Jun 2, 2025 12:06 pm
Persephone mingles, but keeps an eye on Emma, waiting for a moment when she is not in conversation with someone else. If and when that occurs, Persephone approaches her, hoping to talk.
Retreat! (RP)
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Jun 3, 2025 8:08 am
- Benji -
"It seems to be clearing up?" Byron says optimistically. And he is not completely wrong, you may be in for one of those rare few hours of 'merely light drizzle' or less, but you know that that will not last.
You have a fairly good feel for the smell of the dog from down in the tunnels, and may even be able to pick out the people that have been interacting with it down there, but the near constant rain has washed the park clean of any lingering scents, everything smells clean.
• Where do you start you search? What are you looking for?
What do you do?
"It seems to be clearing up?" Byron says optimistically. And he is not completely wrong, you may be in for one of those rare few hours of 'merely light drizzle' or less, but you know that that will not last.
You have a fairly good feel for the smell of the dog from down in the tunnels, and may even be able to pick out the people that have been interacting with it down there, but the near constant rain has washed the park clean of any lingering scents, everything smells clean.
• Where do you start you search? What are you looking for?
What do you do?
Jun 3, 2025 8:09 am
- Emma -
The intense eye-contact is working on William, he does not know how to interpret your emotional response, but flushed cheeks and effort to control one's breathing seem like good indicators of his chances, specially if you and Henry don't seem to be as exclusive as everybody thought.
"Oh well, the headline... yeah, that was a bit harsh, but I suppose it summed it up... missed all the nuance of what I was trying to do. 'Negative results are still results', though." He is enjoying talking about himself, but you get the impression he does not really want to go into the specifics of his failed tech venture related to the weather problem.
He doesn't seem overly concerned about Henry bringing an extra person to the 'party'.
What do you do?
The intense eye-contact is working on William, he does not know how to interpret your emotional response, but flushed cheeks and effort to control one's breathing seem like good indicators of his chances, specially if you and Henry don't seem to be as exclusive as everybody thought.
"Oh well, the headline... yeah, that was a bit harsh, but I suppose it summed it up... missed all the nuance of what I was trying to do. 'Negative results are still results', though." He is enjoying talking about himself, but you get the impression he does not really want to go into the specifics of his failed tech venture related to the weather problem.
He doesn't seem overly concerned about Henry bringing an extra person to the 'party'.
What do you do?
Jun 3, 2025 8:11 am
- Persephone -
Kat looks up when you speak. "Persephone!" She calls happily. "I did not know you are coming here." Given how they probably know what line of work Kat is in, and that your admonition to keep his mouth shut prevented Henry from introducing you as 'someone from grad school?', they might well make assumptions about where you know Kat from.
Nonetheless, Reginald calls for another chair to be laid on, brushing aside the staff's objections that "the room is already beyond capacity", or that "there literally is nowhere to put it, sir".
• How do the eventually manage to accommodate a seat for you? What compromises are necessary in the small room around the table the only just fits in it?
• Are the staff able to move around to serve the ongoing array of courses that make up the fancy dinner?
They seat you away from Henry and Kat.
• Do you know that this is traditional for English dinner parties?
For a secret society they don't seem all that concerned about letting outsiders attend, this may be a 'recruiting pitch' —similar to your approaching Viviana— or maybe they just are not that good at the secrecy aspect, or maybe the whole point of being in a secret society is that others know about it and know that they are not worthy?
What do you do?
Kat looks up when you speak. "Persephone!" She calls happily. "I did not know you are coming here." Given how they probably know what line of work Kat is in, and that your admonition to keep his mouth shut prevented Henry from introducing you as 'someone from grad school?', they might well make assumptions about where you know Kat from.
Nonetheless, Reginald calls for another chair to be laid on, brushing aside the staff's objections that "the room is already beyond capacity", or that "there literally is nowhere to put it, sir".
• How do the eventually manage to accommodate a seat for you? What compromises are necessary in the small room around the table the only just fits in it?
• Are the staff able to move around to serve the ongoing array of courses that make up the fancy dinner?
They seat you away from Henry and Kat.
• Do you know that this is traditional for English dinner parties?
For a secret society they don't seem all that concerned about letting outsiders attend, this may be a 'recruiting pitch' —similar to your approaching Viviana— or maybe they just are not that good at the secrecy aspect, or maybe the whole point of being in a secret society is that others know about it and know that they are not worthy?
What do you do?
Jun 3, 2025 8:50 am
There was something deep inside her that was desperate for people to like her. She was soothed the moment she recognized that William was genuinely interested in her, and with her confidence returning, she flashed him an appreciative smile as she leaned in a bit closer:
"You took a risk. I admire that in a man. ‘fear kills more dreams than failure ever will’"
She still didn’t have any idea what his venture was about, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that did matter was that he wanted her "What else are you up to these days?"
"You took a risk. I admire that in a man. ‘fear kills more dreams than failure ever will’"
She still didn’t have any idea what his venture was about, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that did matter was that he wanted her "What else are you up to these days?"
Jun 3, 2025 11:34 am
- Emma -
"That's so true." William says dreamily, though you suspect he would agree with almost anything you say at the moment. He proceeds to describe his most recent project, using words that he is clearly trying to keep simple, but that are so full of jargon technical terms that you end up no more the wiser about what he is doing, there are computers and AI and blockchain and other buzzwords throughout, but he assures that those are 'not what it is about', just tools.
What do you do?
"That's so true." William says dreamily, though you suspect he would agree with almost anything you say at the moment. He proceeds to describe his most recent project, using words that he is clearly trying to keep simple, but that are so full of jargon technical terms that you end up no more the wiser about what he is doing, there are computers and AI and blockchain and other buzzwords throughout, but he assures that those are 'not what it is about', just tools.
What do you do?
Jun 3, 2025 12:16 pm
"I have to admit, most of that went right over my head" she said with a mirthful giggle "Except the AI part. Mr. Thompson spent the last six months threatening to replace me with a bot. I swear to God, he starts scratching like he has a rash anytime I even mention the word ‘raise’"
At least he didn’t follow through on the threat. Yet. She figured it was probably still too difficult to get a bot to fake a review of a nightclub or gallery opening without actually being there. Someone had to be first on the scene and give people a real impression into what was really happening. AI couldn’t just make things up, because if it did and it wouldn’t match people’s actual experience, then no one would bother reading ‘her’ column. Then again, she read somewhere that most of the internet was already bots talking to each other. Maybe it wouldn’t impact her column’s engagement score one bit...
"So… Are you married?" she changed the subject, her expression shifting from the lighthearted smile to intently curious. She only asked because she figured she would have seen her there. Henry did get to bring two dates, apparently, so it seemed a bit unfair the rest of them didn’t get at least one. "So many men here tonight. I didn’t want to assume you are all single"
At least he didn’t follow through on the threat. Yet. She figured it was probably still too difficult to get a bot to fake a review of a nightclub or gallery opening without actually being there. Someone had to be first on the scene and give people a real impression into what was really happening. AI couldn’t just make things up, because if it did and it wouldn’t match people’s actual experience, then no one would bother reading ‘her’ column. Then again, she read somewhere that most of the internet was already bots talking to each other. Maybe it wouldn’t impact her column’s engagement score one bit...
"So… Are you married?" she changed the subject, her expression shifting from the lighthearted smile to intently curious. She only asked because she figured she would have seen her there. Henry did get to bring two dates, apparently, so it seemed a bit unfair the rest of them didn’t get at least one. "So many men here tonight. I didn’t want to assume you are all single"
Jun 3, 2025 1:22 pm
Benji begins his search near the rose garden. He can't smell much of anything except the rain and the mud, so he has to rely on his eyes. He's looking for tracks in the mud, yes, but also other signs of the infernal -- withered plants, demonic symbols scratched into trees, traces of blood where sacrifices may have been performed, etc.
Jun 3, 2025 10:39 pm
Persephone greets Kat happily, recalling that she too carries the scent of the infernal; Persephone hopes to learn enough at this event to figure out from whom the demonic influence is originating, so she can free Kat of her bondage. And yes, Persephone being associated with Kat as her friend, rather than as Emma's, say, might help Persephone toward that end. Or so she hopes.
When someone calls for a chair, Persephone stands back and watches with perverse amusement as the staff try to figure out how to squeeze one more body into the space. Finally, they opt to squeeze the three smallest people into the space normally allocated to two guests, bringing three smaller chairs out to replace the two larger ones. Thus Persephone finds herself seated next to Emma, as well as a strange man in a normal sized chair on her other side. She is unsurprised to find herself sitting away from Kat and Henry; after all, how are people to strike up new conversations if they only sit with whom they arrived? She'd read enough Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, and others to know a thing or two about formal dinner parties!
As she sits, Persephone marvels at the staff. Somehow, they navigate this tight space with aplomb, weaving through the narrow spaces and wildly gesturing hands with delicate plates and full glasses. This is what true wealth pays for.
Persephone leans over to Emma and whispers, "I'm sorry if it upset you that I came with him. He and I are aren't... It was the only way I could get in."
Then she turns to the man to her other side, smiles, and says, "Hi, I'm Persephone. So! With whom do I have the pleasure of dining this evening?"
When someone calls for a chair, Persephone stands back and watches with perverse amusement as the staff try to figure out how to squeeze one more body into the space. Finally, they opt to squeeze the three smallest people into the space normally allocated to two guests, bringing three smaller chairs out to replace the two larger ones. Thus Persephone finds herself seated next to Emma, as well as a strange man in a normal sized chair on her other side. She is unsurprised to find herself sitting away from Kat and Henry; after all, how are people to strike up new conversations if they only sit with whom they arrived? She'd read enough Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, and others to know a thing or two about formal dinner parties!
As she sits, Persephone marvels at the staff. Somehow, they navigate this tight space with aplomb, weaving through the narrow spaces and wildly gesturing hands with delicate plates and full glasses. This is what true wealth pays for.
Persephone leans over to Emma and whispers, "I'm sorry if it upset you that I came with him. He and I are aren't... It was the only way I could get in."
Then she turns to the man to her other side, smiles, and says, "Hi, I'm Persephone. So! With whom do I have the pleasure of dining this evening?"
Jun 4, 2025 3:23 am
- Benji -
If there ever was any sacrificial blood in this park, the rain has washed it away. Anyway, a wise cult would clean up after themselves if they did not want the authorities getting involved in their business. But... 'The authorities' don't employ vampires, but maybe they should? No matter how well a cult cleans up its bloody sacrifice, a vampire cop would pick up the traces... normally... but the weeks of rain would dilute the evidence, even for such a cop, unless the sacrifice were very recent, and you have no reason to think that is the case tonight.
The rose garden looks pretty miserable, it is the wrong season for blooms, and even the herculean efforts of the grounds keepers have flagged due to the weather. You can't find any signs that you can attribute to a large dog here.
As you proceed deeper into the park, many of the trees might have scratches that could be from a large dog, but they could just as easily be from careless kids, playing.
What do you do?
If there ever was any sacrificial blood in this park, the rain has washed it away. Anyway, a wise cult would clean up after themselves if they did not want the authorities getting involved in their business. But... 'The authorities' don't employ vampires, but maybe they should? No matter how well a cult cleans up its bloody sacrifice, a vampire cop would pick up the traces... normally... but the weeks of rain would dilute the evidence, even for such a cop, unless the sacrifice were very recent, and you have no reason to think that is the case tonight.
The rose garden looks pretty miserable, it is the wrong season for blooms, and even the herculean efforts of the grounds keepers have flagged due to the weather. You can't find any signs that you can attribute to a large dog here.
As you proceed deeper into the park, many of the trees might have scratches that could be from a large dog, but they could just as easily be from careless kids, playing.
What do you do?
Jun 4, 2025 3:26 am
- Persephone -
To fit all the bodies in —they seem to be bending over backwards to accommodate extra people— you are crammed onto a three-seater bench, blessedly the same height as the chairs. Emma on one side and a small, effete man moved to your other... but then they are forced to move Lawrence to the opposite side, which causes some musical chairs again over there.
The man beside you looks very out of place. He is maybe 20, but looks younger, and gives the impression of someone unaccustomed to the clothes he is wearing. He is being pressed against you, but that does not seem to bother him, if he even notices. "Me?" He squeaks nervously. "I'm no one." His eyes dart over to Lawrence for permission to continue before he adds. "I, uh, came with Mr Wakefield." He has a 'common' accent, South London, maybe, if you have any ear for these things, and seems to be trying hard to 'speak properly'.
"On, come now, Percy. We are among friends. We can use the word 'boyfriend'." Wakefield calls from the other side of the table before turning back to grilling Henry —possibly about you.
"Yes, Mr Wakefield." Percy stammers... not exactly the sort of pet-name one used for their boyfriend.
While Wakefield, during the shuffle, 'smelt' a lot more directly connected than Kat and Henry, young Percy seems only slightly more tainted than they are.
What do you do?
To fit all the bodies in —they seem to be bending over backwards to accommodate extra people— you are crammed onto a three-seater bench, blessedly the same height as the chairs. Emma on one side and a small, effete man moved to your other... but then they are forced to move Lawrence to the opposite side, which causes some musical chairs again over there.
The man beside you looks very out of place. He is maybe 20, but looks younger, and gives the impression of someone unaccustomed to the clothes he is wearing. He is being pressed against you, but that does not seem to bother him, if he even notices. "Me?" He squeaks nervously. "I'm no one." His eyes dart over to Lawrence for permission to continue before he adds. "I, uh, came with Mr Wakefield." He has a 'common' accent, South London, maybe, if you have any ear for these things, and seems to be trying hard to 'speak properly'.
"On, come now, Percy. We are among friends. We can use the word 'boyfriend'." Wakefield calls from the other side of the table before turning back to grilling Henry —possibly about you.
"Yes, Mr Wakefield." Percy stammers... not exactly the sort of pet-name one used for their boyfriend.
While Wakefield, during the shuffle, 'smelt' a lot more directly connected than Kat and Henry, young Percy seems only slightly more tainted than they are.
What do you do?
Jun 4, 2025 3:45 am
Emma’s body tensed when she heard the scrape of the chairs behind her. Her breath caught in her chest as Persephone whispered an apology in her ear. Sorry? After arriving on Henry’s arm, and now seating herself here, next to her? Because now, every glance from across the table at the two of them would remind everyone that it was she, not her, that Henry brought with him tonight. That he chose someone else. That Emma wasn’t special. Just another pretty thing to use until it was time to move on.
She felt the warmth that was building with her conversation with William start to fade. She fell quiet, her gaze dropping from his eyes for the first time this evening. She parted her lips to speak, but only a small breath escaped
"I think I need a drink" she murmured, just barely loud enough for him to hear. She didn’t know how soon it would be before they would start serving wine in a …wine cellar, but maybe a go-getter like him could do something about expediting it
She felt the warmth that was building with her conversation with William start to fade. She fell quiet, her gaze dropping from his eyes for the first time this evening. She parted her lips to speak, but only a small breath escaped
"I think I need a drink" she murmured, just barely loud enough for him to hear. She didn’t know how soon it would be before they would start serving wine in a …wine cellar, but maybe a go-getter like him could do something about expediting it
Jun 4, 2025 3:52 am
- Emma -
As if summoned by your words there is a servant at your elbow... well... slightly behind your elbow, since there is less space than there should be between diners. He leans over and places a small plate, almost completely empty but for a little, foamy arrangement in the center, along with a glass of something fruity before you, ... possibly 'accidentally' managing to brush your breast with his hand as he does so?
Your throat is feeling dry and scratchy, and your skin feels a little hot and feverish in the close confines of the small room.
What do you do?
As if summoned by your words there is a servant at your elbow... well... slightly behind your elbow, since there is less space than there should be between diners. He leans over and places a small plate, almost completely empty but for a little, foamy arrangement in the center, along with a glass of something fruity before you, ... possibly 'accidentally' managing to brush your breast with his hand as he does so?
Your throat is feeling dry and scratchy, and your skin feels a little hot and feverish in the close confines of the small room.
What do you do?
Jun 4, 2025 4:04 am
The brush of hand against her breast might have been an accident. Probably not. But either way, what was she supposed to do? Swat him away? Accuse him in front of everyone? No. That wasn’t her style. She didn't react, pretending like it never happened.
Instead, she looked on the glass placed before her. God, she wanted to drink, to take the edge off. But she was still English, not an animal, and she knew it wouldn't be proper. Everyone else would need to be served first. Maybe give 'Sin the chance to make some smug little toast. She stoked the curve of the glass instead, her eyes finding William again.
"Sorry, " she intended to sound apologetic over the break in their conversation, but she managed to make it sound suggestive "It’s getting so hot in here…"
Instead, she looked on the glass placed before her. God, she wanted to drink, to take the edge off. But she was still English, not an animal, and she knew it wouldn't be proper. Everyone else would need to be served first. Maybe give 'Sin the chance to make some smug little toast. She stoked the curve of the glass instead, her eyes finding William again.
"Sorry, " she intended to sound apologetic over the break in their conversation, but she managed to make it sound suggestive "It’s getting so hot in here…"