undergroundmods: (Default)
The Underground Mods ([personal profile] undergroundmods) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2017-04-21 10:41 pm

Magical Innovation Centre: The Grand Opening



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.
freelife: (look)

[personal profile] freelife 2017-04-22 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
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."

[personal profile] bellbound 2017-04-22 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Vampires. Mogget hates vampires. There are a few of them at this event, instantly recognisable by the sense of death lurking just beneath the surface. They're not much better than walking corpses, really, the thin veneer of life keeping their hearts beating after they should have long since crumbled into dust. He pays particular attention to the vampires in the crowd, however, knowing that Jean-Claude's announcement means that any Islington vampires must either be against Circle Daybreak or leave the nest. Which means that any of them here are most likely spies. The bright emerald of this one's jumpsuit makes her easy to follow.

"True," Mogget agrees, taking a step closer before glancing around at the witches working on the stands. "But less time for speeches means more time for you to part with your money. That is if you intend to make a donation."

He's not going to try and convince her to make one. That's not his job tonight. But her answer might tell him something of her opinion on this whole 'project', as Samantha calls it.
freelife: (consider)

[personal profile] freelife 2017-04-22 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Evie allows a smile to cross her face, and she looks up at the tall man as if appraising him. "How right you are," she says. "And I just might. I've been quite impressed with what I see so far." Impressed was certainly one word for it. Evie would have been inclined to use disgusted, but what was to say they were mutually exclusive? She knew better than to insult the host of an event.

She also knew better than to reveal herself as a spy.

Though, come to think of it, was it really spying if you were here for your own curiosity?

[personal profile] bellbound 2017-04-22 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
He raises an eyebrow, taking a sip of his champagne. "So you're not from Islington?"

If she is, then making a donation would go against the Nest's rules. Either she's lying or she's not what he suspected, but either way he might as well call her bluff.
freelife: (better)

[personal profile] freelife 2017-04-22 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
He's a clever one. She's impressed.

"I am for now," she explains. "But I've been considering other options." She takes a moment to run her tongue along the top row of her teeth, and then take a meaningful sip of champagne.

[personal profile] bellbound 2017-04-22 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Why does that seem menacing somehow?

"Other options?"

He's feigning politeness. Idle chitchat with a stranger, the usual thing that happens at these networking events. Having to actually participate is a pain; he'd much rather be observing from a corner or better still, taking a nap. But here they are.
freelife: (hand)

[personal profile] freelife 2017-04-22 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Probably because she wants it to be. It's part of the act, unfortunately. She doesn't know whom answers to who, and she's keeping her cards close to her chest.

"Yes." She's not going to elaborate, however. "My tastes don't always align with what the Nest wants."

[personal profile] bellbound 2017-04-22 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
He tries to look intrigued. It's tiresome, having to perform like this. "Do tell."
freelife: (humor)

[personal profile] freelife 2017-04-22 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, nope. Not happening.

Evie just shakes her head. "That's really all there is to say. I'd rather not get too political with a man I've just met. I hope you understand."

She smiles again at him, like it's a bit of a joke.

[personal profile] bellbound 2017-04-22 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Ha. Haha. Nope. Not amused. He's putting her down on his list as one to watch.

"Then I won't waste my time introducing myself."

And with that, he gives a dismissive nod and turns away.
freelife: (profile)

[personal profile] freelife 2017-04-22 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
She raises an eyebrow as she watches him go. Alright. What an interesting one.

Still, as far as she's concerned, she's made sure to keep her cover. Now she's just got to stick with it in this circle.

[personal profile] bellbound 2017-04-22 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
He weaves through the crowd, keeping her in the periphery of his vision. When he's sure that she's lost interest in him, he goes over to one of the fae waiters and whispers in their ear. The waiter passes him a mobile phone which Mogget uses to take a discreet photograph of the vampire in the emerald jumpsuit, making sure that her face is clearly visible. He didn't get her name but someone will know who she is.

Mogget tucks the phone into his pocket and continues with the party.