2022-07-01 Camarilla Night Market (Summer '22)
Camarilla Night Market, Summer '22
Participants: Beatrix, Cheree, Edith, Jack Scar, Michelle, Parker, Pris, Zebastian, Zoey
Location: The Sunset Noir Salon
Date and Time: July 1, 2022
Summary: Keeper Cheree Crowley holds an indoor night market in the Camarilla Elysium.
The main difference you might notice from an outdoor Los Angeles night market is the smell.
Which is to say: there's no street food. No aromas of tacos or pizza or bacon-wrapped hot dogs or empanadas or pupusas or churros...
There's still the noise, of course. The indoor space makes up for the comparative lack of population, acting as a literal echo chamber to make a dozen people sound like a hundred. For those who are vending physical goods, tables have been set up. Some Kindred are hawking wares themselves; some have given their ghouls permission to sell, either their domitors' work or the work of the ghouls themselves. Some Kindred don't have a table, but are clearly 'open for business' in the political sense, seeking to wheel and deal while the night offers an opportunity for it. The Sunset Noir's fountain is the center of it all, of course.
The Keeper of Elysium, Cheree Crowley, is dressed in a sporty spandex Balenciaga mini-length dress with long sleeves and a turtleneck collar (but then, she never lets her neck be seen, anyway). She walks with her hands folded in front of her lap, surveying the tables, offering smiles and nods and whatever other friendly tools of her trade feel right in the moment.
Beatrix Lee is here, and for once, she is not alone. She is escorted by another woman - the oft-foreshadowed 'Emily' who has set out a generously-stacked tray of accessories, largely necklaces and earrings with a couple of well-turned leather collars. The general quality of worksmanship is high. Emily is an Asian woman who lacks Beatrix's pallor, and is wearing a lacy white dress that resembles nothing so much as a flirtatious, yet sit-friendly cupcake. A white cat-ear headband is *not* worn, but sits prominently on a bag bearing the visage of a Shiba Inu dog, cartoonishly rendered.
Beatrix is wearing her clubbing outfit and in the light of Elysium it is simultaneously less impressive (Beatrix is not trying to be sexy underneath it; you can actually see all the straps and where they squinch into some of Beatrix) and more (it is better made than most such harness-wear). When Cheree drifts nearby, Beatrix says, "Keeper Crowley, may I introduce Emily?"
Parker is walking a short distance behind and off to the side of Cheree. His eyes are wandering and taking in the vendors but often drifting back to the Keeper where he can't help but look. He's dressed as usual, looking like an expensive casually wealthy jackass that stepped out of Succession. Minus the dumb ass baseball hat look. He seems eager to take in this sort of night market even as he's accompanying his Domitor for the moment. "Quite interesting..." he softly comments.
Michelle isn't wearing anything special when she arrives at the Sunset Noir to find it transformed for Cheree's night market event. She arrives as she so frequently does in her preppy plaid skirt, white blouse, and her vest with a small array of jewelry straight out of a 1990's Hot Topic or Spencer's. Her hands are clasped behind her back and the Warlock has a sweet little smile on her face. As she circles the room she comes to a stop at a space reserved for Clan Tremere, manning the Chantry's post so to speak to collect boons for the Boon God. From across the way she spots Cheree and lifts her hand to offer the Keeper a wave.
Ingrid is loitering around the back of the Salon. She's been here for some time, keeping quiet tabs on the comings and goings of various undead and their attendants and occasionally glancing toward her cellphone. She watches the ghoulish introduction between the Keeper and Beatrix's new protege, before her attention drifts over to Michelle staking out a claim for their shared clan. She meanders over, hands clasped behind her back and a little swing to her hips.
"The doctor is in, I see."
The 'Tremere table' has been given a good spot. (This is political.) Even so, what this means is that as they're adjacent to one of the main throughways of people walking, Ingrid and Michelle get to experience the fun of being Warlocks -- which is to say, Kindred giving them just a bit of side-eye, or side-stepping to walk further away from their table than they might one run by a Rose...
"Only if I can introduce you to Parker," Cheree says to Beatrix. She grins and steps to one side, lifting a hand to gesture to Parker. "Parker, this is Deputy Beatrix Lee, of Clan Malkavian, a skillful seamstress and adequate karaoke singer." Cheree's smile brightens as if to say, 'I'm just playing.' "It's wonderful to meet you, Emily. How long have you been 'employed' by Deputy Lee...?"
Beatrix and Emily took what they were given and seemed content. That's just how it is, sometimes. As others circulate, Emily seems about to talk but then-- remembers. Perhaps she got nudged. "So it seems," Beatrix says to Ingrid with a thin smile. "It's a little narrow in application, but if you lose a button or tear a seam or anything like that, you've got the surgeon right here."
Emily looks at Cheree with an ingratiating smile. She glances at Beatrix - who nods - and answers, "We've been friends for ten years, it is CRAZY. I can't believe it myself sometimes! It is an HONOR to meet you, Keeper," Emily concludes, which seems to pass muster with Beatrix. She scans the room again.
"Emily's about as good as me with a needle, though I do most of the leather stuff," Beatrix explains. "If any of these things appeal to you, just ask." The jewelry gleams. There seems to be actual sterling silver involved!
Parker nods his head in greeting to Beatrix and Emily as they are introduced, discussing their relationship/employment and all things tailor-ish/seamstress-y? "A pleasure to meet you both," He extends a hand, as one might do in a professional boardroom setting. Because hey, Ventrue ghoul right? "I've only known Keeper Crowley for what....a few months now?"
Michelle looks at just the right time to spot Ingrid meandering her way over. Without thinking much about it, her purple gaze drops to follow Ingrid's hips and the petite sway they do as she walks. It isn't until Ingrid speaks that she realizes she was objectively staring and that little sashay she evidently found more interesting than anything else in the room had gone on long past the point of being polite. Her gaze lifts immediately and she attempts to cover with a hazy smile that tries to say, maybe, just maybe, that was just *bored*.
"Hey Ingrid," she says. "Uh. Yeah. I figured I should. I didn't see Artemis and.." Her voice drops to a very low whisper. "Who knows where Dante has fucked off to." A second of disgruntled-ness passes and she's smiling, almost cheerily, at her counterpart. Being out in the open like they are, her gaze turns to watch people walk by and the wide berth some of them take. Ooooo. Tremere. Spoopy! A particularly nervous looking ghoul on a mission for their domitor tries to skirt far away from where they gather and Michelle leans way forward when the little man isn't looking to give him a good "BOO!"
+ROLL/+DICE> Michelle: Manipulation + Intimidation vs. 4 -> 2 successes. (10 4 3 3)
The ghoul nearly jumps into the air and takes off, nearly tripping over his own feet. Hopefully he's not the ghoul of anyone important. (He's not.)
Ingrid is in a tightly buttoned polo that might be reminiscent of Fred Perry if it weren't for the little skull in place of a wreath, a pleated mini-skirt, and gartered thigh highs that lead to sneakers matching the shirt's gold trim. Her nails, necklace, and earrings are all the same glittery shade of silver. She loiters by Michelle, and after a moment of consideration, decides it's worth it to lower her guard enough for a little smirk and roll of her eyes.
"Last I heard, he was called off to Malta for the Candy Crush World Championship. Much more important than anything going on in little lonely Los Angeles." A pause, as she regards Beatrix and her familiar again, and she beckons the latter over with a little quirk of her finger, once she's done with her introductions, to examine the wares on display.
Cheree nods and smiles to Emily (that is, Beatrix's ghoul Emily, not the /bad/ Emily who got run out of town a while back). Parker may notice that when Cheree is listening to Emily, it's a bit like if Cheree was listening to a toddler. "That's wonderful. I'm so glad that you were able to make your friendship last."
Cheree then looks over her shoulder to Parker. "Oh, but Parker. It's not /quantity/, is it? It's /quality/. And it's been a /very/ quality few months."
Beatrix is seated with Emily - a ghoul (presumably) who is NOT whoever this other person is, and IS an Asian woman in an ama-loli style dress - behind a table. On the table are a range of earrings, necklaces, and several leather collars. They all appear hand made, and while this is definitely 'silver and semi-precious stones' grade of hand-made accessories, the quality is decent. A lot of the jewelry seems to have a butterfly/moth motif.
"It seems longer," Emily says to Parker, with a smile. She squeezes Beatrix's hand.
There is a slight relaxing of her shoulders. If he *was* gone it meant one less thing to be concerned about. That she got a little smirk out of Ingrid causes Michelle's chest to puff out a bit and her chin to lift some. She rocks onto her heels and whispers her companion's way, "I like your shirt." Ingrid letting her guard down even for a moment around her was cause for celebration, and an even better feeling than she'd gotten and scaring the piss out of that little ghoul. She watches Ingrid beckon Beatrix and tilts her head slightly before looking out into the crowd again. "I was thinking of having a horror movie marathon some night if you're interested," she mentions to Ingrid on the side.
Parker smiles faintly at Emily and takes his hand back as the ghoul - who is definitely not a double-agent - takes Beatrix's hand. "Yes, well the days and nights do pass differently now. So much richer and more interesting." He looks over at Cheree, "Keeper, would you mind if I wandered about a bit? I'd like to look around. Perhaps find a few unique things."
Cheree smiles at Parker and pats him on the shoulder (which is sort of funny considering their height disparity). "Of course, Parker. Enjoy yourself."
Then, Cheree's eyes cast over to the pair of Warlocks. "Did I hear 'horror movies'...?"
Who's that slipping out of the Harpy's Roost? Zaint Zebastian -- alongside Edith, for whomst they even got the door. Never mind that they leave it a jar and take a moment to wipe their hand discreetly on their jeans -- the Malkavian is present----
Okay Zebastian looks a touch distracted, in a paradoxically moonbeam focus way; bright eyed sure, but hazy around the edges. What's this? What's that? Who's on first?! How are there this many tables vending goods? Was there a hostile takeover of Etsy, forcing Licks to launder goods for Boonified credit? Was it an Emily's fault!?
"...Hammer, or?..." Zebastian turns and looks to Edith as they glide along -- en route to interrupting the flow of commerce in Cheree, Michelle, Beatrix and Ingrid's area of effect. Parker is neglected. The world, like the market, is free to be unfair.
Ingrid drops the line with the Malkavian wares in either case. She turns her focus back to Michelle completely. She lets out a little noise in response to the compliment, probably positive acceptance, before considering the prospect.
"Movies," she says, distantly, as though the subject were foreign to her - but then Cheree chimes in and her mouth forms a little circle.
"Keeper Crowley is the resident horror junkie," she affirms.
"Me? I have a weak stomach. I get downright squeamish around blood. Gore. Et cetera." Monotone as ever, Ingrid spares an eye for Zebastian and Edith offering both a stare that's not unwelcoming.
There -were- certain things that Zoey was known for producing among the night crowd that probably wouldn't be appreciated being displayed on the street. One tended to frown on high-explosives and heavy ordinance, but the bluenette lunatic was wasn't limited to such things. Now? The 'living' sugar rush had turned up with some demonstrations and options of her astistry put into needle and thread, with garments of her own style. Masterful talent born of madness...but not really a known label.
"That sounds amazing," Beatrix says, blinking, slowly, as if coming into focus when she heard something about horror movies. Emily looks towards Ingrid, meanwhile, clasping her hands together and saying, "Please, feel free to ask - Bea is handling all the pricing but I made most of these, except the collars, since she's better with the punch --"
"Zebastian!! Oh my god!!" Emily gushes as she sees Zebastian. "Oh my god!" she says to Beatrix.
"Wave him over," Beatrix says. "Actually, let me." Beatrix leans over to pick up one of the objects on the table, a triangular decoration on a necklace that has been polished to a mirror sheen. She holds it up, twirling it on her finger. It twinkles, towards Zebastian's direction. Beatrix then puts it back down.
Cheree laughs as Ingrid describes herself as having a weak stomach for horror movies. Then Zebastian pipes up asking about Hammer films -- "Zaint Zebastian, so good to see you!" She turns and leans toward Zebastian, not coming close enough to /touch/ them but certainly making it clear /who/ is receiving her air kisses. She looks back over her shoulder afterward. "Hammer horror films would be just /perfect/ for you, then, Ingrid. They're not really /scary/ so much as they're made by and for drama-school weirdos."
+D10> Zebastian rolls 1 D10's: 5
+ROLL/+DICE> Zebastian: Willpower vs. 6 -> 3 successes. (9 8 7 5 4 3 3)
Edith returns Zebastian's politeness with a small, gracious smile and a little nod of thanks as she exits the Roost. She looks quite pleased. How courteous of the Malkavian! As for their question, she sends a look over her shoulder, with a thoughtful, questioning drawing-together of her eyebrows. "...or na--?"
As for Parker? If Edith's fellow ghoul should look over at her, he'll get a wave and a smile. Ingrid's staring? That earns a more polite dip of the chin, respectful but not cowed.
By this point, Edith has folded her hands over her lap and is taking straight-backed steps that click over the dark floor with every press of the short, blocky heels of her shoes. She turns her attention over the Beatrix's table thanks to Emily's gushing and the mirror-like sparkle of the trinket. She'll remain near the Zebastian for the moment, because shiny things are being shone at them.
Pris has a table, sitting quietly nearby. The table is completely empty, except for the Ventrue in a black velvet dress, with a couple of chairs facing her. She looks over to the crowd of Cheree, Beatrix, Ingrid and Michelle with a slight smile, before she turns back to the individual currently engaged in conversation with her.
Parker does of course see Edith, because ghouls gotta stick together, right? In fact he adjusts his path to move directly towards Edith, approaching along-side and asking her with a playful smile, "Shopping tonight? See anything you are interested in?"
+LOSE/+BURN> Michelle burns 1 Willpower.
+ROLL/+DICE> Michelle: Appearance + Subterfuge vs. 6 -> 2 successes. (9 8 8 4 1)
Whatever Michelle feels at being rebuffed by Ingrid is swallowed down and she puts on the best face that she can. "Oh," she says. "Yeah. I guess they're not for everyone." She rocks on her heels again and plasters a smile on her face for Zebastian as they arrive, and Cheree as she tunes in on her mention of horror movies. Her train of thought freezes for more than a few moments, not knowing to play it all off without stomping on Cheree's own interest. "It was just a thought I had." She smiles at Pris next when she notices her.
Zebastian was distracted before, and now someone's invoked their name and is exclaiming 'oh my god' -- for a moment, the Malkavian just moonbeams away from Edith and boggles out at the market like: lowkey alarmed.
The shine of silver being twirled and twinkled like an ardent beacon in Beatrix's hand pulls focus. Zebastian looks--- still alarmed? Cheree has entered personal space - albeit without touching - and they just--- air kiss, air kiss - yes, yes, everything is fine -- Zebastian is laughing, see? Hah-hah! So gentle and delighted; hands pressed to their centre chest, elbows drawn in tight. Tight, to contain the joy.
"//What's happening//?" Totally cool introductory greeting, to all gathered - even Ingrid and her not-unwelcoming stare - before Zebastian ping-pongs focus between Cheree and Beatrix, Emily -- Edith? Beatrix--- is that Zoey? Parker, Michelle--- Beatrix again! Speaking in that soft chatter; "It's all, /so/---"
Zebastian's eyes ping back to Emily (the Ghoul), hands held up; "---you've all your fingers!" Is... That can't be an offer for a high-five, right? That'd mean touching.
Beatrix shifts to rise up to her feet and smile at Zebastian. "Hi," she says, spreading her hands at her wares. "Take a look and take whatever you see. For you, Zebastian, you get a free one. Just one, though," she adds with a wink, which makes Emily-the-ghoul giggle. And she rises upwards again to bring her hands up and give Zebastian a high five while saying, "Yes I *DO*, isn't that AMAZING? I was so worried! But you were completely right, they DID! You can't even tell unless you look, like, REALLY hard."
Beatrix steps out from around the table, She looks towards Zoey, and raises a hand to beckon her towards the knot of the Family, putting a hand on one mostly bare hip afterwards. Then to Cheree, she says, "Aha, that reminds me. We have your thing in the car. I'll bring it up before we leave."
Edith follows Zebastian as they moonbeam awaaaay, which means she gets to give a polite nod to everyone in the vicinity of Beatrix and Emily's table. Everyone who looks her way is given that gesture of respectful greeting, which could mean that Edith's doing a bit of nod-nod-nodding before she finally turns to her fellow ghoul with a pleasant smile. "Just looking around for now. Lots to see, you know?"
After a slow, curious peek around, Edith returns eye contact to Parker again. "How about you? Have you seen anything that's caught your eye?"
"Zeb!"
Bright tones as glowing as her neon blue locks, there was an exciteable wave from Zoey as if she'd seemed to pick up the moment he'd spotted her.
Maybe it was a Malk thing...or she'd just been waiting for anyone to make eye-contact with her. Of course there were other familier faces, both Ghoul and kindred, but...well, she'd at least learned to wait her turn in these formal events.
"I'll put up with it if nothing else is happening," says Ingrid, without looking back at Michelle, which, belatedly, comes across as acceptance - detached though it may be. She's busy studying Beatrix and Emily's joint offerings without moving from her post in the Tremere spot. Her attention seems to be caught by Cheree for a short moment following the Keeper's recommendation.
"I hope that doesn't man I come across as a drama school -..." Ingrid cuts herself off here. Perhaps self-censoring a slur in these hallowed halls. What follows: a stare. A little furrow of her eyebrows. A pout, then she's rolling her head to the side, as though peeling her face off of a sheet of velcro.
"We're not advancing any agendas standing here and looking pretty. Come on." She takes Michelle by the elbow and, if allowed, moves to lead her over to Pris' empty table.
"What /do/ you do, Ms. Albret?"
"No," Cheree says to Ingrid with a grin. "You're a terrible actress." She winks.
Cheree then looks to Michelle. "You should both come by my place in Glendale. I've got a treasure trove of the things. Giallos, J-horror, jungle stuff, Nazi stuff, Spanish psychodrama nonsense, cannibals, demonic possession, slashers... even some special treats." She grins and pats Michelle on the elbow, then resumes roaming. Smiles are given to Pris and to Zoey. For the most part, right now Cheree is just making sure everything's running as it should.
"/Wonderful/," Cheree grins to Beatrix. "I'm so grateful, Deputy Lee."
Pris greets Ingrid and (Michelle, if she has come) warmly, her eyes quiet, as she replies to the austere Warlock. "I provide a variety of tailored services." She gestures to the chairs. "Have a seat, if you like, and let's see what I can do for you."
Parker doesn't seem as concerned about who sees him, or what he's doing. Maybe he's too dumb to care? Too arrogant? Or just relying too much on the fact that he's the Keeper's? Whatever it is, he's not shy at all as he talks with Edith, "Nothing yet. I thought I'd look around and see - I'm sure there might be something for Keeper Crowley - or something that she'd like to own. And there are a lot of people to meet I haven't met yet." He glances down at whatever is nearby and comments, "Seems like our....group here is not all that different from the outside world. Odd - I would have thought it would be so different."
Michelle looks perplexed for a moment as Ingrid actually accepts her offer in the end. Her head swivels to look at her just in time to see her brow furrowing. She's suddenly curious about what would have followed drama school, looking to Cheree as she mentions Ingrid being a terrible actress. Before she can say anything about Cheree's horror collection she feels her elbow being grabbed and she's led over to Pris by Ingrid, offering no resistance to her fellow Warlock. "Hello, Ms. Albret," Michelle says. "Very nice to see you again."
Ingrid glances down at the chair across from Pris, then back up at Pris. There's a moment of pause, before she releases Michelle from her captivity, deposits her rear in the seat and crosses her legs, long-fingered hands folded over a knee and eyebrows arched expectantly.
"Zoey!" Zebastian chimes, interrupting a hummmmm at Edith -- though before the Norwegian Malkavian can shoot a barrage of air-kiss assault in the Bluenette Malkavian, the Art Skool Malkavian's Ghoul, Emily(2) has raised a hand in universal expression of a Highest of Fives.
/Smack!/
O' the reverberating echo --- and oh, the swiftness in which Zebastian's high-five'd hand moves; clasping around Emily's wrist --- joined in with laughter, o' the reverberating laughter - as the Ghoul's wrist is clasped and clasped and shook and shaken and grasped and shook once more -- laughter, o' the laughter; it peppers through the accompanying rapid-fire chatter;
"That's the //thing//, =right=?! It's all about /balance/, so long has you have =faith=, right? You've got it ---right, everyone who'd look could tell if they were looking, but it doesn't matter if //you// don't believe it, and release that worry -- what's fifteen minutes of agony in comparison to an endless wave of /persistence/? It's not a sprint, Emilphedrine - it's beyond a marathon, it's an oblongathon - it's a //endurance//-- you've been enduring? //You've -endured- it, but have you //earned// it? You know, you know you know---"
Laughing, Zebastian shakes Emily's writ and moonbeams over at Beatrix, motormouthing onwards; "---//right//?"
+ROLL/+DICE> Cheree: Perception + Alertness vs. 6 -> -1 success (Botch!). (5 3 2 1)
Cheree is faced away from Zebastian behaving like a maniac, and thus misses it, engrossed in conversation as she is with a high-generation Toreador Harpy who looks an awful lot like Diane Guerrero.
"Awesome," Beatrix says to Cheree, with an actual wink. Then she adjusts her glasses as others speak up and greet and circulate. Ingrid sets off to advance agendas and for some reason this makes Beatrix smile, at an angle where, by sheer coincidence, only Parker can see it.
It's to Parker she replies. "I mean," she tells him with a hand on her hip, "this outfit isn't something people wear every day unless they work at Sanctuary Studios or something like that." She drums the fingers on the side of her abdomen for a moment. "Besides," Beatrix continues, leaning forwards to whisper something to him.
Emily 2.0, meanwhile, seems just pleased as punch to see Zebastian again -- and she seems to accept his behavior, leaning forwards, gingerly, for a brief hug.
"I think she's earned it," Beatrix answers to Zebastian. "She handled the move like a champion." "It really was a step up," Emily says. "That house had bad vibes anyway. It's probably why my grandmother was that way."
+D10> Zebastian rolls 1 D10's: 5
+ROLL/+DICE> Zebastian: Willpower vs. 6 -> 1 success. (9 7 6 3 2 1 1)
Zoey herself actually steps away from her table for a moment...not perhaps the best business practice, but this was Zoey one was talking about!
Bouncing up to the others there was a smile Cheree's way...but the ventrue was doing the ventrue mingling thing so indeed she slips up closer to the gathering in time for the sharp sound of that 'highest of fives'.
"Hey there!" she offers, but that overflowing 'joy' to the manic bluenette seemed to extend the greeting beyond Zeb to those around him.
Edith curves a bright smile at Parker. Buying gifts for his domitor? "Oh, that's sweet," she says, tone relaxed and amiable as Zebastian shakes Emily's wrist in the behind her. Either Edith is unaware of what the Norwegian Malkavian is up to (unlikely) or she doesn't seem all too worried about it (possibly).
Or maybe this is normal for her now? Who knows.
Anyway, back to Parker, with a tilt of Edith's head. "I'm sure you'll find something lovely." But as for the notion of things being more of the same regarding vampiric society. Edith hmmms thoughtfully and replies with wishy-washy ambivalence that expresses her lack of desire to talk about the spcifics in front of bloodsucking monsters. "In some ways, I guess." Then another flash of a smile. "I hope you've been well since we last saw each other."
Pris watches Ingrid release Michelle, and then smiles and replies. "Very nice to see you as well, Ms. Torres. Have you found anything of interest at the night market so far? Quite a lovely concept, such a great way to get to know people." She looks to Ingrid at the last, her eyes still warm. "Let's start with one of the simpler services that I offer --- helping people find what they need." She smiles to Michelle. "As you can imagine, this gets personal very quickly."
Parker is standing with Edith when Beatrix leans in and whispers something to him privately. There is a momentary pause as he takes in that private message, and his warm smile fades to something....well less warm. "Yes. Well - it is still a lovely piece of work." He takes a step back, and looks at Edith now, "Very well thank you. Busy, plans in motion, projects and investments. Always moving you know." True, he moves a lot. Shifts his stance, his body. Anxious much?
Jack Scar pauses when he steps off the elevator, to give it a foul-tempered look, grimacing. It's gone when he turns back around, replaced by his merry, gold-checkered grin as he looks over the changed room, filled with its noise and tables.
Oh, there's a hug now? Zebastian is hugged by Emily 2.0 -- though the angle may be askew, what with the Norwegian's seeming reluctance to release the Ghoul's wrist. Laughter persists -- complete with their head dipping and--- did they just smell Emily 2.0's hair? Laughing! Oh the soft melodic chime of laughter--- the gesture interrupts that motor-mouthing, as Zebastian's free arm snake around the ghoul's shoulders.
Squeeze. Squeeze. Gentle - surely gentle - haha; what activity this evening! Such energy!
Zebastian's fractured visual focus remains snagged on Beatrix -- moonbeam smile not quite entering Cheshire territory, but hey who's keeping track. "//For sure//! It pays no, to be flexible?" Shake goes the Ghoul's wrist -- squeezed? Gentle chime of amusement; "Was it haunted? The house - not your grandmother -- unless? No--- but to keep your finger on the pulse, Deputy - it's the thing, no? We've missed you--- really, the world is so--- what've you been cutting up?"
Final question aimed Emily 2.0's way--- though Zebastian's head tips back up-- over; what's that over there? Distraction! Obliviousness to the social fray? There's a squeeze-- Emily 2.0's shoulder or wrist, why not both-- and the Norwegian looks back to Beatrix -- leaning in, kind of shaking her Ghoul her way, ragdoll style adjacent - while inquiring; "What's the word on the wire?..."
"Personal or material? Can you find things that other people might need to lose?" Ingrid inquires of Pris. Her foot makes slow figure eights mid-air as she eyeballs the Ventrue across the table.
"Let's say, a shipping container full of Samsung TVs."
It isn't long after Ingrid plops herself into a seat that Michelle follows suit, sitting and crossing her legs while giving Pris her attention for the moment as she speaks. "Not personally, but I do like the idea," she admits. "I've been representing the Chantry with Ingrid." Her hands fold in her lap as Pris's warm eyes focus on Ingrid. Michelle looks to her companion as well. This should be interesting.
+ROLL/+DICE> Zebastian: Intelligence + Etiquette vs. 5 -> 3 successes.
Edith smiles with closed lips, eyebrows furrowing in concentration as she absorbs Parker's reply oh-so-attentively. Her features relax once he's done. She goes on to dip Parker a slow nod-nod, chin dipping in the perfect combination of courtesy, poise and enthusiasm. "It's good to stay busy, isn't it?" Rhetorical question, asked smoothly and airily. Of course it's good.
Is everything else good? Well, probably. Maybe Parker's anxiety is contagious, though -- because there's this moment, brief as it is, wherein Edith's nose twitches in a bunny-like fashion.
The smile returns a second later.
Pris laughs, but entertains the concept as presented by the Warlock. "Yes, I can do that. But that's not very exciting." She relaxes back in her seat and adds, "What I am hearing, Ms. Rass, is that you, perhaps, need cash." She considers the two Warlocks curiously. "Unless you really do need that many TVs?" She grins quietly, her expression warm. "And is that a statement on how many rooms there are in the Chantry?"
+ROLL/+DICE> Beatrix: Perception + Etiquette vs. 3 -> 3 successes.
Jack Scar lifts a hand to wiggle his fingers at Cheree, a friendly wave, but he pads his barefoot way towards Pris. "Ah, 'ello, M'moiselle," he greets her, cheerfully.
Cheree breaks away from her engrossing conversation with Toreador Diane Guerrero, kisses dealt to both parties' cheeks, et cetera. Just in time to greet...
"Captain Scarpia," she says, with a smile. Her eye is caught by the embroidered handiwork on Zoey's table, and she steps closer to survey it. "Your Clan is well-represented at the market tonight. I'm going to have to keep holding them until I can safely establish Ventrue dominance, you know." She's joking!
Probably!
"If I needed a cash infusion I'd pull Monero out of cold storage. No, I'm just asking if you have connections that can make large, unsupervised purchases of electronic supplies. Hate to bore you with something so trite if it's below your station, though." Ingrid pouts and leans back in her chair. There's a glance over to Michelle on this later point, but Ingrid doesn't press it, or the former.
"Afraid I'm boring, and that's all I'm after at the moment. You, Apprentice Torres?"
Beatrix's Ghoul Emily (no relation) hugs Zebastian. Emily is in an ama-loli dress and has a merch table. It's jewelry, earrings and necklaces and a couple of leather collars, mostly silver, many with a butterfly-or-moth motif. As Zebastian shifts her hand around, Emily giggles. "It was haunted by being lame as shit," Emily tells Zebastian. "And you won't BELIEVE what it SOLD for." At this news, some mysteries about how Beatrix affords her chintzy outfits are revealed, to those with 'eyes to see' and 'ears to hear.'
Beatrix looks towards Zebastian -- then does a bit of a double take, before giving her one of her usual watery-eyed smiles. "I hate to have her come all this way without making some sales," Beatrix tells Zeb, "but you have a fair point."
After this, Beatrix drifts towards the Tremere table, arms folding loosely.
+D10> Zebastian rolls 1 D10's: 8
Cheree's comment brought a blink and a turn on the heel from the 'schoolgirl punk' wearing Malkavian as others seem quite distracted, a bouncing step bringing her close.
"Mhmm!" she agrees lightly, "there's a lot of pretty stuff! And it's kinda strange not to be trading the way I usually do with 'pyrotechnics'..."
Cheree's joke however makes Zoey tilt her head as her glossed lips remain in that ever-present smile. "Isn't 'Ventrue Market Dominance' the normal state of your clan?"
Jack Scar grins at Cheree, pausing to say, "Is so? I am no surprised, eh, we are of course a talented lot. I am no, meself, bringing along violins, but, eh. Is possible, I suppose, I make such a thing to sell."
Parker nods his head in agreement with Edith, "It is. You should come by sometime and chat with me about staying busy. Always good to bounce ideas off others, have time away from the regular day-to-day too. That is, if you can find time in your schedule. I'm sure I can make time." With that, his phone goes off and he checks it, "Ugh. Markets overseas are moving in ways I didn't predict. I need to go deal with my work..." He looks around, finding his Domitor, "If you will excuse me. I have to attend to business." He doesn't so much wait though - money calls!
Cheree gives Parker an air-kiss to the cheek. "Of course, Parker. Be safe~."
Cheree then resumes looking over Zoey's wares. "Oh, but it /should/ be the normal state of /the Praxis/," she teases. "And you're right that I would have been rather... less than impressed if you violated the weapons rules of Elysium by selling, you know, dynamite or fragmentation grenades or whatever." She looks over at Jack. "I had no idea that you're a luthier, Captain." Her interest /definitely/ seems snagged by that.
Pris looks up to Jack and offers a wave and warm nod --- she is sitting at a table, hawking her wares to Ingrid and Michelle --- wares of the invisible variety. "Primogen Scarpia, lovely to see you, sadly without violins." She smiles and looks back to Ingrid, offering an apologetic tilt of her head. "Ah, forgive me. I assumed you were making light. In all seriousness, yes." She rests her hands in her lap, fingers twined together. "I have the resources and skills to help you develop the connections required to commit that kind of hypothetical larceny."
With hands still folded in front of her lap, Edith cants her head in a final nod to Parker. Sparkling smile. "That'd be nice. I know some cute little cafes we could visit. They even stay open late!" Then a little wave, "You take care. See you again soon."
With Parker running off to the business factory, Edith turns around and flits the same smile at Cheree, complete with a neat little flittery-fingered wave. Then it's off over to stand by Zebastian and Emily. Leaning forward, she takes a peek at the table -- but not without a quick eyebrow raise and upnod of greeting to Emily.
"Oh, you have some really pretty things here," Edith says after a bit of a peek over Emily's trinkets.
Ingrid posing the question to Michelle catches her off guard. It's as if the idea of getting something for herself never occurred to her. "If you're boring then... I'm.. something even more boring," she says. "I can't think of anything I need exactly." Nothing she needs, but what about things she wants? The bespectacled Tremere looks at Pris. She is immediately reminded of deals made with a devil after recalling how Pris used the word desire. Her brow creases slightly. "Unless you know rare book dealers I suppose."
"What's a few measly milli in comparison to cool?" Zebastian chatters on to Emily 2.0 (Ghoul Edition) -- laughing softly as they chime; "Like yourself, pearls beyond price..." Shake goes her wrist, shook go her shoulders - as Zebastian tilts their head to look back at Beatrix. Sharp?
Brief! Vibrant! Trill of mirthful clicks shared to herald on her exit, before Emily 2.0 gets pat on the noggin -- one, two, three times -- and unceremoniously shoved---- gently, gently released and ushered to attend to her table. There there; go vend, ama-loli Ghoul.
Zebastian absconds; giving the slip soon as Edith rolls up to inquire about trinkets -- distracted? Putting table-space distance between themself and the fray--- don't worry where the Malkavian slips off too. It's probably temporary. Listen real hard, and one might hear a soft through the social hub-bub; "...Hvilket ferskt helvete er dette..."
Jack Scar nods to Pris, says, "A pleasure, M'moiselle.
Then he winks at Cheree, says, "I am apprentice to luthier when I am a boy, I study this art some six years, but of course now I am have had more time to, ah, perfect it. And I am remembering a few leel secrets, me master is study under Nicolo Amati. Is, I think, more a thing to do, ah, bespoke, no?" He shrugs, "This is right word?"
Ingrid lets her gaze drift up and down Pris for a moment as Michelle offers an even less reasonable proposition. She lets it hang in the air for a moment longer than is comfortable, before saying:
"I don't want to commit a thing. I want to pay to have all the heavy lifting done. If you're amenable, we can talk details later. It won't be TVs." There's a flash of a smile to seal the deal, and then Ingrid's on her feet again.
"I'll see you back home," she offers to Michelle, before angling herself for the elevator.
She pauses for a moment by the Keeper, leaning in and letting her fingers splay over the back of her cold arm. She offers but a word or two in low tones, and then makes her departure proper.
+ROLL/+DICE> Cheree: Intelligence + Academics vs. 6 -> 2 successes. (9 9 7 1)
"Nicolo Amati," Cheree says, eyes actually going wide. "You're /kidding/."
Cheree looks over at Zoey as if Zoey will share in her amazement. This Keeper knows her Italian violins.
"When I was in New York one of his violins sold for over six hundred /thousand/ dollars at auction." Cheree is so awe-struck by this that she doesn't notice Ingrid whispering to her until like two heartbeats after that whisper is concluded. "Wha?"
"No kidding," says Jack to Cheree cheerfully, "Is good some of them he made are surviving. I am no knowing him, he is dead before I am born, and me master is no coming to fame, though he is making fine violins. It is, eh, more a matter of geography, perhaps. Are you playing?"
Pris inclines her head warmly to Ingrid. "Talk later, Ms. Rass." She turns her attention to Michelle and considers her for a moment, then offers a slight smile. "I do know at least one. Whether or not he can find what you need... outside of what you already have access to. I'm not sure. But I'd be happy to pass along any requests."
"Rules might sometimes make things less fun, but Papa made sure I understood Elysium ones -very- well before he set me loose in L.A.," she agrees lightly. "Nothing here is explosive...well, from me anyway. You never know, right?"
Zoey would say more, but topic moves on as Jack offers information about...something Zoey doesn't understand at all. Still, excitement and amazement was infectious to her and she clasps her hands. "That's really cool!"
Thankfully, Cheree did offer a hint afterwards and that had Zoey leaning in. "Mmm, I'd love to see how they're made!"
Emily grins at Edith, conspiratorially. To Zebastian, she says, "Take care of yourself, alright?" as she returns to sit behind her table of wares, looking around with her best convention smile.
Does she think she's at a convention?
It's plausible.
Beatrix turns towards Jack then, sketching out a curtsey despite her lack of skirts. "Primogen," she says, with a certain ironic richness. "Would you care to look at my retainer's wares when you have a moment? No rush, of course. We're not going anywhere for at least an hour."
Michelle looks at Ingrid as she excuses herself back home and makes her way toward the elevator. Her gaze lingers as she exchanges words with Cheree until Pris addresses her about the rare book dealers. Attention successfully drawn the Warlock looks thoughtful as she considers it. All of her book dealers were in San Jose, and one in Berlin. She hums quietly to herself. "Let me get you a list," she says. "There are a few volumes missing from some of my collections." Likely Occult, but nothing terribly secretive. Those sorts of books were kept elsewhere, and she had keys to a far greater collection than she could ever amass herself.
Cheree touches a hand to her chest like she might be overcome by a case of the vapors. "/Wow/," Cheree repeats. "I am /truly/ impressed, Captain Scarpia. I collect rare and antique guitars, myself -- investing in art is a wonderful and fulfilling way to cheat on my taxes. I had this beautiful blue Agostino acoustic that I gave to /Karner Blue/ when I arrived in Los Angeles. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't have anyone break into Der Blaue Engel to steal it /back/ before that place burned down."
Cheree lets out a weary sigh. "It was a /wonderful/ sounding guitar -- and worth something like a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, on top of that."
Cheree gives Zoey a smile. "I'm quite grateful to your Sire for that. I enjoy you too much to want to punish you for any silly transgressions."
The smile Edith gives Emily in return is indeed conspiratorial as well. As for Zebastian, Edith turns just in time to offer her domitor a sort of distracted smile and wave. It's not like they can go far unless they make a dash for the elevator.
Edith turns her attention back looking over the glittery wares. She looks genuinely interested.
Jack Scar grins at Zoey, says, "Is taking quite some time, me dear, but I am no opposed to show you."
He returns Beatrix's curtsey with a bow of his own, one leg forward and arm across his waist, doffing an invisible hat that no doubt has a big invisible feather in it. "What is it you are offering?" he asks. "I am sure enough happy to look, though I am no coming here wanting for anything /but/ to look." He grins, amused, slightly apologetic.
"I made guitar no so long ago," Jack tells Cheree. "I show you sometime. But if you are wanting one, I think it should to be another. I can make him blue, should you wish it. But I am no sure that you are paying taxes on it, if I do that."
"Sounds good, Ms. Torres." Pris nods and smiles gently to Michelle. "I would be happy to help you round out your collection, as I can." She smiles and then quietly stands, preparing to leave. "I have to be going, but I hope you enjoy the rest of the market."
+ROLL/+DICE> Cheree: Wits + Style vs. 6 -> 4 successes. (10 9 8 7 6 1)
+ROLL/+DICE> Cheree: Wits + Style vs. 6 -> 5 successes. (10 8 7 7 6 5)
"Oh, I'm certain I could have anything crafted by you appraised for a tidy value, Captain," Cheree says with a wink.
Cheree then points at two of Zoey's handicrafts. "That one annnd that one," she says, getting out her phone to transfer some money. "This one, send to Edith Lee-Prescott. This one, send to Priscilla Albret." Presents! And presents that will look amazing on the two women.
"I'm sure I could find other things to be punished for," Zoey offers with a giggle, though truth be told the ever-exciteable girl could be making a double entendre, or could have no idea of the implication and it would have the same energy about it.
Jack's offer earns a nod and a smile. "Oh! Some of the things I make are clockwork, the intricacy is...well, it takes a moment!"
Cheree's transaction? It brings a bright smile and whoop of joy...okay, there might be hugging. After all, buying bombs was practical, buying outfits and such from her? Pure joy!
Cheree will indulge Zoey the hugs so long as Zoey doesn't try to, like, pick her up and swing her around, or anything. She's Keeper in the middle of Elysium! Dignity, always dignity.
Where's Zebastian? Drifting - distracted - dreamy and a touch ditzy to boot. Avoiding the fray? Partially obscuring themselves behind an innocuous vendors table and--- is the Harpy like, avoiding social engagement?! Heaven's forbid!
Never mind the little shuffle, when the Norwegian misses the opportunity to hot-step it into the elevator after Ingrid. Damn that elevator bell, damn that elevator button - if there's a candle and a book, that can be damned too -- but in its absence, the next best thing is obtained: a swoosh, as Zebastian tilts their head.
Casting a dreamy smile of appreciation in Keeper Crowley's direction, as Cheree flexes on that Blue Blooded eye for a stylish bargain. That moonbeam gets directed in Zoey's direction next - a wink shared with the Blunette, before Zebastian wiggles their fingers between Zoey and Beatrix - gives a parting smile to Pris, head dipped -- and glides... Off to the Roost!
Maybe that Diane Guerrero look-alike will wanna talk shop with Zebastian re: discerning tastes and decorum. Whatever /that/ means (it's contextual!).
Beatrix smiles at Jack Scar and leads him over towards the table. "I think," she says, "that this is the one you'd like, even if a necklace isn't exactly necessarily your thing." Beatrix picks up a piece of rather heavy wire looping around a number of silver decorations. She holds it for Jack to see - it doesn't twinkle - and she says, "This was once three pieces of eight. You know, they call them that because they'd break them up... they've been arranged into this design, like a butterfly."
"Would you care for it?" she tells Jack. "I can remount it for you too; no problem.~"
She blows an air kiss at Zebastian on his way out, and Emily waves vigorously too.
With waves to everyone who might be looking her way, including Emily, Edith makes a quick pace after Zebastian. Her heels click on the floor in a dignified cantering percussion. Sadly she's probably getting evicted from the Roost in a moment or five. She knows nothing of this Diane Guerrero look-alike.
Sadly Edith is unaware that Cheree just bought a neat gift for her. :(
