The Campaign Builder's Guild

Gloria: Tax Collection | Eps. 1 - Fleecing Cotton

[ic=Dramatis Personae] Cast :
the titillating chiurgeon, Lilliana Patricia Drake, M.D. -Freelance Medical Practitioner and Transplant Specialist. is played by Sparkletwist. (http://timkaminski.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/9_04_2010-team-fortress-2-female-medic-2-web.jpg)
the slimebag investigator, Pavel Gershwin is played by SabrWolf (The British fellow in this show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWPtfIozrDc)
the debonair brilliantist, Xue Leavenstaking is played by Steerpike (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/files/2011/04/oscar-wilde.jpg)

Crew:
The Jolly Capitalist, played by Light Dragon[/ic]

Within the spoiler tag are the intros that were PMed to each player.
[spoiler=Private Messages to Each Member]
[ic=Xue]You have a good feeling about the following stocks as you wake and cast the bones:
Consolidated Surrogates, Orphanflesh Ltd., GPS (Gravel Paving Services), Cotton Enterprises

The following should be avoided:
General Plastics, Kobe's Beef, Cut Rate Snacks.

Red is Rising and Yellow is falling.
Short Miniskirts and Long Pantaloons.
Shimmer is a Hold, Cotton is a Hold, Gems are a Hold, Wheat is a Hold.
The market is in occlusion on precipice of uncertainty, but one who acquires Pounds makes proper change.
Card of the Day is: Upright Magician.

Beware of Libertarians bearing gifts.
Lucky numbers are 8-17-32-9.
Your Unlucky Opposite is: Foolish People.
Word of the Day is: Obtrusion
Daily Double is: Things Libertarians Dislike.
M- Clear, T- Clear, W- Cloudy, Chance of Meatball Soup Demand, H-Rain, F-Thunderstorms, Sa- 50% chance Rain, Su- Rain Early, Sun Late, Moon Later.

[/ic]

[ic=Lilliana]
Message for Lilliana

Day 5, Week 43 of the Calendar.

Empty Schedule, save for a note. Shimmer Duchess. Personal request.

Reward: Permanent standing invitation to her famous parties...letters of introduction to eligible partners.

Is your schedule really empty?
Reflections:

Last Scheduler- Blonde man hadn't kept it up to date. Missed notation of a client's visit yesteday. Eliminated from position. Noted on Employment rolls. Who knows what else he missed.

Scheduler from before- the one monther Whitey was even worse. Slept on the job. Definitely missed something.

Previous- weekly Salli- knowitall. Likely knowsnothing. Likely f---ed up something.

Previous- blue-green eyes....Probably would have gotten it right. Fired... (pages through Employment Rolls) Ah yes, Incompatible... code for didn't put out. Chris would have gotten the assignment right...and kept the schedule clear.

No calls though at 05:00. No calls at 06:00. Tea poured. Sign on building. OUT. Next to HIRING. Resumes on doorstep. Crushed under heel. Well Indented. Pick up later. Off to Industry.

Newsboy on way. "5 pence for a paper Missus!" Ignored. "Missus! Can't face the world without the facts." Ignored. "Missus!! Business quotations! Buy proper stocks! Know when to sell!" Ignored. With extreme prejudice; glance away, head in the air. Pulled on dress by the child. Look down and blank stare. "I sincerely don't want what you're selling, little kidney." Child ponders the stare, different from a glare. Woman doesn't blink, looks at chest. "Little gallbladder, little kidney, little use." She narrows her eyes and speaks in an even tone, hushed to herself. Child flees.[/ic]

[ic=Pavel]Message for Pavel

Mornin' started. Hit you like a load of bricks. The bottle is not your friend this morning, nor is the teapot. You'd gone on a binge last night. Bender of all benders. Scoured the classifieds. Pour a Pot of tea, drink a kettle-three. Read the pigeons' replies, comin' in all hours of the night-one-two-three- wakin' you from drowsiness every few hours. Drop another jasmine flower in the pot. Mint Liqueur mix'd Bluffing Hearts Chrysanthenum. All words firing on NO. No Work. No Jobs. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Zap. Zim. Five in the morning.

D-n your luck. Nothin' made more Pounds than this gig. This gig with the committee. This was the only way to pay off that debt. And you got to the Hall just in time.[/ic]

[/spoiler]

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Receive An Off the Record Assignment]In Gloria's Hall of Industry and Commerce, you approach a committee. Before you, on a raised dais sits a vaunted assortment of luminaries. There is the Bond Baron and religious luminary of the Faith, J.P. Mormon; the Shimmer Duke (J.D. Shimmerfellar); the Shimmer Duchess; and Shimmer Lord; Mr. Magic with the smile that launched a thousand advertising campaigns; Sir Sugar; E.E. Harriman Jr., the Shimmerrail King, and former Ambassador to Tikal in the Land of the Libertarians; Godfather Cain the Pizza Prince; Lady Spice the Zealot Mistress of an orphanage that grew from 23 foster children to now raise legions of orphans to become productive members of society through learning and selling articles of seamstressry, woodcarving, and gear-shaping; Newton Grinchrich the housing consultant; The Golden Importer; and T.I.M., The Incredible Marquis, presiding as this month's chair.

[ooc]MUSIC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFeFaZoj2QY (Tuxedo Junction... Erskine Hawkins Version)[/ooc]


T.I.M. clears his throat and brings his silver gavel to bear against the mahogany lacquered table. The twin ruby gems encrusted on its sides glisten as the gavel falls. "You have been tasked, as model citizen-employees, to carry out the directives of Ind. Bill 320-416-A(i). May the market have mercy on our souls.

Newton Grinchrich glares at T.I.M. from beneath his white rimmed cotton red Winter hat (with a white puffy ball on the end) as the man speaks his squeaky voice. Grinchrich crosses his greenish arms, stained by a lifetime working with patinaed iron, dragged out and repurposed from sunken wrecks, and he sighs. J.D. Shimmerfellar bows his head, and the others look on with various glazed or embarrassed expressions.

The substance of the bill is not discussed and you are hastily ushered away and given shiny medallions emblazoned with the words "Licensed Assessor". The labels may be pinned to one's clothing, if one wishes.

You all came here for different reasons and you all were informed of the upcoming 'tax' and assessment ahead of the general populace. This will be a trying experience. Trying to your souls as you extort money for the greater economy and the stimulation of trade and the eventual construction of an improved road-tunnel between Gloria and Tientan in the mountains. And it will be trying to your abilities as many will resist your attempts.

[ooc]In total, the group will be paid an 8 percent commission to divide among you as you decide, likely based on merit. At some point, you need to discuss amongst yourselves how the commission will be divided.[/ooc]

Before you leave the Hall of Industry and Commerce to address the six names on your list (which account for 1-3% of Gloria's GNP, a page-runner, a girl about 13 with her hair tied in a pink and blue bonnet adorned with red hammer and a sickle, symbols of industrial production and agricultural progress and colored in the paint of excitement and inspiration, approaches you, hands folded together to signal that she prays for you to listen to her words.

[ooc]
<Lilliana> (i have a serious question, please don't take offense though)
<Lilliana> (is this setting as off-the-wall as those names would imply? it'll totally change my play style)
...
<Lilliana> (in that case i am definitely going to go for my concept of "female version of the TF2 medic")[/ooc]

"Gentlepeople," she nods her head. "The Committee wishes to inform you of a most important caveat and warning. Beware angering the Neighborhood Watches. When the Committee sent individual Licensed Assessors before to the Apothecaries' street, several ended up in trials after the Watch provoked them into crimes. Do not let the Watches provoke you to ill acts. May Industry guide your purpose." She bows and steps back, then she retreats back to the Committee's stand.

(So, you've been handed a list with 6 names, and you have to eventually figure out how to divide your commission - just to hit the important points)

The first name on the list of Ind. Bill 320-416-A(i) is that of Lord Eustace Cotton.

* Lilliana doesn't really have anything to say, anyway. She honestly doesn't like what she's been forced into one bit, but, well, money is money, she needs it, and it wasn't -her- decision to be a socialist bastard and extort the hard-working population. She's just the messenger.

[ooc](then, on to the streets-->) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxYjzyrsFz4[/ooc][/ic]

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Observe A Decidedly Jolly Fellow]
You wind through the streets of Gloria, underneath the carrier pigeons that flutter above, moving messages from business to household. Below, You hear the musical hum of several colour-work creatures that are moving from building to building, delivering missives at a rapid pace with greater precision and security than transit by pigeon can secure.

Rickshaw runners and bicycle carts cycle by, advertisements emblazoned on their sides, Vorticist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bomberg,_The_Mud_Bath.jpg and Lichtensteinian http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roy_Lichtenstein_Whaam.jpg art proclaiming WHAMMO NUTTY BARS! are the nuttiest in the nation, and demonstrating the crunchiness of Cut Rate Snacks! in bold, big colours.

Along the street, you are barraged by competing yells and claims and images and smells. "Buy Sea Cabbage, infused with restorative qualities!"; "Special Today only! Two kidneys for the price of one- not for eating- but for using- buy before they spoil!"; "Majid's Improved Monocoles! Infused with Shimmer!" ; "Autodicdact Readers! Listen to books as you stroll- learn more- be more efficient- Special introductory price for this wonderful new invention. Be one of the first to benefit." ; "Natural Gloria Water! Bottled to look like Expensive Sparkling Water! Impress your neighbors, your co-workers- your friends- with your wealth!"

As you walk down the street, you see a crowd forming near the edge of an alley by a glass-building. Everyone is shouting. "It's Crazy Crow!" "Man-he's so crazy he's giving the money away!"

* Pavel is intrigued by the comment "He's giving money away," and walks up to see what all the hubub is about

The crowd's whispered cadence and talking about Crazy Crow is something   like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ChPs8f6UQs

Then a hush comes over them as a man at the far end raises his hands in the   air, then lowers them. You can, if you look carefully, see that the man has   a waist-length gray beard, a chistled chin and a high forehead.

His eyes   glint with concentration as he literally turns his ear toward a young   petitioner who is seated on his lap (young being 23 when compared to his   venerability). The petitioner starts talking. "And I... I want to start a   company to reprocess ear wax into sculptures.

Here's my business plan. It's   been my dream, it's like art. It'll make a lot of wealth."

"Oh, Oh, oh" Crow arches an eyebrow and considers the young man. And he   shakes his head. "But what is art if not design of something with utility?"

"These have utility."

"Of what sort of utility?"

"You can enjoy their beauty... and maybe burn them as candles?"  

"Ah! You've hit on a secondary use. Very good, child."

"May I have this boon then Crow? Before Icingcube! Day, the prices of  factories usually go down then."  

"Ah, an Icingcube! Day wish for this youth, could I do anything but grant   it?"  

The youth smiles.

"But oh, oh, oh, I could deny it. I can only judge if it is a naughty or a  nice idea based on the business plan." Crow gently shoves the youth off his   lap and hands him back the business plan. "Return with a wiser and more   detailed business plan. I can only judge what is in the plan. Return when   you are ready. Next petitioner!"

"But-" the youth starts.

Crow holds up a hand and smiles at the next   supplicant.

"But it takes several weeks to get back on your calendar."  "Then your plan will be several weeks better, my son." Crazy Crow waves a   hand, signaling for the supplicant to depart. Several petitioners band   together to pick the young man up and escort him away. "Oh, oh, oh," Crow   clears his throat to cover the man's pleas. Then he speaks to the lady. "Now, sweetie, what's your Wish?" Crazy Crow   seats a young lady on his knee and inquires...

* Lilliana doesn't pay attention to the crazy man. She turns to her compatriots. "Are you finished gawking? We do have work to do. Time is money."

There's a man dressed in a green and red tuxedo next to the hubbub-he's holding a scheduler.

* Pavel gives Crazy Crow a skeptical look and turns to Lilliana, "Agreed. Let's continue on to see Lord Cotton, shall we?"[/ic]

[ooc]Notes
Lilliana - down a Sincerity.
Pavel - down a Pluck and Luck[/ooc]

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Encounter Several Herds]You eventually make your way to the Ten-Penny Hill, a gated community on   the edge of a plaza that beckons entrance to the famous Enterprise Street   Financial District, which border the even more famous Arterial Nerve Center   that contains the Empyrean Stock Exchange.

The plaza is crowded so that one   cannot move without jostling a neighbor and the timbre of the crowd's tone   at the plaza differs decidedly from the pleasant barking and bargaining   happening elsewhere. Here, people carry SIGNS THAT HAVE CAPITAL LETTERS and   EXCLAMATION POINTS.

One sign bears the words: "Occupy Enterprise Street!"
[ooc] Soundtrack: The Entertainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmruHc4S9Q[/ooc]

Several young children exit from the gate to Lord Cotton's residence on   Ten-Penny Hill. Their arms are bandaged with new cloth, and their faces are   twisted a little in pain, but behind the pain you notice creeping little   smiles. The childrens' coinpurses are bulging and several are holding Pound   coins in their little hands. They approach a food stand in a group. At the   stand, they purchase All Kobe-Beef hot dogs, the design of which is   copyrighted by the great chef Kobe Bryant, Chair of Kobe's Beef-one of the   most exquisite types of sustenence that can be purchased.

The children chat. "Now we can invest in Beef futures!" After receiving   their dogs,they head toward Enterprise Street.

* Lilliana examines the children from a distance and she notices that the children may have had their arms broken or operated on. The fact that their coinpurses are bulging and they have just moved to make a financial transaction implies that they may have been paid for something, but it is uncertain.

A man sidles up to Pavel. The man hands a card to you, it reads: "Stock   Deals. Insider Trading. Only 20 for a tip."

* Xue looks bored as the group stops for Pavel. He inspects his fingernails with aloof disdain, then he looks down at one of the ragged urchins.

The group of people accompanying the woman with the sign to "Occupy   Enterprise Street" grows by the minute as more and more assemble. Many   people bear signs. A number of shop stalls and push-cart drivers run up to the groups and   hastily unfurl their wares.  Some of the shops are satellites of major banks. "Reliable Script" one   states, selling currency.

Other signs wandering around the plaza include: "Lower CEO Pay!", "Lack of   Dividends is like a Tax!".

A group of three who have signs stating that they "Want Higher Dividends!"   and "More Shareholder Rights!" have gathered around a man wearing a red and   white streaked tophat, pinstripe suit, and platform shoes that elevate him   to a massive nine feet tall. The man's shoes have monkey-fish swimming in them,   cushioned from the blows on pavement by a ring of pneumatic gel.

"Uncle Sam's gotcher shares for yeh. Unkie Sam's arbitraged a bunch of shares in   General Plastics and man, you- and you- and even you little lad- can buy a   bit that'll get you a VOTE in the next shareholder ELECTION! An' remember,   without Sam gettin' ya' stocks at CUT RATE PRICES, ya'll can't easily   BUY YOUR ELECTION! And without fair and funded ELECTIONS, where would we be   people!"  A variety of currencies are thrust out into Uncle Sam's waiting hands.

Pavel knows that Uncle Sam's sales are technically illegal- stock trading is supposed to be   done on the stockmarket floors... but this is one type of law that is   rarely enforced by the Watch. If Sam's going to try to arbitrage the prices   of the stocks, and if people are willing to buy 'scalped' stocks, then it's   their own risk if they're getting ripped off.

Staring at the orphans, Xue speaks. "What are you doing here?  And why are your arms bandaged?"

"Oh," one of the children looks up at you between stuffing some Kobe Beef into his mouth.

* Lilliana is a bit overwhelmed at the chaotic street scene unfolding before her. Fortunately, she doesn't care about most of it. Not caring about most things is how she gets through her day, usually. That, and Whammo Nutty Bars in the morning, but mostly not caring.

"A medicalperson put them on my arms. That's why they're bandaged- medicalpeople put bandages there! You wanna know the whole story it's 2 pounds." The child smiles.

* Xue raises a well-manicured eyebrow and gives the child the requested coins. "Enterprising little creature..."

The child reaches up for the coins and smiles broad. "Thank y' gov'nuh."  He bows his head and explains. "See, my friends and me, wot we figured out our skin regrows, so we can sell some of it for primo prices to some of the hoity-toities on the Hill. They pay good prices. An' now I can invest in the Markets."

* Pavel looks at the card he's been given by the man who so casually passed it to him. He looks at the man and pointedly puts the card in his coat pocket before saying, "Perhaps some other time."

* Pavel pulls out his own business card proclaiming him as a Private Investigator and Rescuer of Socialists and gives it to the man, "Here, in case you ever need to find me, or need me to find someone else."

The man scowls. "Some other time? Ah, fellow, you don't know what you're missing out on now. Information gets outdated." He sighs and takes a look at the business card. "We'll be in touch." Then he sidles away, looking for other clients.

* Lilliana looks rather bored. "So far this adventure in free enterprise has been a net loss of 2 pounds spent acquiring useless information. I could've told you that, and I might not have even charged you at all. Can we get moving, already?"

Lord Cotton's manor sits at the top of the hill. Behind wrought-iron grates stand two male guards.

* Xue glances at Lilliana with a certain detached, feline annoyance and pats the child on the head. "Macabre but profitable.  Like so much done in the name of industry.  Run along and invest child; but first, here's a tip or two..."

* Xue whispers his daily predictions in the child's ear.

[ooc]<Xue> Hopefully I just created a future financial emperor[/ooc]

"Oh, my. Thank y'gov'na!" The child smiles. "And I'll be off. Time is money. Better invest." The child, having finished his meal, rushes off toward enterprise street, wondering about the predictions and if something given free is worthwhile at all.

* Lilliana watches him go. "I hope you told him to invest in biotechnology."[/ic]

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Attempt Two Methods of Entry]

Pavel sighs and heads for the Manor; "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

* Xue swaggers up to the guards behind Pavel and Lilliana.

The male guards smirk at Lilliana and frown as Xue and Pavel sidle up beside her.  "More protestors?" One, holding a nightstick, asks. The other rolls his eyes and asks. "What brings you here?"

"Do I look like a protestor?" Xue asks, gesturing to the flamboyant suit he wears.

"Yeah," a guard harrumphs. "Looks like somethin' the Libertarians would wear."

"Ha!" The other guard laughs. "Yeah, got any pamphlets for us like the last one?"

[ooc]Lilliana once met Lord Cotton at a biotechnology conference. He was attempting to hire people to synthesize cotton into a foodstuff. He generally came off as a fool. He is known for his Cotton products and his willingness to take risks, many foolish, some profitable.He invented swamp cotton hydroponics, which allowed him to purchase some cut-rate land and to profit from it.[/ooc]

Lilliana clears her throat. "Please allow us entry. We simply wish to speak to Lord Eustace Cotton on official business. I have spoken to him before; doubtless he would recognize me if you would allow us in."

One of them winks at Lilliana "Sure he'd recognize you, if he'd seen you before- lookin' like that I don't think I'd forget you."

[ooc]<Lilliana> (is the guard attractive?)
<JollyCapitalist> !roll 1d10 (10 being most attractive)
<isobot> 8
OOC: apparently yes.
[/ooc]

* Lilliana winks right back. Chastity is not a virtue she possesses.

Xue's pique is up, raised by the guards' intransigence. "Listen you cretin.  We've been tasked by the committe of Industry and Commerce.  We're here to speak with Lord Cotton.  Immediately.  So let us through or I will have to tell Lord Cotton that his coarse-mannered guards should be replaced."

* Pavel sighs in frustration as Xue goes and makes this situation a lot harder than it has to be.

On hearing Xue, the other guard scowls. "Oh yeah, and what credentials do you have?"

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: what credentials do I have?
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: You have the seal they gave you in the opening scene.[/ooc]

* Xue flashes his seal and, as an added insult, flicks his business card at the offensive man.

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: I figure my name is somewhat well known, I'm kind of rich, yeah?[/ooc]

The man glares and grumbles.

* Lilliana sidles closer to the other guard, unbuttoning another button of her blouse. "Please don't mind him. He's off his medication. Couldn't afford it."

"Oh..." The guard says, and edges his partner.  "I think we should let them in."

He reaches into his pocket, fumbles, and gets out a business card, then hands it through the bars to Lilliana. "This er, has my address if you ever need, er. an escort through the tough parts of the city."

* Xue rolls his eyes.

His partner grumbles and glares again at Xue, then they move to open the gate.

* Lilliana stashes the card away in her bra. "Thank you."

"May we have your names?" The excited one asks.  "So we can announce your arrival?"

* Pavel stands next to Xue and whispers conspiratorially, "You may not approve, but she got the job done a hell of a lot prettier than you were."

* Xue recoils from Pavel as if the man stinks.

* Lilliana hands over one of her own business cards. Lilliana P. Drake, M.D. - Freelance Medical Practitioner and Transplant Specialist.

* Xue is anxious to get away from this rabble in the streets.

"Pavel Gershwin, Private Investigator"

They send a pigeon to the house with news of Xue, Pavel, and Lilliana's arrival And they motion for you to proceed up the path to the manor.

Pavel nods. "Thanks Gents."

[/ic]

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Make An Impression]
After a several minute winding walk, you arrive at the manor. At the manor stands a concierge.

* Xue adopts his characteristic inscrutable expression with just the right degree of jaded contempt.

"Lord Cotton is expecting you. He has several extra seats set for his nightly feast. We will also be joined by Mademoselle Turnipseed (another name on your list) and Andrew Melonmonseuir of the Melonmonseiur Plantation.

* Lilliana is pleased at the opportunity to kill two socialists with one sickle of free enterprise.

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: these guys are socialists?!?
<Lilliana> (no. that's just an expression. they wouldn't really be birds, either :P )
[/ooc]

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: do we know anything about these indviduals?
<Pavel> ooc: We need their money
<JollyCapitalist> Well, Lilliana knows what I briefed her on
<JollyCapitalist> She doesn't know the other two
<JollyCapitalist> Lets see if Xue knows someone. 1-6 no 7-8 knows 1 9 knows 2
<JollyCapitalist> !roll 1d10
<isobot> 4
<JollyCapitalist> nope.[/ooc]

[ooc][17:02] <Pavel> ooc: Would propoganda help here at all?
[17:03] <JollyCapitalist> Pavel knows that Turnipseed helped with General Plastic's latest advertising campaign. It's a little known fact since she was privately hired. Melonmonseuir had a distant nephew who you rescued from socialism. The nephew was involved with a bad sort who started by sharing cigarettes, then sharing meals, then love partners, then everything (!)

<Xue> ooc: SHARING!  the gateway drug to cooperation.  and we all know where that leads!
<Lilliana> (le gasp)
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: hehe.
<Pavel> ooc: SOCIALISM!?!?!
<Pavel> ooc: My services are needed![/ooc]

* Lilliana speaks quietly. "Let me handle this and we'll get out of here quickly and easily. I'll take a 3% share because I'm doing the productive work. You two can divide the other 5% amongst yourselves."

[ooc][17:04] <Pavel> ooc: My how courteous of you Lilliana. lol[/ooc]

* Xue is only here to keep himself safe from accusations of socialism [GM- He's being blackmailed to join this expedition]. He cannot be bothered to haggle with a woman who could kill him in any number of excruciating ways.

* Pavel looks at lilliana and then at Xue, gauging how to play the card she just dealt him. "For now. If it turns out one of us does better in the long haul, one of us will take that 3%"

* Xue shrugs.

[ooc]Dinner Music: Concerto in G http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfl5DwXnsFM[/ooc]

A small group of musicians takes up playing in the corner, with violins,   violas, woodwinds, and other instruments. The players are all humans except   for one Floater, who waves in place, vibrating and producing a trill with   its tendrils to give the song a stacatto vibratto quality.

You are greeted by Lord Cotton who comes down dressed in flowing red robes and who shakes your hands.

* Xue adopts a poised, elegant posture and shakes Lord Cotton's hand gracefully.

"Welcome, welcome to my abode. What brings you here. The message said that three luminaries had come to greet me and that they were associated with the Committee?"

* Lilliana smiles, offering her hand face-down, you know, "kiss it," not "shake it."
"G'devening, Lord Cotton."

<Xue> "Lord Cotton; allow me to compliment you on your sumptuous abode.  My name is Xue."

* Lilliana gives a pretty good approximation of human emotion when she greets him. "A pleasure to see you again, Lord Cotton."

* Xue presents his card with a flash of white teeth, only slightly wolfish.

Cotton accepts the cards , but he hesitates at kissing Lilliana's offered hand. He notices it, then reaches back from shaking, then reaches forward in an awkward pose. He's just sort of hanging out there with an offered hand.

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: hahahaha... wow...
[17:11] <JollyCapitalist> OOC: Some people have chaste virtues. :)
[17:12] <JollyCapitalist> OOC: Perhaps to extremes, but still :)[/ooc]

"It's 1 pound per minute you hold onto it, Lord Cotton." Pavel says with a joking smile on his lips

* Lilliana smirks ever so slightly, gracefully and smoothly turning her hand around as though that's what she intended to do all along, taking it lightly and shaking it and all that.

"Er..." He says, then retracts his hand. "Yes, welcome."

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: he's a prude!  keep pushing, eventually all that repressed sexuality will erupt and he'll be putty in our hands[/ooc]

Lord Cotton's smile returns when Lilliana shakes, then he regards Pavel with an odd look.

[ooc]<Lilliana> (of course! but i can't push it all at once, hehe)[/ooc]

"Uh, we'll start with a serving of appetizers,"[/ic]

That was the first 10 pages of the 25 page word document that Steerpike saved and sent to me. The rest is coming eventually!

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Make Small Talk And In Which One Mixes Virtue With Vice]
Lord Cotton gestures toward the hall and the musicians within. "Please enjoy the music. Rey the Floater came well recommended. His repertoire is expansive."

* Pavel nods to their mark *cough* Host as they enter the building.

You enter into the hall and there are empty seats. The other two guests are also present. Mme. Turnipseed is tall and thin at the top, but slightly bulbous like a turnip at the bottom. Melonmonseuir is a round melon of a man who looks as though he might take up two seats.

* Lilliana quickly eyes the seats, figuring out where Cotton himself is going to sit and making sure to grab a seat as close to him as possible.

* Xue excuses himself politely from Cotton and sidles towards the unmarried Mademoiselle with the generous backside.

[ooc] <Lilliana> (xue likes big butts and he cannot lie)[/ooc]

[ooc]<Pavel> ooc: Melonmonseuir is a guy we need money from too right?
[17:17] <JollyCapitalist> OOC: Cotton and
[17:17] <JollyCapitalist> !roll 1d2
[17:17] <isobot> 2
[17:18] <JollyCapitalist> It'll be Melon.[/ooc]

"Nice to meet you, Mr. ..." Turnipseed trails off, waiting for Xue to fill in the blank.

"Xue.  A pleasure, Mademoiselle."

"Ah, charmed." The Mme. replies, smiling.

Melonmonseuir scowls at the incoming group. "I thought this was to be an intimate, private affair, Eustace [Cotton]?" He booms.

* Lilliana sits demurely, adjusting her spectacles. "My apologies, sir. We are here for business, not pleasure. We shall keep our intrusion minimal, if that would please you."

"Speak for yourself," Xue says under his breath, just loud enough for the Mademoiselle to hear.

Eustace shrugs, nervously. "Ah, well, they're from the Committee-- I think they were recently added, no? I thought I heard something about a Xue Leavenstaking in the news..."

* Pavel finds a seat next to Melonmonseuir and says, "G'devening Melonmonseuir. I believe we have a mutual aquiantance. I helped him in a bit of family trouble not long ago."

[ooc][17:21] <JollyCapitalist> Left to Right
[17:21] <JollyCapitalist> Pavel, Melon, Cotton
[17:21] <JollyCapitalist> And it's an issue of swiftness to see if Lilliana or Turnip get to be next to cotton, but-
[17:21] <JollyCapitalist> Lilliana can see Turnip making her way toward Cotton's side. But Xue is talking with her.
[17:22] <JollyCapitalist> Which is enough of a delay so you could slip in to be on Cotton's side.[/ooc]

Platters of expensive silver are trotted out, then placed in the center of   the table for people to serve themselves from. Each group of 6 people has a   small rotating lazy susan in the center that can be rotated to move the   dishes among the assembled.

[ooc]<Lilliana> (it had to be turnip! so i can't even pull the chivalry trick)[/ooc]

Butlers, with their white gloved hands reach out and reveal the dishes,   announcing their titles. "Tender Childflesh", "Veal", "Roasted Lamb".

<Lilliana> (*guy pulls out chair for Turnip*  *quickly sits* "thank you")

"We like to begin with the tender-flesh course as an appetizer, then move   on to the soups and salads." Lord Cotton explains. The plate with the flesh bears a wooden pin speared on a flesh-piece with   the words (Primeaux) on it. The following course includes: "Oyster Stew", "Cabbage Prawn Delight",   "Magical Mushroom Mixture", "Chastened Soul-Drop Soup", "Meatball Soup",   "Dumpling Soup".  And so on. There's even a Floater Stew (made of dirt and mud) although no one partakes of that.

[ooc]<Lilliana> (wait, childflesh?)
<JollyCapitalist> (I'm not venturing into ick territory again, am I?)
<Xue> ooc: bring it on
<JollyCapitalist> (you don't have to eat it though according to social custom)
<Lilliana> (hehe, it figures steerpike would say that)
<JollyCapitalist> (it's like monkey brains in Indiana Jones)
<JollyCapitalist> (not necessary to eat)[/ooc]

* Xue waits to see whether the other guests partake of the child-flesh.

Lord Cotton is momentarily stunned when the chair he intended for Turnipseed is taken by Lilliana. But etiquette demands that he cannot ask her to move from the spot.

Lord Cotton piles lots of child-flesh onto his plate. Lady Turnipseed takes a small sample of it.

* Pavel serves himself some of the tender childflesh
* Lilliana smiles warmly. Or at least the best approximation of it she can give. "Again, I must apologize for the intrusion. But it is a matter I believe we can resolve quickly and delicately."

Melonmonseuir also takes some of the childflesh. "You can't get this easy these days you know- economy's been too good for the orphans to go retailing this lately." He comments.

* Xue follows the lead of their host.

"I wish Consolidated Surrogates had begun their child raising sooner, then I could have raised my own free range flesh." Melonmonseiur laughs.

Notably, Lord Cotton looks a bit discomforted by Melonmonseuirs joke.

Pavel feels the jiggling of Melon's chest as he lets out his belly laugh.

* Lilliana sighs, finding -eating- childflesh to be such a waste of good, strong young organs. But she keeps that to herself, having a bit and managing to eat it by pretending it's that annoying little urchin from before.

Turnipseed turns away from him and focuses her conversation on Xue.

Lord Cotton responds to Lilliana. "Ah, a matter? What brings you here?"

<Xue> "I didn't know I'd made the news," Xue says, delicately ladelling Oyster Stew into his bowl.

Lady Turnipseed thinks. "Ah, hm... Eustace-- you said this fellow here made the news. Do you remember which paper... there are oh so many.

* PavelGershwin turns to the extremely large man next to him and says, between bites of childflesh, "I believe we have a mutual aquiantance, Melonmonseiur. I helped him in a bit of family trouble not long ago. Do you know the one?"

Melonmonseuir swallows a bit of soul drop stew. Then he nearly spits it out.

* Lilliana nods. "Lord Cotton, an eminent industrialist and entrepeneur such as yourself understands the need for infrastructure to be the foundation of every great endeavour," she starts. "And, of course, that infrastructure must be built. While naturally it would be best if a private interest carried out these projects, as is our way, sometimes the public good is best satisfied by, shall we say, making the debt a public matter."

"Family trouble? We do not have anything of the sort. You must have me confused with the Melonman family."

Lord Cotton raises his head to stare at Lilliana. "You're talking about a bond issuance? And what was that, Lady Turnipseed... the news... oh, I can't keep everything straight. It was in one of those that I have scattered around here... Business pages, I think. Concierge! Bring us the papers. It's in one of them, from the past few days..."

* PavelGershwin looks genuinely puzzled, a solid front for his play act. "Are you sure? I was quite positive it was for the Melonmonseiur's. Perhaps I'll need to check my records again and pay you a visit once I find out. To extend a formal apology for the mix up of course."

* Lilliana nods. "Well, somewhat. A bit more public than that. I believe the official term used was a large-scale piecemeal revenue acquisition."

[ooc][17:35] <Lilliana> (i doubt if they'd actually go and say the evil word)[/ooc]

Melon: "No, No, formal apology is needed. I'm sure it's fine here."

Lord Cotton frowns, trying to figure out what Lilliana is going on about.

Meanwhile, a plate of newspapers is delivered for Xue.

Melon: "Now that the main course is served, we really should get to talking about the recent boll weevil and locust plagues."

* Xue inspects the papers, bemused.

<Pavel> "No Melonmonseiur. I must give a formal apology to you for this grievious outrage I have imparted upon you! Goodness knows that I'd hate for your name to be besmirched by rumors that could potentially begin from a simple memory lapse on my part."

* Lilliana smiles. "I apologize for intruding upon your dinner with business. We're simply here at the behest of the government to collect a token usage fee, in advance, for this bit of infrastructure that will no doubt be of great benefit to you."

Melon tries to ignore Pavel. He faces Cotton and grabs him by his shoulder.

Xue, as he filps through the papers does not see his name in the Business or Front Pages... That leaves Society and Obituaries. Also, ads (which are most of the paper).

* Xue continues to flip through the paper, eyes flickering over the pages, a smile on his lips.
[ooc]<Xue> ooc: I'm probably being accused of some indecency[/ooc]

Melon talks over Lilliana's conversation. "We need to come to a decision to pay the workers more to suffer breathing chemical spray or to hire more workers to kill pests- we msut present a united front on this issue.

The society pages bear Xue's name in a small sub-headline. "Xue Leavenstaking! Seen in A Socialist Sympathiser's Bookstore!"  It details the time Xue went into a quaint little bookstore and perused the shelves.

* Xue chuckles and gives the papers back to the Concierge.

The article is a bit misleading in that it's not about Xue being a socialist, but it's about a possible rise in the stock of the bookstore since you are known to be able to predict certain things.

[ooc]<Xue> ha![/ooc]

* Lilliana leans a little closer to Cotton. He could catch a glimpse of her cleavage out of the corner of his eye, but she pretends to be helping herself to a bit more to eat, so she's rather distracted. No risk to take a peek!

Lord Cotton is sweating now.

* Xue flicks an amused glance towards their thoroughly distasteful host.

* Lilliana offers it to him after she's taken a bit. "May I serve you, as well, Lord Cotton?" Mixing virtue with vice. Tricky business.[/ic]

[ic=In Which Our Heroes' Push Their Luck]
Lord Cotton opens his mouth to respond to Lilliana, but it holds a little open in shock and confusion for a moment, just when she offers him the bite.

[ooc]<Lilliana> (er, she was just going to put a bit on his plate)
<Pavel> (hahahahaha!!)
<JollyCapitalist> (oh, didn't realize. Thought you were being more skeevy than I expected)
<Pavel> (So did I actually)
<JollyCapitalist> (so I was leaving you an opening, so to say)
<Pavel> (that's what she said?)
<Lilliana> ( :o )
<Lilliana> (what i mean is. there's a bowl of something. like mushroom mush or something. she takes a little scoop. then she offers to scoop a bit for him too.)[/ooc]

Cotton shuts his mouth and shakes his head. He tries to turn away from the Lady's decolletage'. "A usage fee, but for what sort of infrastructure?"

* Lilliana smirks and puts the bowl back, and leans back in her chair. A little.

Melon: "What the blast are you talking about man?"

"For a tunnel-road between here and Tientan," Xue interjects.

"What would be the benefit?" Lady Turnipseed asks, sharply.

* Lilliana lets this play out. If badly, Xue takes the flak.

"We already have a road to Tientan." Lady Turnipseed continues.

Melonmonseuir coughs. (actually the cough has been on and off like clockwork since you've met him- every few minutes)

Xue points out; "The tunnel-road would greatly facilitate trade, allow capitol to flow fast and more efficiently between Gloria and its neighbour.  Greatly reduce waste, as the tunnel is far more direct than the current rute."

"Point to you." Lady Turnipseed bows toward Xue.

* Xue smiles disarmingly.

"You plan to pay for this by usage fees then?" Turnipseed continues her question.

* Lilliana smiles too. Like that was her plan all along. "It is a general usage fee, levied across the board to a specific segment of the population that would derive the most benefit."

Lady Turnipseed has another question. "How high were you planning on charging to the users? Are you seeking upfront financing or something of the sort?"

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: why *aren't* we just seeking a private investor anyway?
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: Good question. I have an answer and there are multiple ways to solve this problem.
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: It'll just have to come up organically though.[/ooc]

[ooc]<Lilliana> (we are seeking upfront financing)
<Lilliana> (because it's really a tax, we're just sugarcoating it)
<JollyCapitalist> (and they haven't yet connected the dots)
<Xue> ooc: but what are they charging users?
<JollyCapitalist> (the council's plan is to tax certain rich industrialists)
<JollyCapitalist> (and to use the taxes to pay for the road which will benefit everyone)
<Lilliana> (they are charging the segment of the population most likely to benefit from the infrastructure a proactive usage fee for the benefit they'll get out of the infrastructure)
<Xue> ooc: sorry i think i misinterpreted her qquestion.  i thought she was effectively asking about tolls
<JollyCapitalist> (they've sent groups of tax collectors like yourselves out to different groups)
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: she was.
<Lilliana> (it's actually a pretty standard liberatarian argument for public goods)
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: She still hasn't figured out the meat of the point because taxes are pretty foreign.
<Pavel> ooc: ah! it all makes sense now
<Xue> ooc: no i get that, but what's the toll gonna be?  i get that we're duping them here
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: We'll just say 10% for now (numbers don't matter)... road isn't tolled.
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: now you could try to sell it that way and convince the committee that they should do that if you need to negotiate this group down and get them to recoup their investment.
<Lilliana> (at some point someone's gonna have to write a number on a piece of paper and slide it over)
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: but that's up to you.
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: (essentially sparkle's right about that.)
<JollyCapitalist> (OOC handwave the actual amount)[/ooc]

* Pavel writes a number on a piece of paper and slides the sum over to Turnip

* Lilliana likes how everyone else is doing the stuff that could piss people off.

[ooc]<Pavel> (is cool. I've got the best poker face anyway)[/ooc]

The paper slides past Melon, Cotton, and rests in front of Lilliana.

* Lilliana smiles and passes the paper along.

Lady Turnipseed unfolds the paper. After a moment, she frowns and twitches.

<Pavel> "It's a fair amount, Mme. Turnip"

"We could use this money to buy full body protective suits from General Plastic to protect workers from the field chemicals. It is much better spent elsewhere. And where would the return from the investment be? A tunnel to Tientan would be expensive... quite... Are you suggesting that we charge usage fees to those who use the road?"

[ooc]OOC: they're still not getting that this is a tax.[/ooc]

* Lilliana answers that. "The return from the investment would be in the greater profits that you make in trade, from the use of the infrastructure that you helped to finance."

Pavel speaks, "Shorter trips do mean more profit and different trades to become involved in, do they not?"

Tientaners do enjoy my Turnips," she mentions. "But you are too fanciful. Create a road open to all to use- the return would never come."

"With trade facilitated, economies grow," Xue adds.  "Larger quantities of goods can be exchanged more inexpensively.  The tunnel is indeed expensive, but over time, you'll be able to buy enough body protective suits for every worker, if you so desire.  There will be no toll: if we charge a toll, merchants will rightly use the existing road, so the investment will not pay off."

* Lilliana gets an idea. "But imagine how much more useful this road will be for the defense of our land. Our defense is always a priority, is it not?"

"Defense from what?" Melonmonseuir hacks a disturbing cough.

[ooc] <Xue> ooc: do the socialists have any incursion plans
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: even if they don't, everyone believes they do.[/ooc]

<Pavel> "The socialists of course."

[ooc] <JollyCapitalist> OOC: Also, Xue knows about the demons.
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: though most people don't believe in them.
<Xue> ooc: right
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: Pavel's probably heard of the demons too.
<JollyCapitalist> OOC: I don't think he believes in them ,but they're good propaganda.[/ooc]

* Pavel shoots a sidelong glance at Melon

* Lilliana nods in agreement. "Socialists, of course. Envious enemies of our free market and our strength."

"The socialist peril is troubling." Melonmonseuir notes. "And it is why I warned you Turnipseed and Cotton- against hiring more workers to kill the pests instead of the suit option. Hiring more to work in the fields to deal with pests encourages bad behavior. Next we know, some socialist full-employment fiend would be seeding all gardens with pests." He ponders. "But I fail to see how a road can protect us from infiltration. "Gloria already has good troops and vigilance."

* Pavel hastily scribbles a note and has it passed to Lilliana

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: does the current road like snake through the mountains?
<JollyCapitalist> !roll 1d6 (on a 3,4,5,6 it lands in front of her)
<isobot> 2
<JollyCapitalist> the note lands in front of Cotton.
[18:05] <JollyCapitalist> OOC: Yes to Xue's question. It's not an easy road.[/ooc]

Cotton looks at the hefted note. He picks it up. "Another number?"

<Xue> "The new road will make those troops more maneuverable, more mobile, more effective.  Why waste time and money forcing our soldiers to wind their way through an inefficient road when they could be deployed decisively through a tunnel?  The current road leaves them open to ambush, guerilla attack; and we all know how nefarious those wretched socialist scum can be."  Xue grins.

[ooc]JollyCapitalist> OOC: Xue and all know that Tientan's special forces are well reknowned for their hardiness.[/ooc]

"My apologies, Lord Cotton," Pavel says, "it was intended for my compatriot."

"Ah," Cotton states, and stops unfolding the paper. He passes it unread and partially unfolded, to Lilliana.

"Ah," Melonmonseuir states. "But why would we ever send troops to rescue those in Tientan?"

<Xue> "What if Tientan, at some future date, were to fall to socialist attack, and becomes a base from which the fiends can assail Gloria itself?"

* Lilliana looks at the note and crumples it. Like she didn't already do that. He almost got us in big trouble for THAT?

[ooc]<Xue> I'll bid Resolution[/ooc]

<JollyCapitalist> He's also resolute (essentially pigheaded). He responds. "You have a point, but it's just that, a point. The Blue Peril has few followers in these lands, Tientan would never fall."

<Pavel> (I'll bid my Luck to guess at some specific thing that might convince him)

<Xue> "The cancer of socialism is tenacious, despite the lassitude of its adherants.  Tientan may not be infected thoroughly yet, but in the future, it too may become a haven for the weak-willed and lackadaisical.  If that were to occur, and we had no adequate means of defense already in place, all the full body protective suits in Gloria will be little use against the Blue tide."

"Oh my," Lady Turnipseed places a hand to her mouth.

<Xue> "My apologies, Mademoiselle, for my strong language.  But the threat, I am afraid, is all too real."
[ooc] <Xue> ooc: I feel dirty
<Lilliana> (hehe)
<Xue> ooc: going for Lord Henry from Dorian Grey here...[/ooc]
[/ic]

[ic=In Which Just Desserts Are Served]
Turnipseed speaks to Cotton. "Mr. Leavenstaking makes an excellent point, Eustace"

Lord Cotton turns back toward Xue, careful to not let his eyeballs drift to Lilliana's decolletage'

* Lilliana is sitting up a bit now. It's easier!

Lord Cotton stiffens his neck. "Yes, Lady Turnipseed, he does seem to be making one. Tell you what, fellows, your point is well taken, but who else is being approached with this offer? Are my competitors likewise invited to join?"

"Melonmonseiur," Paves says solicitously, "wouldn't it serve to the betterment of Gloria if we had a more orderly trade road? It could even potentially become a landmark bearing the names of all those who contributed to the cause. Imagine it. A whole road, for the the betterment of Industry with your name on it as an investor."

[ooc]<Pavel> (let's see how he likes that!)[/ooc]

"It's free advertising," Melonmonseuir shrugs. "But I can afford a billboard on the road if other people pay for it. You've already seen those posters of the Melonmonseuir Girls, right?  Why buy an apple when you can enjoy a succulent melon."

* Lilliana scribbles a few random numbers on the back of one of her business cards, and slides it in front of Lord Cotton. "Lord Cotton, if it would not trouble you, could you pass this to my compatriot Pavel? It is a response to his previous inquiry." Actually, the whole point is so that it slides by Melon and he sees that she's a doctor.
[ooc] <Pavel> (have I?)
<JollyCapitalist> (you are familiar with most successful ad campaigns)
<Pavel> (cool)
<JollyCapitalist> (these ads are vaguely suggestive of an adult nature.)
<Pavel> (hahaha! love it)
<Lilliana> (hehe)[/ooc]

"That's the beauty of this project," Xue says.  "You wouldn't be shouldering the financial burden alone; the cost would be distributed.  Your competitors would be able to make use of the road with or without your investment; but, by offering everyone a chance to contribute, we balance the risk."

Lord Cotton doesn't look directly at the paper as it brushes by Lilliana's chest, and, holding a stiff upper liff, he slides the paper past Melonmonseuir.

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: talking out of my ass, but that makes sense to me[/ooc]

Melonmonseuir glances at the paper as it passes.

Lord Cotton nods. "Ah, that would make the project more attractive. Competitors couldn't undercut me if they're charged the same rate."

<Pavel> "All too true Lord Cotton."

"Well, you have me on board."

Lady Turnipseed claps.

[ooc] <Xue> ooc: lol[/ooc]

"I expect advertising rights though." Cotton adds.

* Lilliana smiles warmly. Or, well, the best she can approximate it.

"And the right to experiment with my newest invention- that will require the airspace in some tunnels"

<Xue> "Invention...?"

[ooc]<Pavel> (oh god)[/ooc]

"Purely Proprietary." Cotton notes with a wave.

<[ooc]Lilliana> (maybe we didn't win)[/ooc]

"You will have the same rights as all the other investors, Lord Cotton." Pavel says trying to duck out of any particular legal troubles that they might get pulled into here.

* Xue coughs uncomfortably and looks to Lilliana with a look that says "we're walking a tightrope here..."
[ooc]<Xue> ooc: nice save
<Xue> ooc: maybe?[/ooc]

"Hm," Lord Cotton considers. "But my word carries a lot of weight. I can convince others to invest. And for that, I should be rewarded. No?"
[ooc]<Pavel> (I don't got that one. halp!)
<Xue> (thinking)[/ooc]

<Xue> "We're already approaching a goodly number of investors, though your offer is generous..."
[ooc]<JollyCapitalist> (In addition to the two you have here, the other 4 on your list are: a shoe baron, a shimmer psychic, a grain merchant, and an entertainment agent)
<Pavel> (The Grain Merchant is gonna be our best bet here. what's his name?
<JollyCapitalist> (she's Evelyn Stack)
<JollyCapitalist> (she runs a Hydra-Headed Business.
<Pavel> (I love these names!)
<JollyCapitalist> (essentially that's many small landowners all invest as agreed to buy large equipment together. It's been called a semi-socialist enterprise, but it works surprisingly well.)
<JollyCapitalist> (Thanks. I'm trying to go for a specific feel with the names).[/ooc]

Lord Cotton considers. "In that case I'll have to consult my accountants and get back to you on the morrow. But for the moment." Lord Cotton holds up a hand for the   conversation to cease. "It is time." He says. "For the Icingcube! to be   served." The musicians cease momentarily, then one of them brings out   several cymbals from behind the instruments.

"He's paid for the rights to the one of the Icingcube! Themes." Lady Turnipseed whispers to Xue.

[ooc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trtqy4G1THw[/ooc]

The floater produces trills and the guitar sounds for the song. One dusky   man (possibly a descendant from Libertarian-Landers) dressed in a red   tuxedo delivers the song. All of you are served platters that contain amazing little ice cubes that   are mounted on pedestals of velvet that all have images of the Icingcube!   faery sewn into them. The ice cubes are a special brand version of   Icingcube! The Amazing Cube that Melts In Your Mouth and Fills It With   Warmth In the Winter! These particular Icingcubes! are the Blizzard variety   that first freeze your tastebuds, then decompose and gradually warm it,   giving your mouth a healthy splash of wonder. The entire process is powered   somehow by the latest in Shimmer technology and it is extremely expensive   to reproduce.

After the ceremony is complete, conversation can resume and it will move to the sitting room where party favors are unwrapped, little snack "cracker"-pulls, that   when pulled apart explode in a display of vibrant colorful dyed newsprint.   Nestled within the cracker-pull are small bits of chocolate.

[ooc]<Xue> ooc: talk about waste[/ooc]

* Pavel pulls Melon off to the side for a moment on the way to the sitting room
[/ic]

(More to come in that segment... ran out of time. At around page 17 of 25)

[ic=In Which Our Heroes Deal Threats]
[ooc] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk-J7UorEgw (with video from the Thin Man.- Music for the sitting room)[/ooc]

Melon coughs. "Yes, man." His face is flushing a little red.

* Xue offers to pull a cracker-pull with Mademoiselle Turnipseed.

She smiles and accepts.

* Lilliana is there with Pavel and Melon. Because she was going to pull him too but she was still reading the wall of text. ;)

[ooc]<JollyCapitalist> OOC: ah, this is it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cracker[/ooc]

"Sir," Pavel hands the giant man a handkerchief, "I've got something rather pressing to discuss with you about that mutual aquantaince we discussed earlier." "In private." he says pointedly at Lilliana

"I thought the matter was finished?" Melon asks, a desperate and annoyed gleam in his eye. "You were mistaken."

[ooc] <Xue> ooc: this will be fun to watch[/ooc]

"Not at all sir. We can discuss this in front of the lady if you like?"

He still has a cracker dangling from his hand, unpulled.

* Lilliana smirks, looking at the handkerchief. "The matter would seem to be finished, Pavel," she says pointedly right back.

* Lilliana smiles warmly, lightly pulling Melon away in a different direction. "Now, if you please, I do have a very important matter to discuss with you."

Melon takes the offer, gladly. And walks off with the Lady.

"Fine then, I'll keep this brief." Pavel stare directly into the other man's face, "Your family has a reformed Socialist in it's midst. It would be a shame if word were to leak out about that unfortunate circumstance."

Melon bites his lower lip. (His resolution is gone thanks to what you did earlier... you lucky dog)

[ooc] <Pavel> (if Sparkle wasn't so up in arms about talking to him NOW it would have been better)
<Pavel> (hehe)[/ooc]

* Xue glances nervously over at the others while flirting gently with the Mademoiselle.

[ooc]<Lilliana> (i'm not up in arms! but lilliana's not really going to help him. they're both fighting for the 3%)
<Lilliana> (so she will happily undercut him)[/ooc]

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Melonmonseiur starts, then his eyes fall down and he pulls back on Lilliana. "Please." He wispers, staring up puppy-like at Pavel's eyes. He hacks a despondent cough. "Not now... And how did you..."He hacks again.

<Pavel> "Meet me tonight in the square and we'll discuss terms."

Xue, Turnipseed and Cotton are in the main room.

<Pavel> "If you don't show... who knows what rumors might get started?"

Cotton had headed over to Turnipseed for the cracker pull, but seeing her already with Xue, he has his yanked by the Concierge.

[ooc]<Xue> (hahahaha)[/ooc]

* Pavel leaves the other two and enters the main room to see Xue, Cotton, and Turnipseed talking together
[ooc]
<JollyCapitalist> (Melon's Vice of lack of Pluck has done him in without his Resolution)
<JollyCapitalist> (but that means resolution is refreshed)[/ooc]

"You see, Xue..." Cotton stammers. "I'd like to sign this day, but my accountants need to consider- we've lost a lot to the boll weevils that have been menacing us."


* Lilliana shakes her head a bit. "I apologize for that." She turns to Melon and continues with what she was going to say. "As you may know, I am a physician. I have taken an oath to heal all those who are sick and can afford my services."

Melon: "You have?" Strength returns to his voice as Pavel departs. He coughs again.

[ooc]<Pavel> (HA!)[/ooc]

* Lilliana nods. "And I cannot help but notice that you, sir, if I may be permitted to be frank, seem not to be in the greatest of health."

[ooc]<Pavel> (I love how this little competition has become so important. lol)[/ooc]

"It is true." Melon nods. "I have consulted physicians before, but no doctor has the skills to properly cure. Indeed. All I have are defective donees and expensive outlays to their families."

[ooc]<Lilliana> (they are fighting for the noblest of causes)
<Lilliana> (PROFIT!)[/ooc]

* Lilliana nods. "If I may, I possess skills and techniques that few other doctors do."

"Beg pardon, but many have said that before."

* Lilliana uses her SINCERITY to convince him that she really does.

"Well, Lord Cotton, I can understand your reservations," Xue says, after eating a chocolate.  "Perhaps I might offer my own services.  I could look over your investments for you - I am very well versed in reading the stars and the Shimmer-signs to make predictions.  I am sure that with my help we could stabilize any problematic aspects of your portfolio."
[
[18:55] <JollyCapitalist> Lord cotton looks to Lady Turnipseed, who is slowly nodding her head.

[ooc]<Pavel> (nicely played Xue!)[/ooc]

"Very well." He nods. "I seem to recall you are famous... in the paper for some reason or other-- I'll take you up on your offer if it is, as I believe, included in my payment, no?"

<Xue> "Of course."  If Xue can give street-urchins free stock tips, why not a Lord?

"Then the deal is done. Who needs accountants anyway." Lord Cotton Laughs. "A true businessperson always knows his assets." He offers a hand to shake and seal the deal.

* Xue shakes his hand with a smile.

* Lilliana smiles politely. "Not entirely, but, to a man of your means, it would be a tiny pittance additional."

Melonmonseuir considers Lilliana's offer levelly. "I can give it a try. How about we make it contingent on success though. What is your price?"

* Lilliana leans in and adds softly, "I should add that I am familiar with explosives and traps as well. For an additional fee, I am certain something could be done about your would-be blackmailer."

[ooc]<Pavel> (... wow. harsh)
<JollyCapitalist> (oh no she didn't.)
<JollyCapitalist> (:D)[/ooc]

<JollyCapitalist> A smile creeps across his face. "I may very well be interested in that option. But... The Neighborhood Watch is likely to find out. And then where would my respect be? I would be ruined in court. For now, the surgery is acceptable. How about we put an option on the blackmailer's consequence. To be cashed in if necessary?"

* Lilliana nods. "I understand, sir. it is an option that need not be exercised. I just wanted you to be aware of all of my services." She writes an amount on the back of the card that covers the tax she's trying to collect as well as providing her services at-cost. At-cost! What a cut she's taking!

"Contingent on the surgery succeeding, I agree to your terms." He offers his hand.


* Lilliana shakes his hand.

[/ic]

Placeholder III. (Last one).

Bump in case anyone wants to review before the game on Monday.