Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588 
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Post by Ivory on Oct 8, 2020 18:41:07 GMT -8
Ivory had spent some time planning the night as it came. The promised cabernet sat beside two wine glasses upon the kitchen island as the television played some droll daytime talk show to drown out the silence in the background. A small spread of cheeses and meats was also provided, granting the pair some snacks to set the mood and put Susan at ease. Ivory had even set aside some ingredients for a simple dish of chicken fettucine alfredo, should the mood strike. The game was one of comfort and familiarity... then she would happily do her sleuthing once Susan's walls would fracture. There was a certain excitement to it all, the internal chess master that was Ivory's ego brimmed with some sense of pride at the machination. Whether it would succeed though remained unknown. As the appointed time neared, the Pale Dragon poured herself a glass and moved to the window, gazing out to ensure her gate was opened and to search for her quarry. Krakenbox |
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 10, 2020 18:42:15 GMT -8
Xifeng rolled up silently in a red Tesla Model S, in a white moleskin jacket and Chanel sunglasses, sliding them up sun kissed hair and highlighted cheekbones. She eyes the house only casually, already familiar with the property before ringing the doorbell. Once greetings are exchanged, she offers her own bottle of Prosecco by spinning the neck of the bottle towards the Lost. "Hope your work wasn't crazy. I've got a ton of new references, so I guess I shouldn't be complaining," her eyes sweep, likely looking for Anthony to ghost through to see who was here.
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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 Oct 11, 2020 17:40:15 GMT -8
Ivory accepted the gift with a smile before moving to the open kitchen to deposit the gift on the island. Soon thereafter a bucket is retrieved and filled with ice and water before being placed on the island as well, with Xifeng's gift finding its home in the bucket itself. Prosecco, after all, needed to be chilled to be enjoyed properly.
And Abigail Cartwright took her enjoyment seriously.
She'd offer a chuckle at the comment of work. Ivory's portfolio made the prospect of 'work' rather simple. Pay for management. Pay for repairs. Reap the profits. It was the concern of management that was the problem.
"Oh my work is rarely difficult, but I'm not blind in who I have to thank for that," she compliments as she finds a stool on the island. An empty glass is filled with the cabernet and placed by the adjacent stool, Ivory gesturing to invite the woman to sit. "Consider this my small way of saying thank you."
"I hope that they haven't been working you too hard," she offered as she pulled another drink.
Gilded eyes, hidden behind the Mask, noted the glancing sweep.
"Just us tonight, I'm afraid," the Pale Dragon said, "Anthony's gone to college."
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 11, 2020 20:08:03 GMT -8
She sighs happily into the glass, making herself comfortable while perusing the cheese. "Right? But your recommendations have helped me land some big fish, so it totally isn't altruistic," she laughs warmly. "Thank you, Abi."
At the question she shrugs, "Nothing too too crazy, I'm setting boundaries with the changeover." The wine is swallowed as her eyebrows shoot up with the revelation of her son, "Holy shit. I'm getting old."
The conversation tapers along naturally, most of the charcuterie disappearing as small talk sets Ivory's board, waiting for the right pieces to be moved to get the information she needed.
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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 Oct 12, 2020 15:23:56 GMT -8
"I've spent a considerable amount of time among politicians, remember? Compared to them, you're a saint," Ivory teased, laughing along with Xifeng. A hand waves, dismissing the woman's statement of age. "Ludicrous," she said, granting the woman an admiring smile as they began to push into other topics. The talks soon cover the usual topics. Ivory shares rants about the neighborhood, tourists, and the general weirdness of not having Anthony home. It was... nice. Talking to someone about things over a bottle of wine was a needed diversion from the toil of re-entering the Freehold's political battlefield or struggling through the changes in her little family. Anthony was great, but sometimes it was nice to have someone else to speak with and Evelyn and the others were not always available. Outside perspective was refreshing. Soon Ivory's glass was empty and she reached for the cabernet to fill it again. "Another glass, Susan?" she says, a smile flashing across her face as her eyebrows perk, forming a hopeful expression. Pres+Persuasion to Drink Moar Susan [5:22 PM] @dicecord-CoD roll 6 Dicecord-CoD BOT Today at 5:22 PM stray rolled 6 dice and got 1 success. 2 7 2 2 5 9
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 13, 2020 13:31:06 GMT -8
She doesn't hesitate like on the phone, Ivory's set up far more informal. Between general stories——the headache of securing a prestigious daycare that introduced Montessori, her brother using 'teaching abroad' as an excuse to duck from their parents, how much she hated spin class but had to go because she was competing with a friend——the realtor starts to open up about recent beats of her divorce case. It wasn't ugly, per say, but she was still working with her ex.
"He just keeps making dumb decisions," she complains, partly relieved to no longer be The Babysitter. Her face was starting to flush by the third glass in, face shimmering as the highlighter on her cheeks became more apparent. "And then I hear about how one of his clients is up to something weird. But he's just sitting there...twiddling his thumbs...not thinking 'oh, maybe I should call the cops,'" she said, dropping her voice in a sarcastic portrayal. "So, I mention it to management, because, you know, I know he won't and will get himself in trouble. But they aren't doing anything either!" She muttered something in Cantonese, likely nothing flattering.
"Are they scared or something? What happened to people having standards."
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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 Oct 15, 2020 19:20:21 GMT -8
Ivory listened - really listened to Susan's troubles. The two were connected in a small way, with the latter having earned Ivory's trust in the management of her properties. It was a natural thing to develop empathy for such a figure. Thus, Ivory granted condolences and comfort where she can.
Then came the discussion of the ex and his... complacency. And that drew Ivory's attention. What was more was the complacency on the part of their superiors and visible surprise crept into the Pale Dragon's features.
"What was he doing?" Ivory asked. Susan's comment painted a picture of something illegal or at least frowned upon - and Ivory was concerned that such behavior could repeat itself in her treasures.
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 17, 2020 22:47:29 GMT -8
Xi Feng considered for a moment alcohol and friendliness spurned on the gossip that potentially could damn her company. "I do not have any evidence. But when you have been in this business long enough, you know what a laundering operation looks like."
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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 Oct 22, 2020 21:42:55 GMT -8
Clear surprise reigned in Ivory's features as Xi Feng spoke of her hunch. She seemed... relatively certain about the illegality of it all and Ivory doubted it was just the wine talking.
"Oh, wow," she offered, her brain cycling through to think of a more tailored response coming up blank. "And the company isn't doing anything? Are they, like, super famous or something?"
That was one possibility of many. Either the client was too well-connected with the right parties to prevent the company from acting... or the company could be conencted to their activities. In either case, the idea that this company was taking over the management of her properties made Ivory... less than enthused.
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 23, 2020 16:28:32 GMT -8
Xi shrugged helplessly, "It has not been that long? Maybe I'm being too harsh." She blew out her cheeks, finishing the glass and watched the remnants of the tannin slide down the rim. "I've been with this company a long time. Jumping ship without a reason will hurt my credibility with a new position," she explained. "Being a mercenary burns bridges, it isn't all about the paycheck."
At Ivory's question about reputation of the property owners, she shook her head, "I don't think so. But I'm looking at all these new clients, with a new direction, under new management. You know?"
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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 Oct 25, 2020 3:14:00 GMT -8
"I can understand that," Ivory offered as Xi Feng spoke of a need to maintain bridges. Turning her back on the company now would only hurt her without cause and, without evidence, the woman had no clear way out.
"Would you mind telling me who the client is?" she asked, "I'd like to avoid them if I can."
A lie. If this client was indicative of the usual clientele of Xi Feng's new management, Ivory had to do what she could to prevent them from gracing her jewels. The next logical step in doing that was to seek out the client and learn more through whatever means she could. However, Ivory doubted that Xi Feng would part with the information knowing the truth of her intent. Thus, the hidden Lost painted her face into an honest expression, aiming to convince the woman of her sincerity. StrayToday at 5:06 AM Presence + Subterfuge @dicecord-CoD roll 7 Dicecord-CoD BOT Today at 5:06 AM stray rolled 7 dice and got 5 successes. 10(9) 7 8 8 7 8 7 Aren't I a good bot, stray?
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 26, 2020 18:39:03 GMT -8
She squints, but Ivory is just so damn convincing that she wanted nothing to do with the shady situation. How could she not help out her best client? The woman was putting her child through one of the best schools in Vegas.
And frankly, she was just admirable, which made her more than just likeable.
"Sunrise. It's a successful antique shop that's held out being close enough to the Stratosphere. Cheap property value due to the area, but close enough that you get business passing through outside of Chinatown. A lot of tourists feel special when they find it," she laughed, shrugging. The gossip and the wine were getting the best of her, and she didn't want Annabelle to feel like she had been stingy with her own little investigation. "They use a storage facility as well...Wan- No, Wakeman?"
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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 Oct 27, 2020 22:37:07 GMT -8
Ivory listened, sipping the wine all the while.
Sweet Xi Feng had given more than she needed. Ivory had a client and, should the client keep their activities hidden, she had a place they were likely to do some of their dirty work. Ivory was no criminal, but it seemed like poor form to do one's dirty work in their legitimate business. The Wakeman storage facility seemed like a worthy place to investigate if Sunrise did not satisfy her concerns.
"A shame, I do like to look into antiques on occasion," she says, "but if you say these folks might be bad news, I'll have to shop elsewhere."
And she would. At least until she determined if these people were a threat or not. She couldn't allow the company to just let any criminal post up in her investments now could she? That being said, another visit seemed to be in order.
With the business done, the night could really get started and Ivory was in no hurry to shoo away her guest. Xi Feng was good company.
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Post by Krakenbox on Oct 28, 2020 12:34:51 GMT -8
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