The Masked Saga | IC Thread

[loopy]

Luci

The night is deep, the shadows long tendrils that are barely kept back by the candles dotting the room. The room you are in, the mockingly named Honeymoon Suite, is comfortable only in its familiarity. Heavy incense and pipe-smoke cloud above every surface, almost covering the scent of sex and despair.

Its another night for you in the Carnal House. Named to evoke feelings of forbidden debauchery, nothing showcases Alistair's twisted flair as much as his pride and joy. Most of the girls are off for the night, bunked well away from the front entrance and bar. You are not afforded such a luxury. Your skillset has caused Tenpenny to work you harder than most, letting you sleep only through the daylit hours. This causes your days and nights to meld together into a confusing blur. You clean yourself off after you last client, lighten your skin in various places to conceal the bruises, and await your next John.

======================

Jennet

Something drew you to the Carnal House that night. Months had passed since your last misadventure, and what were the chances that TWO brothels would blow up mysteriously with you around? Besides, you needed the night off. Life had been rough since you gave up the fortune to find your own path. Famous bard is a nice idea, but it doesn't get a very comfortable life for the most part.

Walking in, you flash enough money to get the attention of most everyone left in the tavern-area of the Carnal House. "You'll want Luci, Guv." The doorman leers, flashing a gap-toothed grin in your general direction. "She's the right kind of stuff, perfect for the gentleman such as yerself." He says it smugly, as if he's sampled the wares himself.

Reluctantly, you hand over the gold, and Gordy the doorman escorts you up to the Honeymoon Suite. "Now Guv, here are the rules. If she says no, then you stop, or we chuck ya ou--" He breaks into a cruel laugh. "Look, do what you want to her, just leave her right to do her job tomorrow night. Don't break her, or we'll break you. Have fun, Guv." He pats you on the back, and wanders down the corridor, and out of sight.

You approach the door and...

=======================

Both

The door opens.

The game begins!

[OMG PONIES]

As the door opens, an olive-skinned woman with black hair sits with her back turned towards Jennet. She is wearing a loose, flowing black camise. As she stands and turns toward him, the tunic falls to the ground. The momentary distraction affords her time to change, and standing before him now is a pale elven woman with platinum blonde hair and green eyes that seem to contain the very trees of the forest.

She steps around the bed, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder as she rounds him. She pulls the lad forward, closes the door, crosses behind him, and emerges over his right shoulder as a stout dwarven woman with leathery skin and strawberry blonde braids.

She sits on the bed, morphing back into the olive-skinned woman he met initially. "So, stranger," she purrs, pouring every last ounce of feigned arousal into her performance, "any special requests? Who do you want me to be?" As she oozes forced sensuality, she takes a moment to silently size up her customer.

Gods damn, but he's just a child. Well, at least this should go quickly and painlessly. The working girl pats her hand gently on the bed, beckoning Jennet over with her other hand.

"Now, don't be embarrassed, sugar, but have you done this before?"

[Sharwyn]

Jennet looked at the woman before him and felt nothing but a pang of guilt, hearing the fake sensuality in her voice.

"I'm not new to all this, no." He paused for a moment; he didn't actually physically remember the last time he was intimate with a woman, so did it technically count?

"For a woman like you who definitely isn't new to all this, why the distasteful undertone to your voice? I've spent a lifetime growing up around men who spin elaborate lies to each other just to please, so I know what it sounds like. Do you not like what you see? Do you not appreciate my gold?" He frowns slightly feeling rather duped by the 'special' girl he had been promised. She was looking down on him like he was a child, and he didn't take kindly to it when he had paid for the service.

[OMG PONIES]

Luci stands slack-jawed, impressed by the man's mental acuity. No client had ever sized her up so quickly, so accurately. Of course, most men that came through that door weren't thinking clearly, to say the least.

"How long you been sleepin' with whores, sugar?" Luci asks, slumping down on the bed. "Because I've been one for four years, so I know a freshy when I see one. A regular wouldn't stand here arguing with me--I'd have a handprint on my face by now, and we'd already be down to business. It's also the sure sign of a rookie to ask if I like what I see. It doesn't matter what I like, sugar--you're the boss now. I just asked if you were new to this to make sure I don't make any assumptions. I want tonight to be as relaxed and easy as possible for you."

As the woman speaks, Jennett can see Luci's eyes perk up--his evaluation of her piqued her interest. Whereas before her eyes scanned the room, they now remain locked with his. She speaks again, but almost at a whisper:

"You're sharp, you know. Nobody's ever called me on the introduction before--they're usually undressed before I can even finish. If your physique is as toned as your mind, this should be fun for both of us."

Luci bites her lip as she looks Jennett up and down. She had a rule: the less she knew about her clients, the better. But this one was fascinating in his differences, in his simultaneous naivete and cunning insight. She would have to stop herself from asking questions. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

"So, how can I serve you?"

[Sharwyn]

"Well." Luci's comments once again give him cause to stop and think. He'd never expect to be answering a game of twenty questions when he'd come here to do something entirely different.

Then again, what had he come here for, aside from wallow in his own self pity and collect some semblance of self-recognition? His parents had just kicked him out, he had nowhere to stay and no real money left after handing it all to the sleaze-ball downstairs. Perhaps he figured a bed for the night in a brothel was more exciting than an inn.

He thought about it a little longer; just sitting there in front of Luci with the silence of a nervous boy, but the expression of a troubled old man. He hadn't seen any other men around the brothel when he was wandering in. No place for the women to faun over the men until one of the men was worthy enough to take it all the way. The more he thought about it, the more he realised that the women were chosen for the men, and not the other way around.

Is this how it really works? Have I been a complete fool all this time?

He snapped out of it, his pride coming before his very near jump off the edge of his facade. Luci wasn't the only one who was hiding behind a mask, but this time he was willing to take it off rather than it shatter from his face.

He stood, grabbed Luci by what little clothing she lad left and fiercly stared into her eyes, raising one hand to hit her. "Why, is this what I'm supposed to do? Is this what other men do to you? Shall I just beat you until you're unable to stop asking silly questions like the others do?" His voice was raised, slowly releasing his anger with the thoughts of other men abusing the poor woman.

He let her go, making sure not to harm her at all and sat back down. "No. I think you have me wrong; I'm a better man than that. You say you have to do what I like, correct? How about we sit and talk, and you tell me exactly what it is that brought you here. I was stupidly under the impression that all women worked in these places freely, and it was the men who had to work to gain the approval of the women before anything could happen."

He sighed and resigned to the fact that he had been a fool. "In that regard then, you are right, I am new. You know that brothel that exploded? I was there, but I don't remember what happened. I walked in through the door, the night proceeded to happen the way I described it to you; the women faun around the men, and if he was worthy enough of their gift he would get it. I think I just drank too much wine or something, but when I woke up I was in my own bed hearing the news of the explosion, with no recollection at all."

He even managed to crack a smile. "Maybe if I impress enough, even with my naive mind, perhaps you can make the choice for yourself. Now it's your turn."

[OMG PONIES]

As Jennet grabs Luci and raises his hand to her, she smirks. This confused kid won't do it, she thinks. Besides, even if he could muster up the courage, it wouldn't even be hard enough to loosen a tooth. Luci's smirk softens into a genuine smile as Jennet asks if they can talk. "Hey, sugar," she laughs, "you payed for my time--it's only fair that you dictate how we spend it."

She stares into the boy's eyes as he speaks, then puts a hand on his shoulder. "You weren't stupid to think that we're foaming at the mouth for our boys--we work very hard to create that illusion. Most come in here a little more hasty than you, and they don't give it a second thought. They don't see our eyes looking away at every chance, don't hear the lack of originality in our passionate words, don't taste the whiskey on our lips. They come with certain expectations, and we cater to them."

Luci pauses, hesitant to delve into the course of events that had brought her to this particular room--to this particular conversation. She looks up at Jennet and lies, "But you're wrong, darling. I do work here freely." Straightfaced, she continues: "I was part of a theater company that lost its funding, which left me homeless and jobless. I met Alistair, who offered to provide me with both. I've been doing all right here; it's actually not all that bad." The woman rises and moves towards the window, changing shape yet again. When she turns back to Jennet, she is a gray skinned woman with jet-black hair and shocking purple eyes. "Care for a beverage on the balcony?" she says with cheer, though her eyes betray a deep sadness. If he looks closely enough, Jennet can make out what looks like a single tear clutching the corner of Luci's amethyst eye.

[Sharwyn]

"Once again you doubt my ability to know when you're lying, although that was more of an obvious one. If men come here and frequently beat you, using you as cheap gratification when you don't wish it in return, how is that any semblance of 'doing all right here' hmm?" Jennet shakes his head with a slight 'yeah right' smirk across his face.

He stands back up, "As for that drink? I'd love to. Although have you ever thought of just jumping off the edge of the balcony and finding yourself a better life? You can be whoever you want to be with a face like yours—no offence intended—surely there is something better out there?"

[OMG PONIES]

Luci shrugs and says matter-of-factly, "Nothing pays better. Now, what are you drinking?"

[Sharwyn]

Jennet can't really disagree with the logic behind Luci's comment, so he just shrugs. "I like a nice glass of wine, if there is any available?"

[OMG PONIES]

"Everything's available here, sugar. I've got a great Pinot Noir...of course, there's a surcharge for the alcohol."

[Sharwyn]

"Truth be told, I've just had a really bad time of it. Sure, not as bad as some people have it on a regular basis, but it's enough to make me feel sorry for myself and I even admit to that." He nods to the offer of the wine, but frowns at the mention of a surcharge. "I also paid the man downstairs enough to keep his family well fed and happy for the entire year; I'll be damned if I'm paying for my wine, but that is an issue with him and not with me. Choose your favourite, I'm not fussy."

He settles down for his drink and continue to waffle on about nothing in particular; just venting everything on his mind. Luci listened, smiled and nodded, as she had been paid to do. However it was now that Jennet got a little curious about the situation Luci had mentioned before.
"You said you were once in a circus? I've only visited one as a child. What was it like?"

[loopy]

Jennet

As you continue talking with the intriguing woman on the balcony, you note that it seems to be much busier on the streets outside the Carnal House than it really should be at this time of night.

The sounds of whispered conversation and raucous laughter can be heard from outside the brothel, followed by a knocking on the front door.

Luci

Gathering the wine and glasses, Luci is sufficiently distracted that she doesn't hear anything particularly out of the ordinary.

OOC: Continue talking for now. :smallsmile:

[OMG PONIES]

Luci looks taken aback at Jennet's question. "A circus? Hardly! I was the leading lady of one of Queensport's most prestigious theater troupes. Certainly you've heard of the Green Olive?"

[Sharwyn]

"Can't say that I have." He shrugs. "I've grown up with a wealthy family but my parents never acted like it. We were always invited to the balls and parties and theatrical performances but we never attended. I was just told to stay inside and I kept myself to myself. Same four walls growing up and I became tired of it, but by the time I was old enough to do something about it I hardly knew anything about the world and it scared me enough to still keep me indoors. Then the first time I do venture out to be brash and a brothel explodes; not really a good track record. Does this place have explosion insurance?"

He smiled. The first genuine smile that had spread across his face after he got thrown out. Then reality hit him again like a brick wall and he occupied his thoughts with the taste of the wine.

"My question still stands though. What was it like? It sounds a lot more exciting than anything I've done. I just play the Lute."

[OMG PONIES]

Luci's eyes sparkle with genuine interest for the first time all night. "When you're playing the lute, and you hit just the right note--that one note, you know the feeling that surges over you? Being on stage was like that surge, but for hours on end. To create something truly original, something beautiful...oh, it was heaven, sugar."

The changeling is taken aback as it finally registers--this boy was present at the explosion. "You...you were there? Any survivors? I used to work with a girl there, looked like this." Luci's shape changes to that of a heavy woman with ebony skin and long braids. When she speaks next, it is with the thick accent of the tropical islands located off the coast. "Name's Ivory, sweehar-tah. Ishee okay?"

[Sharwyn]

Jennet shakes his head and a sorrowful look appears on his face. "I'm sorry. I don't remember a thing. I've tried thinking back to the night but I just end up having funny flashes of something I saw in a dream instead." He finishes the rest of the wine in his glass and looks over the balcony at the gathering crowd outside, but still keeps his attention to the conversation at hand. "She's a close friend of yours, I take it? Sorry for the questions but I can't help be curious. It's hard to imagine a woman in your line of work having a life outside of this place, let alone friends. But I suppose if she worked at another brothel, it would explain it."

Deep down he had a heart of gold. It just evidently needed a damn good polish...

[loopy]

The nearest table rattles around, having been jolted by a thump emanating from the floor. Raised voices, muffled but audible, seem to be coming from downstairs.

The air seems to get heavier, hazy. A new odor slowly grows more noticable in the room. Sharp, acrid, is that... Smoke?

[Sharwyn]

"Hey, um, can you smell that?" Jennet looks around with a very apparent panic in his eyes, heading towards the door and opening it without a second thought to see what is going on.

[loopy]

Jennet

The usual moans of false pleasure have been replaced by genuine screams of terror as you open the door. Curious whores and johns are startled to see smoke start to billow from the stairway leading to the main room of the Carnal House.

A slender, rough looking man appears out of the smoke, cloth covering his mouth. "This whorehouse is being shut down by the orders of the Seraph! Run, or burn alive, the choice is yours." He disappears back into the smoke, presumably to move downstairs.

[Sharwyn]

Jennet grits his teeth, angry that disaster seems to be following him around. He'd never heard of this Seraph and by the look of it he would prefer not to get involved.
"Listen, whatever your name is, that balcony jumping idea is seeming a lot more inviting right now don't you think? Are you coming or not." The last statement was hardly a question, and with a grin applied to it.
"As much as I hate to admit that bad luck seems to follow me around, it gets the heart pumping."

[OMG PONIES]

Luci's head shakes slightly, as if snapping out of a daze. She returns quickly to her original olive-skinned figure and wipes a tear from beneath her eye. "Sorry, sugar," she sniffs, "I wandered off there for a second. What's that now?" Sniffing again, she finally smells the smoke that has caused alarm among the others. "Hmm, we do need to find an exit, now don't we? Maybe we can tie up the bedsheets into a rope?" The changeling bites her lip and attempts to think on her feet.

ROLLS:
[roll0] Knowledge: local
[roll1] Knowledge: religion

To see if "The Seraph" rings any bells.

OOC: Are we on the second floor, or how high up is Luci's room?

[Sharwyn]

Looking out of the window, Jennet wishes there was some way to get down quicker and easier than tying sheets together. "Looks like it's the only way to get down without risking breaking legs."

He stops to pause for a moment, trying to think of the best thing to say. "I'm sorry that I don't know anything about your whore friend. I'm sure we can find some information once we get out of here. Besides, do you know anything about these people?"

ROLLS:
Use Rope: [roll0]

[loopy]

Luci

From your knowledge of the city's seedier elements, you know that the Seraphim are the self-styled crime lords of Gildmeet. Officially a unified force, unofficially in a constant state of cold war, the "Seraph" mentioned could be one of several of the Seraphim, the speaker probably assuming you knew which one he was talking about.

A lit torch flies into the room, setting one of the curtains alight.

Jennet

Tying the bedsheets together, you quickly fashion a crude rope. It probably won't hold both of once, but after you tie it to a bedpost, you judge that it will get you down to the alley outside relatively intact.

[OMG PONIES]

Luci doesn't even turn to look as the room she had come to know as home begins to burn. "Good riddance," she spits back over her shoulder. "Come on, sugar," she says to Jennet, "it's high time we head out. You don't want to be here when the Seraph arrives."

[Sharwyn]

"I agree." Heading out the window he goes first to make sure the 'rope' is safe before beckoning Luci down.

"The only problem left now is knowing where to go. Do you have any ideas? My family isn't exactly welcoming right now and I don't really have all that many friends to contact..."

[OMG PONIES]

Luci stops in her tracks. Where to go... She had thought about breaking free for so long, but had never considered what to do afterward. "Um, sorry sugar," she laughs. "Never really got that far before. I suppose we need some way to make some coin, no?"

[Sharwyn]

Almost flinching at the sounds they were leaving behind them, Jennet drops his head slightly and tries to make himself inconspicuous as people runs around in the flame and fray.
"I thought you would make a lot of money? Then again..." He looks her up and down for a split second, and is almost mesmerised by her eyes. "...you don't seem to be wearing something with many pockets. Maybe we should sort that out, first." At the end of the day he was still a man; a small smirk escaped from his lips as his mind flashes back to the events before it all hit the fan.

"Listen, while all of this sh*t is going on everyone will have their attention turned to what is happening, right? Well it would be the perfect opportunity to break into my own house. Not all of our security staff know the exact situation between myself and my family so it wouldn't surprise them to see me, and I've been able to sneak in and out of the house before without being detected in the future anyway. There are plenty of clothes, food to spare and I'm sure I can find something to sell for coin." He spoke about the house like it was some alien entity that just contained him as a child. It was never really a home for him; more of a luxurious prison that had a lot of things he could use now to fund his way.

He knew that some of the minor artwork pieces lying around the house were from the Has'uan Dynasty, and worth a pretty penny, and easily hidden under the clothes. He just hoped that this wasn't going to be the first time he got caught.

[OMG PONIES]

Luci shrugs as Jennet asks her about her income. "Payday's tomorrow." The changeling raises an eyebrow as the boy unfurls his master plan. "You want to break into your own house, and steal from your family, sugar? And I thought I had issues. Still, a hungry stomach has no morals, so let's get set before it gets to that. Any frequent visitors to the home that I can be?"

[loopy]

The rope holds fine as you shimmy down, out of the burning brothel. Jennet slips slightly on the wet cobblestones, rolling his ankle.

Jennet: 1 Subdual damage.

The slums of Gildmeet are waking up as the fire spreads. Locals run up with buckets and water, trying to stop the blaze from spreading. Every so often, you see one or two get pushed down by a rough looking sort, probably one of the thugs sent to burn down the Carnal House.

Unsure of a direction, but deciding to stick together for now, you head down the alleys of Gildmeet in a more or less random direction, just trying to get out of the slums. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, you flee directly into another group of toughs. Eight of them, to be precise.

"Well, well." One of the thugs drawls. A burly looking elf, he motions at his companions. "What have we got here... Grab 'em. Stitches, go get Bria." One of the men runs off.

Two thugs approach from either side of each of you, armed with clubs and daggers, while the main tough, presumably a leader, continues barking out orders. "Now, you two, don't do anything stupid. Daxy, get a good look at the lad. Make sure its not Tenpenny. Declan said he's good at that hiding magic."

"Now... Who might you two be, and where do you think you are headed in such a hurry?"

Luci:
Knowledge(Local): You know the name Declan. Rumor is that he's high in the Blue Bloods. You don't know much about the gang, they don't deal in prostution. Alistair doesn't like them.

[Sharwyn]

"I'm just an onlooker coming to see what the panic was all about back there, that's all." He nods towards the brothel "I'm sorry if I've troubled you, sirs." Jennet holds his hands in the air, knowing that he has nothing on his person apart from his belt knife. It was remotely decorative and worth a few silver if they wanted to take it, but he had no cash. "Can I help you?"

[OMG PONIES]

Luci laughs and locks eyes with the leader. "Sugar, if you're hound-doggin' Alistair Tenpenny, I'd be obliged to put you on the scent. Only problem is, one of the Seraphs may be getting to him first. You see the smoke behind us? That's where you're gonna find him."

[loopy]

"You hear that boys?" The elf smirks, "The Seraph is after ol' Tenpenny. I do hope that he is okay." The rest of the gang laughs along sycophantically. "In any case, I think you'll find tha--"

"Jarred, enough." A new voice cuts across him, female, cool, and authoritative. "If the boss finds out you go blabbing secrets to any old passerby, I don't think you'll like what happens."

The speaker comes into view, removing the hood from her cloak. She is a young woman, who has seen maybe twenty summers at most. Black hair flows long and straight, and her angelic face is marred only by a straight scar from left cheek to ear.

She stops in front of Luci, looking her up and down. "I assume that you are one of the Carnal Houses working girls? Tell us where Alistair Tenpenny is. If you are not found to be aiding him, no harm shall come to you."

The girl's brow furrows for a second, then she nods, resolute."In any case, Declan will want to speak with both of you. He'll have an offer for you specifically." She concludes, gesturing towards Luci.

[OMG PONIES]

"I'm ears," Luci says with a smirk. "I was one of Ali's girls, 'til about ten minutes ago. I now find myself in need of some gainful employment." She closes her eyes and feels the freeing warmth of the chaotic fire all over again. "As for that bastard--doll, if there's any justice, he's meeting his fiery fate back in the House right now." She nods her head toward the column of smoke rising from the site of the Carnal House.