot's absence triggers a warning in the back of your mind. Maybe you should talk to Benji about 'Debts', learn if there really is more to that...

Actually... it occurs to you that Benji is already 'indebted' —is that the right word?— to taking responsibility for your safety at this party, not so? Elliot tasked him with taking care of you, didn't he? Or is that stretching the words too far? Anyway, as soon as you mentioned knowing Benji, Hali seemed suddenly very eager to get you onboard with her scheme —and in her Debt?— before you could link up with him instead.

What do you do?

- Benji -

You do recognise the face. Shelyna Artmitage is a big deal among the Wizards, Mark definitely thought so, but then, he was a bit biased.

You have been around for longer than Mark, and you remember things others have forgotten... or been persuaded to forget: Lizabeth Greenback was once called Lizabeth Artmitage, but she was cast out of the family for... well you can't really remember the exact reasons, and she never wanted to talk about it, but was it something about not conforming, or was it just not being successful enough? Either way it always seemed a weak reason to banish someone.

This is, obviously, a sensitive subject. Shelyna's ... sister is 'a bit of a loser', considered a failure by the powerful family. Most people have forgotten that there was another sister, and you would be well advised to be careful about how you bring it up... if you do.

But, if you do it right, Shelyna might even appreciate a heads up about Lizabeth's current plight, even if only so she can get ahead of it before it surfaces more backstory than the family care to see exposed.

What do you do?