Paragon City: A Steampunk Story (O/A)

What is your following?

Paragon Agent - Follow the laws and die, scum!!!	5.9%	[ 2 ]
Resistance Rebel - Damn your system!!	17.6%	[ 6 ]
Tinker - Creativity of tomorrow, with pay.	32.4%	[ 11 ]
Government Spy - Outsiders have chrome!!	2.9%	[ 1 ]
Unaligned	41.2%	[ 14 ]
Total Votes:			[ 34 ]

[Sad Dust Glories]

Location: The City

They left the alleyway and Vinny seemed to relax a bit. She listened to his story. Whoever this tinker was, he did something incredible. Making a mechanical limb wasn't that uncommon, but nearly an entire body? That was pretty incredible.

Azra glanced up and down Cog Street. She breathed in the rusty air and noticed the thin layer of sooty grime that seemed to coat everything. She allowed the roar of the city to flood over her after the short walk in the quiet alley. She was not the city type. Cities were something she could handle in short doses, like when they stopped to trade, but never for very long. She desperately missed the open sky, one that wasn't hidden by skyscrapers or smog.

"I hate this city." She sighed suddenly with a bit of a unhappy laugh. "I'm getting out of here first chance I get. Thanks. I guess I'll see you around." She said with a bit of a smile before turning to head back to the little lamp shop. It was small and insignificant, but for the time being it was home.

[Sad Dust Glories]

((hello? Anyone out there? echoes....))

[Hobo_Bob]

It was later that night...

The shops were glowing with the golden hue of lamp light and candles,
The socialites were out at the theaters,
But no place was as crowded or busy as Ruztys.

It seemed that Monty and Simon were busy contacting everyone in Enors inner circle.
A few were there of their own accord, wanting nothing more then to partake in some fun.

For every party the Ruzty's threw, something unexpected were to happen....

[Qwenloswen]

It had been an uneventful though pleasant day for Lucien and Enor as they’d strolled through Paragon’s upper market. As the name implied the shops were rather on the bourgeoisie side but if nothing else it offered the benefit of a day that was unlikely to result in a mugging as many other places in the city were unable to boast.

They’d hit the dressmaker’s first so Enor could get her dress picked out for the evening as well as buy something temporary to wear for the day of shopping. Though to judge by the way she liked what she picked out Enor would continue to use that ensemble in the future. Measurements taken, the seamstress promised the dress would be done and delivered to Ruzty’s by that evening though there would need to be one last fitting before then. Even if the dress was largely done already she took enough pride in her work to want to be certain of the fit.

The rest of the morning was spent chatting, browsing shops, stopping at a small café for brunch, chatting, examining what the vendors had for sale, dropping off Lucien’s shirt at the cleaners’, chatting and finally coming back to the dressmaker’s for the final fitting. There might have been some more chatting in there, Lucien wasn’t sure. What he was sure about was that he’d enjoyed himself immensely and when he left Enor at the Ruzty’s front door he was already looking forward to the night’s festivities.

There was still quite a bit of time until then, however, and Lucien intended to use it wisely. He’d picked up a trinket during their shopping trip, one he’d noticed Enor eyeing, but before he could give it to her it would need some tweaking. Draping his newly-cleaned shirt over the back of his armchair he retreated to his workroom to see what could be done with a couple hours…

Quite a bit he determined, glancing at the clock as he stretched out his back. The bauble was done and ready to be boxed and wrapped and he still had more than enough time to get ready. Standing, Lucien put everything back where it went before grabbing both parts of Enor’s gift and wrapping them separately. The trinket would be his public gift to her; the other, the book she’d been reading so avidly, would have to be given privately since he didn’t know who would be there.

The clock was just striking eight when Lucien arrived at Ruzty’s to find the place a madhouse already, despite his punctuality. Finding Enor in the huge throng seemed a daunting prospect but he’d have to at least make the attempt and not just stand in the doorway looking stymied.

[Hobo_Bob]

Oh , ♥ - - - - - - - -

how this spring of love resembleth
how this spring of love resembleth
how this spring of love resembleth
how this spring of love resembleth
how this spring of love resembleth

ஐxxxxxThe u η c э я † ą i η glory of an ąpriℓ d a yxxx ❁ ❁

ωhich η ø ω shows ą ℓ ℓ beauty of the Suη

AndXXXX ❝ βy and βy ❞ XXX a cloud takes all away

a cloud takes all away
a cloud takes all away
a cloud takes all away
a cloud takes all away
a cloud takes all away
a cloud takes all away

Location: Lucien’s House


The dress was a perfect fit.

Red flared out skirt, a bit longer in the back then it was in the front to make it easier to move about in her tavern along with red trim. A matching top and short coat with bell sleeves. It was simple, nothing too dramatic, but all in all, it looked very elegant on her. Enor took her time getting ready, knowing the party was one thing to get to, but it was the people she was expecting that would make it all together a real treat. Firstly, of course, her cousin. She never arrived without at least one or two acrobatic performers with a new act to put on. Also, there was her friends from long since past. Those that, more then once, saved her life during a secret mission. And lastly, as she put on a little perfume with a hint of citrus, Lucien came to mind.

One last glance at herself in the mirror, fixing her hair so it was perfect, but didn't seem to be obviously played with, she left her bedroom on the top floor and descended the stairs. Once she arrived, people all greeted her and gave her a jovial cheer before the 'Happy Birthday song' sprang out. She shook her head, slightly embarrassed at being the center of attention, and looked to Simon and Monty, both of which who stood behind the bar with a smug look on their faces.

The song ended, and Enor thanked everyone as she made her way along the main floor to the bar to get herself a drink. The rooms were full, the halls were crowded and the band on stage was making more noise then the crowd itself. It seemed that wanting loud entertainment more then good entertainment was key on this day. But through it all, Enor looked about for familiar faces as she helped her two adopted older brothers work the crowd by serving up food and drinks.....




Ｅｎｏｒ
W h I n t o n A n l e e l

[Sad Dust Glories]

Location: Home

Azra glanced in her closet. She doubted she had anything suitable to wear. The lampmaker had left a note mentioning the party at Ruzty's, along with a demand for the month's rent. Apparently he himself had gone in order to get some new business. Azra had no idea who would want to talk about lamps at a party. Azra figured she would go for the free food and open bar. She hadn't eaten since breakfast so free food seemed pretty good right about now. Even if it did mean that she would have to dress up. Which brought her back to her current problem.

Azra wasn't even sure if she owned any skirts, let alone a dress. After quite a bit of digging, she found a rather plain deep green dress with a long flowing skirt. She put on the nicest, and only, corset she owned and didn't bother to tie it too tight. Breathing came before fashion. She never really was one to wear corsets, they were far too restricting. But she did discover that they could be a good place to hide a dagger or two. She tied her hair up nicely and glanced in the tarnished mirror. She thought she looked rather nice. As a final touch she fastened a belt with her swords attached. She couldn't imagine going anywhere without them.

By the time she got to Ruzty's the place was packed. She squeezed her way into the door and glanced around in wonder. Everyone there was dressed in such elaborate gowns, and here she was wearing what they probably wouldn't dare leave the house in. She felt rather out of place. Azra stood back near the wall, observing the party goers with vague interest.

End Location: Ruzty's Tavern

[Matakor]

Vinstrom Johnston

) Vinny (

_____________________________

Parties. Never in his life had he enjoyed a party. Even when he had been young and far more entertaining. He preferred to do something with a few individuals than the entire city. This night he had business there unfortunately. When he'd visited his home, he'd received another note. The ornate note indicated it'd come down from a private party, and the amount notated meant the party was bloody rich.

Vinny did not take this job, but because it was a private party, he knew that he wasn't the only one to receive this note. Others would have gotten it as well. This particular party seemed to want entertainment to be included among the job. Particularly since only one assassin would be payed. Proof by bringing the party the head of the individual. Vinny detested persons like this. Killing was not an entertainment. After he was certain the target was safe, he'd have to visit the private party in question. Words would have to be exchanged.

Until then, he'd be quite busy. A party needed a suit, and fortunately he'd had something of the sort. His regular attire would suffice in most areas. His biggest issue now was that he still was missing a hand. That worried him a bit. His hope now was that his presence would simply ward away most of the hopefuls, even though that would leave the more practiced assassins. Making sure he was just out of sight, he opened the note one more time before he entered the party. It read:

You have been called to perform for me.
Your target is simple, the setting is not.
You will perform on the night of the party at Ruzty's tavern.
Your target is the Tinker, Lucien Arceneau.

Vinny would not fail his task tonight. Lucien would live. There were two reasons: first and foremost, he needed his blasted hand back; second, he did not like performing. Tonight was going to be a busy one. He hoped now that no one would attempt anything during the party. If they did, Lucien would miss the party. Vinny was not about to let anyone remove the chance of getting his own hand back.

[The Chernokozel]

Walking around in the middle of the day wasn't usually his thing, but today felt a bit different. The man shrugged a bit and stuffed hands into his pockets. It didn't take him long to find his way over to Rusty'z. He blinked a bit as he noticed the door didn't seem to be locked. Either way, with the force he kicked it open, it could've gone either way. He strode in and found a seat for himself, reclining deeply against the couch as he eyed the room. He liked to make an entrance, and then find a nice, quiet, and dark place to relax for the time being. If anyone approached, he'd cast them a rather vicious glance before looking back at the book he'd pulled from inside his coat. It was a weathered and beaten copy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. He was rereading the novella.

He was a rather slim man in cleaned up dress clothes who, despite the cleanliness of the garb, had an unruly beard and weary, well-aged eyes. He had a boyish face, and although to some he might seem approachable, the look in his eyes, and the way he poised himself, he almost looked as though he was just waiting for an excuse to draw the short sword on his hip.

[Hobo_Bob]

(( once I get a post from Qwen's Addie character and Lobsters tinker character, things will start. The others need to make a post or I will have to remove them from the profiles, and thusly the games. =/ ))

[Antique Mermaid]

.: R u z t y 's ’ﾟ T a v e r n:.

This was the party she had been looking forward to all Day. Celeste had managed to get to Rusty’s early enough to find herself a seat at the bar. She had spent the whole day preparing herself for this party. She had heard about this bar before, and it was enough to draw her attention to it. A party of this size was the perfect excuse to come down to a place she normally wouldn’t be seen.

Celeste sat at the bar her long amber curls were pulled back framing her delicate face. She was beautiful; there had never been a doubt about her beauty in her entire life, it was why she was so good at what she did. The woman perched herself chewing on the straw of her most current drink, the people here were so nice, buying her drinks it was the least she could do to smile back and flirt a little. She needed these people to like her, so the easier she made it for them to like her the faster she can finish what she was sent here for and go back home. Now being friendly was an entirely different thing than climbing in bed with anything that walked. No, Celeste was better than a common call girl; she took on “clients” If she had to, it was the easiest way to get men to spill their secrets. It was actually those clients that funded her stay in this wretched city.
Her attention fell back to the party and the drink still full in her hand. There were more people stuffed into the place than she would have ever thought possible.

X*ﾟ’ﾟ･.｡I raise my flags
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXDon my clothes
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXIt's a revolution, I suppose
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXWe're painted red to fit right in*ﾟ’ﾟ･.｡

[Qwenloswen]

((OOC: Many apologies, life has been keeping me busy lately; I should have Adie's post up tomorrow.))

[Hobo_Bob]

(( no worries, Qwen, there's never a rush you know that. =3 ))

[Qwenloswen]

Madelene applauded with the rest, smiling broadly at her cousin despite – or perhaps because of – her obvious discomfiture. Though she understood Enor’s dislike of being in the spotlight she couldn’t help but think that today at least the innkeeper would have to grin and bear it; it’s what she got for throwing such a big party after all.

She’d been in earlier in the day, helping Monty and Simon set up and prepare. That Enor hadn’t been in was peculiar but not alarming and it allowed them to finish fairly quickly, especially the parts that they would otherwise have to be sneaky about in order to keep them a surprise. As a result Ruzty’s was s**c and span and ready to be trashed that evening.

And trashed it would be, concluded Madelene as she looked around. Most of the city seemed to be there, enjoying the entertainment and the chance to see and be seen. Not to mention the food and drink, always a large draw for the inn. Taking a sip of her drink she frowned as Enor took up station at the bar…that just wouldn’t do. Of course it was her place to do as she pleased but…well it was also her birthday party and if it could be helped nobody should have to work their own birthday party.

Raising her hand to beckon Enor over Madelene waited a moment as her cousin saw to her last customer before coming over to where the theater owner sat. Before she could ask what Adie wanted though she had stood and with a hand on her arm had gotten Enor to take her seat, “No arguments, cousin, no working…at least for today. I can take your place.” She glanced over towards the doorway where Lucien stood, “Besides, you should interact with your guests more.” She couldn’t know that the two had already gotten to know each other, she just knew Enor and her tastes and she got the feeling that the tinker was just the type for her cousin.

Not waiting for a possible argument she moved off towards the bar to take the role she’d just forced Enor to vacate and reported to Simon who immediately sent her out on the floor. Just as well that Monty had already retreated to the kitchen she supposed; her own culinary endeavors were….less than stellar usually. Instead she was tasked with drink running and making – for some unknown reason she made a pretty good mixologist despite the aforementioned lack of cooking skill.

Dropping off the latest drink with a guest near the corner Adie noticed a relative newcomer to the party sitting nearby reading. Not what she would have recommended doing at a party certainly but she wouldn’t judge. All the same though, the gentleman had no drink in front of him, empty or otherwise, and that wouldn’t do, “Excuse me, sir, could I perhaps get you something from the bar?”

[The Chernokozel]

[ AleXANder Gamble ]
[ Location: Rusty'z ]

He had been sitting and enjoying a very nice bit of his book when what must have been an idiot decided it would be a good idea to come by and interrupt his nice reading time. He raised his head from his book, offering a brilliant crocodile smile as he removed his feet from the coffee table, leaned forward, then set his book down for a painful moment.

"Eyeah. Guess so. Don't suppose you could bring me a vodka tonic?"

He didn't really want a vodka tonic, but his face was a mask of polite, apologetic greeting. He had never been fond of those who wanted in on his business, and those who interrupted during his reading made him even more furious. When the, slightly adorable, new barkeep wandered off to find his drink, he picked up his book and tucked it into his bag. While he loved Mary Shelley's writings, he had better things to do now, like torment this poor sap who'd decided to infringe upon his time with one of the first science fiction writers. When she came back to his spot, and this made him smile, he'd glower at her with a sullen look of disbelief and frustration, and inform her that he'd said gin and tonic.

This little act of his was something that happened often enough in bars or other popular places, and while it had the benefit of usually reducing the price of his food and drink to free within a few hours of furious back-and-forthing, the real pleasure he got from it was from the gaining of the knowledge of whatever it was that the one who had disturbed him used to alleviate stress in situations like these.

This time was going to be more fun than usual as well, since, as he'd been listening through all the chaos of the preparty gossip and chatter, he'd managed to weed out that she was friends with Enor, Rusty'z's owner, a known, but unfortunately well-entrenched in society, rebel sympathizer. Perhaps even a rebel, and while Xan Gamble couldn't simply kill her and be done with it, he could certainly ruin her life and steal her happiness by destroying those she loved.

A genuine grin snicked across his face and he had to hide it behind a hand to prevent a bit of laughter. He loved this city.