Scene Listing

||

Scene Schedule

||

Scene Schedule RSS

Owner	Pose
Rufus Shinra	WARPGATE PLAZA, SECTOR THREE UPPER PLATE, MIDGAR Welcome to high society, in the literal sense. Down below, on ground level, there's the huddled masses of Midgar. The slums. The lower level is visible through the cracks, or looking down from the warpgate plaza's railing, as people arrive in the Sector Three warpgate (or via the adjacent helipad, if arriving via the air). There's a handful of houses, but down there it's mostly ramshackle towns built out of whatever scraps that can be found, and distinctly un-urban stretches where the wilderness (and the monsters) has taken back over. It's turning night just as people arrive. Above, the sun is setting for a gradual transition into evening - but below, night arrives in the form of the large artificial sun lamps being turned off, one at a time. "Good. You made it." Rufus is here, dressed up in a white tuxedo, waiting next to a limousine. "Thanks for coming, despite the last minute invitations - I didn't even know about this till I arrived at home this morning." "To recap, there's a charity auction going on, and I've been... volunteered to make an appearance as part of Shinra's public relations efforts." "It's- If it was just sitting there being bored for a whole evening I could handle that, but I'm expecting some of the other executives there. I'm expecting them to make things unpleasant in some way. And I really don't want to face them alone, after just coming home - after just being *forced* back home, after it was found out that I snuck out." Rufus leans against the side of the plaza's railing. "Not everyone's happy that I had left without telling anyone. Not everyone's happy that I'm *back*, either." "... Plus side, there'll be food, although it'll be fundraiser quality food... and there'll be the auction, if you see something you want to bid on there. I'm expected to be seen being generous there anyway, so if you want to bid on some stuff I can spot you." As Rufus finishes speaking, the last of the sun lamps below click off - officially, it's nighttime, above and below. "And..." "... Thanks. Being back here sucks. Having some people I can trust helps."
Audrey Basque	Audrey needed this. Not like someone needs a vacation, or a break, or just some time off; more like when someone needs to wake up at 7am on the dot, do their routine, and feel normal for a day. When your life has been torn apart and turned upside down, sometimes the only way to recenter yourself is to do something that feels normal to you. And fancy parties for rich, pretentious people? That's normal, for Audrey.     She doesn't like this! Not one bit.     In fact she rather quite hates it.     But it's normal, and that's at a premium right now.     Audrey is dressed for the occasion, of course; it's a long red and white dress, frilly and expensive, with long red silk gloves; there aren't any straps or shoulders, rather it's one of those dresses that just wraps around your chest and hangs there tightly. Red heels click when she walks, showing the barest hint of white hosery on her legs, given the dress' length.     Maybe more striking is the fact she's let her hair completely down and adorned it with a red ribbon; it's quite long, a brown curtain that follows her and comes to rest around her hips. Even her makeup is a bit thicker than usual; the lips just a bit more red and pink, a subtle hint of eyeshadow and eyeliner, skin sparkling just a tiny bit more.     This is a practiced ritual, every step essential to it feeling complete, and not one beat was missed.     Midgar certainly leaves an impression, too. This is like a double-layered Urban Center, and the hints of the misery down below were enough to make Audrey just a bit uncomfortable. Still, it was neither the time nor place to ask about, or worry about, that particular thing, and so she simply nods to Rufus, wide smile plastered on her face like a mask.     "But of course. I understand these events are stressful alone. You have been welcoming to me, so it is the least I can do." She's recharged her batteries, so she's sounding all nice and proper too. "It will be nice to see how these go on another world."     Her gaze distracts itself off Rufus, looking up at the night sky. The stars here feel different, somehow, but she can't place the feeling - like that tug that's drawing her attention to whatever reactor is closest. There's magic here, in the air, not as thick and breathable as in the Phantom Circle but... it's more rich than a lot of places, isn't it?
Sarracenia	After the incident with Reno, Sarra had flown Rufus home in the Sundew Sovereign. It may be a wooden airship, but it is a wooden airship over 250 feet long, with gold inlaid into much of the railing and forming most of the accents. Including the Sarracenia Sundew figure on the front of the bow. The wood is all lacquered and polished to a mirror shine, and to make it even more majestic and intimidating...gun ports numbering several dozen dot the sides of the Spanish galleon-style airship.      And just to remind people that Rufus has not just been goofing around out there, the Sundew Sovereign arrives again. An entire airship to transport...one person.      Princess Sarracenia Sundew.      The crown princess has made the most of her silver-white hair. It is now regal and silky, almost as shiny as the airship she rode in on. The color contrasts well with her golden crown and headband, her burgundy metal lotus hairpin, and of course her black eyepatch over one of her still dazzlingly blue eyes.      Her dress is appropriately high society. It is black velvet from top to bottom, with shining silver hems and buttons, and a flowing silver pattern reminiscent of small curling vines moving down the left side, across the belly, and down the skirt. Appropriately poofy shoulders maintain her princessly appearance despite it being quite form fitting to accentuate the princess's modest curves and toned belly. Similar long velvet gloves keep her arms covered except for one small area just below the sleeves.      And to finish the outfit off, shining silver heeled slippers to make the already tall princess even more majestic and imposing.      A small section of the airship's hull opens and extends to form a ramp to the helicopter pad, and piranha plant soldiers dressed in shining steel armor walk ahead of the princess as she makes her way down to the helipad. They stop at the end of the ramp, clacking their spears on the floor as they take up guard positions there.      Sarracenia continues on to Rufus. She looks down at the under city for a few moments before joining him.      '... Thanks. Being back here sucks. Having some people I can trust helps.'      Sarra smile/smirks as they are thanked and gives her hair a toss. "I am happy to help. How they treat you is unforgivable. If I can drive that point home in some small way simply by being here, then I shall."      Audrey is here. Sarra curtseys lightly to the Crown White. "Hello again, Lady Audrey. It is good to see you. I hope you are alright after what happened in the City."
Petra Soroka	Petra is here, for a high society event, bafflingly. Despite appearances, it's not like she's incompetent at them-- if her childhood hadn't put her in enough for her to get the gist, then corporate work in Lobotomy Corporation had-- but it's certainly not her *scene*. Still, moderately touched up in appearance, wearing her nondescript black suit without L-Corp's logo, she looks... mostly like one of the servers, but that's good enough. There's a new bruise barely visible tucked into the collar of her dress shirt-- not a hickey, as it seems on first impression, but target-shaped like either lyme disease or an impact of something like a rubber bullet. "To recap, there's a charity auction going on, and I've been... volunteered to make an appearance as part of Shinra's public relations efforts."     "Hey." Petra's greeting still carries the residue of a good mood, or at least better than it has been. She has a vaguely dissociately affect to the way she doesn't linger her gaze on much of anything, whether faces or the state of the city, but that isn't too different from normal.     "Parading you around to remind you they've still got the leash tight around your neck, as a promise to investors that you'll grow up to be a perfect little identical slot into the system for them. Sure. If you start getting heckled or bullied or whatever, I'll be sure to smooth it over with my radiant personality." "You have been welcoming to me, so it is the least I can do."     "You look nice," Petra says offhandedly to Audrey. Girltalk is easy even when Petra is here with a suit and shorter than shoulder length hair, leaning back against the railing and wondering whether she could fit in a cigarette break before getting to the fundraiser. "I never thought about it since they look so high effort, but are there curls actually *lower* maintenance than wearing your hair that long? It looks--" She almost repeats the same compliment. "It's pretty." "Having some people I can trust helps."     "I try." She flashes a droopy little peace sign. It's hard to tell how sarcastic that it. It might not be at all.
Angela	Angela has promised Rufus that she would help him when he asked. Specifically, she promised to help kill his dad and honestly that feels easier and less trouble than accompanying Rufus into a party which she can't do but she CAN send a 'Librarian' along to help. Most of her 'Librarians' require EGO which they do not presently have access to but Roland's an actual Fixer and can probably handle himself fine as a +1 to Angela, who is on a video pad strapped to his wrist. She's in one of the rooms at the Library, sitting by a slab that has what looks like a sleeping humanform Malkuth sleeping on it. She is periodically glancing over to check on Malkuth. Seems like Wakey Wakey time is getting closer to her--and it looks like what she meant as a concession to the Sephirah was giving them bodies closer to their humanoid forms. But she's not awake yet, she's just nearby because Angela needs to keep an eye on her until she does--she's never done this before, after all, and she has no idea if it will hilariously blow up in her face, possibly literally. Roland is a 30 year old man of average height, build, hair and slightly below average face. He's a man in his thirties and he's wearing a nice suit, jacket, slacks, and tie but it's about average on the 'nice' scale too. "Woooof..." Roland says. "This might be actually worse than The City, even we get to see an actual sun now and then..." He says. "Yes," Angela says dryly. "Being able to see the sun is quite a miracle." "...Ah--well--you get to see it now, right?" Roland asks her. "This is a preliminary test of you being able to go outside, Roland. Please take it seriously or I'll have to keep you as an Indoor Fixer." Roland grimaces and quiets down before focusing on Rufus, rubbing at his neck, "Well, hopefully nobody tries to do anything about that. What is 'fundraiser quality food'? You mean like the little fried shrimp you hold up with toothpicks? Is that real?" He does seem moderately uncomfortable with all the expected glamor but he conversely doesn't seem bothered at all by the darkness. He waves a hand to Audrey, giving her a smile and a wave, the former not quite fitting on his face. "Looks like we're taking a job as handlers today. Haven't had a job like this in a while...!" 5rHe looks up as an airship arrives to deliver ... one person and clucks his tongue with faint annoyance though it's all smiles again by the time Sarracenia is with the group though it flickers when Petra explains the situation as 'parading oyu around to remind you they've still got the leash tight around your neck'. Roland rubs at his own neck as if half expecting to feel one there. There isn't one, of course, but it sure feels like it right now. "You can rely on us. Roland, I expect you to not slack off just because I am not there personally." "Don't have to worry about me. I may take breaks but I don't slack off when it comes to work."
Rufus Shinra	> "It will be nice to see how these go on another world." "I can't imagine it'll be any different. Bunch of rich c-" Rufus visibly adjusts his language. "- bastards, spending a quarter percent of their net worth and acting as though they're the second coming." Next is Sarracenia, who arrives in her typically over the top way. This is, Rufus reflects, probably actually a good thing for tonight. ... Though, Sarracenia has been... rather violent as of late, so he's a bit worried. "Glad to have you," he says, his voice and face not betraying his thoughts. > "Parading you around to remind you they've still got the leash tight around your neck, as a promise to investors that you'll grow up to be a perfect little identical slot into the system for them." "Yeah, you get it," says Rufus, a bit more quietly. "Thanks." Rufus offers a fistbump. Roland arrives. "Hey! You're Angela's new... not agent anymore, right. Librarian? You get your EGO issued yet?" > "What is 'fundraiser quality food'?" "Okay, Roland, picture the most average, unexceptional chicken or steak you've ever had in your life. It gets defrosted and then cooked in an oven on a large tray alongside two dozen other meals all at once, then slathered with oil and herbs to give it some illusion of flavor, it gets plated up with instant mashed potatoes cooked in a large pot and a bunch of... probably asparagus that's been boiled and then just *drowned* in butter, and then the whole assembled plate is put under a heat lamp for up to an hour, and then served immediately following a 'salad' that's eight pieces of dry spinach with a single cherry tomato on top, and white bread dinner rolls with individual butter packets as their sole concession to 'flavor'." Rufus looks more animated talking about this than usual. "Oh, and you may hear 'heat lamps' and think that means hot food, but expect it to be room temperature, really. Anyway, that's fundraiser food. We'll take the limo out for burgers afterward if you can't get it down." Speaking of, it's time for the LIMOUSINE RIDE! ... Which is fairly uneventful. There's enough time for a drink from the minibar, if one's needed for whatever reason. The limousine winds its way through the upper city highways, arriving at... WUTAI WAR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS CHARITY AUCTION, SECTOR THREE GALA HALL Where the limo pulls up to the front entrance loop, where about a dozen photographers are waiting, cameras loaded and ready to fire upon anyone stepping out of the limo. It's an ambush! You're outnumbered! Is your hair done up right? Are you *sure* there aren't any stains on your clothes? Twelve photographers - and just past them, one reporter. "And pulling up next - there's Vice President Rufus Shinra - and what look to be his extraworldly guests. Tell the audience at home!" She shoves a microphone into someone's face. "What do you all think of our shining city of Midgar? Is it like what you have at home?"
Audrey Basque	You look nice,     Audrey, a bit startled, smiles at Petra, nodding. "Well, you too," she says, and avoids commenting on the fact she's wearing a suit and not a dress. It suits her, though, she can't deny that. "Ah... the hair? It's less work like this, but I prefer the curls. Father prefers it like this. He says it's more "lady like" to simply let it flow, and it looks better at these gatherings." Self-expression? In this society? Absolutely not.     Hello again, Lady Audrey. It is good to see you. I hope you are alright after what happened in the City.     "Princess Sarracenia! Hello! Yes, I'm all better, thanks to Angela. Really, it's not like I was injured or anything of the sort, I had just..." You know. Seen her. Seen the state she was in. Seen Petra's state. Audrey keeps her smile on. "It had been a long day, and week, but I am well-rested tonight. Is that your airship? It must be very convenient to be able to go anywhere like that." Like a private jet, but fancier!     Looks like we're taking a job as handlers today. Haven't had a job like this in a while...!     With Roland arriving, Audrey bows to the man (and Angela, by proxy). "Hello Roland, Angela! I'm glad to see you here as well. Did you come looking for something in particular from the auction, or just to get a feel for these events?"     It's time to go though! ... into a limo.     Audrey looks at Petra, and wordlessly, giggles.     In a stroke of luck, Audrey is not the first out of the vehicle, and not the first to get a microphone shoved in her face! But her looks are immaculate, and she knows how to smile and pose for a photo op. She might even drag Petra and Roland into a shot!
Sarracenia	It is fair to be worried about Sarra's volatility as of late, but right now she seems pretty much like her usual self. Having someone to spite helps her direct her aggression in a less destructive way.      The talk of fundraiser quality food has Sarra snickering a bit, though it is as much at Rufus's apparent enthusiasm for the subject as anything. "Honestly, the snacks, drinks, and pre-packed meals I carry in my purse are better than 'fundraiser food'. They do not provide proper catering unless it is something like an award's ceremony awarding people for things they spent a lot of money on and put little effort into."      Petra and Angela get a modest, "Oh, hello Petra. Angela." as a greeting. Roland at least gets a curtsey since this is their first meeting. "And you must be Mister Roland. Good to meet you in person."      'Princess Sarracenia! Hello!'      Audrey greets Sarracenia with what is probably normal warmth and sincerity and curiosity. In Sarra's current state of mind though...it catches Sarra off guard. She stares quietly for a moment before her one good eye starts to shimmer with moisture. The princess starts to sniffle, but quickly covers it with a cough and blinks a few times to clear the moisture from her eyes. "Y-yes. It is my airship." Sarra says, smiling a more genuine smile than might have been seen on her in a while. "It is quite convenient. And if you would like, I would be happy to take you for a flight on it after the auction is over."      Sarra's eye is shimmering again by the time she finishes speaking, an she quickly slides a glove across it before...      Oooh. A limousine! Sarra rarely gets to ride in actual cars, so when she does it is always a treat. She makes her way in carefully and looks out the window the whole time. She is a small town princess in the big city after all.      Of course, Sarra knows that it raises one's standing to have someone on your arm. Especially royalty. So, when hey emerge Sarra (without really asking) slips her arms around one of Rufus's. Regardless of who's face the mic is shoved into, Sarra is happy to speak. "It is quite magnificent! Even compared to what we have on other worlds Midgar is impressive! I do find my heart going out to those down below, though. It must be terrible having to live in such squaller. Of course, I suppose that is why we are here today! To help alleviate a bit of suffering in the city with our generosity~"      The princess gives her hair a toss, the shimmering silver strands catching the light and the one slender royal braid that starts at her temples and moves around to a single braid in the back flicking out behind her. "I do look forward to seeing what lovely items a world like this has to offer!"
Petra Soroka	"He says it's more "lady like" to simply let it flow, and it looks better at these gatherings."     "Oh, makes sense. I think the curls are way more expressive of 'you', though." Petra's mind catches on what Audrey said for a little bit, until she tips her head to the side as a thought comes to her. She doesn't share whatever it is, though.     Roland is a moderately welcome presence, and Angela is a strongly welcome presence. Petra saying hi to the tablet first is to be expected, but she gives Roland his due attention afterwards. This *is* one of her new employees after all, sort of-- and actually, considering their similar suits, it might be obvious that they work together. "I may take breaks but I don't slack off when it comes to work."     "Mhm. You're not used to this kind of thing, are you?" Petra cold calls Roland as not being wealthy or socially connected, but it's not done insultingly. "Avoid letting anyone pressure you into answering questions that aren't obvious or totally trivial, and don't let anyone lead you somewhere alone." "Yeah, you get it,"     "Don't I," Petra agrees, meaning it more than she lets on. She returns Rufus's fist bump, then turns her eyes to the limousine. There's been a lot of limousines in her past recently, which overlaps perfectly with her recent past of being homeless and broke. It's an odd feeling, how stark the dissonance between money and wealth is, and it gets her thinking about Ash again. Which isn't hard; she's been thinking about Ash for most of the day. "Anyway, that's fundraiser food."     "It's like if a food court was ran by evil people and redecorated either to be the most numbingly corporate minimalist garbage you've ever seen, or absolutely garish ugly slop. And they shoot you if you look like one of the people they're raising funds for." Audrey looks at Petra,     And Petra looks back, giggling in return. It's not like the limousine ride from before was *unpleasant* at all! This time... Petra thoroughly avoids the bar inside it, catching Audrey's look with her knuckles squished over an in-joke sharing smile and roll of her eyes, though she silently gestures a silly 'go ahead' at Audrey. Maybe they can just alternate who gets drunk *every* time they meet! "And pulling up next - there's Vice President Rufus Shinra - and what look to be his extraworldly guests. Tell the audience at home!"     Petra's suit is the same one that was drenched in blood last week from the investigation into the Black Silence, though thankfully, if the laundry facilities at Lobotomy Corporation are good at one thing, it's washing out blood. She's not dressed up to even a fraction of a percent as the other women, or even Rufus or Roland, just barely pulling above 'tiredly haggard', but the careless disaffect with which she doesn't even bother to check how she looks or how her suit appears before stepping out to the entrance is even more intense than her usual, not even blinking at the lights or shouting.
Petra Soroka	"What do you all think of our shining city of Midgar? Is it like what you have at home?"     Whether or not she's the first out of the car, Petra looks more like one of Rufus's bodyguards than an attendee, but eventually the microphone comes around to her anyways. She squints past the camera to the person holding it, slicing her gaze over to the reporter with the microphone, then to Rufus.     It's hard to keep in mind what the point of any of this is, besides a delirious sea of artifice that's either insanity-inducing or begging her to sink in and drift along with it. It's easy to imagine just brushing past the reporters, past the corporate meet and greet and speeches and whatever else, killing as many people as are actively hostile to herself and Rufus, and then moving on. What would be the fallout? Rufus's shitty little life being messed up? He hates it anyways! It's a *service* to rip it down for him!     She doesn't do it, though. The Ash-nodule of her brain competes with the Lilian-nodule that insists that she step *away* from the edge of society rather than hurling herself off of it, whether she likes it or not.     In the end, the only answer she offers the reporter is a flat-neutral, "It's fine."
Angela	#-1 INVALID ANSI DEFINITION: 243''You're not used to this kind of thing are you?'' "Wings don't like hiring people like me." Roland asides to Petra. "Even when I wasn't dumped back down to Grade Nine." "Also you wouldn't have the money to donate to fundraisers." Angela tells Roland before smiling at Petra like she has good news that she's not sharing. "Wonderful to see you as well, Petra." Roland is normal by the time Sarracenia is there to talk to. Her waves casually her way. He remains a man in his early-to-mid thirties. "Hey Princess. Thinking of donating to the fund? Bet Wutai'd appreciate it." Roland imagines fundraiser food, frowning. Sensing that Roland doesn't find that to be a tantilizing description, Angela protests by saying, "That is not exactly true. What Rufus is neglecting to say is that the quality of 'fundraiser food' largely correlates to the type of people they are intending to raise money from and also correlated to how much they actually care about the project. If it is, for instance, largely a campaign to raise money for a 'business friendly project', they are going to serve much better food than, at, say, something for a charitable cause." Angela says. "The 'prestige' of the event is also relevant, of course, but that tends to more directlyt correlate to the kind of money that is endeavoured to be brought in." "Ah," Roland says. "So this is an event that Shinra's just not going to care about. WUTAI WAR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS CHARITY AUCTION, SECTOR THREE GALA HALL Roland can be pulled into the photo op--as he isn't really expecting to get pulled into one. He says, "Well, you really are in a good mood." Roland says. "You go to a lot of these things? We're just here to provide some security, doubt I could afford anything that's put up to auction here. You, Angela?" "No, the Library is essentially bankrupt at this point." Angela says. "Once Ayin's Meltdown happened, my ability to access Lobotomy Corp's funds was removed. I was only allowed to make use of them when the Manager was in his 'X' state. I cannot even imagine what state the banks are in right now." ''What do you all think of our shining city of Midgar? Is it like what you have at home?'' Roland considers his words very carefully. The last thing he wants to do is lie... TO THE PUBLIC... but he also knows by this point that if he's TOO Honest, Angela will chastize him and probably threaten to replace his arms with legs and legs with arms. Eventually Roland comes up with an answer that he thinks will suffice. "It's almost as nice as my home city." Roland winks at the reporter like he's sharing a private joke. Angela actually laughs, briefly, which snaps ROland's eyes back to her but Angela pushes her expression back to neutral quickly. "So you ''can'' laugh..." He teases gently. "It has been known to happen on occassion."
Petra Soroka	"Well, you really are in a good mood."     Being dragged by Audrey into a photo shoot improves Petra's mood too-- or, rather, it's not as though she's in a *bad* mood. It's more that any stimulus placed in front of her that isn't directly related to someone she enjoys being around is sniffed at and rejected apathetically, like a picky cat. She's not even uncomfortable with having her photo taken, even by the swarming hordes of photographers that might come across as overwhelming.     She sticks her tongue out at the camera and smiles with markedly less grace than Audrey has, waving or keeping her hands tucked into her pockets. "I guess this is more like what you were imagining for the multiverse, right?" She asides to Audrey, between photo bulb flashes. "So you ''can'' laugh..."     "Sorry, Ange," as if she's outing some embarrassing secret about her when she leans in to Roland. "But she even tells *jokes* too, sometimes. I told you, she's a sweetheart."
Rufus Shinra	Audrey sweeping past before she can be asked a question might well be the correct move. It's what Rufus is also doing. Petra's "It's fine" is focused on for a second, and then the cameras and microphone move on once it becomes clear they're not going to get a better soundbite. > "It's almost as nice as my home city." "And where is that?" the reporter asks, but Sarracenia draws the aggro before an answer can be given. > "It is quite magnificent! Even compared to what we have on other worlds Midgar is impressive! I do find my heart going out to those down below, though. It must be terrible having to live in such squaller. Of course, I suppose that is why we are here today! To help alleviate a bit of suffering in the city with our generosity~" "Well, you heard it here first, Rufus Shinra's guests think the citizens of our shining city of Midgar are living in squalor and suffering. Perhaps the rumors are true after all, that extraworlders are all elite snobs who look down on us." If Sarracenia attempts to give a response to that, Rufus comes back and drags her in before the reporters can get an even better (worse) soundbite to reframe. > Angela and Roland talking about finances "I'll cover your bids, don't worry about it," says Rufus. "And - maybe you and I can talk later, Angela. I'm pretty sure any good library needs patrons, right?" The group is lead on in by the venue staff, and thankfully there aren't any more ambushes. "Ah, well, if it isn't the prodigal son." Well, not any more *unexpected* ambushes anyway. "Here I was, thinking that you'd need your babysitters to drag you in," says the woman sitting at the head table. "Will wonders never cease. I hope we don't need to provide a StampTab to keep you quiet and entertained during dinner, do we?" Her eyes dart down to the Angela Tablet that Roland is wearing. "Or maybe we do?" Rufus, with a very unmoving and not at all fake smile, nods to her. "Ah. Allow me to introduce-           WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARN                     ING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!                     WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARN                     WARNIN|         SHINRA INC SENIOR EXECUTIVE          |WARNIN                     G!WARN|      HEAD OF ADVANCED WEAPONRY DIVISION      |G!WARN                     ING!WA|                Scarlet Athena                |ING!WA                     WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARN                     ING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!                     WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!WARN           - who I am *very* glad could make it as well. It's been too long." He wishes it were longer. "Oh, and I'm here too!" says the overweight man who's also sitting at the table, who's trying to fit three individual butters into one dinner roll, and leaving crumbs everywhere on the table in the process. There's eight seats at the table, with placards for everyone - and one empty seat for someone named 'Reeve Tuesti'. "I apologize that you all were brought in by someone who's been away from Midgar for so long, and doesn't know the proper workings anymore. If you'd like a... proper, tour of the city later, I'd be glad to provide what the prodigal son here can't," says Scarlet.
Rufus Shinra	While all this is going on, the auction itself is starting in the background. Paddles with bidding numbers are provided.--- BETTING MINIGAME RULES! First, calculate your BUYING POWER. This is an abstract representation of how much you can afford to spend, your prowess at tactical bidding, etc, instead of strictly a cash value. * If you have the wealth advantage, add three hundred points per pip. * For every other advantage that you think would be useful in an auction (ex: "I'm using mind control to discourage others from bidding"), add one hundred points per pip. * Finally, add six hundred points. This represents a combination of your everyday finances and/or what Rufus is giving everyone to spend. There will be several items up for auction, one at a time. You can bid using #auction bid=<bid amount>. If you have the highest bid when the auctioneer finishes (announced via +ooc), you win that item! Some of these represent potential plot hooks, or useful items for future FF7 scenes, while others are just roleplay fluff. (You will not be told which is which.) When all items have been auctioned off, we'll add up all of your highest bids, and then subtract that from your BUYING POWER. If the result is negative, you have spent more money than you intended to, and are expected to acquire the money somehow. Think of it like FINANCIAL STRAIN. --- The first item up for bid: an antique three wheeled truck.
Audrey Basque	And if you would like, I would be happy to take you for a flight on it after the auction is over.     "... may I?"     Sarracenia definitely won't need to offer twice. Audrey does, in fact, want to ride an airship, especially one that looks so regal and glamorous. Sometimes, the simple things are the best.     "That would be lovely, if we have time!"     And barring something catastrophic happening, they will.     Oh, makes sense. I think the curls are way more expressive of 'you', though.     "O-Oh? I-I guess so. But these events aren't about that, so, this is fine too." She's used to it. It's easier. Brain off, be pretty, attend. No friction, no difficulty. It's a nice reset.     At least they have the limo ride to laugh a bit. Audrey DID take a glass of wine or champagne, whatever was available, but nothing more. She can handle an evening of wine, she'll be alright! She just needs to avoid victory celebrations with Natsuki.     I guess this is more like what you were imagining for the multiverse, right?     Was it?     "... really, I don't remember what I expected. It wasn't what I got, that's for sure. Maybe this is a bit more like it, but it's also too..." What's the word she wants. Ah, right. "Normal."     Well, you really are in a good mood.     Audrey beams her eternal smile at Roland. "Would you believe me if I said this feels nice, after the weeks I've had? It's like a small slice of my life followed me, and managed to stay still. Maybe you have something like that too, Roland? Something you do when you're feeling stressed?"     As Rufus is ambushed by DANGEROUS EXECUTIVES, Audrey recognizes the telltale signs of the STRONGEST BRAT AT THE PROM. She, wisely, elects to watch her words-- though she wonders if Petra is technically even more of one. Also she, technically, is almost always watching her words anyway.     "Greetings, Lady Athena! Allow me to reassure you that Mister Shinra has been nothing but courteous to us, but I would not decline a tour of the city so freely offered." She curtsies, lifting her dress up a tad to bend a knee and all. "Audrey Basque, Crown White, Encr--" Right, that means nothing here. "Apologies. Audrey Basque will do. It is a pleasure to meet one of Mister Shinra's peers."     See, she can navigate these just fine.     And she has no interest in a TRUCK, so she's happy to stand around and chat while the auction drones on.
Petra Soroka	"Well, you heard it here first, Rufus Shinra's guests think the citizens of our shining city of Midgar are living in squalor and suffering."     This isn't something Petra will get on Sarracenia's ass about, for once. When Sarracenia is dragged away by Rufus, Petra complains about the thing *opposed* to Sarracenia instead, because she sure does have a bone to pick with reporters.     "You know, this happened with Quicknest too, when I conquered it. And I've heard how much people do it to-- anyways. It's so frustrating, what people like that turn the fucking *news* into. You know? What's the point? All those reporters are theoretically supposed to be humans too, right? Do they enjoy doing that? Do they fucking get off on ruining their whole profession? There's something so fundamentally hollow and revolting about cobbling together a totally fake narrative out of events and words that are *already* so rarely worth anything, I think. Like... I don't know, information authenticity is really important. Fuck those losers." "I'll cover your bids, don't worry about it,"     "Nice, because I'm shit out of money too. Bank's broke." "Maybe this is a bit more like it, but it's also too... Normal."     "I have to say," Petra closes her eyes seriously, considering Audrey's answer thoroughly. "I think the absolute best thing, one of the few objectively good things, about being an Elite, is that you get the power to choose your relationship to normal. The opportunities you get aren't just for you to 'do' stuff, but to 'be' stuff too. Rufus is backsliding right now. But not forever, I hope." "It's like a small slice of my life followed me, and managed to stay still."     "But I get that. You did have a pretty fucked up introduction." "I hope we don't need to provide a StampTab to keep you quiet and entertained during dinner, do we?"     "I'm sure your riveting conversation will keep us all entertained for the night, Miss Athena." Petra drawls, cracklingly disinterested but still playing the game. "Petra, by the way." "If you'd like a... proper, tour of the city later, I'd be glad to provide what the prodigal son here can't,"     "I'm actually interested in Rufus's perspective on the city specifically, so I'll have to decline for now." Petra slides into place at her placarded seat, running a bitten-down fingernail around the rim of her plate. Is she interested in a truck? It's funny for her to buy a vehicle on Rufus's dime, and she might actually need one, but it just seems in bad taste.
Angela	''She even tells *jokes* too, sometimes. I told you, she's a sweetheart.'' Roland says, "Are you a sweetheart, Angela?" "I'm The City's greatest monster." Angela says. "Mm.... Think I have to agree with my ''direct'' superior here." Roland quips instead. Possibly because Petra is in immediate range of him and Angela isn't. He tries to think about it in City standards but she barely feels like someone FROM The City. He has a lot to learn. Roland grimaces at the praise given to Midgar. He can't help hismelf. He's never been good at masking his facial expressions. That's why... ''I'll cover your bids, don't worry about it.'' Angela bobs her head on the screen. "Perhaps, but we can discuss finances at another time. There's other avenues I'm considering besides digging myself deeper in your debt. I still have an outstanding ''repayment'' for you." But she seems fine with Roland joining in the auction with Rufus's money. Maybe she considers that 'fair payment' for taking on this job as it is. Angela considers Scarlet with a curious expression on her face. She dips her head politely to her--she seems to be someone in charge so she says, "A pleasure, ma'am. My name is Angela. I am the present director of the company formerly known as Lobotomy Corp and Concord Partner. I have to be here for the purpose of remodeling which is why I had to telecommute in for today's event. It is a wonderful thing you are doing for the War Orphans fund as a weapons developer." Her gaze immediately flicks to the empty seat. "A tour would be pleasant, Roland can take me where you'd like to show me." Angela says. Angela cannot leave a building, Roland does not know how to drive. Neither of them seem interested in the truck. ''Would you believe me if I said this feels nice, after the weeks I've had?'' "I would. Obviously this isn't my scene, but if I think of it as guard duty it's normal enough." He pauses. "Are you from a wealthy family yourself, Miss Audrey? ARe you expected to take over a family business too?" ''Do they fucking get off on ruining hteir whole profession?'' "Journalists who care about their profession don't get invited to mill around people with secrets." Roland tells Petra philisophically. ''I'm actually interested in Rufus's perspective on the city, specifically.'' "Mm... But I am also interested in perspectives that are not Rufus's. A more complete picture can be formed through multiple viewpoints."
Rufus Shinra	The truck gets a little back and forth bidding at low values, but utlimately doesn't get a very high bid. Ultimately the overweight man (who's name is apparently Palmer) gets it. "It'll look good in the lobby." The next item up for bid: Resort tickets! For some place called the Gold Saucer, which looks like an AR/VR theme park, over on the world's western continent. Travel and two nights at the onsite luxury hotel are included.
Sarracenia	'So you ''can'' laugh...'      Sarra has heard Angela laugh at least once before, but it still surprises her to hear it. And considering what Roland said, Sarra ends up snickering as well.      'That would be lovely, if we have time!'      '... really, I don't remember what I expected. It wasn't what I got, that's for sure.'      Sarra perks a bit as she listens to Audrey. "Well, perhaps we should ride the Sundew Sovereign all the way to the Sundew Kingdom? It is certain to be quite a bit different from any of these other places you have visited." Sarra says with a smile.      'Well, you heard it here first, Rufus Shinra's guests think the citizens of our shining city of Midgar are living in squalor and suffering. Perhaps the rumors are true after all, that extraworlders are all elite snobs who look down on us.'      Sarra looks like a deer in the headlights for a moment. "...wh-..." She is dragged away before anything bad/worse can happen, but she is definitely feeling a bit of that desire to smash things after. "...that was dirty...why are they trying to frame the Multiverse like that...?" she says quietly to Rufus.      Petra goes on a small rant about it, and Sarra finds herself pleasantly surprised at it. "...for once, we are in agreement! Authenticity of information is very important! The wrong information can cause all sorts of problem, and it is far too easy to twist the meaning of words into something other than was intended!"      'Ah. Allow me to introduce-...'      Sarra mmphs softly, annoyed for Rufus. She follows his lead though, putting on a smile. They are here to help Rufus look good after all. "Lady Scarlet Athena. It is nice to make your acquaintance. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom."      The overweight man gets a bit of a frown and an upturned nose from the princess for a moment, but she manages to turn it to a neutral expression at least. "And you are?" she asks.      'If you'd like a... proper, tour of the city later I'd be glad to provide what the prodigal son here can't.'      Sarra smiles her best fake smile again. "That is quite generous! I would be happy to accept. Though, the prodigal son has so far been able to provide what is needed when it is needed. And I do appreciate his whimsical views on things." Sarra says as she takes her seat. And finds herself trying not to stare as she and Petra seem to find another point of agreement.
Rufus Shinra	> "Would you believe me if I said this feels nice, after the weeks I've had?" Rufus looks over to Audrey. "Oh, sorry - were you having a bad time of it out there? I've only really heard you on the radio and seen you at the last party, so I didn't know..." "If I could offer to switch situations with you, I'm pretty sure I would." > "Rufus is backsliding right now. But not forever, I hope." "Yeah. Gonna work this out. I'll give details soon. Would have told people sooner but I thought I had more time." Rufus is, understandably, a bit more guarded talking about it in public in front of two other executives. > "Apologies. Audrey Basque will do." "Quite, Miss Basque. Shinra does not rest on titles or laurels - we are a meritocracy here. Or at least we should be." > "I'm sure your riveting conversation will keep us all entertained for the night, Miss Athena." "Actually - I'm sure we're all friends here, Scarlet is fine. It's what all my friends call me. I'm sure we'll be good friends here, right Petra?" > "Mm... But I am also interested in perspectives that are not Rufus's. A more complete picture can be formed through multiple viewpoints." "Very good... Angela, was it? Shame you couldn't make it in person. Very busy these days?" Food is brought out. Most people, nearly everyone, gets a plate with a lemon-herb chicken breast or a stake on it, along with various sides that match up in spirit to Rufus's earlier descriptions. Most people, with the exceptions of Rufus and his guests, who each get... a plate of chicken nuggets with a bowl of mac & cheese, and instead of the next round of drinks being brought out there's glasses of chocolate milk. Gradually, throughout the rest of the room, heads turn towards the central table, and there's murmurs. ("Chicken nuggets at a fancy dinner, really?" "They look young but I didn't think they were *that* young...") Rufus doesn't waste any time in flagging down a waiter. ("Excuse me? What's the meaning of this?") ("You... called ahead and ordered this for your group, right, sir?") ("I - I most certainly did not!") Scarlet, meanwhile, is badly hiding a smirk. "Why, Rufus, is this how you treat your guests?"
Petra Soroka	"I'm The City's greatest monster."     "You'll have to share that title with me, Ange. I bet there's more and more scary stories about me going around all the time." Petra's face twists, thinking about how many of them might come from Rita, but she doesn't say that part out loud. "Journalists who care about their profession don't get invited to mill around people with secrets."     "Because it's rotted all the way up! And all the way down." Petra frustratedly nibbles on the corner of bread that's slightly too hard because of spending a while under a heat lamp. "The best journalists are uninvited but show up anyways. That's, like, the whole point of it. If you only show up when invited, then you're giving away your ability to represent the truth at all. I should start just fucking lying to reporters if I decide I hate them." "Mm... But I am also interested in perspectives that are not Rufus's."     "Oh, sure." They're away from the cameras now, so Petra doesn't have to be very coy about it. "But I don't care about the city that much. Maybe at some point, but I'm definitely not going to get that from a tour with someone I don't know at all. That's just the way my brain is, though." "The wrong information can cause all sorts of problem, and it is far too easy to twist the meaning of words into something other than was intended!"     "Information is a constant war against, like, fucking conceptual entropy." Petra is *still* rambling about this, even as the auctions come out and the truck gets shuffled away to some idiot Petra doesn't care about. "I think shared reality as a concept is under attack by the, like, fundamental precepts of society. The only way any of this nonsense functions is if every person's stupid little malleable brain is locked into a trillion different chambers where they're all fed the same ground up slop and told it's the only food in the universe while their ability to talk to anyone and figure out together that it's not is severed totally by the idea of fucking 'civility' and 'politeness'. Reporting is meant to be cutting *through* that, but instead all these idiots do is *reinforce* it." "If I could offer to switch situations with you, I'm pretty sure I would."     "How's your hair styling routine?"     The Gold Saucer tickets... are actually a little tempting to Petra. She tries to think about who she'd invite, and that feels like staring into an abyss that looms larger and larger the more she lingers on it, because Lilian, Cinder, Rita-- "Ange, would that be something you want to do? Once you're free, I mean." Free of the obligations with reconstruction, of course! "I'm sure we'll be good friends here, right Petra?"     "Sure. I love friendship." Petra's head tilts over the back of her chair, staring at Scarlet with an unflinchingly probing look over bags under her eyes. "Do you actually want anything, or are you just running on a default script, here?" "Why, Rufus, is this how you treat your guests?"     Petra is served chockie milk and chicken nuggets. She stares at it for a minute, and then blandly picks up one of the nuggets and starts eating. "Thanks, Rufus. This is exactly what I wanted."     This is supposed to be embarrassing to Rufus, right? Using Petra as a vector, because this sort of thing should be so *shockingly* humiliating to anyone who knows what a real *proper* fundraising dinner should look like. Isn't it so humiliating to be a *child*? Shouldn't you want to look *mature*?     Petra watched *Spy Kids* in theaters yesterday with the coolest person she knows. She's immune.
Audrey Basque	I think the absolute best thing, one of the few objectively good things, about being an Elite, is that you get the power to choose your relationship to normal.     Audrey ponders, looking at Petra thoughtfully. What she's saying is right, but... for normal to feel normal, isn't it more like you bend to it? If you could choose, it wouldn't be normal anymore.     But I get that. You did have a pretty fucked up introduction.     A bit crude, but...     "Y-Yes. Maybe I would say more... chaotic. But yes. And I got through it thanks to you, mostly," she continues smiling, reaching out to take Petra's hand real quick. Not for long! It'd be WEIRD and FREAKY if it was a long hold, right? "So, thank you."     I'm The City's greatest monster.     Audrey looks back towards Roland and the very portable Angela. "Mm. I don't think you're a monster. You just wanted to live."     Are you from a wealthy family yourself, Miss Audrey? ARe you expected to take over a family business too?     "Yes. And yes. Though, it might be decades before I can. It's a very prominent business, and my parents are adamant I will need much experience and knowledge before I can even attempt it." She's not sure if it bothers her or not. "So for now, I don't worry about it."     Well, perhaps we should ride the Sundew Sovereign all the way to the Sundew Kingdom? It is certain to be quite a bit different from any of these other places you have visited.     "How long of a ride is it? I'm afraid I have class in the morning, but if it's a short ride, I would love to see your kingdom. If it's a long ride, I would settle for a lift to a Warpgate, and I will visit your kingdom some other time, if that's alright." Audrey seems happy enough at the prospect of seeing a place that isn't awful, after her most recent choices in destinations.     Oh, sorry - were you having a bad time of it out there? I've only really heard you on the radio and seen you at the last party, so I didn't know...     "P-Please do not concern yourself with that! I was merely dealing with... culture shock? Yes, culture shock. Close enough." Not at all, but it'll do." Without skipping a beat, she turns to Scarlet, nodding to her words. "Of course. I completely understand. The capable and powerful should be in control, right? I cannot imagine a company as prestigious as Mister Shinra's settling for any but the best."     It's not flattery, it's just making sure she doesn't get under the woman's skin in any way.     CHICKEN NUGGETS?     When is the last time she had them...?     "Actually, Rufus, this is perfect," she mirrors Petra's response. "I've not had these in a while. You are such a thoughtful host!" He is! Let's turn this around.
Rufus Shinra	SOLD! TO Petra! What's brought out next looks like another vehicle at first - actually though it's an autonomous robot. The Shinra J-7 Anti-Infantry "Sweeper" is clearly some sort of surplus military tech, but it's being sold as a 'home defense solution', capable of fully autonomous 'home defense patrols' and is equipped with 'castle doctine' grade armor-piercing machine guns and 'sleep soundly' flamethrower alt-fire modes. Bidding starts at a hundred. Scarlet seems to want it.
Rufus Shinra	> "Do you actually want anything, or are you just running on a default script, here?" "I want the same things any woman wants, Petra. Being recognized for my hard work. Being rewarded for my successes. It's rather hard to do that when the glass ceiling is being weighed down by people who run off to party for two years, isn't it?" > "Thanks, Rufus. This is exactly what I wanted." > "Actually, Rufus, this is perfect," As things continue to not go her way, Scarlet seems more inclined to bid - or rather, to bid *against* Rufus's party.
Angela	''You'll have to share that title with me, Ange.'' "I am happy to share anything I own with you." Angela quips back, but her expression is fond and a smile has flickered again. Angela is not interested in resort tickets she cannot go to. The home defense system draws her attention but after Petra bids, and then Scarlet bids, she elects to not even bother trying to participate in THAT war. Roland tried to bid on his own for the resort tickets but after a look from Angela gave it up before she could do much with it. "Let me guess, you'd want a book...?" Roland asks. "Certainly, though I wouldn't object to an item of interest, but 'the ability to go places' is naturally not something that I can make much use of right now." Roland scratches at his cheek with a nail. Someone trapped in a building. Took it over. But how does that have anything to do with what's going on in The City? Does she even know what's going out in The CIty, he wonders. ''Shame you couldn't maek it in person. Very busy these days?'' "Yes. After a hostile corporate takeover, you end up with a lot of work in the early days, but I hope that I will have less to do so soon. If you ever do a hostile takeover yourself, I suggest keeping your schedule clear for a few months after until everything is consolidated." She normally talks about this sort of thing. Roland seems perfectly happy with mac'n'cheese and chicken nuggets. He marvels at the choccy milk and has a sip. "Daaamn that's sweet. But refreshing." He is not a guy who tends to even be able to 'eat fancy food', though this is a bit more mcdonalds than even he is used to. STill, he'd rather have this than have the same meal as the war criminals over there. ''But I don't care about the city that much.'' Angela gives Petra a small nod of understanding. "It hasn't quite caught on with me yet either, not enough beaches. But at the moment I do not have much else better to do besides wait for Malkuth to wake up." ''You just wanted to live.'' Roland tries not to look like he's listening. That's actually a weirdly big clue when it's put like that. But he still feels like he's missing something big. "Well I can't exactly blame someone for wanting to escape the dungeon they've been locked up in either." He says. "But I think she's just talking about how she's an 'Impurity' according to The Head--if they knew about her, they'd probably be sending Arbiters right after her... So it's a good thing they don't. Most people are scared of The Head than fans of them, but loads of people want to get into the Wings--but the people who run those aren't any better." He frowns, thinking about it.
Sarracenia	Sarra gets caught up in conversation and before she realizes it the small truck has been sold. She blinks in surprise, then huffs softly. "Well, I suppose a truck like that would be little better than a display piece anyway." she says.      Next up, a trip to a VR amusement park? That is something Sarra hasn't done, so she bids on it. And gets into a minor bidding war with Petra! "H-hey! she exclaims the first time she is outbid, then mmmphs in annoyance the second time. But, it was mostly a whim and Sarra can go to this place after the auction either way, so...she doesn't bid again. Next up...a defense robot? Sarra prefers to do the fighting herself, so this doesn't really interest her.           'Are you from a wealthy family yourself, Miss Audrey? ARe you expected to take over a family business too?'      'Yes. And yes.'      Sarra is intrigued at hearing this. "So, you, Rufus, and myself are in similar situations. He is expected to take over his family's business. And, I am of course expected to take over rule of my kingdom someday."      'How long of a ride is it? I'm afraid I have class in the morning, but if it's a short ride, I would love to see your kingdom. If it's a long ride, I would settle for a lift to a Warpgate, and I will visit your kingdom some other time, if that's alright.'      Sarra considers for a moment. "The airship is quite fast, and with warpgates it would not take long to reach. But, you would not have much time to enjoy the kingdom." She shrugs and smiles. "Well, just let me know when you have some free time and we will make a day of it."      Food is brought out. Sarra...does not really even question it. "Oh! How quaint!" she says. She -is- basically a kid in an adult's body, so...she starts nibbling away at one happily. She eventually notices all the stares and ends up looking around with just her eye.      'Why, Rufus, is this how you treat your guests?'      Sarra realizes suddenly...that this was a trap for Rufus! But, she is already nibbling a nugget so she just shrugs and continues. "Do you have any dipping sauce? A nice sweet and spicy Sriracha would go well with these. Oh, do not worry about it." Sarra reaches into her purse and pulls out some pretty expensive looking Asian barbeque sauce and starts applying it daintily to her nuggets before placing it down in the center of the table for anyone to use.
Petra Soroka	"Being recognized for my hard work. Being rewarded for my successes."     Petra considers whether this is what every woman wants. Her eyes gradually slide off of Scarlet's and over her face glassily, lost in thought, coming to a stop somewhere around her ear without actually seeing her. Petra's relationship with praise and reward for hard work is complicated, and never more so than after her successes come at the cost of making Lilian miserable, for Lilian's sake. Petra's history with misogyny is long and heated, and in one sense, she can't bring herself to start dumping on this woman for trying to get Rufus-- who *is* a brat, and a creep that hit on her when they first met-- deposed so that she can seize power over the company herself.     "I think..." Petra begins, still not bringing her vision back to Scarlet's face. "... That it's deeply lame to admit to my face that all you want from interacting with us is to undermine Rufus for personal gain. You're so used to things going your way that you've lost the ability to do anything but drool and demand and smirk and stomp your feet, haven't you? What women want is some decent fucking conversation."     The robot comes up for auction, and Petra immediately bids after Scarlet, and then raises when she does. "You know, I'm kind of a weapons manufacturer myself. It's sort of an amateur move to not already know that, by the way. I've built an autonomous robot army before, along with a few mechs. I've worked on machines like that one-- well, less dinky and old than that one-- for most of my adulthood. So I'm in the market for learning more about other companies' manufacturing techniques."     She gives up after a few bids, though, when Scarlet jumps up by significantly more than the minimum, and she's not particularly bothered by that. Yay! She helped donate someone else's money to a charity that probably isn't real!     Petra is, however, the proud owner of two tickets to the Golden Saucer, at the point in her life where most of the people closest to her have abandoned her. She doesn't know quite what to do with them, if they can't figure out some way to get Angela out of her prison soon, but the impulse seized her, and it's Rufus's money anyways. She slides them around the table with a finger, looking down at them. "So, you, Rufus, and myself are in similar situations."     Petra sips on her chocolate milk, and then casually drops lore she's never actually mentioned to anyone in the past three years. "Actually, that was my dad's plan for me too."
Rufus Shinra	THE CHIMKEN NUGGETS: Are actually pretty good? In contrast to everything else being served here, they were fresh fried and served hot. "How come they get some of those?" says Palmer, who seems jealous. "My steak and my chicken were both cold. And there wasn't enough butter on my asparagus." He ends up ordering some chicken nuggets himself. And gradually, the tone of the murmured conversations change - and ordering chicken nuggets seems to be the new trend? Bullet dodged! > it's deeply lame to admit to my face that all you want from interacting with us is to undermine Rufus for personal gain... "That's quite a line, coming from hangers-on here to ride on someone's coattails," says Scarlet. Her 'chicken nugget' stratagem having failed, she pettishly bids up every time Petra does - and ends up winning the robot. "... Oh." There's some sticker shock setting in. ("Crap, need to liquidate some things...") She seems a bit less inclined to bid now. The next item up for bid: a treasure map, detailing the sites of several sunken ships from bygone eras, just waiting for an intrepid explorer to come treasure-hunt in. It's allegedly authentic? "Oh, I want this one," says Rufus, sitting up, in a much better mood.
Audrey Basque	"Of course! It'll be a date, then," Audrey says to Sarracenia, before stopping dead and startled. No!! Holding Petra's hand for a second too long caused this!!     "... figuratively. It's an expression."     Phew. Safe.     The auction moves on to a new lot, a treasure map!     "Oh, interesting! If we don't have enough I could pitch in. I've never been on a treasure hunt before." She doesn't want things for herself, she's just thinking it'd be fun to go on a real actual treasure hunt.
Angela	Angela realizes she's bidding against Rufus and just Rufus after a moment and so she gestures to Roland to stop adding to the bid. Seems abit silly to go directly against Rufus, odds are he's going to drag them all around on that adventure as is and it's even weirder to bidding war with Rufus with Rufus's money.
Petra Soroka	"That's quite a line, coming from hangers-on here to ride on someone's coattails,"     "Sure is," Petra easily agrees, losing interest immediately. She sits forwards and picks at her chicken nuggets again, not looking up as the robot is transferred over to Scarlet. Really, if she wants one for study, she'll buy one through Rufus.     The treasure map is nice. Rufus wanting it means Petra has no reason to bid against him, though, since he's the type who needs enrichment but can't pursue it without company-- and even if that company wasn't superpowered in some way, Petra's pretty sure that Rufus doesn't have many other people he could ask for help.     "Come to think of it... when was the last time I went on a 'treasure hunt'? In those underwater ruins with Hibiki and Vivianne? What kind of treasure is it, even? Any lore behind the map?"     "Rufus..." She eventually says aside, bored numb and gradually losing her social inhibitions against complaining. "... Is this really the life that you're clinging to? The people you're subservient to?"
Rufus Shinra	Rufus is fully aware that bidding against Angela is essentially bidding against himself using his own money, but he's still doing it? It seems to amuse him. Or maybe he's fine wasting his money like this. > "... Is this really the life that you're clinging to? The people you're subservient to?" "I have to, though, right?" Rufus pauses. "... Right?"
Sarracenia	'Actually, that was my dad's plan for me too.'      Sarra coughs in surprise. "...he...did? What...what sort of business does your father run?" she asks, somewhere between disbelief and curiosity.      'Of course! It'll be a date, then,'      Sarra also stops for a moment, but giggles just a moment before...      '... figuratively. It's an expression.'      Sarra can't help feeling a bit upset at the 'date' being withdrawn even if she knew right away it was an expression. Her cheeks puff slightly and she hmphs poutily. "Of course. It is a date. Figuratively." she says.      Petra raises the price on the robot, and Sarra can't help a bit of a smirk herself at the look on Scarlet's face when she wins. "Oh my. You wanted that robot quite badly it seems. Is your home not as secure as you would like?"      Sarra also does not bid on the map once Rufus is already bidding. This could be another spoiled rich kid adventure starter!      '... Is this really the life that you're clinging to? The people you're subservient to?'      'I have to, though, right? ... Right?'      "You do not -have- to do anything, really." Sarra says non-challantly before nibbling another nuggie.
Audrey Basque	Actually, that was my dad's plan for me too.     Audrey looks at Petra, evidently surprised; it's the first time her smile wanes tonight, giving way to a half-open mouth look of disbelief.     "R-Really? I would have never..."     Wait, no, is that rude?!     What if she implies Petra doesn't look good enough for it--     Or that Petra doesn't behave appropriatedly--     It's too late she already acted surprised!     "M-My, Petra. What a secret to keep. Will I need to start calling you Lady Petra, out of respect to your station?" She remembers, Soroka is for her enemies, so not Lady Soroka. The name seems to bother her anyway, of late. But there!! That should make sure it's OK, right?     Deep breath, sigh of relief.     And the date, finally, is figurative.     Good.
Petra Soroka	"I have to, though, right?"     Petra takes a slowwwww sip of chocolate milk, and makes unblinking eye contact with a guy in a suit across the table who stares horrified at her casually wiping off a milk moustache. "Why? What's forcing you? Is there something you can touch, like a gun to your head or a barrier at the facility door, that you can name? Can you describe a single thing, that doesn't have anything to do with money, or society, or expectations, that you gain?"     "You're so fucking convinced that you're obligated to do something that makes no fucking sense that you refuse to acknowledge that it's all fucking smoke and mirrors. It's not actually complicated to just fucking stop. It's like there's one dying cell in your brain that's still gasping for air while the others are all caught up in the fucking business and ownership and going to fucking fundraiser dinners, and worried about how to get *through* it as if you can't just turn *around*." "R-Really? I would have never..."     "Nothing that big. Just a normal business." She winces a bit at 'Lady Petra', though definitely less than she would've flinched at 'Lady Soroka'. "Like... pharmaceutical tech stuff."     She shrugs her shoulder, trying to seem less emotionally invested in this particular topic than she is. "I ran off to Io when I graduated high school, rather than taking him up on it. I don't know. Just didn't suit me. You..." She waves her hand at Audrey, vaguely trying to indicate her previous shock. "You get why."
Angela	''I have to, though, right?'' Angela's head lolls to the side as if to make sure Rufus knows she's directly looking at him. "...Perhaps we have something in common, but you can, at least, physically walk away. It might be difficult, though, due to the surface benefits your golden chains provide you. Nevertheless, my offer stands--but you deserve better than living under--or frankly above--the weight of their disdain." ''You do not -have- to do anything, really.'' Roland's attitude is a bit different. "Ehhh.... Sure it's not a responsibility he asked for--but I don't think I'd want these chucklenuts running the City--Midgar, I mean." He hastily corrects. "I hardly care if it is an inherited responsibility of his," Angela says. "Why should he even care about MIdgar just because of who his father is? Whatever grand plan his family may have, he can CHOOSE whether or not he cares for it. He is a child of a wealthy man, yes, but he is not a pet who is supposed to dance and eventually pull the same levers that his father would have him pull. If he sticks around, besides, there's no guarantee he would be allowed to change anything. Sometimes the only way to change something is by leaving the situation you are in." "But a lot of people will get hurt if he just...bounces and leaves it in the hands of the, uh, weapons people...?" He gestures to a sign indicating this auction is for war orphans. "...But it is as Petra says. It is smoke and mirrors. If he wants to better Midgar, then he should use what he has to do that. If he doesn't care--what would even be the point of him taking over a leadership role? It wouldn't make the City better." Roland and Angela frown at one another but ultimately Roland relents first. "Well... At the very least, even if you don't care about taking over--you can certainly keep them from doing it."
Rufus Shinra	Rufus stares at Petra for a few seconds. "..." Then, slowly, he gets up, pushing his chair back. "You know?" "You're right." > "but I don't think I'd want these chucklenuts running the City--Midgar, I mean." "You're right too, though - but I can work that out on my terms, not theirs." "Let's bounce. Screw the public appearance, screw the obligations. I'll figure out how to deal with the fallout later." He steps away from the table. "Sarra, get the Sundew warmed up. Angela, let's get on each others calendars and finally make some plans. Petra, go grab the treasure map. Audrey, we should talk opportunities." "And Roland?" Rufus puts a hand on his shoulder. "Most important job of all, buddy." "We need you to..." "... box up those chicken nuggets to go."
Angela	''We need you to... box up those chicken nuggets to go.'' "Yes ''sir''." Roland says like this is the first order he's gotten all day, getting straight to work.
Audrey Basque	You get why.     Audrey shrinks in her seat a little. If Petra suddenly picking a fight with Shinra Middle Manager 39 didn't do it (it kind of does), that definitely did it. "Y-Yes. My apologies. The joke was in poor taste. It's surprising, but that isn't a bad thing. Layers. It makes you more interesting."     Audrey chooses this moment to sip from her glass before she blurts out the wrong thing twice in a row.     <B-anter> Lilian Rook says, "Audrey Basque."     Audrey visibly has to make an effort not to spit her drink out, or drop the glass, or make a mess. Mercifully, none of those awful things happen, she hurriedly swallows, and puts the glass down, before putting an area on her earpiece and--     Well, that part doesn't matter.
Sarracenia	'Sarra, get the Sundew warmed up.'      Sarra hmphs and smirks. "I prefer to call it the Sovereign." she says as she stands. "Thank you for a lovely fundraiser~" she says to the others at the table before making her way out. "Perhaps you would enjoy a ride in a proper airship sometime, Miss Scarlet? I am told those of your world pale in comparison to mine." she says over her shoulder as she leaves. "Oh, and you too of course, Mister Palmer."