"I'm always up for a little girl talk." Shula smiles at Lucretia as they walk back to the Arcade of Triumphs. Awesome! Another noble impressed by my sweet skills...but what the hell is 'girl talk'?
Time to wing it. "How have you been enjoying the Gala so far? Made any new friends?"
As they enter the Arcade her gaze slips to where the Vernisant's 'donations' lie. Fortunately there's no hustle and bustle that would indicate someone has noticed the misplaced journal, which means there shouldn't be any unfortunate consequences from returning to the scene of the crime.
Between her distraction over the mysteries of 'girl talk' and her concern over possibly being caught for her earlier theft, she pays almost no attention to the rest of the exhibits.
Lucretia's eyebrow raises slightly as they walk side by side at the unusual question from Shula. Who is this woman?
"Oh well, of course I met Duke Centimus, who I had memt previously. He is always a pleasure to talk to." She replies, answering the question politely.
"What about you? You seem to know Martella well? It must be so lovely to catch up with her?" Lucretia asks, prying a little.
The man goes on, and on, and on...
Victor finally manages to extract himself from the insufferable viscount. This time, he makes it to Lady Morilla and presents Martella's message to her.
"I haven't really had the chance to speak with much of anyone yet; except for a few of the servants I suppose. Business before pleasure, as they say." Relaxing once she sees Earl Vernisant has apparently not noticed the missing journal, Shula's eyes begin to catalog the rest of the exhibits. "I wouldn't say I know Martella well, but we're acquainted. She's...sponsoring me, I suppose would be the best way to put it. Helping introduce me to the world of politics, in exchange for the occasional favor. It has been nice to catch up with her tonight; it had been a while since we'd talked."
As they walk Shula points out the history behind some of the artifacts she recognizes. Whether Lucretia already knows what they are or not, it's good to establish herself as somewhat knowledgeable on the subject.
"So you're interested in getting into politics then?" Lucretia asks Shula, with a raised eyebrow.
"Not a usual career path given that ....well its not all that usual to choose to go into politics, you are usually born into it in Taldor. I'm not saying that's right at all," She says shaking her head with disappointment, "but it is the state of affairs we find unfortunately ourselves in. Don't get me wrong, I truly believe it should not be the case, I wish you all the best certainly."
Lucretia moves around the room, trying to peel off one or two of her uncle's sicophants. Perhaps they may be interested in speaking to her to get some lively gossip, its no secret that she is related to her idiot of an uncle after all.
Women's true calling, eh? Lollia considers with a smirk concealed by a well-painted fan. Her eye's scan the gathered onlookers before selecting an appropriate target.
Moving with forced casualness, she weaves through the crowd until she's just behind a countess of very little power but a very loose tongue. Leaning towards the round-faced man next to her, she whispers just loud enough for the countess to be able to overhear.
"I hear that the Duke's sister cut back his allowance after the huge party he threw. She told him that he needed to find another way to pay for his drink and doxies." She giggles brainlessly. "Didn't you know? His sister handles all the family finances. Yes, the Duke couldn't count to two if he took his pants off. Incompetent with numbers entirely. The family holdings would collapse without his sister's leadership."
Disengaging from Viscount Aveniar rather abruptly Victor bulls his way through the crowd and out into the courtyard to find Lady Morilla. She reads the note and nods. "Thank you. I need this returned to Lady Lotheed and this taken to Duke Centimus, you should find him in the archives."
Seeing the large gathering near the display cases the senate's lead historian, Copernia Vau joins the group and starts discussing the history of some of the more interesting artifacts. One of the most interesting is the crossbow Dignity's Bard. "A famous weapon from the time of the Seventh Army of Exploration." Copernia imparts. "Sadly, in the time of my predecessor there was a break in and the original weapon went missing, the one we have here is an exact replica, but of course it does not have all the magical properties of the original."
Since Shula and Lucretia appear to be such students of history Copernia gives you an impromptu tour of the restoration rooms just off the arcade and offers you a bottle of universal solvent and one of unguent of timelessness so that you can practise the skills yourselves.
"So you're interested in getting into politics then?" Lucretia asks Shula, with a raised eyebrow.
Shula pauses as Lucretia asks her question. Was she interested in going into politics? The idea of Martella sponsoring her was one they'd come up with together to explain her presence at certain high-society functions. She hadn't really thought about possible careers beyond 'continue being a sneak-thief.'
Although...
"The only way things will ever change is through politics." Her voice is quiet and sincere. "And I want to change things."
It's true, though it's something she's never told anyone before. Not even herself.
Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, she forces a smile back onto her face. "I think I've seen enough of the Arcade for now, I should probably check out some of the other areas. Good luck in your endeavors!" The Archives had seemed relatively quiet when Caspian showed them around. She could go there and hide herself away in a corner. Just for a few minutes. Just until she felt she could face people again.
It's incredible how easy it is to grow accustomed to things. To the dresses that would sell for enough to feed her family for weeks, the food that's nibbled at then casually thrown away. She needs to be accustomed to those things. The high-class person she's pretending to be wouldn't care.
She makes her way to the Archives, looking around desperately for some private corner. As soon as she sees one she makes a beeline for it...and promptly trips and falls right onto a nobleman lecturing someone on some aspect of Taldan history she couldn't care less about. It seems like everyone is staring at her now, so she mutters apologies and flees the Archives. She'll have to find someplace else to breathe.
Victor bows to Lady Morilla before slipping through some side passages, arriving in the archives to deliver the letter to Duke Centimus.
Once his delivery is completed, he can’t help but notice Shula clumsily bumping into the lecturing nobleman. He sighs and shakes his head. ”And Martella trusts her to be her confidante?” he asks Leona. The cat sends bemused feelings back toward him.
Lucretia nods and leans in to whisper to Shula. "If you could disappear any more of my Uncle's artifacts and pass them over to me, that would be much appreciated. I might even owe you a favor in the future." She winks and then heads off back to the archives, but yet again nobody takes her ideas on the use of arcana to aid historical triumphs seriously.
Her task of sowing rumors complete, Lollia searches around for another task to accomplish. Seeing Baron Okerra chatting with a couple of older women, she makes her way to the gathered group and listens for a bit.
Then there's a sudden crash which has both men whipping around. Shula has made a rather spectacular entrance to a rather dull conversation, thanks to tripping over a footstool and nearly falling straight into Baron Astor's lap. Perhaps sadly for most of the guests her native grace helps her catch herself at the last moment and no-one suffers anything more than a slight bruise to the dignity, but it was close!
Lucretia finds that the near miss is all anyone is interested in talking about and her efforts to make a good impression fall rather flat accordingly.
The conversation continues for some time and Robert rapidly comes to the conclusion that Okerra is exactly what he seems, an honest man uncomfortable in the big city. He speaks admiringly of the Princess. "I have a daughter of my own, Selli. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her and honestly I'm pleased that the Princess is making her move against the old laws. My Selli is as good as any boy and there's no reason a nephew who has never set foot on my lands should inherit instead of her!"
Just then Martella's voice comes from your badges. "Trant is on the move. Meet your fellow agents outside the Beldam II ballroom on the gallery."
It only takes a couple minutes for the five of you to assemble. Caspian is there as well and he gives a quelling glare to a servant who seems about to intervene. Victor opens the door to the ballroom revealing a 30-foot-by-30-foot area, with lavish white marble floors and sturdy wooden walls. The centerpiece of the room is a vast 10-foot-wide gold-trimmed window peering down over the city of Oppara. Chairs and tables are spaced throughout the chamber to promote socializing.
Malphene looms over Senator Doru, haranguing the wincing young man. "Have you no loyalty, you double-crossing dog? My father counted you as an ally, and now we hear you've decided to side with the uppity princess's friends. That is very rude, little man. I don't like people who are rude."
Her cronies stand nearby, and noticing the five of you, one taps her on the shoulder. Malphene turns to regard you imperiously, hands on her hips. "How dare you interrupt a private meeting? We don't need the help at the moment, thank you. Leave us at once!"
”The help? How dare you, madame,” Victor growls. ”I am a Stavian, and I demand you apologize for your insult!”
"If it's a private meeting," Lollia says with a smirk which she quickly hides behind her fan, "Then perhaps you should have put a sign on the door." She chuckles. "Or at least a sock on the doorknob."
She moves closer to take a seat at a nearby cushioned chair before giving a gentle Tsk, tsk, tsk.
"Lady Trant, it doesn't look like the good Senator is interested in a four on one with you. You'll just have to settle for three." She chuckles. "And I'd suggest locking the door wherever you plan your tryst. This isn't really that sort of party."
Shula had almost forgotten about Martella's request that they pay attention to Malphene Trant. It's a potential diversion however, and she could very much use a distraction right now.
Her lips quirk as Lollia makes her insinuations. Atia Blue still knows how to shut a fella down. Or in this case, a gal.
"As she says, the senator doesn't seem all that interested." Shula does her best to look politely concerned. "It's not my usual scene, but I vaguely remember there being some rules...oh yes. 'Safe, Sane, Consensual.' I'm not sure about safe or sane, but this doesn't look all that consensual to me."
She leans back against a pillar. "Why, one might get the impression that you're so desperate for allies you're trying to strongarm someone into joining your side! Which would be a terrible idea of course. Even if you could get them to add their vote to yours for a single session, you'd be making an enemy of them for life." She's still smiling, but her eyes are hard as she stares at Malphene. "Don't you think it would be much more sensible to simply walk away?"
Lollia is surprised at Shulamit's knowledge of her implied subject matter, but conceals it with a nod and a pointing finger at the woman. "Exactly," she adds.
Sulking, just a little, from her lack of decent conversation, Lucretia heads to the Beldam Ballroom as requested to walk in upon a surprising conversation.
Lucretia's eyebrows raise at the subject matter and instead, simply backs away into the corner, trying not to be noticed unless it becomes necessary but watches carefully for any sudden, or subtle, confrontational movements.
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Robert watches as Shula and Lollia expertly get the upper hand. He knows he wouldn't be able to do better, but he has an idea about how to help. He turns to senator Doru and, still from afar, says "Come here, friend, I have something very interesting to talk to you about." He opens one of his arms as if to accommodate the senator in a friendly manner.
Senator Duro takes a few steps forwards when one of Trant's sycophants grabs his arm. Trant grins. "No, I don't think he's going anywhere, and as you're so knowledgeable Sock Girl then you can stay here and once I'm done with the Senator my boys with give you that three on one you want so much. Rough 'em up boys!"
Fists are raised!
Lucretia glares at Malphine Trant for her audacity.
"Stop this ridiculousness and call them off!" Lucretia calls out from her back corner.
Malphene shakes her head sharply, throwing off Lucretia's magic.
Shula can't quite believe what's happening. Is Malphene really going to attack them? That seems completely unwarranted. Okay, so she probably pissed Malphene off, but she's still pretty sure getting into a fist fight in the middle of the Gala is an overreaction.
Confused, she raises her own fists defensively but doesn't move forward. She doesn't want to risk being kicked out over throwing the first punch.
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Robert has trained for fighting a little bit, but he preferred avoiding it. He left his crossbow at home, thinking he wouldn't need it. He says "It's not only us who you fight, but the goddess of vengeance as well." He holds a relatively inconspicuous symbol with three daggers and offers a prayer "Allow my allies to bring your wrath on these heathens!" His face shows rage, suddenly.
"I'll pass on your 'boys'," Lollia says with a smirk. "Given a choice, I prefer 'men'."
She begins humming a magical melody and gestures with one hand.
Malphene moves straight up to Lucretia and punches her in the face, dodging Shula's blow as she does so! Her sycophants do likewise, apart from one who grabs a chair before moving to menace Robert.
Victor moves up to defend Lucretia, aiming a blow for Malphene's midsection.
With Trant isolated in the corner Lollia finishes her spell and sends all three of her sycophants to sleep!
Lucretia is a little surprised at both the punch and the sleeping thugs, but is proud of her cousin for performing such an action, kicking herself that she should have thought of it herself.
Her hand races to her face, checking for any bleeding, worried about what impression that may give out in the party itself.
"Malphene, you're on your own with noone else to save you. What exactly do you expect to achieve here? Finish this foolish business now!" Lucretia hisses.
Malphene glances over her shoulder, sees her supporters all out for the count and scowls.
"Fine. Be that way! But remember what I said Duro!" She barges past Victor and out of the room, not bothering to stay and collect her fallen comrades.
"Thank you friends!" Senator Duro says gratefully. "Come to my office in the morning and I'll make sure to reward you all properly."
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Caspian gives a firm nod as he sees Duro leave unharmed.
"Well done." He says quietly. "Martella will be pleased. There's nothing else scheduled for a while so get back to your jobs and keep making friends." He winks and then moves off into the crowd.
"Hmph! Good riddance," Victor says, scowling back at Malphene as she storms out. His expression softens a bit as he examines Lucretia's injury. "Are you alright, milady? You may want to have Robert take a look at that to make sure it doesn't bruise."
He glances to Shula and frowns slightly, but makes no mention of her wound. Once Caspian moves off, Victor does so as well, trying to make his way to Martella to deliver Lady Morilla's message to her.
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Robert is impressed at Lollia's spell and breathes relieved when the thugs go to sleep. He is still recovering his breath when Lucretia convinces Malphene to leave.
Things going back to normal, Robert nods at Caspian and says "I'll try to work the Imperial Archives." and moves to it, trying to use what he has learned on literature and writing.
"Yes, yes I think that would be best, thank you Victor. Robert, do you think we could try and keep off hte bruising somehow this evening? Im not sure things would go so well for me otherwise?"
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After doing everything she can to lessen any swelling and small cuts, followed by a short trip to the powder room to reapply some make-up to cover up the worst of it, Lucretia heads to the servants area, determined to make an impression.
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Shula's confusion turns quickly to anger as one of the sycophants punches her in the face. She's about to return the favor when Lollia's spell finishes and all three boys fall to the ground. Seconds later Malphene storms out and the fight is over.
Left with a lot of adrenaline and nothing to do with it, Shula (barely) resists the urge to give the noble who'd punched her a good kick in the ribs. Her foul mood isn't lessened when Victor begins fawning over Lucretia. "It was just a damn punch," she mutters under her breath. She doesn't wait to see if Robert can help, instead storming out of the room with barely a glance towards Caspian.
She does hear him though. Jobs. Right. She'd technically already completed hers, but Lucretia had asked and maybe stealing something shiny will help her feel better.
Trusting that Copernia won't look too closely, she doesn't make as much of a show about admiring the different objects as she had before. She simply meanders up to the silk fan, examines it for a second, then casually drops it into an inside pocket.
Looking around and seeing the room mostly empty, Shula takes the opportunity to grab the spyglass as well. You know, I was right. That did make me feel better.
With the fisticuffs concluded, Lollia rises languidly from her spot on the cushioned seat. Without sparing the fallen flunkies a second glance she exits the room as well.
Her next goal? Locate Countess Pace.
Once she locates the woman, Lollia observes for a bit from behind her fan to learn what her interests are and how best to influence her.
"As you can see this most recent building is built upon a number of older buildings, right back to the first senate house." The noble explains. "I heard rumors that, back in those unenlightened days, the architects were sealed inside the walls of great buildings like this so that they could never build something as fine again. Barbaric, but you can't help but wonder if the principle might be sound..."
[ooc]Appraise, Diplomacy or Intimidate.
Feeling like a bit of a bully in the servants quarters, Lucretia moves towards the Senate Floor to brush shoulders with her peers. She was absolutely used to servants around her feet from her upbringing, but that still doesn't make her entirely happy with their treatment. Not unless its helping her personally somehow.
Victor hits a snag as he tries to make it back to the archives.
Her information gathered, Lollia approaches Countess Pace.
"I admire a woman that doesn't shy away from the game of politics," she says with a sly smile. She looks around at the gathering. "Some say that this arena is for the men in our world, but they drastically underestimate what we're capable of." She turns to look back at the Countess. "Women and politics go together like wine and cheese - just yummy. And I hear that you're quite so."
Shula smiles back at Copernia as she shifts the spyglass further into her pocket. The buckler is a bit too obvious even for her, but there's still a very pretty dagger in the case, and Copernia is still distracted.
Perfect.
The dagger joins the other donations in her pockets, and she walks out of the Arcade with her head held high. I might just be a sneak-thief, but I'm a damn good one. She heads for the nearest restroom where she can take a moment to privately admire (and appraise) her new collection.
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Robert looks at Lucretia's bruise. He has no deep knowledge of medicine, but he knows he can use his goddess' power to cure. He lifts Calistria's symbol up on the air and it shines bright before exploding in a burst of healing energy, filling everyone around them with it.
Robert finding himself in a good mood with his audience, continues to try to show his knowledge.
It turns out that Lucretia is quite good at it, and when she dismisses a minor noble-man as "a russet coloured fop in his fathers clothes!" she earns a small round of applause.
"This is too damaged for display or use in the archives." He says, "But it is quite a good read and I think you are a young man who will appreciate its true worth!"
The text proves to be a rather compelling story of a young wizard's growth to womanhood and her inheriting the family business in Cassomir about 250 years ago. Of more practical use, tucked into the back cover, Robert finds some scrolls.
"I have heard that said," Lollia says with a nod. "However, in my personal opinion, I think that the time has well passed in which we need stand behind a great man. We should be free to stand alone." She partially conceals a naughty smile. "Or, perhaps, they could stand behind us for a change." She chuckles at the double-meaning.
Shula nearly chokes on her own tongue as she takes a closer look at the dagger. She'd been thinking the items might be worth a few hundred gold, together. Instead the fan and spyglass were probably worth that much individually, and the dagger...
"You're my new best friend, shiny dagger." She talks quietly enough to make sure she can't be heard, but can't resist talking aloud. She also can't resist literally hugging the dagger. (Although she does make sure she doesn't accidentally cut either herself or her clothes.) "Imma take real good care of you." With a last loving pat she carefully stores everything back into her hidden pockets.
This is the best day of her life. She could retire off this haul. Or let Auntie E. retire. Or build a whole orphanage!
Wanting very much to jump for joy, she heads to the one place where she can actually do that and get away with it. Looking around the Gallery, she spots the person she's looking for almost immediately. She waits for an appropriate pause in the performance, then approaches. "Hi Wyssilka! I'm Shula, we met earlier. Strange question, but could you use a partner in the audience? I find myself in the mood to juggle things rather more literally than usual."
Once the incident finally wraps up, Victor completes his task, delivering the letter to the archives as instructed!
Continuing with her rounds of the Senate Floor, Lucretia finds her self enjoying a lively debate with a bunch of Senators and holds her own very well.
Maybe I could be a better Ssenator than this sorry lot? It would be a superb platform for change. More so than I have achieved as part of the Children of Taldaris at least and the access it would grant me is immeasurable.
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Robert thanks archivist Telecoum profusely and stores the book away, taking good care that it is not damaged.
He wants to spend some more time in the archives, but he knows there are things to do. He excuses himself from the archives claiming a need to use the restroom. After leaving the restroom, however, he steps back into the servant's area, taking a look at the conditions they work in. He takes a special note on how comfortable they seem, especially trying to notice if someone is particularly uncomfortable with any task they have.