Difference between revisions of "Logs:Reap What You Sow"
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{{ Log | {{ Log | ||
− | | cast = [[Conni]], [[James | + | | cast = [[Conni]], [[James]], [[Noemi]], and [[Peter]]. [[Haleakala]] as GM. NPC: [[Lydia]] |
| summary = Putting the Hostile in Hostile Takeover | | summary = Putting the Hostile in Hostile Takeover | ||
| gamedate = 2008.09.14 | | gamedate = 2008.09.14 | ||
| gamedatename = | | gamedatename = | ||
− | | subtitle = | + | | subtitle = The Bill Always Comes Due |
− | | location = Mililani | + | | location = Mililani, [[Central Oahu]] |
| plots = [[Plot:Blood in the Water]] | | plots = [[Plot:Blood in the Water]] | ||
− | | categories = | + | | categories = Magic User, Emissary of Power, Shapeshifter, Werecreature, Valkyrie |
− | | log = | + | | log = |
It's late evening in a cheerfully suburban park in Mililani Town, the older, more established side of Mililani. A small press conference is set up in front of a particularly well-manicured floral arrangement, and a dynamite brunette in a black power suit is speaking into a microphone with a smile that would melt butter. | It's late evening in a cheerfully suburban park in Mililani Town, the older, more established side of Mililani. A small press conference is set up in front of a particularly well-manicured floral arrangement, and a dynamite brunette in a black power suit is speaking into a microphone with a smile that would melt butter. | ||
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− | Conni makes her way through the crowd and towards the food truck, the tall | + | Conni makes her way through the crowd and towards the food truck, the tall Dane having little trouble seeing over the assembled people. She's dressed in dark clothes, a black jacket with a vivid purple lining that flashes into view when she moves. She's wearing a sleeved crop top with the jacket, the top exposing most of her well muscled midriff. Dark yoga pants that are almost criminally form fitting are worn with dark jogging sneakers, Conni looking like she has been to the gym recently. She has a duffle bag over one shoulder and her visible skin is damp, her hair arranged into a ponytail. |
Slipping a hand into her bag, she pulls out a wallet and waits in the queue for a hamburger, idly watching the crowd as she waits. She seems to be in a good mood though, humming a tune and she stops to wave at Peter as she notices him. Looking over to the speaker on the stage and possibly hearing Peter, Conni raises a hand to get her attention before asking a question. "Excuse me but what is it that Symbiote Financial actually do?" Conni speaks loudly and clearly, her Danish accent apparent as she projects her voice over the crowd. | Slipping a hand into her bag, she pulls out a wallet and waits in the queue for a hamburger, idly watching the crowd as she waits. She seems to be in a good mood though, humming a tune and she stops to wave at Peter as she notices him. Looking over to the speaker on the stage and possibly hearing Peter, Conni raises a hand to get her attention before asking a question. "Excuse me but what is it that Symbiote Financial actually do?" Conni speaks loudly and clearly, her Danish accent apparent as she projects her voice over the crowd. | ||
− | The new CEO of Symbiote Financial comes out from behind the podium for a few pictures, then returns to take questions. A precocious journalist in an ill-fitting sport coat leaps up and asks, "Chad Miller, Trib-Herald. Ms. Lavigne, you're stepping into the CEO position as literally every other member of your C-suite | + | The new CEO of Symbiote Financial comes out from behind the podium for a few pictures, then returns to take questions. A precocious journalist in an ill-fitting sport coat leaps up and asks, "Chad Miller, Trib-Herald. Ms. Lavigne, you're stepping into the CEO position as literally every other member of your C-suite has recently died tragically. Does the timing of your grand Mililani opening not seem a bit tone deaf to you?" |
The CEO turns her mega-watt smile back on the man and deliberately lets it fade as she sniffs and looks to the side, closing her eyes. "Mr. Miller, lest you forget, my husband and three of our closest friends are dead to these tragic accidents. I'll answer your unspoken accusation with a report from your /own/ paper, that I was here in Mililani at the time of every accident, and a friend has been kind enough to let me stay with her while I grieve the loss of my loved ones." She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye, and looks back out at the crowd with earnest eyes and a defiant set to her jaw. "At this point, my heart is broken, so I could give a rat's ass how tone deaf it may seem. We built this enterprise from the ground up, together, and I will make their dream come true, if it kills me." There's steel in her voice that made the microphone unnecessary. "Are there any OTHER questions?" She makes it very apparent that she's done with this reporter's inquiry, and sweeps her gaze out over the crowd, looking for anyone else with a question. | The CEO turns her mega-watt smile back on the man and deliberately lets it fade as she sniffs and looks to the side, closing her eyes. "Mr. Miller, lest you forget, my husband and three of our closest friends are dead to these tragic accidents. I'll answer your unspoken accusation with a report from your /own/ paper, that I was here in Mililani at the time of every accident, and a friend has been kind enough to let me stay with her while I grieve the loss of my loved ones." She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye, and looks back out at the crowd with earnest eyes and a defiant set to her jaw. "At this point, my heart is broken, so I could give a rat's ass how tone deaf it may seem. We built this enterprise from the ground up, together, and I will make their dream come true, if it kills me." There's steel in her voice that made the microphone unnecessary. "Are there any OTHER questions?" She makes it very apparent that she's done with this reporter's inquiry, and sweeps her gaze out over the crowd, looking for anyone else with a question. | ||
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− | "Yeah, just a little. Definitely sounds like some | + | "Yeah, just a little. Definitely sounds like some ominous biotech firm in a horror movie or something. Probably the cause of a zombie outbreak," Noemi says wryly. She squints a little as the pointed question turn the conference into something a little more interesting, at least. She tips her head, her brows knitting together as she listens to the woman speak, frowning as she seems to grow flustered. "She seems like she's telling the truth, but she's hiding something, too," Noemi muses to James. "I haven't heard anything about any of that, but honestly, business news is not my forte. You heard anything about it?" she asks, turning back to the tall man at her side. |
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− | "Ms Lavigne, you have my | + | "Ms Lavigne, you have my condolences. My name is Conni and I met your husband briefly just before he died, it was about the same time that Mr Dougall died. I imagine it was a great loss to the Realtor business." Taking a breath, Conni looks over her shoulder before speaking more softly. "Given that it might not be safe here, do you have somewhere to go? I'm sure you'll be as confused as most as to the odd deaths that are occurring. Freak tsunamis and the like." Not wishing to crowd Ms Lavigne, Conni takes a step back and starts to look around. "It is of course none of my business but the name of your company was familiar and you do look like you are in pain, I would like to help if I can." |
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− | Lydia nods to Peter and offers him a | + | Lydia nods to Peter and offers him a conciliatory half-smile, about all she can muster at the moment. "I would suspect me, too. Not without reason. Believe me, I get it. And hey, if you've figured something out that can help, I would love to hear it. I'm out of clever ideas." But she hears Noemi's assessment and her big brown eyes go wide. "What? How did you-?" And then Conni is drawing a circle around Lydia's feet, and the CEO looks...remarkably unsurprised by the action. Her eyes rim with tears again. "Thank you, I can't tell you how much..." she doesn't get the chance to finish. |
− | A trio of professional looking young women in matching black skirt-suits approach the new CEO, giving everyone around her a blank, | + | A trio of professional looking young women in matching black skirt-suits approach the new CEO, giving everyone around her a blank, auto-piloted smile. "Congratulations, Lydia! That was a great conference. You're going to be great. But we do have to have a quick chat before you go celebrate. That was number five, and you know what that means! The bill always comes due." The blonde in the front is oppressively pleasant as she speaks. |
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− | Mandi snarls at James' calm proclamation, her flesh mask warping slightly. "White Council has no business interfering. But if you want to play, I consider that a threat against me and my sisters and I have no choice but to respond in kind!" A swirling black | + | Mandi snarls at James' calm proclamation, her flesh mask warping slightly. "White Council has no business interfering. But if you want to play, I consider that a threat against me and my sisters and I have no choice but to respond in kind!" A swirling black miasma coalesces in her palm, and she utters blasphemies too old to be recalled as the blonde demoness hurls the swirling black hole of entropy at the wizard, only have it splatter and eat away at his magical shield. |
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− | Continuing to watch as the fight progresses, Conni makes a quick decision and takes a step forward, breaking the circle around Lydia. "You'll have to excuse me Ms lydia but I think it would be best if I got you out of here. We have some rather talented back up so I believe the Demons will be taken care off." Looking over her shoulder, she nods to Peter, James and Noemi. "Sorry to do this to you guys but I really want to talk to Lydia in calmer circumstances. Peter there knows how to get hold of me, if you want you can leave a message at the hostel, I still collect my mail there." Turning back to Lydia, Conni simply | + | Continuing to watch as the fight progresses, Conni makes a quick decision and takes a step forward, breaking the circle around Lydia. "You'll have to excuse me Ms lydia but I think it would be best if I got you out of here. We have some rather talented back up so I believe the Demons will be taken care off." Looking over her shoulder, she nods to Peter, James and Noemi. "Sorry to do this to you guys but I really want to talk to Lydia in calmer circumstances. Peter there knows how to get hold of me, if you want you can leave a message at the hostel, I still collect my mail there." Turning back to Lydia, Conni simply scoops her arm with her powerful arms and then turns her back to the demons, bringing her wings up in a defensive posture as she gathers her energy. "Please hold tight, this could be an interesting flight!" |
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− | Mandi snarls at James, who has apparently touched | + | Mandi snarls at James, who has apparently touched some kind of nerve, and the demoness hurls another gout of black entropic energy at him, uttering her ancient blasphemies. The spell splashes off of his spirit shield, and eats away at the earth behind and around him, not merely destroyed, but unmade. |
Candi crouches on all fours and lunges at Peter, almost in the same feline motions as the tiger himself. She rakes her claws down his side, making contact but doing minimal damage. | Candi crouches on all fours and lunges at Peter, almost in the same feline motions as the tiger himself. She rakes her claws down his side, making contact but doing minimal damage. | ||
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− | Mandi's entropy shield dissolves under the force of James' spell, but Candi is the one who takes the brunt of the assault, overwhelming her and leaving her a shuddering heap of ectoplasmic flesh that rapidly dissipates into ether. Mandi's roiling-smoke eyes flare with rage and she grabs Brandi by the arm as she utters a string of blasphemies and opens a | + | Mandi's entropy shield dissolves under the force of James' spell, but Candi is the one who takes the brunt of the assault, overwhelming her and leaving her a shuddering heap of ectoplasmic flesh that rapidly dissipates into ether. Mandi's roiling-smoke eyes flare with rage and she grabs Brandi by the arm as she utters a string of blasphemies and opens a sulfur spewing Way beneath their feet. |
"Before we meet again, darling interlopers, consider this...what is best for dear Lydia? The White Council will execute her as a Warlock. We require a debt be paid, but she keeps her head. Who is the hero here, and who is really the villain? Think on it." She smiles sweetly, her eyes sweeping across Peter, James, and Noemi in turn. | "Before we meet again, darling interlopers, consider this...what is best for dear Lydia? The White Council will execute her as a Warlock. We require a debt be paid, but she keeps her head. Who is the hero here, and who is really the villain? Think on it." She smiles sweetly, her eyes sweeping across Peter, James, and Noemi in turn. |
Latest revision as of 08:23, 31 December 2017
Reap What You Sow | |
---|---|
The Bill Always Comes Due | |
Dramatis Personae | 14 September, 2008 Putting the Hostile in Hostile Takeover |
Location
Mililani, Central Oahu |
Plot(s) |
It's late evening in a cheerfully suburban park in Mililani Town, the older, more established side of Mililani. A small press conference is set up in front of a particularly well-manicured floral arrangement, and a dynamite brunette in a black power suit is speaking into a microphone with a smile that would melt butter. "And that's why we at Symbiote Financial are so thrilled to be setting up our new world headquarters, right here in Mililani Town. Because you don't have to go to New York, or even Honolulu, to work for a company that makes a global impact. Be at the heart of the markets, right here in the heart of Oahu. Despite everything that has happened the past year, our numbers have never looked stronger, and so it's with deep humility and boundless optimism that step into the role of CEO, and bring multinational global finance revenue to our community." She smiles a million-watt smile, her perfectly silken ponytail gently catching the breeze for effect. All that's missing is the American flag. The fading light softens all of her features, and the food trucks around the perimeter make the park smell like a carnival.
They are chatting, though he pauses in whatever he's saying as they come closer to the press conference. His eyebrows raise as he stops, watching for the moment. "Huh," he says quietly, to his companion. "Well. Good for her."
"Symbiote sounds... sort of strange for a financial firm, no?" she says, glancing in the direction of the speaker. "A little... parasitic. Might be perfectly appropriate, on second thought." Dimples flash at that little joke.
Slipping a hand into her bag, she pulls out a wallet and waits in the queue for a hamburger, idly watching the crowd as she waits. She seems to be in a good mood though, humming a tune and she stops to wave at Peter as she notices him. Looking over to the speaker on the stage and possibly hearing Peter, Conni raises a hand to get her attention before asking a question. "Excuse me but what is it that Symbiote Financial actually do?" Conni speaks loudly and clearly, her Danish accent apparent as she projects her voice over the crowd.
The CEO turns her mega-watt smile back on the man and deliberately lets it fade as she sniffs and looks to the side, closing her eyes. "Mr. Miller, lest you forget, my husband and three of our closest friends are dead to these tragic accidents. I'll answer your unspoken accusation with a report from your /own/ paper, that I was here in Mililani at the time of every accident, and a friend has been kind enough to let me stay with her while I grieve the loss of my loved ones." She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye, and looks back out at the crowd with earnest eyes and a defiant set to her jaw. "At this point, my heart is broken, so I could give a rat's ass how tone deaf it may seem. We built this enterprise from the ground up, together, and I will make their dream come true, if it kills me." There's steel in her voice that made the microphone unnecessary. "Are there any OTHER questions?" She makes it very apparent that she's done with this reporter's inquiry, and sweeps her gaze out over the crowd, looking for anyone else with a question. That's when she catches Conni's question. She nods along with the Dane's question, giving a wide smile as she responds, "That's a fantastic question, and I'm glad you asked. We specialize in real estate investments. We have been acquiring tourism assets here on Oahu, to lend a helping hand to struggling local owners. Symbiote handles all the red tape and paperwork, and your local friends and neighbors are free to do what they love - entertain visitors." She spreads her hands wide, benevolently.
"Er. Forgive me but where have we heard this before?", he whispers to the tall Dane. "Weren't they pushing Aurelie? Isn't this where we came in, before?"
Picking up a burger, she looks for a table. Smiling, Conni takes a seat next to Peter and nods her head. Reaching over, she takes the bottle of water while offering a nod of thanks. "Oh yes. Remember the fellow who blew up in the hostel? That was her late husband. The boat that got wrecked? Owned by a competitor." Keeping up her grin, she quickly takes the top from the bottle of water and gratefully takes a swig. "Sex magic and tidal waves, oh my. I investigated this at the time and Symbiote is really not the right name for them. They seem to specialize in incredibly hostile takeovers."
Meanwhile, Lydia Lavigne stands frozen in shock, her eyes turning red and glassy. But the CEO swallows it down and clings barely to her composure as she looks for a relatively secluded place to sit down. And then she pulls out her phone, stabbing at it desperately. One of the TVs on a food truck blares out the breaking news. "This just in. We are live on scene of a plane crash just outside of Honolulu. The plane was struck by lightning - you can see, the sky is still green from the strange atmospheric discharge. So far, people are in the water, but rescue crews are getting to them quickly. Only one confirmed casualty - a young man, identity as yet unknown. He somehow managed to get his neck wrapped up in the oxygen tubing as the plane descended, and is believed to have died on impact when it snapped his neck." The camera zooms in ominously on a pool of blood floating on top of the water near the crack in the hull.
He blinks then at the sudden news being yelled out by someone in the press. "Huh. A plane crash. Lightning? That's not supposed to happen..." The look on the CEO's face doesn't escape his notice, and he leans in close to Conni. "Is it just me or has she gotten some very bad news just now? What are the chances...?" Peter stands up then, and starts moving towards the CEO's location.
Unlike James, though, Noemi gasps slightly, taking a step backward, into James.
She folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head. "They don't need to release his name. It's Shane Pierce. Because of course it fucking was. He's my brother. And my last remaining partner in Symbiote. It'll be a juicy hit piece for the Trib-Herald." She swallows hard before looking up at Conni and offering a wan smile. "That's so kind of you. Thank you. But I can't take you up on your offer. It's too dangerous, now. You should all probably clear out, actually. It's gone too far now." She turns her back from the group and breathes deeply. The cell phone in her hand sputters, sparks, and dies.
A trio of professional looking young women in matching black skirt-suits approach the new CEO, giving everyone around her a blank, auto-piloted smile. "Congratulations, Lydia! That was a great conference. You're going to be great. But we do have to have a quick chat before you go celebrate. That was number five, and you know what that means! The bill always comes due." The blonde in the front is oppressively pleasant as she speaks.
He turns as the blonde one speaks, and his eyes narrow. "I don't think so," he says, and though his voice is calm, he doesn't move. "She isn't going anywhere with you."
The smile vanishes from Conni's face as she listens to Mandi and Candi. "Demons?" Oddly, Conni seems rather excited by this prospect. "Really? They'll be so jealous!" Lowering her voice, Conni directs her attention to the three ladies. "It's just us here now which is something. You still can't be killing people out in the open. You still have the option to leave."
"You know, I don't think the Council would agree with you," he continues, just slightly louder, though his tone is still calm. Conversational, even. "They really tend to frown on this kind of thing. I think they'd be pretty interested in what we have to say about it, too." Out of the corner of his eye, though, he catches sight of the fireball from Lydia. He lets out an annoyed grunt, and while he doesn't take his eyes off Mandi, he does say, probably for Lydia's benefit, "What do you think a circle does?! You're //inside// it!"
Candi crouches on all fours and lunges at Peter, almost in the same feline motions as the tiger himself. She rakes her claws down his side, making contact but doing minimal damage. Brandi whirls back to the targets still within her reach, and bears down on Noemi with a blast of ionizing radiation that reeks of brimstone and burning meat. She smiles sweetly, with smoke slipping between her teeth.
There's an odd effect when he does it, though. The light //does// pierce Mandi -- there doesn't seem to be any way she could have survived that. But after what can't be more than a second, it disappears, and suddenly there's another burst of light from Candi. Now, it's //her// that's got two burned holes in her, right where the lance had gone in and come out on her sister. "What the hell?" James exclaims, but he doesn't have much more time to do anything else, because he's turning toward Noemi. "Noemi! Are you all right?!"
She glances over her shoulder, seeing it's not as bad as it feels -- at least as long as it's not poisoned, then looks back in time to see Mandi's death fall on Candi. "Holy..." she gasps, taking a step back. "I'm okay," she assures James, but she takes another step back from the remaining demons and also the growling tiger.
"Before we meet again, darling interlopers, consider this...what is best for dear Lydia? The White Council will execute her as a Warlock. We require a debt be paid, but she keeps her head. Who is the hero here, and who is really the villain? Think on it." She smiles sweetly, her eyes sweeping across Peter, James, and Noemi in turn. "And I leave you with one more thing to ponder. Could a warlock who doesn't know what a circle does summon any demon, let alone /us/? Check under your beds before sleep, sweet things. Bad things are closer than you think. We'll see you soon." And with that, the remaining twins disappear into the Hellish Way, closing the rift behind them.
He turns to Peter then as the other man speaks, and he shakes his head once. "I don't know what happened with any of that," he says, "but yes, those were demons. That woman clearly isn't pulling the strings. It would be useful to find out who //is//."
"Not your fault, pedregoso. I'll be fine. It's like a bad sun burn." Hopefully it doesn't get worse. "Let's go home and figure that out tomorrow." |