Talking About the Weather (RP)

"If Eliot doesn’t have anything else planned for me, I might just take you on your offer" she said without giving her an explicit commitment, and throwing Eliot’s name in there quite intentionally to remind her she was under the vampire Lord’s protection. The woman looked too eager to get Emma to join her in some secluded spot, and she decided she wanted no part of whatever she was planning.

‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don't’. Eliot was a narcissist who only cared for himself, but at least he saw Emma as a lovely trinket to possess. She couldn’t say the same for Hali. It was better to play it safe. Besides, who knows what other interesting people she might meet during the evening? That’s what she was really there for that evening – to hobnob with the strange and unfamiliar. It was a shame to commit herself now to the rest of the evening, when there could be so many other exciting opportunities waiting in store for her.

Oct 23, 2024 10:24 pm

- Benji -

"Benji. Hello." Shelyna says politely. "How do you do?" The effete-looking man behind her leans in, whispering in her ear while she is greeting you and she does not break stride.

"Mark spoke kindly of you." She continues, not showing a hint of concern that you were involved with (some say, responsible for) a serious security indecent with Josephine (the less said the less attention drawn).

"Mark had to go out of town for a bit, so he could not make it tonight." She does not allude to how long Mark will be away, but, if he left you (or Jacob) a message, it seemed like it would be a while. Her mentioning it cuts off any questions.

"I have not seen Elliot this evening." She says, looking around —though you are pretty sure she already knows he is not here. "Do you know if received his invitation?" She is being subtle, but it is strange that Elliot is not here yet, and Shelyna is fishing for answers.

What do you do?

Oct 23, 2024 10:25 pm

- Emma -

A look of distaste crosses Hali's pretty face at your words. It is unclear if that due to the mention of Elliot or 'what he has planned for you'. It might be because you elegantly sidestepped her trap, but she actually seems thrilled by that maneuver, so maybe not?

"Well, let us see how it goes." Hali replies. "I am sure we can find some mischief that suits your tastes."

What do you do?

Oct 25, 2024 4:20 am

Benji looks around the room too. "Elliot? I’m not sure. He certainly got his invitation, but I don’t know why he isn’t here yet," he answers. "The fact that he extended an invitation to Emma suggests that he probably intends to show up eventually though…" He trails off, thinking, then shakes his head, dismissing the matter for now. "Anyway, I actually came over here to ask for your help. Have you heard about the magical artifact that was recovered from the Thames recently?"

Oct 25, 2024 4:27 am

- Benji -

Shelyna is still pondering the meaning of Elliot's absence and if that implicates him, so your question about the artifact catches her off guard.

"I have been hearing rumors all day." She says before her nomenclator gets a chance to lean in and whisper in her ear. "Do you know anything about it? What sort of 'artifact'?"

What do you do?

Jacob

gnomius

Oct 25, 2024 6:01 pm

"Don’t take Hali too seriously; she’s always joking, aren’t you, my lady?" Jacob emphasized the last words, hoping Crowley would abandon his attempt to drag all three of them into trouble.

"By the way, where’s Elliott? I bet he’s planning a grand entrance when everyone’s watching. That would be so typical of him."

Last edited October 25, 2024 6:04 pm

Emma

Delirium

Oct 25, 2024 7:14 pm

"I'm sure we can" she answered Hali, the mischievous smile on her lips suggesting she didn't agree with her for politeness sake only.

"Well; he got everyone talking about him, that's for sure" Emma wasn't as certain Elliot planned his tardiness in advance. She was only invited to the party to begin with to make him look good. She expected he would brief her on how to carry herself before she ever stepped into the ball room; she was his guest, and her behavior reflected on him.

It was odd that he didn't meet her at the entrance, and as more time passed, the more she suspected some foul play was involved. Or at the very least; something so urgent have come up that required his undivided attention. She was quite curious to know what exactly was going on, but unfortunately, she had no choice but stand around and wait - like everyone else "Just in case - you don't mind me catching a ride with you and Benji back to London after the party?"

Oct 26, 2024 8:15 am

"I’m afraid I don’t know much," says Benji. "The artifact was discovered by a good friend of mine, but she didn’t get a proper look at it." He relates Lizabeth’s description of the box to Shelyna as best he can. "I know it’s not a lot of information but, being an expert on magic, I was hoping you might be able to help me figure out a little more. My friend, Lizabeth, has been targeted by a number of dangerous people already, and I fear she may be in grave danger until this situation with the artifact is… resolved." He is trying to be tactful, casually throwing in Lizabeth’s name in a way that doesn’t reveal her connection to Shelyna to anyone who might be listening.

Oct 26, 2024 8:27 am

- Benji -

Shelyna does not show any reaction at all to the name 'Lizabeth', or the news about the 'dangerous' people. Her relationship with the mudlark is not know to many, so she may not guess that you know anything.

"Perhaps we can meet later and you can tell me more about this." She says, by all appearances talking about the artifact.

"Which parties have shown interest? Do you know?" She asks, it is always valuable to know who else is involved before picking a side.

What do you do?

Oct 27, 2024 12:20 am

"Certainly!" Benji readily agrees to meet later, though he’s not sure how much more he has to tell her and, now that he thinks about it, wasn’t he supposed to be trying to get information out of her, not the other way around?

Before that thought has a chance to sink in, Shelyna asks another question and he responds, "Well, there’s the police and the military and this group called the Night Sisters… oh, and Elliot’s been asking about it too — which puts me in a rather tricky position, of course."

Oct 27, 2024 3:26 am

- Benji -

Yes, you are realising that Shelyna is not to be trifled with. As with all wizards, she hoards her information jealously, and you will have to work hard to come out on top when dealing with her.

She seems concerned by your mention of 'military', and when you mention the Night Sisters she looks around the hall, her eyes settling briefly on a dark alcove which you had overlooked before.

Maybe the Night Sisters are here? You had promised to contact them after speaking to Lizabeth.

What do you do?

Oct 27, 2024 3:53 am

"Oh, are they here?" says Benji, turning to look at the alcove with none of Shelyna’s subtlety.

Oct 27, 2024 4:33 am

- Benji -

"Anyone who is anyone is here." Shelyna says, inadvertently revealing that she considers The Night Sisters as someone significant, and obliquely complementing you in the process.

You may not yet have realised that there are no demons here, so it may still seem weird that you got an invitation and Jacob didn't, and Shelyna's observation that 'everyone is here' has a huge hole in it, there.

What do you do?

OOC:

If the opportunity presents itself, we can stage a meeting with Shelyna at some point during this party. Else she will contact you tomorrow to follow up when we have more time.

Jacob

gnomius

Oct 27, 2024 11:50 am

"Of course, darling, it'll be my pleasure to offer you a ride. Some of us still know how a gentleman should behave," Jacob replies to Emma.

Oct 28, 2024 7:07 am

"You think so?" says Benji, doubtfully. "By the by, do you know what this is all really about? Is it really just to talk about the rain or is there more to it than that? Alasdair seems to think someone’s trying to pin the blame on the vampires."

vagueGM says:

If the opportunity presents itself, we can stage a meeting with Shelyna at some point during this party. Else she will contact you tomorrow to follow up when we have more time.

OOC:

Okay, sounds good!

Last edited October 28, 2024 7:08 am

Oct 28, 2024 9:16 am

- Benji -

"Is that what he thinks?" Shelyna ponders, your words clearly swaying her opinion. "It sure looks that way, but that does not seem right. Pardon my saying so, but it seems a bit beyond 'vampire' capabilities.

"I think we are about to start." She says as someone tests a PA system at the front of the room. "If you will excuse me." She says, turning to make her way to the mic before hesitating and turning back to you for a last minute, quick point.

"If you could persuade Alasdair to speak... I know he hates the limelight, but we all really would value his viewpoint on this."

What do you do?

Emma

Delirium

Oct 28, 2024 9:57 am

"Thank you" it looked like things were about to start, and Eliot still hadn't shown his face. It was beginning to look more and more likely that she would depend on Jacob for her ride back home to London.

Oct 29, 2024 10:13 pm

"I’ll try!" Benji promises.

He hurries back to Alasdair. "I think it’s starting soon," he says, as he joins the other vampire in his corner. "Miss Artmitage asked me to ask you if you would speak. She said everyone would be interested in hearing what you have to say."

Oct 30, 2024 4:15 am