Roleplaying
2004 Archive
2005 Archive
Seminars
| When: | 29 January 2005 ("Good Intentions" Plot Event) |
| Who: | Al-Exar, Christian, Esrom, Fernando, Jezebel, Kacela, Keitaro, Merle, Nicodemus, Remy, Sarah |
| What: | The opening of Lux proved to be quite the event, complete with high life socialites. Towards the end, however, Dominic appears, intent on dealing with the corrupt Saint Christian. |
Lux
A three-tiered, refined establishment, businessmen from cattle brokers to car manufacturers mingle about. The dress is stylish, no one clad in anything less than Sunday best. Tastefully appointed in earthen tones, accented with gold trimmed crystal, there's money in this establishment, both legit and otherwise. Chandeliers cling to the high ceilings and cast warm radiance over the main floor. Reminiscent of a nightclub fashioned in the Art Deco era of the late 20's, round tables serve groups of two to four. A raised stage inlaid with black, malachite, and white patterned tiles hosts acts ranging from standup to grand piano serenades accompanied by throated redheaded bombshells.
Bay windows opposite the bar provide a breathtaking view of the Colorado River. The labradorite-finished counter is serviced by mostly silent, well groomed and respectful staff. The shelves behind the bar is well stocked with potables that make drinks of the common man like Hennessy look like a joke. An opulent staircase winds upward in a regal S curve to the living area of the proprietor and his more affluent clientele. Business and private revelry takes place in this aerie. Interestingly enough, the door leading to the basement is locked, and even the owners and shareholders aren't seen loitering about the edifice.
Opening night at Lux seems to have gone over well with Austin's magnates, with waiters and waitresses flitting about with drinks and such. A few standing spots are available, with women in furs and men in bolos and ten gallon hats present, mingling with considerable ease with the more slick, urban chic of the nouveau riche. The lights are low, the chatter pleasant. Up on stage, a male lounge singer croons out "Angel Eyes" in a voice strikingly like Frank Sinatra's.
Kacela sits quietly at the bar, perhaps lost in the glittering material that makes up the countertop. The woman cradles a wide goblet of Triple Sec in one hand. She sips quietly, thoughtful, and murmurs something to the keep about waiting on meeting with a charity organizer.
Jonathon Moriarty, dressed in what looks like abrand new suit, with shiny black dress shoes strides into the bar, cigarette burning in his hand, deliberately ignorant of whether or not there is a asmoking policy for the establishment, and he definitely seems to think he owns the place.
Fernando shifts weight, and grunts some as he looks over his shoulder to Moriarty, as if amused by something. He waves one chunky hand, and then goes back to exchanging murmurs with a few equally swarthy looking Latinos, one of which is dressed up in hiphop star regalia.
There are several quite well to do people moving through the crowd tonight. One of the men walking through is is wearing a blazer jacket that fades from black into a dark, almost blood red; his eyes glimmer with malice. Another gentleman moves through the crowd, a bit on the short side and totally bald, his face is devoid of any sense of humour -- stuck, apparently, in a permanent scowl as he looks about. And then there is a man walking around who appears quite handsome, with blond hair cut in the latest fashion; he wears a white suit and black t-shirt underneath. This man sits quitely near the stage, his back to it, as he watches the countless people move about and socialize.
Al-Exar steps up to the bar, and orders a Red Bull and vodka.
Kacela comments in a subdued tone, "Suppose I can't complain too much about the music." This isn't directed to anyone in particular, as she continues to sit at the bar, perhaps feeling a bit on the spot, given the mixed company. She wrinkles her nose as the scent of burning tobacco finally reaches her, and with a flourished handwave, turns back to peer at the stage. Finely boned feet, their soles a creamy toffee color, bob slightly as she crosses her legs.
Jonathon Moriarty, leans heavily against th ebar, largely ignoring the well-to-do people. He's not known by them and he doesn't know them. But he is dressed appropriately for the place. "I know you can't put the dman vodka in the red bull, just give me both and I'll do what I have to do."
Kacela eyes the man and his choice of beverage, and relaxes some. "I don't feel so low class now," she breathes out. "Does it really taste okay mixed together like that, though?"
The rest of the patrons of Lux vary from middle class to the richer class. The middle class though is most prevelant. The owners of many of the small businesses in the city are here, including the owners of A Pet for All Seasons, Mirchenko's, Stardust Cinema, and others. Even a few of the local disc-jockeys and television personalities (from all ranges of TV shows) are here. And then, there is Christian. Walking quietly through the room, he's probably easily noticable to any of the local Celestials who saw the recent news program about a woman just vanishing from thin air. You don't do something like that without being noticed by the local supernatural crowd. Dressed in something better than his usual garb, a sports blazer and slacks, he passes a few people to approach the man in the black fading to red suit.
Probably the least well-dressed lady in the joint, though she is wearing the cheapest 'nice' clothes money can buy (black skirt and and dress shoes, no heels), Merle has a quick chatty conversation with the bouncer before managing to slip in. She adjusts her glasses and waves merrily to various ladies and gentlemen, most of whom probably roll their eyes at her or do other fake-rich things to show their distaste. She scans the joint, and sets her eyes briefly on Christian, and then pretends to ignore him.
"I'm gonna get fired for this," Fernando mutters. However, he looks over his Ray-Bans, and waves at Merle. "Don't feel any of the other patrons up," he says with an indifferent shrug. He rocks back and forth on his heels, flicking his gaze from his position at the door towards the trio and Christian.
Kacela rolls her bared shoulders slightly, and shakes her head towards the smoker. She actually stands, taking her orange-red fluid with her, as she peers at some of the more powerful businessmen. Narrowing her eyes, she takes another sip, contempt at the conspicuous consumption evident on her features as she looks daggers at the powerful threesome.
A flash of red light comes from where Christian was standing talking to the man in the red and black suit. The gentleman who was in the suit is gone, and there's a distinctly perverse smile to Christian's face. Without so much as a moment's hesitation, he reaches out for the person next to him... and literally grabs their soul. For those who are mortal, it will appear as if he puts his hand against the persons body just before they fall to the ground. For those who are perceptive enough, his hand will pass through their body and grab a wisp of smoke that is there soul. "Bottom feeders, it is time for your disillusion," he says in a low voice. In the crowd of people, it may not be readily apparent what he's done.
Merle smiles at Fernando, "Don't feel anybody up you say? I see.", and with that she quickly slinks out of view for a moment, taking the most crowded route towards a particular fellow. She makes her way carefully, but quickily, and as soon as she feels she gets close enough to do her mighty deed, she darts out of hiding and lashes out with a hand and reaches for Christian's left buttcheek. And if she makes it, she'll squeeze nice and hard. HONK.
Al-Exar lofts an eyebrow as he empties the pallid yellow fluid from the Red Bull can into the glass containing ice and a double shot of vodka. He props himself onto a barstool, reflexively taking a relaxed position and also dropping a healthy swallow of his beverage, "Entertainment? I'm delightfully surprised."
Fernando blanches at Merle, and just folds his hands in front of himself. He did what was necessary to keep things from getting too weird, but the wave of disturbance from the soul-snatching has blown that possibility out of the water.
The doors open again, disgorging a small knot of University professors - all dressed up for the occasion, of course. Among them is the archaeologist come to teach that most simply call Sarah.
Having just entered, of course, Sarah is completely ignorant to what's going on. Something does, however, feel distinctly...off. The reactions to what Christian just did are probably related to the odd feeling, of course.
Kacela makes a face at Al-Exar, and then stands, stepping away. She scowls some, having caught the disappearance of the man in red. "Okay, there's some kind of weird light show goin' on, and now someone's up and dropped dead, too. What in the hell's goin' on?!" Her heels click on the ground.
Jezebel, in her business suit, leans over to Sarah, "Is it just me, or is this place distinctly creeped out right now..." Her eyes are following a few of the patrons toward Christian who just had someone collapse next to him. And the groping Merle.
Roll by Christian: (4) (4) (2)
Christian turns just as his buttock is grabbed by the smaller Merle. With a quick bit of reflex, Christian grabs her hand and sneers, "You indigent whelp," he squeezes, "Do you think to grope me like I am some piece of meat?" Focusing on the hand, Christian mutters something underneath his breathe just as the balding man and the blond man disappear through the basement door.
Roll by Merle: (5) (4) (2)
Roll by Al-Exar: (4) (6) (4)
Roll by Fernando: (5) (2) (2)
Roll by Sarah: (3) (1) (6)
Roll by Kacela: (6) (6) (1)
Merle's hand suddenly enlongates a little, and becomes a little more potchmarked, much longer fingernails. Merle frowns at it, but reaches out with her other hand to go for another squeeze on the other buttcheek. "Yeah, you're bad meat." She says cheerfully. "So I'm squeezing tight to pour the juices out.", and then she pokes at the buttock one more time. Here goes another song! Sure, she doesn't really reply much to the people around her, but she's sort of got her hand occupied and has more to worry about than making sure people she doesn't want to know what's going on know what's going on.
Roll by Merle: (5) (4) (1)
Sarah leans over just a little as well, similarly well-attired. "No, I feel it too." She swings her head around, looking around in puzzlement. "Something's...really weird, here. I'm just not sure what..."
And THEN she's QUITE sure what - because her senses flare into activity. She narrows her eyes toward Christian, the Symphony pointing him out to her like a gaudy Las Vegas casino - neon flashing lights and all. "Hmm," she mutters. "It LOOKS like whatever's going on is happening over there, though."
Roll by Christian: (2) (4) (5)
Fernando says, "Hell ain't the word for it!" The shortish thug stuffed into a suit steps forward from his position at the door, peering keenly at Christian. "Do you require assistance?"
Kacela shakes her head. "I'll be damned, all the white folk are on crack tonight." She pokes her lower lip out, and shakes her head, as if tutting over the end of the world itself. "Shoulda brought mah camcordah."
Christian yelps this time as his butt is again pinched/groped by the younger woman. Just as Fernando walks up, Christian points at Merle, his finger an inch from her face, "Yes you can remove this ignorant filth from this place." Ignore the body just behind Christian on the ground. And ignore the fact he's now muttering something under his breathe again.
Roll by Christian: (1) (1) (1)
Well, I guess if you tick off God enough, he's bound to show his displeasure eventually. And Christian has most certainly been a very, very, bad person. He's not a Demon, nor a Hellsworn, but God's not too pleased with him and instead of everyone else being put into a daze, the full effect of the song is shoved right down Christian's head and sends him collapsing to the ground.
Esrom enters the swanky bar, dressed in a conservative black suit with white shirt and a subtly designed blue tie, just in time to see a man crumple to the ground. He tugs at his tie uncomfortably, like someone not used to dressing up, and looks around the crowd nervously to gauge the other patrons' reactions.
Kacela looks displeased. "Awright, that's it. That's the second person down tonight. I don't care if I'm supposed to be meeting with this charity guy or not, this is too weird for me." She looks down at the goblet as if it's poisoned, and then sets it down. Her heels click on the expensive tile as she begins to make a quick retreat towards the door. Whether or not she gets there is a totally different matter.
Lightning, Soul stealing, and baddies all around?
Apparently not to much to handle for the likes of Keitaro, whom despite showing up fashionably late was able to show up at all. School can be a busy at times ya know! Dressed in a sleek black-three piece suit and his shoulder length hair pulled back and neatly applied in a pony-tail, the asian persuasion enters from the elevators only to notice the rather unsettling scene of lightning striking down the supposed host of the party perhaps? He removes his sunglasses as he watches Christian fall to the ground, noticing himself the large disturbance in the symphony. Could the lightning song been for someone else?
Quite possibly but the young martial artist just merely chuckles at the sight with the simply thinking in the back of his mind, . o O (Obviously someone didn't like him.) and begins making his way over to the small crowd, keeping quiet for the moment.
A cocktail waitress comes over and offers the young Keitaro a drink, which he much obligies with a glass of champange. He overhears Kacela speak of the fallen which makes him quirk his brow, . o O (Hmm... Two down? The cause? Guess we'll find out soon enough.)
Apparently, the sight of lightning is too much for Fernando. With a whoop, the burly Latino raises hands, and pumps fists into the air. "Rawk! Now that's extreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeme!"
Merle would comment on how Kacela is probably the smartest person in the room, but she's too busy being -stupid-. She whips out some lipstick, dabs her mouth with it, "I can try mouth to mouth," she says hurriedly as she dabs her mouth with it,... and glances to Keitaro. Her eyes widen briefly and she quickly pulls a shoulder up, and crouches, bending over the body, and unless someone stops her--tries to give mouth to mouth on Christian, except it's sort of all over his face. She is only do this to make sure Christian sees the smooch-marks when he wakes up. At least, she thinks he'll wake up. She pauses, only to give a curious look to Fernando. And then she's back at it.
Roll by Merle: (1) (3) (6)
Sarah scampers over, not being terribly practical given her job, as another blast of Symphonic noise pelting her ears. She tries to stay somewhat clear - she has CERTAIN sensibilities, she just chooses odd moments to exercise them. She watches, mainly, taking careful mental notes - and making sure that if something starts blowing up she won't be the target.
She is, after all, not a TOTAL moron.
Kacela peers at Merle making out with the corpse, and Keitaro striding IN to the scene. She pauses mid-stride, and fixes the Asian man with a look. "Mmm, mm. That's some pretty hair, but I think you need to be turnin' your butt around and marchin' back outside before you bust into flames or somethin'."
Jezebel is sitting there with her hands to her ears as she looks at the chaos that begins to erupt in the middle of the nightclub. The fact that many of the patrons begin to clear out speaks to their common sense, but it'd seem that Sarah and Jezebel, whom are standing next to each other, are those type of human that just stare at a car wreck. "My fucking hell," Jezebel says, not the normal type of language you hear from a Professor of Law, "Do you have a cellphone Sarah? I think we need to call the cops." But there's something to Jezebel's eyes, a sense of satisfaction.
The total level of disturbance that has been caused in this room is enough to call God or Lucifer into the room directly. But instead of either of them, appearing in the middle of the crowd that is leaving, is someone decidely different, but perhaps just as bad for everyone.
Dominic.
Esrom mutters under his breath, "What the hell is going on here?" He would leave also, if he weren't supposed to meet someone...special...here.
Whether or not Merle's dark plot regarding clothing suceeds or not, she hears something that's even worse. Unless it's her boss here to laugh and steal cutlery. Instead of acting crazy and kooky, Merle decides to put her lipstick away with sudden demure pleasantness, and she stands up, moving away from Christian's smoochified body. Merle's thought processes are a little ironic as they are 'Please don't be Dominic' and 'Please don't be Asmodeus'. Sliding sliding sliding to exitness.
"Hey, nice ass," Fernando says to the retreating Kacela. And then, back to the disturbance in the middle of the room. "They don't pay me enough for this," he says as his gaze is carried over towards the appearing Superior. Fat lot of good it would do him, but he flexes one arm to fold one side of his overcoat to the side, revealing shoulder harness for a pistol.
The young martial artist is pushed back for a moment as the superior makes his presence known but some how remains in a staunch stance and miraculously doesn't spill any of his champange. The sheer force caused by its appearance makes his hair flutter, but he continues to stand there casually. He has seen what these people can do and the awe on his face is apparent despite his dreary appearance, which is why he is continues to respect the side of light for their powers, equally as much as that of evil's. The speech from the sudden departed Kacela is something he takes note of but then again, he just got here.
(Why leave such a grand entrance and a beginning of a great party) O o . rolls through Oz's mind as he takes a sip of his champange, quite impressed, "Mmm.. good year.". His glance is suddenly shifted towards Merle's long glance at him however, causing him to be curious about this... woman.
Christian begins to stir on the floor, the effects of the utter God smack still keeping him dazed. But that's not going to be the worst of it for Christian, oh no.
The figure now walking up to Christian is going to be the real problem. You see, Dominic is dressed in a black suit, his thin hair combed back, looking like the consummate Judge (minus the necessary robes). Dominic slides his hands into his pockets as he stares at the people remaining in the club at this time, Merle and Fernando both catching a very long glance from him, a loathing glare coming from his eyes. Kneeling down at Christian, "How a Saint of Azrael could fall so far, one shall never know." With that, he raises a hand above Christian's head and squints some, focusing.
"Uh? Oh! Yes. I do, one secon...d..." Now, Sarah is, despite her occasional bouts of Newbie Stupidity, not all THAT bad at maintaining her cover.
Superiors kind of change the rules. She's staring at Dominic, not quite sure who it is but pretty damn sure that whoever he's from, either side, he's going to make things very interesting. And interesting things can be...scary. She's a bit too entranced by the situation, but slowly she does manage to remember heself - just a little bit. Her hand, even with its owner staring at the situation, continues to rifle through her purse for her cell phone.
Merle freezes. Saint of Azrael!? How could a guy who goes around.... killing... people... bringing them... to their deaths... Argh! Merle doesn't have a -cover-. That's why she only worries about noise basics. But perhaps it is moral obligation that keeps Merle from leaving though that was clearly her original intent. She turns around, lets out a breath, and walks over to Sarah with a distressed look on her face. She glances to Dominic, and seems to get the idea that it is the person who she was hoping not to find. Her body twitches again before she slinks back to Sarah instead of Escape. Besides, Merle reflects, there's a judge in the city.
"C'mon, drop a name... NOT THAT NAME, who -YOU- are!!!" blithers out from Fernando. "Cause I got a fifty-fifty chance of being lucky. It'll hurt like hell, but damn I'll be able to brag..." There's a nearly feral glint in his eyes as he settles on the primly dressed man as he makes his proclomations against the thunderstruck man.
Sarah's a pretty bright girl, on the whole, though. As her hand finally finds and clutches her cell phone, the overall appearance of the newcomer, and the way the Symphony reacts to him amongst the cacaphony of the area clicks in her mind, and her eyes widen just a bit.
She murmurs, more in shock to herself than as an actual question to the Judge, "Dominic?"
Keitaro may not understand fully what is going on here but he cannot hide the fact that this even semi humors him as a smile curls about his finely chizzled asian features. He takes another sip of his champange and places his hand on his hip, watching as Merle flees and the large Fernando picking a fight with more than he can chew. He chuckles simply and shakes his head, "Better watch what you say friend.. I think you might be asking a bit much here. This is obviously serious business."
The reaction from Sarah seems to seal the deal. Fernando doesn't seem to be the brightest of those gathered. "Shit yeah, back to the pit..." And with that, even with Keitaro's warning, he slips his hand under the suit panel, and then whips out a street modified Glock. Several rounds fire out. The aim is suprisingly good, the bullets whizzing towards the man's head. "Count the shells, suck-a-duck!"
A dark shadow comes across Dominic's face as he considers his options with Christian. "You shall be coming with me, bodhisattva, you have much to answer for." But Dominic's not able to do anything as suddenly the air is filled with bullets being tossed toward him and those on the other side of the room (Jezebel and Sarah). The bullets strike, but little to no blood comes out as Dominic stands.
It's about at this time that Christian comes fully to his senses and begins to /crawl/ away as Dominic isn't looking. As he crawls, Dominic lifts a hand and unleashes some force to send Fernando flying into the opposite wall, "A Corporeal weapon? How trite."
Keitaro quirks an eyebrow as a smirk comes about his face as the latino, while may be packing heat, feels the heat from the superior. (This party, while not much socializing, has turned out to be quite entertaining.) O o . rolls though his mind as he watches Fernando goes flying but his attention returns back to Christian, the fallen and continues . o O (This saint however...)
Then Oz comes to his senses and shakes his head, muttering beneath his breath, "Obviously I’m late... this is something I shouldn't get involved in."
A faint crack can be heard as Fernando's mass acquaints itself with the wall, fifteen feet above the floor. "HEY, you robe-wearing pussy, put my ass down so I can give you a proper ass-whipping!"
Merle cringes, "That's even dumber than me," she mumbles. She looks over to Christian and shouts at him, "Hey Christian! Your ass isn't all that bad after all!", in an attempt to basically guide Dominic's attention to the Saint. After all, he -does- have much to answer for.
Keitaro says, "Ya know, I've known some dumb people in my day but you my good sir... Take the cake..", followed with a small chuckle and a sip of his champange. Unfortunately, he's empty! He looks around for another cocktail waitress and waves his glass, "Excuse me, Could I get another please?""
There's a deep rumble of anger from Dominic's chest as he turns only to see Christian already gone. Hand still held up facing Fernando, Domininc clenches his fist, which presses Fernando back even further. "Ignorant mongoloid! You have no idea what you've interfered in." And par for the course for Dominic, he disappears to begin to spread the word that this Christian, must be found and brought in.
Sarah, of course, ducks and covers as the bullets start flying - she, unlike Dominic, has a Vessel made out of papier mache and small amounts of glue.
This also means she's in absolutely no position to stop Christian before he gets away.
Fernando gurgles some, and then after a moment, actually comes crashing back down on top of a table. Glasses fly everywhere, and in a tangle of tablecloth, he gurgles out, "Oh shit, this suit was a rental!"
A few moments later, an "Aw crap, my arm..." can be heard from the heap. "Aw man. Ribs... Leg..."
Merle looks towards Sarah, and finds that she's gone!? Oh wait, ducking. She looks down, "This place is pretty chaotic, ma'am," she says, feigning innocence, "Maybe we should get going before something weird happens. Again, you know?", she doesn't move to take out Fernando. She probably could do something vicious to the demon, but she's tired.
Sarah blinks, looking up at Merle. She /reeks/ of Symphony, but Sarah nods. Dominic shot her a dirty look, but he shoots lots of people dirty looks, so...
She nods, slowly. "Yeah. We should, uh, go, definitely." She grasps her cell phone, and with a nod to Jezebel, says, "I'll call the police. Let's just get out of here."
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