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

[knightscode]

"'All' this food? It isn't that much. I put on extra spaghetti for you, and this was kept frozen..."

He wrinkles his nose at Faolan, shakes his head in turn.

"That, and I do like cooking. Making extra food means I always have some spare to eat for lunch or dinner another day. Or some spare, of course, if a friend turns up. Although other people are usually polite enough to call ahead."

Since Faolan isn't actually the only friend he has, just the most troublesome.

[reticence]

Ah. Well, he can't help the troublesome part. Faolan purses his lips slightly in response to Lancelot's words, his eyes flicking across the table at the frankly terrible gift that he'd already spent far too much time apologizing over as it was. "I hadn't expected to be invited in for dinner," he says, honestly. "I hadn't really expected to be invited in at all." And how should he have called ahead? 'Hey, mind if I swing by to give you a body part in a box?' No, probably wouldn't have gone over very well.

"I'll... Try and call ahead next time," he says, awkward despite his best efforts otherwise. He shrugs slightly. "I can't make any promises though. Maybe next time you won't let me in if I do. If I'm so much trouble." Referencing, of course, the other man's earlier commentary.

[knightscode]

Lancelot shrugs, tugs a sharp knife out of a block and sets an electric kettle nearby to boil a little water.

"I might, if Lily agrees. You need to win both of us over, you know."

Lily looks around at the sound of her name, ears pricking curiously. What is going on? What is he doing? Is he going to be making more food?

(Yes, but not food for dogs!)

The water begins to roll finally and he holds the knife out into the cloud of steam, turning it over a few times as the metal heats before turning back to the dish and cutting two squares out of the tiramisu. The hot metal melts through the frozen food easily and he tugs down two small plates, lifts out the slices onto them before recovering the dish and turning to put it back in the freezer.

"It'll need a few minutes to defrost, anyway."

[reticence]

Faolan nods absently in response to the other man's words, watching him set the dessert on the plates and put the rest of it back from whence it came. "I'll do my best," he says, instead. In response to the idea of winning her over, of course. Although he hardly thinks that it's all that hard, as sweet as she is. Timid, yes, but she wants to trust him. And does, if the fact that she seems to be more concerned about begging for food than keeping an eye on him is anything to go by.

"Although," he continues, because he can tell that this is a topic which Lancelot has some opinions on, and which he would not mind talking about for hours if he could, "I would not mind it if you gave me some tips. Hints, perhaps. Who better to guide me on winning her over than you, after all. Perhaps I shall turn to her for pointers on you in return," he adds, lightly.

[knightscode]

"Hints? Would that not be cheating?"

He thins his lips, tilts his head as if to ask Faolan if such a thing is really right.

"Surely Lily he be allowed to form a genuine opinion," he presses, "or are you worried she does not like you."

Lancelot looks down at Lily critically, drying his hands with a cloth as she looks between both of them and swishes her tail questioningly. What is going on? Is something happening? Are they waiting for her? What should she do? She does not know!

[reticence]

Faolan glances at Lily as she stands there, looking confused but otherwise fairly content. He has encountered her often enough to be able to tell that she may have eyes only for Lancelot, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't like him. "Lily likes me just fine," he says, before addressing the dog herself, "don't you, girl?"

He raises his eyes to Lancelot from there. "She's your dog anyway, why don't you tell me? How much more work is there to be done before I have won over you both, as you suggest?" He sits forward, leaning his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand. "I'm not above bribery," he notes. "Not so long as it'd work."

[knightscode]

Lancelot grins at him, picks up the two small plates and brings them over to set down -- doubling back for a pair of small spoons.

"If you're so sure she likes you then you don't need my advice, do you? Give it another minute or so to warm up," he adds, setting one down for Faolan and pacing around to his own chair. "But, if it's bribery you're going to attempt I know someone who does sometimes give way in the face of bacon. She's too noble for bribery, of course, but a little subtle persuasion does help her."

Lily, who is of course too noble for bribery, proceeds to help matters along by sticking her head into Faolan's lap and swishing her tail hopefully. Hello, Faolan! Hello! What is on that plate? Is it for dogs?

[reticence]

Too noble for bribery indeed. Faolan raises an eyebrow at that comment, quirking his mouth a little wryly as he does. She seems to be very interested in just about everything going on on table level and beyond, for a dog who supposedly 'too noble for bribery'. Yes, yes, hello to you too, Lily. He reaches down and ruffles her ears, shaking his head slightly. Not for dogs, sorry. Maybe next time, though? One of these times he'll even remember to bring a treat, who knows.

"I'll see what I can do," he responds. Knowing of course that one of the best ways to charm the other man is through his love of his dog -- he'd have to be pretty thick indeed if he didn't recognize that much, all things considered.