The Night Auction

[undergroundmods]

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The auction house
At exactly half past eleven on Saturday night, the auction house in Knightsbridge opens to its supernatural customers. Inside the elegant surroundings are a wide range of antique, unusual and plain odd items.

As midnight approaches, the seats gradually fill up. The auctioneer, a spindly pale-faced man in a waistcoat, calls for attention. Bidding opens at midnight and ends when all items have been sold or the sun comes up, whichever comes sooner. Let the bidding commence.

On sale tonight
Enchanted Necklace
A necklace which is enchanted to become a map of the city in which the owner is standing.
Starting price: £12

Monkey's Paw
The preserved paw of a monkey, able to grant every individual who touches it three wishes. Caution is advised.
Starting price: £20
Will be sold to Faolan

Runic Coin
A heavy silver coin for use in spell work, carved with runic patterns.
Starting price: £25

Skeleton of a Lady
The bones of a woman called Eliza, preserved by magic.
Starting price: £30

Antique Pagan Jewellery
A set of brooches, pendants, rings, and earrings made in honour of the ancient gods. In various conditions depending on the piece itself.
Starting price: £40

Vanity Mirror
An enchanted mirror that speaks, forever complimenting the person who looks into it.
Starting price: £50

Mogwai
This adorable creature is an extremely rare and unusual pet. The mogwai is nocturnal and should be kept away from water and sunlight.
Starting price: £50

Vampire Compass
A compass that always, without fail, points to the nearest vampire.
Starting price: £60

Bestiary of English and Welsh Faeries
A 17th century two volume bestiary of the lesser inhabitants of the Other Realm, with detailed and sometimes gruesome illustrations.
Starting price: £200
Will be sold to Gilbert Norrell

Antique Harp
Beautiful Victorian Stumpff harp with carved figures, in need of restoration work. Under enchantment.
Starting price: £500

Gleipnir
According to legend, a section of the chain that once held Fenris.
Starting price: £2,000

Notes
Bidding opens at midnight GMT+1 and continues until 07:29 the next morning! Note that while anyone can bid on any item, the items that are listed as being sold to certain characters are reserved for them to win the bid. The last highest bid in the thread at the point when the auction has closed will win the item.

When characters bid on the item, all they know is the description given by the auctioneer, as above. However, some of these items have other properties – both good and bad – that will not be apparent until after purchase. You'll find out what these are after the auction has concluded.

For more information, please refer to this OOC post.

Comments

[hurtfew]

Norrell is not normally one to attend these sort of things, but he had heard there would be a few books in this sale.

Where there are books, Gilbert Norrell will always show his face. He cannot allow anyone else to have them after all.

He keeps to himself, mostly, carefully perusing the things on sale and making a face every so often.

When it comes to the actual bidding, however, he will bid persistently and relentlessly -- even if it goes beyond the value of the book, he must have it.

[wolfmarked]

Skip has taken the time to look pretty posh for this. After all, it's a large, public auction. Here, the artist has to make her appearance, rather than the normal girl. Her oldest brother keeps his ear to the ground for things like this and made sure she knew about it. There's not a lot she really wants, no, but it never hurts to look.

She can't help but notice an old, faded-looking book with writing on its spine she can't read. It's certainly interesting, at least, and she admires it for a good few moments.

[hurtfew]

Someone is looking at his book.

Or well, the book that he has decided will become his. Norrell is torn between alarm that someone may attempt to buy it and curiosity over the person. Who else might show interest in such a book, after all? He will have to ask Childermass about her. Childermass always knows about these things.

He schools himself internally, approaches and regards the book idly himself.

"It is a good volume," he admits, "although not the best. It only deals with the lesser fae, not the high fae, although of course they are changeable and difficult to track. The illustrations are interesting if... more colourful than necessary. It's biggest failing is that it tends to...exonerate the fae in some ways, consider them other and curious rather than simply relaying fact. He is mystical."

[wolfmarked]

"Fae aren't really my area of interest," Skip says with a shrug. It's worth looking at -- almost everything is here. But it isn't something she wants. Still, he seems to know a lot about this. So perhaps he can offer a little advice. "Do you know if there's anything here about werewolves?"

After all, she knows plenty of them. But she's never really studied anything as far as academia is considered. Not that she wants to devote a lot of attention to it now, but it might be worth reading a few things. Especially since she doesn't have to deal with her brothers and father here.

Besides, more ammo never hurts.

[hurtfew]

Not her area of interest? Well, that means his book is safe for now of course -- which pleases Norrell greatly. Yet her chosen area of interest is both curious and worrisome. Werewolves may not, in Norrell's opinion, be as bad as fae (few things are) but they are still trouble.

He presses his lips together and regards her with calm curiosity, as a teacher might a child who has asked an odd question.

"You wish to study werewolves?" he prompts, hoping for some manner of reasoning.

[wolfmarked]

"From an outside perspective," Skip replies.

Her shoulders raise and fall in a shrug, and her expression remains carefully neutral. It isn't something she often announces, but she knows she can't act as if it is shameful. Because it isn't. Still, it's something to say with caution.

"I was raised among them."

[hurtfew]

Raised among werewolves! The surprise shows on his face at first, followed by a furrowing of his brows. Her wording is somewhat peculiar, and he tilts his head -- scholarly curiosity taking over rather then fear or mistrust. She is now a puzzle, after all, something he must understand.

"Am I to understand you are not one yourself? Forgive me, but it seems you would be in a position to know more than most if you lived among them. What is it you hope to learn from further study?"

[wolfmarked]

"I know about them from the inside," Skip answers, considering it, "but I'm curious about what people from the outside see."

It was like a painting. The artist who shaped it created the work and displayed it. But it never just meant that. Everyone who saw the work interpreted it differently. Whether they were artists themselves or not, everyone saw something a little different. Even in a basic still life.

To look at the species like that...

It might be interesting. Besides, she was never escaping the life. So she might as well find ways to bring new viewpoints into her world.

But he asked if she was a werewolf. That...

"My connection with the community is a little odd. How much do you know about their culture?"

[hurtfew]

Know about it? Well, Norrell has read a great deal about them of course -- but reading and experiencing are different things. Although Norrell himself might disagree on that.

So it is that when he begins to speak the manner of it is that of a teacher reciting from a book, even if the person he speaks to may have more direct experience themselves.

"It is my understanding," he begins, "that weres are very territorial creatures and have a strong hierarchy. A pack is lead by an Alpha, who will have a second, and then the rest of the pack will be Betas who are ranked by experience. The strength of the pack depends on the ability of the Alpha, and the Alpha's position in turn is dependent on their own strength and ability to defend the pack and turn away any who seek to undermine them."

[wolfmarked]

"Ah, but that's hierarchy, not culture." Skip can't help but smile a little. It's a world she knows intimately, so it's interesting to hear someone from the outside. "Different regions have different details. In Ireland, we have one Alpha. But the different districts all have what might be considered betas. We call them chieftains."

And each of those chieftains could expect the loyalty of the wolves of his district. And they owed their loyalty to the Alpha.

"But the culture. For instance." Her shoulders shrug again as she, somewhat, shows the cards in her hand. Lets him in on her world just a little. Mostly out of curiosity herself. "What a female child born to a werewolf means."

MANSPLAINING IN ACTION

[hurtfew]

Despite her words Norrell does not seem particularly shaken from his demeanour, still regarding her with scholarly curiosity. To him, hierarchy is a very important part of culture! It drives all other things! He does not consider his answer incorrect, but then again he never does. Any connection between her and the example is largely lost on him, since subtlety is not his strong point.

"A child born to a werewolf?" he echoes, "Well, that would be difficult. It is very hard for a werewolf to carry a child to term, you see, what with the changes. A surrogate mother is possible, of course, but it is said women are discouraged from activating. I suppose its standing would depend on the standing of its parents."

[wolfmarked]

"Impossible, actually." Skip seemed quite pleased to say it, actually. "A female werewolf -- born or changed -- will always miscarry when she transforms."

Which is why, much to her displeasure sometimes, Skip understands the cardinal rule of her life. She cannot, under any circumstances, kill anyone. That is crucial.

"And with the current laws against turning people into werewolves within packs? Everything changes,"

Her smile then is one of satisfaction.

"The daughter of a werewolf? Is often more valueable than even an Alpha. Because she is guaranteed, with a werewolf husband, to have werewolf children."

[hurtfew]

"Unless the changes are controlled in some way," he says, half tilting his head as he thinks to himself. Very difficult over such a great length of time, perhaps possible by way of suppression of some sort -- although that could lead to terrible mood swings and other such things. Equally not good for a mother carrying a child. Not necessarily impossible, but far from guaranteed. He seems to remember she's there, lifts his eyes to focus on her again.

"Well then, I believe you are right. In the instance that there is a shortage of women able to carry children who are marked to term, I should thing such a thing valuable indeed to the clan."

[wolfmarked]

"It's always interesting," Skip says, her smile almost a smirk, "learning what people outside packs think. It's why I wouldn't mind finding some books."

It's not a priority. Really, nothing here is. The auction itself is more a formality. A chance to be seen. Because she can't be totally antisocial or just around in clubs if she wants to make a name for herself in the art world.

[hurtfew]

He inclines his head a fraction, as if accepting her point, and thinks for a moment.

"There are... some good writers on the topic. For research de Burgh had some sound theories, although..." Norrell's face screws up in distaste and he shakes his head after a moment. "... He can tend toward the mystical, rather than the factual. Aherne did some sound work looking into the Weres of Scotland, that I could recommend. He is very clear about it and does not waste time on assumptions. For the history of the Were curse de Chepe is interesting, but..." He shakes his head, winces a little. "Again, he can be mystical. His fascination with the fae can make his work unsound."

[wolfmarked]

"You don't seem to have much regard for the fae." Of course, she says it with a small laugh. Because, well, it's quite an understatement. Still, it isn't an accusation. It's merely an acknowledgement, in its own way. "I admit-- I don't really have much of an opinion one way or the other."

Except that they'd been strangely active, something that unsettled her greatly. Still, as long as they weren't a threat to her, she wasn't overly worried. Other people could worry about them, so far as she cared.

Then, it struck her that manners might be of the essence, so she offered her hand politely. "Sofia Hughes."

[hurtfew]

Well, she has been polite and seemingly listened to him -- and she has been interesting. He takes her hand after a moment's thought.

"Gilbert Norrell," he offers in turn. "And I have very little regard for fae, Miss Hughes, as should you! The fae have a whole other realm of their own, and yet they have begun to take control of parts of London! They are tricksters and deceivers, with no regard for law or manners! If we allow them to be indulged as curiosities they will soon overrun us all!"

[wolfmarked]

"I keep my distance from them, but..." She shrugs her shoulders. It can be dismissed, likely, as either youth or some kind of pragmatism. Difficult to say, really. "As long as they're not bothering me and mine? I'm not in much mood to cross them, y'know?"

Skip bit her tongue slightly at the last word. There was the Irish girl, sneaking past her carefully trained posh Londoner accent. She had to check herself better. Conversation was no reason to get lazy.

[hurtfew]

The accent does not bother him -- for Gilbert Norrell is talking about a favourite topic now, the fae menace, and all his focus is on that.

"Oh, but they are Miss Hughes! Very much so! They are bothering all of us! Perhaps they have not reached where you live yet, but the fae have already made four claims in six months! Does that not seem dangerous to you? Is that not an invasion, if they are exiting their own realm to begin taking ownership of parts of ours? No! If it continues unchecked then it will be everyone's problem, for we risk London falling under fae majority!"

[wolfmarked]

"You make a good point." Because, well, that was what the man had to want to hear. And he wasn't entirely wrong, no. It wasn't anything she particularly cared about, not until they started interfering with her own personal way of life. "I suppose I've been distracted lately, with the losses within the werewolf community from the Blood Moon."

[hurtfew]

It is exactly what he wants to hear, and he likes her all the more for saying it. Enough that her aside is one he indulges instead of barrelling onwards with his own topic, brow furrowed in thought.

"I had heard rumours it was going poorly. It is a difficult time, I understand, with their power reduced."

[wolfmarked]

"It will be some time before we've fully recovered from the losses." She smiles, though, and bows her head a little. "Still, there is that much to be said for the pack's way of life. When something happens, they truly do rally as a community."

With fewer divisions than other factions she'd seen. But that needn't be said.