the "p" doesn't stand for pretentious, FYI. [art gallery, may 6th—??? ]

[theearth]

[ Welcome to Locke's very own Taste de Louvre, everyone! Predictably, the unveiling of the new set of statues at the magnificent Hugh P. Thadson Gallery of Fine Art has turned out to be a rather fanciful affair. The upper echelon of snobby society, in their snobby society attire, has come to mingle amongst one another—and is endeavoring to ignore you, fair citizen, as much as possible—and discuss this fantastic addition to our city's fair culture.

The first statue is a touchingly metaphorical piece, the prominent carving of a snake coiled around a human heart that looks so real you can almost hear it beating within your ears. This statue appears to be the most popular; the crowds drawn around its base simply can't stop going on and on and on about how wondrous it is, along with the rest of the works on display tonight.

The second statue also depicts a snake, but has its blush-brushed scales cut dramatically open to display its own wicked black heart. The Thunder Corporation and its latest line of tacky memorabilia is the primary subject of discourse here.

The last statue is strikingly different from the other two, and features a wolf howling at the open sky,* dying in apparent agony with a sword driven through its chest. You get a distinctly unsettling impression from it that the other, ordinary folk don't seem to notice—that perhaps your adventure to meddle in recent affairs is ill-advised. Inscribed below the pained wolf's paw is a link of sorts to a peculiar forum that, when accessed, bears only the topic "Let's Negotiate" with the same message enclosed within. Strange, but since no one else is talking about it, you wonder if you can't have just imagined the whole ordeal... and yet stranger things have happened, right? Perhaps it's worth looking into, in any event.

There's plenty to do with the statues about and the gift shop buzzing, with lots of familiar faces to run into. So what's your agenda for the evening? ]

(( General mingling post for the plot as related to art gallery affairs! There will be base threads for OPEN INTERACTIONS, open to all as implied, CLOSED INTERACTIONS, for planned out one-on-one interactions between player characters, and a general purpose EVERYTHING ELSE, for characters who wish to explore the gift shop, just mull about. Just as a general reminder:

1) Touching one of the snake statues will grant you one (1) Echo, for two (2) Echoes max. However, touching a second statue will definitely arouse suspicion, so be prepared for that. One safe Echo, two potentially risky ones up for grabs here! No Echoes from touching the wolf statue, though, so slither your way towards the snakey-snakeys for those.

2) If you'd rather not touch the statues themselves, hanging around them for awhile -- about an hour or so -- will grant one (1) Echo.

3) Accessing the webforum will not grant an Echo, but posting a reply to it will. It will be possible to get a second during conversation, but as for how it happens... it's a secret to everybody!

4) Little statuettes are available for purchase in the gift shop, but do not grant an Echo themselves in any way.

You may also handwave the mingling NPCs being snobby snobs at you, just for fun. Because why not.

As before, please wait for all base threads to go up before posting. OPEN FOR BUSINESS! In your character's subthreads, please put your character's name, the day, and optionally the time you are visiting in the title so things remain nice and neat. Remember, open to all interactions in the open section and one-on-one time in the closed section. Everything else goes in Everything Else. This post will remain stickied throughout the entirety of the plot duration, for easy finding.

The plot post for this week, detailing about the art gallery and more, can be found here.

*This awesome picture drawn by our very lovely Lucas-mun! Thanks, MC! ]

Comments

[secondcomingof]

[ Oh, darn. So that rules out a second date, then? He's heartbroken. Truly. ]

I'd be even more so if you removed those ridiculous glasses. Who do you think you're fooling, anyway?

[ And without skipping a beat, he strides straight up to the wolfish statue, gesturing at the plaque underneath its paw. A plaque, mind you, that no one else is paying any attention to, but clearly displays a link of sorts to a web site if a special individual squints close enough. ]

Now, you can read that, can't you? Tell me what it says, Brendan.

[kingside]

Maybe I wanted to remove the temptation. You seemed to enjoy caressing my face and calling me strange names entirely too much.

[Or Brendan is just being contrary for the hell of it, but fine, off the sunglasses come as he follows the man, stashing them on his person without any apparent thought. He's sorely tempted to hurl more barbs after that, but the plaque has caught his attention quite neatly, and he adopts a thoughtful pose as he inspects it.]

"Let's negotiate," hmm? How stupid do they think we are?

[secondcomingof]

[ No comment on that first bit, but good job following along, Brendan. Good puppy. At the very least, once the glasses are removed Casval lightens up considerably in tone, tracing a gloved finger about the engraved golden letters. ]

Stupid enough to risk baiting us, apparently. [ Raising an eyebrow: ] I wouldn't be surprised if they orchestrated this entire performance for that purpose alone. They must consider us a serious threat, to go out on a limb like this.

[ And now he just grins, with a hint of twisted amusement. ]

Which is rather laughable, if you think about it.

[kingside]

[He's nodding vaguely along with the musing, eyes still on the URL. Interesting that they would choose something comparatively mundane as a means to communicate with those connected to the network, but maybe that was a test in and of itself? ... Maybe? Or maybe that was all they have available to them? But then with the other resources apparently at their disposal...

Brendan frowns a little, then ventures a glance at the captain, still looking thoughtful.]

I'd figured that was their aim to begin with— drawing our attention, that is. After all, there can't be too much practical use for attracting the general public. It seems beneath them, don't you think?

[He leans just a bit closer to the plaque, rubbing at his chin.]

Are we not a serious threat, Captain?

[Only partially serious, mind. He'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it.]

[secondcomingof]

Outside myself and a few other individuals, we are not a threat.

[ He just says it, point blank, no fancy airs or lying smiles or anything else. Just the cold, hard truth, as his eyes slide over, slightly dimmed, to Brendan's vibrant pair. ]

Primarily because everyone seems more occupied with their own paranoia than actually accomplishing anything of merit. But that is not the case with me. [ Tentatively: ] And assuming it is not the case with you, I believe we can help each other.

[kingside]

[Brendan may just be avoiding the captain's gaze at that, temporarily caught by the fact that yes, his own paranoia has played a significant part in just how much (how little) he'd contributed to the ongoing efforts, but for right now... well, it would be a lie to say that he hadn't felt inspired by both Elizabeth and Captain Mass's efforts, much as he might be suspicious of the latter. Perhaps if from now on, he sought to change that... but would such a thing make a difference? After all, with his skills...

... No, that isn't entirely true, is it? After all, there is one new thing about himself he had yet to test, to experiment with. It might just be nothing, but then if it isn't...

He glances away.]

You overestimate me.

[secondcomingof]

[ It doesn't take a Newtype or anything similar to detect that train of doubt running through Brendan's thoughts. As such, Casval is quick to catch him by the shoulder—a steadying, confident gesture, opposed to the uncertain one from before. ]

I have an eye for talent, young man. And I wasn't lying, when I said you had potential. In the appropriate hands, it can be molded to something much greater. Something that will grant you the knowledge to fill in all the empty spaces within your heart.

[ Those dull eyes sharpen again, assured and fierce. ]

Put your faith in me. I can prove it to you, what I am capable of. What you are capable of. You need only believe in that potential, what's always been there.

Then, and only then, will it come to life, and allow you to advance forward to the answers you're seeking, I promise you. I'm a liar, too— [ a very mild grin ] —but this is the unbreakable, unshakeable vow I abide above everything else.

[kingside]

[... And is that really supposed to reassure him? Brendan is quiet and intent as he listens, though, captivated by the content even if he's not quite convinced by the meaning of the captain's words, duplicitous as they are. He'd be a fool to fall for so little, but even so, he can't help but admire the artistry behind it all, the total skill with which Casval manipulates each phrase. Advance forward, an admirable goal, and yet even so...

... But there's little reason to resist, is there? Surely even if he and the captain wind up opposing one another in the end, he can't help but benefit from his tutelage.]

Then I'll agree, Captain Mass. Together, you and I will accomplish great things.

[secondcomingof]

[ He'd be a fool, and yet he'd already come this close, trespassed this deeply into the lion's den. There's no hope for him, now, no hope for either of them, and Casval smiles because he knows he has won and will continue to win and nothing will stop him at this rate. Nothing and no one for the man who'd cast his humanity aside. ]

As you prefer, Brendan. [ The hand slides off, and he turns away, meaning to leave him behind and move on with his evening. But first... ] Do be cautious in accessing that forum. Report back to me on what you find; I'll extend the same offer, of course.

[kingside]

[Brendan lifts an eyebrow at him.]

Oh, but I will. I'm not about to forget the need for caution simply because I've made the acquaintance of some of our more public figures. Rest assured that I will be watching, even if I don't actively participate.

[He pauses then, and after seeing to mull it over, he continues.]

You may as well have my number. You know everything else already. If I have yours, I'll yield it without complaint.

[secondcomingof]

[ Hm? That gets Casval to turn back around again, approach him, and...

...oh. How forward, indeed. He just took your hand, Brendan, and with the draw of a pen from his pocket, is writing directly on your palm the number in question in deep black ink. Surprisingly, it doesn't smudge when he passes his thumb over it, just to test. ]

Well? [ A wink accompanies his lingering grin now. ] Going to yield?

[kingside]

[The move catches him off guard, but he doesn't complain as Casval inscribes the digits, staying remarkably still until the man has completed writing them all. In fact, if it hadn't been for his... last remarks, Brendan might not have noticed anything amiss at all, but with that wink and that thoroughly suspicious grin, he's quick to put two and two together. What the hell, why are you—

Scowling, he snatches the pen out of the other man's grip and quickly scrawls his own number in return.]

Don't get so excited.

[secondcomingof]

[ So sassy. You know that's just the way to Casval Mass' nonexistent heart, don't you, Brendan? But he just shrugs it off, plucks the pen out of the other's fingers effortlessly and stashes it back from whence it came. ]

Too late for that, darling.

[ Uttered dryly, but oops, he's gone in just a few steps before Brendan can even think to be offended, the flash of his red coat whipping around him being the last thing he sees of the Captain.

Congratulations, Brendan. You've just netted yourself one (1) crazed, insane, and overly flirtatious ally. But in his defense?

He was drunk, and even sober, you still look like a girl. ]