GM:
~~~ IC ~~~

GM:
::it's whatever day it's been forever at this point... getting on towards evening... and Lan has a visitation invitation and a mission::

Lan:
::the doc cleans up pretty nice. In the end, he decides on making his small gift one of the lightly worn copies of sufi-like grailian poetry he carries around with him. Not that hard to get another copy, sooner or later. He licks back a stray lock of hair, or, okay whatever, you get the idea, and heads out::

Lan:
::having arranged the most dignified mode of transport he can.::

GM:
::the invitation specifies that she's staying as a guest in the noble estates up the hill, conveniently enough, and lists 7 pm to 9 pm as a fine time for callers::

Lan:
::makes sure to arrive promptly at seven. Like I said, looking as dignified as a guildsman can.::

GM:
::the gate guards look over your invitation, give you a smirk, and sends a paige to escort you into the compound after giving you a brief once over for weapons::

GM:
::from inside the compound you have a beautiful view of the sea, the sun near setting to the left of the coast and casting a red glow across the water::

Lan:
::has his practiced banal charm on like a glove. You wouldn't know he's got his eyes and ears wide open for maria, conversations about maria, anything having to do with her at all. Pretty sunset-- wonder where Maria is. Why'd that guy smirk... and where do you suppose she is? Clutches the little neatly blue-tissue wrapped gift under an arm.::

GM:
::warm lights are beginning to come on in all of the grand haciendas, almost drowning out the guard lights on the walls and the flashlights being woven about around the compound::

GM:
::the paige leads you up to one of the largest houses in the compound, an attractive piece of work in dark mahogany and rose colored stonework, rather than the stucco you get on less expensive haciendas::

GM:
::it stands barely two stories high, but sprawls out for dozens of yards in either direction from the door, resting massively on the bluffs::

Lan:
::security. Eesh. Thank the Creator I'm a really, harmless, guy.::

Lan:
::Geez. She could be anywhere in here... or elsewhere....::

GM:
::you're shown into the foyer, which soars up into the entire height of the building, west-facing windows casting the last of the sunlight on a bank of Hazat portraits hanging above plush linen couches... the butler, a stocky but refined looking chap, gets your name and then asks you to have a seat while he informs the lady of your arrival::

Lan:
::Scanning the portraits for looks of recessive genetic traits-- close earlobes, and the like. Probably finally gets drawn in by the grandeur of it a bit, though, and startles when the butler asks him to sit.::

Lan:
::finds a seat::

GM:
::as you wait you note that the entire building, if this room is anything to judge by, is uninsulated and unpainted, leaving the polished wood and the smoothed rose stone in their subtle grandeur... it's probably a good thing that it doesn't get terribly cold here, or the place would be a freezer in winter::

GM:
::the portraits, as nearly as you can tell, seem to be Eduardo, having the pronouced aquiline features and tanned skin that you associate with Maria and others of her family you've met... the Castendas obviously differ, their epicanthic folds noting a tendency towards an asiatic ancestry not apparenly present in the Aragonese nobles::

GM:
::finally, after about ten minutes, you are shown back to the solarium towards the center of the house...

Lan:
::rubs his smartly trimmed goatee. Waits patiently::

Lan:
::and follows patiently::

GM:
this room is similar to the foyer, though with more windows and less portraiture... on one of the overstuffed and comfortable looking couches lounges Tyrone, still shirtless in his artful Bishonen posture, though his expression seems slightly ill at ease, possibly aggravated...

Lan:
::Reminds himself he has no seriously entertainable plans for a threesome.::

Lan:
::doesn't interrupt, at best, bows his head politely::

GM:
two other men of apparent Hazat extraction but more well-clothed sit on another couch, an only slightly attractive Hazat woman in a subdued gown between them... they seem less aggravated, but more wary than Tyrone... and finally your gaze drifts to the center of the gathering, Malena... she has changed since earlier in the day, now wearing a dress of sapphire silk with black lace edging that would be scandalous on any woman of less status, possibly whorish on a commoner... but on her it just seems part of the whole avant gard persona she presses upon the world... and seeing her pulling it off, it's hard not to be impressed...

Lan:
::bows again, more deeply:: Milady. ::Assuming he's not getting rank completly out of order. Wouldn't dream of being crass enough to comment on her looks. Especially since a discreete look is you know, plenty.::

GM:
especially at how uncomfortable it must be while still looking completely natural...

Lan:
((<-- could never spell that D word. ))

GM:
she stands from her mahogany chair when you enter, and acknowledges your greeting by allowing you to kiss her hand::

Malena:
Ah... the handsome physician... I apologize for keeping you waiting, we've had some unfortunate news... please have a seat.. you know Tyrone, though I do not know if you've met Don Diego, Lord Baronet Marco, and... Lady Lisina

Lan:
::comes foreward and does it the right way-- just a brush, at most:: So good of you to see me, Milady. Not at all. I have not. ::Bows as humbly as speed of introduction allows:: I've brought you a trifle, if you'd be kind enough to accept it. ::offers the wrapped book, and takes a seat::

Lan:
I'm sorry to hear of it. If I can be of any use, or less troublesome some other time, I'm sure you'll tell me straight away.

Malena:
::takes the parcel and unwraps it carefully as she sits back down... in as calculatingly sexy a manner as possible:: Why, how intriguing... I don't believe any of my associates in the Keddah ever mentioned they had a native verse

Lan:
::smiles:: I hope you enjoy it as I have.

Malena:
No, probably not, it's just that we've just learned that the gargoyle did not make it's way to us.. the movers had some strange story about it just disappearing in transit... It's most distressing, especially due to the stray coins found left under their seats... it's hard to believe they would be that stupid in a side deal, but there's precious little other explanation... I'm sure our interrogators will get to the truth of it

Lan:
A gargoyle, you say? ::it was easy to conceal anything else behind an alchemist's genuine interest, after all. You know. Hopefully enough so that no roll is involved::

Malena:
Not *a* gargoyle, *the* gargoyle... you know.. from earlier? when we met?

Lan:
That was... the, gargoyle? ::raises eyebrows:: Ah. How awful.

Malena:
Well... ::turns to the other Hazat in the room:: I suppose there's something to be said for simple befuddlement... mawkishness does indeed have its charm.. any courtier would have turned such a mental slip into some kind of testament to being distracted by my beauty at the time, or other such fabrication

GM:
::Lisina nods, obviously getting the reference, while the Baronet looks a little bit nettled, as if he's used that as an out on more than one occasion::

Lan:
::lowers his head, humbly, but amused. You know. Looking it. She called him mawkish again. Hph.:: I beg your pardon, Milady. Gargoyles are. Well. Yes.

Lan:
It's an ... unfortunate loss. ::is pointedly not asking what they'd planned to do with it.::

Malena:
I'm sure we'll uncover it eventually ::waves a hand negligently:: .. it has put rather a damper on the evening, however... I'll tell you what... I'm having a larger gathering tomorrow evening and I think it would cause quite the stir to have an honest man.. by which I also mean a non-noble.. on my arm.. perhaps you could escort me? Oh.. and feel free to bring your friends if they also can clean up decently... the stir from having an Avesti at my party would be just darling

Lan:
::tilts his head slightly aside, listening. Chuckles:: I'd be honored to be your little prank, Milady. ... Ah. ::sniffs:: The priest. It would give me an excuse to take him to a tailor, yes. With your permission, I accept for them as well.

Malena:
Excellent, then you may meet here at promptly 8 tomorrow... Tyrone, please show him out and get him his invitations

Budi:
((A swanky noble party? What will Budi do...?))

Lan:
::stands and bows again:: Wonderful.

GM:
((try to sell them something, I'd imagine))

Tyrone:
::nods and stands, walking towards the exit::

Lan:
::makes to go promptly, since they obvious have big noble things to attend to that his poor common person can't grasp.::

Lan:
((He'll wear what I damn well tell him to. ^^ ))

Tyrone:
::after you're out of the room, leans to you and quietly notes:: I don't think she actually knows what mawkish means... she probably thinks it's some refined version of "gawky" ... humor her, though

Lan:
::has his hands folded:: Of course. ::soberly::

GM:
::Tyrone makes sure you have a personal invitation and a secondary, group invitation, then rings for a paige to take you back out::

Lan:
::lets himself be hustled out, still sort of memorizing details, as much as he can take in, before he gets back to home base to talk with the others::

GM:
::on the way back to the gates, considering whatever he's considering, Lan notes a passerby across the courtyard... he probably wouldn't have even noticed save that the clothing is so out of place for the heat and the style... but a man in a full suit of sober black, of the style that he saw far too often back on Severus, is casually walking with another Hazat, apparently, deep in hushed conversation::

GM:
::they're quickly out of sight, and Lan makes his way back to the house without further incident::

Lan:
::and he refrains from peeing himself. Any idea who he was talking *to* there? Exactly? Somebody important, or insignificant?::

GM:
::hard to tell, simply looked like a nice set of red and black clothes... the distance and the poor light made better identification impossible::

GM:
::one last thing that gets through on the way down....

Lan:
::and really, thank god for thaat distance anyway.::

GM:
one of the gate guards notes that everyone you bring should be extra careful to refrain from making themselves a security risk, as the guards will be rather focused on the party and probably kinda jumpy::

Lan:
::nods soberly again. Wondering faintly what guards think they would do about crashing shuttles anyway. But not showing it:: I'll sedate them if need be.

Budi:
((Security Risk??? Budi?? Everyone likes Budi!))

Lan:
::heads back home, stows the invitations away somebody, and disseminates the news.::

GM:
::the priest is communing with the Pancreator, but will probably take in what you've said eventually::

Budi:
A party! Fantastic. What's for dinner?

Lan:
::shrugs:: But, we gotta dress for it, you realize...

Vasili:
::Vasili grumbles, looks at himself and his NON fancy-event clothing, then looks back at Lan with a glare:: I hate nobles.

Lan:
That's just fine. I'm not propogandizing for nobles. Are we in this because we enjoy it?

Martel:
i wonder if they allow flamers...

Vasili:
::Vasili mumbles something else, but lets it go::

Lan:
No. ::shortly::

An:
Don't worry Vasili, I hate nobles too.

Martel:
::sighs:: thought not. thats ok. the flamer is really just for looks anyway. and for heretics, but i doubt it'll be needed at the party.

Lan:
So. Some of us will be going to the tailors. ::nods matter-of-factly::

Vasili:
Looks like it.

Martel:
Yeap.

An:
::laughs:: That should be fun.

Vasili:
How long do we have, again?

Lan:
Big place. I dunno. Hopefully... ::blinks:: Everyone, will be there?

Budi:
Yes, that is an excelent idea. I could use some new clothing.

An:
I might tag along, pick up something new.

Budi:
::Looks at his worn captain's uniform::

Prejun:
Mebbe... if your girl's in mourning, though, she might opt out... If'n you guys know where she's staying, you might take advantage of the security focus to go see her there

Lan:
I'm sure your advice will be better than mine, An. but. True... ::sighs, grumbles. Same dilemma:: It's Tomorrow at 8.

Budi:
I can make a large ... ass ... of myself to distract the guards. I can attract the attention of the guards as a distraction, so that you can go and see the Lady. But only if you wish it so.

Martel:
Just don't get yerself jailed budi.

An:
::nods:: Yes, I would

Budi:
You would get yourself jailed?

Lan:
Hm. No chance we could... get her a message to show up at the party? Maybe that's a bad idea anyway. Nevermind.

Budi:
::Looks at AN::

Prejun:
That could also work, if you want to risk being seen talking

Vasili:
All we need is that fireworks display. So much for discreet.

Lan:
Right. That whole, in public thing.

Prejun:
Each method has its risks

Vasili:
These people are trained to pick out every nuance of facial expression and dialect for a thousand hidden meanings. They'll see through An and Maria before they've spoken a word.

Martel:
*shrug* personally I'm not that great at social functions, but lord known I can hold a rooms attention if its needed.

Lan:
Yeah. So. At any rate, I've accepted on our behalf. Some of us are going to have to put in face time and be. You know. Piquant. You got asked for in particular, deacon. ::smirks::

Budi:
::Raises his eyebrow and looks at the father::

Lan:
In reality, though... ::the doc sorta wrings his hands::

Martel:
Excellent ::evil grin::

Lan:
I doubt we'll be the most obnoxious guests on the grounds. I saw, ::clears his throat:: Saw this Jakovian, you know. The black clothing, everything. Talking to somebody in livery there, on the way out.

Vasili:
Of that I am rather sure.

Vasili:
Excuse me?

Lan:
::mutters:: Scares me.

Vasili:
You're sure?

An:
Well this should be an interesting party.

Lan:
::squints, dismayed, swallows:: Yeah.

Budi:
Decados? What are they doing here?

Lan:
::shrugs, both hands up:: Got me. So. Hopefully, they're not there looking for us. You know?

Martel:
if they are, i think they are unlikely to do anything about it at the party at least.

Lan:
On the other hand. Maybe we can learn something about the selchaka connection. Who knows. You know. Catch him. Show him scary vids. Tell him bad jokes. Make him talk.

An:
I was always bad at telling jokes.

Martel:
Lan, you torturing someone makes me feel like being savaged by damp socks.

Lan:
Well. I'll take that as a compliment.... ::still squinting::

Martel:
as you should. its not an art lightly learned.

Lan:
So. I'm thinking, the diversion and sneaking is the better way to go. The risk there, is, the slipping-away part? We have a fairly nonspecific invitation... for the group...

Prejun:
Also the shooting you part

Vasili:
Yeah. . .

Martel:
Is there any way to challenge someone to a duel, and not get shot for it?

Vasili:
Challenge them and then have someone kill them prior to the event. ::looks embarrassed:: Not that I'm recommending.

Martel:
kill them PRIOR? i was thinking of killing them DURING. ...is that illegal?

Vasili:
Safer before. But anyway. . .

Prejun:
I'm pretty sure nobles are only obliged to accept challenges from other nobles, and then only for valid reasons... And I've only heard'a them bein to the death in real blood feuds, not simple disagreements

Budi:
While we are there, perhaps we could kill her lover ... i mean, her husband to be...

Martel:
Can they challenge non-nobles?

Vasili:
No.

Budi:
Some simple posion?

Lan:
Well. You know, the Lady *did* ask for us to be a diversion, as it was. In a sense... ::rubs his little goatee::

Vasili:
We will find another way. No one dies.

Martel:
Don't worry, the notion of killing someone in a dual isn't really allowable anyway. but a dual would still probably attract the wanted attention.

Prejun:
Anyone can challenge anyone, but only a noble on noble challenge for a valid reason has to be accepted on either side

Martel:
an exibition would probably not work as well as an honest duel, but would be easier to bring about.

Lan:
Hey, wait, is the duel supposed to be our distraction? It seems like there ought to be other options.

Martel:
There probably are. just working through this one right now.

Lan:
I know. Me and the deacon can quarrel over the lady, you know. Romantic-wise. ::restrains a chuckle::

Martel:
::grin:: you any good with a blade doc?

Lan:
I do okay with a scalpel...

Prejun:
Heh, scalpels at dawn!

Budi:
And while you do that I can posion the bridegroom

Martel:
though if its between the two of us, we probably better only resort to fists.

Lan:
I'm sure we'd increase our commoner scandal appeal tenfold that way. ::sighs, amused::

Vasili:
No one gets poisoned. I'm not kidding.

Martel:
Agreed. We don't have the right to kill any of these people.

Budi:
How about a mild case of food posioning?

Vasili:
Non lethal. . .

Budi:
Just enough to make him sick and maybe bed ridden fro a few days

Martel:
::shakes head:: not really worth the risk involved.

Martel:
...do you even know how to use poison?

Budi:
OK, a more lethal food posioing. I'm use that you could coach me, Lan.

Lan:
OK, wait. Yes, I can. But why are we poisoning people?

Budi:
To stop the wedding.

An:
::comes out of deep though:: No. No one dies. Not to stop a wedding.

Martel:
Ok, again, we can't kill these people, get it? They have done nothing wrong. Do you understand that? ::getting wary of this poisonphiliac::

Budi:
OK, OK. No poison.

Lan:
Oh. POison the groom. Right. Yeah, you know. I tend to be against this, too.

An:
No poison, no death. Too many people have died in this plot so far, and only those that we can prove are the guilty party need die.

Martel:
SO WE ARE AGREED THEN! ::speaking loudly:: No killing.

Budi:
::Throws up his hands.:: OK.

Vasili:
::Vasili looks sharply at An, but relaxes overall as the poison nonsense seems to be dying on the vine::

An:
Right, when is this party?

Lan:
Tomorrow night. 8.

Martel:
Then i best get a costume huh.

An:
Is it a costume ball? Or just a formal party

Martel:
If i'm dressin formally, then whatever i'm wearing is a costume.

Lan:
Well, formal party. We're going to make sure not to look too dignified. but not, you know. Offend the nose or eye. If any of you... ::looks around:: Can do "rustic" outright, that'd be a bonus, I'm thinking.

Martel:
Quick question. why are we trying not to look dignified? if we want to rally people to our cause, a little dignity couldn't hurt.

Lan:
Well, ok. Some of us can look dignified, I suppose. But our real appeal is supposed to be... ::thinks:: Hm. I guess we can look as dignified as we want. ::scrutinizes this oddball tendency to do what the Lady wanted that just cropped up out of nowhere, quietly::

Budi:
Then let us go and get suitable clothing.

Martel:
I think, actually, the more dignified we look, the more people will be curious about us, and the more attention we'll be attracting. ohh to the clothier!

Lan:
Right. ::nods::

Budi:
These hazat like red and black, right? Perhaps we should wear new red and black robes?

An:
So be it. To the vehicle.

GM:
::it's getting dark out::

An:
((And the girls go out for a night of shopping))

Martel:
((I'm thinking we should wait till tomorrow))

An:
((We should buy tons of ice cream, then sit around and gossip about who's getting fat))

Lan:
Well, we're not Hazat. ::Scratches his head:: We should rely, somewhat, on our, ah, native appeal.

GM:
((I remember that session.. it was a good session... Tien got to carry the bags and get dressed up like a little oriental ken doll))

Martel:
((I AM, and you had to go and bring it up! *goes off for a good cry))

Lan:
((but. I'm getting fat. ::cries:: ))

Lan:
((ooh. Creepy. ))

An:
((I think the only one not getting fat here is Stephen))

Martel:
((damn his lack of getting-fat-genes!!!))

Budi:
((No, it is the time machine. He replaced the ice cream with fat free.))

Martel:
((then for gods sakes why am I so fat?))

An:
((Ninjas))

Lan:
((I thought that once I became a Ninja, I would become un-fat. But, here I sit, with my blackbelt. ::sigh:: ))

Martel:
((well, i guess that makes sense))

GM:
((I'm just shy of six foot and average at 145 lbs))

An:
((Anyway.... so there we are sitting around wanting to go shopping))

Vasili:
((Just shy being a small Laotian midget shy?))

Martel:
((I'm 6'1", and just shy of 300...though i dont look a pound over 250))

Lan:
((6'2, 230. Hmph.

Budi:
((6', 248.6))

GM:
::but yeah, it's dark out, so you can't go shopping.. anything else you guys wanna do before you sleep and shop in the morning?::

Martel:
((no)) ::passes out where he stands::

Lan:
((Damn this rising and setting of the sun... ))

Lan:
Well. So, it's settled. Tomorrow, we see the tailor.

An:
::makes dinner and eats, going to sleep::

Martel:
((soooo, next day? finally?::

Budi:
((Snore......Wakie, Wakie.......Shopping!))

GM:
::right then... the planet rotates another 30 degrees or so, and gives the illusion of the rising of the sun... does anyone want to do anything today besides shop.. talk to Samson? set other plans in motion? get info? set up escape routes?::::

Budi:
((Buy so poison...))

Lan:
::Set up escape routes! Lan plans to pay for all clothing. So nyah. ::

GM:
((that's so bitchy.. AIM doesn't just stop typing when I've reached the max characters for a line, it just makes me guess.. fuckers))

Lan:
((Fucking AIM. ))

GM:
::so who's keeping an eye on the venephial? (lover of poison, to you non latin speakers)::

GM:
::and I take it this is a trip into Port Isabella proper, not just bumming around the resort::

Lan:
((nice. I only recognize it from the word for witch. ))

Martel:
::I'm keeping an eye on him. I'm worried he might try to poison people anyway, just for fun or something::

Martel:
::not very closely, though, admittedly::

GM:
((actually, I think I'm wrong.. for one thing, it's phile, not phial.. cause I can't spell.. but also I think they're generally greek extensions, not latin, and I don't know the greek for poison, sadly))

GM:
((dilitiriophile, possibly))

Lan:
((Venificamantor? ))

Martel:
((crazy bastard?))

Budi:
((Yea, that's it. Crazy Bastard!))

Martel:
::looks around till he finds the most high-end shopkeeper in town::

GM:
::so, it's assumed that everyone gets their clothing...for Martel and Vasili that means a lot of the day at the tailor shop getting the size adjusted...

Lan:
::mutters something off-handedy at the tailors, considering new clothing himself:: You know that woman thinks that only nobles can write poetry?

GM:
Budi, make me a extrovert + streetwise check to see if you can track down the criminal element::

Martel:
Thats cause she's a noble Lan. they tend towards elitism sometimes. ::streatches out an arm for sizing::

Lan:
Yeah. Shocking.

Martel:
Whoda thinkit huh?

Lan:
::grumbles::

Budi:
((I'm not getting poison.))

Budi:
rolled 1 1-sided die: 1

GM:
((he rolled a marble))

Lan:
((Hehe. He sure ain't getting poison. ))

GM:
::anything else that is getting done while in town?::

Martel:
::doesn't seem likie it::

Lan:
::Not that I can think of.::

Budi:
rolled 1 20-sided die: 3

Budi:
((I think that would have succeeded, if I was looking.))

GM:
((not necessarily, because we roll two dice in this game))

Budi:
((darn))

Budi:
rolled 2 20-sided dice: 3 17

GM:
((yes, you would have found some minor thugs.. if you'd been looking))

GM:
::okay, feel free to describe what kind of outfit each of you got::

Vasili:
::Sharp, stylistic courtly clothing that fits very loosely on the body. Something that screams "bodyguard for someone important"::

Lan:
::spares little expense for their clothes, so "fine" can be appended to all. Buys himself a sharp looking jacket and pants in the local style, somewhat frumpy and outdated though, which he goes to pains to pin down::

Martel:
::coming down the runway, we have Deacon Azo in a STUNNING dark red suit of cloths in the highest of fashion. He's sporting a fine golden Avestite emblem on a golden chain, and his clothing will surely be the talk of the town this coming season::

Budi:
::Nice synthsilk jumpsuit with over jacket down to his knees. Kind of like the dress uniforms for ST:TNG.::

GM:
((right then.. the party could take a while... as much as I'd like to finish tonight, I think people will want to sleep soon... thoughts?))

Lan:
::ties everybody's cravatte's for them that night if need be::

Lan:
((I must put laundry in, so I'm good for another 35 minutes, but. ))

Vasili:
((Concur. Save party for next session))

Martel:
((got no problems with stopping for the night))

Budi:
((Same here.))

An:
((we could stop, leave us time for party))

GM:
~~~ OOC ~~~