[Data: October 19, 9 pm local, Hong Kong. (October 20, 4pm GMT)] [Hong Kong's elite gather for an annual 'Hong Kong Cares' ball. A charity fundraiser to benefit North Korean refugees, many of which are still in China even after Korea's reunification.] [Will, not surprisingly, is there, along with many present stars of Hong Kong cinema.] [Or at least that's the information that can be gleaned from the promotional materials, which are the first thing Yuri sees when she 'walks' into the lobby.] [There's a fair amount of bustle in the lobby, no one she knows, and a fairly snooty looking maitre de keeping out the riffraff.] [Can't have rifraf at a charity event.] [Start] (She was unaware?) (Of the evet?) (Will, give me a cultural arts roll.) (She arrived via walk, not via planning.) (will->well) [The event is rather high profile. Yuri's heard of it before and thus has access to any basic information she needs. Yuri remembered Will mentioning he was going to it, but they hadn't made specific plans. Since, well, specific plans can be tricky for someone in her profession.] * Yuri looks to be herself today. A pair of shorts and a t-shirt with a big circle on it. She blinks as she realizes where she is and murmurs, "Thank you." [Yuri gets a few glances from passers by. The more business/political elites seem a bit displeased at someone out of place. Although one well known Hong Kong parliamentarian gives her a thumbs up.] [Although she doesn't know if the parliamentary leader knows her.] * Yuri smiles slightly at the woman and waves, taking note of her, and then heads for the area proper. [She gets to the main entrance, where the maitre de stands guard. He hasn't noticed her yet. His assistants, two doormen, automatically move to block her entrance.] * Yuri looks up at the two of them and says, "If you would like to tell Will Cheng that Yuri is here?" Gold eyes flash at them. (Hmm, give me a soul roll on that. Persuasive type skill of choice. Appearance helps.) (Well, she's at least using Chinese.:) (Let me know which skill, as it makes a difference in how they apply.) (No appropriate persuasives.) (apply->reply) (Okay, just soul then.) (But she's being nice!) (/me nods. "Gotcha.) [One of the doorman snorts and looks unimpressed. The other smiles at the pretty lady that might just be in his league. "Well, let me just check if he's left word of a guest." He goes over to consult with the maitre de.] * Maitre de looks Yuri over and manages to suppress his disapproval. "Mr. Cheng will be notified. He has apparently readied a dress for you in the cloak room off to the right. Please avail yourself of it." [Both doormen look quite surprised.] * Yuri smiles slightly, gives both of them a bow and offers the bon mot of, "Books, cover, and so on." She heads over to the right with a smile on her face. * Nice doorman looks to the other. "Way to insult a star's girlfriend." His compatriot mutters something under his breath. [When Yuri gets to the cloakroom there's a nice older man who shows her the two dresses she has waiting. Option number one is modern and an earthy brown with gold flecks. Option two is a more classical black number. It has longer sleeves and a short train, although the top is still somewhat revealing. There's a tailoring service available and paid for to make any adjustments if needed.] * Yuri goes with dress #1, maestro. [By the time she's done changing, Will is waiting in the lobby. He gets a few star stuck looks, but any real fan girls/boys would have been stopped before even entering the lobby.] [He's talking with an up-and-coming actor and hasn't seen her yet.] * Yuri comes out with her dress all on and such, and smiles at him as she closes. "It's good you think ahead, anything this good wouldn't travel well." * Will smiles and looks over. "I actually learned a few tricks from doing street work for high class clientele." He walks over, puts a hand on Yuri's shoulder, and leans in to kiss her. * Yuri leans up to kiss him lightly as well. "They serve you well." A beat as she glances around, then she says, "Perhaps you will be lucky enough for this to be pleasure and not... business." * Will nods. "Or at least pleasurable business." He leads Yuri back to the main ballroom.. The place is full of luminaries. There are wait staff swarming to serve the few dozen tables. There are large pictures on the side walls of Koreans helped by past fundraisers. Yuri probably recognizes a few stars. Give me an awareness roll.] [Yuri also notices a few stars she's fairly certain she should know, but just doesn't.] How have you been? * Yuri follows along, lightly on his arm. "Well, but busy." A faint increase in her smile. "Two days without sleep." * Will raises an eyebrow as he leads you over to your table. "My, I hope that's part of your training." * Yuri nods slightly and says in a near-quote, "'To rise above the world is to be less subject to its restrictions' as Saldin would say." She sits down (hopefully with his continued courtesy!) "And you?" * Will does pull out a chair for her to sit in and then sits himself. There's a few businessmen and women at the table, presently engaged in a heated discussion of 'Air rights.' There's a few empty seats. Quiet actually. Too quiet for my taste. The action figures Smee put out are selling surprisingly well, so I'm not hard pressed to find a new client. However, just attending to the social circuit ::he shrugs:: it doesn't satisfy. * Yuri makes a slight face. Smee. Then she smiles faintly, offering what is likely a joke between them, "Perhaps you should think of disappearing for a few days with me." * Will notices the face and speaks quietly. "Just a standard likeness deal love. I had my agent double check it. No worries." He then resumes normal conversational tone. He then chuckles. "That actually sounds appealing. Well, assuming you let me sleep. But I bet I'd mostly be in the way." * Yuri replies, "It's never a certainty." A beat as she smoothes her dress over, then she says, "It may not be the best time, besides. There is..." she trails off. [The table is kept stocked with a nice mix of appetizers. There's some tasty looking seafood, a few fried options, and even a couple bones thrown to the vegetarians, as it were.] * Will looks curious. "Something happening?" * Yuri shakes her head a little and looks off at the crowd. "'Something in the air'... that's the phrase, right?" [Renew the awareness check.] * Will nods. "I've been getting an odd vibe of late. Well--" [The first thing Yuri notices is that the friendly member of parliament from before has wandered over. She's in her early sixties and would be fairly short if not for fairly high heels. "Will, darling, congratulations on finely developing some taste in women. It's really about time."] [The second thing Yuri notices is that there's a Vanguard group a few tables over. Ceilia, the Vanguard rep at the tournament, is there. Bookie is as well. He's got an attractive girl sitting on each side.] [Continuity check. Back in England, Saldin, Jonathon, and Ren have just defeated the demon attacking Derk.] * Yuri 's face is tainted with a fleeting frown before she looks up to the friendly woman. You'd thik Will would respond! * Will smiles and stands and bows. "M.P. Zhang, so pleasant to see you." He then grins, "Have you already met Ms. Nanirabo, or are you just a good judge of character at first glance?" * Zhang returns the bow. "I haven't yet had the pleasure." * Zhang then gives Yuri a quick courteous bow. "Your present attire suits you quite well. Even if it won't trouble the uptight masses." * Yuri stands as well and offers helpfully, "Unfortunately, people don't often look to be challenged." She bows. "Nanirabo Yuri, Miss Zhang." Which is why it's necessary to go out of one's way to do so. Otherwise, they'd go their whole lives in a rut." * Yuri smiles faintly. "A pleasure you don't get to exercise too often, I imagine." Her eyes flick past the woman to the Bookie table. * Zhang then takes a seat. "Mind if I sit a moment? There's this delightful and intelligent woman back at my table with lots of interesting details on social work programs. However, I do like to get away from committee work on occasion." Will nods in agreement but then discretely looks to see where Yuri is looking. * Will asks under his breath. "Problem?" * Yuri replies softly, "Not a pleasant sight. It appears their showpiece is enjoying himself." She then looks back to the MP and shakes her head. "Of course not." * Will nods and resumes normal conversation. [After a bit, another M.P. arrives that seems to want something from M.P. Zhang. She turns her attention to needling her fellow elected official, much to the amusement of the business people. Entrees are served.] [Give me another awareness check. -4 bonus.] [On occasional glances, Bookie seems oddly stoic in the face of the nights entertainment. It appears to be not for lack of trying by his companions.] * Will focuses on Yuri for now. "So, Yvonne's your girl in the final?" * Yuri nods with a small sigh. "For better or worse. Perhaps she should just try to seduce Bookie." She looks at the table again and more of a frown crosses her face. * Will chuckles at that comment. "My, you really do want him punished, don't you." [Ceilia seems to be keeping a fairly watchful eye on her young charge. She doesn't seem at all worried about the two girls.] * Yuri looks over at him and sighs slightly. "He just..." she shakes her head and finishes, "He is being used. Kept numb and domesticated. I... want to see a small fragment of the responsibility he's got in him." * Will glances over and nods. "I think I see what you mean. But enough business. After the next big thing, what are your longer term plans? Are they allowed in your profession? * Yuri looks to Will and says, with a small smile. "You've met Saldin, I think. That's my future. Although maybe a little less... Saldin." * Will laughs. * Yuri asks, after a moment, "That wasn't one of those 'meaningful' questions, was it?" I asked because I'm curious. ::He grins:: Make of that, what you will. * Yuri laughs a little. "Okay, I will, Will." [And there's a few presentations regarding efforts in Korea. Some are genuinely moving. The one by Vanguard Corp on "Vanguard, more than just profits" is less so, though the executive giving it seems surprisingly in earnest. M.P. Zhang seems to be ignoring the presentation and asks a few questions of Will after some small talk with both of you.] * Yuri looks at Bookie during the presentation. More than just profits my foot. Will, I've got a bit of a strange problem. A few dozen of my constinuents are complaining about a 'haunted' apartment building. ::She looks a bit apologetic:: I've never put much credence in some things, but they seem, honestly troubled. [Yuri notices one of the girls playing footsie with Bookie. He seems not really sure how to handle it and is taking advantage of the fact that nobody told the waiters that he's underage.] I see. They're not well off, and I'm afraid city funds aren't available. But I would consider it a personal favor if you'd look into it for me. [Bookie seems to be trying to chat up the girl in question, but the conversation peters out before too long.] But of course. It's no trouble at all. [And before to long the presentations are over and the dinner is capped off with an excellent dessert.] [We've caught up to the other PCs in continuity.] [The back section of the room is cleared for dancing.] * Will smiles as the music starts. "Shall we?" * Yuri looks over to Will with a smile of her own and says, "Will you excuse me for a moment?" Beat, as the smile fades. "I should be a credit to my order and at least attempt to take care of business." * Will smiles. "Of course. Can I help?" * Yuri extends her hand, a smile coming back to her face. "Sure." * Will takes her hand and stands. He lets Yuri take the lead. * Yuri leads Bookie-ward. Of course. She steels her face so it's more of a impassive slate of rock than normal. [The two girls seem to be competing for first dance. Ceilia notices Yuri's approach and sighs, looking down for a moment resting her forehead on her arm. Bookie hasn't notice your approach just yet. * Will flashes apologetic smiles to competition trying to get a dance with him. * Yuri has him! Ha ha! She continues to approach, whether Cecilia likes it or not. "Bookie," she eases out as she gets close enough to do so. * Bookie glances up. "Yuri!" Yuri gets two very dirty from Bookie's companions. * Ceilia makes a quiet companion to another executive. Hearing awareness roll, -4 bonus from proximity. (dirty looks) [Yuri doesn't hear Ceilia's comment.] * Yuri replies, with a very faint teasing tone, "You're awfully excited to see me." She doesn't need to pay attention to the girls. Well, it's been dull. V.A.'s stepped up security before the final match. Protections against black magic are actually kinda tedious. * Companion to the left decides not to waste her efforts for the moment. Companion to the right rests a hand on Bookie's shoulder and makes a sympathetic comment. * Yuri replies, "That kind of thing never really goes away, you know." She gestures across her body towards Will. "I hope you know Will Cheng?" * Bookie smiles. "Star of 'An Inconvenient Bullet?' Of course I know him." Bookie does his best Will impression, which isn't half bad, "It's time to sort out the garbage." * Will laughs. "A few of the critics weren't nearly so fond of that one." What do they know? * Yuri nods slightly and glances to Will apologetically for a moment before saying, "I hope you won't mind if I offer the finalist the opportunity for a short dance?" [Celia's co-employee makes a comment back to her. Another -4 hearing check.] I mind. Alright, but turn about is fair play. ::she stands up:: May I have this dance Mr. Cheng. * Will glances over to Yuri and shrugs. [Other Vanguard employee responds. "Yes, Tibet's been acting up, but no, the Chinese government would not overlook sanitizing a monk at a premier social event."] [The Vanguard execs register slightly. Girl on the left doesn't. Girl on the right does. Between the various signals, you can't work out details. * Yuri looks away from Will for a moment to the woman and says confidently, "I am sure Will can handle himself." She extends her hand. "Bookie?" * Bookie takes her hand and stands. "Certainly." [Will amuses himself by teasing the two women for a bit.] * Yuri takes Bookie and heads to the floor. There is no pretense of Bookie leading here as she turns to face him. She teases, but with a note of unpleasantness in it, "I hope you won't be attempting to step on me here?" * Bookie is not a skilled dancer, but he manages to stay off your toes. "Just so long as you keep it simple." * Yuri chuckles to herself. "I don't exactly dance much either." A pause as they dance a bit, then she says seriously, but in an attempt to be casual, "Bookie, I realize Saldin can be a little off, but... you do realize your tablemates were calculating whether they could kill me, right?" * Bookie looks sheepish. "They're probably not serious. I don't think they pause to talk when they're serious." * Yuri replies, "They do when there are this many people around." She pauses another momet, then says, "Bookie, is this what you want? You, and Breaker... trophies?" She looks off to the table. "Experiments?" I'm taking a bonus and leaving after the fight. It's bigger if I win. But I'll be done with them. As for Bookie, well, I gave her the choice. * Yuri chuckles and says quietly, "And Yvonne misinterpreted it." Beat. "I... I wish you could understand just how much responsibility is here with you, and Yvonne, and Breaker." A small chuckle. "And how much you look like the guy who wants out of a gang in one of Will's movies. How often do they live, Bookie?" * Bookie thinks that over. "Did she? Do you really trust her. But yeah, you make a good point. I'll leave separately and have them wire the money." * Yuri replies, after a second, "Saldin trusts her for the moment, and that's enough." She sighs slightly. "Bookie, you say you do not trust them not to kill you, but you trust them with Breaker?" She glances to see if Will's dead or something. [Will is keeping the right girl at a polite distance, despite her best efforts.] I think there's some big legal arrangements or something. Raleigh showed me the contract. She pointed out a few weaknesses, but Breaker should be alright if she doesn't do anything stupid. * Yuri replies, simply and quickly, "Dead women don't prosecute. Neither do slaves. You have... no idea, Bookie. Breaker's world, your world... isn't a world of lawyers. It's closer to the movies than you believe, and farther away too." Beat. "She needs to have the freedom to save anyone. Not just Vanguard's friends." (HMm, give me a psych roll.) Fine. Well, tell me why I should trust Yvonne. Saldin trusting her isn't enough. Because I've talked about her with Raleigh. She's probably not as dumb as she plays. Vanguard's at least more predictable." * Yuri sighs slightly and replies, "Raleigh isn't innocent either, Bookie." Beat, then she says, "Because she won't control her, Bookie. It's not like she gets to grab her and take her away forever." Another beat. "I don't like her all that much either, Bookie, but if there's one thing I've learned never to underestimate, it's Saldin's ability to do the right thing. If Yvonne weren't here, this would already be over. For that alone... he's m (he's m) (he's made a choice.") And in those movies, the not so happy ones, remind me what happens to minor characters that take noble stands once their in over their heads. (their->they're) * Yuri chuckles weakly and then shakes her head. "I don't think I need to, Bookie. Just think about it. The land of Vanguard is contracts, and will trap her forever. Our way... is freedom. Don't let anyone take away your friend's freedom." A sad smile. "You don't seem to be enjoying it much yourself." She slows the dance to a stop. "Thank you for listening. Hopefully it wasn't too monklike." She makes the 'mouthy gab' motion with her hand. * Bookie gives a fairly cold smile. "Right. Well, if she losing badly... we'll see. You'll protect me?" * Yuri replies with a little smile, "Anything else would make me a pretty bad person, wouldn't it? We'll be behind you, Bookie. And in front of you." A wink. "Might even be able to get Will to help." * Will finishes up his dance and looks over. Good. ::he grins and speaks softly:: Between you guys and Raleigh, I'm covered by both the forces of light and darkness. ::he resumes his normal tone:: Try not to cancel one another out. * Bookie heads back to his table as Will heads over. * Yuri sighs and follows him with her eyes. When Will gets there she looks up at him and says softly, "Duty discharged, hopefully, for the now." She puts her hand to his arm. "She wasn't too horrid, I hope?" She had some sense of decorum. Helps that I'm experienced in handling her type. So, shall we? * Yuri smiles warmly and genuinely. "Let's. At the least, it will mean you got something out of the dress besides a status symbol." [And Yuri gets the rest of the evening to spend as she pleases.] [End. Logo switches back to Saldin for some future week.]