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AINT NO PARTY LIKE A SAFFIT FUNDRAISER (DAY :47)
Just prior to the mission, everyone will receive handwritten copies of Sheena Frey's lists, previously held by Lexa. These lists contain the names of friends and enemies that Sheena Frey believes are not associated with H+H1. The Darkling has acquired the list, and immediately dispersed it among the nest. Because he is That Guy. There is a neat note from him at the top of each page, indicating that one of their goals is to match names to attendees at the fundraiser and to either confirm or debunk Sheena's legwork. There is also the matter of the well-earned findings, dredged up from Ngozi's files.
Under the cut, you'll find the mods description of the venue, some of the NPCs you might find there, and other general information!
THE VENUE --
The event itself is a benefit dedicated to raising money for those injured in the recent bombing, as well as for the families of those killed in it. It is being held at CAVANAUGH HALL - aka "THE OPERA HOUSE" - a live theatre and performance hall in the Beta Block. Some hosts (cough Mara and Hux cough) might be more acquainted with the layout of the building since they recently attended a performance there.
Most of the fundraiser is taking place in the Hall’s grand foyer rather than the theater itself. The foyer is four levels tall with balconies overlooking the main floor on each level. There’s a fabulous stained glass dome roof. The whole Hall is primarily decorated in shades of red, white and cream - white walls, ornate naturally cream woodwork, stunning glass-like fixtures, red carpets. For tonight’s event, a number of small white cocktail tables have been scattered throughout the foyer and a small circular platform has been erected in the center of the room where a small orchestra is playing music at any point that someone isn’t speaking over the microphone for the purposes of the fundraiser.
The catering is extensive, the outfits are lavish. The security is tight, so expect to either be in possession of an invitation or get ready to use your credit card to buy one (this IS a fundraiser after all - and for such a good cause!). Sorry Nathaniel, this is mostly a mingling and eating party and not so much a dancing party. On the plus side: that sure is an open bar!
THE MISSION --
The hosts initially have a twofold mission for this one: Carata, Aoba and the Darkling have secured a private meeting with Goram Saffit, and will be picking his brain for information. The rest of the party is a free-for-all for intel-gathering and - you know - in case you want to actually contribute to charity. There are a number of events-within-the-event to experience as well, including a lovely and rather familiar lion tamer, a silent auction ( all proceeds go to charity!! ), a live orchestra, and whatever else you all want to throw in there.
THE ATTENDEES --
Most of Saffit's guests are as follows:middle (and above) aged politicians business professionals media figures
There are also a few theatre stars, but it's unclear whether they're actually there to support the fundraiser or if they're part of the deal with the opera house. Despite that the event is a fundraiser, most people in attendance seem to be Saffit supporters and more or less share his sensibilities - that androids are useful for production, but they’re just advanced machines and their increasing numbers of the workforce are creating problems for people on the economic fringe. Many of the politicians are for increased regulation of androids in the workforce, though that point is clearly one for casual debate among even Saffit’s supporters. By and large, everyone is mortified about the violence that’s recently plagued the city; some seem to be unsurprised - “It was really only a matter of time” - but no one seems happy that bombs are going off in the city.
There are a few people in attendance, and they are clearly there for the charity and not for Saffit. There are a few small time politicians, or media affiliates - and there is at least one journalist from a semi-serious EXTRAnet news outlet, though she spends most of her time camping by the bar and eating hor d'oeuvres. This is probably the fifth or sixth fundraiser she’s covered this year.
For the hosts who were not as gung-ho about fraternizing with a bunch of wealthy anti-synthers or attending fancy-schmancy events, feel free to take a much-needed and well-deserved break. Have a movie night at the Bearings - I hear that one flick "keeping tabs on your fellow hosts through the security cameras at the event and commenting on every move they make while throwing popcorn at the screen" is a great one. You can assist with observations, hack where you please, run detail and defense from the outside and even feed intel to the hosts at the party. Otherwise, you've got the Bearings and the whole city to yourself for the evening.
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I told you last time. It's about making sure no one else gets hurt. [ His eyebrows knit together and he turns to look her over. ] So if you don't wanna help and you're not hungry, you don't gotta stick around.
[ His tone doesn't read defensive or hostile, though it's still a shift from his usual way of approaching her. But then this time she's the one that approached him, and he's taking this self-imposed 'mission' very seriously. Parker's made it clear time and time again that she doesn't believe in any of what they're doing, that she doesn't want to be involved anymore. He keeps on staring at her, his mouth twisting to one side. ]
I know you don't care about... anything. It just seems like you gave up real quick.
[ She's practically a ghost around the Bearings, there and gone, barely interacting with anyone outside of grunts. ]
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It doesn't hurt, coming from him. That accusation of not caring about anything. True, not here, and she hasn't given anyone any reason to think otherwise. What she cares about is not within reach. Not here, anyway. She tires easy of games, she isn't the sort of person to get pulled into them, and this very much feels like one. Do or die.
Her arms cross slowly over her chest and her face tilts slightly, a soft shift of a mocking smile that's barely there, an unamused tug at the corner of her lip that comes as quickly as it goes. ]
And what exactly am I giving up on?
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But the part about her giving up - he keeps his answer to mostly general terms, just like before. They are sitting streetside, and though no one's watching them, it's an extra precaution. ]
All of this. Us. [ The mission. He's never been part of a team before, and this one is far from perfect - just ask him about Ren or Hux. Sharing a close headspace with the former isn't anything he'd willingly sign up for. Even so, there's people worth getting to know.
Worth making an effort to protect. But then, this is the guy that jumped on what he thought was a live grenade.
He turns away from her almost mocking expression to fix his eyes on the street, but his gaze doesn't focus on the passing cars or the opera house in the distance this time. ]
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And then they were torn away from her. Gone, after one small misstep. Dead. And there is nothing she can do to go back in time and save them.
Parker knows what it means to be part of a team. More than anyone would ever believe. More than she will ever let on. And that is why she does not find any advantages to be part of this team. It isn't a team. It's just a bunch of people forced together and told to do things. It's a group of people. Not a team. A team is more than whatever they think they are.
And it's why Parker leans her face back the slightest bit, arching her eyebrows at him slowly. ]
I don't see your point. [ Her tone should be more than enough to indicate that there is nothing to give up on if that's all there is to it. Us? Please. ]
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Nevermind. [ Contrary to popular belief, he knows when banging his head against a wall won't get him somewhere.
A brief pause, then: ] Look - I know you can handle yourself, but we're still in unknown territory. [ They don't know the faces of their enemies - not the one with the capital E or all the ones that might be keeping surveillance on them since they started getting active in Concordia. ] If you're ever alone and you get in a sticky situation, just... [ he taps the side of his head ] ... call someone, alright?
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[ There is no hesitation to the word that comes out of her mouth as soon as he says it. Her expression doesn't even change. Absolute resolution in this. Regardless of her absolute stubbornness, regardless of how hard headed she can be, some things go beyond just that. Some things are so deeply part of her that denying them would be denying herself. And although Parker is many things, she is not a liar. And she would never hide what she is-- clearly.
Parker looks over to the building and frowns. ]
What you people do or think is right is your own prerogative. Whatever you think you are here to do, remember you didn't think about it. You're meddling in a world that doesn't belong to you. You are taking the people's choice from them. All you are doing here is playing politics - and not even yours. Someone else's.
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I'm not asking you to buy what they're selling - it doesn't matter whether you do or not anyway. [ Frustration colors his expression. ] Look, the last guy that that was hellbent on shutting everyone out, he's not around anymore. [ He looks away again. ] It wasn't even politics that time. All we were supposed to be doing was gathering supplies when things went south. He wasn't involved in any of it, but he got cornered somewhere by himself and ended up killed.
[ It was their fault. He lets out a sharp breath. ] I'm not gonna try to convince you that we're doing the right thing down here when I'm not sure that we are. I'm not gonna beg you to help. But I can't just sit still when everyone else is putting themselves in danger.
[ And that includes her, because she's in as much danger as the rest of them whether she likes it or not. ]
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You're not doing the right thing. [ She says, very plain and sure of what she says. ] You know why? Because you're making the decisions. You're judging on your own. This isn't yours to decide. But you do it anyway, don't you? Why would it be the right thing, enforcing your views on a place where you are the stranger?
[ Parker turns around slightly to face him more fully, her eyes on him as she speaks. Something there, behind that seemingly neutral expression, something underneath the brown speckled hue of her eyes, that could be telling this isn't something she is unfamiliar with. Something she is intimate with. ]
If anyone dies, it's their decision to play into a game they don't even know the rules of.
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And it's my decision to protect people. [ Which means sitting here. A pause. ] But if there's really some other... force out there messing with the people here, I wanna know.
[ Shouldn't the investigation lead to some proof that there's been outside involvement (besides them)? ]
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Not that she would listen to anyone that blindly follows orders. That says yes because what else is there to do? They could all tell her that it's not what they're doing, that they're biding time or whatever-- but Parker would not believe any of them, because their actions would be against their words. ]
Whatever makes you sleep at night.
[ She says in that bland tone of hers, before pushing away from the bench. ]
It's not me you have to convince that you're working for the good guys, anyway. If you think it's true, then why bother proving it?
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You don't have to believe me.
[ He doesn't want to see something happen to her, or anyone else. He wants to find the creature that killed the soldier back in Camp Lehigh. He wants to become stronger, and he wants to be able to hold onto himself - as much as he can. There's something about his tone and expression that turns inward and stony, a kind of defensive kneejerk reaction. He's said all he has to say, and he's not moving from this spot, so she can either stand here staring at him some more or she can leave. ]
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Of course I don't have to believe you. [ She says with a nonchalant tone. ] It's you who doesn't have to believe them.
[ Whatever else he has to say, she is as interested in it as he is interested in listening to her. At least they are in agreement with something (on opposite ends). ]
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