shylarah
Posts: 171
1/4/2018
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((shy should not post when she's not paying attention. There's nothing to see here, and all shall surely be well.))
edited by shylarah on 1/4/2018
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Lady of Cold Steel, Lady of the Flit, Lady Alyssana Grey. A formidable woman, hard to read and slow to trust. Darkness lurks inside her.
Alts: (please direct all inquiries to Alys & say who they're for)
-Nikki, the Playful Daredevil, leading the constables on merry chases across London at every available opportunity. It's not a good robbery if you didn't get chased~
-Shylarah, waifish, wide-eyed, painfully foreign, entirely untamed. Her search for a way home now leads her to Parabola. There's something about her...
-Dr. Maxwell Thomas, a kindhearted physician who can't stand to see suffering. Moral to a fault, even to his own detriment. Unlucky in love.
I would rather be taken for a fool than deny aid where it is needed.
-Angie, the Cheeky Sharpshooter. Got her start with the Regiment and proudly operated their cannon for years. Rowdy, rough, and among the best shots in London.
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Cosmo Beck
Posts: 33
1/4/2018
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‘Lady Black.’ My. What a sight. Well madam, Cosmo thought playfully, if you intend to shock me, I’m not quite a crusty old Tory; if you intend to beguile me, my head is not that easily turned, old widower that I am. Not that they were one to complain. No, not at all.
Cosmo removed their faded trench coat, revealing a battered old morning suit. No bat-like gowns this evening; this was practical, anonymous. They noted the butler as they handed him their coat. A credit to his profession, they were sure. Had he been present at the one Summerset dinner they had attended? Possibly. Yet, they saw no reason why Jen thought it necessary to hire one for the night. There was something else to this fellow.
There were few people they knew truly, but some faces they recognised as flashes of teeth and subtle glances from faint memories. Those eyes, green and penetrating...Veilgarden, honey, cheap Greyfields, a level look as Cosmo had discoursed on poetry...were once again fixed on them, appraising, perhaps even inquisitive. The woman to whom those eyes belonged was captivating and composed, barely giving anything away until a tall zailor-type greeted her. This one was confident, clearly, and gentlemanly in nature if the greeting was anything to go by. As their gaze rested on Cosmo, they noticed that she gave them a similar look to Caroline’s. Appraising. Perhaps even inquisitive.
Then there was the girl...what London does to those so young. She was not carefree, nor, had Cosmo been at that age, in beautiful Wiltshire. What was she, 17? 18 perhaps? She was wearing armour, but of glass and gold. Nevertheless, she was ready.
Two came through the window. Dear God, that poor butler. One grinned. Cosmo could not help but snort; her effervescence winningly juxtaposed the fragile tension in the room. A relief, anyway, at least one person wasn’t so damn melancholy about the whole business. The other appeared to have a strange... wriggling quality about him. Had there been… an attachment? That was surprising, not that Cosmo had any problem with it, of course, but… ah no, a flash of white fur, a weasel. Never mind. Unlike his predecessor, he’s strained, glancing around the room even as his companion chatters amicably to him.
The atmosphere fizzed as he turned his head and found the detective. Ah… that could cause problems, whatever that’s about. Clearly they knew each other, and not for the better. The detective’s face could, like the zailor’s companion, be found somewhere in a memory, but certainly not a name. He struck Cosmo as a likely type for this sort of thing, naturally and enviably adroit.
Finally, a dark leather coat, long brown wavy hair. This one they recognised. Tanner Price. Ah… there was little chance he’d forgotten their last meeting. Perhaps he wouldn’t resent the fact that Cosmo had thrown...well, not quite, but might as well have...an atlas at him. Still Cosmo’s opinion of him was positive; he was certainly reliable and… perseverant, yes that was the word. Even if they hadn’t got off on the right foot, Cosmo would be content to entrust him with their safety-a true asset in a man. They determined that this was an opportunity make amends.
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Available for mutually beneficial SAs and RP.
Professor Evelyn 'Cosmo' Beck-Scholar of diverse interests. And dubious means.
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Tanner Price
Posts: 30
1/5/2018
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The sight of Jen Black is always a welcome one. It had been too long since they'd last met -- that thing about the red honey and the damned cat! She's a great intellect with a mind constantly whirring up daring schemes, though tonight she looked less menacing than usual. But certainly not less dangerous, Tanner thought, taking in the sight of her dress. Long, sleek, seductive -- she's clearly using her looks like she would any weapon, relying on her charm to get what she wants from her guests. Of course, he was no stranger to the concept. But she did look good. There was no denying that.
"It's great to see you again, Jen," Tanner greets her with a warm, reminiscent smile. "You look beautiful in that dress. It suits you wonderfully. After whatever you have in store for tonight, perhaps you could introduce me to your tailor. If they're just as good with menswear as they are with your ensemble, I will most certainly be offering them my commission."
Tanner strolls inside, taking in the sights of her townhouse. She seems to have dressed down the decor since last he was here. But it makes sense. Hosting a large crew of thieves under one roof, one cannot be too careful. If he was in Jen's position he'd be rightfully wary himself. But there's another purpose to this, he feels. The way Jen has selectively removed more fragile objects, regardless of their value, suggests that she's either expecting trouble or trying to prevent it entirely. Anything she imagines could be used as an improvised weapon she has taken measures to remove. Hah! She'll have to do better than that! But perhaps he is not the source of her caution.
The pirate disrobes of his dark leather longcoat, several weapons clinking around like Christmas chimes as he folds and hands it to Hubris, who is apparently Jen's butler tonight. Ahhh, so this is Hubris! The man who thought he was thunder! Tanner hadn't thought him to be of a servant's heart, but then again, they had never met before. He greets the butler politely, thanking him for his hospitality.
Inside the drawing room, a splendidly varied cast of characters awaits him. His attention drawn first to the imposingly dressed and confident docker. "Telemachia Lee! I should've known," he grins with the playful confidence he wears comfortably around his peers. "If you've deigned to grace this party with your presence, this will be anything but a boring night." He shakes her hand firmly and moves on.
The young lady in the riding suit Tanner does not recognize, but he learns from asking Hubris that she is Anactoria St. James, looking significantly out of place. Her age does not alarm him, but he is curious about her visible nervousness. Is she concerned that she will not be useful, or does the present company intimidate her? When her eyes glance over to him, he senses distrust, and her gaze does not linger long. Hmm. He'll leave her alone for a while until her nerves relax.
The cheerful teasing of Canvas Blank catches his attention, and he turns around to receive the handshake of the friendly investigator. "I seem to be living up to my new name," Tanner laughs. "I hope I didn't miss all the fun." He pats him familiarly on the back and continues perusing the crowd.
Caroline Karnstein catches his attention next. They've never spoken, but he knows of her from his fellow artists in Veilgarden. The poets envy her, and the ladies can't get enough of her. Tanner makes her acquaintance politely, but refrains from kissing her hand. Something about her makes him feel less than comfortable. He wonders whether she is here for the plan or the attractive company.
Next are the two Longshanks: Nikki and Michael. Immediately Tanner finds himself smiling again at the sight of the former, waving at him with bubbly good cheer. He returns the wave and comes over to greet the pair. "The charming stuntwoman behind the broken stained glass window. I'm a big fan of your work." Tanner includes a friendly wink. "And you must be Michael, the one with all the weasels. I take it that wriggling in your jacket is not some Rubbery attachment." He shakes his hand. "Pleasure."
The scholar's cap and short blonde hair that catch his eye are undoubtedly familiar. It's the Cosmopolitan! They met under similar circumstances as with Jen, but their interactions were far briefer. Tanner's steps toward them lack the fervor he's displayed with others, but his smile is polite. "I'm glad we get this chance to meet again, Cosmo," he speaks with a noticeably forced formality. "Thank you for your help with the previous business. I'm sure if you received an invitation, Jen must trust in your abilities. I look forward to working with you."
Feeling suitably situated among the crowd, Tanner lays himself leisurely upon the remarkably soft couch. He stays in this position until Hubris offers him a glass of wine, which he accepts out of courtesy but would prefer not to indulge in tonight. If this job is as high-profile and important as he hears, Tanner will need to restrain himself and keep a clear head. He sets the glass down gently beside him and stretches out on the couch, sinking into a deep comfort as he awaits his hostess's speech.
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Captain Tanner Price: Legendary Charisma [SEEKING PROTEGES]; esteemed pirate and social butterfly; raised by the girls of Mr Wines.
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Lady Jen Black
Posts: 96
1/5/2018
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Sunday, 21 December, 1895
7:45 P.M.
Jen enters the room shortly after the last arrival, closing the door behind her and deliberately giving the room an eyeful of her bare back in the process. She glides in, catlike, shoes barely brushing the floor, and leans against the wall, somewhere she can see the door, the windows, and everyone, all at once. The instinctive tendency to calculate all routes to the exits is more under control in her own home, but she still doesn’t feel safe unless she can see every possible threat in one glance.
She accepts the glass of Cabernet Sauvignon from Hubris and lifts it up. “Raise a glass to the ten of us,” she says, lifting it high before throwing it back. She surveys the gathered company.
The moment that urchin recommended Anactoria, Jen was intrigued. Meeting her has only increased the level of interest. She’s heard of the girl’s brother -- Don something? Their parents have very interesting taste in names -- before, and she would have never guessed the two are related. She’s adorable, but not quite Jen’s type.
Caroline… unsettles Jen, and that’s not something that happens often. She was watching the woman that night at the Mandrake, the way she so casually lured a girl into her carriage. The way she threw a man into the wall. Her strength is… not quite human. But an individual of such unique talents is definitely an asset to have on the team.
Lee, on the other hand, is quite different. She reminds Jen of the sort of rough-and-tumble young men in her gang, loud, boisterous, rowdy, fond of women, always ready to wrestle, but generally friendly. There’s something going on between her, Caroline and the St James girl, although she can’t quite put her finger on the exact dynamics yet.
Nikki grins at her, and she smiles back. That girl looks like trouble, but of the best sort. Bold, willing to try out risky things, and a buoyant energy that will lighten everyone’s hearts. And besides, the urchins kept talking about her stunt, even the normally stoic Valkyrie. There must be some quality to the girl that attracts the young ones so.
Michael, on the other hand, is a bit of an enigma. Quiet, pleasant, with some sort of Gaelic nickname for her that she doesn’t quite understand. What she does know for certain is that he’s a sniper, and he protected information about her. That, if nothing else, makes him someone she wants on her crew.
Then there’s Cosmo. She can almost sense the others wondering about why a scholar is here. They’re not just for assistance at the Summerset heist, although that’s part of it. But more than that, she needs a doctor she can trust, and they’ve also been trained in military strategy. The only drawback is the tension going on between him and Tanner.
Her gaze moves to Canvas. She feels somewhat guilty about flustering the man so! He and Michael seem to have some sort of feud, and she reminds herself to keep an eye on them. What is it with these men and their rivalries? She doesn’t know the detective very well, but he seems intelligent and capable, and far better for him to be on her side than investigating her.
Hubris refills her glass, and she gives him a nod. A butler who can help her both as Lady Black, Sirius’ successor, and Lady Black, rising criminal force, is one to be appreciated. Depending on how the heist goes, she may hire him more often. He’s marvellous -- which other butler would have solutions for problems she had entirely overlooked?
Her smile softens when she looks at Tanner. If anyone understands the double life she leads, it’s him, the pirate and the social butterfly. He’s a charmer and a flirt, reliable with the ladies, but also a valuable ally to have. And he is one of the very few people who are the closest thing she has to actual friends. She can’t imagine doing this heist without him.
She raises her glass again. “There should have been more of us. To Viric -- may whatever business called him away end to his satisfaction.” The illusionist had left after an messenger came to her house, citing urgent matters for him. She’s sorry to see him go. He had spied on her, somehow, and taken the initiative to approach her and join the crew. He would have made a good addition to the party.
edited by Lady Jen Black on 1/19/2018
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Lady Jen Black - Appearance - Backstory - MBTI - Song - Portrait - RP Directory
Accepting calling cards!
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Anactoria St James
Posts: 29
1/5/2018
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By the time Lady Black enters the room, Anactoria has composed herself enough so as to not blush (or not much, at any rate) at seeing so much her hostess' back; she's even able to spend a few moments appreciating the sight.
At the first toast she lifts her glass, softly murmurs the toast, and sips. Surface wine! It's not surprising that Lady Black has it, but it is surprising to taste it; the wine's a refreshing change from all that mushroom stuff. Lady Black's throwing it back strikes her as rather coarse. 'Then again,' she thinks 'I've hardly been living the genteel life down here. Maybe London changes everyone that way.'
Anactoria's performance at the second toast echos that of the first.
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Roleplaying social actions are welcomed.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anactoria%20St%20James
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Aberrant Eremite
Posts: 362
1/5/2018
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Lee unabashedly enjoys the view of Jen’s back. She’s aware that the woman is using her beauty to manipulate her. That makes Lee cautious - while her eyes remain just where Jen wants them, her ears are open the the smallest sounds, and echoes of sounds. Background clinkings and shufflings are sorted automatically, none of them important enough yet to bother her conscious mind with.
Her caution, however, doesn’t mean that Jen’s tactic isn’t working. It would be easy enough to agree to anything while her mind dwelt on the scenery. She’ll just have to hope that her allies keep their wits about them. Canvas Blank - no, from the man’s expression he's just as much a lost cause as Lee herself. She hopes that she isn’t gaping quite so obviously as that. You’d think that he’d never seen the curve of a woman’s spine, the gleam of candlelight on warm soft skin, the hollows of the lower back ...
Well, at least she could count on Caroline to keep her head.
Lee joins the toasts without visible hesitation. Of course there could be Cantigaster venom in the wine, but it would be foolish to balk at this point. From the smell and taste, it’s pure claret.
The taste of the grapes of Bordeaux on her tongue brings back intense flashes of memories of the Surface. A serious girl with big grey-blue eyes, sitting at the kitchen table drinking watered wine and listening to Daddy’s war stories. A maiden in a dress, with long blonde hair, laughing and dancing with young men - yes, she had worn a dress and danced with men, once - sharing a glass of red wine with a dark-eyed Italian beauty, trying to work up the nerve to ask her to dance - whatever would her aunts have thought? - but a young man asked her first. A handsome androgynous youth, with short dark hair, wearing a good suit, seeking a military commission, her manservant pouring her a glass to steady her nerves - it might even have worked, if she could have brought herself to lie a bit more.
And back to the present, to the proud young woman who faces the world armored against all weakness, whose best friends are a taciturn assassin and a monster out of myth, who has volunteered herself for the most outrageous of plots. “To Viric!” she echoes, wondering how many of the others she will be toasting, more solemnly, when this business is done.
I’d better keep drinking, she thinks. I’m in danger of becoming serious.
--
Hieronymus Drake: Gentleman scholar, big-game hunter, scar-faced aristocrat. Remarkably sane, all things considered.
Tanith Wyrmwood: Longshanks cat-burglar; Bohemian author; now, perhaps, something more. Bubbly, expressive, and affectionate. It’s not only still waters that run deep.
Telemachia Lee: Gentle lady by birth, brawling Docker by choice. Good company in the drunk tank.
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Lady Karnstein
Posts: 278
1/6/2018
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As Caroline listens, she looks eminently comfortable. Curled into her chair, she watches Jen carefully. She listens as her heart quickens a bit, but nervousness is almost to be expected. Frankly this just means she is sane. Her gaze does linger but her ears are sharp. The different breathing and hearbeats form a song unique to this team, and Caroline is happy to lean it. She also raises her glass and toasts. A smile as she tastes, impressed by the vintage. She sips as one trained to love wine does, smelling it, tasting it on the center of her tongue. Then slowly her arm bends on the arm of the chair as she leans on her the backs of her fingers, smiling, to hear what Jen has to say.
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Lady Caroline Karnstein, The Moral Hedonist (Description)
Infamous writer, artist, and courtesan. Unrepentant Invert. Hesperidean.
Paramount Presence, Correspondent, Nocturnal. Poet Laureate of the Neath, Ambassador to Arbor
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Lady Jen Black
Posts: 96
1/6/2018
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Sunday, 21 December, 1895
7:50 P.M.
Once all the toasts have been made, Jen leans back against the wall with a smirk. “Now then. Down to business.”
She sets her glass down on the cart, and steeples her fingers together. “You’ve all heard of the upcoming Royal Wedding. I could go on and on about it and the impact it will have on the Neath’s politics, but I’d probably bore all of you. What's more important, are you aware that it's making history? This is the first Royal Wedding since London fell, with lovers who are monsters without needing to make any deals with the Bazaar. It's a cause for celebration, and London's elite will be out in full force.” She grins, baring her teeth in a chilling, predatory way. “It's also the perfect distraction for a heist.”
She starts pacing, unable to stand still and stoic. “Just think of the powers in the Neath who will be there, or who will be vulnerable during this time.”
“February is invited. I hear she has a collection of plans relating to something they call the Liberation of Night. There's a room of esoteric artifacts from the Cities that Fell. And she's one of the foremost scholars on the Correspondence and Parabola.”
“Mr and Mrs Jervaise Plenty will be there. Didn't know they were married, did you? She has never been seen away from her carnival until now. And I will confess that after something that recently happened, I would like to learn more about those mirrors of hers. Of course, anyone else who studies Parabola would be welcome to look at them too. Not literally, of course. ” She pauses reflectively. “If we need more material for our study, we can take it from Sommerset. They'll be closed that day.”
“The government offices will be closed too. Have you ever known the Foreign Office to be closed before this? What better time to investigate its mysteries than now? And Concord Square and the Ministry of Public Decency too. I, personally, would like to get some of my works back from their confiscation.” She laughs lightly.
“While we're at it, why not target the infernal side of things as well? Slowcake’s Amanuensis will be occupied at the wedding, and he has what is quite possibly the largest collection of blackmail material in the Neath. And I know the Brass Embassy like the back of my hand, since I live there. While being involved directly doesn't make sense, I wouldn't object to aiding anyone who wanted to run a hit there.” She's not going to risk her lease, but she has always wondered what's there beyond the public areas, where only devils are allowed.
“Even people not at the wedding will be vulnerable, what with the public holiday and the crowds and the employees off celebrating. People like the Cheery Man and the Gracious Widow. Frankly, it's time for him to retire before someone gives him more Cantigaster venom and permanently gets rid of him. And I've heard things about her peach brandy being related to Hesperidean Cider. It might just be a rumour, but still. Rumoured immortality is a rumour worth investigating.”
“And, of course, not forgetting the Palace, lair of secrets! We can visit the cellars without being too concerned about interruption. And the Duchess’ chambers. And play Mr Sacks to the two lovers and steal from them instead of giving them wedding presents?”
Something suddenly comes to mind. “I do have one rule that I feel the need to state, though. My mentors taught me to stay my blade from the flesh of an innocent, and that is something I hold to. Even if death is cheap here, I don't believe in killing those just doing their jobs. Like maids or guards or animals. Not unless they pose an active threat to us.” She looks around, her gaze intense and serious. That was the first thing her mentor had taught her, making her promise to do so before training her, and the last thing she had reminded her of before leaving for India with her husband. If it was that important to her, Jen feels the need to keep to it, if only out of respect.
The atmosphere in the room is tense, and she feels the need to relieve it. “I don't believe in being controlling. You all have your talents, and I trust you to use them appropriately. The spoils will all be divided up fairly. There's more than enough for all of us. In fact, I plan to give some away to the Urchin gangs.”
She stops pacing, throwing out her hands in an exuberant gesture. “Just think. We can have a legacy. The crew who pulled off the biggest heist in the history of the Neath. So. I hope you'll all say yes to this.”
Her cheeks are flushed with excitement as she looks around the room, awaiting their reply.
edited by Lady Jen Black on 1/19/2018
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Lady Jen Black - Appearance - Backstory - MBTI - Song - Portrait - RP Directory
Accepting calling cards!
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Aberrant Eremite
Posts: 362
1/6/2018
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Lee listens, coolly interested, as Jen makes her pitch. It all sounds good to her. Her eyes begin to gleam, and her mouth curls in a wicked half-smile at the idea of playing Mr. Sacks to some of the most loathsome abusers in the Neath. She nods along to the idea of preserving the innocent, until …
Wait, the guards? Guards count as innocents?
Lee glances around the room. Doesn’t anyone else have a problem with this? What about the sniper?
Michael is holding his hand to his mouth. He feels her gaze and looks up. His sea-green eyes meet her steel-grey. His gaze is hot and challenging. She shakes her head in resignation. It looks like it’s up to her to speak. She turns back to Jen Black.
“I like this idea,” she begins. “It’s daring, it’s profitable, and it gives me the chance to spit in the eye of the right kind of person. And I wouldn’t want to hurt a maid, or one of the Duchess’s cats.
“But. The guards, Black? Sure, they’re just doing their job. But their job is to kill us.” Without taking her eyes off Jen, she points at Michael. The echoes tell her where he is. “You brought on a sniper. His entire job is to kill people before they know he’s there. Asking him to do anything else is asking for trouble.”
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Hieronymus Drake: Gentleman scholar, big-game hunter, scar-faced aristocrat. Remarkably sane, all things considered.
Tanith Wyrmwood: Longshanks cat-burglar; Bohemian author; now, perhaps, something more. Bubbly, expressive, and affectionate. It’s not only still waters that run deep.
Telemachia Lee: Gentle lady by birth, brawling Docker by choice. Good company in the drunk tank.
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Canvas Brimming
Posts: 30
1/6/2018
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Canvas has been awfully quiet since his arrival. During Jen's explanation, he sits comfortably in his chair, carefully listening to the plan and nodding along as she presents the singular rule to the party. However, Lee's remark causes him to speak up.
“Their lives are worth just as much as the next man's, Lee.” He says defensively. “Of course, that shouldn't stop us from our achieving our goal. Should anyone get in our way, be it a guard, a maid, a weasel or a cat, we do what is necessary. Temporarily offing them being the very last resort, naturally.”
He takes a brief glance at Tanner's cutlass, Michael's rifle and Telemachia Lee in her entirety before he lets out a sigh and redirects his stare towards the floor.
“We are not saints. We are not coldblooded murderers, either. But sometimes, unfortunately, you just have to look the other way. This is a heist. A robbery. It's not up to us to decide who's innocent. It's up to us to get the job done.”
edited by Canvas Blank on 1/7/2018
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Canvas Brimming, The Nostalgic Investigator - A private investigator, a Wilmot's End regular and a rising pawn, with an insatiable sense of sentimentality towards the Surface. Why don't you leave a card?
~(Very active, RP always encouraged and appreciated!)
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shylarah
Posts: 171
1/7/2018
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Nikki lifted her glass to the toasts, cheery grin splitting her face. It had faltered only a little, when people called her by her last name. From the butler she'd expected it, giving him a wink even though she'd known him only by chance. She was already liking this motley crew of criminally-minded folk, particularly Mr. Price, who she had favored with a rather more speculative look following his comment and wink. She ventured a toast of her own. "To a story worth telling, and a good haul!"
She had no issues with any of the targets save the Duchess. She was fond of both the lady and her catty coterie, and didn't want to endanger her good standing there. Not many in Society actually liked her. But she'd see how that played out. She wasn't fond of killing, nor particularly skilled at it, so that was no hardship. But Lee was making sense.
"She's got a point. Besides, it's not like death's a serious hardship, hereabouts. You surface born, Jen?" She left off the lady's title, addressing her familiarly as she did with everyone. "I mean, I'm not keen on killing either, but that doesn't mean I won't send someone of a quick trip to avoid one of my own, y'know? And if their job is to obstruct us -- often with deadly force -- I don't see the harm in a bit of obstacle clearing, if you know what I mean." She shrugged. "Regardless, I'm in!"
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Lady of Cold Steel, Lady of the Flit, Lady Alyssana Grey. A formidable woman, hard to read and slow to trust. Darkness lurks inside her.
Alts: (please direct all inquiries to Alys & say who they're for)
-Nikki, the Playful Daredevil, leading the constables on merry chases across London at every available opportunity. It's not a good robbery if you didn't get chased~
-Shylarah, waifish, wide-eyed, painfully foreign, entirely untamed. Her search for a way home now leads her to Parabola. There's something about her...
-Dr. Maxwell Thomas, a kindhearted physician who can't stand to see suffering. Moral to a fault, even to his own detriment. Unlucky in love.
I would rather be taken for a fool than deny aid where it is needed.
-Angie, the Cheeky Sharpshooter. Got her start with the Regiment and proudly operated their cannon for years. Rowdy, rough, and among the best shots in London.
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Lady Karnstein
Posts: 278
1/7/2018
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Caroline listens silently with a lazy smile. When she speaks, her low purr sounds amused. "That sounds good. I, too, avoid killing except when I must. Or some cad impales me" She smirks at Jen. "I find your terms acceptable. I just...” She looks at her hand. "Have an arrangement with the Duchess. ‘Friends’ is too strong a word, she is a friend with nothing on two legs, but we look out for each other and help each other. I will not rob her. If this means I forfeit a share from what is found in the palace so be it. " She looks back "So long as you do not intend to harm her, her cats, or anyone...intimately connected to her, I won't, as you say in English, grass on you either. My first loyalty is the my real friends and the writers and artists under my protection." She glances at Lee at real friends, and turns back. "I am enthusiastically interested in the Embassy and Ministry. As for the brandy…” She looks at her hand again, the look of a cat pretending to ignore a string. “I am interested.”
Then she turns and puts a hand on Lee’s shoulder. “There are a lot of reasons for it dear. Including professionalism and the fact if we make these places an abattoir that will only fire them up to come after us harder. Fewer will really be offended by the robberies if their spouses and sons are not failing to come home. And if we seem to be the Reinicke, the ah Reynard, they will see it as a fine sport, which will impede investigations somewhat, also.”
edited by Lady Karnstein on 1/7/2018
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Lady Caroline Karnstein, The Moral Hedonist (Description)
Infamous writer, artist, and courtesan. Unrepentant Invert. Hesperidean.
Paramount Presence, Correspondent, Nocturnal. Poet Laureate of the Neath, Ambassador to Arbor
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Lady Jen Black
Posts: 96
1/7/2018
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Sunday, 21 December, 1895
8:10 P.M.
Jen gives the other woman a nod. "Thank you, Lady Karnstein. That is accurate. As for the Duchess, I propose a solution. I cannot be seen robbing the Embassy. So, while we target the Duchess, anyone who wills rather not steal from her can go there, instead. Is that satisfactory?"
Then she smiles at Nikki. "Surface raised. And maybe you're right that I'm not used to death being cheap."
She takes a deep breath before turning to Lee. "Did you somehow miss the fact that I said 'not unless they pose an active threat to us'?" She rolls her eyes. "I've killed a fair number of people. Even used the Cantigaster venom a couple of times. What I don't want is preemptive killing in case they see us. If they see us and come after us, by all means, kill them. Not permanently, of course." She sighs. The Creed wasn't meant for the Neath.
"Canvas, you're right. It's not up to us to decide who's innocent, to discriminate between the sinners and the saints. We're here to take, no matter who they are."
With that, she looks around, waiting for the others.
edited by Lady Jen Black on 1/19/2018
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Lady Jen Black - Appearance - Backstory - MBTI - Song - Portrait - RP Directory
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Tanner Price
Posts: 30
1/7/2018
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Every word out of Jen's mouth tingles the lust inside him for such a daring heist. He rises to his feet, turning to his companions with a devious and motivated grin on his face. He addresses his new merry band of misfits. "I don't know how many of you dream of wealth. Of fortune, fame, and the thrill of a lifetime. But we all have something to gain here, whatever that may be. Everyone here in this room has gifts, and tonight many of you will put them to use for something grander than you have ever done before. I stand with Jen and her plan. Let this night define us, and the conquests we make stay with us forever."
He turns to face Lee, sitting with frustration at the footnote of Jen's scheme. "You are right to have your concerns. Their job is to kill us, or at the very least get in our way. Most would never dream of showing us a modicum of mercy. But I side with Jen and her stance against their deaths, and not only for the sake of my not enjoying murder. But if someone were to die at our hands tonight, they'd miss out on the pleasure of bearing witness to the greatest crime wave to ever strike Fallen London!" His vision turns to face the rest of the room. "I mean that only figuratively, of course. The fewer people who can identify us, the better. We'll need to be stealthy, clever, and very very prepared if we want this to work."
His eyes now focus on their hostess. "Thank you for adding a few caveats to your scheme, Jen. As much fun as tonight is sure to be, I will have to abstain from robbing the Cheery Man. He knows damn well I owe him no loyalties, and he certainly is as deserving of robbery as anyone else you've mentioned. But the man has earned my respect where no one else on your list has. I will not partake in the desecration of his business."
"But to robbing the Brass Embassy," he continues, addressing the crowd. "Nothing would amuse me greater! I admire the devils, and I adore their sense of style! But I am a member of the Committee of Vital Restitution. The dream of robbing an enormous cache of souls and contracts fills me up with not entirely selfish joy. May they not get what's coming to them. Same with the Ministry of Public Decency. Censorship and prudence are a blight on this Earth, and if we have no choice but to stuff our own personal libraries with as much delicious scandal and secrets as our shelves can carry, well." He shrugs. "That is simply the sacrifice we must be willing to make.
"Whatever this night will bring, I stand with you all ready to face it. May the fruits of Tantalus taste ever sweet as their juices stain our lips."
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Captain Tanner Price: Legendary Charisma [SEEKING PROTEGES]; esteemed pirate and social butterfly; raised by the girls of Mr Wines.
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Anactoria St James
Posts: 29
1/7/2018
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Anactoria’s eyes widen at the list of targets Lady Black proposes. Some of them she would eagerly poke in the eye: the Brassy Embassy, the Gracious Widow, the Cheery Man. Others seem benign, or at least harmless; she has little stomach for robbing Mrs Plenty or the Duchess. The Foreign Office she is indifferent to and February is unknown. ‘But all in one night?’ It’s almost breathtakingly audacious.
She is heartened by Lady Black’s injunction against needless killing, but is appalled by how casually Ms Lee, Mr Blank, and Nikki resist the suggestion. Yes, here some people come back from dying … but some don’t. She nods approvingly as Lady Karnstein points out the wisdom of not turning the venture into an abattoir.
Seeing an opening, she follows up on one of Mr Price’s themes. Her voice is steady, serious, and unhurried, “If we’re killing people, we’ve already failed; we’re leaving a trail of witnesses. If we walk in and out and nobody knows, all the better for us … and the mystery—who did it? how?—will be the stuff of legends!”
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Roleplaying social actions are welcomed.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anactoria%20St%20James
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Slyblue
Posts: 224
1/7/2018
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By the time the toasts are done, Michael finds himself more at ease – even as he disregards the foul taste of Surface wine clinging to his tongue. He would later make a point of leaving the glass somewhere inconspicuous, and as far away from him as possible. He does not mind any of the targets, and the idea of donating to some of the urchin gangs makes him smile despite himself, bringing a spirited glint to his eyes. It only took a starving urchin to understand how blind and deaf some people were, and he's glad Jen is neither.
It is only the mention of her sole rule that melts his calm smile into a frown – hid by a contemplative hand to his mouth. He knows he can object if he wants to, and he will if nobody else will speak up against the sheer absurdity of going against armed enemies with nothing but good intentions, but his glance meets Lee's before he can do so. Well? A cocked eyebrow, and a sharp glare. Sharper than he can usually muster. Are you in? Or not?
She expresses his concern far more eloquently than he ever could, and it's only then than he can feel some sort of relief. Nodding along to her words is easier when he knows she understands. Still, his grip on his rifle remains steady.
Nikki's light-hearted agreement, like a balm for the blazing hot trail of unspoken words, force his shoulders to slump lightly, with a quiet chuckle. “Careful, Missus Wyatt” He murmurs when she's done. “Yer startin' to make sense.”
Her presence makes ignoring Canvas' voice slightly easier, but not entirely possible. Michael can only regard him with the same piercing glare he'd directed towards Lee. If 'offing' someone is a last resort, he could only wonder how many resorts they had used on each other already. Did threats count as a second-to-last one? Hm. Thoughts for later, perhaps.
Taking the seaman's impromptu monologue as the perfect chance to slip away, he leaves Nikki's side to gravitate towards Jen's, making a point of lowering his rifle to a more amicable position as he does. He's not as bold as to address her directly when someone else is speaking, regardless of how empty the pirate's words sound to him – Everything about the man rings hollow and he does not understand why, but then again, the stale air makes it hard to piece his own thoughts together -, so he leans back against the same wall she stands against. When he speaks, his voice is but above a whisper, intended for her ears only.
“Ye ken my way of doin' things, Nicdubh. We know each other tha' much, aye?” He pauses as the words 'censorship' and 'prudence' come up in the room-wide speech, tilting his head to the side. “And I ken yer a smart lass. We canna afford t' lose ye.” Anactoria's words give him another pause, and make him sigh and shake his head with a mixture of warmth and mid-amusement. How very much like her, to oppose 'senseless' murder. “But should it come down t' ye – any of ye – and anyone who might...compromise...yer plans...Well.” He shrugs, eyes fixed forward. “Jus' remember I work with ye. Not for ye.” There is no animosity in his words or his expression. Only determination.
edited by Slyblue on 1/7/2018
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The Smiling Devil • The Curt Licentiate • The Keen-Eyed Captain
"For hearts of truest mettle, absence doth join and Time doth settle."
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Aberrant Eremite
Posts: 362
1/7/2018
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Telemachia Lee is torn. This whole idea is overly ambitious to begin with -and now they’re going to hamper themselves further by refraining from attacking the guards until they’re already alerted? Tactically speaking, it’s a very foolish approach. A guard who immediately attacks an intruder is an incompetent guard in the first place. A competent guard will raise a general alarm first. It’s never a good idea to build a plan on the assumption that one’s opposition will be incompetent.
Michael and Nikki understand - of course, they’re Longshanks, they understand the realities of life in the Neath. Canvas Blank sounds like he’s trying to play both sides - nothing very useful there. As amusing as he is, Tanner Price’s grandiose pronouncements seem ill-considered. Yet, as much as her professional brain disapproves of his reckless lust for glory, her heart agrees. Jen Black’s confidence is inspiring, but her condescension is bloody irritating. It hurts to see the look of disappointment on Anactoria’s face - but then, her combination of innocence and spirit is what Lee finds attractive in the first place.
But Caroline is different. Over the past few weeks, the older woman has become (ironically, for a professional monster-hunter) something of a moral compass for Lee. Caroline is the only person to whom Lee has confided her worries about her own ruthless streak - she has even asked Caroline to warn her if she goes too far. Furthermore, her advice has some strategic (as opposed to tactical) merit. Lee has read La Fontaine, and she understands how a clever trickster might attract a certain admiration which could ameliorate the intensity of pursuit. And Lee is only human, after all - the hand of a trusted friend, laid on her shoulder, cannot but have its effect.
Lee takes a deep breath. She’ll overlook Jen Black’s insults for now, but she won’t forget them. The bigger picture is what's important now - the decision that's called for. “I didn’t miss the part where you said you’d trust our professional judgment,” she retorts. “With that understood - I’m in.”
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Hieronymus Drake: Gentleman scholar, big-game hunter, scar-faced aristocrat. Remarkably sane, all things considered.
Tanith Wyrmwood: Longshanks cat-burglar; Bohemian author; now, perhaps, something more. Bubbly, expressive, and affectionate. It’s not only still waters that run deep.
Telemachia Lee: Gentle lady by birth, brawling Docker by choice. Good company in the drunk tank.
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Lady Jen Black
Posts: 96
1/7/2018
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Sunday, 21 December, 1895
8:15 P.M.
Jen responds to Michael in the same low whisper. "I know. Look, I didn't bring you on without knowing what you're good at. But I have to put some rules in place. You? I trust you to watch our backs. To spot threats. If you shoot, it's because you've seen something that maybe we haven't. But I saw Caroline throw a man into the wall until he died, although thankfully she doesn't seem too keen on using that talent. Lee? She seems like she's spoiling for a fight. Have you considered the damage they could do if I gave them free rein? If there's a bloodbath, everyone in the Neath will be hunting us down."
She shakes her head with a sigh. "I'm good at killing. You know that. It would be easy for me to just slaughter my way through any difficulties. But since I have the gift of death... I feel like I have to use it responsibly." She turns her head to look at him. "If you see something, something that's going to harm us, I trust your judgement. And I trust you'll watch our backs. Are you satisfied with that?"
edited by Lady Jen Black on 1/19/2018
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Lady Jen Black - Appearance - Backstory - MBTI - Song - Portrait - RP Directory
Accepting calling cards!
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shylarah
Posts: 171
1/7/2018
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The cat burglar let the discussion wash over her, only paying it a bare minimum of her attention. Meanwhile, she was considering the various targets. It was only when the debate over lethal violence dragged on that she returned her focus to the room. Once Jen explained her distinctions, they made more sense. Of course, killing random folks that might see was out -- as was hurting them in any but the most passing manner. And given that anyone they knew would oppose them was automatically an active threat in her mind, she no longer saw an issue. "It'd be fun to have nobody know, Ana," she said, as the younger girl suggested a phantom sort of thief. Tanner's speech had barely registered. The dead were still witnesses, just momentarily absent ones. And she knew all about preparation, even if she liked to think on the fly. "But it doesn't happen often. Never with so large a group -- at least, not for long. However! There are far more ways than simple killing to handle people. Tricks, traps, misdirection." She turned to look at the others, eyes gleaming. "Really, it's less a matter of needed them dead, and more a matter of needing them unable to sound the alarm. Passing unseen is naturally our ideal, but best to be prepared if we don't. Or to weigh the dice in our favor...." With a sly expressin, she pulled a handful of objects from the recesses of her clothing and held them up for the others' consideration. "Smokebombs, sparklers, flashbangs, clockwork bugs -- they make great distractions. Wind 'em up and send them off! -- wire ties, this thing from a bad batch of Gerbrant's stuff -- quite takes your breath away, as well as your voice. No sounding the alarm then, yeah? I even have a fogbelcher in my jacket, though it won't last more than a quarter hour. Had to nab that one special, and I've been saving it for something good. I think this is just the occasion, don't you~?" She twirled slowly to look at everyone, beaming as she shoved her handful of tricks back away. "Mike knows the weasels; I know rats and cats. I've a friend who could probably convince a few Rubberies to play decoy. I'm sure everyone has some sort of resources -- memories of the layouts of places, contacts, ideas of how to distract those present...." Her grin turned into a sultry smile. "One thing's for sure, people /will/ tell the story of tonight."
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Lady of Cold Steel, Lady of the Flit, Lady Alyssana Grey. A formidable woman, hard to read and slow to trust. Darkness lurks inside her.
Alts: (please direct all inquiries to Alys & say who they're for)
-Nikki, the Playful Daredevil, leading the constables on merry chases across London at every available opportunity. It's not a good robbery if you didn't get chased~
-Shylarah, waifish, wide-eyed, painfully foreign, entirely untamed. Her search for a way home now leads her to Parabola. There's something about her...
-Dr. Maxwell Thomas, a kindhearted physician who can't stand to see suffering. Moral to a fault, even to his own detriment. Unlucky in love.
I would rather be taken for a fool than deny aid where it is needed.
-Angie, the Cheeky Sharpshooter. Got her start with the Regiment and proudly operated their cannon for years. Rowdy, rough, and among the best shots in London.
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Lady Jen Black
Posts: 96
1/7/2018
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Sunday, 21 December, 1895
8:20 P.M.
Jen regards Lee with irritation. "Good." Her mouth softens momentarily before her lips press together again, tighter than before.
When she speaks, her voice is crisp, and she addresses everyone. "I won't kick you off the team if you kill someone. They'll be trying to stop us. Using lethal force if need be. I'd have to be naive to set that aside. Just because I don't want people to die unnecessarily doesn't mean that I won't remove them if they pose a threat. Maybe it's because I grew up on the Surface. Someone's gone, and that's it. But here, people die, because that's what people do. If you don't cause any permanent damage... I won't object. But no servants and animals, under any circumstances. There are other ways to take care of those. Anactoria isn't just here for you to admire her, no matter how adorable she is. I need an animal handler, and someone who looks innocent and pretty enough to play distraction."
She nods approvingly at Nikki's collection of nonlethal gadgetry. "Now, those are nice. If it helps, look at it this way. Can we be creative enough to succeed without treating murder as our first resort? Like Caroline said, people adore stories of noble thieves, robbing the rich to give to the poor, executing daring heists without getting caught or racking up a large body count. We could join the ranks of such legends as Lupin. People may even be rooting for us, and given who we're offending -- Society, the Revolutionaries, the Masters, Hell, the Criminals and the Docks -- a little more credit in the court of public opinion will be very, very useful."
She pauses, looks towards the only silent ones in the room. "Cosmo, Hubris? Are you in?"
edited by Lady Jen Black on 1/19/2018
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Lady Jen Black - Appearance - Backstory - MBTI - Song - Portrait - RP Directory
Accepting calling cards!
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