Nott
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Presence 2 (Animated)
Posts: 25
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Post by Nott on Jul 21, 2021 11:41:56 GMT -8
People talked in pairs and small groups, spread around Valley Cheese and Wine for a networking event. Turn out was good this time around, plenty of fresh faces and a handful of mainstays that just liked to do wine tasting circuits. The evening had been a little slow for Nott so far- a bit of surface level chit-chat about the rising cost of living, swapping notes on good lenses for phone photography, that kind of thing. Someone delivered an unsolicited speech on prop use in lifestyle shots that made her want to bite the wine glass, but instead she pursed her lips thoughtfully and nodded, like these secrets of the trade were being filed away. At the first opening, she left to refill her glass and did not return. Everyone got a free pass or two until the Wizened had a read on them. It was exhausting to be real and engaged with everyone, especially if they weren't going to appreciate it; sometimes she just had to let the words flow over and past her, and enjoy her prickly opinions privately. Besides, it was still too early to be the person who made a scene at the charcuterie plate by telling someone to stop talking. They'd probably be happy to reuse that spiel on someone else. Lingering at the wine tasting set up with a half-glass of something dry, Nott adjusted her blouse and fluffed her hair in the reflection of the front window. It was fun to dress up for these things, mostly because people usually tried to sound as interesting as possible if they thought she looked cute; from there it was picking which one to dig her teeth into and see how much was exaggeration. New people, new puzzles, new fun. Her gaze dragged across the gathering for her next target, the thin neon line fading like a sunspot as she settled on someone.
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Eis
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Posts: 189
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Post by Eis on Jul 21, 2021 12:48:21 GMT -8
And what a someone it is. A pale woman with paler hair that floats about like she were underwater - or in the vacuum of space. She's dressed smartly in a beige pants suit, which is clearly an aesthetic choice for those without the eyes to see all things Fae. A smug look is plastered on her face, and she holds a half-full glass of something red aloft in one hand with the other draped across her midsection. She doesn't at all look like a woman trying to network. More like someone watching and waiting for someone else to blunder. Ironic, in that her social gravity draws plenty of eyes to herself from the mundane masses. But Eis is practical. She doesn't have to like every damn person she sees. But an opportunity to accumulate clout or contacts or simply practice some social sparring is draw enough for the Autumn Snowskin. She's seen the boisterous woman with the divine fire dancing from her eye sockets, of course. And she'd likely eventually make conversation. A potential ally is a potential ally - even if their most noteworthy trait is their existence as one of the Lost. When it's clear the new face is looking at her, Eis raises a brow in challenge. An invitation to meet and a warning not to disappoint.
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Post by Blaze on Jul 21, 2021 13:33:02 GMT -8
Whose dumb idea was it to come here? Oh, right.
Thoughtfully, the organisers provided virtually unlimited supply of alcohol, so everyone can decide on the moment the droning chatter and bland music little better than the one played at elevators proves too much to handle sober. And yet, even those events had value - it was healthy to immerse yourself in mundanity once in a while, and maybe, just maybe, she'd meet someone interesting over the fancy snacks and summer-flavoured wine. Her wish soon materializes, and indeed doubles the prize - one half has eyes like stars, the other's skin shines like crystal. Blaze's fiery mane makes it difficult to hide, so the Elemental doesn't try to, but she approaches covered by the ebb and flow of the crowd. All prim and proper, hair made, charcoal suit without even a single wrinkle or distinguishing feature, statutorily-mandated small smile No.5 plastered to her face, she is the image of middle class that usually attends these gatherings. The Torrent ends up somewhere close to Eis. "There you are. I was looking all over for you. If I never again hear about the developments in reconstructive dentistry it'll be too soon."She glances at the other fae woman. Eis isn't a helpless girl that needs rescuing from a pushy boy, and this isn't a dive bar, but one does not simply extricate oneself from the Army motto. And social occasions can be just like a real battlefield. At least that's what she heard from someone who may or may not have been full of it.
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Nott
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Presence 2 (Animated)
Posts: 25
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Post by Nott on Jul 22, 2021 19:03:40 GMT -8
Eis' raised brow was answered with a wink over the lip of Nott's wineglass. Who could turn down a challenge from a tall, fierce-looking woman in a suit? No one worth knowing, or being. Another interesting face joined the pale Lost a moment later, with even more great hair. Nott's feet itched to join them and she made a swift pass by the charcuterie plate, snagging a few morsels skewered on toothpicks. When outnumbered it was only right to bring an offering- even just a cornichon.
Crossing the room toward her new most interesting associates, Nott fanned the toothpicks out to show a rolled up piece of salami, a chunk of cheese, and a tiny pickle. "I don't know the names of any of these but the cheese has those good crunchy crystals in it. Highly recommend." If no one accepted her gift, they wouldn't go to waste: she'd picked things she'd be more than happy to eat.
"Olive," she announced, by way of introduction. "I love your suits. I should've worn mine, think how fucking cool we'd look." Leaning in conspiratorially, she asked, gleefully, "What's the stupidest thing someone has said to you tonight?"
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Eis
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Posts: 189
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Post by Eis on Jul 24, 2021 8:38:31 GMT -8
Eis, noting Blaze's arrival, gives a greeting by way of an amused smirk. Starting the evening off right, it seems. Clearly the woman's got a decent read on Eis' modus operandi. That, or, Blaze just has that kind of personality. Either way, the Weiße Frau doesn't mind.
Crunchy crystals? We've got a live one. She pauses for a moment before accepting the newcomer's offer, eventually deciding on the little 'pickle on a stick'. Chock it up to some nonsense about hospitality and good will.
"Rebecca Goodman." she responds, polite and matter-of-factly. The comment on suits earns Olive a small salute with the pickle before she pops it off in her mouth and is rewarded with a satisfying little crunch. She cleanses her palate with a sip of her drink before continuing.
"A greasy little man started talking to me about a timeshare at some resort. I'd thought it was a sales pitch. Rather pathetic one, at that. Turns out? It was just an invitation to spend the night at a timeshare he'd already paid for. And is currently staying in. He'd be wearing the rest of this wine if it weren't part of my 'ensemble'." She offers a wry smile and, as if on cue, takes another sip.
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Post by Blaze on Jul 24, 2021 12:31:04 GMT -8
An amused smirk seemed to be the Swiss army knife of Eis' emotional responses - an answer to everything, from joyous news to mild annoyances to (Blaze was winning to wager) the emergence of a titanic elder being from beyond time and space. The Elemental took this in stride, willing to play along. With the Fairest having taken care of the pickle, the choice of toothpick was even easier.
"Sofia Palmer. Crystals, you say?"
Her words were slightly more friendly than those of Eis', not that it was a high bar to clear, but still bore the unimpeachable feel of professionalism that people expect in gatherings such as these. Everything is controlled tones and studied expressions. The distinct tangy flavour attacks her palate when Blaze eats the offered cheddar.
Sure beats the MREs
Blaze listens to the Autumn's story and smirks, amused.
"That sounds like Frank. I think his wife is also here and caught me by the meat platters. Thank God I wasn't propositioned, but my opinion was asked on about half a dozen plans of committing murder, each more inane than the last. Someone less professional than me could float an opinion that their marriage is not a particularly healthy one."
One cannot help but feel sorry for the children and anyone else caught in the splash zone. Blaze turns to the glowing, animated woman.
"So, Olive. Inspired by Frank's misguided attempt to get to know Ms. Goodman, I have to ask: what's a woman like you doing in a place like this?"
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Jul 24, 2021 20:05:28 GMT -8
These events had their uses. Much of life's greatest successes relied on who you knew, after all, and this was a lesson Ivory understood well. Nonetheless, if she was honest, the chance for a good glass of wine outside of the house had been a significant draw. She was dressed appropriately, of course, sporting a pale pink skirt suit and nude heels. Her hair fell straight to her shoulders. So it was that the Pale Dragon flowed among the mundane, granting small talk as she went about tasting a few of the selections before ultimately settling on a rich Pinot Noir so as to ensure she could thoroughly enjoy the charcuterie boards the venue had boasted in abundance. Nonetheless, the towering hair of Eis eventually drew Ivory's golden gaze. She had only spoken with the Winter Snowkskin once at any appreciable length, having met her at Ostara, but from what Ivory remembered she had enjoyed Eis' brief company before she had left to pursue the company of others. Though striking, Ivory had at least some success in warding off would-be suitors. A wedding band tended to have that effect. While Ivory did not always where it since Pendragon's passing, on days such as this where she did not desire such company it was quite useful. Thus, the regal Fairest began her approach, granting Eis - and the two unknown Lost in her sphere - a warm smile once she had neared them. "Ms. Goodman!" she offered, her tone bright as she announced her own arrival, "It's been some time, I trust you are well?"Gilded eyes shifted to the celestial eyed woman and the flame-haired lady before Ivory granted them a nod, her smile unwavering. They were not known to the Pale Dragon, but she was affording them the respect of acknowledgement all the same. "Abigail Cartwright," she said, offering introductions.
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Nott
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Presence 2 (Animated)
Posts: 25
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Post by Nott on Jul 26, 2021 20:17:29 GMT -8
Nott's eyes focused on either woman's face after they'd said their names, fixing them in her memory. There would undoubtedly be a second round of introductions sometime, but for now they were just a handful of eye-catching professionals talking shit.
She snickered at Rebecca's retelling and a hint of a grin curled her mouth when the wineglass was referred to as a kind of prop. Fair enough, her toothpick offerings were as well. And they'd all done their job. Twirling the remaining toothpick between her fingers, the salami pinwheeling lazily, she looked a little scandalized at Sofia's encounter. "What! Nobody's asked me that!" Not scandalized: jealous. "And he's here to network, right? Why isn't he asking you how you would kill somebody? Waste of an opportunity." The sentence trailed off into a mutter, a little put out on Sofia's behalf.
"I'm a journalist, photojournalist. Stuff like this is great because people come wanting to talk about themselves and what they do and I've always got my ear out for something that isn't already in the news. Sometimes someone has an interesting tidbit, sometimes- I just think it would be neat to have a software developer's phone number." She shrugged, and added, "It's also just hard to beat a bit of free wine and snacks, y'know."
Nott pivoted smoothly to make more room for the newest face, and yet another suit. Despite her previous assertion, she was now glad not to be wearing a suit: three suits were striking, but four was too many. "Olive. Pleasure to meet you." And with that she popped the salami into her mouth, relinquishing the floor.
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Eis
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Posts: 189
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Post by Eis on Jul 27, 2021 15:11:09 GMT -8
"Murder?" Eis mutters, shaking her head slowly yet still appearing amused. "Seems a little extreme, don't you think? Divorce works just as well. I'm living proof." She glances at each of them, briefly, sharing a conspiratorial grin.
"Quite the resume, Olive. Always a pleasure to surround oneself with talent. The sad thing about these sort of 'get-togethers' is that talent is often lacking. When you can confidently say that you're the most important person in the room - with absolutely no hint of conceit? It's probably time to move on. Free wine and cheese only takes one so far."
As she busies herself behind her wine glass, she's greeted by a familiar face. Ostara, wasn't it?
"Quite well, thank you. Staying busy is key." She stays politely quiet while introductions are made. She won't do her evening company the disservice of making introductions herself; anyone with a voice should speak for themselves. Though she takes pause at hearing the Pale Dragon's public name. For reasons.
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Post by Blaze on Jul 28, 2021 0:19:28 GMT -8
Blaze does her absolute best to stay calm, keep her expression blank and her words collected. The lessons of Winter did not go to waste: it was all too tempting to lash out at Olive and Eis for continuing the subject. Even if it's all Blaze's fault. She should've picked something lighter to share, God knows there was no shortage of verbal static here today. When she answers, she does so as casually as anyone can possibly manage.
"Because if she asked me that question, she would've quickly found herself the subject of a live presentation. It was hard enough to listen to her ramble, but I'm not going to take part in the revenge fantasy of someone who clearly doesn't understand what it means to take a life."
Way to bring down the mood, Sofia
Better to veer away from it while it's still possible. She uses the wine glass like an impromtu shield, taking a long drink from it. Thankfully, someone much more overwhelming is here to focus the attention. Between the pink suit, the regal bearing and the Mantle it was easy to count on lingering in her shadow, at least for a while.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. Sofia Palmer. Nice to meet you, Ms. Cartwright, I hope your charity work is going well."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Aug 1, 2021 9:13:16 GMT -8
The casual nature of the wild-haired "Olive" was endearing in it's own way. The Pale Dragon rarely felt comfortable loosening her sense of formality when first meeting others... unless she had been drinking, as was the case in Ostara.
"The pleasure is mine," she offers to the photojournalist.
The golden gaze lands on Eis next, the Pale Dragon's smile lessening slightly and her expression growing almost solemn as she considers the meaning behind Eis' words. The Freehold had been through a ringer, so much so that dark happenings had occurred even to Ivory on two separate occasions.
"In light of recent events, I imagine it must be so," the Pale Dragon said, "Are you involved in any inquiries?"
It never hurt to ask.
Then came the voice of Sofia Palmer, the Pale Dragon's warmth returning at her apology and her greetings. Ivory would not speak to the former, it was apparent it had been involved with some discussion prior to Ivory's arrival to their sphere.
"Mrs. Cartwright, if you please. I am also fine with just Abigail, if it suits you," she corrects, her tone gentle and unoffended, "Arthur may be gone, but I still bear his name. It seems only fitting that I honor it."
The Pale Dragon winks.
"And it goes quite well, thank you!" Ivory continued, beaming at the reference to her successful venture, "Giving for Las Vegas remains highly involved within Whitney, I expect we will be for some time as plots are sold and residents are forced to move. We've mostly been involved with translation work and helping to move families to other neighborhoods. Forgive my boasting, but, frankly, I'm quite proud with how our efforts are proceeding and I am thrilled with my team."
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Nott
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Presence 2 (Animated)
Posts: 25
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Post by Nott on Aug 1, 2021 19:11:09 GMT -8
Nott raised her wineglass in a salute to Eis' comment about divorce; while not a divorcée herself, there was rarely a good enough reason to kill a person that wouldn't be fixed just as well with a legal separation. It was hard for her to imagine a person so entangled in her own life that the only way to move forward was their death... with a notable exception.
There was a flutter of excitement in her throat as Blaze went off, though it was too difficult to parse the exact emotion behind the other Winter's words. Still, the fact that such a response had been elicited was telling. Like a miner striking ore, Nott let the movement of the conversation bury the valuable moment for excavation later.
"Why are you apologizing if I put my foot in my mouth? You get one free toothpick snack as an apology, just let me know what's up. Cheese, salami, I'll bring you a bunch of grapes. Dealer's choice." The words flowed easily, not insincere but not especially emotional; it wasn't so much a show of contrition as one of respect. Nott wanted people to know when she meant offense, and this wasn't it.
"Sounds like good work," she said to Abigail. And a lot of good money. People with enough money to give away in large quantities were always useful; though, the way she spoke of it, it sounded like Mrs Cartwright was actually involved, which was unusual.
"And what kind of inquiries are you interested in, Rebecca?"
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Eis
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Posts: 189
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Post by Eis on Aug 2, 2021 16:51:43 GMT -8
Eis nearly snorts at Blaze's dismissal of the subject. It was just getting fun, you know... but she averts her gaze off to nothing and hides, again, behind her drink. It would eventually run out, of course, but she'd take advantage of every opportunity to turn her silence into an activity. What's more; Olive easily steers the conversation away. Quite spunky, that one. Reminds Eis of absolutely no one from work. She has a way of communicating that could put one at ease - if they weren't especially careful. The Snowskin would have to keep an eye on her.
"A little bit of everything, dear." she says, giving Ivory a shrug. As if it were no big deal. Or possibly because she didn't care to discuss the details.
Ivory was a philanthropist? Who knew? She could only guess at what the angle behind that might be - if indeed there were an angle. There's always a chance people actually do good for the sake of doing good.
"Yes... what kind indeed?" she asks, adding to the weight of Blaze's curiosity. She can't hold back the curious twerk of her eyebrow and the all-too-mischievous grin. Just because Eis isn't inclined to share her secrets doesn't mean she won't happily soak up another's.
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Post by Blaze on Aug 4, 2021 2:33:24 GMT -8
Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
Seems that while deflecting one thing Blaze accidentally tripped, failing to notice a critical detail and letting others see her stumble. That Ivory didn't seem to take any offense failed to soothe her - people can fake or hide emotions easily, and Dragons doubly so. You don't need to be part of a fairy tale to know that how cunning they are, and that they rarely forget.
"It does." Blaze answers Ivory, momentarily cringing and chastising herself for her lack of awareness, it takes effort to keep her cool "Thank you... Abigail. Sounds like the boasting is warranted. It's rare to see people who care about the causes they support even after their dollars go to the donation box."
A dragon willing to part with her hoard. Who knew?
"You, however, you do not get off that easily." She says, turning to Olive with a small smile and a glint in her eye. The respectful approach was well-received and made the remainder of dark feelings pass, so that Blaze is now again in tune with the ambient party mood "What do you say we stop apologising and do something instead? I know a good shooting range in Paradise, should be a decent intro to the weight of a weapon. Timely, too, with the government-mandated training. I bet you have a good eye."
As for Eis, the Torrent prefers not to speculate why she turned away from them for a moment. The Fairest was typically reserved, no doubt analysing the other three and filing away what they say and do in her memory.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Aug 10, 2021 15:20:09 GMT -8
The Pale Dragon remained the picture of polite company as she and the others engaged in their careful dance of socialization. It could be hard for many Lost, given that they could not speak of certain things in great detail. It was rarely a difficulty Ivory shared, given the nature of her priorities.
"Thank you," she offers to the wild haired Olive, uncertain what else to say. The work was good, but Ivory quietly wondered if she had boasted too much. She didn't want to come off as pretentious.
Eis' continued dedication to her sense of secretive privacy elicited a further smile. Speaking with the Snowskin was almost like a game. It seemed clear enough to Ivory that Eis enjoyed the company of others, even if she did try to play it as aloof as possible. Nonetheless, it didn't really matter. Eis could keep her secrets.
Thus, the vague answer of the Snowskin is met with a nod before Sofia's voice draws the dragon's golden gaze.
"I would like to think I do," she says, "I wasn't always wealthy and now I'm in a position to help. It seems like the right thing to do... even when the city doesn't exactly make it easy."
There was some latent frustration there as Ivory remembered the city's less than stellar approach to the transition of Whitney's gentrification.
As Sofia invited Olive to a night of shooting Ivory considered mentioning Apollo Athletics, but refrained. Sometimes speaking less was more and frankly she didn't want to be perceived as overly boastful about her growing assets.
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