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Gathering: Beach Night
Topic Started: Jan 6 2013, 02:06 PM (1,944 Views)
KosST
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(Starting next public scene – private scenes may of course continue)

Invitations had been hand sent to each member of the coterie, rather than waiting for the word of mouth to spread to them. Invitations consisted of a small package, which had the following enclosed:

-A hand-written message from Sophie indicating how delighted she would be to have each recipient arrive, as they would be guests of honor, and they should arrive approximately an hour or so after the gathering officially begins
-A small business card bearing an image of logo for a company called "Celebration Enterprises," which you are instructed to present at the door
-A clearly well made, clearly expensive, clearly tailored swimsuit.

The next main gathering had been finally announced. Sophie Labeaux had been busy negotiating with the operators of the Mandalay Bay to arrange for an exclusive night-time concert at the Moorea Beach club.
(http://www.mandalaybay.com/beach/moorea-beach-club/http://www.mandalaybay.com/beach/moorea-beach-club/ )

With a DJ spinning a mix and a maybe a dozen blood-dolls lounging around the beach and cooking smores, it's a decidedly different tone from the reserved previous gathering held at the art gallery. Some of the more formal Kindred would likely appear out of place.
It would be absurd to think that everyone would be wearing swim-wear, right? Right?

Posted Image

At the entrance to the beach area, there are two large men blocking access. A large sign indicates "PRIVATE PARTY" but some added muscle couldn't hurt. They stand in front of the most accessible entrance, though there are ways in and out for enterprising individuals and those who can turn invisible. As coterie members arrive, they ask to see an invitation. Upon being shown the business card, they bow and open the door to allow access. As you proceed through, you see that the guards then get on a radio and say "Notable guest near entrance."

The party already appears to be in full swing. Though it is dark and mysterious out, pockets of light thrown by lamps and fire-pits show Kindred huddled in conversation. Some individuals are also clearly enjoying the pools as well. Topless blood-dolls wander the pool area carrying drinks, though mostly only the other Kine seem interested in partaking. It is clear that some Kindred are not accustomed to this environment, wearing fine clothes and sitting near the fires rather than embracing the pool party atmosphere.

Posted Image

Before the coterie gets too far, the Mistress of Elysium herself makes an appearance near the entrance. She wears a cover-up, though clearly has occasionally been in the pool given her dripping hair. She greets incoming Kindred.

"So good to see you! So glad you came! Please, feel free to mingle for a while. Also, enjoy and please partake of any of the refreshments you see before you - the night is yours, after all. At some point, I know a few of the Primogen wanted to talk to the group as a whole, and I've tried to... encourage people to ask about your experiences. So.. some Kindred may come up and gossip. Anyway, have a great time! Next part of the event is in ninety or so, so relax before then!"

Sophie then leaves the coterie to mingle.
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KosST
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Henry nods to Salvador. "Is there anything else?" He waits for a moment.

Antoine stands for a moment to try and intercept Salvador.

"What... what are you doing? Or rather, what are you going to do?" He gestures back to the assembled. "I mean, I'm all for multi-tasking, but..."
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Holy
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At the interruption, he actually looks conflicted. Maybe there wasn't enough time to react to both of Cassandra's predictions. He took in the three Brides, gaze then slipping to Harper across the way. Killjoy makes the decision, "The Lady is done. But she has a chance to choose between the Bastard and the Whore, if she's willing to sacrifice Nash. I want to find out if she is."
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Kara
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That earns a reaction from Ariadne who rises almost immediately to her feet. One step and then another brings her near him, though she stops with an arm's length of distance between them.
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KosST
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Quote:
 
At the interruption, he actually looks conflicted. Maybe there wasn't enough time to react to both of Cassandra's predictions. He took in the three Brides, gaze then slipping to Harper across the way. Killjoy makes the decision, "The Lady is done. But she has a chance to choose between the Bastard and the Whore, if she's willing to sacrifice Nash. I want to find out if she is."


Antoine offers a quizzical look. But he doesn't seem to make any direct attempts to bar Salvador's passage.

"You want to know for your own edification, or because her answer is gonna change what you do?"
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Daniel
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Dana shakes her head as the table starts to break up. "Looks like we're pretty much done here. Good times, good times. Tell your mistress thanks for the heads-up." She rises, taking the guitar case with her.

"So... man, we gotta get somebody to look at Jacky. I get out there and back real fast, unless either of you just want to get out of here," she asks the other Brides while looking worriedly at Harper and Zoe.
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Holy
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Antoine:
 
"You want to know for your own edification, or because her answer is gonna change what you do?"

He squints at the question. "I'm still in her debt, and I won't short circuit her alliance with Nash. If he wants to give himself up for a higher cause, that's between the two of them. But I'll tell her the truth... or at least the prediction. She might be able stop Harper from taking the seat, but that doesn't mean Goodman wouldn't just take it instead. I'm honestly not sure which she might prefer on the throne."

Dana:
 
"...I get out there and back real fast, unless either of you just want to get out of here,"

"Here's the problem," Killjoy turns his attention to the Brides. "If Harper or Goodman make their bid tonight, they'll remember who was here to see it. If you split - that absence will be noted. And anyone who wants to take pot shots at you or your Covenant will remind everybody of the fact you weren't here. Leaving now is about Jacky and your loyalty to him, but it's an easy sell to say it's about the new regime and your absence of support, especially when you're not here to defend yourselves."

His eyes flick to Ariadne at his side, offering her a quiet word.
Edited by Holy, Feb 7 2013, 04:37 PM.
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Kara
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Ariadne listens to Killjoy and spends a long, long moment staring at him before muttering in return.
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KosST
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Antoine shakes his head slightly, lowering his eyes to the floor as Salvador speaks. He then looks towards the whole group, watching the Brides as Salvador expresses the issue.

"Taking the Prophet at her words, we got issue. Though I suppose as long as Nash ain't there, the decision is on Ashcroft. If Nash hears the prediction, you can bet he'll flee, which means no matter what we have have the Bastard on the throne."

He pauses. "You tell Ashcroft, you remove that choice from us. I get that you got a debt. But that debt can be paid in other ways."

He runs his hands through his mussed hair again. "Gotta admit, I ain't fond of Harper sitting on that throne. But it don't mean I want Nash dust."


Whiskey and Natasha also stand. The whole table is filled with a nervous energy at this point. Whiskey addresses Dana. "Yeah, you can get there faster than any of us. We can trail behind you but..."

Natasha cuts in. "But Harper's looking at you, D. Looks like he wants something." Sure enough, Natasha is correct. The Bastard seems poised to sweep over any moment to talk to Dana.

Antoine seems to note this as well. "Shit. Look, I'll buy you a bit more time before he comes over."

Antoine goes over to intercept Harper for a moment, buying the coterie a bit more private time.
Edited by KosST, Feb 7 2013, 04:25 PM.
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Holy
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Salvador seems to absorb many of Antoine's words. "You make sense." There's a brief narrowing of Killjoy's eyes with Ariadne's, though. Rather than addressing them, he moves forward to put his hands on the table as Antoine buys them time. It's reminiscent of Rose's position not so long ago. "Right now we have momentum. We have the initiative. We have opportunities that most people don't. Like it or not, we're looked at as a group now. That works both for and against us. It offers us greater protection, but it also makes us a bigger threat to the people who'd rather we crawl back down to the dregs off the strip."

"Our fate has been tied together, what one of us does affects the rest. None of us really asked for that, but it's the tightrope we find ourselves on. We need to decide if we're going to continue that, or if we're going to take a dive and hope that we catch a net and not the cement. And that actually starts with you." Killjoy turns to face Ariadne directly.

For Kos/Kara

"You're the odd man out, Ariadne. I think it's time that you weren't."
Edited by Holy, Feb 7 2013, 05:06 PM.
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Kara
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Kos/Holy


Ariadne's eyes narrow into a real glare now, even though her mouth remains a straight line. "I am. Really." She blinks, and now just stares. "What about them?" She barely lifts one hand to flick toward the Brides. "They're going to run off for their guy. I'm right here. Was going to follow you to Ashcroft."
Edited by Kara, Feb 8 2013, 09:42 AM.
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Holy
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Salvador actually shakes his head. "They are discussing just exactly what they should do. No one's run off anywhere yet. The Brides are used to working as a team. And as long as we can show that we're worth a damn, and not going to betray them as soon as we see an opening, I don't doubt their loyalty."

Kos/Kara

"You, on the other hand, I don't think are used to trusting people."
Edited by Holy, Feb 8 2013, 09:58 AM.
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Kara
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Kos/Holy


"Not really sure why I should. We went down there, yeah. But you would've killed me, Antoine if it'd gone like that, if they-" A tilt of her head toward the Brides, "-didn't want their boss put down. And you spend a lot of time with Harper. Don't really care about your problem with the Estate. But the rest of it? You know?" The words might reflect her true feelings, but they don't exactly engender sympathy.
Edited by Kara, Feb 8 2013, 10:02 AM.
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Holy
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He furrows his brows at the accusation. "Killed you? If you were hell bent on ending Trina despite what the Brides wanted and you made it something physical? Yeah, I would have thrown in with them against you. You make it sound as if I would have just murdered you from the shadows. That wasn't going to happen. I don't think Antoine would have truly pushed it if the Brides made their case known. And even if you fell, once you weren't a threat I would never have said you should be put down."

Kos/Kara

"I know you're used to working under the Estate and their etiquette and oaths. But you still need honor out on the streets too. I was sent to support the Brides. I was going to make sure I did that, even when things got tough."
Edited by Holy, Feb 8 2013, 10:06 AM.
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KosST
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For Kara/Holy
Edited by KosST, Feb 7 2013, 06:23 PM.
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Kara
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Kos/Holy


She frowns, looking uncertain. There's a moment of shifting her feet before she half-mumbles back. "Yeah, and what are you going to do about this, now? About Nash and Harper? If that's even what's going to happen. Say you pick something I don't like, or they don't like." Her eyes raise back to Killjoy's. "What then?"
Edited by Kara, Feb 8 2013, 10:19 AM.
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Daniel
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Quote:
 
"But Harper's looking at you, D. Looks like he wants something."


Dana half-smiles, "Yeah, he was wanting to chat earlier, and I want to, but shit, Jacky's more important." Turning to Salvador, she snaps at him a little, "Just 'cause I don't like the politics don't mean I don't get some of it. If they start throwing down tonight, somebody needs to be here to get us on the winning team."

Quote:
 
"Shit. Look, I'll buy you a bit more time before he comes over."


Turning to Whiskey, she says, "Well, Mister President, what's your call? I mean, I don't know what the time limit is on this kinda crap, but I can get to Jacky and if he ain't there I can call you. If he's still sleepin', I can jet back. Gathering's still got some time yet, I don't think the Bastard's completely set..."
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KosST
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Turning to Whiskey, she says, "Well, Mister President, what's your call? I mean, I don't know what the time limit is on this kinda crap, but I can get to Jacky and if he ain't there I can call you. If he's still sleepin', I can jet back. Gathering's still got some time yet, I don't think the Bastard's completely set..."


Whiskey looks to Dana, rubbing his nose with a finger as he considers. "Harper's got some weird interest in you, D. Guess you could tell the guy you need to check up on something, but that you'll be back before he notices? Or 'Tasha could go check, call in reinforcements if Jacky is up? I mean, you're fast, but Tasha ain't exactly slow. We can send her, question is just if you go also."

He shrugs. "I can stay here, make sure that if shit goes down in public, I can make noise as prez. Just don't know if you'd care to entertain Harper's...."

Whiskey quiets down as the brewing conflict between Ariadne and Salvador starts to increase a bit.
Edited by KosST, Feb 7 2013, 07:29 PM.
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Holy
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Kos/Kara

He almost seems distracted by Dana's interruption, but keeps his footing. "I was planning to continue the dance. Ashcroft deliberately set me up tonight to be Killjoy. That's what Rose was all about. And if she wants me to be the spoiler, that's fine. But she needs to know the cost of that, and that when you begin manipulating fate, it doesn't always go where you want. But you're right, that was me going off on my own, not thinking about how we're connected as a group. Not thinking that we might at this moment be the ones able to decide who's Prince of this City. So that begs the question. Do you want to be a Kingmaker, Ariadne? Are you willing to see Nash cut down to stop Harper from ascending to the throne?"
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Daniel
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Dana follows Whiskey's lead, letting Killjoy and Ariadne continue their verbal sparring. Conflicted, she says to her President, "Dammit, I already brushed him off once tonight. If he's gonna shoot for Prince, can't afford to do it again. And Tasha... yeah, you've been practicing. Burn tail there, let us know if shit's happening. I mean, all we have is some crazy bitch's rambling, but I got a weird feeling about it."

"Here goes nothing." She leaves the coterie to its thoughts and heads towards Harper and Antoine. She tries to compose her features to hide the worry over Jacky-boy, adding a cocky smile as she addresses the Bastard. "You come to kiss and make up for almost stabbing this guy earlier?"
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Kara
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A long, long moment passes of Ariadne staring at Killjoy. Her arms hang limp at her sides, her head lowering until her eyes finally have to follow.

"Maybe you have a point. Guess..."

Kos/Holy
Edited by Kara, Feb 11 2013, 09:51 PM.
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KosST
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For Kara and Holy
Edited by KosST, Feb 12 2013, 10:56 AM.
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KosST
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Dana follows Whiskey's lead, letting Killjoy and Ariadne continue their verbal sparring. Conflicted, she says to her President, "Dammit, I already brushed him off once tonight. If he's gonna shoot for Prince, can't afford to do it again. And Tasha... yeah, you've been practicing. Burn tail there, let us know if shit's happening. I mean, all we have is some crazy bitch's rambling, but I got a weird feeling about it."


Tasha gives a grim nod of determination. "I'll head out now. I'll call your phones once I see what's what. If anything looks off, I'll pass info along."

Quote:
 
"Here goes nothing." She leaves the coterie to its thoughts and heads towards Harper and Antoine. She tries to compose her features to hide the worry over Jacky-boy, adding a cocky smile as she addresses the Bastard. "You come to kiss and make up for almost stabbing this guy earlier?"


Antoine notes the appearance of Dana, and then looks to the form of Natasha as she leaves the group. He then steps a bit to the side to let Dana join him and the Bastard. Owen laughs loudly as Dana comments, resting a one hand on the shoulder of Antoine while the other grazes his cheek for a moment. "Eh, Antoine just wanted to explain himself is all. And so I explained myself. No harm, no foul. It's all good. Though it's good to know that Antoine's got a friend in the Brides, right?" Antoine shrugs out of Harper's grasp. "Look, I'm just saying, I don't care what goes down tonight, just don't drag me and mine into shit, ok? Ashcroft me be obnoxious, but she had a point. We can't risk a fall."

Harper nods, attempting to look contemplative and serious. It doesn't last. "I know. Look, you can't stop the tide, though, right? So get your shit together. That's all I'm saying." The Bastard then eyes Dana. "We're good, no worries. Nice fucking understanding, he and I. But how are you? You guys done with the political bullshit yet? Lucy got her hands on some good shit, we got the pump primed for an enjoyable party later. Course, it could get a bit wild for you well behaved Brides...."
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Holy
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Killjoy continues to speak with Ariadne, looking across the gathering to peer at Nash and Ashcroft.
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Kara
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Ariadne shifts her feet, following Killjoy's gaze, but taking a good long time to respond.
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Holy
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Killjoy takes a step to place him next to Ariadne, not touching, but they both look out at Nash now.
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Kara
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Her eyes hit the ground again, staying there. At length, she mumbles something and looks back at Killjoy.
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Holy
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Salvador seems to agree with something Ariadne says, and a lot of tension leaves his body as they continue to converse.
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Kara
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Ariadne stares at Killjoy, almost suspicious.
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Holy
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Salvador nods to her.
Edited by Holy, Feb 12 2013, 11:34 PM.
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Kara
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She shifts her weight again, slowly.
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