[Sodium_noir] Hell is other people

[FlameFlash]

> Dr. Lazarus, Aurora, Mitsuko, 'Sandra', Jack
> "Scientist", "Spirit Muse", "Avatar", "Pretty Kitty", "X-Factor"
> Lady Sinclaire's party
>
> [Mitsuko]
> "Oh no, but I've visted several times." A look passed between her and the
> Proffesor. "But we meet at the Temple in China town mostly. We're both
> friends of the monks there."
>
> [Aurora]
> Aurora appreciated the change in subject, "Through the temple too. Just
> wandered into Gotham recently, actually.  I was lucky enough to meet the
> right people at the right time..."
>
> She appreciated the small talk, but she also still looked slightly jittery,
> a cat caught in the corner of a room full of bulldogs, wondering if they
> were friendly or not.
>
> [Sandra]
> "Another recent transplant as well? Thank heavens I'm not the only one. I
> was beginning to worr.."
>
> Sandra's comment is suddenly cut short when at that moment...
>
> [Mitsuko]
> "JAAAACCKK!" Mitsuko suddenly squealed. Doing little for Aurora's already
> frayed nerves.
>
> [Aurora]
> Aurora's eyes immediately turn black for a moment as she jumps at Mitsuko's
> outburst.
>
> She contemplates tackling the closest waiter for all the drinks he had on
> his tray, unfortunately none were close enough.
>
> [Sandra]
> "I take it you two know each other," Sandra mumbles under her breath to
> herself rhetorically not looking for a reply.  The answer was rather...
> obvious it seemed.
>
> [Jack]
> A bit embarrassed by the enthusiastic greeting, Jack smiled shyly and raised
> his glass in reply.  "Uhm... yeah, I finally got here."  His smile grew at
> seeing Aurora.  "Hey, have I missed anything exciting?"
>
> The other woman and the man in the wheelchair were unfamiliar to him.  He
> nodded politely at them both. There was something of an attempt at extending
> his hand, but at the last second, the gesture turned into awkward shrug and,
> instead, he rubbed the back of his neck.
>
> "Uhm, hi... name's Jack."
>
> [Sandra]
> "Hi there, Jack," she says hoping a soft smile would help put the tense man
> at ease. "Sandra Scoland. I somehow get the impression you three know each
> other," she asks looking back and forth between Mitsuko, Aurora and Jack.
>
> [Aurora]
> Had Aurora's eyes been black just a moment before? The flash of pure
> darkness was gone now, though they seemed a smokey grey which resolved to
> amber as her gaze focused on him.  She smiled.
>
> "I'm glad to see that you're finally up and about!  Is Christine here?"
>
> [Sandra]
> "Hi there, Jack," she says hoping a soft smile would help put the tense man
> at ease. "Sandra Scoland. I somehow get the impression you three know each
> other," she asks looking back and forth between Mitsuko, Aurora and Jack.
>
> [Jack]
> "Well....yeah...ah..." The gesture that accompanied this non-committal reply
> was equally so - sort of a combination of a nod and a shake of the head.
> Truth be told, Jack had only met Aurora and Mitsuko a few hours ago and
> didn't really 'know' either of them. Rather than admit he'd (more or less)
> crashed this party, had no clue as to who any of the attendees were, and was
> practically a stranger to those who'd just greeted him with such warm
> familiarity, he simply embellished the truth.
>
> "Yeah, great pals, we are."  Jack grinned at Sandra and took a sip of his
> drink. "So, some party, eh? Lots of movers and shakers.  Do you know the
> hostess?"
>
> 'Or anyone else here? 'Cause I sure as hell don't.' He added silently.
>
> [Sandra]
> "I wish I could say yes, but unfortunately not. I procured an invitation
> through a mutual contact. A client of mine that wasn't able to attend and
> gave me their invitation. I was hoping I would be able to introduce myself
> to Lady Sinclaire at some point, but with this large of a  gathering, I'm
> not sure how much success I will have."
>
> (Perception 2 + Empathy 2)
>
> Sandra could tell Jack looked more than a little out of his element. She
> could guess he wasn't particularly used to large gatherings such as these.
> Time to resort to some tried and true social ice breakers.  Let's try the
> easiest one first, she thought to herself.
>
> "So where are you from, Jack?" she asks.
>
> [Jack]
> Jack maintained his grin and brought the cigarette to his lips, taking
> another long drag from it.  "Oh, that's an interesting question.  I'm
> from..." He paused, exhaling smoke. "...nowhere special.  Only been in
> Gotham a few years."
>
> Not quite the truth, but what the hell.  (Manipulation 2, Subterfuge 3)
>
> He paused again.  "So... you have 'clients'? You a lawyer?"
>
> [Aurora]
> Aurora relaxed further, watching and listening.  Jack handled this
> inquisitive Sandra much better than she could.
>
> [Sandra]
> (Bastet Gift - Sense the Truth - Roll Intelligence 3 + Empathy 2 vs.
> Subject's Manipulation 2 + Subterfuge 3 to determine if the subject is
> telling the truth)
>
> (OOC: I'm not sure if you prefer to handle all the dice rolls yourself when
> it comes to situations like this, Spikey. I am willing to roll to see if
> Sandra is able to tell if Jack is telling the truth if you would like, or
> you can. Either way, whatever the results are, Sandra will keep the
> information to herself and just continue with the conversation as it is
> going so far.)
>
> IC: "Oh good heavens, no," she laughs. "No, I'm more a broker actually. I do
> sometimes represent clients in negotiations but its more to do with
> artifacts than legal matters. I'm a consultant on rare antiquities.
> Validating their worth, their authenticity, things of that sort."
>
> [Dr. Hiram Lazarus]
> The Doctor eyed Jack warily as he listened. Subtly trying to ease a device
> from his trouser pocket so he could glance at the zero wave readings from
> Mitsuko's new friend. Given that he had been at the Temple only yesterday
> and had never met this man, he suspected there was more going on here than
> met the eye but wanted to be sure.
>
> He was also interested to hear how Miss Scoland handled her own PR and the
> deflection of probing questions before he himself spoke.
>
> A lull had set into the conversation quite suddenly, and Hiram felt the need
> to break the tension.
>
> "Well, I can see that everyone needs more refreshment," he said without
> looking to see if anyone, including himself had finished their drinks. He
> flagged down a server, who dutifully brought over a tray of cocktails and
> hors d'oeuvres.
>
> "You know, Sandra," he went on after taking a fresh drink and a canape from
> the tray, "I would like to extend an invitation to come and see our
> facilities at the temple. There are many things that I'm sure would be of
> interest to you that the tourists never get to see."
>
> (OOC: Yes, I have returned. Please don't hurt me...)
>
> [Sandra]
> "I would love to!" she says with complete sincerity to the doctor. Taking
> the offered drink from Hiram, he does note that she is sipping at this one
> much slower than the last 2 she had. "Should I call you at the museum, or is
> a different number I should reach you at?"
>
> After Hiram's reply she says to the gathered group, "If all of you would
> please excuse me for just a moment, I will return momentarily. Unfortunately
> the drinks this evening are beginning to take their toll," she says with a
> smile excusing herself from the group and looks to track down a server for
> instructions to the nearest 'facilities'.

[Aurora]
As Sandra leaves Aurora breaths a sigh of relief and then turns to
Jack, "I didn't expect to see you up and about so soon.  Did Christine
come with you?"

With that, she also downs one of the drinks the server brings over and
blinks rapidly, shudders, and hiccups.  Her face turns red.

"Excuse me..."

Tag Jack et al