Lovely 002

Hunter, 8:25 PM

Pharolvir, Chance and Ann are alone in the top floor of one of Lovely Creatures' wings with an extremely wealthy unconscious man.

Pharolvir, 8:25 PM

"...this is a ridiculously nice room.  I wonder if all the rooms are like this."

Hunter, 8:26 PM

It is ridiculously nice.

Hunter, 8:26 PM

There's a very quiet knock on the front door.

Ann, 8:27 PM

Ann Nesia opens it

Hunter, 8:28 PM

It's a tall, thin Drow woman wearing fluffy white lingerie, high heels, a pair of fake angel wings and a little white, softly glowing halo. She's got big cornflower-blue eyes and she's holding a thin white box.

Chance, 8:29 PM

Hi.

Pharolvir, 8:29 PM

Pharolvir turns a good shade darker and averts his eyes.

Hunter, 8:29 PM

Drow: Oh, hullo! Is Ulisse around?

Hunter, 8:30 PM

Drow: I heard he was here.

Chance, 8:30 PM

He is touching the infinite.

Hunter, 8:31 PM

Drow: ... that sounds like snoring to me.

Chance, 8:31 PM

That's his mantra.

Pharolvir, 8:31 PM

"He's...not well...right now.  ...c...Can we take a message?"

Hunter, 8:32 PM

Drow: Well, I wasn't going to wake him up. I don't suppose you want to play?

Chance, 8:32 PM

He's pickled. Play what?

Pharolvir, 8:32 PM

Pharolvir makes a noise that's not quite a choke and not quite a wheeze.

Hunter, 8:33 PM

She holds up the box. "Spider Hunt."

Chance, 8:34 PM

Yes. I absolutely want to play.

Chance, 8:34 PM

Chance smiles!

Pharolvir, 8:34 PM

"...is that...normal Spider Hunt attire up here?"

Pharolvir, 8:34 PM

Pharolvir has his legs crossed and is sitting at a nearby desk.

Hunter, 8:35 PM

She shakes her head. "Ulisse has a weird sense of humor. Do you really want to play, or do you just want me to lose? Or win?"

Chance, 8:36 PM

I don't even know what the stakes are. Is it strip spider hunt? That's not a deal breaker, mind you.

Chance, 8:36 PM

I just like to know.

Pharolvir, 8:36 PM

"It'd be a quick game if it is."

Chance, 8:37 PM

Anyway, I"m bored making sure this one doesn't swallow his tongue or something, so I'm game for anything.

Hunter, 8:37 PM

She rolls her eyes. "I'm certified Grandmaster, it's going to be a quick game if you haven't played before."

Chance, 8:37 PM

I'm an excellent cheater.

Hunter, 8:37 PM

Drow: It's too late for me to play dumb now anyway.

Pharolvir, 8:38 PM

"I can coach him.  I'm unlikely to be beat a woman of grandmaster level, but I've seen my sisters play and pick up some moves."

Hunter, 8:39 PM

The drow woman makes a face. "That's the bad thing about living up here, there's hardly any games to be had. What are you wearing, anyway?"

Chance, 8:39 PM

I mostly know card games.

Chance, 8:40 PM

Also I learned to play Settlers because of one particularly confusing heist. I mean adventure.

Pharolvir, 8:40 PM

"What?  It's cold.  I had to dress in layers."

Ann, 8:41 PM

I don’t think I know any games.

Hunter, 8:41 PM

She frowns. "Hey, you guys aren't kidnapping him or anything, are you? I don't think I've seen you around before."

Chance, 8:41 PM

We're new.

Ann, 8:42 PM

No we are watching him for shihan

Chance, 8:42 PM

We just rolled in, he hit on my friend and passed out, and somehow we ended up babysitting.

Pharolvir, 8:42 PM

"He doesn't seem to have many friends to be trusted to watch him."

Hunter, 8:43 PM

She blinks. "He has lots of friends. Well, anyway. Do you mind if I take these off?"

Chance, 8:43 PM

I feel like answering that is a trap, so I'll just say make yourself comfortable!

Pharolvir, 8:44 PM

Pharolvir blushes again.

Hunter, 8:44 PM

Drow: Oh, good. I'm called Lola, by the way.

Chance, 8:44 PM

I am Seventh Last Chance! This is Ann Nesia and Pharo.

Pharolvir, 8:45 PM

Pharolvir curtseys. "A pleasure to meet you."

Hunter, 8:46 PM

Lola eyes Pharolvir. "Nice to meet you too, but they don't really do that here."

Hunter, 8:46 PM

She sits at a little table on one side of the room and pulls off her shoes, wriggling her toes a little bit. Then she opens the little box and starts setting up the board for a game.

Chance, 8:49 PM

Chance sits down!

Pharolvir, 8:50 PM

Pharolvir looks at the shoes Lola just took off.

Hunter, 8:50 PM

They're high heels, very fancy, with little floofs and rhinestones.

Ann, 8:50 PM

Ann Nesia will watch the board getting setup

Pharolvir, 8:50 PM

"These are quite pretty, I like the little gem stones around them."

Hunter, 8:51 PM

Lola: They pinch in the toe, though.

Hunter, 8:51 PM

She starts explaining the game to Chance!

Chance, 8:52 PM

Chance listens intently! He listens with the focus of one who thinks he might be able to point use this to make money off of someone.

Hunter, 8:53 PM

He might. You never know! Roll Int.

Chance, 8:54 PM

((nat 20!))

Hunter, 8:56 PM

Nice! Chance follows the explanation pretty well and thinks he gets the gist of the game. It's a strategy game, much like chess, but the two sides have slightly different pieces, with the spiders' goal being to catch and destroy the prey side. The prey side's biggest piece is a mindflayer, but there are also darkmantles, a couple of different drow, etc. etc.

Hunter, 8:58 PM

The prey's job is to get from one side of the board to the other without becoming spider-chow.

Hunter, 8:58 PM

So one side favors a defensive tack, and the other a more offensive strategy.

Bobbin, 8:59 PM

At this somewhat inopportune moment, there comes a rustle, silence, and then an inquisitive HONK from the room below.

Pharolvir, 8:59 PM

"...I should probably go and investigate that."

Hunter, 8:59 PM

Lola: All right. We'll wait til you get back, I'll show him some moves.

Hunter, 9:00 PM

It doesn't sound at all sexy. Somehow.

Pharolvir, 9:00 PM

"Feel free to carry on without me.  I'm familiar."

Ann, 9:00 PM

I will go with you

Hunter, 9:00 PM

Lola: I know, that's why I'd rather play with you. I want someone I can't trounce in three moves.

Pharolvir, 9:01 PM

"Oh.  Um...ok...I'll be right back."

Hunter, 9:02 PM

Lola, to Chance: No offense. It's just it takes a few decades to learn the basics.

Hunter, 9:03 PM

Moving the downstairs people to a separate chat.

Hunter, 9:03 PM

Lola: He's fresh out the tunnel, isn't he?

Chance, 9:08 PM

I think so.

Hunter, 9:08 PM

Lola nods. "He's got that touristy look."

Chance, 9:08 PM

He seems surprised by a lot of things.

Chance, 9:09 PM

Mostly that we're not barbarians.

Hunter, 9:09 PM

Lola: I mean, we could pretend, if you want.

Chance, 9:10 PM

Chance waggles his brows.

Chance, 9:10 PM

Do you work here?

Hunter, 9:11 PM

Lola: Yeah. Well, on the other side of things. I used to be up at the House of Ill Repute but there's better money here.

Hunter, 9:11 PM

Lola: Or at least, that's what Ylyndar said. And at the end of the day, it feels better, you know?

Chance, 9:12 PM

Chance nods. "We have been more or less hired to deal with an angry lake."

Hunter, 9:15 PM

Lola blinks. "There's a lake? Where, in the basement?"

Chance, 9:15 PM

There some dimensional shifting nonsense door.

Hunter, 9:17 PM

Lola: Oh, outside. Hm, that's too bad. Someone said a merperson was coming, but it wasn't anyone anyone else knew.

Chance, 9:18 PM

Hmmm. What do you know about this one?

Chance, 9:18 PM

Chance nods toward Ulisse.

Hunter, 9:18 PM

Lola: He's got a weird sense of humor.

Hunter, 9:18 PM

Lola: Sometimes I beat him.

Chance, 9:19 PM

And enjoys lingerie Spider Hunt.

Hunter, 9:20 PM

Lola: Yep. Not that many people up here even play, and it's hard to find anybody that good.

Chance, 9:21 PM

Fair enough. I'm still new here myself. This job kind of fell on my lap while I was on my way to Solitaire.

Hunter, 9:22 PM

She starts showing him the general strategies of the game.

Hunter, 9:23 PM

Lola: What were you going to do down there?

Chance, 9:24 PM

Kill a guy probably.

Chance, 9:24 PM

I'm not in a horrible rush, though.

Hunter, 9:24 PM

Lola: Any specific guy?

Chance, 9:25 PM

Oh, you know, same old story, betrayal. His, not mine, I always keep my word, that's why I don't give it that often.

Hunter, 9:26 PM

Lola: Oh, an ex.

Hunter, 9:27 PM

She makes a face. "I hear you."

Chance, 9:27 PM

Hmm. Close enough. So how big is this place, Lola?

Pharolvir, 9:28 PM

Pharolvir re-enters the room.

Chance, 9:28 PM

Did anyone die?

Ann, 9:28 PM

Ann Nesia follows behind

Hunter, 9:28 PM

Lola: Huge. There's a couple wings I haven't checked yet.

Pharolvir, 9:29 PM

"So, there may be a tiny bird person coming up to talk to us.  I think they're harmless, though."

Hunter, 9:29 PM

Lola: A bird person? You don't mean Steve, do you?

Pharolvir, 9:29 PM

"...I don't think so.  It had a sort of red poncho on."

Pharolvir, 9:30 PM

"They said something about apologies...but not really.  I don't think they could talk, really."

Chance, 9:31 PM

Oh. A kenku probably.

Hunter, 9:31 PM

Lola: Steve's definitely not an "it," either. Tall, dark and handsome, with feathers in his hair and scales around the hairline.

Pharolvir, 9:32 PM

"...this one definitely didn't have scales...or a hairline.  Just feathers and a beak."

Hunter, 9:33 PM

Lola nods. "He's probably with a client, or working the crowd."

Ann, 9:34 PM

how is the game going?

Pharolvir, 9:34 PM

"...it's a bit late to be working, isn't it?"

Chance, 9:34 PM

This is a game made for people who live a billion years.

Chance, 9:34 PM

I thought Settlers was bad.

Hunter, 9:34 PM

Lola: It's 9 p.m., the night is young. I should be working too, but I haven't had a game for weeks.

Chance, 9:35 PM

9 is pretty early.

Hunter, 9:35 PM

Rather than sexily pouting, she just frowns like a normal very grumpy person.

Chance, 9:35 PM

Chance winks at her.

Chance, 9:35 PM

He's still playing and putting his all into it, mind you.

Pharolvir, 9:35 PM

"Oh, you work night shifts?  Doing what?"

Hunter, 9:36 PM

She's barely paying attention to the game, really!

Hunter, 9:36 PM

Roll, hmm, straight int check.

Chance, 9:37 PM

(14!)

Hunter, 9:38 PM

Lola eyes Pharol. "... you are fresh out of the tunnel, aren't you? Sex, mostly. Well, and Spiderhunt if it's Ulisse. I told him he could just come and play me in the afternoon when I'm off, but he said he couldn't, so."

Pharolvir, 9:38 PM

".........oh...............OH!..........Oh.  .........ok."

Chance, 9:39 PM

Lola works here, too.

Hunter, 9:39 PM

She snaps up Chance's last Prey and motions Pharol over.

Pharolvir, 9:39 PM

".............THEY DO IT HERE?!?"

Chance, 9:39 PM

Chance pats Pharo on the back. "Avvveeeennnnge meeeeeee."

Hunter, 9:40 PM

Lola starts setting up the board again. "... do what here?"

Chance, 9:40 PM

My friend, they do many things here. Or any given place.

Pharolvir, 9:41 PM

Pharolvir turns a darker blue but takes his position at the other end of the board.

Chance, 9:42 PM

But yes, this is at least partially a brothel!

Pharolvir, 9:42 PM

Pharolvir demurely tucks his legs under himself so his skirt doesn't billow out. He then leans over the board. "Um...just one thing...any chance you'd be willing to wear my cloak while we play?  It might just be a tad...distracting."

Bobbin, 9:43 PM

Bobbin peeks in to see what's what. Possibly not the best timing.

Pharolvir, 9:43 PM

"I apologize it is a little colorful and masculine."

Hunter, 9:43 PM

Lola: No need, there'll be a robe in the bathroom. I'll get it. Spiders or Prey?

Pharolvir, 9:44 PM

"...you're letting me pick?"

Hunter, 9:44 PM

There's a Drow woman in a silly fake angel costume in bare feet, and an unconscious man in bed, fully dressed but with his boots off. Man, is this a Tarantino film or something? There are a lot of feet for some reason.

Hunter, 9:45 PM

Lola: ... yeeeeees. Why wouldn't I let you pick?

Hunter, 9:46 PM

And then there's Ann, and Chance, and Pharol. Chance and Pharol are at the table with a game of Drow style not-chess.

Pharolvir, 9:47 PM

"...I'll take the spiders."

Chance, 9:48 PM

Chance waves at the little bird person.

Pharolvir, 9:49 PM

"Oh, you're back.  Hi!"

Pharolvir, 9:49 PM

Pharolvir for the record, is a drowish man in a fancy dress and make-up.

Hunter, 9:50 PM

Lola returns wearing a big fluffy all-concealing white robe, carrying her wings and halo.

Chance, 9:50 PM

Chance is a grey tabaxi with heavy long coat.

Hunter, 9:50 PM

Lola: Oh, hullo! ... you're adorable.

Bobbin, 9:50 PM

Bobbin catches themself looking for a camera somewhere. Rather than pick at the paint on the fourth wall, however, they putz around the room for a bit before plopping themself down. Noticing they are being waved at, though, Bobbin of course waves back. It's only polite.

Ann, 9:51 PM

Ann Nesia is a wood elf women dressed in worn leathers with a long stick.

Bobbin, 9:51 PM

Bobbin ruffles their feathers at that comment, possibly not entirely sure how to feel about it. They place a feathered hand on their chest.

"Bobbin."

Hunter, 9:52 PM

Lola: My professional name's Lola.

Pharolvir, 9:54 PM

"...Bobbin.  Hello Bobbin.  ...you said you wanted to apologize?"

Hunter, 9:55 PM

Lola starts the game! Roll a straight int check.

Pharolvir, 9:56 PM

((It's a 22.))

Hunter, 9:57 PM

Now, here's the question, does Pharol want to win?

Pharolvir, 10:00 PM

((...I'm gonna PM you Hunter. I have some questions.))

Hunter, 10:00 PM

((Okeydokey!))

Hunter, 10:01 PM

Lola: I don't think I've ever seen a bird person like that before.

Bobbin, 10:05 PM

"Good. Most avoid sight. Avoid... person-s." Bobbin is kinda pushing it with that last one, but they don't have much to work with.

Hunter, 10:06 PM

Pharol and Lola play the game! She actually has to pay attention, to her obvious surprise.

Chance, 10:06 PM

Chance watches.

Hunter, 10:06 PM

Lola: ... who are you trying to avoid?

Pharolvir, 10:06 PM

"People outside or in here?"

Bobbin, 10:08 PM

"People who think few words mean no brain. Who think shifty looks mean troublemaker. Who think small mean prey."

Pharolvir, 10:09 PM

((...I wanna insight check Bobbin. :) ))

Hunter, 10:09 PM

Sure thing!

Pharolvir, 10:09 PM

((16))

Chance, 10:10 PM

Anyone in particular, or just general mean types.

Pharolvir, 10:13 PM

"...I think they mean more...like...why kenku hide generally.  ...you wanna hang out here?  We won't judge."

Bobbin, 10:14 PM

A child's voice, high-pitched, sorta tired-sounding.

"Yay!"

Hunter, 10:14 PM

Lola: That's kind.

Pharolvir, 10:15 PM

Pharolvir shrugs. "Not really.  Not my room."

Pharolvir, 10:15 PM

"You're really good.  You blocked my advance there."

Hunter, 10:16 PM

Lola: You're good. I'm actually having to think for once.

Chance, 10:16 PM

I'm sitting right here.

Hunter, 10:17 PM

Lola: You're the best beginner I've ever seen.

Hunter, 10:17 PM

Lola: Come and talk to me in a few decades.

Pharolvir, 10:18 PM

Pharolvir just smiles and nods.

Hunter, 10:20 PM

When the game ends, Lola has won! But just barely. She frowns.

Pharolvir, 10:20 PM

Pharolvir offers a hand to shake. "Good game."

Hunter, 10:21 PM

Lola: You almost had me. You should ask Ulisse for some tips when he wakes up. ... if you can get him sober enough. But not too sober.

Hunter, 10:21 PM

She does shake his hand.

Pharolvir, 10:21 PM

"Is he that good?"

Ann, 10:22 PM

why not too sober?

Hunter, 10:22 PM

Lola: You must not know him very well. He gets, well. Himself.

Pharolvir, 10:23 PM

"Him high wasn't exactly a picnic."

Pharolvir, 10:24 PM

"Never really had a guy look at me like he did."

Hunter, 10:24 PM

Lola grins at him.

Chance, 10:26 PM

Welcome to our surface world.

Pharolvir, 10:26 PM

Pharolvir blushes. "Is that...a thing, up here?"

Chance, 10:26 PM

What, the lack of hang ups?

Hunter, 10:26 PM

Lola: Is what a thing?

Chance, 10:27 PM

Sadly, no.

Chance, 10:27 PM

There are plenty of hang ups and sticks up posteriors.

Hunter, 10:27 PM

Lola: Not that many here, though.

Pharolvir, 10:28 PM

"...boys...with boys...openly....without a woman involved..."

Pharolvir, 10:28 PM

"I'm not judging!  I just...it's different where I'm from."

Hunter, 10:29 PM

Lola: I don't think he's too particular about whether it's boys or other people. I've heard rumors about sheep, but I've... well, let's just say I seriously doubt it.

Pharolvir, 10:30 PM

"...the hells' a sheep?"

Chance, 10:31 PM

Fuzz goats.

Hunter, 10:31 PM

Lola: Nonsentient farm animals. Of course we don't do that here.

Hunter, 10:32 PM

Lola: None of the brothers would tolerate that sort of thing.

Pharolvir, 10:32 PM

"...please tell me sex with nonsentient animals is not a norm up here?"

Ann, 10:32 PM

Pretty sure it is not

Hunter, 10:32 PM

She starts putting the Spider Hunt pieces back into the box.

Hunter, 10:33 PM

Lola: It definitely isn't.

Hunter, 10:33 PM

Lola: It's not even one of the fun kinks, and we don't abuse animals here. ... well, I suppose we all yell at Vargas.

Pharolvir, 10:34 PM

"Understandable."

Pharolvir, 10:34 PM

Pharolvir brushes himself off when he stands.

Hunter, 10:35 PM

Lola picks up her box, her wings and her shoes. "Well. Tell Ulisse I stopped by, anyway. Thanks for the game."

Chance, 10:35 PM

Will do!

Pharolvir, 10:36 PM

"Have a good night.  It was nice meeting you."

Hunter, 10:37 PM

Lola: Nice to meet you too. Try not to get eaten alive, tourist boy.

Hunter, 10:37 PM

She smiles and heads out, closing the door behind her.

Pharolvir, 10:38 PM

"...do...does that happen?"

Bobbin, 10:39 PM

Bobbin does the hand-tipping "ehhh..." gesture.

Pharolvir, 10:39 PM

"...ok...I'll have to watch out for that."

Bobbin, 10:40 PM

"Not often. Avoid slum."

Hunter, 10:40 PM

Ulisse snorts and almost sits up, then thinks better of it.

Chance, 10:40 PM

Hey, are you dead?

Ann, 10:41 PM

Or still drunk?

Pharolvir, 10:42 PM

"Anything is possible.  Pretty sure there's more drugs than blood in his system right now."

Pharolvir, 10:42 PM

"He seemed VERY out of it."

Hunter, 10:43 PM

Ulisse: I am... apparently here.

Pharolvir, 10:43 PM

"I kind of stole your Spider Hunt game.  I hope that's ok."

Hunter, 10:45 PM

Ulisse: Spider Hunt? The silver and black inlay set? Or the old... is that a metaphor?

Pharolvir, 10:45 PM

"...no, the silver set."

Bobbin, 10:46 PM

"Lola." Bobbin says, in Lola's voice.

Hunter, 10:46 PM

Ulisse: Oh. ... enjoy it, then. Lola was here?

Pharolvir, 10:47 PM

"She was."

Pharolvir, 10:47 PM

"She's a very good player."

Hunter, 10:48 PM

Ulisse: Looks good in her underwear, too.

Hunter, 10:48 PM

He sits up a little bit, pupils tremendously dilated and eyes not quite focusing on anything.

Chance, 10:48 PM

That helped!

Pharolvir, 10:49 PM

Pharolvir blushes. "I can't say I can imagine the women I've known wearing something so...frilly."

Chance, 10:49 PM

Anyone can pretty much wear anything up here. It's great!

Pharolvir, 10:49 PM

"...wait, really?!?"

Chance, 10:50 PM

I mean, obey the laws of nature, and public decency, but pretty much.

Hunter, 10:50 PM

Ulisse: You should let Shihan dress you.

Hunter, 10:51 PM

Ulisse: ... or undress you.

Pharolvir, 10:51 PM

Pharolvir just gives Ulisee one of those "Really?" glances.

Hunter, 10:51 PM

He looks at Pharol, then Ann, Chance, and Bobbin, and blinks.

Bobbin, 10:53 PM

Bobbin blinks right back.

Hunter, 10:53 PM

Ulisse, with a puzzled frown: All four of you, really? I don't remember that.

Chance, 10:54 PM

It's not like that, you only married two of us.

Pharolvir, 10:54 PM

Pharolvir blushes. "Chance!"

Bobbin, 10:55 PM

"Was flower-bird. Odd night."

Bobbin offers, trying to add to the absurdity.

Chance, 10:55 PM

Chance grins at Bobbin.

Pharolvir, 10:56 PM

"What exactly is the end goal of all this?"

Chance, 10:56 PM

Of what?

Hunter, 10:57 PM

Ulisse: I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Pharolvir, 10:57 PM

"No one got married.  You were on...like...all the things, at once, then you passed out."

Ann, 10:58 PM

And shihan asked us to watch you

Hunter, 10:58 PM

Ulisse: I know. I am a confirmed... bachelor. Shihan did?

Pharolvir, 10:58 PM

"He seemed concerned."

Hunter, 10:59 PM

Roll perception!

Pharolvir, 11:00 PM

((15, I'm having a pretty decent night.))

Chance, 11:00 PM

((12))

Ann, 11:00 PM

(16))

Hunter, 11:00 PM

Then roll Insight!

Pharolvir, 11:01 PM

((12))

Ann, 11:01 PM

((20 unnatural))

Chance, 11:01 PM

(15)

Bobbin, 11:02 PM

[I can't. Feel free to roll for me or have Bobbin not bother]

Hunter, 11:03 PM

Ulisse starts trying to sit up.

Hunter, 11:03 PM

Hunter rolls for Bobbin, gets a 13 and a 14.))

Hunter, 11:04 PM

Ulisse starts trying to get up. It involves some undignified grabbing of the bed and a bit of flailing.

Pharolvir, 11:04 PM

"........do you want help?"

Ann, 11:05 PM

Ann Nesia aids him getting up

Hunter, 11:06 PM

He accepts the help.

Hunter, 11:06 PM

Ann, another perception check!

Ann, 11:07 PM

((18))

Hunter, 11:09 PM

Ulisse flees to the bathroom.

Pharolvir, 11:09 PM

"...ok then."

Hunter, 11:10 PM

((And does not let Ann go in with him.))

Hunter, 11:10 PM

And we'll probably stop there for the night.

Pharolvir, 11:10 PM

)