8611/Party crashing

Party crashing
Date of Scene:	01 August 2019
Location:	Underground party, NYC
Synopsis:	Magic folks talk at a party
Cast of Characters:	Free Lancer, Black Alice

---

Free Lancer has posed:
    Throwing underground parties in NY is rough business, no joke. You keep things too underground and nobody shows, not underground enough and the wrong sort of people crash. Considering the meta-human density in NY that could be somone cool and trendy, or yaknow some crazy murderhobo supervillian wannabe. This party though, this was just about right. The ingredients are all there, some hip music you've never heard of, an abandoned warehouse, lots of alcohol, plenty of fun chemicals to be had. It's got everything you could want on a week day night, if you're the right age of course.

    Millicent of course, is -not- the right age. She isn't even attired correctly, that three piece suit's a little too business for this sort've shindig obviously. Parties in her day were proper events of course, ballroom dancing, fine cuisine, dresses and jewelry crafted by otherworldly artisans to be worn once. Not that she got to participate mind, nor does she seem terribly eager to get out on the dancefloor tonight either.

    She stands like a statue infront of a little division marked out by some brick walls, hands clasped neatly infront of her. Her charge, and his dates were in the darkness beyond. Tadley Burke, heir to the Burke cereal company? Yeah he's burried under a pair of girls who look like a hot topic exploded all over them, and two tabs of X. Normally this is exactly the sort've gig she'd have declined. Too low class for her taste, obviously. When you're offered ten G an hour for a contract this easy though, yeah well you lower your standards and take the gig.

Black Alice has posed:
There is a pop of magic at the front where the bouncers are trying to screen people. It is a mild pop, glamour and enchantment really. But still someone popped off a spell.

This is the kind of party Alice likes to crash. I mean sure she doesn't tend to over drink or indulge in chemicals of too dangerous a sort. Her totally losing control might cause her to do something absolutely disastrous after all. The music though. The press of humanity. The party. All those things can be quite fun.

Black Alice meanders through the warehouse now, the press of bodies, and makes a stop at the bar, as makeshift as it might be or professional, and orders something mixing caffeine and alcohol. Good life choices.

She definitely has an aura of magic, and danger about her. Though she is dressed for the environment. Her attire is probably not too far from the hot topic rejects in with Burke but hers are more genuine and catered than mainstream mall fare.

Drink obtained she starts the prowl checking the whole building out, just a slow roll as she takes it all in and the various corners and partiers. Which eventually leads the young woman to the brick division and the party beyond it. She squints studying it and then shifts her gaze to the bouncer blocking this section off. Taking her in.

Free Lancer has posed:
    There are one or two minor talents milling around, but the energy our favorite bodyguard puts off just standing there? Well the sort've texture of that aura is definitely fey, composed entirely of magic from a totally different plane of existance. The books describe fey as being creatures of otherworldly order, but this? It's strong enough to nearly manifest visually even with that elaborate glamor hiding her true form, enough to damn near -taste- the wild energy in the air. Powerful, dangerous, alien and totally the sort've thing an elder would forbid approaching. Millicent everybody.

    Chin lifted just a touch, back straight, hands clasped delicately at the wrist in a picture of perfect posture. She allows herself the indulgence of a glance at her watch, before resuming her vigil. Attention mostly occupied by a bunch of "influencers" crowding around one end of the bar. Her client's discretion was important obviously, and lets be frank the rest was thusfar beyond her interest. The girls tended to wear entirely too much, or not nearly enough depending.

Black Alice has posed:
Well some of the books describe them as being otherworldly chaos.

Alice sips her drink and continues to watch Millicent there and the area forbidden. She is really just contemplting the sort of aura and what she thinks about it, as much as she can sense it without firing anythng else up.

Finally she sets her drink down and lifts both hands and then twists them in an elaborate twist before lacing her fingers together in a manner that leaves an open square of space unoccupied which she focuses on Millicent. She is absolutely trying to see past the glamour. It isn't supercharged though, it is her own innate skills versus stealing someone truly competent so it is absolutely a chance it will fizzle or be noticed despite the lack of flash.

Free Lancer has posed:
    That disguise is a beaut for sure, more than enough to satisfy even the most curious mundane examinations. Under magical examination though, well it all comes apart pretty easily. Beneath the veil then, well she's certainly not going to have passed for human without it. Skin the color of pure black ash, and dotted iregularly with neat pinpricks of golden glow like stars in the sky. Lips touched with a single bar of brilliant gold in the center of those pouty lips. Eyes which glow in the darkness of the club, surging with oranges and reds as if lit by an open flame. That long braided hair in a soft luminous silver, like moonlight bound.

    There are no wings or tails, or anything too crass of course. Her face though has been sculpted by a master craftsman from dimensions far removed, the product of great care and expense to craft the most flawless form possible. If she isn't wholly perfect in form, well she's probably going to be hold things down until it gets here. An otherworldly beauty beyond earthly descriptions, for sure. No wonder all the books talk about Fey so, poetically right?

    Millicent is not infact much of a magic user in the traditional sense, but she's been around the stuff her entire life. She knows a magical hand gesture when she catches sight of one, and cooly she turns to fix her gaze on Alice. Not the first time somone's peeked through the veil of course, so she offers the slightest lift of the chin before letting her gaze wander back towards the noisy influencers.

Black Alice has posed:
Alice raises and dips her hands getting a good solid look from head to toe and then shakes her hands out and picks her drink once more.

The slight lift of the chin in her direction gets a lift and toast of her tasty beverage. Then the young woman turns her head and looks back to the noisy influencers and back to Millicent. Okay she looks mildly amused.

She pushes off from where she was stationed and walks right over to the bodyguard and protected area, not quite in arms reach though. "I am pretty sure those Kardashian wannabes aren't going to be crashing the party over here.. or well if they do easily deterred." her eyes flick to the darkened area and party beyond and then back to Millicent "Why on earth are you bouncing?"

Free Lancer has posed:
    "I'm a body guard, not a bouncer."Comes the automatic reply, turning to direct her full attention towards Alice finally. "and whilst I don't think they're particularly brave, or terribly dangerous? People with cameras are often incredibly stupid, my client's discretion is important."Says the woman, who's client is doing god knows what in the shadows back there. Dude has no shame, seriously.

    "In anycase, I thought a witch like yourself would keep far better company. Demons, black cats and whatever else is supposed to be vogue this century yes?"Arms lifting to cross, as she offers Lori the faintest hint of a little smile. "Used to be all black sheep, quite literally or so I was told. Now it's cats and broomsticks, right? Afraid I haven't been keeping up on the latest trends for female spellcasters."

Black Alice has posed:
Well the assumption about what she is ... is not totally wrong and not totally right. Still Alice just smiles at the poke and looks back to the influencers.

"I'd say for someone who understands three piece suits you are frighteningly out of touch with other things." she sips her drink. "Brooms and black cats were very two hundred years ago. Demons always suck, always." she gestures to the club.

"These days well... it is about harnessing primal energies like this party and having a style. For instance I am Goth AF." she looks to the shadows.

"Okay why this doofus, you seem way too A-lister for bodyguarding this guy."

Free Lancer has posed:
    "Well yes Demons are usually quite terrible, I'll grant you that for certain."Theres a little ghost of a shrug there "I dated one who had the broomstick and cat back in the nineties, back in LA. Floppy hat and everything, so I know for a fact it's not two hundred years out."

    "The client is not the princepal in this case, his parents retained my services and offered a very complimentary payment package."She leans back against that brick wall finally, offering a little sigh. "Besides I didn't have anything else going on tonight, not a terrible wealth of social events which are understanding of what exactly I am. It's always some dark smokey basement full of vampires who've watched a few too many movies. That crowd is always so dramatic, especially these days. Vampires don't seem to do anything but text whilst the sun's up, gets old pretty quick you know?"

Black Alice has posed:
"That sounds really boring. I mean there are those little spots .. holes in the wall.. that one vllain bar... also the Oblivion Bar.. mmm House of Mysteries too.. several places disreputable and mystics gather which are not often vampire infested." another sip of her drink.

"Also I am afraid I must inform you that your girlfriend was likely out of fashion ... maybe just retro though."

"How much do you make on a gig like this.. and do his parents know why you are expensive.. I mean I assume you are expensive otherwise this is sad."

Free Lancer has posed:
    "Oh it was very much the fashion at the time, there were a lot of witches in LA back then. It was a regular scene unto itself, most of them terribly vapid though. They heard magic could make you young and beautiful, and checked out after that lesson for the most part. The term 'Target rich environment' comes to mind though, it was fairly wild. About the only clubs you could go without somone snorting blow off the table back then, LA was a wild town for awhile there."Because it isn't anymore clearly, or at least not home to a huge witch "scene" as it were?

    "Oh there aren't many bodyguards who are explicitly onboard with facing meta-human threats, it's a rather small pool. My services are a premium affair to begin with then, which means they're also fashionable for some. In this case, doting and terrified parents determined to provide their only son the very best of everything in life."Smirking somewhat, finally. "It's not a terribly well kept secret I'm, something I suppose. Not that most of my clients would understand what I am, or why it's important anyway."

Black Alice has posed:
"Ooh... so when you said couple years go you didn't mean two years ago... got it. I can definitely picture a lot of beverly hills witches snorting cocaine though and in it for the youth glamours." a shake of her head.

"I suppose that is true.. the it about most bodyguards and security do not explicitly ever sign on to deal with meta-human threats. Good niche market." she considers "Still not sure why with all you got going on that you do this work versus.. I don't know.. something more intense." pause "I guess if most of your clients suffer meta-human attacks it may be intense though after all." a shrug.

"I'm Black Alice and you?" and that name if one has their ear to the ground has a bad reputation. Not good at all. The Magic Thief. Former member of Shadowpact and The Secret Six. Current ... apprentice??... of The Sorcerer Supreme, though most people think that must be a bullshit rumor.

Free Lancer has posed:
    Introductions are offerent, and well theres a small genuine smile as she offers a hand to Alice. "A pleasure Alice, I'm Millicent Haller. Heard your name around a few times, we've moved in similar circles infact. Many of my clients are of, complicated legal standing you might say. Capes on both sides of the fence, are occasionally the threat my clients are concerned with obviously."Handshakes offered, well she slumps back up against that brick. "It's a Wednesday night Alice, high society is more of a weekend sort of affair. Leaves me with plenty of downtime during the week, and whilst I'm not going to state the specifics? Lets just say the payment offered was, incredibly attractive. Especially when the alternative wasn't terribly attractive, no students anymore, not seeing anyone and Lamborghinis aren't getting any cheaper you know?"

Black Alice has posed:
"Well I appreciate you not telling me to go away now." she even shakes your hand those hers is a bit wet from the drink after she shifts it to her left hand.

"I .. mm not sure I've heard that name though to be honest. What you say about clients makes sense and I suppose even folks with special skills need money." she has an air that she doesn't worry much about money for whatever reason really. It isn't a haughty tone just a thoughtful one. "Students?"

Free Lancer has posed:
    "I'm not about to judge somone based on rumors, though I have heard of you of course. I've worked for plenty of people described as villians over the years, and it's not my business. Maybe you are a terrible person, and we'll have to fight. Until then, theres hardly a reason for us to be unpleasant to each other."Theres a small smile there as she gives Alice a nudge, a delicate one mind. "Theres rarely a reason for a lady to be such a boor, it's a sign of low class. We should all endeavor to be our best selves, and present ourselves with some degree of civility."

    "I do take on students on occasion, but students worth my time are rare these days. Unfortunately fencing is often described as swordplay, when it's really just a game of complicated tag for the affluent more often than not. Everyone wants to learn how to fight, until they've lost a tooth and broken their nose."Theres a little shrug there. "Swordplay is still something everyone should learn, teaches you much of yourself. Not entirely dissimilar to magic, in that it teaches self examination."

Black Alice has posed:
"Well no one has ever accused me of being a good student." it is muses as she nursingly sips her drink once more.

"Also I take exception to anyone labeling me a villain.. some of the time I have been a downright superhero." eye roll. "People just get really sore when their magic gets taken for a while and then they bad talk me." musingly "I always give it back." mostly because she can't hold onto it forever. "I'd probably need to cheat to do actual swordplay."

Free Lancer has posed:
    "Thats not swordplay. Read any of the original texts, and it's all about groin strikes and feigning surrender so you can stab the other guy with a dagger. I've fought Samurai, and it's no different once you're playing for blood. Chivalry and so fourth, is all very modern and totally silly. You do whatever you need to do, there's no cheating. Theres the living and the dead by the end of it, thats all there is to it. Honorable action is knowing what fights to pick, and sticking with it no matter the odds."Theres a huff there, shoulders tensing just a touch. "Take this from a titled knight, there is no such thing as cheating in a real fight. You think I won't whip out a pistol and empty some fool's skull out onto the wall in the middle of a swordfight?"

    "All this nonsense about codified 'clean' swordplay, is nonsense. No knight went out onto the battlefield without a roundel, a special little dagger used to jam through the visor of a downed opponent. People seem to forget we're using a huge sharpened cudgel to empty somone's bowels out onto the floor, before we hack their skull into wet chunks."And a little shake of the head. "Games have rules, battles have outcomes. If you take up a sword or a gun, or a magic wand or whatever? Are you playing a game?"

Black Alice has posed:
"I think I like you." she finally says after you finish your whole rant about fairness and games and playing for keeps. She finishes and just steps to set the empty glass aside now.

"I don't play games when I get in fights and I definitely do everything I have to so that I win and don't die." a shrug there "Alls fair in love and war I suppose yes. Never got that bit about love and all being fair unless it is protecting loved ones I suppose." she hooks a thumb at the bar "I'm getting a drink, want one?"

Free Lancer has posed:
    "They're talking about love potions, or killing your romantic rival."Theres a smirk there "Less common these days I guess, I used to have a charm guy back in Bern. Long since gone, but thats what they're talking about."Theres a little chuckle offered, finally. "Glad I meet with your approval though."

    "No drink thankyou, never drink on the job. I do appreciate the offer however, another time I'd take you up on the offer."