23:48 <banana> The night is raw. There's drink and music, both pretty good, but most of the crowd aren't Rolf's sort. They do seem safer than the vampires (apart from the few who ARE vampires) and he even gets offers to dance at times. 23:48 <banana> Perhaps more importantly, he's got a job to do. 23:50 <hrolf> Rolf stalks the night - more like ambles the night, keeping an eye out. It’d be hard to say he was keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious - that’d be every single person here. But signs of violence, or skullduggery (overt, at least), or anything unacceptably bizarre. 23:50 <banana> The lady Wellesley made an initial brief approach to the boss changelings - the King Under the Hill and three regents, as Rolf Hughes understands it, representing the seasons of England. Willie, however, is easily distracted, and tonight many of the other hunters are flighty (Goreman) or reserved (Aster). The job of properly introducing their organisation to the folk at the high table has 23:50 <banana> fallen to him. 23:52 <hrolf> He adjusts his suit, trying to unease the creases and spits into his hand, running it to slick back his hair. Might as well look presentable. He walks towards the elders and clears his throat - whose attention does he have to get for a viewing? 23:56 <banana> The illusion which has fused masks with faces and costumes with bodies makes it hard to tell who's what, let alone who's who. On this short walk around the periphery of the dance turf, Rolf already notices a strange argument going on - three similar-looking types in golden suits and animal heads appears to be ganging up on a woman with a cane and spikes all down her sides. 23:56 <banana> It's all verbal right now, but bears watching. 23:57 <hrolf> In the normal course of things Rolf would come in to bust things up before it got out of hand - he’ll let this slide for now, though. Business Development awaits. 23:59 <banana> Leaving the argument for now Rolf, himself bearing the visage of di Canio made uncanny reality, comes to the table set parallel to the yew-trunk. Up here are the only four people not wearing masks. 00:01 <hrolf> Rolf waves awkwardly. He’s not sure of the protocol here - not that he’d be kowtowing or anything, even if asked to do so. Man’s got some pride after all. Best to be direct. “Alright then? Nice party!” 00:02 <banana> There's a brief queue, then he's in front of the king-for-a-season, a strangely poor-looking man in an outfit of rags, with a face that makes it hard to tell how old or young he is. The Autumn King has a wreath on his head, two parts tied together by stems; it's held up by some mysterious force. One of the most visibly magic things present (not counting all the illusion). 00:02 <banana> Plape: "Thank you, sir. Did I see you come in with the security team? Mercenaries of destiny, was it?" 00:04 <hrolf> “'s right. We’re the Night Watch, ackshually. Meself, Rolf Hughes, formerly of the ‘uman office.” Rolf proffers a hand for a shake. 00:04 <banana> To the guy's right (Rolf's left) are a very old but highly muscled woman, with glints in her hair that illuminate her own wrinkles. She's chatting to a well-dressed chub-faced man who has glasses rimmed in some odd material. They both look over, either at 'Night Watch' or more likely 'Human Office'. 00:05 <banana> Autumn King: "Plape. Samuel Plape. What's led you out of such an official place and into a night as weird as this?" 00:06 <banana> Man in the glasses: "You haven't got that word quite right, Sam. We're still missing the 'y'." To Rolf: "Saul, of Spring." 00:09 <hrolf> Rolf notices the woman staring at him, and nods politely to her and the Spring King.. He turns back to Plape: “Immigrants been takin all our hours from us old timers, you know ‘ow it is. First it was the Polacks - then after Brexit they started gettin in these phillipinos and Indians an’ the like. So I decided to do some” - he pauses to think of a sufficiently important sounding word -“hentrepreneurship on the 00:09 <hrolf> side. We ‘ired by one of yours for security detail for tonight - Samaya? Sumaya? Somefing like that. And ‘ere I am.” 00:12 <banana> Saul (Lensburg, he'll later learn) just kind of freezes up and stares. Plape blinks, twisting at his scarecrow clothing with a nervous motion. "If the Office is by fundamentally changed by recent political conditions, that's going to make a difference in this country. I think everyone's noticed the greater detachment." 00:13 <hrolf> Rolf: "Did the office 'ave much to do with your folk? Far as I know we stayed fair clear. There was a team assembled for doin some investigatory work in the 'edge - but they came back in pieces." 00:15 <banana> The old woman, to Plape: "It's not like they did anything we give a shit about before. Hughes is right - either they know the good we do or they wanted to build new empires in stupid places." 00:15 <banana> She addresses Rolf directly. "Did any of the pieces move? You may only have seen the decoys what got thrown back out. As with Penberthy." 00:16 <hrolf> Rolf starts at the name. "Penberthy? 'e one of yours then? Man owes me money!" 00:17 <banana> Her face is deeply lined, but her eyebrows stand out - they're white with gold highlights. Bushy. So it's obvious when she raises them. "He's one of yours, too. Ex-Office. Wouldn't be surprised if Liam was one of those very pioneers." 00:17 <banana> "I'm afraid if he learns your secret identity, the man's unlikely to pay you a cent." 00:19 <hrolf> It takes a lot to faze Rolf, but this does it. His mouth falls open, and he stares dumbly for a few seconds. "That rat was one of ours?? I never saw him around or 'eard of anyone by that name when I was in there!" 00:22 <banana> Summer regent: "That's why they call it a secret, innit?" She considers Rolf. "Don't get me wrong, man. I don't mind a good feud, but... Liam Penberthy is under my protection." 00:23 <banana> "I am every wasp that preys on every bee that visits every rose. It's quite an advanced metaphor. Means I could take you, anyway. Let's stay on the same side." 00:23 <banana> Saul: "Don't threaten the guests, Rose. Even- let's just not." 00:24 <banana> Plape has taken a moment to refill his glass from a pitcher of beer. He seems amused. 00:24 <hrolf> Rolf scowls. "I'm not a man of violence." That's a bald lie. "Well, I don't hit first regardless." That's another one. "So I'm not going to start nuffing." That's true - but only because he senses it'd end badly for him. "But 'e bust into me house and did a lot of damage - I'm owed!" 00:25 <banana> Plape: "We pay our debts. Rose's Wasp, will you offer this man a token? We hope to work with him and his in future." 00:27 <banana> The one from Summer counts on her fingers theatrically. One, two three, four, five, six... "Seven months and and I'll take it out of your hide, Sammy. This is a sign of respect. Means you're one of us now, and don't get no special treatment." 00:28 <banana> Plape: "That's much appreciated." 00:29 <banana> Rose's Wasp clears her throat. "Very well. Rolf Hughes, I confer upon you a boon in accordance with.. well, I don't know much about you. What are you in besides footy?" 00:30 <banana> Everything behind the hill is in deep shadow; the base of the tree should be there, but Rolf can't see it. There's gust of cold air from that direction and a part of the shadow detaches itself, coming down the hill toward the empty chair on Samuel Plape's left. 00:30 <hrolf> "Besides wantin West Ham to win the league an' Chelsea to get relegated?" Rolf considers this. "I want Britain to be British again. I want loadsa cash! An' I want to beat the shite out of some bloodsuckers. Which one could you deliver?" 00:34 <banana> Lensburg is shaking his head as if to say, none of them, but Rose's Wasp says "Let's go with the cash." She fishes around under the table, although on the way up from the party Rolf saw there was nothing there, and comes up with two wrinkled hands. They open to reveal: a stone. 00:34 <banana> It's oval, a little jagged on one side, and looks like pumice shot with streaks of inexplicable gold. 00:35 <hrolf> Looks fancy. "'ow much's that worth, then?" 00:40 <banana> The Summer woman holds it out; he can feel warmth coming off her palm, because not everything they do is a metaphor. "To the right person, everyfink. Give it freely as a gift and people will see the stone as somefink they desire, somefink that lets them know you're on their side." 00:40 <banana> "Wait three days and three nights, it'll make its way back to you; try not to rely on 'em going for another look at their shiny present after that." 00:41 <banana> (Off to the edge of Rolf's attention, Samuel says: "How was your question?" The old man who's pulling up the chair to his left responds, "Answered. That's the way we like it.") 00:42 <hrolf> "That's a bit of a cheat innit? Sounds like the kind of fing that could make you enemies." He crosses his arms. "Got anyfing that could 'elp me fight vamps instead?" 00:43 <banana> "No; that's a bloody stupid thing to do. Take the stone, man." 00:43 <banana> The new arrival says: "You must be Rolf Hughes." His eyes are as blue as ice and his beard is getting in his soup. 00:43 <hrolf> Rolf nods at the arrival. "Alright mate? Don't 'ave the pleasure of your name." 00:45 <banana> "Hatch. Your friend Bob is also my friend Bob." His voice is strong, but he's slumped a little, and doesn't comment on the transitive properties of this friendship. 00:45 <hrolf> Rolf: "Fanks, but you can keep the stone. I'm a lot of fings, but I'm not a cheat. I don't give people gifts that I steal back. Me word's me bond." 00:46 <banana> Saul Lensburg: "That's an admirable quality." 00:47 <banana> Rose's Wasp: "I'll just set this down here, then. It's been good to meet you, honest." 00:47 <hrolf> Rolf: "I'm still owed five thousand pounds." 00:48 <banana> Rose's Wasp: "Yeah, it'll mysteriously turn up, cheque or something. Wait three days and three nights." 00:49 <hrolf> Rolf doffs an imaginary cap. "Much obliged! An' if you ever need anyfing from the night watch, feel free to reach out. I'm the 'ead of the business development vertical." 00:51 <banana> Plape and Hatch Starling are quietly discussing the upcoming ceremony, so they just nod, but the Regents of Spring and Summer bid Rolf farewell. The 'wasp of every rose' shakes her head at him in what could be construed in an affectionate fashion, and Saul mutters something about 'being able to believe that'. 00:52 <hrolf> Rolf ambles away and resumes patrol. Has the argument he spotted before escalated? 00:53 <banana> It's done that, and then deescalated again. The cane-and-spikes changeling is strutting away, with one of the goldsuits kneeling, clutching her other knee in agony, where the suit is all cut up. Oddly, little bits of yellow and black fuzz are crawling out of the cloth-wound - bees, again? 00:55 <hrolf> Rolf is there in a jiffy, stopping by the injured party . He reaches into his suit and pulls out an old human office badge, flashing it quickly and then restoring it before anyone can see any lettering. "Security - are you doin alright, sir?" 00:58 <banana> The other two are already helping their comrade, but one of them looks up - he's got the head of a falcon, one eye facing you. "By the grace of the Great One... maybe. We could sure use bandages."