new delhi ♔ but in all chaos there is calculation | dropping glasses just to hear them break

[behindcloseddoors]

♬ Glory + Gore - Lorde

WHO || David L., Alex K., Andie, The Doctor, Natasha, Alex U., Shulin Desai
WHAT || The Knights hunt the Decanter of Dionysus
WHERE || New Delhi, India
WHEN || June 7th, 2014, evening.
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

Talk about a soiree.  The team has walked into what is clearly legitimately a Gatsby party, but with an Indian flair.  Even upon approach, it's easy to see that this place is without parallel:  people are driving cars right up on the lawn of the fabulous mansion, which looks half-modern and half like a palace out of a Bollywood film.  Men and women in bright colors, fabrics, beads and silks move inside en masse, and as the doors are opened before them, they can see the grandness of the interior, with its diamond garland, draped fabrics, giant jeweled elephant statues, indoor trees that arch to the ceilings, twirling dancers, and a tall dramatic staircase leading up to a balcony above where the host himself reclines surrounded by admirers and friends, smoking a cigar.  

Liquor flows freely, and food is carried around on golden trays through the crowds.  It's an overwhelming buffet for the senses, a dizzying spectacle of color, laughter, dancing, and entertainment.  

Comments

[asap]

I'll go... look for a bathroom. [It might take her a while, even at her speed. Since she's not actually planning on looking for the bathroom so much as use that as the excuse if she runs into anyone while searching the rest of the house. She starts to amble towards the door, painfully slowly by her standards, but she doesn't want to play the speed card yet.] Text if something exciting happens!

[divisional]

[Alex finds herself pulled into conversation with one of the other guests, smiling and nodding and even laughing loudly at the appropriate moments when in fact, she's ignoring most of what they have to say and is instead looking to see where the waiters are coming and going with their trays of food and drink. (Spot 24).]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ it's easy to see where the 'kitchen' must be - down an ornate hall to the left, through a set of double doors that are almost constantly being opened again by someone carrying a tray one way or another. ]

[bowtimeandspace]

[ The Doctor has already wandered off a bit. Well, he does that. He's looking at people, at anything that might seem a bit out of place. There's always something. Still, can't get too preoccupied here, they've come for a reason, and there's no point in getting off track. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the party is lively and getting livelier by the moment. a cadre of beautiful girls burst into choreographed dance at one end of the hall to the enjoyment of spectators, and someone unleashes a spell that sends magical lights dancing through the air. characters can make spot checks to try to see anything that might correspond to what they are looking for, can try talking to patrons with a 'gather information' check, or go looking for something specific with a search check. ]

[ambitionist]

[ alex mingles, using his charm to glean what he can from any partygoers what they know about shulin desai and his ~tomb raids~. he's hoping for something ridiculously obvious like a treasure chest room where he stashes all his shit. HOWEVER, he's not really expecting a lot since he read the great gatsby and knows how these parties work — everyone probably knows as much as he does rn, approximately nothing. (gather info 35) ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he's right about it being a gatsby party at least - most of what are flying around seem to be more rumors than anything, and he's able to get enough different people talking to him to make that painfully clear. one person's story will directly contradict the next, making it hard to believe what anyone is saying. there are, however, multiple accounts by people who say that desai has shown them personally around his 'trophy room' which indicates that yes, there is one in the house. like lara croft. maybe there's a dinosaur head. ]

[asap]

[Andie slips into the kitchen hallways (which I'm assuming a spot 10 would find too) and slips into the hallway. She supposes it's a good idea to make sure they're not just... pouring all the bad stuff on the food or something, so she starts towards the kitchen.]

[generaldavideus]

[David follows after the Doctor, giving him some space to talk to people but mostly scanning the room for the item in question (search 15). Not that he knows what it looks like, but the guy might just be arrogant enough to think that he could display it in plain sight.

And if there's anything related to Dionysus, David would probably be one of the better people to spot it. He hangs towards the edges of the room, trying to get as wide a view as possible, but not letting the Doctor out of his eye line.]

[bowtimeandspace]

[ There's a bit of an annoyed look back because please, he does not need a babysitter, he is the Oncoming Storm okay. Not that anybody knows that, but really when is a little thing like the truth going to get in the way?

He steps ahead, looking to find a way to cause a distraction so people can search a little more unhindered. So that's exactly what he does, turning and knocking into a waiter holding a tray of drinks, all the drinks falling over in the process. (and a bluff check to see just how convincing he is at said faux knock gains a 34)

'Oops'. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ desai himself notices the 'accident' below, and stands up, clapping his hands as the waiter fusses to clean up rapidly. ]

Oh, we cannot have this! More glasses! More wine, yes?

[divisional]

[Seriously Mr. Bowtie. You just saved Alex from pulling the same stunt, the brunette stepping into the line of fire of the drinks as they come crashing down.

Her face is a mask of shock and outrage as she levels a melodramatic glare at Bowtie that's worthy of a Lohan tantrum. (Bluff 34)]

Do you have any idea what this is worth? It's silk. Given to me by the Crown Prince of Brunei! [Unwrapping a now wet scarf from her arm she tosses it at Bowtie.] Unbelievable!

[And storms off in a huff to 'get cleaned up'... funnily enough in the direction of the Kitchen.]

[asap]

[Andie doesn't move that much faster than normal, but it's amazing how much ground she can cover while still appearing to walk. Mostly. Her legs might be a little blurry.]

Oh, no! Not the Crown Prince Bingo! Let me help you with that. [And she's just gonna slide after Alex towards the kitchen because hey, might as well steal the going inside excuse. Saves her from coming up with her own.]

[generaldavideus]

[David's attention is drawn to Alex for the moment - he's pretty sure that was her intention - but when she storms off in a direction that is not the bathroom, he steals a glance to the Doctor to make sure he isn't getting into trouble before following her, weaving through the crowd easily (dexterity 17).

Andie is with her, so he's not going to worry too much, but he's still wondering what exactly this girl is up to.]

[ambitionist]

[yeah, ~accident.~ alex gets it. (wis 20 total) he also sees what's-her-face (no okay, he knows who it is — knowlege: pop culture 16) heading in the direction of where the drinks came from, and swans over to distract her. NOT ONE OF US, ANDIE. YOU DON'T KNOW THIS BITCH'S DEAL. well, not the non-publicized part. trust no bitch.]

Orrr ... I could help. [cha ... 11. ok so not every game can be his a game.]

[divisional]

[Alex manages not to look surprised at the offer of (Andie's) help (Bluff 27), smiling serenely at her new companion (Wisdom 20 total) but the second follower sees her whip around to face the stranger, expression tight.]

Really? You know how to get wine out of silk before it stains? [(Will Save 27.) Boy, you so have no game.] We're fine. [Reaching for Andie's arm in a way that's more familiar than it probably should be.] If you want to play a game of grabass, you're going to have to do better than that now if you'll excuse me, I need to put soda water to this before it sets. [(Knowledge 20 total).]

[ambitionist]

You'd have better luck using hydrogen peroxide and cold water. [wis 13. HE HAS SILK TIES. and also sisters.] But ... hey. Whatever. Suit yourself.

[asap]

[Man, Andie did not intend for her plan to go this way. SHE JUST WANTED AN EXCUSE TO GO INSIDE.]

You know? We should try both! I'm just gonna go ahead to the kitchen and see what I can find! It'll be like a science experiment! [Bluff 14. She grins awkwardly and slips her arm free, moving only a hair too fast as she heads into the kitchen. Spoiler alert she'll never come back :-( ]

[krasnayapautina]

[Natasha knows who the female Alex is (pop culture 17), and made her way over to the resulting commotion. Andie has already started off to the kitchen before Natasha can ask if she wants an extra hand in there -- though she does take the occasional glance towards the kitchen area, keeping an eye on it (spot 18).]

Just don't rub it; it'll just make the stain that much harder to get out. You might have to soak it overnight. [(wis 15)]

[divisional]

And I suppose you carry a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your pocket do you? [Eyebrows raised. Seriously. She's turning on the bitch here. Take a hint guy.

It's Andie that makes her eyes narrow though (Sense Motive 24) and that combined with the presence of yet another helper sees her suspicions go into overdrive.]

Now if I follow her into the kitchen... What's the bet you two are going to insist on coming to help? [Brow Raised. She knows when somebody is casing a place okay (Spot Check 27).]

[ambitionist]

I don't know about her, I was just trying to make out with you. Or more, depending on how things played out. [bluff 22. with a roll of his eyes, he backs off.]

[divisional]

[Despite the Sense Motive of 29, Fem!Alex is just going to smirk at that comeback and pat 'Otherov' on the arm as she passes.]

Not if you were the last person on earth. [Smiling flatly as she beelines for the Kitchen, announcing herself to the staff who may be coming and going as she enters.]

I need soda water. Now. [Sounding very much the tempremental socialite that she's known to be.

Meanwhile she'll be looking around the kitchen itself. (Spot Check 24)]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ her demands are met with a few rolled eyes and exchanged glances, but they go to grab her her soda water. her looking around - and probably andie's as well - shows that there are no fancy decanters anywhere. in fact, strangely enough, while there are bottles of wine, etc. around, they're largely all full. the majority of glasses with the liquid in them that's been floating around are sitting on trays all around the kitchen, pre-poured. ]

[ambitionist]

[alex k. is going back to his original plan before that hot tranny mess happened and trying to lure someone who talked about being shown into desai's treasure room in there for hot makeouts. he is just s-so into dinosaur heads ok. at least he managed to rediscover his game?? (cha 21) maybe the rejection made him try harder. ]

[asap]

[Yeah, Andie's spot check was a nat 20. She gets the idea. So on the list of things Andie will not be doing: sampling that liquid is pretty high up there. Things she will be doing: tugging on a caterer's arm and point blank asking:]

So, what kinda wine are you serving?

[Andie is the greatest spy.]