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

[dredefulchilde]

A former hunter. How delightfully quaint. He's not someone Joss recognizes as having ever come after him or any of his acquaintances, and it's not like he's capable of doing any vampire harm now that he's dead.

"A pleasure sir," Joscelin says in that slightly mocking way of his. "I would shake your hand, were it corporeal, but alas."

He finds Rorschach's comment quite funny and grins. "They were pretty, weren't they? I do try to keep the art of conversation alive. The niceties must be observed, even by a 'neat little monster,' as you so charmingly put it."

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach's haunts (ha ha) when he was alive had been across the pond in New York City. The only reason he was stuck in London was being here on one last job. It had cost him his life.

He scowls beneath the mask. Is he being made fun of? It's hard to tell with that oh-so-innocent smile on Joss' face. "Niceties from a killer. Wouldn't have thought you capable of it." Despite his flat, rumbling tone, there's a definite note of sarcasm there.

[dredefulchilde]

"But Mr. Rorschach," Joscelin replies sweetly, "the niceties are the most important part of being a killer. It's much easier to gain entry to someone's home if you ask politely." He's pushing here, trying to shock the former hunter into potentially doing something. He's bored and he might as well poke a bear to pass the time.

Or, well, annoy a ghost. What's the worst he can do?

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach's gloved hands tighten up. Oh, if only he was alive, he would teach this little brat a lesson he'd never forget. As it is, there's very little he can do. But still, if Joss is careless enough to mention not having toed the line recently, he can report it back to the hunters of Hillingdon.

"Done that recently?"

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin sees the trap from a mile off. He just smirks. "A true gentleman doesn't kiss and tell," he demurs.

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach flickers out of view for a second and it seems like he's done with the conversation. Then he reappears on Joss' other side. "Should be easy for you then. You're no gentleman."

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin does not welcome the sudden invasion of his personal space. He frowns up at the ghost. "How would you know what a gentlemen does or does not do?" He keeps his voice even; he's still just making conversation. "All I see is a dead man in a dirty overcoat and bizarre mask."

[moralabsolutism]

"Been around long enough to know one when I see one." Rorschach shot back. Really? Insulting his appearance was the best that Joscelin could come up with?

"Funny. All I see is an old predator wearing a skin he outgrew ages ago."

[dredefulchilde]

"You suggest I shed my skin?" Joscelin's smiling again, a little nastier. "We both wear masks, sirrah, though mine is somewhat prettier than yours. Shall I show you my true face?"

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach folds his arms, tilting his head to the side. He doesn't fear Joscelin. He's already dead. There's nothing more that can be done to hurt him. "Can't be anything worse than what I've seen before." He's seen the true ugliness of the supernatural community before. Nothing can surprise him now.