The Cintamani Ball

Fallen London
241

[quote=AbsolxGuardian][quote=Shadowcthuhlu]Evensong’s eyes scan over the room. Conceding that there is no other player of interest, she nods as she rises. She leaves the cards behind - perhaps someone might come to play later in the evening.
&quotWhat dances do you prefer?&quot she asks while offering her arm. Her eyes watch the bandages on the old man, for more hints of tattoos.[/quote]

The Spidery Marquis enters the room as stealthy as she can. D___m it, the party is already underway. She wasn’t planning on attending, but her spies in the Great Game informed her that something would be happening here. Despite the short notice, she has already donned a spider mask. Hoping she still falls under fashionably late, the Marquis scans the room. Her contact mentioned something about cards- Ah a card table.

The Marquis approaches one of the empty chairs, the one with a hand of cards already spread out in a formation she recognizes. &quotLady Mindfang- The Spidery Marquis,&quot she introduces herself to the young man at the table, &quotMay I take this hand or do I have to get a new one?&quot[/quote]
Evensong waves goodbye to the Old Man. Hopefully he they will swap stories in the future. Dirae Erinyes had introduced surface stories as a guilty pleasure to her.
But after some business was tidied up and old loyalties burned.
She returns to the game room to discover another had picked up what she left. She slides as the Spider Masked women deals out the wards. The only sounds is the whisper of fabric together.

242

the old man raises his glass, and speaks softly and clearly, in the manner of one who doesn’t really care if their heard &quotto mr sian khan our gracious host, never mind the fact he’s nowhere to be seen.&quot He drinks and rejoins the card game. &quotI see Oscar is still cleaning house, what has happened in my absence, I suspect very interesting things. Does anyone mind if my wife joins this round&quot
edited by the old man on 1/7/2020

243

[quote=the old man]the old man raises his glass, and speaks softly and clearly, in the manner of one who doesn’t really care if their heard &quotto mr sian khan our gracious host, never mind the fact he’s nowhere to be seen.&quot He drinks and rejoins the card game. &quotI see Oscar is still cleaning house, what has happened in my absence, I suspect very interesting things. Does anyone mind if my wife joins this round&quot
edited by the old man on 1/7/2020[/quote]
Thanos Black raises his own glass as well, as does Truffle. &quotIndeed, Oscar has proven to be quite savvy in cards&quot and to the woman the old man introduced as his wife &quotan honour to meet you, my dear. Please be seated with us, another player might make the game more interesting, and less one-sided&quot he adds, smiling cordially towards Oscar.

244

[quote=Shadowcthuhlu][quote=AbsolxGuardian][quote=Shadowcthuhlu]Evensong’s eyes scan over the room. Conceding that there is no other player of interest, she nods as she rises. She leaves the cards behind - perhaps someone might come to play later in the evening.
&quotWhat dances do you prefer?&quot she asks while offering her arm. Her eyes watch the bandages on the old man, for more hints of tattoos.[/quote]

The Spidery Marquis enters the room as stealthy as she can. D___m it, the party is already underway. She wasn’t planning on attending, but her spies in the Great Game informed her that something would be happening here. Despite the short notice, she has already donned a spider mask. Hoping she still falls under fashionably late, the Marquis scans the room. Her contact mentioned something about cards- Ah a card table.

The Marquis approaches one of the empty chairs, the one with a hand of cards already spread out in a formation she recognizes. &quotLady Mindfang- The Spidery Marquis,&quot she introduces herself to the young man at the table, &quotMay I take this hand or do I have to get a new one?&quot[/quote]
Evensong waves goodbye to the Old Man. Hopefully he they will swap stories in the future. Dirae Erinyes had introduced surface stories as a guilty pleasure to her.
But after some business was tidied up and old loyalties burned.
She returns to the game room to discover another had picked up what she left. She slides as the Spider Masked women deals out the wards. The only sounds is the whisper of fabric together.[/quote]

As soon as the Spidery Marchioness sat down at the Vesiture game, the woman in the butterfly-mask dancing with the old man excused herself and came over to the game. As the woman sat down, the she made a point to make sure her Brass Ring was noticeable past the cuffs of her dress.

&quotMy lady,&quot the Marchioness said to the woman, &quotI am Aranea, the Marchioness of Drogheda. It is a pleasure to meet you.&quot

{OOC: Edit: I misunderstood the set up of the room and I wasn’t aware that there were multiple tables and games being played. I’ve edited this so it works now}.
edited by AbsolxGuardian on 1/8/2020

245

The good Preacher sighted and puffed- in the most discrete way he could manage- a
half-cloud of smoke over
the white-and-black teeth of his mask.
He had been there,watching the cards go, for quite
a while- perhaps,as he could not manage to
remember how long he had been watching the game. He has entered the soireé hours ago,and was inmediately impressed: for Salt and
the gods,they had a tigress- a live one!- at the gates! Perhaps he had shrieked- but no,a man of his cloth
would not- and who were those,in masks? Perhaps he had been…too bold… in attending the ball. After all,and even taking into account that it was
such a long time from his arrival into the city,he rarely interacted with anyone down here.
(Burning the rivers,my dears. So little time)
He had tought,perhaps,to introduce himself to someone,perhaps even salute the host, but he could not- did not dare- to bring himself to the light.
(Moths,my dear. So timid. So hungry)
So now he stood there,at one of the corners of the Negredo Room,watching cards hither and tho and Such.
He sighted,yet again.
And he had made so many preparations! Take his mask,for example (a simple work,yes, but quite fitting for his purpose): a slab of white and black- white to the left,black to the right. In the space that would correspond his mouth,there were teeth carved into the mask- white to the right,black to the left- that moved wherever he speaked. Quite handy,that contraption,for eating and smoking,as long as he was able to not bolt too upright. He wore a priest outfit,fitting for a parish:he would not part with it,even in such an event. He had resigned himself to that little cursed white tie,tough.
(He also wore an scarf, sable,that flapped with The wind and was covered in tiny drawings of moths. Below the scarf, the neck. In the neck, a scar. It was a joke,my dear- but,hush)
The room was quite lively. There had even been spies, playing games within their Game, so irrelevant in the grand scheme- he had watched them,bored,forma a while,his gaze hidden beneath the slits of the mask.
(In the ejes,drawed by a hand imitating a child, circles of chalk. Another joke)
The good Preacher sighted and decides himself.
He paced hurriedly towards the table. The four that played(Gods,was that an octopus?!) were amigable in their looks,if perhaps bizarre.
The good Preacher puffed another half-cloud of smoke,and raised his voice.
-&quot My Excuses, good fellows,but may I partake of this game of cards?&quot
edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/8/2020

246

Oscar gives a knowing eye to Truffle and nods to Thanos Black. Eyeing the newly arrived players with a mix of trepidation and excitement, the cephalopod manages to shuffle the deck with four tentacles before dealing out cards for the new game.

247

the old man looks at his hand eyes alight. “My friends I believe I may have gotten the perfect hand, unless of course you count the complete absence of higher cards.” The old man chuckles and passes.

248

The Spidery Marquis enters the room as stealthy as she can. D___m it, the party is already underway. She wasn’t planning on attending, but her spies in the Great Game informed her that something would be happening here. Despite the short notice, she has already donned a spider mask. Hoping she still falls under fashionably late, the Marquis scans the room. Her contact mentioned something about cards- Ah a card table.

The Marquis approaches one of the empty chairs, the one with a hand of cards already spread out in a formation she recognizes. &quotLady Mindfang- The Spidery Marquis,&quot she introduces herself to the young man at the table, &quotMay I take this hand or do I have to get a new one?&quot[/quote]
Evensong waves goodbye to the Old Man. Hopefully he they will swap stories in the future. Dirae Erinyes had introduced surface stories as a guilty pleasure to her.
But after some business was tidied up and old loyalties burned.
She returns to the game room to discover another had picked up what she left. She slides as the Spider Masked women deals out the wards. The only sounds is the whisper of fabric together.[/quote]

The Spidery Marchioness had hoped to continue the Vesiture game, but it seemed like no one who remained at the table was a Player, although it did seem like Mr. Black knew enough to see when things were being played, he couldn’t have been the who her contact was speaking of. She continued the game as much as she could, until she saw a lady pass by her table, and the glance she gave the Marchioness’ own hand. When the Old Man asked if his wife could play, the Marchioness saw her out.

&quotI’m afraid my card skills aren’t as sharp as I believed, especially against Oscar. You may take my place Madam. You can even use my ante. I simply don’t wish to loose any more moon-pearls than I already have.&quot The Marchioness handed off her hand to the old man’s wife, before even allowing for her fellow players to even object.

&quotI do apologize Mr. Black, I know you hoped for an additional player. Perhaps the lady may be better at this game than I am. My own wife will be quite upset if I returned without my spending money.&quot

With that, the Marchioness went to follow the woman in a butterfly-mask and a parabola-linen dress. She made sure her Brass Ring was noticeable around the cuffs of her own dress.

&quotMy lady,&quot the Marchioness said to the woman, &quotI am Aranea, the Marchioness of Drogheda. It is a pleasure to meet you.&quot[/quote]

There is a moment of hesitation, before Evensong returns a stiff curtsy. She is clearly not used to being address so boldly and politely. &quotEvensong,&quot she says. &quotOnly a lady by marriage. Mostly just a lowly foreign office clerk who married to well.&quot Her eyes flicker to the brass ring, looking for any other signs of infernal affiliation. A spifers fork hidden in a sleeve? Nevercold brass smolder on fabric? Nothing, but Evensong’s suspicions are not alloyed. Hell plays like everyone else. &quotDo you know games from the Elder Continent?&quot

249

Thanos saw the Brass Ring the Marchioness wore in plain sight, and his hand went unthinkingly into his pocket, where he feels the warm, smooth surface of his own. Why hadn’t he wore it? Why did he bring it along in the first place? His eyes follow her for a while…

[quote=Preacher Tzara]The good Preacher puffed another half-cloud of smoke,and raised his voice.
-&quot My Excuses, good fellows,but may I partake of this game of cards?&quot
edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/8/2020[/quote]
…and then his view is obstructed by the black-clad man with the black and white mask. Now this is novel! The mouth of his mask moves as he speaks! Seeing Oscar and Truffle exchanging sideways glances, probably already in league to win everything at the table tonight, he thinks a new player might make an already fun and challenging game, even better. Even though he is usually wary of men of the cloth, despite his relatively good relations with the church.
&quotWhy, certainly, sir, Thanos Black, scholar and investigator, at your service. Don’t be taken aback by our playing comrades, Truffle and Oscar&quot he motions towards the Blemmigan and the octopus respectively, &quotbut do not underestimate them! Please, take a seat!&quot

250

Six feet away at the other end of the bar, Professor Kan raises his own glass. Then he winks through the mask at Bradford. &quotWell, perhaps I had best return to the dances. But it is good to finally meet you,&quot he takes his hand, &quotand do make yourself at home. There are refreshments there,&quot he nods toward the Albedo Room, &quotand cards over there,&quot he nods toward Nigredo, &quotshould the dancing bore you. If you need anything else, come and find me.&quot

A new dance is about to begin. Who, then, was in need of a partner? As the host, Sian had kept his dance card deliberately blank, to better suit his guest’s needs. Ah! There was the Turkish Girl. He’d sent her that sculptured green domino himself, hoping to convince her to come. Now it would hardly do to let a specially-invited guest sit out the dances. Besides, he couldn’t find a more graceful partner.

They take the floor just as the musicians begin the next piece. They played at a slower tempo now; older dancers can’t keep up the whirling speed of the Viennese waltz for hours at a stretch. So the Professor and the Turkish Girl dance the Boston. The variant is new to her, but most observers can’t tell.

251

the old man is down to his last few chips and is in an intense staring match with Oscar, hardly noticing the new addition to the table. “We really ought to gang up him, its not fair.” The old man says both laughing at a octopus playing cards, and raging at losing to said octopus. “Ah hello my dear sir” he says turning to the preacher, “I would not have expected a man of the cloth in such a debauched party, please do join in tell us about yourself. Perhaps god can give us some luck against Oscar”

252

[quote=Shadowcthuhlu]

There is a moment of hesitation, before Evensong returns a stiff curtsy. She is clearly not used to being address so boldly and politely. &quotEvensong,&quot she says. &quotOnly a lady by marriage. Mostly just a lowly foreign office clerk who married to well.&quot Her eyes flicker to the brass ring, looking for any other signs of infernal affiliation. A spifers fork hidden in a sleeve? Nevercold brass smolder on fabric? Nothing, but Evensong’s suspicions are not alloyed. Hell plays like everyone else. &quotDo you know games from the Elder Continent?&quot[/quote]

The Marchioness scrutinized Evensong’s reaction to her Brass Ring. A sign of an allegiance to Hell set her off, so she wasn’t the devils’ ally. But she from the way she scanned the rest of Aranea’s outfit, she was also smart enough to realize that some reckless people sport such a ring simply as a fashion choice.
&quotI’m not familiar with any- unless you mean Vestiture. I’ve only played it a few times myself, just enough to know the rules and I never learned it’s providence.&quot

253

The good Preacher smiled,softly,under his mask; a few heartbeats later,his black-and-white teeth followed suit.
-&quotOh,but what sheperd would not come to a den of iniquity, if only to bask in the light of sinners and…catalogue… the strange,bold ways in wich the wolfs could threaten his flock?&quot- he said, nodding to the old man in bandages.
(How strange,this one. He reeks of What-Is-Not)

  • &quotBesides, are we not all debauched, down here?- he added, raising his right hand to his mouth, and puffing a wawe of slow smoke over the heads of them all.
  • &quotHere in the Neath we all bear names,and even Names. Mine,I fear,would be Tzara. Preacher Tzara, if you may. If you may not, at least deal me cards! I proclaim- he raised his hands in joy- this fine octopus Oscar a sinner,a swallower,a hunter of the old and,if I could be so daring, a notorius card-sharp being,and ours the mission of defeating it!&quot

He paused. With a weary sight, he fixed the jaw of his mask with a quick,automatic gesture. The bloody thing had a tendency for trying to break loose whenever he got too excited.
He turned towards Mr. Black.

  • &quotAnd thank you,my child. If warms the cockles of me heart to see such opennes towards an stranger&quot
    He leaned closer to him,until the profesor had to make a conscious effort to make out his voice.

  • &quotAnd would that warm smell that grows from your pocket- he growled, guttural,not threathening but different- be brass?&quot
    edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/9/2020

254

[quote=Preacher Tzara]

  • &quotAnd would that warm smell that grows from your pocket- he growled, guttural,not threathening but different- be brass?&quot
    edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/9/2020[/quote]
    The old man replied calmly. &quotRegrettably in my profession we must have favours in high places everywhere, but trust me I have no love for them.&quot The old man states this, knowing full well that it is intended towards his protégé, with the intent of making him feel outnumbered on this matter.
    edited by the old man on 1/9/2020
255

[quote=the old man][quote=Preacher Tzara]

  • &quotAnd would that warm smell that grows from your pocket- he growled, guttural,not threathening but different- be brass?&quot
    edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/9/2020[/quote]
    The old man replied calmly. &quotRegrettably in my profession we must have favours in high places everywhere, but trust me I have no love for them.&quot The old man states this, knowing full well that it is intended towards his protégé, with the intent of making him feel outnumbered on this matter.
    edited by the old man on 1/9/2020[/quote]
    Unease grips Black for just a moment, but composes himself quickly. The old man’s retort comes in a timely fashion too, and with a thankful nod to him, he answers to the preacher &quotIndeed, the very labyrinthine nature of our society urges one to keep good relations with all factions, even the more… distasteful ones&quot thinking of hell and church in equal measure. &quotStill, I believe over a card game such differences might be put aside. Shall I deal you in? There is room for another at the table, and even if our souls might be forfeited, this game may not yet be.&quot
256

The Marchioness scrutinized Evensong’s reaction to her Brass Ring. A sign of an allegiance to Hell set her off, so she wasn’t the devils’ ally. But she from the way she scanned the rest of Aranea’s outfit, she was also smart enough to realize that some reckless people sport such a ring simply as a fashion choice.
&quotI’m not familiar with any- unless you mean Vestiture. I’ve only played it a few times myself, just enough to know the rules and I never learned it’s providence.&quot[/quote]
Evensong gives a wry smile. &quotSome say it was a game created in the second city, brought over the sea as that city was destroyed. Some say it was taught by a spider council to teach the first rules of Vestiture. Some say it was created by peasants plotting revolt. I figure that anyone who claims to truly know is a leir. Do you wish to play?&quot

257

[quote=Thanos Black][quote=the old man][quote=Preacher Tzara]

  • &quotAnd would that warm smell that grows from your pocket- he growled, guttural,not threathening but different- be brass?&quot
    edited by Preacher Tzara on 1/9/2020[/quote]
    The old man replied calmly. &quotRegrettably in my profession we must have favours in high places everywhere, but trust me I have no love for them.&quot The old man states this, knowing full well that it is intended towards his protégé, with the intent of making him feel outnumbered on this matter.
    edited by the old man on 1/9/2020[/quote]
    Unease grips Black for just a moment, but composes himself quickly. The old man’s retort comes in a timely fashion too, and with a thankful nod to him, he answers to the preacher &quotIndeed, the very labyrinthine nature of our society urges one to keep good relations with all factions, even the more… distasteful ones&quot thinking of hell and church in equal measure. &quotStill, I believe over a card game such differences might be put aside. Shall I deal you in? There is room for another at the table, and even if our souls might be forfeited, this game may not yet be.&quot[/quote]

This time the Preacher smiled almost savagely. His mask had to put a considerable effort to keep up. Locking eyes with the professor, he raised his hand and throwed to the air two rings. In the air of the Negredo room shone,howewer how briefly,a hint of copper and a hint of brass.

(How far they have reached,those devils. Alas…)

The good Preacher catched the rings with the other hand and put them in his pocket.

&quotAlas, even one may sin.Forgive me if I appeared…intemperate- said the Preacher,in as soft a voice as he could manage- I was checking wherever a theory of mine still held up. You have good eyes, even if there are some games wich lay better unseen. Nos, I believe you spoke about me joining a game of cards…?&quot

258

Oscar, having made a comfortable chair out of Six’s fedora, continues a brisk deal for the game. He largely ignores the deeper connotations of the conversation around him, instead focusing almost entirely on the cards being dealt. However, despite the predatory gleam in the cephalopod’s eye, a skilled card shark would notice that Oscar has been loosing just enough to keep the old man in the game for a lot longer than probability would dictate.

The octopus’s eyes narrow at the preacher, and a whirl of tentacles quickly deal the newcomer into the game.

259

[quote=Preacher Tzara]

This time the Preacher smiled almost savagely. His mask had to put a considerable effort to keep up. Locking eyes with the professor, he raised his hand and throwed to the air two rings. In the air of the Negredo room shone,howewer how briefly,a hint of copper and a hint of brass.

(How far they have reached,those devils. Alas…)

The good Preacher catched the rings with the other hand and put them in his pocket.

&quotAlas, even one may sin.Forgive me if I appeared…intemperate- said the Preacher,in as soft a voice as he could manage- I was checking wherever a theory of mine still held up. You have good eyes, even if there are some games wich lay better unseen. Nos, I believe you spoke about me joining a game of cards…?&quot[/quote]
The old man sighs &quotmaybe we got off on the wrong foot, I would hate to alienate someone over ecclesiastical differences, let us play and be merry. Oscar deal the cards this new arrival might tip the scales in our favour&quot

260

&quotIndeed&quot adds Thanos Black, looking at the paradoxical man of the cloth with the allegiance to hell with renewed interest. Well, not SO paradoxical, he thinks after a moment. He wondered how many others in this grand ball bore such rings, or wore them openly. All of them, probably. As he looks at the cards Oscar deftly deals to him &quotas far as differences go, cosmopolitan London has her share of those. Even in this here ball you will see men, devils and rubbery men mingle freely&quot. Then he laughs &quotWhere else would one have the chance to play cards against an octopus and a Blemmigan?&quot