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

[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.

[longterm]

Cesare smiles at the compliment, tilting his head slightly to say thank you.

"A proper occasion needs a proper suit," he explains. He doesn't comment on her appearance, thinking it improper at her event, while he's trying to be respectful and professional. But the way he allows himself to look over her gently makes it clear that he finds her pretty easy on the eye.

"And that's pretty good for an Islington Nest member, isn't it? I'm not permitted to think any other way." He says permitted with a wrinkle of his nose and a slight roll of his eyes. For someone who seemed so keen on keeping things fair and diplomatic, everything Jean-Claude has done so far seems a lot like a dictatorship. Cesare doesn't exactly approve.

[brightwitch]

Oh, that's a promising eye roll. She takes note of that.

"I've heard about that," she replies, and the look on her face makes it clear that she doesn't approve at all. "It came as a surprise when I did have Cooper's support. I thought for sure he would have the ear of your leader but I guess I was wrong."

Getting Cooper on her side hadn't translated into support or at least neutrality from the Islington Nest. There's something going on there. Perhaps Cesare knows what.

[longterm]

Cesare shrugs and takes a sip of his drink. He's not foolish enough to show his hand too easily, so he keeps his answer fairly vague.

"Perhaps vampires just react poorly to iron fists," he says, making it very clear how he views Jean-Claude's leadership. "We're old. We've formed our own opinions and can be difficult to manage." Cesare knows he definitely is, for one thing.

"His girlfriend is a witch." And a whore. But he'll miss that fact out. He has no doubt that Samantha already knows anyway. "Perhaps that swayed him a little."

[brightwitch]

"Maybe."

She taps her mouth thoughtfully. Yes, she does know who Cooper's girlfriend is and Nancy is not a Daybreak witch so her influence is limited there. Perhaps he agreed to the proposal because he thought it would please his girlfriend. She wonders what the Nest thinks about that.

"What about you?" she asks, turning her eyes up to his. "You seem the type to make the rules, not follow them. Am I wrong?"

[longterm]

To be honest, Cesare doesn't care much about the Nest and/or what its members think. He has been a part of the Islington on and off for a while now, but he's never considered it his home. He's very happy to align with whatever team suits him best. At least Nancy had been smart enough to do the same, even if it caused some odd looks from the rest of the faction. She's completely screwed if she breaks up with Cooper though.

"How ever did you get that idea?" Cesare replies in pretend shock, clearly joking. "I do as I'm told." They are in public after all. Cesare should keep at least some vague semblance of propriety.

[brightwitch]

"You do as you're told, huh?" Her lips quirk and she gives him a knowing look. "So what if I told you to make a generous donation? Could you do that for me?"

She's teasing him, not expecting a yes. But she's rather enjoying this song and dance.

[longterm]

"Ms Okeke. You know I can't be seen doing that," he replies with an apologetic smile, seen being the critical word.

Money means little to him nowadays. Even when he was mortal, he had never had to worry about it. Now that he's old and has a lot of investments in a lot of industries, he has more money than he knows what to do with. But he knows he shouldn't be giving money to Samantha. At least definitely not publicly.

"I'm sure you have a plenitude of potential donors desperately waiting to help the cause."

[brightwitch]

Hmm, okay. She gets it. She finishes off her champagne glass and puts it down on the tray of a passing waiter before looking back and nodding at Cesare.

"And some of them are in this room, so I should go and thank them for their generosity. Maybe next time." She smiles, a little rueful, and moves to walk past him, moving on. As she passes, however, her hand brushes his arm and she whispers in his ear: "Pentacle Room. Five minutes."

If all his hints mean something, maybe he'll go there. She'll make sure that security lets him through: him and no one else. If not... well, she'll move on.

[longterm]

Cesare is used to these sorts of covert meetings, although he isn't entirely sure if Samantha intends for the two of them to chat politics or make out. Either way, he's interested. He sips his drink for a few minutes, pretending to mingle further, before leaving his glass on a nearby table and heading up to the Pentacle Room. He traces his hand along the spines of the spellbooks, his gaze fixed on her, before letting his eyes turn to the pentacles for a second.

"Spooky," he says with a smirk.

[brightwitch]

She walks over to join him, carefully stepping between the pentacles, and brushes her fingers over the spellbooks just moments after Cesare.

"Spooky," she repeats, laughing a little. "Says the vampire. Cesare..." She looks at him, seeming to consider for a moment before she goes on. "I have a confession to make. And I want to hear your honest opinion and not whatever you'd say in front of your boss." A pause. "The Night Council has stopped funding this initiative. Either Cooper fell into line after JC's order or Sylvia grew some balls and made an executive decision. I don't know which, but we're short one funding stream and I am getting very tired of broken promises."

It's frustrating, being overruled. Having to bend and sway to those in power. She's Mother of Witches for god's sake: she should be able to do whatever the hell she wants. But it feels like she's had to fight tooth and claw for every bit of progress and with the Seelie and Unseelie Courts breathing down her neck, she doesn't feel half as confident as she pretends to be. She will make this happen. If it takes teaming up with someone as notorious as Cesare Borgia, she'll do it. Whatever it takes.

[longterm]

Cesare appreciates Samantha's frankness. He doesn't like to waste time and the fact that she's telling him about her financial situation and openly talking about her feud with Sylvia is definite progress. They've danced around each other enough. Now it's time to talk like professionals.

"My opinion is that you're in a bit of a difficult situation, but not a hopeless one. The fact that Sylvia might be trying to undermine you secretly shows that she knows she can't do it publicly. If it's revealed that she's been trying to control you after she's retired, there'll be an uproar. I think you still have a lot of moves to play." There. His own opinion, definitely not the official Islington Nest stance, though when has Cesare ever followed that?

"Your funding troubles are a symptom of a bigger problem." That problem being Sylvia. "There's no point fixing your funding until you have full control over your faction."

[brightwitch]

"I have control over my faction." She's stubborn about that. "It's your faction that's undermining me openly. Are you going to do whatever Jean-Claude tells you? Because if so, we won't be friends."

There's a challenging look in her eyes. This is the crunch point. Is there anything to his hints that he's frustrated with his own leadership? Or will he rebuff her too?

[longterm]

Cesare's eyes narrow for the slightest of seconds as he listens to her. He's used to people being firm with him every so often but this a bit more than that. This is a challenge. He hasn't been challenged like this in a while. He kinda likes it.

"If I did, I wouldn't be here. He doesn't trust me and he's right not to. If you think I'm his loyal subject, you're mightily mistaken." Cesare is only in his nest really because he needs a faction. He has absolutely no feeling of loyalty towards it or its leaders.

[brightwitch]

There's a flash of triumph in her smile. She was right. Unless he's playing a very long game, of course, but she can deal with that.

"Good," says Samantha. She visibly relaxes, taking a step back. "Maybe we can be friends. You know what I want. Can you help me?"

Not being on Jean-Claude's side doesn't mean he's on her side, and it doesn't mean he's able to help. But maybe they can work something out.

[longterm]

Cesare is not the type to give someone something for free. If he helps her, he expects something in return, though he'll save mentioning that for later. Right now, he knows, is a test of good will.

"How much do you need?" he asks as if that matters to him at all. "I have a friend who runs a surprisingly lucrative dental practice." He reaches over for a pen and gestures for her to hold her arm out so that he can write a phone number on to it. "I'm sure he'll be able to help you." It's a cover up, a buffer so that the money can't be traced directly to him. He's pretty open about his feelings but he isn't stupid. He knows that if he was caught donating money to Samantha's cause, it would immediately be the end for him in the Nest. He's not quite ready to ditch just yet.

[brightwitch]

She meets his eyes. "Five million."

That'll do for a start. She bets he can afford it. She picks up one of the spellbooks and tears off a bit of one of the pages for him to write on, passing the paper over to him. Once he goes through with this he will have defied his leader and that means he'll be tied in some way to her cause.

He'll want something in return. She's not so naive as to think that he won't. But they can talk about that.

[longterm]

Cesare quirks an eyebrow and laughs as he writes the phone number on the spellbook page, in a hand that is a little too ornate (old habits die hard).

"You've got guts. I'll give you that." Five million is a lot. Not for him. But it's a lot in general. What is she intending to build with that? Did all of her backers drop out or something? He does respect her for asking though. "Don't throw it away at the slots."

[brightwitch]

She laughs. "Hey, I've got a mortgage to pay off. You know how ridiculous house prices are." But no, of course she'll invest it properly. She takes the paper with his number on it and rolls it up, hiding it in the palm of her hand. "We'll use it wisely, I promise. Thank you."

[longterm]

"Please. Thank Atkinson Dental," he replies with a smirk. "And don't use it too wisely. We're still competing after all, aren't we?" Cesare may be carrying out a bit of backroom politics, but he's still aware that ultimately they're still pitted against one another for now. Islington Nest is a big faction, but Circle Daybreak is on the cusp of something a lot bigger, Cesare is sure. He doesn't yet want Samantha to be too powerful, not until he figures out if they're on the same side.

[brightwitch]

"Are we? We don't have to be." She places the spellbook back on the shelf. Yes, Islington and Daybreak are enemies but he's as good as said he doesn't agree with that. What does he want?

[longterm]

Cesare is intrigued. Yes, he's giving a lot of money to Samantha and expects something in return, but that's a lot different from some sort of actual political alliance. "What are you saying?" he asks, leaning in a little.

"I'm just a rich old man with a chip on his shoulder. I'm not sure how much use I could be." Though they both know that there's more to him than that. He has a considerable history of subterfuge and seizing power, and a frightening amount of ambition. He knows he's on the cusp of something great. He just hasn't figured out who he needs to stab in the back just yet to get it.

[brightwitch]

She smiles, putting a hand on her hip. Who does he think he's kidding? "You're Cesare Borgia. I've read Machiavelli. Did he make it all up?"

[longterm]

Oh, no. Appealing to his ego. Cesare likes that. A lot. Far more than he should. It reminds him of when his name used to scare people, properly scare them. He misses that. He smiles, his semblance of modesty having vanished.

"He underplayed it, if anything. I don't think he mentioned anything about immortality in there, did he?" he asks, pretending to ponder over it.

"But what do you think they'll write about you?"

[brightwitch]

"Me?" She shrugs, and it's her turn to play modest. "I don't know and you probably don't care. Look, I appreciate the favour, but I know it doesn't come without strings. What's the catch?"

There must be something. She knows it.