10:06 <banana> True cold is coming to the North. The first hints of it are in the air this evening, beneath the low-hanging sun; shoots of chill are all throughout the city, from the old and modern buildings in Manchester's center where Willie lives to Badawi's narrow apartment, Bob's basement and Aster's modern home. 10:07 <banana> October 31st feels already too cold for an outdoor ball. But the sky is clear, the forecast is good and Sumiya T. says some degree of heating will be provided up on Harry's Hill. 10:09 <Crion> Mmm. Well, sweatervest season under the lab coat, then. 10:09 <banana> That's where you're going - the promontory in Kersal Dale, surrounded by a loop of the Irwell, where Aster and Bob saw a door made of sticks open into the faerie realms. Rising above the forest wetland is a single mound of earth, which they didn't visit; the barely-navigable dirt roads spiral up there, so you won't have to go through the woods. 10:09 <Crion> Though not tonight. 10:10 <VoxPVoxD> Willie is so excited. 10:10 <banana> How are the hunters of the Nameless House travelling to Harry's Hill? What are they wearing, and what masks do they bear? 10:11 <Crion> Aster is in his nice suit, shirt, and trousers, with the mask that Willie's procured for him. The...dolphin? Whatever it is. He'll pick up Dr. Samantha Blackfin from her hotel in his Range Rover on the way. 10:12 <tom> There's a few close calls on the drive there as Bob has to perpetually remind himself to stay in the wrong lane. Roundabouts are right out. 10:15 <VoxPVoxD> Does anyone need a ride? Willie's happy to pick anyone else up, as well as Sergio. She's wearing the Sarah Burton — a poofy, riotously red gown — with a cashmere stole to match, and those red pearls she last had wrapped around her neck at her first date with Sergio. As for the mask... it looks like a softly crystalline strawberry, flecked with small pale stones for texture, and to 10:15 <VoxPVoxD> complement the fluffy white whipped cream accents. Willie pronounces, without a trace of irony, "Delicious." 10:16 <tom> But the rental truck is pulling out onto the gravel with a satisfying crunch and the two of them are in good enough cheer. Bob's in a creased suit, clearly a new purchase. He's got that grinning wolf mask for himself, and he's just finishing the blush on the cheeks of Mari's eggshell-colored mask to go with her little red riding hood. 10:17 <tom> He puts away the little brush and blows on the mask before handing it over. "Ok, now it's done." 10:19 <banana> Mari hasn't been in the truck before. She raised her eyebrows a bit at the straps in the back, but appreciates its utilitarian nature. "Thanks baby. We'll get together with the hill some time before midnight to sign you up properly, but until then... it's a party. First in a while for me." 10:21 <banana> Willie and Sergio discussed it; he's got his Moto-Guzzi, but the sheer volume of her dress makes it impractical for her to ride pinion. So he'll be in the front seat of Willie's car, for the first time, speculating about changelings. 10:21 <tom> He's checking around his neck to make sure it's tucked into the suit's collar, then produces the ODIN visor and neatly slots it over the wolf's eye-holes. Slightly muffled from behind the wolf's grinning teeth: "Oh for sure. I'm not about to cause a fuss." 10:22 <tom> Her own mask is of a woman's face, impassive but for slightly upturned ticks at either side of her mouth, lending the mask a slightly devious air. 10:23 <tom> Being subtle is for cowards. 10:23 <banana> Bonasera: "We'll be the outsiders among outsiders. An occasion for the elites of not going out. Perhaps it will be subdued, or perhaps it's a release of built-up energy..." 10:25 <tom> There's room enough in his suit for a shoulder holster tucked up inside, and there's a slight metallic click with each step as the hidden magazines of .22 hotshot rattle against each other. 10:26 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I'm curious myself. I don't know much about the Tors or their people, generally. But I was promised a party, and I was promised a dance floor." 10:26 <VoxPVoxD> "Do you enjoy parties much?" 10:27 <banana> Sergio's carrying his mask in one hand - a two-sided thing that goes over the upper face, with a beak and tufts of cheekfeathers, one half patterned like a Dan Flash's shirt and the other painted realistically to depict grey down. 10:28 <tom> Bob's Visor boots up. He scans the assortment of people making their way into the venue for the couple with one muted thermal signature. 10:30 <banana> Samantha's quiet when Aster collects her, which is unusual; she's not always sociable, but when she isn't in a chatty mood she tends to talk about work rather than saying nothing. She's wearing a warm-looking maroon and cream gown, with a matching handbag and shoes subdued enough to allow for dancing outdoors. 10:31 <Crion> Aster, after a minute or two of driving: "You seem...less enthusiastic now, than you were when I proposed this idea. Are you having second thoughts? You don't have to go." 10:31 <banana> As they drive from the dense part of the city past the peninsula's playing fields and toward the unexpected nook of remnant woodland, she takes a couple of deep breaths. "I don't suppose anybody will have wings." 10:32 <banana> "No, no no. I wouldn't miss this. It's... the opportunity of a lifetime, really, I'm just hoping it isn't the end of one." 10:32 <Crion> Aster: "Mmm. Unlikely. Not that you can readily see, anyhow. As I understand it the more fantastical features of these people are generally obscured by a simulationalist sort of cloaking field." 10:33 <Crion> Firmly: "To get to you, they will have to get through me and four other equally determined workaholics." 10:33 <Crion> "I do not like their odds." 10:34 <tom> The ODIN produces a yellow box around the distinctly cool Sergio Bonasera. "Look alive, babe," he chuckles, turning to offer her his hand. Then he'll whisk her off to go mingle with the demoness and the vampire. 10:34 <banana> Samantha: "Right, could you remind me of your group's names? Anything I should or shouldn't say to them?" 10:34 <Quaker> Amjad looks into the rear view mirror of the luxury van. “Very nice choice, missus.” Badawi says nothing from her seat. 10:34 <tom> "Hey kids," The wolf puffs, coming up from behind with the red-hooded woman in tow. 10:35 <Quaker> White dress gloves are on the little central table next to her duffel bag with her rifle and tools. 10:36 <banana> There's in intersection of three dirt roads at the base of Harry's Hill which is being used as overflow parking. The sun is low. but there's light up on the mound, and a series of temporary poles have been run down it beside the path into this quasi-carpark. By the time the hunters start arriving, there are already a few dozen vehicles present, and faint noise drifts down from the hidden 10:36 <banana> summit. 10:38 <banana> There are a few others in the carpark, but none of them known to you. Sumi should be down here at half past six, which is in just a few minutes. 10:38 <Crion> Aster: "William Goreman, who goes by the nickname Bob, is the American ex-special forces operator out of the Task Force. You know the one. He will be wearing a very silly visor and concealing some manner of firearm on his person. He has the emotional age of a twelve-year-old around attractive women, so excuse the degree to which he will act like a particularly needy labrador towards you. 10:38 <Crion> Lady Wilhelmine "Willie" Wellesley, Marchioness Douro, is our representative from the occult side of mortality. She will be the stunning aristocrat being followed about by the dead Italian boytoy. She's quite fond of him. Nobody's perfect. 10:39 <Quaker> Amjad lets the conversation die. She gets like this. “On schedule to be fashionably late, then.” 10:43 <banana> Sergio is saying, "I'd rather meet up with people than do nothing. For me, solitude means work, creative or otherwise. A party full of strangers isn't something I'd want to do every night, but that's how strangers become friends, right?" 10:43 <Crion> "Agostina Badawi -- there are other names in there, but I don't presume such familiarity with her yet -- is our sniper and general Anglophobe. An older...Argentinian? I think?...who knows how to party and is an excellent singer. Incredibly dangerous with a rifle, as well. Also there's Rolf Hughes, inveterate racist, war criminal, and landlord. Let me know if he doesn't behave himself." 10:44 <banana> Willie and Sergio left a little after sunset, of course. When they pull up, Bob and Mari are already out there, the former having spotted Willie's car immediately, and there's also a van in the mess of parked vehicles which might be Badawi's trophy. 10:46 <tom> The wolf removes the cigarette from the little cut between its rubber teeth and kicks it into the wet underbrush as they unload. "Hey kids." 10:48 <banana> Red Riding Hood is shadowing him. She's the one who actually knows what to expect here, but rather than give anything away yet she's interested in the arrivals. Is that guy really undead? He doesn't look it, superficially. "Hey Willie." 10:49 <Crion> Aster: "Bob's girlfriend's name is Mari -- quiet, on the younger side but not Too Young for the pairing. Don't know much about her, which means she's doing her job as a changeling." 10:49 <banana> Samantha: "Oh, I will. The landlords in this country seem pettier than ours. Half of them bought their rentals from the government in some sort of entitlement scheme..." 10:49 <Quaker> She picks the red dress gloves. 10:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie smiles more and more as Sergio speaks. "I could not agree more, darling." Willie's got to stand behind her car for a moment as she hikes up her skirt and stows the shotgun and spare shells in the black leather gunbelt with holsters for each half of the weapon Bob made her on either hip. She crosses the lot arm in arm with Sergio, with her bag on the other. "Mari! You look 10:49 <VoxPVoxD> stunning. Robert! You look stunned." 10:50 <banana> Samantha: "The job of being an escapee from Fairyland. Wow. Okay." They're coming up the track around Harry's Hill now, followed by another couple of cars. "There's nothing out here," she comments, "but it seems to be popular." 10:50 <VoxPVoxD> "Sergio, this is Mari, Bob's better half. Mari, this is Sergio Bonasera........ My Boyfriend." 10:50 <VoxPVoxD> She practically bursts as she says it. 10:51 <tom> "Hey man. Sorry about the bait-and-switch last time." The wolf extends a hand. 10:51 <Crion> Is Aster pulling up sometime around now? 10:51 <VoxPVoxD> Her skin is glowing, but in the mostly-figurative way you might associate with makeup commercials, rather than the literal way you might associate with the fires of Hell. 10:53 <banana> Sergio bows from the arm up. "Good to meet you, Mary, and Bob - I believe you were at Inchcape. This is all very exciting; it turns out being Willie's boyfriend is a sort of season ticket to excitement." 10:54 <Crion> To Samantha, as he pulls in to park, noting the group meeting up past the cars: "Fits the mood of the hosts. And there are my colleagues now." 10:54 <VoxPVoxD> :D 10:54 <tom> The wolf's grin is static. "We're a fun bunch." 10:54 <banana> Aster and Blackfin do arrive around now. His car isn't the only Jaguar SUV in the lot; he'll recognise the one that belongs to Rolf, as well as others. Some of the attendees must be pretty well off. 10:54 <banana> Mari's mask is face-concealing, but she doesn't sound put out. "Mari, short for Mariam. Welcome to Samhain.. or really, to the night before." 10:55 <VoxPVoxD> "Is that Mr. Aster.... plus one?!" 10:55 <tom> "I'll be damned. He did it." 10:55 <banana> Sergio: "'Nothing was stirring', although it sounds quite lively up there. Do we- aha." 10:56 <Crion> He parks, engages the emergency brake, turns off his phone and leaves it in the front dash on top of his Glock 17, takes the cigarettes out from under them (ignoring whatever look the good doctor gives him) and takes his coat off the hanger on the inside of the back driver's side door. 10:56 <Crion> Then he offers his date his arm. 10:57 <banana> Samantha takes a notepad from her purse and slips it into an inner pocket beneath the folds of her gown. You never know when an interview opportunity might occur. "Bet we look better than most of the people at the ball." 10:57 <Crion> Aster: "I certainly hope so." 10:57 <tom> Bob turns to watch how Mari's playing all this. He'll step in if it looks like she's getting agitated, and step back if she seems smothered. 10:58 <Crion> "But then, they do have a certain degree of magic." 10:58 <Quaker> Amjad brings up the van to the edge of the carpark. “Looks like we’re here, missus. Are you getting out here?” 10:58 <Quaker> Badawi: “I am. Do you mind coming back in a few hours?” 10:58 <Crion> As they approach: "Good evening. I would like to introduce Doctor Samantha Blackfin, late of London, originally of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." 10:59 <Quaker> The older man shakes his head. “No, of course not. Enjoy yourself.” 10:59 <banana> Badawi sees a gathering already forming, people she knows and their dates, and she can pick out others getting out of their cars in the darkness. If this is the main parking lot, she'd estimate the event size at 50+, but it could be more. 10:59 <Quaker> Badawi holds up her can of energy drink. “Cheers.” 10:59 <tom> "Ma'am," says the wolf. "This is Aster- you know, you met him at the thing," he nudges the little woman in the red cloak affectionately. 11:00 <tom> "I don't remember if I introduced you. Stuff was on my mind." 11:00 <VoxPVoxD> Willie reflexively plays hostess. "Willie Wellesley, Dr. Blackfin. It's such a pleasure to meet you. This is Bob and Mari, man and woman of the hour, or at least of the season. And this is My Boyfriend, Sergio." 11:00 <Quaker> And vanishes. 11:01 <Crion> Aster: "Yes, I believe we were introduced, Bob. But good to meet you again under less stressful circumstances, Mari." 11:02 <Quaker> A *very* (supernaturally, even) perceptive observer may spot small footprints making barely visible marks on the wet grass and soil on the way up to the hill’s summit. 11:03 <Crion> Aster takes Sergio's measure. 11:04 <Crion> And, because he's on his best behavior, doesn't sigh before extending his hand to shake. 11:04 <Crion> "A pleasure to meet you." 11:04 <VoxPVoxD> Willie looks extremely pleased. 11:04 <Crion> There's not even open contempt in his voice! His tone is genuine, if shaded a bit towards guarded. 11:04 <banana> Sergio makes pleased-to-meet-you noises. Aster gets the impression of an athletic dilettante, not a predator, which is exactly how predators disguise themselves. Mari says: "Sure, thanks for coming. Are you medical, Dr. Blackfin?" 11:08 <banana> Samantha: "Not practising, but yes. I didn't expect to be imposing on you all like this, but it seems like quite the occasion." This is politeness; you're in a dirt-road parking lot between bits of scrubland and the noises of a nearby river. Where's the actual party? 11:08 <Quaker> So that’s Sergio… 11:08 <Quaker> Badawi frowns as she passes them, heading up the hill. Sicilians. 11:09 <banana> Sumiya on her way down the hill passes Badawi on the way up, although neither knows each other by sight, and one of them can't be seen. 11:10 <Crion> Aster's eye lingers on the hill path, though he can only see the woman descending it. He hasn't actually encountered her before. 11:10 <banana> The tall changeling grins widely as she approaches Mari's group. "So we've got a good harvest tonight. Guests, security and sexy dates all in one. Sumiya here - want to come with me and find out why you're really here?" 11:11 <tom> The man in the wolf mask nods his rubber head. 11:12 <VoxPVoxD> Somehow the story about fetch murder does nothing to dampen Willie's enthusiasm at seeing Sumi. "Oh, yes." 11:12 <banana> For those who haven't met her, Sumi is round-faced and energetic, with a flowing dress that has ribbons and tassels dangling from it. She's also got a fairly unimpressive little cardboard mask hanging about her neck, face revealed as she takes the measure of the various arrivals. 11:12 <banana> Badawi's reached the top of the hill. 11:13 <Crion> Aster: "Indubitably." 11:13 <banana> There's a tree up here - huge, bare and dead-looking. It towers over everything, shadowing the grass from the new moon and from the outdoor lights that have been set up in a ring around the plateau. 11:13 <tom> "Just lemme know when you want me to climb into the big statue made of sticks, lady." 11:15 <banana> Beneath the bare yew is a series of trestle tables with seats then another at right angles to it with food; the space between has firepits and umbrellas heaters, as well as a surface of clean turf on which a few couples are already dancing as a band warms up. On the other side of the dance floor is a building, kitchens and bathrooms and electrical supply to make this place hospitable. 11:15 <banana> There are dozens of people about the place, all oddly difficult to get a good look at in the tree's branching shadows. 11:16 <banana> At the head of the trail is a sort of checkpoint, through which all the arrivals are passing; there's a booth with a card table and a couple seated inside it, talking to the people that arrive as they arrive and doing... something. 11:16 <Quaker> Does anybody look particularly impressive? Or ringed-about by courtiers? She’s half-expecting a goblin dressed like the Sun King. 11:17 <banana> The strange thing is that she can't see clearly past the checkpoint where the trails converge. Everyone looks... anonymous, hard to describe. 11:18 <hrolf> Rolf is already here, wearing an ill-fitting checkered suit and scuffed up shoes. He’s wearing an essentially paper thin cardboard Paoli di Canid circa 2000s mask: https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/swindon-town-fan-wears-a-mask-of-the-face-of-manager-paolo-di-canio-picture-id677813424?s=612x612. He’s leaning against a table, engaging a woman in conversation: “…yeah, you know that movie right? Lock, stock and 11:18 <hrolf> barrels…yeah…guy Ritchie…you know the Vinnie Jones character? The ‘ard man? Yeah…Ritchie based him on me, you know. True story. ‘Ad Vinnie around a few times to get my mannerisms right…yeah I used to be quite the character back in me day, heh…” 11:18 <Quaker> Badawi will walk up to the card table, but not pass through. What are they doing to the new arrivals? 11:18 <Crion> For fuck's sake, Hughes. 11:19 <VoxPVoxD> The Oxford Dictionary of Theatre defines 'character' as 'something that gives the illusion of being a person'. 11:19 <banana> Sumi: "Wrong season, Bob. It's Autumn, and they only burn people alive to make a point! Nice to meet you..." She counts on her fingers. "Mr. Aster, Mr. Bonasera, Ms. American Doctor, and.. this must be Mr. Hughes. Are we missing anyone?" 11:19 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "No sign of Agostina yet..." 11:20 <Crion> Man is dressed like a slasher movie villain whose backstory is he was unjustly fired by Johnny Rockets. 11:20 <tom> Mari can probably feel Bob tense up just a little as Rolf starts speaking. 11:20 <VoxPVoxD> "D'you think she's invisible?" 11:20 <tom> "No. What? No. That'd be such a bad idea to do that without telling us." 11:20 <banana> American Doctor: "Blackfin." She watches the new arrival with wary interest, then turns her eyes to the lit trail. 11:21 <hrolf> Rolf starts at the sound of his name and looks around, spotting the group. He reluctantly disengages from the woman and joins them, nodding at everyone in turn. "Alright then?" 11:21 <tom> "Hey man." 11:21 <Crion> Aster has, at this point, procured his mask from Sergio presumably. 11:21 <banana> At the checkpoint, it looks like the party greeters are checking peoples' masks. As each arrival passes the trailhead to the top of Harry's Hill, they take on that same quality of... eyes-sliding-off, disinterest. 11:21 <Crion> Samantha brought her own, correct? 11:21 <VoxPVoxD> "Mr. Hughes! How good to see you." 11:22 <hrolf> Rolf raises his drink in salutation. "'ello ello. When's our Bob 'ere going to be baptized or sacrificed or wotever then?" 11:23 <tom> "They gotta fatten me up first." 11:23 <Crion> Aster: "The minute after midnight would be traditional." 11:23 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Oh, please. That would be throwing good dogs after very good." 11:24 <tom> Bob inhales. "Mari, this is Rolfie Hughes. Human Office, best of the best." 11:25 <VoxPVoxD> Willie gives Bob a look through her strawberry mask. 11:26 <hrolf> Rolf: "Best? Wouldn't go that far, lad." He nods at Mari. 11:26 <tom> "I think popping three spirits in thirty seconds on the Equinox puts you in the offing at least." 11:27 <hrolf> "Oh, I've done faster. Course in that case the targets were tied up first, sittin ducks so to speak haha." 11:27 <VoxPVoxD> "It wasn't the equinox; it was a Super Blood Moon." 11:28 <tom> "Haha!" 11:28 <tom> "Yeah, sure..." 11:28 <VoxPVoxD> "But, yes, very impressive. Have you seen Agostina, Rolf?" 11:28 <Crion> Aster, now behind his mask, shakes his head. 11:28 <tom> "Seasons are fucked up." 11:29 <hrolf> Rolf: "No, not seen 'er tonight." 11:29 <VoxPVoxD> Aster's mask is cetacean, yes, but there's also a delicate gold-coloured metallic lattice running through the deep blue-green that gives one the impression of circuitry. 11:30 <Crion> Not active circuitry, one hopes. He'll examine it briefly beforehand. 11:30 <Crion> No one loves a Google Glasser. 11:31 <tom> Mari loves me just fine, Thank You. 11:31 <VoxPVoxD> It's just a style thing, yeah. Some texture, some shine. 11:31 <banana> Sergio to Willie while Rolf is talking: "Right, you did mention something about hobgoblins." 11:32 <Crion> On it goes, then. 11:33 <banana> Everyone greets everyone else; Samantha mentions that she's worked with the Human Office too, which leads Sumi to respond "That's a relief, I thought you might be completely unaware that we're seelie folk up here. Magic and so on." 11:34 <banana> "Ok, if your Agostina arrives later we can leave a message, she'll be let in. Does anyone have weaponry or something you need me to stash off the dance floor?" 11:34 <Crion> Aster: "We are supposed to be working security." 11:34 <hrolf> Rolf: "Keeping me gun. We're doing security, innit?" 11:35 <banana> Samantha's got her mask out now; a classic Carnevale masquerade piece with both a strap and a stick for holding it up temporarily, black and sequins. 11:35 <Crion> Aster: "But my weapon will travel." 11:35 <tom> The wolfman in aviators puts his hands in his jacket pockets. Mari's still got one hand hooked around his elbow. "I've got a rifle in the truck for just-in-case we need maximum force. Want me to lug it up? I've got a smaller piece for ah, crowd control purposes." 11:35 <VoxPVoxD> Willie gives Sergio a look of mock admonishment before grinning again. She is having a grand time. God, it's been so long since she was in a proper crowd of half-known people that weren't all trying to eat her, or thinking about eating her, or thinking about fucking her and eating her, or... whatever goes on in Bob's head. She dares not speculate. 11:36 <banana> Sumi beckons the group toward the trail up the hill. "Mari, could you go do the preliminaries?" 11:36 <banana> Mari: "I'm on it. See you soon B, everyone." 11:36 <Crion> Aster nods, holds out his arm for Samantha again. 11:36 <tom> He draws her in close and rests his chin on her forehead, kinda rocks her back and forth for just a second. Then he lets her go. 11:37 <banana> Sumi: "Security, yes. We appreciate it! But I did mention something about 'why you're really here', so.. let's see. Are any of you familiar with destiny?" 11:37 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Only by reputation." 11:37 <banana> "Not the woman from Britain's Got Talent." 11:37 <tom> "I've got all-orange gear on my max-level Titan, yeah." 11:37 <VoxPVoxD> Willie coughs to hide a snicker. 11:38 <tom> "Warlocks beware." 11:38 <banana> Blackfin looks at Aster for a moment. Don't they have innoculations against this sort of thing? Certified non-fated status. 11:38 <Crion> Aster: "We've researched the concept." 11:39 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Are we fated as well as fêted, then?" 11:39 <Crion> Aster's unsure about how Process safeguards interact with changeling narrative magic. The latter is quite strong. It is their wheelhouse. 11:39 <banana> Your group is the only one heading up the hill right now, although later arrivals continue to pull into the parking lot below. There could be a hundred people here tonight. 11:40 <banana> Sumi: "Sorta, Willie. Prophecy can be very unclear. All we got was the 'rise of a nameless House'... who will be involved in... things. Many things. Across the Manchester Underground." 11:41 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Whoever that is must be really cool and sexy." 11:41 <Crion> Technically we have a name. It's just that that name is "the Nameless House." 11:41 <hrolf> Rolf: "Any mention of a night watch in said prophecy?" 11:42 <banana> Sumi: "Few specifics at all, Rolf. You're literally here in case it turns out our little community needs to be on your good side, 'cause we wanted to meet you in case you become as critical as the little birds tell us." 11:43 <banana> Sergio: "Is destiny something that gives people a choice?" 11:43 <banana> Sumi: "No, you have to fight it if you want to choose. You can win, though. Fate isn't all that." 11:45 <VoxPVoxD> "Our good side is very good indeed, Sumiya. Anything else we should know?" 11:45 <tom> "That's comforting, at least." 11:45 <banana> Badawi watches Mari come to the greeters' booth and talk to them, explaining that the coming group of guests have weapons to check in. "We need one of the quick-release safes and a contract of ownership. These guys aren't likely to fight anyone tonight, but if they do they'll be on our side." 11:45 <Crion> The starchildren have a much more dour take on the whole thing. But perhaps the proper response to that is 'sucks to be them.' 11:46 <VoxPVoxD> The poor dears. 11:46 <tom> Sucks to suck. 11:46 <Crion> Oh, it's all pathos and soft focus up until they start a cult or start de-braining schoolgirls. 11:47 <banana> Harry's Hill is tall but shallow. Once you've passed the steep part of the lighted trail, the great bare yew comes into view, overtopping a plateau - more lights and more music than when Badawi first saw it, scores of people now, but the structure is the same. 11:47 <tom> Speaking of sucking, to Sergio: "Are you carrying or are you all-in on the mentalism shit." 11:47 <VoxPVoxD> Bob gets another, less-bemused warning look. 11:47 <Quaker> Badawi snaps her fingers, and appears in front of the crowd. 11:47 <Crion> Point of order: Less amused, more bemused. 11:48 <VoxPVoxD> Thank you, Aaron. 11:48 <banana> Sergio: "I haven't got any weapons. Frankly, I wouldn't know how to use them. There is the strength granted by the blood- ah." 11:48 <banana> Sumi: "Huh." 11:48 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "!!" 11:48 <VoxPVoxD> "There she is!" 11:48 <tom> Bob starts clapping like a trained fucking seal. 11:49 <Quaker> Her mask is flawless porcelain, filigreed with gold and antlered with silk tassels: https://i.imgur.com/fwLPNoT.jpg Her dress is explosively floral, and modified to be backless: https://i.imgur.com/pn9N8qR.jpg The rest of the outfit is completed by red leather gloves, a red leather wrap belt, and red heels. Her veil winds around her face, made of some kind of deep blue cloth lattice - the lights catch small objects woven 11:49 <Quaker> through the material, which might be mistaken for blue beads. If anyone looks closer, they’ll see dozens of star sapphires hanging around her head. 11:49 <Crion> Aster: "Ah! Agostina Badawi." To Samantha: "I told you she had a mind for the dramatic." 11:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie gasps. "You look amazing, dear." 11:49 <tom> "Shit yeah she does." 11:52 <Quaker> Badawi hands Sumiya her duffel bag. “I have a weapon inside.” 11:52 <banana> Over in the greeting booth are two attendants on plastic chairs (and Mari). They're both young guys, twenties maybe, with the same kind of un-worn paper mask as Sumi. One of them rises from his feet in alarm, stepping out behind Badawi. "Marm. This threshhold can only be crossed with an open heart and goodwill." 11:52 <banana> Samantha, to Aster: "How mythic." 11:52 <tom> At Sergio: "That's cool, just sit tight if anything fucked happens." 11:53 <banana> Sumi: "Thanks. It's ok Seb, she's just living up to her mysterious destiny." 11:53 <Quaker> She turns to face the ticket-taker. “My priest assures me I have both.” As she turns around, the rest of them can see the terrible scars running down her back, like a tiger clawed her open. 11:53 <Crion> Hm. 11:54 <VoxPVoxD> The sight makes Willie feel oddly, vicariously proud. She hopes she has it in her to bear scars like that so unashamedly, if they come. Which obviously they won't, haha. 11:54 <banana> The kid, who has a light german accent: "Well, we- we know where those get you. So be careful, alright." He sits down though, and says: "Masks on as you cross the threshhold, please. The King under the Hill welcomes you to the last night of Autumn." 11:54 <tom> The wolf is silent. 11:55 <VoxPVoxD> Deep breath. 11:55 <tom> The kid gets finger guns. And real ones, if they ask for a check-in. 11:55 <banana> Mari returns to Bob's side, replacing her eggshell mask. "Hello again, everyone. Dr. Blackfin, may I ask you some questions later?" 11:56 <tom> Shit, should I have pre-gamed? Is there beer? 11:56 <tom> No, absolutely not. C'mon, dude. 11:56 <Crion> Aster will pause to allow Samantha to answer, before crossing the threshold. 11:56 <tom> ...But there better be drinks. 11:56 <VoxPVoxD> It might be Willie and Sergio across first, then. She's quite eager. 11:57 <banana> Sumi and the other greeter produce storage boxes for the weaponry - anything that people can't easily conceal. It's not a peace-bonding thing, they just don't want visible guns in a party atmosphere. 11:57 <banana> Samantha: "Sure, we can trade. Mari, right. Find me when I stop gawping like a goldfish." 11:58 <tom> The suitcase with the rifle goes into the box. He takes her hand in his and squeezes it before motioning to cross the threshold. 11:58 <banana> Sergio: "I can't quite make out who anyone is. Could be anything going on up here. Shall we?" 11:59 <VoxPVoxD> "Absolutely, darling." 12:00 <banana> The first couple step onto the summit of Harry's Hill and into the shadow of the yew. A sheen of glamour flows across them and their vision, and the night is transformed. 12:00 <banana> The most obvious thing is the improbably vast tree itself, which is now a rich living brown. Its canopy is restored, a mass of feathery green leaves and red berries. 12:02 <Quaker> As they walk, Agostina slips a brown capsule under her mask. 12:02 <Crion> Aster: "...Incredible." 12:02 <banana> The next thing Willie will notice is herself; the mask has become real, somehow, or super-real, reified. Her dress is flowing cream (but dry, sealed from the elements and the dirt) and there's a strawberry blush to her skin. Sergio has become hawkish or aquiline, his bones thinned, the bird-mask melding with his face and its patterns extending all down his shirt. 12:02 <VoxPVoxD> !!!! 12:03 <banana> The shape of Aster's face and head has changed. There's a distinct impression of porpoise. Bob's full-face mask has simply become skin, furred, although if he reaches up to touch his mouth and teeth they're the normal shape. 12:04 <tom> "Hell yes." 12:04 <VoxPVoxD> Ahahahaha! 12:04 <Crion> Incredibly, catastrophically glad he did not get handed a turtle mask instead. 12:04 <tom> "Wolf howl." He does not do the wolf howl. 12:04 <Quaker> Ok but what does Badawi look like!!!!!! 12:04 <banana> The whole ball is filled with fantastical beings, a small orchestra of monkeys playing lively tunes as myths and monsters dance between the tables. Big-headed celebrities and animals hang out by the bar and the buffet, munching and chatting. The only people who look like normal humans are a group of four along the long table beneath the yew, and they look like very odd normal human beings. 12:05 <Crion> How has Samantha fared? 12:06 <banana> Badawi's flowery dress and mask of nobility have seemingly merged to create a dress of golden flowers, metal-filligree stems covering her arms and wrapping around her body like fines, blossoming into gems. 12:06 <banana> Rolf looks exactly like Paoli di Canio in a big-headed mascot mask which is also depicting Paoli di Canio. 12:07 <tom> See, this almost makes all the fucked up shit worth it. Almost. 12:07 <banana> Samantha Blackfin exclaims at herself, transformed by the subtle glamour into velveted skin and feathered hair. She reels a little and catches Aster's shoulder. 12:08 <tom> The wolf turns to watch Sam's little panic, grinning. 12:08 <Crion> Aster murmurs, porpoisefully: "The event of a lifetime, darling." 12:08 <hrolf> Rolf, who can't see himself, doesn't realize this and just looks around with a frown on his face (under the mask that now resembles it). "The fook is this." 12:08 <tom> Slick as ice, that guy. 12:09 <VoxPVoxD> The dessert woman is running her fingers delicately over the birdman's face. 12:09 <banana> Mari ducks under Bob's arm, looking... smaller. Shorter, anyway, with her red robe concealing something childlike as well as hidden flashes of movement. You've stepped directly out of the trailhead to the edge of the dancefloor, and various oddities and legends have turned to watch or welcome you already. 12:10 <banana> Sumi cackles from just back over the threshhold of the mound. "I'll catch up with you fine feathered folk soon. Have a nice night." 12:10 <tom> "Welcome to Bob Goreman's wild ride, folks. It never stops." 12:10 <tom> Mari gets a steadying pat on the back as the wolf scans the venue. 12:12 <banana> There's music, dancing, food and drink, facilities. At the high table, small groups come and go, having more serious discussions; this is made strange by the fact that they take place between ordinary folk and beglamoured monsters. (Bob will recognise Hatch Starling of Winter up there, sitting a few feet away from a raggedy man in a laurel wreath). 12:12 <Crion> What are their actual work responsibilites here tonight? 12:13 <Quaker> Badawi will instantly gravitate towards the food table. What kind of stuff do they have? 12:13 <banana> To mingle. To be watchful of danger. To be appraised in case of destiny. And they might as well have a good time. 12:14 <VoxPVoxD> Following Sergio's gaze to the center table promps Willie to make an aside to Mari. "What is the proper term of address for the King-Under-Hill, or the Regents in Waiting? Are they your-majesties, your-highnesses, something else...?" 12:14 <banana> There are two sets of food laid out, broadly - largely vegetable-based hearty dinner stuff, and desserts. The latter is just a sampler, with a little flag stuck on one of empty tables promising more sweets to come later in the evening. Badawi finds a group of pigs at the dinner buffet - clean, man-sized porkers in shirts and ties on their hind legs, discussing Marvel films. 12:15 <Crion> Aster will nibble at best. He's on assignment, and, weirdly, currently craves fish. 12:16 <Quaker> Eugh, horrid. Badawi retreats from the pigs with horrible taste and goes over to the bartender. Is there anyone on duty? 12:16 <banana> The group's starting to break up, but Mari hasn't gone anywhere, so she answers Willie. "King Plape is 'king' tonight - that's respectful enough, honestly. You could say majesty, or monarch, but all our titles are temporary and contingent. It's... a role, not a personal status." 12:16 <tom> "Grab me a beer," he mumbles after Badawi. 12:16 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Sure, but so is the role of supplicant. We all have our parts to play." 12:17 <VoxPVoxD> "But thank you." 12:18 <banana> Samantha follows Aster around to nibble, gone quiet again. "Incredible," she says eventually. "The ones who aren't serial killers. How can all of this just be here in the world with us?" 12:18 <Crion> Aster: "Very carefully. Very contingently." 12:19 <VoxPVoxD> How's Sergio doing? 12:20 <Quaker> “I am not grabbing you a beer.” 12:20 <hrolf> Rolf, hungry, is at the table gobbling down some snacks. He's also stuffing some of them in his pockets to take home. 12:21 <banana> Sergio is delighted by a surfeit of imagery. He's actually not paying as much attention to Willie as usual, eye constantly drawn by the surroundings, though he constantly catches her cream-sleeve to point out something or other. Actually.. "Changing partners seems to be the order of the ball, but I'm sure we can grant ourselves the first dance." 12:21 <Crion> Aster: "Sugar glass. Even the slightest hard touch, and it breaks." 12:21 <tom> The wolf: "Yeah alright sorry-" He goes to get one himself. 12:22 <tom> Sumi said there'd be other vampires. The Wolf's visor clicks as he flips through modes back to infrared. 12:22 <banana> Mari's following Bob initially, but her attention's caught by people greeting her and asking after things. "Ah- this is- okay yeah, I'll be back in a sec baby to introduce you." 12:22 <tom> "Yeah, yeah no worry hun! Have some fun." 12:23 <banana> A couple of figures in strange costumes drift over to Rolf, drawn by his - which is unusual here by dint of being nonfantastical. 12:24 <banana> There's an older man scooping up peanuts beside him who looks like he's had a diagonal grid of crossing lines burned into all his skin and clothes, but is otherwise un-masked. "West Ham, is it?" 12:26 <banana> Behind that guy is a totally silent figure dressed up like some warrior of the Crusades, pointed hat and scalemail with a fierce bronze mask and a round shield by his side. Rolf, learned in the kind of social dynamics which can produce violence, may notice that everyone else at the ball is giving the Saladinesque figure a wide berth. 12:26 <hrolf> Rolf looks at them with suspiscion - since only his mouth (full), can be seen with the top of his mask still covering his eyes, it's not rude. Not that he'd care about being rude. "'s right. Been followin em for forty years now." 12:27 <Crion> Aster is simply guiding/watching over Samantha as she forays out to wherever she wishes in this party. His remit here is as a silent watcher; this seems like a good schema to watch as much as possible. 12:29 <VoxPVoxD> Willie runs her hands up his sides, over his shoulders, to lace them behind his neck. "Show me how you like to move, then. I learn fast." 12:29 <Quaker> Badawi picks up a freakin…candlestick? And thumps it down gently on the bartop to summon some service. Where’s the talking teapot? 12:29 <hrolf> Rolf's already tense and on guard and the knight-warrior isn't putting him at ease. He 'ates magic, 'ates farie magic especially, and 'ates fancy dans and their fancy dress parties. He starts walking away. 12:30 <tom> The wolfman puts a hand to its fluffy ear and the earpiece clicks. It does right? It's definitely still there, haha, it hasn't like merged with his skin or anything weird, right? Haha of course. 12:30 <tom> Click click. "Check check." 12:31 <banana> Badawi manages to summon a part-time barkeeper. There are various changelings attending the alcohol tables, but they're also dancing and chatting; the one who comes over to help her is a young guy with a scowl and red hair arranged in an extraordinary up-turned collar around the back of his head. 12:32 <tom> He scans the crowd and singles out a pack of blue-limmed figures on the infrared. Low, but not vampire low... Weird. What's the mask situation going on here? 12:32 <banana> The irritated face fades when he gets a good look at her. "Ey up. Any guest of the King's is entitled to these fine wines and spirits. What's your taste, Missus?" 12:34 <banana> Burned-lines guy says "'s a good team, though they can't hold a candle to City." If Rolf's deliberately walking away from him, he'll nod and not follow. The masked warrior just stares (presumably. You can't see through the mask.) 12:34 <Quaker> “Can you make a Presbyterian?” 12:35 <hrolf> Rolf freezes in place, then turns around. He takes a deep breath. "The fack you just say?" 12:35 <banana> Redhead: "If you give me a moment to slice the lemon." He begins. "Who's this one for?" 12:35 <tom> ...He'll keep an eye on the literal cool kids, and the guy who is either a hummingbird man or having an absolutely insane panic attack as he makes his way over to the bar. 12:36 <tom> He flips the visor off infrared. 12:36 <Quaker> “Me.” 12:36 <Quaker> Oh, was he asking for her name? 12:36 <banana> The music's not for slow-dancing, so Sergio and Willie are a little apart while together. Near them on the dance floor is a man made of glass panes held together by a wiry frame, dancing with another guy who looks like the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine - his hat is clearly plastic or rubber. 12:37 <Quaker> “Badawi. Pleased to meet you…” 12:38 <hrolf> "Its an 'onest team owned by 'onest English businessmen. Sorry we couldn't 'oover up all the best players in the world with oil sheikh money!" 12:39 <banana> From a trick of the yew tree's shadow comes Riaan Coetzee, falling into step with Bob. "Hello mate. This is Gale, of Autumn." He indicates an elderly man by his side, who's mask-glamour makes him look like a harlequin in felt diamonds. To Gale: "Bob or William Goreman." 12:40 <banana> Bartender: "Penberthy. Bit cold over here, isn't it? When I'm done pouring, I'm getting back to the firepit, feel free to come with." 12:41 <VoxPVoxD> The only reason they're a little apart is you cannot properly grind in a petticoat. She's tried. But, from that regrettably respectful distance, Willie says. "You know, there were a few decades in there where disco wasn't cool... blessedly, you missed all of them." 12:41 <tom> "Coetzee, hey man, glad to have made the cut." Gale gets a handshake. "Good to meet ya." 12:41 <VoxPVoxD> How does she converse while moving like that? Stamina 4, baby. 12:42 <Quaker> “Penberthy…” Where does she know that name? She’ll wait for her drink while she thinks. A firepit sounds nice… 12:42 <banana> The Manchester City fan looks briefly amused by Rolf's reaction, then mildly concerned. "Well, hang on. I've got nothing against West Ham FC. Only they've been pretty close to relegation, right? But fair play, once Pellegrini came in you're doing fine again." 12:43 <hrolf> Rolf stops mid tirade, nonplussed. "Pellegrini? What year are you from, mate?" 12:45 <banana> City fan: "Ah, shit. Is he out? I've been.. occupied, yeah." He glances back at the silent soldier. 12:45 <banana> Armoured warrior: "Auto here has been inside a while. Breaking and entering." His voice is deep, rich, and amused at some private joke. 12:46 <Quaker> Oh, right. She snaps her fingers in recognition. “You’re the one having problems with your landlord. And your twin.” 12:46 <hrolf> Rolf: "Inside? This some sort of gaol, then is it?" 12:47 <banana> Gale says: "The same to you," as the group of three arrives at the bar. Riann: "Three beers, Liam. Full strength." 12:47 <banana> Penberthy hands Badawi her drink, but looks suspicious. "How do you know about that? In fact, who are ya?" 12:48 <banana> After taking in the sights for a while, Samantha's ready to mingle. Does Aster want to dance? "I'd like to figure out the social structure here. Obviously those four up on the table are VIPs." 12:49 <Quaker> “Agostina Badawi, like I said. I work for the Nameless House.” 12:49 <VoxPVoxD> Coincidentally, Willie is dancing Sergio in the seasonal regents' general direction. 12:49 <banana> Auto: "Yeah, basically. It wasn't me and if it was I had an excuse, but I've been away. Who do they have as manager now?" 12:49 <Crion> Aster is certainly able and willing to dance. Which is slightly different from 'wants to.' But is far from 'doesn't want to.' Are Willie and what's his name on the floor? 12:49 <VoxPVoxD> Are they! 12:50 <Crion> Aster sighs and unbuttons his jacket. 12:50 <tom> At Riann: "So, how'r'we doing? You want me to set up a perimeter or is this not about the job?" 12:50 <Quaker> She tips Liam a crisp 100 pound note. “Hello, Bob. I think this is the one who’s been having trouble with Rolf.” 12:51 <hrolf> Rolf: "Davey Moyes. Right cunt but 'e's keepin us up." 12:51 <banana> Unless she wants to leave it, they are. Sergio doesn't; he's got endless energy for the portion of the day he actually gets to be awake. "I've read about that. People used to think it was gay, instead of merely gay. It's nice to be in an era with so many understandings of 'getting down'." 12:51 <hrolf> "What'd they say you'd done?" 12:52 <Crion> The dreadful secret of Aaron Aster is...he's an excellent dancer, in a technical sense. 12:53 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "How are you so phenomenally, consistently correct about everything?" 12:53 <banana> Riann: "They have your team as backup security, right? We won't need you unless something goes wrong that's contrary to our nature. This place's protection only has a few vulnerabilities - massed iron, the clarity of daybreak, true emotionlessness." 12:55 <tom> Bob slides up to the bar next to Badawi, with Riann and gale in tow. The wolf mask takes a moment to take in Aster's dancing in silent fury. Two left feet, this guy right here. Totally outclassed. "Then we're good. The only iron I've got is machined steel." He regards Agostina for a second before turning to the bartender: "Liam Pen...bernathy?" 12:55 <banana> Aster quickly has to contend with people wanting to snatch Samantha away. He's less appealing a partner, for whatever reason. There are dance challenges from an actual gorilla, a woman with a cane who's using it agilely as a sort of prop for breakdance, and a man in gold lame with a jackal's head, who's being cheered on from the sidelines by friends with the head of a falcon and the head of 12:55 <banana> a scarab. 12:56 <Crion> Absolutely not. 12:56 <tom> Look at him go. 12:58 <banana> Rolf and the two weirdos have a spot of their own with snacks by an umbrella heater now. Auto snorts, replying "I was charged by some fellows with sticks up their arses with breaking into private home in order to break their ley-line complex. Fucked up all of its chakras, like, and got the main line redirected where it had to go." 12:59 <banana> "They held me for a while trying to decide what 'Atlantean ethics' dictate you do with a nonviolent prisoner before someone remembered I was an asset to the cause and applied appropriate pressure." 12:59 <VoxPVoxD> Willie cackles and clings to Sergio so she can point out Aster's dilemma. Quietly, by dance floor standards: "He's so nimble for such a dour man." 12:59 <banana> Armoured warrior: "You were always on the backlog, of course. Just a matter of sprint priorities." 12:59 <hrolf> "What cause is that then?" 13:01 <VoxPVoxD> "What is that, 5 to 1? That's a brodeo." 13:01 <banana> Samantha laughs, spinning about in the dance as outlandish people posture about her. This is familiar no matter how magic they are. 13:03 <banana> Auto: "The cause of making do. I just follow instructions, you know? Deliver the shipment, find out why the guy didn't meet us, break the dread curse. Or, as tonight, courier over some documents." 13:03 <banana> Armoured warrior: "No, not tonight. I'll be handling the writ." 13:03 <banana> Auto: "You're the boss." 13:04 <Crion> Aster has no use for dancing, emotionally. But that's no excuse for not being good at it. 13:04 <tom> Bob takes a beer and just watches in awe. 13:04 <banana> Penberthy looks at Bob as he hands over the beer, even more suspicious. "Everyone seems to know who I am and my business." 13:05 <banana> This guy's got a different accent - Bob can't place them all yet, but he's neither Northern nor the more common southern English, and not a London cockney joke either. 13:05 <tom> "Yeah well, look out because your shitty landlord is here, and I need to talk to you about that at some point okay, don't go off and do anything half-cocked my man." 13:05 <hrolf> Rolf: "In the Trade, eh? Same 'ere - 'ard life sometimes, but can't beat it. Rolf Hughes." 13:05 <Quaker> Badawi: “Got a million dollars? We’ll help you settle your business, if you do.” 13:06 <tom> "You got really unlucky bro," The wolf shakes its head. "Shoulda come to your pals in Winter first." 13:06 <banana> Auto extends a hand to shake Piero's. "Yeah, a generalist. As you heard, I'm Auto. This is Janissary." 13:06 <Quaker> “Wait..is Penberthy a Welsh na-“ 13:07 <tom> "Bob Goreman." He extends a hand. "Winter, I guess. I don't know what the ranks are." 13:07 <banana> Liam: "Cornish. Summer, where we don't do ranks apart from Queen and that ain't me." 13:09 <banana> They approach one-by-one. The ape squats and waggles, getting technical to the beat. Can't do much about how ugly it is, though. 13:10 <hrolf> "You lads work just together or with others? I got a crew up 'ere in Manchester." 13:10 <VoxPVoxD> Willie watches Aster closely. 13:11 <banana> Sergio: "The American doctor is very popular. She has moves, but I think it's the accent." 13:11 <tom> "Well Liam, I can give you a number to call if you want help with your whole deal later." The wolfman drops another beer. 13:12 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "No one gets between Aaron Aster and his goal. And his goal tonight... is to have fun." 13:12 <VoxPVoxD> She sounds thrilled, and faintly mortified. 13:12 <Crion> Aster moves loose and languid on the dance floor. It starts out as dad vibes Twist and Shout stuff, but he eventually gets more creative with it -- physically if not emotionally -- and he just has better moves and stamina than anyone the floor can send at him. He can even adapt his style to the gorilla, the jackal, and finally the woman with the cane. 13:12 <Quaker> “How much do you owe, Liam?” 13:12 <VoxPVoxD> Look at him go...! 13:13 <tom> "Rolf gave me two different numbers. I honestly don't think he knows or cares but I will just give you money, and then you give him some money, with a little tip for your trouble, and we can talk about the real problems after." 13:13 <banana> Janissary's voice is still deep, and mellow now that he isn't making fun of his subordinate (for.. going to prison??): "We have a team, yes. Open to working with contractors if their services are on point. Do you perhaps work removals and repossessions?" 13:14 <hrolf> Rolf scratches his head. "Well, in a manner of speaking, aye. Currently we're tryin to remove a pair of murdering gaga old bloodsuckers terrorizin the city." 13:14 <banana> The jackal-headed man is enthusiastic, sweating through his golden suit. What he doesn't have is rhythm, which sends him reeling sooner than he wanted off in the wrong direction, swallowed up by other dancers. 13:14 <VoxPVoxD> By this point Willie's pulled Sergio close enough to introduce herself to the people at the table. She starts with a fluid curtsy before "King Plape of Autumn. What a spectacular party, your highness." 13:15 <banana> The woman with the cane dances with it, twirls with it.. but ultimately it's a gimmick. She does tip Samantha a wink before bowing to Aster's superior moves and dancing off again. 13:16 <Crion> "C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell. 13:16 <banana> Auto: "Sounds like a good idea. Those things get a knife in your back sooner than a fang in your neck." 13:16 <banana> These two remind Rolf of some briefings he used to have with 'consultants', back in the old days. 13:18 <banana> Willie has to wait a moment as people come and go from the high table, discussing things with the four seelie lords. Plape, the man dressed like a scarecrow, is just finishing up a piece of chicken after his last conversation (he takes rapid tiny bites of it with sharp teeth). 13:19 <tom> The wolf is watching Liam to see how he's taking this. Bob isn't sure how much Liam knows... it's possible the guy didn't even realize he really stepped in it. 13:19 <VoxPVoxD> Time waiting is just more time with Sergio 13:19 <VoxPVoxD> . 13:20 <banana> Two of the others up here look really old, nursing-home old but somehow vigorous and active. There's the guy Bob pointed out, the man with the beard that goes down below his feet and a scabbard by his buttoned-up shirt, and there's a woman with long white-gold hair whose face is a mass of wrinkles. Her sunken eyes shine out of it like sapphires; she has muscles on her muscles. 13:21 <hrolf> "If it were up to me I'd be staying away from all fang related business, pers'nlly. Hunt a leprechaun or a lake monster, aye. No politics involved there. With those bastards...we got the toff bloodsuckers trying to pay us to doublecross the other ones, or somefink like that...can't keep it straight meself. Feels like its going to end up wif our heads on pikes." 13:22 <banana> The fourth un-masked man is apparently middle aged and balding, with his remaining hair dyed an obvious black. He has thick spectacles and a trim suit, looking kind of attractive just by dint of how well he dresses. That one's consoling some sort of distraught pair of young people quietly as King Plape becomes available, looking down at Willie and Sergio with a raised eyebrow. 13:23 <banana> (All Sergio's said during the wait is: "The myth, the man, now we fill in the blank.") 13:24 <VoxPVoxD> Willie smiles warmly at the dapper man when he looks their way. 13:24 <Crion> When Samantha is sufficiently danced out, they will retire from the floor. Possibly to where Willie and Sergio are ensconced...? They seem to be becoming busy. 13:24 <VoxPVoxD> We're networking! 13:24 <tom> ...Bob is starting to wonder where Mari went. 13:24 <tom> Preliminaries? 13:24 <banana> Liam's been listening to Badawi and Bob with some confusion. He seems kind of mad, but not necessarily at them, and eventually says: "Look, I haven't got any money, and what you're saying I owe- I don't. Never did. This landlord, Hughes, I don't know why he's here tonight but the man he thinks owes him ain't me. In fact, I'd like to see that man deceased." 13:24 <hrolf> "...top it all off, everyfing's organized by this lad no one's ever seen. Pay's good, better than my previous crew - Benni's lot - but at least I knew 'oo I was workin wif, eh?" He scowls. "And no one was shagging the clients." 13:24 <banana> Gale: "Fetch ran up a bill?" 13:25 <tom> "Bro, you don't even know dude. Your old landlord's a hunter, man." 13:25 <tom> "We're his coworkers." 13:25 <banana> Liam: "Christ almighty." 13:25 <tom> "But, look, I will just solve this myself, okay? Nobody needs to get got." 13:25 <banana> "How do I point him at the unseelie thing instead of myself?" 13:25 <Quaker> Badawi: “No, that’s not what I meant. How much did Rolf say you owed him?” 13:26 <banana> "Five thousand." 13:26 <tom> "...I'm hoping I can give you my number and we can work this out." 13:26 <Quaker> Badawi: “Ok. Consider it paid off.” 13:26 <banana> Penberthy: "I don't consider it owed!" 13:26 <tom> "Really, Agostina, let me do it, please? These are kinda my people..." 13:26 <banana> "None of you needs to give that bastard any money. Come on." 13:27 <tom> "Look man I will throw in a tip if you just go with the flow on this one. You really don't wanna fuck with that guy." 13:27 <VoxPVoxD> Saying that's just going to make him want to do it more. 13:27 <tom> "Because if you do I am obligated to defend him and I you better believe me I do not relish that." 13:28 <banana> Samantha: "That was pretty funny. I've never had a hieroglyph try to hit on me before." 13:28 <Quaker> Badawi: “Why would you turn down help?” 13:29 <Crion> Aster, slightly sweating, grinning for the first time in thirteen months: "That's how they get you. Thankfully I had studied the relevant warding protocols." 13:29 <banana> Riaan: "Bob's friend has a point. A debt is a debt, Liam, even the ones we don't agree with- if nobody's asking you for the money, let's not stand on ceremony." 13:30 <VoxPVoxD> Willie beams at Aster and Blackfin as they approach. She mouths, 'Look at you!' to Aster. 13:30 <banana> Samantha: "You looked good. And tiring. Let's grab a beer and find somebody extremely weird to talk to?" 13:30 <Crion> Aster: "But of course." 13:31 <Crion> Aster shrugs at Willie, but it's a looser, self-effacing type of shrug. Closer to Han Solo than a parole officer. 13:31 <VoxPVoxD> Ahahaha. 13:32 <tom> It's not fair how much cooler he is than Bob. 13:32 <Crion> To Willie: "We're getting drinks." He doesn't broach the decorum of asking if she wants one, because that would mean very obviously not asking if Sergio does. 13:32 <tom> Bob is on his third beer. 13:32 <banana> Liam: "...right, if you're going to convince Hughesy not to come after me I won't question your methods, and I'll consider it a favour owed. I still need the papers he's got, mind." 13:32 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's riding enough of a buzz already, and she's going to have to drive home, or to Sergio's. 13:33 <tom> "I bet I can get 'em for you. But I want to have a chat about what you're planning on doing before you go off, yeah? Just a little one." 13:33 <Crion> Then after they get drinks, they'll return to Willie and Sergio's table. 13:33 <tom> "We do have our job, after all." 13:33 <Quaker> While the changelings are discussing the merits of free money, Badawi takes Bob aside for a moment. “You see that guy in armor over there and his burned friend?” 13:33 <Crion> Unless Samantha wants to go wandering some more. She did want to talk to Mari... 13:33 <Quaker> “Don’t look.” 13:34 <banana> Auto nods sympathetically. Rolf seems more his type of guy than most of this party's hosts. "A job's a job, not personal. Do you think you're protected if the thing goes sour on you?" 13:34 <Quaker> She’s not pointing them out, obviously. “The ones by Rolf.” 13:34 <banana> Janissary: "Let's hope he's got better contingencies than yours, right?" 13:35 <tom> He gulps down another mouthful of beer and turns to Agostina. "Yeah?" He doesn't. "Off-brand Hellraiser dude and the guy dressed like the Black Knight? No, they don't stand out at all." 13:35 <hrolf> Rolf: "I 'ave me escape routes. Just not fond of cock ups. There's such a thing as professionalism innit" 13:35 <banana> Samuel Plape leans over the table to answer Willie's greeting. The wreath at his brow is.. something. Sergio's watching it intently, Willie notices; it's not clear what function or powers it might have, but just the way it hangs together so freshly, the one object of glamour up here by the tree when everything else is ordinary, makes it seem important. 13:35 <Quaker> “Can you TrackCheck them for me tonight? They’re the bad kind of sorceror. Like Z, from the Wolf-Emmers.” 13:36 <banana> Plape: "I'm glad you like the party, Ms. Wellesley. Mr. Bonasera. Is the company congenial?" 13:36 <banana> Aster and Blackfin arrive just too late to find out whether he knows their names also. 13:38 <VoxPVoxD> It'd be weird if Sumi hadn't told them. Does Sergio react? "Very much so, sir. We are thoroughly enchanted." 13:38 <tom> The wolfman taps a button on the frame of his visor. "Shit, can't believe I was gonna whiff on that. Must be nerves, sorry. Big night." 13:38 <tom> The scanner hovers over the scarred dude and his armored friend. 13:39 <banana> Sergio: "Automated tastemaking amazes me. Is there a mind behind the extrapolations?" 13:39 <tom> ...As an afterthought he'll turn around and flip it over Coetzee, Liam, and Gale. 13:39 <Quaker> “Thanks. I’ll be over at the firepit.” 13:39 <banana> It'll take a while for that many songs to be recorded and uploaded, of course. 13:39 <banana> Gale: "What's a track check?" 13:40 <banana> He was apart with Riaan and Liam, but apparently has extraordinary hearing. 13:42 <Quaker> Badawi: “It means an ocular patdown.” 13:42 <Quaker> “Standard security appraisal procedure.” 13:44 <tom> Bob laughs. 13:44 <Crion> Aster would not say he qualifies as 'thoroughly enchanted,' as that's a technical term. But he is enjoying himself. 13:45 <VoxPVoxD> Oh, is his face normally like that, then? 13:45 <banana> Plape: "Not a mind, perhaps, but creativity. Consider this whole evening a dream." 13:46 <banana> The strong old woman remarks, "Not even a nightmare this time." 13:46 <Crion> He is superficially enchanted. 13:46 <Crion> Please. 13:47 <banana> Samantha: "Um... Willie called you King. What's the scope of that title, if you don't mind my asking?" 13:48 <VoxPVoxD> When Samantha engages Plape, Willie turns to the old woman. "How very fortunate. You have me at a loss, madam. I know of his highness, and of Mr. Starling, the King-in-Waiting... do you stand for Spring or Summer, if I may ask?" 13:48 <tom> Bob turns to Gale and Riann; "Hey, you guys know where Mari went? This kid's scared he's lost his mom in the grocery store." 13:48 <VoxPVoxD> Please do not analogise your girlfriend to your mother. 13:48 <Crion> That's Bob's thing. That's what he does. 13:49 <Crion> That's Bob's thing. That's what he does. 13:49 <VoxPVoxD> All the same. 13:49 <tom> Things are never so weird you can't make 'em weirder. 13:49 <VoxPVoxD> Write down the date and time you thought that. 13:50 <banana> Bob's visor pings. Auto, Mage in the Trade 13:50 <banana> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knlAKKxdIls - "One of many -- they may complain but do not rebel." 13:50 <Quaker> Jesus Christ. On second thought, Badawi will take her drink and join the other adults over by the King. Before she goes, she slips Liam a piece of paper with an address on it. “Stop here for your check. Maybe Rolf will fork it over if he thinks you’re even with him. And if you need help with your twin…” She puts two fingers to her head and pulls a fake trigger, and winks. 13:50 <banana> Liam: "I'd take you up on it if I had a million pounds, Ms. Badawi." 13:51 <Crion> Aster will generally supervise, which means make sure no one's about to run in and shoulder check any of the people he cares about having conversations. Oddly, he feels no constraints to pitch himself in this setting. Perhaps he should. But he'll have to go back to work tomorrow and start doing that again with the vampires. 13:51 <Quaker> “Get me a big enough favor, and I’ll do it for free.” 13:51 <Quaker> Then: “Your Majesty. Doctor. Doctor. Marchioness. Vampire.” 13:52 <Crion> Aster: "Sadly, I merely have a master's degree. How are you enjoying the dinner and the show, Agostina?" 13:53 <Quaker> “Mr. Penbernathy makes a good Presbyterian. Were you the show? It was pretty nice, I have to say.” 13:54 <banana> The old woman with once-gold hair smiles at Willie, although it's a bit hard to tell beneath the wrinkles. They are not laugh lines. "Rose's Wasp, Dowager of Summer. I am responsible for the party within this hold which seeks to defend us against iniquities and injustices." 13:54 <Crion> Aster chuckles. "Thank you. Mister Penbernathy? Wait, Rolf's tenant?" 13:55 <banana> Plape to Samantha: "It comes with no power to raise taxes or armies. Technically you'll find people calling me Autumn King from here to Leeds and Sheffield... but the autumn ends tonight." 13:55 <banana> The insane-bearded man to his left says, "You did well this time, Sammy. Heavy lies my head, I suppose." 13:56 <Quaker> Badawi: “Formerly. I’ve settled his debts with Rolf, which may or may not be recognized by all parties.” 13:56 <VoxPVoxD> Willie ate before she came, because like hell is she getting anything on this gown. She curtsies to the Dowager, a sentence that could've been narrated about Willie's life dozens of times. "I'm very gratified to hear that, dear lady." 13:56 <banana> Blackfin: "So your royalty has a.. responsibility?" Only Aster will recognise that Samantha is struggling to figure out how much she can get away with asking. 13:56 <VoxPVoxD> If the well-dressed man's attention is undivided: "And you, sir? May I be so bold as to collect the set?" 13:57 <Crion> She seems well within her remit for now. 13:58 <banana> Riann tells Bob, "I know you know Mari can handle herself. She's probably setting up the blessing, you know." 13:59 <tom> Bob turns to Liam after watching Agostina saunter off: "Okay, uh, please don't actually take her up on that offer. I'll help you deal with your Fetch if you let me, uh, suggest, y'know, alternatives." 13:59 <banana> The visor pings with another notification. Janissary, Master of Meaning 13:59 <banana> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc - "Parody for general use, original for his monologues." 14:03 <banana> Willie's done it again. The Seelie Court is generally charmed by her boldness and her strange entourage that peppers them with questions. "Lensburg. Saul Lensburg, Mediator of Spring."