Magical Innovation Centre: The Grand Opening

[undergroundmods]

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It's evening in Richmond and the grand opening of the Magical Innovation Centre is about to begin. Doors open at 6.30pm with the event closing at 10pm. This is a black tie event, so get out your evening gowns and tuxedos. You won't be allowed in if you're wearing trainers or jeans.

Fae are forbidden from entering. Any fae who wish to sneak in must do so under a glamour and are likely to be discovered and kicked out if they linger for too long. Alternatively, they could pretend to be in service to one of the witches attending the event, if they have any witch allies willing to do that. Fae already in service to Circle Daybreak are the exception to the rule and this will be the first Daybreak event where a number of witches in attendance will be accompanied by their familiars in various forms. Ever since Samantha took her crown as Mother of Witches with a certain cat on her lap, familiars have started to become fashionable again.

Order of Events
6.30-7pm: Doors open
The first half hour allows time for guests to arrive and mingle. There's strict security around the centre: everyone who enters must sign in and get a name badge at the reception desk.

7-7.30pm: Samantha's speech
Standing on the staircase in the foyer, the Mother of Witches will address her audience with a speech to announce the opening of the centre.

7.30-8.30pm: Tour of the centre
During this hour, guests can join a tour of the centre. There will be three tours of around fifteen minutes each. Guests will be shown the following:

• Starting in the main foyer, the tour guide will give a brief overview of the centre's purpose.
• Next, the Potions Lab, which looks very much like any modern lab except that the bottles on display are magical rather than chemical.
• Then, the Pentacle Room which is an empty classroom with several intricate pentacles drawn on the floor. Cabinets along one wall hold shelves of herbs and charms that are used to strengthen or protect the pentacles, as well as shelves of spellbooks. An empty iron bird cage sits on one of the cabinets. This room is where witches can work together to perform powerful magic or to summon fae from the Other Realm.
• Then, the Botanical Garden which is what it sounds like. Herbs and plants of many kinds are grown here, and there are tables where witches can cut and dry the plants to prepare them for use in spellcraft and potion-making.
• Finally, the Magic Lab which looks very much like the Potions Lab except that there's more space. This is where witches will experiment with creating new spells.

The tour is guided and guests may only spend a limited amount of time in each room. They can't go back to the rooms after they're closed; security is tight and anyone trying to sneak around will be quickly spotted.

8.30-10pm: Networking
The rest of the event is open for mingling. There are information stands in the main foyer where witches are handing out leaflets outlining the purpose of the centre and inviting witches to join. If you're not a witch, you can still look and ask questions, but you can't register your interest to work or study at the centre. There's also a screen playing an artfully shot video of Samantha and several young witches looking alternately mystical and windswept on a moor, then clever and industrious in one of the laboratories. Tradition meets the modern world.

Coffee, champagne and canapes are all available, and are served by handsome fae waiters dressed in sparkly blue tuxedos. Despite several setbacks (none of which will be mentioned by Samantha or any of the staff) including the recent loss of Croydon to the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, it seems that Circle Daybreak is still intent on portraying an image of success. The Daybreak fae here are tame, well-mannered and subservient. Everything is under control.

Comments

NPCs

[brightwitch]

(Say who you'd like to talk to when you tag!)

Samantha Okeke
It's a big day for Samantha. This is the day she promised to Circle Daybreak when she first became Mother of Witches and she's proud to make good on her word so soon.

She addresses the audience from the middle platform of the staircase and she does look rather good if she says so herself, elegant and poised in her high heels and satin dress. Mogget is at her feet, the cat hunkering down on one of the steps to observe the guests below.

Her speech starts with a number of thank yous, praising the witches who worked so hard to make this happen. She gives a potted history of the events leading up to tonight's grand opening. Tonight, she is pleased to declare that the Magical Innovation Centre is open for business. Then she lifts her chin, the ring of passion in her voice.

"Creativity. Excellence. Innovation. These will be our guiding principles as we work with magic old and new to find ways of bettering the lives of witches across the country. We will use the latest scientific methods to research and test new potions and enchantments. We will fund long-term studies to explore and deepen our understanding of the supernatural. And we will share our knowledge with the wider community, giving you greater freedom and greater control over your craft. I want the work done in this centre to be for everyone. That means it has to be open to every witch in Circle Daybreak. No matter what your background is, no matter what walk of life you come from, we are looking for talent, passion and dedication. If you think you have what it takes to make a difference, please talk to one of our representatives."

"This place, this building, is the realisation of a pledge that I made to you when I accepted the honour of becoming your Mother. But the full realisation of its potential can only be achieved by all of us, working hard, working together. I can't wait to start."

She smiles, pausing for a moment before going on. "The creation of this Centre has been made possible through the generosity of our sponsors at the Night Council. Thank you all. And its continued development can only be made possible with your help. That's why tonight we're also asking for donations. Whether you're a member of Circle Daybreak or not, whether you're a witch or not, you can sponsor our project and help make this dream into a reality. If you'd like to make a pledge, please go to the reception desk or approach our representatives. Every donation, no matter how small, will be gratefully received."

She goes on to say that there will be the opportunity to take a tour of the centre and that more information is available at the stands for anyone who wants to know more about the project they're sponsoring. Finally, she closes with a reiteration of her belief that every witch should have the opportunity to realise his or her full potential. That's her promise as Mother of Witches, and she intends to keep it.

"Thank you."

And that's it. She descends the staircase with regal grace to a round of applause. Behind her, Mogget transforms into a white-haired man in a white suit and follows, joining the party in human shape. Time to mingle.

If you're rich or important, she wants to talk to you and she likely will approach with a glass of champagne in hand, a smile dimpling her cheeks. "So, what do you think?"

If you're neither of those things, she doesn't give a shit. But she'll play nice if you approach her, because this is a public event and she has to look good at all times. Lucky you.

Others
The werewolf alpha Katherine Moore is here and so is almost every witch on the Elites list, so let me know if you want to grab any of them! The one notable exception is Sylvia Redbright, who claimed to have other commitments. She will not be attending the event.

Samantha

[longterm]

Cesare is acting as a bit of a scout today. He has friends, of course, eyes and ears who are happy to pass on any important information, but Cesare would like to see this firsthand. So he finds himself in the crowd at the centre, listening to Samantha's speech and enjoying a tour about the facility. You never know how useful it might be in the future to know the floor plan of a place, after all.

He's wearing full black tie: a double breasted tuxedo with satin lapels and patent shoes. When it comes to dressing appropriately for an occasion, Cesare does not mess around.

He smiles at Samantha and takes a couple steps towards her, lifting his glass a little.

"It's all very impressive, isn't it? And that was a good speech. It could almost sway me."

[brightwitch]

At least vampires usually dress well. That's one thing they have going for them. The other thing is that they're often filthy rich, especially the old ones, and when one is looking for funding for a rather expensive project... well. She'd approach every Islington vampire here if it weren't for Jean-Claude's annoying and frankly hurtful statement trying to turn his vampires against her. She would never have imagined that a vampire of all people would have a bleeding heart for the fae.

Cesare, though, Cesare might be different. She knows he has ambitions of his own; last they talked he'd expressed his disappointment at not making it to Vampire Representative. And despite whatever Jean-Claude said, he seems willing to talk to her.

She lifts her glass in return. "Almost? Tough crowd." Her eyes flick over his attire. "Nice tux."

He looks good, even if he does turn out to be a spy. But is he here on behalf of Jean-Claude or does he have his own agenda? That's what she wants to find out.

Samantha

[morevacant]

Lydia might not be rich, particularly, and she's definitely not important, but she also definitely considers herself to be both of those things. So when Samantha starts her speech, she makes sure that she at least looks like she's interested in what the woman's going on about. In reality, she's thinking about the man who served the glass of champagne she's sipping. He was a good looking guy.
When Samantha finishes,Lydia smiles and claps along with the other attendees, and as the woman makes her way down the stairs, she pushes through the crowd.

"Excuse me, Ma'am? I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Lydia. Bennet."

The Lydia Bennet. She smiles confidently. "And you were just wonderful."

[brightwitch]

"Thank you," Samantha replies warmly, taking Lydia's hand in hers. "Great to meet you, Lydia. Are you from a local coven?"

She has no idea who Lydia is.

Samantha

[baisant]

Oh, he may not be a witch, but he is definitely rich, and he is certainly important. He just may not be of the sort of persuasion that a lot of people in this room are all that comfortable being around. But far be it from Jean-Claude to attend such a gathering as this. He certainly stands out a little, in the way he usually does. Looking a bit as though he's stepped out of the wrong century among all these people. He has at least left the leather pants at home, though the knee-high boots, and white peasant shirt with its spilling lace cuffs and collar underneath his signature brocade jacket are both present here. He has his black curls tied back in a blue ribbon and he cuts a handsome figure among the crowd. He doesn't need the name tag announcing his identity to her as he approaches. Even if they have not yet been so formally introduced, she can no doubt make an educated guess.

She will no doubt be wondering why he is here when he has made his opinion of her quite clear. Perhaps it is an olive branch. Perhaps he has come to spy. Perhaps she will just have to speak to him and find out for herself. Vampires can be very hard to read, indeed. Especially vampires as old as this one, who do not wear their hearts on their sleeves as some of the others in the Nest are known to do. Is he worried that there might be trouble? Not really. This is a peaceful event, and he's brought some discrete backup that's milling around in the crowd behind him, should things turn south.

He inclines his head at her, his dark blue eyes cool and assessing as he speaks up to comment, "The Night Council certainly have been generous, have they not."

(ooc: let me know if it breaks continuity to have him attend here, but otherwise i look forward to this!)

Samantha

[emotioneater]

Cooper was here. As a member of the Night Council, it would have sent a message if he had come or not. Things have gotten tense in the past month, the foremost being JC's proclamation of what will happen if anyone supports Daybreak's cause. It's a careful balancing act he's been trying to accomplish here, caught between several sides. When it comes down right to it, who knows which way he'll be swayed? As always, Cooper acts on his own often impulsive nature.

He waits until Samantha approaches him, his black suit making him look more like he's ready for a teenage prom than an event such as this. There's an easy smile on his face as he takes her in. "Impressive. You've accomplished a lot in a short amount of time." Something that Cooper himself had done and could respect.

[bellbound]

After 7.30pm, networking
Mogget is in human form and he'll stay like that for the rest of the night. Samantha gave him special permission to do so after her speech and it isn't often he gets to walk around on two legs while there are witches nearby, so he'll take the opportunity for as long as he can. Not just any human form either, this one is tall. He can barely remember the last time he was this height. There's six feet of pale, white-haired human walking around and the perspective from up here is certainly different from what he's used to.

It's difficult to tell how old he's meant to be. His hair is white but neither thin nor receding, and his upright posture and the few lines on his face seem to indicate a man in his thirties or forties. His suit is pure white, not a speck of dust on it, except for the red leather belt that's half-hidden by his suit jacket. Strangest of all, on the strap of his belt buckle there hangs a silver bell, one that Mogget is at pains to hide, either resting his hand on the buckle or drawing his jacket over it.

Unlike Samantha, Mogget isn't here to woo the rich and influential. His instructions are different. He's here partly as security, partly as a spy, his main task being to identify potential enemies or naysayers who might be lurking in this room. Anyone who seems unhappy with Samantha, with Circle Daybreak, or with the Centre itself. He'd watched the faces of the audience carefully when Samantha delivered her speech to give him an idea of where to start.

That's why you may or may not find Mogget's green eyes watching you as he sips his champagne. It's when he catches someone's eye that he acknowledges their presence, lowering his glass. "Tedious, isn't it?"

[freelife]

He's an odd looking man, and Evie can tell out-right that he's fae. She can smell him anywhere. Though she doesn't recognize him as Samantha's familiar, she knows that he must be a familiar, in order to be here to begin with.

She keeps her back straight when he speaks, looking at him carefully over the top of her wine glass.

"It could be worse- hours of speeches and ceremony."

Definitely Not Eames

[falsify]

Oh goodness, oh my. Who's that handsome gentleman accompanying Arthur tonight? Keiran smiles easily, watching this evening with an expression that seems fascinated at almost all times, like seeing the Christmas lights in the West End for the first time.

He's definitely not memorising the faces of any fae he sees around the room or trying to spot any holes in security, not at all. It's just the keen eye of someone who's excited from witnessing something so new! So innovative!

(It's a little difficult to maintain the facade when the tour takes them to the Pentacle Room, but he manages with a thoughtful expression. One that makes sense for a man who's never seen this sort of thing before.)

For most of the night, he sticks relatively close to Arthur, but once the speech and the tour are over he lets the leash on his curiosity a little slack. Asking questions of the witches — what made them want to follow Samantha, what their hopes for the centre and the future are, how they're planning to run a place like this, ect. — but he never sticks in one conversation too long. Often looking like a photoshoot come to life with a glass of champagne in his hand, he'll often sidle up to anyone who doesn't look fully convinced by all this (especially anyone who's less than magically-inclined) with a smile that's a touch sympathetic and a touch wry.

"Not impressed?"

[baisant]

It is hard for Jean-Claude to be anywhere without being recognized for who and what he is. So unlike Eames, he has not made any effort to hide himself. He is dressed in his customary white laced poet's shirt under his delicate velveteen jacket with accompanying knee-high leather boots, his black hair tied back in a dark blue ribbon. He looks rather out of place in all of these modern people here gathered, but then again he feels it, so perhaps that is the point.

It's early in the evening yet -- before Jean-Claude has had a chance to catch the witch on her own himself (which is just as well, she is probably going to throw him out on his heels once he does). He turns aside to the attractive gentleman addressing him and offers him a crooked smile of his own.

"Ah, I am afraid that it takes a lot to impress me these days," he replies.

ota.

[specifiercity]

Arthur has an easy excuse to be here tonight, but his real motivations are twofold. He takes a great amount of personal curiousity in the way Daybreak is behaving as of late, and tonight seemed like an unmissable event if he wants to keep an eye on their next steps. He's also here helping Eames' cover, appearing to be a distracting and charming face whenever he needs a little bit of misdirection. Arthur's happy to do it; it gives him an excuse to ask questions he might not feel entitled to ask if he weren't part of the operation, and having a date to these kinds of things always makes them a little more bearable during the lulls.

When he's not with Eames, Arthur mingles easily, asking inoffensive questions about the Centre and about Daybreak in general. He's knowledgeable enough about the magic to be insightful but he certainly feigns ignorance whenever it seems like it might benefit him to do so. During the tours he's the appropriate amount of curious and interested, showing no feelings this way or that on what Samantha's plans for Daybreak are.

[falsify]

It's easy enough to pretend this is all interesting and exciting when there's someone to bounce off, and Eames easily masks his conversations with Arthur behind smiles and affectionate touches.

It's a lot harder when the fae servers come out, and Eames immediately bristles at the sparkly tuxedos that come out with trays of drinks and canapes. It's fucking abhorrent, and Eames has to bite back his scowl. Even worse for his inability to do anything — no amount of anger is going to make him stupid enough to lash out in a room full of witches — and he turns a little to Arthur. Puts a hand on his chest in an affectionate enough gesture to look like they're sharing an intimate moment, and tilts his head to murmur in Arthur's ear.

"Talk me out of doing something stupid."

[moralabsolutism]

Don't mind the Hillingdon House ghost that suddenly appears next to you, Arthur. God only knows how long he's actually been following you until he decided to manifest. Rorschach has never shown up to one of these events before, but with the current state Daybreak has been in, he felt it prudent to scope things out.

"Interesting gathering," he remarks. As with everything the ghost says, there's a whole paragraph worth of what he's not saying. Rorschach has been eavesdropping on the witches' conversations and has heard the most interesting bits of gossip. Seems like everything is not as rosy as it seems from the outside.

ota

[freelife]

Anyone who knows Evie's sure to know what exactly it is she's doing here. This Magical Innovation Center was an interesting idea, but it's not the concept that intrigues her the most. No, it's Samantha and her crusade against the fae that's got her attention.

So yes, she's doing some good old fashioned reconnaissance.

Dressed in an emerald green jump suit, heels and a blazer, Evie looks right at home at the black tie event. Keeping to the shadows, refusing to draw attention to herself, she's gone on the tour a few times, at this point. Each time, she keeps wanting to come back to the pentacle room. Oh, she knows what's going on in there.

Those iron cages had sent a chill through her spine.

Slavery was wrong. No matter who you were, no matter what you were, it was wrong. And here was this young, presumably progressive woman, toting the benefits of it. And now showing it off?

Things weren't looking good at all.

[falsify]

Talking to Evie is a bit of a risk; she might not be able to peg him for who he really is, but being able to tell what he is is another question entirely. He'd been content not to speak to her, but seeing her come back with a second tour group makes the urge difficult to ignore.

He watches for a little while, and when his suspicions are confirmed and Evie goes around another time Keiran opts to join that group. He quietly listens to the guide, eyes open for anything he missed the first time around, but once they reach the garden he slips up beside her.

"What is this, your third time around? Fourth?" His voice is quiet, low enough no one but the two of them should be able to hear. Not accusatory in the least; if anything he sounds amused.

ota / outside 4ever

[ghoulaid]

Despite feeling very out of place, Ghoul is... around. He'd arrived with a small group of wolves, but unlike the rest of them he'd never gone inside or even tried to do so. He made his opinion known about the dress code days ago, insisting he ain't wearing that shit or something to that effect, so he'd banished himself to grounds-only status before he'd ever stepped foot on the property. It's all right with him, though. He doesn't have to pretend to be classy or polite out here.

He passes the time by watching guests come and go (sometimes waving or saying a quick hi/bye to a few he recognizes), getting the stink-eye from guards and giving it right back, and wandering the premises. Generally not too close to the building, because he's Not Fancy Enough, but he's always lurking somewhere. For Katherine's sake.

[knowntohisfriends]

Talking of the 'Not Fancy Enough'...

"Didn't think this was yer style," the Dodger greets with a grin, flicking the brim of his hat in Ghoul's direction. He liked the wolf - and his friend. They were good sorts of people. Plus they seemed to be up for more laughs than most.

Sneaking In [ota]

[knowntohisfriends]

He could probably make them believe he's in service to Nancy, but where is the fun in that? These posh events aren't really the Dodger's type of thing, he prefers much more informal things. That being said, that fact that they have been firmly told they weren't allowed in meant that he was going to sneak in. He's even wearing a better jacket than usual and while his hat is still firmly perched on his head, it looks... tidier some how. More presentable.

He's looking for the food. Food is always the best place to be.

OTA

[morevacant]

Lydia loves a party. She doesn't really care what it's for, or who's throwing it. But something like this, something big, well, you're going to bet that she's there. Dressed in her finest, more Essex than London fashionable, Lydia breezes in with a beam. The tour's boring, but it's expected, so she drags herself along, paying little attention to what the guide is saying. Boring, boring, boring.

As soon as possible, she heads for the champagne, and immediately looks for someone, preferably someone attractive, to talk to.

[falsify]

You know who's attractive? Keiran. He's also a bit old for her and here as someone else's date, but that's neither here nor there.

They happen to be going for the champagne at the same time, and he laughs with a softly spoken apology when their hands bump and his knocks hers away from the glass. Ever a helper, Keiran takes two glasses from the tray and offers one to her.

"Here-- sorry about that."

(Closed to Lillian)

[brightwitch]

The party is over. Upstairs, the guests have all dispersed and the last of the staff are cleaning up. Samantha is buzzing with excitement. She's met friends and enemies today and all of them have only strengthened her resolve.

She heads downstairs into the basement before she leaves, accompanied by two security guards. This is a restricted area, guarded by magic, with iron doors that will only open at the touch of a Daybreak witch's hand. The doors open into a cold, dry space. The floor is grey concrete. The walls are reinforced with iron. And there are cages here. Cages of all sizes, ranging from tiny mesh boxes to prison cells big enough to hold a dragon. (There are no dragons yet, but Samantha is ambitious.)

Not all of the cages are occupied but some of them are, and these ones are also encircled within a pentacle made of salt, the intricate design created to keep its occupant from getting out. Samantha moves between the rows of smaller cages, glancing at the creatures trapped inside. Imps, goblins, sprites: nasty fae creatures that pull faces at her as she walks past. In a tall and slender bird cage to the left there is the pride of her collection: a phoenix, its fiery plumage lighting up the room.

"You're so beautiful," Samantha murmurs, stopping as she always does in front of the bird. "I want to take you home."

And she will, she thinks, but they've already promised the phoenix to a researcher for a month. It's a powerful bird. Its feathers, tears, blood: all are potent ingredients that can be used in the lab. And they want to try and bottle up its fire.

She moves on. A little way down there's one of their more human-looking specimens, a Seelie in the form of a Japanese woman. She was one of their earlier catches if Samantha recalls correctly, so they've been using her to test out the centre's magical security.

Samantha looks over to the guard on her right. "Have we seen the test results for this one yet?"

[threadspun]

She isn't doing too well. Almost month's worth of invasive experiments and too thorough tests will get any to any fae.

The most that she can say for sure is that she isn't near death but she's not exactly going to recover from this easily if (when) she gets out of here. She's stronger and sturdier than the smaller fae but not as robust compared to her companion. She knows she's just lucky enough to still be alive after the wringer they've put her through in their attempts to strengthen the security of the centre. She doesn't know what she hates more: The fact she's being put through this or the fact other fae are being put through this.

Still- When she hears a familiar voice from her half-sleeping state, Lillian makes an effort to rouse herself from sleep and to stand up with her back straight and chin high. (Even if it takes her an attempt or two to accomplish that.)

The guard, the one presenting Samantha the promising results of what their tests revealed, freezes up when they spot movement from Lillian's cage and no doubt thought she was up to something. They move forward to try and protect the Mother of Witches but Lillian merely shakes her head, not wanting to do any harm or start a fight here of all places. She knows that she'll lose if she tried anything funny.

Instead she presses a hand against her throat, forcing herself to speak up so she could be heard since this will be the most she's ever spoken since being brought here. "-If you have a moment, I would like to have a word with you. It seems only... polite to have a word with your guests."

It won't take a genius to figure out who she's addressing here.

OTA

[moralabsolutism]

Ever the conspiracy theorist when he was alive, in death, Rorschach is no different. Anything that looks a little too nice and neat on the outside makes him think there must be something behind it. So, Rorschach takes the night off from haunting Hillingdon House, and makes his way to the centre. He arrives just in time to see Samantha's speech.

He mostly stays invisible through the crowd, though occasionally, he manifests, hanging at the back of the crowds. He doesn't say much, hands in the pockets of his coat, his curious mask's blots the only part of him that seems to move much. Just don't move through him while he's manifested. That's awfully rude.

[dredefulchilde]

"What's a ghost doing at a witch party?" Joscelin sounds bored. And he is. He got the invitation as a potential investor because he is just as old and wealthy as the rest of the ancient vampires in London, though much lower status. It's an exceptionally dull affair, what with all the witchy self-aggrandizement and Night Council posturing. The bartender won't even serve him alcohol. He's just about to leave when he spots the ghost in the corner, looking very suspicious.

"You've picked an odd place to haunt."