Scene #6881: Canton Chaos

Owner	Pose
Solomon Lau	1850, Canton, China A city on the water, Canton is surely a sight to see for those from the more modern era. The buildings are older and many, but no skyscrapers, the air is far less polluted, and there's no sounds of cars or planes - noise traffic is little. Horses and carriages are the primary way to travel, or by foot, as people move between food stands and shops, minding their own business. Getting here from an entrance in the Netherworld, and then a tunnel from the Junkyard, is easy enough. Lilian Rook has to decided to make a trade with members of the Jade Wheel Society, possibly connected to the Lodge, one of the great factions of the Chi War. Her meeting spot is down the steps from a temple, in a generally unbusy street. Proper 1850s clothing was easily for sale in the Junkyard, and those they're meeting are dressed in it as well. A short man, older, wearing a silk robe, and carrying a bag - likely full of money. Two very large bodyguards in civilian tunics, each with a sword hidden at their side. A temple looms in the background, up the steps, far up the hill. The old man waits patiently, pulling out a timepiece that someone of this period shouldn't have every so often to glance at. There's people in the streets, but not enough that a trade can't go over quietly. The question is - how will Lilian achieve her goal in this case?
Staren	A black cat is perched on a roof near Mairead. Cats are normal basically everywhere humans are on Earth, right? There are also some spybots, easily mistaken for flies or other small insects if not inspected closely, milling about the area. If Lilian has allowed, there's a spybot clinging to her clothes somewhere as well.
Maya	In someways Canton reminds Maya a little of some settlements on her world, in other ways, it's as alien as Any iteration of Earth can be to her. Thankfully she has been able to get some era-appropriate clothing there and had even taken the time ahead of time to dye her hair black so her naturally wild coloured hair wouldn't draw as much attention as she would otherwise. She's made sure to keep her fate deck hidden on her person, this isn't her show and she's falling with Mairead for the moment and keeping an eye out for trouble.
Lilian Rook	Lilian wouldn't buy a goddamn thing meant to be clothing from the Junkyard. Quite probably even if 'the Junkyard' were the name of a boutique, she still wouldn't on the name alone. Imagine having to answer when someone asked her where she got them from? No, she had confirmation of the Canton drop ahead of time, so she had bespoke, authentically styled 19th century Chinese women's wear made as a rush order ahead of time. She even had consultation on period appropriate makeup and jewelry for women of high standing. She absolutely will not stand for not being the prettiest person on the street even by that era's backward standards. Incidentally, hopefully that'll make her stand out to the middleman on her way up the street, taking her time on the walk up to the temple and inwardly musing that she's glad this is an era with shoes instead of sandals. She's not here to surprise the guy with feats of incredible sneakery after all. She only begrudgingly allows Staren that, after much arguing. The real sleight of hand comes later. Given that if the Jade Wheel guys are also Enlightened in some capacity, she oozes a considerable degree of dark magic --mixed with a moderate amount of the martial artist-type qi business-- that'd give them forenotice anyways. Western-style bad juju, with a more recent, hefty tint of the surreal. She reaches the bottom of the temple steps, puts her hands together and performs the shallow half-bow that's basically expected of women of even equal status here. She pays the bodyguards no notice. She presumes they're there to fend of idiots looking for bags of money. "A pleasure to meet you." she says, in absolutely not Chinese. She didn't learn that ahead of time. "Usually people seem to pick busier places for these, where it's easily lost in the noise of the crowd. Right in the shadow of a temple too. Is there some particular significance to here that you and your club are fond of?" she adds, with genuine curiosity, but in passing, idle conversation. Withdrawing her hands from her sleeves, she produces a black thumb drive of fairly standard 21st century appearance, guessing that it'd be the most familiar sight representing 'data'. "May I ask for a name? Or do you types prohibit that now?"
Mairead Sandilands	Mairead Sandilands Mairead Sandilands is here and is dressed in proper attire for the city. . o O (I could have worn my Miko, but that is Japanese) she thinks as she is nearby and looking for some food and carring a basket. "I see you, about 100 yards to your left," she radios Lilian. fornow she looks, smiles and pays for the food, while scanning with her IS.
Solomon Lau	The food here is cheap but good enough, if you like that sort of thing. The temple is peaceful, and putting away the pocket watch as Lilian approaches, the old man stands up straight, looking at the thumbdrive, and nodding. He has a tablet pulled out of a jacket, presumably to check the thumb drive after the transfer, holding up the bag. "Ah, miss Rook. It's a pleasure to meet you. This temple is...special, and a safe place. Meeting in the noise would be a problem for us. Though I have little belief in matters of faith, personally." The old man grins, and introduces himself. "Refer to me as Jin." He turns up to the temple. "I quite like your dress. Very beautiful. With that, however, I doubt you came here simply for money. That's quite alright. We didn't come here simply for your data, either. No. We would like to be friends." "The temple is a perfect place to discuss such arrangements, we believe." Jin is clearly not speaking 'we' as in him and his bodyguards - they're just hired muscle. He's likely speaking for himself and his employers.
Maya	Maya makes note of Lilian's own work on her disguise and takes note of it. There is one thing Maya can not do to hide herself Maya to anyone who can sense magic has a great deal of. So there's no real way for her to hide this in the end. As for Lilian she knows very well she can handle herself in a fight and is keeping an eye outside the temple for trouble, she'll buy some street food and start chomping away on it. She'll be keeping watch, for the off chance that and in the event someone or something catches her attention she'll palm one her fate card and try to magically scan them.
Staren	Staren doesn't notice the work on the diguise. Her clothes sure are vaguely fancy and old-timey and chinesey. If he knew what a deal she was making about local makeup he'd probably point out that old-timey makeup was often toxic. His own effort towards disuise has only gone as far as being able to make his clothes look like one of those shirts with the long fasteners instead of buttons (like Ranma's,) matching pants, and slippers. So far, so good. Although if they go inside he's going to have to try to get inside himself. He wonders how suspicious they'll be of cats.
Mairead Sandilands	Mairead Sandilands nods and walks towards the temple and watches with her eyes as she walks up the steps. Mairead has no magic, just technology which is hidden in a arm bracelet. She walks a few steps and than sits down to eat her food. she moves enough to allow people to go to and from the temple, and sits on the hill. She does keep an eye on Lilian and anything else that may happen.
Lilian Rook	"Oh, perfect! I admit I've never been here before, so I was holding the tailor over the barrel a little, since I couldn't be one hundred percent sure it was adequate myself." Lilian replies, apparently instantly and immediately gratified by the compliment. The ice almost palpably breaks a little. "Jin." Lilian repeats, trying to get the intonation just right. "That's easy enough to remember. I was about to ask if you're local, but . . ." She only glances to the tablet in favour of completing that thought. "Well, you aren't wrong." she adds in reply, more amused than forced to put on a poker face through his guess that she wasn't here for the money. Given, she'd probably spent a tenth of what's in the bag on just dressing up for the occasion, but the dramatic irony is thick enough to twitch her lips. "Not that I mind, but pardon me if I say that sounds surprisingly sudden. I'm aware you're not on the greatest of terms with 'those monkeys', but I trust there's something in particular here that caught your eye? Or your ear." She isn't referring to the drive. "Either way, maybe I'll say I'm inclined to consider. You can never have enough friends, after all, and I hardly spare any sympathies for the thugs and lunatics I've been dealing with up until now. Keep in mind, though, I do prefer to read fine print before giving my word on anything, so it depends entirely on what kind of friends we might be." "You're referring to that particular 'aura' about it, yes?" she refers to the temple, looking up the stairs at it herself. "I think I can understand why. If you're not much one for believing in the benediction of gods though, what would be your take on it?" Yeah, it's well past the point she should have yelled sike and slapped handcuffs on them. She's super into the mystical old boys' club courting her.
Solomon Lau	Jin steps closer to the temple, nodding as Lilian speaks to him, and answering him. "That's correct. We don't simply recruit any chi warrior on the streets. Our people have already looked over the Genomic Solutions video footage, and saw you in action. If it wasn't for your talent, I would likely not even be here today. The fact that you appear to be a Multiversal, based on a lack of native records in your name, makes it all the sweeter. We're not friends with many of them, yet." Despite that, Jin's not just flattering her for the sake of flattering her. He's trying to gauge her responses, see what kind of person she is. It's clear secret society behavior, as he starts ascending teh steps. "Of course. I doubt you simply want to be a hitman in our service. But, I also assume someone has told you about the Chi War. We have many enemies, and many friends. We have many sites we would like to claim. Power is our goal, but the world is better off for it. Have you been told what it was like before, where men in the twentieth century were still farming hay and living in squalor?" Stopping to gesture to the temple, Jin smiles. "This is one of ours. The chi here is quite strong. I am not personally attuned to it, but it is still a safe haven." A pause, to give his take. "I believe it comes from man, though I'm no expert. Man and the earth, in communion. Why else would a temple built by man be a place of such strong chi? The earth has blessed it." They don't ascend, yet, and Maya, watching carefully for eyes and ears, can see a monk passing by, holding a large parasol. He stops not far from the stairs, and seems to be fidgeting with something mindless, but on close observation, he appears to be eavesdropping. Assuming she scans him, she finds that he is, for being an older man, in extraordinary health, and also, /full/ of chi. Not magic. Chi, like a martial artist.
Mairead Sandilands	Looking on and listening, Mairead sees the monk and looks on. She knows that the Monk is probably lost in taught, but watches with a keen eye as she eats her food. She looks onward and is ready for anything as she eats.
Maya	Maya does spot someone who does catch her attention, she'll palm the card and keep the spell under control oddly for one of the first time in her life something that should be like breathing to her? Becomes harder to do it's almost like she's a kid learning again to use her first spell cards she's able to get the spell off. She watches him for a moment she reaches out. She finds out a few things in very short order. The man is very healthy he's older and he's full of chi. A martial artist of some stripe is the most likely thing however she is most concerned with him listing in on Lilian's deal-making She finishes the last bite of her food, returns her card to where it came from, and then starts towards the seemingly eavesdropping man. She doesn't make to attack him but she's clearly heading for him she's giving him a bit of a look and just makes an AHEM as she moves to get in his way as she shoots him a look. "Problem?"
Staren	A totally ordinary cat that noone needs to pay attention to makes its way to the temple; Staren finds a spot that isn't being observed outside and pops back to human form to use some tools -- looking around through goggles, then at that flipphone-like device. Once he's taken his readings, he pops back into cat form and inspects the entrances to the temple, seeing if anyone there seems to care about a cat's presence.
Lilian Rook	"Ah, I'd been wondering." Lilian says, nodding towards the temple with a gentle click of bespoke earrings. "I assumed it might not be the best thing to speak my mind about, though." For a guy used to dealing with secret societies, the subtext is really just right there: 'I thought so, but better not to ask out loud in an unfamiliar place'. Something about his reply, though, draws an openly pleased smile slowly across her lips, not quite humourous, but deeply entertained on the level of a private pleasure. "People of modernity usually don't give their ancestors enough credit. They assume that human beings a hundred years ago were ignorant, a hundred years before that, stupid, and before that, primitive morons. Seldom grasped is the fact that their ancestors were just as smart --just as capable-- as they were. They had heads stuffed with less breadth of learned things, certainly, but even their ancient ancestors would notice the same phenomena. More likely, they'd perceive far more than their soft and lazy descendents would." "It's uncanny, isn't it? How these places --temples, palaces, holy mountains, mythical caves, sites like stonehenge and the nazca lines and the great pyramids-- all turn out to be so powerful. Usually in ways modern people are blind to, smug as they are about their intelligence. It's rare to hear someone give the Earth itself, and the people who depended on it and listened to it, that much credit, you know?" Though Lilian follows Jin up the stairs, she remains quiet for most of it, listening to his pitch in good enough faith by now. "I shouldn't be quite so surprised you'd be able to access mere camera footage, I guess. Even from a laboratory like that. I didn't have the impression that 'that place' was a catspaw of yours, but then that shouldn't matter either way in the end. Indeed though, if I weren't aware of your particular war, then I'd have stopped at fighting off a band of 'terrorists', right?" Even speaking more openly about the whole thing, she keeps specific names and places out of it. It's so smooth and habitual that it's a flag in of itself, like watching someone instantly select the correct fork out of a spread of ten. Perhaps in that almost-private confidence, Lilian adds. "Correct. I don't do hits. Actually, I try to avoid killing people --real people, that is-- where it isn't absolutely necessary. Wasn't it Sun Tzu who said something about needing three times the forces to capture a general alive than kill him? I like to think of it as an exercise in being three times stronger than others." "Though, do go on. If you're claiming the current century is your work, I'd like to hear all about what it'd be like otherwise."
Solomon Lau	As Jin finally heads up to the temple, he continues talking. "Anything can be a catspaw if we so please. It's a privilege when you work with the police." He speaks proudly, as he nods. "Understandable. A personal challenge, I take it. Well, there's many things we need done that don't require hands to be soiled. Monks, eunuchs, terrorists..." Lilian asks him what his life was like. Jin waits until he gets to the top of the stairs, and then, turns to her. "I was born in the kingdoms of Ming I, the Fire King, in what is now India. Magic was abundant,y et, not a reward for the common folk, or indeed, anyone but those who served him. We lived in a feudal state, a stasis that he and his three siblings kept up across the world, pushing men down. It was not a meritocracy - it was a society where sycophants were the ones who rose up. Everyone else had to suffer." Jin's smile is a bit disarming - it hides the fact this was painful for him. "Many of us used the Chi War to change this. We took many sites, and the future became ours to mold. I was rewarded for my loyalty as a chi warrior, and now, in my older age, I work as a liason to the worthy." The monk is stopped by Maya. Instead of getting upset at her stopping him, he just hums quietly until Lilian and Jin and the bodyguards are out of earshot. Maya and Mairead can hear him. "My, a foreigner as security. Are you a Western dog? Or one of those outsiders? No matter. I'm not here for a fight. But perhaps you ca be convinced of the error of your ways. These people and their societies are dangerous. If you are working with them, you have strayed from the righteous path. They seek to corrupt this world into one of excess and sin. If you seek virtue...follow your pockets." The monk proceeds to leave, unless stopped. There is a leaflet in Maya's pocket now - it contains directions to a monastery in Canton. Staren is, in fact, shooed away by bodyguards as he approaches the stairs. They're very careful about not letting him up. Pretending to be a cat probably isn't helpful if he wants to hear the rest of the discussion.
Maya	Maya finds the man isn't looking for a fight she does her best to distract him and when he finally speaks to her she looks him over for a moment. She shakes her head at the mention of the west. "The latter. The error of my ways? I'll hear you out." Maya will see the man leave and then thinks for a moment. She looks at the leaflet for a moment and the address she's going to put it back in her pocket now. Getting more information about what's going on in this world could prove to be very useful, but now is not the time to check it out she muses. She'll have to take a look into it when she has a chance later.
Lilian Rook	Lilian, without missing even an eighth note, never mind a beat, asks "Normally I wouldn't ask, but how old are you? I'm aware of all sorts of ancient oriental life extension methods, but if you aren't prone to any of them, you're telling me that the modern era as this world knows it is, subjectively, only forty years old?" She intentionally hedges on the low side. It's one of those effortlessly polite options inherent to high society and people with lots of power. "Something like that." she closes out the talk of jobs with. "Try to think of it as . . . a monastic conviction, maybe? It's not too far off." Returning to business, she says "Though I don't have any great love for a world in which magic is so rare, I've noticed that it is, also, considerably more abundant than now. Obviously I can't approve of a state of affairs where one man holds everything and power goes only to the undeserved --not as a person nor as Immune. It isn't just about making things fair though, isn't it? Otherwise you'd have tweaked history to remove magic entirely." Coming from someone else, it might sound like a criticism, or a 'gotcha', but Lilian perfectly radiates quietly intense interest instead.
Staren	Okay, so he can't go in. He can still listen through the drone Lillian's carrying, hopefully. If a fight breaks out... well, it doesn't matter that he can fly and explode walls, Lilian can stop time. It's not like she can be trapped anywhere she doesn't want to be. He stays nearby, but focuses more on his drone feeds than direct observation. To Maya, he radios, <"What was that about?">
Mairead Sandilands	Mairead hears the monk and turns as he lraves. Nodding to the monk, she looks at Lilian as the group walks and talks. Thinking, she stands and walks towards Maya, "We can get to her quickly if we have to," she comments as she watches Lilian. "What do you think we should do?" she asks her.
Maya	Maya says "Another group operating here made some claims about the group Lilian is making contact. I want to hear them out for what they have to say, given the more we know about what's going on. They were not looking to fight so I figure It's worth learning more even if it just gives us a better idea of this era and what's going on here."
Solomon Lau	Jin laughs as she asks his age, but doesn't answer /that/ part of the question. "Forty years is accurate." He glances to the temple doors, as Lilian then proceeds to talk about the magic in the air. The man visibly considers what he'll say, and then it seems like he decides that it's low risk enough to speak of. "You're referring to Hong Kong. It's an anomaly - as far as was possible, the world of now onwards is hostile towards magic. Hong Kong of the contemporary era is blind. Why...I can't say." If Lilian enters the temple to finish negotiations, she does not find an ambush of ninjas or anything like that. She's offered a seat, is asked if she wants to do a job for Jin - one that doesn't involve killing or anything overly shady. Instead, it's simply driving some monks from a feng shui site in Canton, and claiming it for them. She'll be compensated, of course.
Mairead Sandilands	Nodding, she looks, "I am free if you want some company," she offers. " Plus, I know a place to get some better and proper clothing. The IS Academy has some good tailors and a few students from China that can help us out." she adds. (of camera)
Lilian Rook	"I guess I am." Lilian says --not quite admits-- on the subject of Hong Kong. "That is surprising to hear. And I suppose that's why it'd be a place of interest." she continues, airily nonspecifically. A place of interest to whom? Clearly not just the Lodge. "Though, I take it that means that 'people like yourself' must be rare. If your friends recruit mostly from their own stock . . . well, I haven't been impressed by the technological acumen of 'those people' yet, but I've heard they're more of a splinter group than the real deal, and clearly you must have a use for 'this'." she says, reproducing a thumb drive, and holding it out. "I assume your people are familiar with discretion, but just in case I need reiterate: don't go making any of this public until the good doctor's already is. For obvious reasons." "And, I'll look into it, of course. If only just to get more mileage out of this outfit~ Though of course there's plenty of questions I'd like to ask 'those monks' as well."