Stormrunners [IC]

[Othniel]

"I wonder what happened to its mate," Abigail murmured. She herself openly carried mundane weaponry, none of which was her primary means of fighting, of course. The Warlock idly twisted her blood ring about on her finger. She wasn't fond of enclosed spaces, even one as spacious as the elevator they'd been ushered into. She distracted herself by staring at the ceiling.

[Lleban]

Spoiler: Abigail

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"I wonder what happened to its mate," Abigail murmured. She herself openly carried mundane weaponry, none of which was her primary means of fighting, of course. The Warlock idly twisted her blood ring about on her finger. She wasn't fond of enclosed spaces, even one as spacious as the elevator they'd been ushered into. She distracted herself by staring at the ceiling.

Giovani bristled being cramped between Felix and all these strangers, hows is a man supposed to gesticulate his soul in such condition. Admittedly this elevator might not be the place for such, especially with this tacky decor.

"So this elevator only goes to the 2nd-floor basement and the 13th floor, clearly our benefactor has an eye for branding. Going all-in on the superstition angle and whatnot." Giovani barked as he tried his best to avoid stretching his arms to indict the ceiling's art.

[Othniel]

"There's enough dodgy stuff out there to raise the hairs on the back of your neck without worrying about numbered floors in a building." Abigail broke away from her study of the ceiling to stare instead at Giovani. "But I suppose it might set some folk off on their way up."

[Nefarion Xid]

The woman in black and white pouted slightly at Harcourt's refusal, but it was difficult to tell with her face. Though it did seem as if she could have asked everyone to disarm before seeing the boss.

"Miss Wexford is correct, professor. Superstitions were better left in the old world. The age of the masquerade is long past and Monsieur Leblanc has no need to conceal his nature. It isn't a crime here, as it is back in the Citadel. This private elevator goes to floor thirteen because that is the penthouse. And floor thirteen is the highest floor because it is exponentially expensive to build higher. Monsieur Leblanc did have more limited means when he commissioned the building thirty years ago. You know how vampires feel about moving once they've gotten settled."

[PepperP.]

Lavender raised her gimlet to the severe looking woman as she was called to the elevator by name.

"Merci, Lenny." She bid farewell to the put-upon bartender before boarding the elevator, looking more like she was attending a fancy soiree, in her elegant dress and drink in hand, than interviewing for a dangerous job.

<"You win this round, Connie, I didn't get half of them."> She spoke in Elvish to him. Her smile was radiant despite her loss, as it was all in good fun anyway.

"What an eclectic group we are! Let's hope Monsieur Leblanc has as keen an eye for talent as he has for art." She cast an amused eye at the gaudy surroundings of the elevator and took a sip of her cocktail.

[zabbarot]

Toussaint raised an eyebrow at not being called by name, but followed along without protest. He ended up next to Harcourt in the elevator. Despite his joking tone earlier he kept one hand on his wallet for the entire ride.

[TheDarkDM]

Gliding behind Lavender as they made their way towards the elevator, Constantine spared a respectful nod to the woman in white. Sliding into the elevator, he claimed a corner and loomed. Conspicuously unarmed, there was a tension in the air around him that betrayed a readiness for violence, and when he spoke his voice seemed incapable of rising above a velvet growl.

<"Then you can handle the introductions and spare me the indignity, Vivi.">

His attention finally focused in on his fellow specialists, Constantine followed the conversation regarding Diamond Dust with some interest. Legendary weapons, after all, had a way of appearing in enemy hands if you didn't keep track of them. As talk drifted to speculation over the location of its twin, he leaned down to whisper in Lavender's ear.

<"Like as not it ended up in the grave of whoever was tilling the royal fields. Assuming this wandslinger isn't the Dauphine's discarded boy-toy in disguise.">

[Lord Of Mantas]

Zeb smiled apologetically as the woman in black and white pouted, then turned back to Rachel.

"Tell you what. If, by some chance, the field of battle calls to us in the future, I'll be more than happy to show you what she can do at that time." He then turned to the woman in black and white again.

"Anything we should keep in mind as we go to meet Mr. LeBlanc, Miss... I don't believe we had the pleasure of your name."

[Nefarion Xid]

"Elizabeth Strife," Elizabeth said with no elaboration, then glanced sideways between Zeb and Rachel.

"I wouldn't presume to know what's on Monsieur Leblanc's mind any given night. Though, I wouldn't openly speculate about the proclivities of the late dauphine. He was a guest at two of her weddings."

There was another bong as everyone jostled upwards then came to a rest. The doors opened to a corridor dimly lit with amber hued atma lights disguised as ensconced candles. Wood paneling of immaculate craft covered every surface here. The walls were some zebra patterned whorl of inviting orange and ebony. Above, the ceiling was vaulted and braced with carved rafters that were purely ornamental inside a steel framed building. Though, it was hard to remember you were still in New Salem. The floor was a darker herringbone, mostly concealed beneath a crimson runner which ended at a set of imposing arched doors and the polished wingtips of woman in a slim fitting black suit with a casually loose necktie. Her hair had been sculpted into a bulbous pompadour in the front and looked to be braided up in the back. It wasn't immediately clear if she heard the elevator or saw anyone approaching. Between the poor light and the woman's rose tinted glasses, it was impossible to tell where she was looking. Instead of greeting Elizabeth, she remained frozen, shoulders against the door jamb behind her, hands in her jacket pockets, and produced a head-sized pink bubble with her gum.

To the left, there was a stairwell that led up and down. To the right, a small sitting area, likely for Leblanc's guests to wait and stew. Neither were more interesting than the vampire's choice of hired muscle.

"Oh. That does remind me. No smoking in the penthouse. Feel free if he invites you up to the roof though," Elizabeth chirped, striding down the hall.

The other woman's pink bubble deflated and was sucked back in to be chomped on. Audibly. "Yeah, no smoking in the penthouse," repeated the woman in the suit.

"You can never get it out of the upholstery."

"Never. Vampires have sensitive noses."

Lurching from her post, the gum smacker nudged her round red spectacles down to the tip of her nose and gave the party a long appraising look in silence. After a moment she turned to give the massive oak door a trio of knocks with the butt of her fist, waited, then pushed the doors inward.

Elizabeth moved through with a backwards wave for the party to follow as she stepped into the great hall. Opposite the door there was a lit fireplace large enough to dispose of a body. It was flanked by gothic arched windows on either side, though the velvet curtains were draw closed. The ceiling was raised here, encompassing two levels. An eclectic sundry of fine furniture was strewn about the room, most oriented in the direction of the fire. To the right, an archway opened to a dining room with a long table flanked by more high-backed chairs than could be counted at a glance. To the left, and the source of a soft patter of rapid descending steps, there was another corridor and evidently a set of stairs that only came into view when you neared the hearth.

A young man who was certainly the mysterious host turned to the great hall, holding a hanger and a waistcoat in each hand. He was barefoot and wore only a pair of charcoal trousers and a shirt that wasn't yet buttoned. Contrary to his name, he had light brown hair which was cut fashionably short for a modern Union man, and he was clean shaven. He was perhaps a bit pale for an healthy young fellow, but the only thing that really gave him away was the faint glow of his ruby eyes.

"I cannot decide between the ivory and the charcoal," he said, shaking his choices of waistcoat. "The grey is the same as the rest of the suit, but that's all very matchy-matchy and dull. I like the ivory, I just feel it washes out my complexion. What do you think?"

[PepperP.]

Lavender had just pulled out her cigarette holder when she was warned against smoking by her two guides.

<"Well I don't fancy being picked on."> Lavender barely repressed a pout and the cigarette holder disappeared from view with a flick of her fingers. As the double doors opened and she passed into the penthouse, her eyes flickered across her surroundings, but her eyes were drawn to the figure of Leblanc caught in the middle of dressing.

Is he trying to disarm us by appearing harmless? I don't believe it for a second.

She fought the urge to say as much to Connie, even in Elvish, though her eyes found her friend in the crowd. She raised an eyebrow as her prospective boss queried their fashion sense, and she stepped forward, her cloak billowing behind her with her movement.

"The cream might wash out your fair complexion, true." Her lips curved into a playful smile.

"However, if you separated the waistcoat from your face with some color, with an ascot, for example, I think the cream could be lovely. I'm a fan of purple, personally." She flipped a long tendril of lavender hair over her shoulder with a toss of her head and sipped her gimlet.

[Nefarion Xid]

"Is it cream?" Isaac held up the offending waistcoat and wrinkled his nose at it. In the cozy light, the fabric could have been any shade between eggshell and a pale gold. "Thought I would have learned to tell the difference between cream and ivory by now. Let's say we're both wrong and call it champagne."

Spoiler: Abigail and Arcana 15+

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Vampires have even better visual acuity than most races with darkvision. This and a keen sense of smell are some of the first traits to manifest for neonates, who wax poetic about previously unseen colors. Whereas most races perceive the world at night in a monochromatic grey, vampires can most assuredly see blues and violets, even in pitch black conditions.

"No matter. I am absolved and grateful, Miss ... ah, Lavender Fosse-Wilde. Surely. If anyone dislikes my purple ascot, I'll have them take it up with you." He flung both waistcoats over the high-backed armchair that was likely his favorite and buttoned up his shirt before tucking it in.

"Miss Strife, if you'd be a lamb and see if you can locate some manner of plum cravat or burgundy scarf."

Elizabeth moved to the leftward corridor and ascended the stairs with surprising swiftness for a woman wearing three inch heels. A glance towards the exit revealed the woman with the tall hair was now standing on this side of the oak doors.

"She enjoys making me look bad," Isaac muttered, jerking his suspenders in place. "Already has her heels and overcoat on. Eye makeup is bloody immaculate. I apologize for dressing in front of you, but I really am expected somewhere soon and my absence will arouse the wrong sort of suspicions. Alors. I presume everyone here, spare your host, is a professional of some degree and acquainted with the proposition regarding the, eh, voyage? Ah. Miss Blackwood looks ready to board already. C'est ca!"

Maneuvering towards an escritoire by the window, Isaac flung open a drawer and plucked out a paper-clipped stack of carbon copies, careful not to smudge his fingers with graphite, lest it end up on his clothes. He left the stack on the desk and gestured vaguely towards it if anyone cared to read.

"That's the latest insurance appraisal for the Alcindor, the more celeritous of my two ships. As you can see, currently valued at 480,000 Union dollars. Pay for the expedition, per actionable discovery, is 4,200. That's 600 apiece for the seven of you, or, if you'd rather, a 0.2% stake in ownership of the Alcindor. Generous, I think, though that would make you partly responsible for funding repairs and modifications of a ship that is, I confess, likely to be somewhat damaged in service."

Spoiler: History 10+

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The Alcindor recently finished third in its class at the New Salem Regatta. Pretty good considering there were twenty-six entrants. First place went to the Hanged Queen, and second to the Sylvestre.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Zeb took a look at the offered appraisal, trying his best not to look too enthusiastic about the prospect of the mission. The pay was good, but so was the prospect of a stake in a ship of this caliber. And the threat of damages aside... if what he'd heard about the results of the ship's placing in the New Salem Regatta was true, then really, was the chance of damage that bad?

And really, what was life without a bit of risk? And the chance to actually own something substantial?

"I would concur that it is a generous offer," he said, "and so, my good sir, I think I shall accept the offer of a stake per discovery." He then turned to the rest of the party to gauge their reactions.

[Othniel]

Leblanc wasn't exactly what Abigail was expecting. She wasn't exactly sure what that was, but someone hastily dressing was not it. Maybe a shadowy individual behind an enormous desk and an inscrutable expression. She almost laughed. She did smile as she walked toward the papers to take them after Zeb and hand the rest out to those gathered. She wasn't a lawyer, but she also didn't think she was a moron and figured she could spot anything obviously unfair. "Is there anything you are especially hoping for us to find?"

[Nefarion Xid]

"And I thought you'd play hard to get," the vampire pouted in Zeb's direction. "I'll have contracts ready for you tomorrow. Monday at the latest. My lawyer should be putting his finishing touches on them now. No need sign in blood right away, of course. You'll have plenty time to look things over. Rather standard, I should think. I wouldn't last long in business if I often made enemies out of my contractors. If I were going to stiff someone, I'd probably start with the fellow who retiled my bathrooms -- not professional monster hunters."

Isaac drew an X over his heart, then shrugged himself into the cream colored waistcoat.

Inspecting the bundle of carbon copy papers shows a fairly tedious accounting of component parts and their estimated value. The Alcindor was manufactured in Asuria, though mostly with imported parts from Roanne and Aensland. The real standouts are the three largest atma crystals powering the primary, and left and right secondary drives, valued at 70k and 30k respectively. No real surprise there. The design philosophy behind a stormrunner was a simple one: take the most powerful aerodrives you can make, then build a ship around them.

"I just wanted to show you now that I respect you, that I will pay you what you're worth, and that I didn't lure you here under false pretenses. You see, I do have a preliminary job for you -- a small thing, beneath your capabilities, surely. A facile demonstration that will endear you to me and earn at least the modicum of trust required to let you abscond with my beloved airship. Or at least convince me that aren't secretly working for one of my rivals."

Isaac seemed genuinely contrite to have to put professionals of such caliber through some trial before you got to business. Then again, he may be concerned over something else.

"Nothing untoward, I assure you! You'll sleep soundly tonight. If you're acquainted with the Loup Jaloux, I own a controlling interest and the madame is a dear friend. Two nights ago, Madame Maxence had to throw out a few unruly customers. Some ill-mannered soldati scum from the Fontana family. Unused to hearing no, they came back around 2 AM with friends, blasted the poor bouncer in the chest before he knew what was happening, put a wand up to the madame's head, grabbed three girls from the salon, had them thrown into a lorry, and drove off in all a few minutes.

As you can guess, the police aren't really interested in anything involving the Three Families, seeing as how the Fontanas pay better than the city's constabulary. Not that they'd stick their noses out to look for a few working girls anyway.

I, however, have located them. That was easy for me. The difficult part is extracting them without revealing my involvement. My organization has achieved a tepid, fragile peace with the Three Families. If Audrey or I go down and start busting heads, there will be an all out war -- one they are attempting to provoke because they think they'll win. They're wrong, but I have far more interesting things to do with my money and power than paint the gutters red with Lucerian teenagers too brave to know how stupid they are for getting involved. I will at least be too preoccupied to fund our exploratory expedition."

Elizabeth returned about that time to begin tying a purple ascot around his starched collar. She had also brought down his jacket and shoes.

"Luckily, I have this engagement tonight. I shall endeavor to make myself extremely visible, along with my known and capable confidants, particularly Miss Strife and Miss Croshaw here. As a matter of fact, the Fontanas intend for me to be conspicuously absent. Meanwhile, you fine people, virtual strangers, are free to find yourselves in the vicinity of 40th and Spencer -- the three story red brick warehouse. Who knows what else valuable they've stashed there? Well, I can hardly be blamed for some random act of gang on gang larceny that just happens to release a few kidnapped girls."

[Jade_Tarem]

In contrast to her earlier stammering and oversharing, Rachel is quiet throughout the discussion of payment and the kidnapped girls, instead stating simply, "I accept" at the end of his spiel. For all her earlier nervousness, she now seems more resigned than anything, not counting the naked lust apparent when he'd mentioned part ownership of the Alcindor.

[Othniel]

"I'm in too," Abigail piped up. "Rescuing the girls notwithstanding, this sounds fun."

[Lleban]

Still shocked and appalled that he mistook Elizabeth for the famous lingerie model Mia Navoro, Giovani was speechlessly absorbing this cavalcade of information. Of Airships, new lands, and rescuing it was a lot to take in.

Giovanni whispered, "Felix look aghast, keep that mouth open, chop, chop."

Looking at Abagail and Zeb he gestured to LeBlanc waving his hands skyward.

"Gratzi, of course, I accept, you're winning over the crowd LeBlanc!"

[Lord Of Mantas]

"And I thought you'd play hard to get."

Perhaps if you weren't an all-powerful vampire, and someone who Captain Delisle recommended me to, and someone who dangled the mother of all carrots in front of me, yes. But not today.

Zeb put aside those thoughts as Leblanc subsequently detailed the rescue operation for the captured women.

"Anything you can tell us about the place?"

[TheDarkDM]

Finally interested in the conversation as it turned from affectation and social maneuvering to the details of a killing job, Constantine finally deigned to enunciate in accented Aenslish.

"What kind of message are you hoping to send the Fantanas? We can make this ugly enough they never go within a city block of the girls."

[PepperP.]

"Yes, I agree, of course we assent to rescuing the girls, I wouldn't dream of leaving them in peril." Lavender brought her cigarette holder back out without thinking about it, remembered her surroundings, and put it away again with a flick of her wrist.

"I have only one question. Do I have time to go home and change?"

[zabbarot]

"C'est bon. I appreciate a man who looks out for his workers." Toussaint stood at parade rest with his hands behind his back. "I do second the lady though, I would like to change into something less recognizable. I cannot imagine the letters I would get if my mother learned I was in a gang fight."

[Nefarion Xid]

"Anything you can tell us about the place?"

"The rear of the building is an open three-level warehouse with shipping bays and mechanical doors. They'll only open from the controls on the inside, I imagine. Though they'll likely have one of the bay doors open for ventilation -- too much trouble to open and close them when someone wants a smoke. And they do receive the odd shipment on the graveyard shift. Depending on what they expect to come in, there could be six to a twelve of them back there. There are several skylights on the flat roof and an access stairway. I didn't see that the roof was guarded and the door to the stairs should only open from the inside.

There's a shopping arcade and offices facing Spencer Avenue. A dry goods store. A seamstress. Leather goods. A tobacconist. The Fontanas do good business selling legitimate goods in Little Lucera, though they smuggle in tobacco and leather under the guise of flour. Even if they didn't own a significant portion of the police, no one is going to check crates of bloody semolina. On the rare occassion they've stood up straight enough to avoid dragging their knuckles, they'll send out objets d'art and people in the same trucks. Slavery may be illegal in the Union, but if they make it to Greenville and one of the sweatshops, no one's going to look for you, and if you ran, where would you go?

There's a fire escape on the northeast side alley for the 3rd and 2nd story offices. Of course, those fire escape ladders make an awful noise when they swing down.

They'll have the girls tucked away on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Any cash they have on site too -- likely in a combination safe. Help yourselves to that. Il capo, the underboss, if he's there, will have a wristwatch on him and a gold signet ring with a sapphire and an engraving of a fountain. I'd like to add that ring to my collection, so please relieve him of it. You can keep the tacky watch.

Oh, and it's too close to the river for there to be a basement, so no use looking for any secret passages down."

Spoiler: Proficient with Thieves' Tools

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Exterior doors, especially ones for a fire exit, always open outward, which puts the hinge on the outside of the building. It will take you 2 rounds to knock the pin out of the hinges and remove the door from the frame. Unless they've installed jamb pins to engage the door to the frame. It's a cheap but highly effective countermeasure, just not one most construction crews are paid to think about installing.

The latch can be attacked by sliding a narrow hook between the door and frame on the other side. It would be against code for a fire escape door to be dead-bolted.

"What kind of message are you hoping to send the Fontanas?"

"No message. Alas. None of my usual flair. They should not suspect my involvement. Therefor, sloppy is better -- amateurish, but don't make things look too vindictive. Although..."

Isaac froze a moment, tapping a finger to his lips as he engaged the cogs in his mind to remember where in the vast penthouse he'd stashed something. He gasped suddenly and there was a shadowy blur in the direction of an armoire on the far side of the room. A soft bang of a drawer opening and closing rapidly followed, and Isaac walked back towards the party at a more conventional pace, holding a bundle under his arm, which he passed to Constantine.

"There we are. A Dacien Midnight Blue sash, and a brace of ten Dacien steel throwing knives. Say what you will about their bravos, but they'd never mistreat a woman, and enjoy killing those who do. See if you can't leave one of those buried in someone's skull. No one will think anything of it if a rakehell gang tears through a few thugs.

Don't bring the girls back here or to the Loup Jaloux. Stash them in a hotel anywhere north of 34th Street. Here's 20 for their room and dinner, and another 20 so the desk clerk doesn't ask any stupid questions."

Spoiler: Loot

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10x +1 Dacien Steel throwing knives (as Darts). Count as silvered weapons.
A blue cotton sash with silver thread moons and black clouds, typically worn about the waist.
40 Union Dollars

"Do I have time to go home and change?"

"But of course. I wouldn't go to the warehouse until 10 tonight. I'll be engaged until 3 at the earliest. Any time in that window will guarantee that my associates and I were most definitely elsewhere."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Zeb nodded thankfully as Leblanc shared what he knew.

"We'll get them out safely."

*** Later, after the party has left Leblanc's office, but before returning to the street... ***

Keeping his voice relatively low, Zeb spoke to the others.

"For what it's worth, I can take care of any of the locks we come across, and I have a kit of sorts we can use to change our appearances up a bit. The sash and knives will help, but if the worst case scenario happens and any stragglers get away from us, I think it's best we aren't immediately identifiable as our regular selves."

Spoiler: On a related note... (OOC)

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Before beginning the mission, Zeb will use his disguise kit to change his appearance, and he will be keeping Diamond Dust concealed and out of sight at all times until further notice. Please let me know what rolls I need to make for this, if any.

[Nefarion Xid]

40th and Spencer
Sometime after 10 PM

Allowed four hours to fetch their effects, rest, and perhaps sober up all the way, the new formed team made their way to the block between 39th and 40th street and assembled in a parking lot between two buildings on the north side. The lot was empty except for a passenger aerocar that would seat 5 and another light utility vehicle with an enclosed cab that would seat two, and an open truck bed.

The objective warehouse was just as Leblanc had described it, including the one open bay door. A man in a yellowing tank top with his suspenders down smoked a cigarette just outside. He occasionally turned back to say something in Lucerian to the other men gathered around a folding table playing cards. It was a mild night, not yet to late in spring to go without a jacket, but still tepid enough to work up quite a sweat doing labor.

The building nearest the warehouse was a 5 level apartment building in the same redbrick facade. There were lights on in six of the rear-facing units. The curtains were drawn in all except one apartment. On the 4th floor, two women had a window open and had slipped out onto the fire escape, also to smoke. They passed a bottle of wine back and forth.

Luckily, two of the lamps overhanging the parking lot had been robbed, providing a conveniently dark staging area for the party. With the crystals and arcane modules worth at least 25 dollars each, lights in public spaces made attractive targets for thieves, or just anyone with a ladder and a tool belt.

[Jade_Tarem]

After The Meeting

"I, um... I can also open locks. Or fix them. Or fix or pilot airships. And make magic items, elixirs, and poisons. I also have a navigator's cartography certification of merit from the Girl Scouts of Aensland. Don't laugh, it's a hard course!" The alchemist fidgeted. "Where was I going with this? Oh, right, we should probably compare notes on what we can do to come up with a plan, exchange, you know, names. Unless tall, dark, and scary here is just going to go and eliminate them all in the night, leaving only a cryptic message like THEIR SINS WERE INNUMERABLE in blood on the walls." Rachel gestured to Constantine on the last bit. Despite assembling some of their names from context, either they hadn't all introduced themselves yet or she'd missed it while living in her own head.

[PepperP.]

After the meeting

Lavender squinted at the mousey brunette woman with amusement as she verbally vomited her resume at them. Her grin widened as the woman took notice of Connie.

"I'm certain you're a genius in your field. Geniuses are often eccentric. Got a light?" Her tone was neutral as her cigarette holder reappeared between her fingers.

"The tall, dark and scary gentleman you are referring to is Constantine Jacksberry, and I'm Lavender Fosse-Wilde, but I'm sure you knew that already." She favored the other woman with a bright smile.

"Don't forget to introduce yourself, dear, since you're asking such of the rest of us. Your cloak is ravishing, by the way. I'm just mad for a good cloak, aren't you?" She prompted the other woman helpfully.

Lavender and Connie

Lavender crossed to the side of the apartment designated as "hers" and pulled the sheet across the room for privacy before doffing her cloak and pulling off her slipdress.

<"They sure were a motley crew, but far from the worse bunch we've worked with."> The bed creaked as she sat down to unbuckle the sparkling heeled sandals she'd been wearing.

<"That being said, the stake in the airship is only a good deal if we plan to team up with them regularly and I just can't commit to that before I even work with them."> She stood again, her silhouette dancing on the sheet as she donned her work clothes, a white puff sleeved blouse beneath a mithril breastplate, a short frilly skirt and sensible boots. She swept the hanging sheet aside.

<"So the money it is, then."> She continued as if he had agreed with her.

<"It's a fair amount in any case, which gives me pause. This job is likely to be more dangerous than presented, but I know I don't need to tell you to be on your toes! Haha!"> Her laughed tinkled gaily as she fixed her hair. She could've easily put it up with magic, but took a perverse sort of pleasure in doing it by hand.

<"Do you remember when you found me, Connie? I've come a long way since then, I'd wager."> She stuck her preposterously over-decorated hat on her head and tapped it securely in place with her finger as she recalled that day, years ago. She'd been practicing magic by poking at the pigeons in the deserted small town square back in her little forest village in Aensland. She'd suddenly had the feeling of being watched and looked up to see Connie staring at her from the top of a tree. It was only much later that she had understood that he had let himself be seen by her.

<"Anyway, me and my head-basher are ready to go! Let's not forget anything!"> She picked up a large warhammer, which looked too heavy for her, and slung it over her back with eerily little effort.

[Jade_Tarem]

After the meeting

Lavender squinted at the mousey brunette woman with amusement as she verbally vomited her resume at them. Her grin widened as the woman took notice of Connie.

"I'm certain you're a genius in your field. Geniuses are often eccentric. Got a light?" Her tone was neutral as her cigarette holder reappeared between her fingers.

"Oh! I-I-I wasn't trying to brag. I was just..." trying to justify my inclusion on a team of what are apparently hardened ne'er-do-wells "...trying to be helpful! And of course you can have a light. Cinnamon, socialize!" At what was apparently a voice command, one of the homunculus's arms flipped open to expose a heated surface, similar to the lighter found in higher end air cars. The tiny floating construct extended that arm to the tip of Lavender's cigarette.

"The tall, dark and scary gentleman you are referring to is Constantine Jacksberry, and I'm Lavender Fosse-Wilde, but I'm sure you knew that already." She favored the other woman with a bright smile.

"The baseball player?!" Rachel gasped, but then checked herself. "No, that's Jack Berrystein. Why did I even...? Sorry, it's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Don't forget to introduce yourself, dear, since you're asking such of the rest of us. Your cloak is ravishing, by the way. I'm just mad for a good cloak, aren't you?" She prompted the other woman helpfully.

"Thank you! I'm Rachel Blackwood, daughter of the late Earl Blackwood, alchemist and artificer, at your service."

[Othniel]

"And I am Abigail Wexford," the black-clad woman spoke up. "Investigator and warlock. I know a few spells, a few people, and I'm pretty good at getting into places I'm not wanted."

[Lord Of Mantas]

*** After the party has left Leblanc's office, but before descending to the lobby... ***

"Harcourt Griffin, but most people just call me Zeb." Zeb gave a light-hearted, cheeky, and rather sloppy salute and a wink. "Can't say I know any spells, but I'm also pretty good at getting into places I'm not wanted, and not letting the people there know I'm there. Worst comes to worst, I've been known to be able to talk my way out in a pinch, and, if you'll pardon a little bit of bragging, I'm a mean shot with a wand."

"As far as plans, mine is to go home, gussy myself up a little, grab my backup weapon, and meet you all near the warehouse after 10. Preferably somewhere dark and isolated so we can get a lay of the land and make some more concrete plans."

*** Back in the present, at the parking lot... ***

When Zeb met up with the others, his appearance had, as he had promised, changed up - his once chestnut hair was dyed, his blue-and-green outfit had been swapped for dark greys that were just a touch baggy, and Diamond Dust could not immediately be seen on his person. Instead, a Rapier could be seen attached to his belt.

Spoiler: OOC - Non-weapon related inventory

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Zeb has available the following odds and ends:
2 Flasks Alchemist's Fire
1 Flask Acid
2 Bags Caltrops
A grappling hook + silk robe
A crowbar
A signal whistle

As noted earlier, as far as weapons go, Diamond Dust is present on his person, but is being kept concealed and hidden. His fire wand is not, nor is his rapier.

Looking over the warehouse, Zeb focused his eyes as he watched for other patrols or guards. He spoke to the others, his voice low.

"I do have a grappling hook, and Leblanc mentioned that he didn't believe the roof was guarded. If we can get up there, one of the skylights might serve as a good ingress - let us get the drop on these people. If possible, our first priority should be locating the women. Hopefully they'll just think we're robbers, but if they smell a rat they might try to move or hurt them."

[Lleban]

After the meeting in the Lobby

Noticing this is the time for introduction, Giovani briefly but garishly bowed to his compatriots. His back only protesting a little from the swiftness of the motion.

"Ah yes, I am Professor Giovani Zapata IV, and the manikin to my left is y loyal butler Felix, yes he will be coming along, no this isn't negotiable. I specialize in the Anima school of magic, but I'm proficient in most schools."

Taking out a cigar and pointing it at Rachel

" I generally try to avoid direct violence with my gifts, not because I won't light up una cagna, but because it's incredibly gauche. No offense to any of you obviously."

Giovanni added motioning to his butler. "My partner Felix is good at dancing, violin playing, mixing drinks, and carrying luggage. Truly truly a modern skillset for a modern age."