50: Fitting for death

[Ebiris]

[14:06] <@Ebiris> Finishing up their drinks and leaving the weighty tale of the Undying Emperor behind, the Irregulars make their way back to Zeus's Folly. Upstairs Lavinia is found along with Trucy and the Jade Ravens, already discussing the events of the day. Lavinia rises to greet the group, which prompts everyone else to stand as well, "Is it true what I've heard?" she asks in a shocked tone, Tobin looking embarrassed and shrinking into his chair, "You've all agreed to perform in this ghastly murderplay I've been told about?"
[14:07] <@Henrietta> "It, well... it wouldn't have any murders in it if we're there?" Henrietta offers nervously.
[14:07] <@Lucie> "I think we were only interested in seeing just how dreadful the script was," Lucie says. "Things escalated."
[14:08] <@Henrietta> "I have no idea what happened! I went there to try and stop it!"
[14:09] <@Rudy> "Should we quit? We can quit, but really, the whole murder aspect seems like a big joke to me," replies Rudy, throwing his hands behind his back. "Really!"
[14:10] <@Rudy> "Not that killing people is a laughing matter," he adds, shifting from cheer to nervousness in an instant.
[14:10] <@Lucie> "Henri's correct, though--we took all the death roles, so if we want to ensure this production goes through without any killing, well, we are well-placed to ensure that, aren't we?"
[14:11] <@Ebiris> Bringing a perfectly manicured hand to her brow in an expression of dismay, Lavinia shakes her head. "And the two nobles I most wished to court while here are its patron and chief detractor both. That's certainly one way to pick a side..." The young baroness herself takes a deep breath to compose herself, "Come and sit down, the Jade Ravens have already told me the details, and I suppose there might be a way to turn this to my advantage if I can convince Countess Franesca that the intent is to ensure nobody dies - that is her main concern over the performance, yes?"
[14:13] <@Henrietta> "I, that is, I believe so," Henrietta seizes upon that. "So it might even be possible to court them both? The patron, by ensuring the play continues since there are no other actors who are willing to participate, and the Countess by ensuring nothing terrible happens." She glances sideways at Rudy, then, and whispers, "Is this too optimistic?"
[14:13] <@Lucie> "Without that it's just another penny dreadful, isn't it? Think of the audience disappointment. You know anyone viewing it will just be there to see if the performers actually go through with it."
[14:14] <@Rudy> "We can hope. I mean, if one murderplay is a success, it will beget another," replies Rudy, clasping his hands. "And... well, we're not going to become full-time actors, are we?" He furrows his brow. "Hmm..."
[14:15] <@Ebiris> "I dunno," Liamae speaks up, "Back when murderplays were legal, some of the most famous performances were the ones where performers lived long past where the script called on them to die. People like being able to say they saw a unique version of the play."
[14:16] <@Lucie> "It's more suspenseful that way, I guess?" Lucie speculates. She glances at Rudy, evidently having a hard time believing he wouldn't find himself suited to an actor's life.
[14:17] * @Lucie eventually takes a seat. It's been a long day walking around the city, getting yelled at by nutty dwarf directors, learning some foreign god has a lock on her soul...
[14:19] <@Ebiris> "I suppose whatever dangers can be put on stage would pale before other tasks I've set before you all," Lavinia admits as Kora furnishes the new arrivals with wine glasses. "But all it takes is one mistake, and I couldn't live with myself for sending you to die over something so pointless. Even if you did volunteer without telling me," that last part is added dryly.
[14:20] * @Henrietta ducks her head and busies herself with her wine glass.
[14:20] <@Lucie> "We're told the patron's sprung for resurrection spells for all involved," Lucie points out. "Though I doubt that makes a difference for anyone's opinion."
[14:22] <@Rudy> "It's a matter of seizing the oppotunity, m'lady!" exclaims Rudy. "Besides, there are worse things we could be doing when it comes to courting, um, allies of politics. I think."
[14:25] <@Ebiris> "Hmm..." Lavinia considers that, taking a sip from her own glass. "Alright. Tomorrow I'll pay a visit to Duke Thade to offer my best wishes for the play and make sure he understands I'm putting my own retainers on the deadly stage for his benefit... or the benefit of his young mistress," her tone is ever so faintly disapproving there. "Then I'll visit the Countess and unveil my cunning plan to undermine this horrific and tawdry spectacle by ensuring no one actually dies. It could turn out as the best outcome for all concerned." Nodding to the four newly-minted actors, "You four have my leave to focus solely on the performance until it is done, I won't have any other tasks for you until afterwards."
[14:26] <@Rudy> "So it actually is his mistress that's egging him on?" asks Rudy, sounding amused. "What a bloodthirsty girl."
[14:27] <@Lucie> "Do we have any plans to ensure that doesn't happen?" Lucie wonders aloud. "Other than not hitting each other any harder than we have to make it look real? I guess we'll find out more when we've rehearsed some...Hope none of the killing's meant to be done by someone other than us four."
[14:27] <@Henrietta> "It seems that way," Henrietta agrees. "At least if you believe all the rumors about it."
[14:28] <@Henrietta> As Lucie speaks, she finds herself nodding. "I know quite a few protective spells, and my magic can easily take someone out without causing them actual harm. Except to their pride, I suppose. That was to be my plan."
[14:28] <@Rudy> "Is it actually each other we hit?" asks Rudy, skeptically. "That would change things. I figured it was, you know, stage obstacles or something."
[14:28] <@Ebiris> "The director and that girl at the front seemed a bit evasive on how the deadly parts play out," Tobin mentions. "We probably ought to try and make friends with the backstage crew to find out what's planned."
[14:29] <@Lucie> "Sure, sure. If it's any of us hitting each other, we can fake it. Else, I guess we'll see what we can find out in rehearsals."
[14:38] <@Ebiris> Thus everyone goes to bed, finding their rooms modestly sized but sumptuously appointed. Especially the beds, all soft and warm despite the encroaching Winter chill outside! The next day dawns and Lavinia goes off to attend her business while the remaining Jade Ravens plus Trucy proceed on other missions. That leaves the four actors to make their way back to the Limehouse theatre where they find the director and hunchback on the stage, along with a pretty young dark-haired woman in a red and gold gown that would be classy if it didn't cut its skirt off high up the thighs just above where her long white stockings end. Joining them is a plump woman wearing thick alabaster makeup that doesn't quite conceal the age in her bearing and eyes. She wears a much more ornate dress, festooned with devilish faces leering out, and her hair elaborately piled up along with a huge horned head-dress with a great demonic face glowering above her own. "Oh, are those the new actors you mentioned, Robahl?" the younger woman points at the door giddily, earning a snide look from the older woman.
[14:41] <@Rudy> And this, Rudy reflects, is why 'fashion police' should be an actual institution. "Indeed we are, m'lady!" he replies, sketching a bow. "We will perform to your expectations, have no fear."
[14:41] * @Henrietta tips her hat in greeting as she follows Rudy. "Or die trying, as the saying goes?" she adds.
[14:41] <@Lucie> "Sure are," Lucie says, walking to the stage. "Lucie Dolan, pleasure to meet you. I'll be playing Dentris."
[14:44] <@Ebiris> "Finally, the four heroes deign to grace us humble bards with their presence! All rested and energetic, I hope?" Director Nonon bellows at the new arrivals. "We just need that charlatan Thesing to arrive and we might actually get some work done today!"
[14:44] <@Ebiris> "Calseinica Nymmis, I'll be playing Ilsandra," the young woman curtseys. "Which one of you will be Larazod?" she looks expectantly between Tobin and Rudy, bee-lining to the former after he waves his hand.
[14:45] <@Ebiris> "Lady Delour Aulamaxa," the fat diva croons, putting away her spiteful look and replacing it with boredom as she turns away from the young starlet. "Chorus and narrator. The pleasure is yours I'm sure."
[14:45] <@Ebiris> OOC: you can roll nobility or local if you care to
[14:45] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 local
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 local and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[14:45] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3 nobility!
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 nobility! and gets 19." [1d20=16]
[14:45] -> *Rudy* You don't know any of these goofs!
[14:46] <@Rudy> "I am absolutely thrilled to meet you," deadpans Rudy.
[14:47] -> *Henrietta* Aulamaxa is a minor noble (moreso than Lavinia) and a famous opera singer. Calseinica Nymmis is the child of Baron Nymmis, one of Isernia's nobles, but was disowned for her scandalous career and lifestyle
[14:49] <@Lucie> "Thesing, huh?" Lucie asks, if no one else is about to. "What's he do here?"
[14:51] <@Henrietta> "It is, Lady Aulamaxa," Henrietta says politely. "Does the play have a part that allows you to demonstrate your famed talent?"
[14:51] <@Ebiris> "He'll be playing Haanderthan, the star of the show," Calseinica smiles at Lucie. "He's really good at acting, he can even make you think he's nice!"
[14:52] * @Lucie snorts. "Takes a lot of work to fool me on that account. We'll see, assuming he hauls himself in here sometime today."
[14:52] <@Ebiris> "Naturally," Delour smiles graciously at Henrietta. "If you are especially lucky, my voice will be the last thing you hear on the night of our performance."
[14:53] <@Rudy> No, Rudy! Restrain yourself! "That's a good talent to have in a play like this!" remarks Rudy, turning to Calsenica. "I mean, you wouldn't want to be making enemies backstage here, would you?" he adds, conspirationally.
[14:54] <@Henrietta> "Well, I very much doubt I will die," Henrietta demurs. "But if I did, would you happen to know who would be killing me? And how?"
[14:57] <@Ebiris> "Millech," the dwarven director gestures to his humpbacked assistant, "Take the new performers to get fitted for their costumes, and then we can have them learn their lines and work on positions and motions for the play."
[14:57] <@Ebiris> "No, especially not in your roles!" the young actress nods emphatically to Rudy. "I'm glad I've got one of the safer ones!"
[14:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: can roll sense motive if you want
[14:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+1 why am I bad at this
[14:57] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+1 why am I bad at this and gets 6." [1d20=5]
[14:58] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[14:58] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 8." [1d20=6]
[14:59] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+13
[14:59] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+13 and gets 26." [1d20=13]
[14:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: also while we're at it, roll diplo, Henri?
[15:00] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+15 I can do that!
[15:00] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+15 I can do that! and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[15:01] <@Ebiris> It's just a flash, noticed only by Lucie, but the narrator's eyes narrow maliciously as Calseinica attests to her survivability in the play. Nonetheless her expression returns to normal and she gives Henrietta a condescending smile, "I'm sure that depends entirely upon your talents, young lady."
[15:02] <@Ebiris> Millech the hunchback ambles over to the group, "Ya'll got all yer gear and stuff ye'll want in the play? Gonna be fightin' and stuff, 'fter all."
[15:02] <@Lucie> "Got a mace if I need it," Lucie says. "Elsewise, it's magic for me."
[15:03] <@Rudy> "Got a crossbow. Is that fine? I promise not to shoot anything not on stage," replies Rudy, amiably.
[15:03] <@Henrietta> "I brought my flail," Henrietta responds to Millech after a nod of acknowledgement to Delour's words. "Is the costume terribly restrictive, you think?"
[15:05] <@Ebiris> "I never brought my armour and sword... didn't think it'd be needed today," Tobin admits with a shrug.
[15:05] <@Ebiris> That prompts the director to explode, "You imbecile! I don't care if you die but you can't die in the first act, not Larazod! You'll need both if you want to surprise, and I won't have plebian unmatching brigand's gear to tarnish the appearance of anyone who steps onto the sacred stage! Go and get your things and be back quickly so the costumer can fit them properly!"
[15:07] <@Ebiris> "Alright, alright! Be back in half an hour, then," Tobin quickly retreats under this assault of words!
[15:07] * @Henrietta can't help but wonder why Tobin didn't think he'd need his weapon after she had to use her flail just the other day while acting out a scene.
[15:07] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile the other three are lead backstage by Millech, who looks around his hump and over his shoulder at Henrietta, "Drovalid, aye? If ye don't want to wear armour then it won't be too restrictive, but still more'n normal clothes. Lots of leather, ayup."
[15:08] * @Lucie casts a speculative gaze at Henri after hearing that. "What'll Dentris be wearing?" she wonders.
[15:09] <@Ebiris> "Wizard robes," the hunchback nods to Lucie, before looking at Rudy, "Shiny armour for Tybain. Can use paint and magic if yer not for real heavy armour, though."
[15:10] <@Rudy> "Can't move in that stuff!" replies Rudy, shuddering. "I'll go the magic route. So Tybain's some kinda knight? Does he do magic at all?"
[15:11] <@Henrietta> "It would probably look more exciting if I didn't wear any armor," Henrietta agrees. "Leather should be alright."
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "Like a priest, healin', the light a' Apollo, all that," Millech tells Rudy as he takes them past a line of clothesracks holding all sorts of outfits, into a room full of mirrors and wardrobes and lanterns where an older white-haired human woman and a young dwarven boy wait, both smiling pleasantly at the new arrivals.
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "These are the new actors?" the woman asks, her smile slipping a moment later, "I thought there were four of them?"
[15:13] <@Rudy> "Larazod's running to get his things," replies Rudy, cheerily. "He'll be around in a few, Ms..."
[15:13] <@Lucie> "He'll be along," Lucie says. "The hero forgot his gear."
[15:14] <@Henrietta> "Yes," Henrietta backs them up. "It's not like he died before he got here or anything."
[15:14] <@Rudy> "He's pretty much unkillable, at that."
[15:14] <@Henrietta> "He really is very strong. It takes a terrible monster to even bring him to his knees."
[15:15] <@Ebiris> "Galebraith," the woman smiles and nods to Rudy, "We'll be making your costumes, so any weapons or armour or other things you really want to wear on the night so you don't die, you let us know and we'll fix it so it works with the rest of the play's design."
[15:15] <@Ebiris> "We won't damage it none, neither!" the dwarven boy pipes up, "So don't you worry about your things, it's all just decoration we'll do!"
[15:16] * @Lucie hefts her mace. "Just brought this. Guess if you want to make it look like a wizard's staff or something, you could do that."
[15:17] <@Henrietta> "My flail," Henrietta says, presenting said weapon. "It was really my father's flail. I simply have to use it if I'm fighting. Oh, and I also have a whip, but I can only bring it out for a short bit. Can my costume work with them?"
[15:17] <@Ebiris> "Tricky to do without ruining balance... wand might be better," Millech muses, reaching up as if to take Lucie's mace. "Use any spells'n elements a lot, aye?"
[15:18] <@Ebiris> "You're the torturer, yes?" Ms Galebraith smiles warmly at Henrietta, reaching for her flail. "This looks vicious already, but we'll make it a bit darker and cruel looking, I think."
[15:19] <@Lucie> "Whatever you want, long as it's not so unwieldy I can't hit folk with it," Lucie says with a shrug, handing the weapon over. "My magic's most about making sure the other side has a bad day, but I can throw in some colors and the like if need be."
[15:19] <@Rudy> "I'll leave my bow and leathers with you- oh, I'm going to be doing a lot of jumps and rolls, I think- can you work out something that'd I'd look good in whilst doing that?" asks Rudy, cheerily. "I think the armor should be form-fitting? Maybe with a cape or a scarf!"
[15:20] <@Rudy> "And speaking of magic, I can summon things, but they're, um, always really dark and creepy looking." Rudy frowns. "Apparently that is not how most summons go."
[15:20] <@Ebiris> "Yellow cape," the dwarf boy nods instantly upon hearing Rudy. "We'll paint up your leather so nobody in the audience can tell it's not mithral!"
[15:20] <@Henrietta> "I have a spell for that, Rudy!" Henrietta tells him brightly. "It will even let a cripple jump around, that is how well it works!"
[15:21] <@Rudy> "There's no telling what it'll do to an accomplished bounder like myself!"
[15:21] <@Henrietta> "The sky may well be the limit!"
[15:21] <@Ebiris> "Don't want that, no," Millech shakes his head sollemnly. "Any spells for Tybain, need be bright'n nice. Wouldn't summon things, no - just confuses audience, so it does."
[15:22] <@Rudy> "I.. hmm.." Rudy scrunches up his eyebrows, and a moment later, a ball of light pops into being! Although it sheds a pleasing light, little menacing black balls orbit around it, just as it orbits around Rudy. "This is probably the best I can do."
[15:23] <@Lucie> "So I guess you lot have been at this a while," Lucie observes. "Normal plays though, not like this one?"
[15:25] <@Ebiris> "Oooh!" the elderly seamstress leans close to look at Rudy's minion. "Never done makeup for one of those before. Not like I can do makeup for something that pops in out of thin air during the play, though..." Biting her lip thoughtfully, she perks up at Lucie's words. "Oh, yes. I do make normal clothes too, but I always try to get in on plays when I can, it lets me be that much more creative!"
[15:27] <@Rudy> "I don't think this can even wear clothes..." replies Rudy, eyeing the ball speculatively. "I'm not even sure what it is."
[15:27] <@Lucie> "Well, could be I'll consider asking for some once I see what you can do here," Lucie says. "Though I figure stage clothes'll be flashier than anything you'd wear on the street."
[15:28] <@Rudy> "If you really want to design clothes for weird things, maybe I could commission something for Myra..."
[15:28] <@Henrietta> "Oh!" Henrietta smiles at the seamstress. "We have been looking for you! So you make adventurous, creative clothing?"
[15:29] <@Ebiris> "More fragile, too," the seamstress nods, before snapping her fingers. "Zeke, go and take the gentleman's measurements and I'll do the two ladies, then we can get to work properly." She takes out a measuring tape and approaches Lucie first, responding to Rudy first, "What's this Myra of yours like, then?"
[15:29] <@Rudy> "She has no head." Rudy frowns. "And she has mouths in her chest."
[15:30] * @Lucie stands still so the lady can go about her work.
[15:30] <@Lucie> "Fragile, huh? Why's that? Just don't make it to last knowing it's only for the occasional performance?"
[15:30] <@Henrietta> More fragile practically seems like a requirement for Liamae, and Henrietta nods to herself. "Maybe I can talk to you about this after work hours some time?"
[15:32] <@Ebiris> Zeke shudders at Rudy's description but nonetheless starts measuring him quickly. "I've made costumes like that, but I've never made clothes for someone who really does look that way..." his mistress notes unconcerned, nodding up at Lucie, "If it's not for day to day wear it doesn't really need to be sturdy, no. Some plays I have to make clothes that rip apart at a touch so the swordfights look real... that won't be a problem in this play, will it?"
[15:34] <@Rudy> "Well, we're not really swordfighters," replies Rudy. "But we're going into the play pretty blind, to be honest. Have you seen the script?"
[15:34] * @Henrietta raises a hand. "Not... all of my clothing, though. Right?"
[15:35] <@Lucie> "Depends," Lucie says with a grimace after a long moment. "I've got an old scar, it, uh, might be distracting unsightly...but I guess if there's real fighting the audience won't notice it too much past the bleeding."
[15:36] <@Ebiris> "Yes, but it doesn't tell you exactly what's going to happen," Zeke tells Rudy. "I mean, there's one scene where you all get eaten by a giant serpent - like, all of you at once. I don't know how they're going to pull that one off."
[15:37] <@Lucie> "Maybe they could hire Maya for that," Lucie mutters.
[15:38] <@Ebiris> "Don't worry, we're not going to make strip-clothes for you. If anything gets torn, it'll be because someone worked at it," the seamstress finishes up with Lucie, nodding in satisfaction and moving onto Henrietta.
[15:38] <@Lucie> "Right, well, I'll be working at my best not to let 'em hit me anyway, so with any luck it won't come to that anyway."
[15:40] * @Henrietta holds out her arms to her sides, having been through such measurements plenty of times in the past. "You have no idea how much that comforts me," she says. "It is one thing to buy such clothing for a party, and quite another to dress up like that before an audience at a play." She frowns as she goes over what she had just said, before shaking her head. "They're just too different
[15:40] * @Henrietta situations."
[15:43] <@Ebiris> In short order measurements are taken, and the group returns to the stage while the costume and prop workers get busy on their appearances. There's still no sign of Thesing - or Tobin, but Robahl nonetheless proceeds to hand out scripts. "While we wait on the other actors, it would behoove you to read the scripts and try to commit it to memory inside your miniscule brains. Since we only have our two male leads missing, and it's not as if they're important at all!"
[15:44] <@Rudy> "How much of this is gonna be improv?" asks Rudy, scanning the paper to see just how much midnight oil he'll have to burn to get this down.
[15:45] * @Lucie flips through the script, mainly looking for standout details like how long the play is, scanning for scenes that involve her character more, looking for explicit mentions of death scenes.
[15:48] <@Ebiris> Quite a bit seems to be - oh, there are a good number of lines to memorise at the start, but as it goes on there seems to be less and less lines for certain people. Rudy's character's last line occurs in Act 3, the Trial by Pleasure, where the actors are subjected to the 'Flukes of Aphrodite', which apparently cause incredible bliss even while devouring their prey. No death scenes are explicitly called out, but only Larazod has lines among the four parts by Act 7, Trial by His Own Dark Hand.
[15:49] <@Lucie> "This sounds like a lot of play," Lucie comments, looking for her own scheduled last lines as an indicator of when in particular she might want to watch for trouble.
[15:51] <@Henrietta> "You could always pretend to die when your lines end," Henrietta muses, mostly checking the script to see if all her lines are corny enough she will need to fight to keep her composure.
[15:51] <@Ebiris> Act 6, the Birthing Trial, whereien the actors give birth to malformed melting children that proceed to viciously attack their own horrified parents.
[15:51] <@Rudy> "Oh, god! I want to die before this act."
[15:51] * @Lucie briefly contemplates whether it might actually be preferable to die before Act 6.
[15:52] <@Ebiris> Act 2 might be a good place to die, since it seems that Henrietta will be charged with doing the killing in that particular act in her part as torturer, at least before her change of heart.
[15:53] <@Henrietta> "I have a question," Henrietta speaks up, prepapring herself for the scorn of the director. "I know I am supposed to be, well, evil and a warrior. May I use flashy magic as well? To, that is, to torture people and kill them horrifically?"
[15:54] <@Ebiris> "Drovalid is a brute, a beefy killing machine, something I'm sure you'll have no problem playing," the director tells Henrietta scornfully. "The only parts that can cast magic themselves are Dentris and Tybain."
[15:56] <@Lucie> "Maybe Drovalid's been studying," Lucie speculates. "Expanding his repertoire?"
[15:56] <@Henrietta> And there it is! Even though she expected it, the scorn still hurts and her shoulders droop.
[15:58] <@Ebiris> "No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" the director waves his hands and protests Lucie's suggestion. "Drovalid is a mighty warrior, not a sly spellcaster! And in this case, he is a she!"
[15:59] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile Tobin finally arrives, decked out in sword and armour. He's quickly escorted backstage for his own fitting with nary a hello!
[16:00] <@Rudy> "You better get some practice in, Henri! I'll help~"
[16:01] * @Henrietta gives Rudy a strange look. "Just so I understand. You are... asking me to torture you?"
[16:01] <@Lucie> "Right, right. So how long we have to get all this down in our heads? When's the performance? Our patrons gonna put in an appearance for a meet and greet anytime?"
[16:01] <@Rudy> "I'm not into that. I meant, you know, summoning stuff for you to fight. The buckets will fear you in time."
[16:02] * @Henrietta gives Rudy her most evil glare.
[16:04] <@Ebiris> "You'll see him on the night of the performance," Robahl tells Lucie, "Until then we have five days for rehearsals to get everyone's parts down. Even if the script doesn't give you lines after a certain point, improvise something... assuming you can fit another 'i' word amidst inept, inefficient, incapable, inadequate, insufferable, and incompetent that is! Assume you'll survive the whole play, we don't know what will happen on the night!"
[16:05] <@Lucie> "Impotent?" Lucie suggests.
[16:06] <@Rudy> "Inimitable?"
[16:06] * @Henrietta abstains.
[16:08] <@Ebiris> "Yes, yes," he waves aside both suggestions. "Also, I don't recall any of you asking yesterday - for which I must reluctantly give credit for showing an interest in art for art's sake, however misapplied. You will each receive five percent of the house's take for the performance, just in case gold provides some extra motivation to bring out whatever meagre talents you possess."
[16:09] <@Lucie> "It's a right relief to know I get paid before dying," Lucie says.
[16:09] <@Henrietta> "After dying," Henrietta corrects her. "If you die, that is."
[16:09] <@Rudy> "You guys can have my cut if I die," adds Rudy, cheerily.
[16:17] <@Ebiris> Later on that day as rehearsals progress, the lead male of Thesing Umbero Ulvauno finally appears. He seems nice enough, if standoffish and not quite looking at people when he talks to them. Henrietta seems to get the most of his attention, and he openly laments that such a fair young flower of womanhood should lose her life on the stage, but suggests that he might be able to help her during the performance if she's particularly nice to him.
[16:18] -> *Lucie* You happened to be nearby when Thesing was hitting up Henrietta and can tell he's just saying whatever he thinks will get into her pants.
[16:20] * @Henrietta is indeed as nice as a repenting torturer can be. She's not really sure if Thesing is hinting about more, but opts to act as though he isn't. Not everyone in the theater is obsessed with sordid affairs, surely?
[16:22] <@Ebiris> He doesn't seem to mind Henrietta not immediately pouncing on him and seems pleased by her niceness. Later on, Rudy enacts his plan to get people drunk and pump them for info...
[16:24] <@Lucie> Lucie will, of course, find sometime when the actor isn't fawning over Henri to quietly communicate the following: "Shouldn't need to tell you this, but assume anything maestro here's offering is done in the hopes it'll get you into bed."
[16:25] <@Rudy> As far as plans go, it's very touch and go; as rehearsals come to a close, Rudy seeks out members of the backstage crew and introduces himself as Tybain! "So you're my executioners?" he finds himself asking with an amiable grin.
[16:26] <@Ebiris> As far as a backstage crew goes, it's really just Mellich the humpback. "Nope, don't wanna kill no one. Just doin' me job, ayup," the stooped and musclebound figure looks up at Rudy.
[16:26] <@Rudy> "You're handling everything?" asks Rudy, in surprise. "Aren't some of the setpieces pretty big affairs?"
[16:28] <@Ebiris> "Got some folk helpin' me set up, over at Nightshade," he nods, "S'where the real play's goin' on. Limehouse's too small. Busy next few days though, for us all."
[16:29] <@Rudy> "Can you tell me straight?" asks Rudy, after a moment. "Just how deadly is this run gonna be?"
[16:30] <@Ebiris> "Real deadly," he rubs his nose and nods. "Master Nonon don't want me tellin' no surprises, but you better watch yerself. No walk in the park, nope."
[16:32] <@Rudy> "Well, that aside, you got any advice? I mean..." Rudy muses over this a moment. "How d'ya think we should prepare ourselves?"
[16:32] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a diplo check, Rudy?
[16:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+12
[16:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[16:36] <@Ebiris> Turning his head this way and that to look around, Mellich hushes his voice and gestures Rudy closer. "The fightin's easy. For the Trial by Pleasure ye'll need to be quick with a knife - like a doctor. An' ye ought to practice climbin' to get out o' the belly of the beast." Rubbing his nose and nodding, "No more will I say."