[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, outside VIP Suite 3] #67

Cynthia seems really surprised to see Tanya talk about games. "I know the game yes. I played a few months ago. I should still have my Shadow I suppose." Looking at Tanya, she adds "It's a hidden class. You can think of it as an assassin with powers over shadows and darkness in general. It was kinda fun but..." She grimaces a bit, almost apologetically "I found the game too centered around the Hunter class at least on the storytelling side, and it was a bit too easy for my taste. At the moment I'm playing Mars: The Apocalypse. It's an open-world survival game where you wander in the remains of a lost civilisation on Mars. You can try to understand what happened, and how the civilisation disappeared, but you first have to find enough resources to survive. Some wander in the ruins, some steal from them, other build communities, and so on. But it's pretty hardcore: it's full PvP, and you only get a single life. If you die, you lose your character and everything you did with it. And it's... Well, in most games, you have some kind of progression, where you do this quest, then that quest, you farm this spot at a given level and so on. Here there's no such things. I often wonder if maybe there's some kind of IA generating content as needed but it's kinda hard to be sure about this. You never know with AIs..."

She stops, blinking, looking contrite "Err sorry, I talk too much... The lodge could suffice I suppose, unless you're plotting to take over the game's company or something like that... There's probably too much traffic for them to be able to do much. I suppose they could come back to discussions logs, but they would need some good motive to do it. If you do want to take over the game's company however, I know some good meeting spots, where you can expect to have your privacy respected. Of course, even if you owned the node nothing could be guaranteed but..."

Noticing that she's been speaking for a while, again, she closes her mouth abruptly.

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya is looking at Cynthia with an open mouth she finally remembers to close.  "Bloody hell!  You play Mars?  My God, I have been in that since it came out.  Died about 20 times already, so you are probably much better than I am.  But my current life is doing quite well.  If we got together, maybe you could share some tips.  Have you figured out the secret of the Fifth Tomb yet?  I have tried a couple of times but cannot seem to get past the canal in the eighth level of the Algon Pit.  I would really appreciate some help if you have done that one.  Say, maybe it one of those places where it really takes two lives working together to really succeed?  Would it be a bother to meet you there and play and chat?  By the way, I do agree that much of the VH game is centered about the Hunter class, but I have managed to get to Master Vampyre with one of my characters.  It is tough, though, I will admit.  The Hunters seem to have all the advantages."  Tanya seems to be an entirely different person when she is talking about gaming.  And don't apologize to me about gaming.  It is one of my passions and I could talk for hours about it."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, outside VIP Suite 3] #68

"Err..." For a couple of seconds, Cynthia seems to be lost. This is clearly not what she was expecting of someone like the noble woman. Shaking herself, she decides that she doesn't much care about the gap between what she could expect and what she sees: the only important thing is what is after all. And since she enjoys talking about games anyway... "I died a couple of times too before I got the hang of it. As for the Pit yeah, I got past it. I suppose I could meet you there. As long as you are discreet at least, it would be bothersome otherwise, a lot of people want to have a few words with me... Often the rather fatal kind of words... Especially considering the bounty..."

Frowning, she seems to hesitate a bit. Finally, she says "I could explain everything but it wouldn't be fun after that." She looks at Tanya, and adds "However I think I can give you two hints: first, you know those books by Carlin Wrenn that you find sometimes? Each one is a fable, about the end of the world, about mundane stuff...or more...mystic...considerations? You probably noticed the last page, the one everybody think is just some kind of signature for the book, pretty but meaningless? Well... Let's just say it's not as meaningless as most believe. As long as you find the key anyway." She smiles a bit. "Second... Did you ever wonder why you just had to take this injection every day? Why it's so cheap compared to most anything else? Sure, if you don't take it, you die. But why? And where do the injections really come from?" She pauses, an eyebrow raised. After a while, she grimaces "Oh by the way, if you died a few weeks ago because the price of the injections jumped up for a while... Well... Sorry about that... I kinda...err...disrupted...one of the production sites...rather permanently..."

After a couple of seconds, she shrugs "But I suppose this takes us a bit too far to what we're supposed to be talking... Especially here..."

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya's eyes are almost glowing as she waves her hand dismissively and smiles.  It comes to you that her smile is probably quite like yours, actually.  A bit wolf mixed with something even scarier but undefined.  "I would like to just say fuck everyone else and go off to play.  Monique, my maid plays a lot, and does quite well in other games, even has a ranked Werewolf in VH, which is quite hard.  But she does not like Mars.  We could watch out for each other, if you like.  Not sure what sort of guarantee you would need from me to convince you that I have no need to collect your bounty, but it could be tons of fun, especially if others do not suspect that we are a team.  And thanks for the hints.  I will go and look them over and see if I can figure it out.  And the raid on Dispensary  23 was you?  Wow!  People are still talking about that.  Made a big splash.  Bloody hell, I was there just after you hit the place.  I spotted some guy leaving the area with a large bag on his shoulders.  His bounty made it interesting enough to follow him, especially if it were to turn out that he was carrying any remaining injections.  Met him and he WAS carrying.  I offered to trade sex for an injection and he agreed.  Reality sex can be almost as fulfilling as the real thing if you have the right gear and I have some good stuff.  Anyway, he tried to whack me but I was expecting it and already planning on doing him.  Upshot is that I got laid, got the bounty, and got enough injections to last a while."  She looks around at the room that seems to mostly have ignored your presence.  "And we should leave if we are to make the concert.  I hope I am not boring you with my chatter, but you interest me very much.  Maybe we can talk more after the show, unless you want a backstage pass?  I could wrangle one for us."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, outside VIP Suite 3] #69

Cynthia seems a bit uncomfortable when Tanya speaks so freely about sex. Given Tanya's reputation it's not something that surprises her, but it's not something she's personally comfortable with. Not taken that lightly anyway. Still, even if it's not something she would do or agree too, she doesn't really care about Tanya's opinion on this topic: she can do whatever she wants as far as she's concerned. Well, as long as Cynthia herself is not on the menu.

As such, she smiles freely "Sure, I almost never play in a group. Might be interesting... But it'll have to wait a bit though. I still have to listen to Marissa's business talk. No idea what about, but since it was more or less understood that me seeing the concert was in exchange of listening to her pitch..." She shrugs, fatalist.

"And I certainly intend to see CD perform. I don't need backstage passes though." She smiles thinly "I don't need to meet the musicians. I'm not a groupie, I love the music not the musicians. Or well, maybe I would, maybe not, but it doesn't really matter. And they probably see more than enough people vying for their attention anyway. Even if they will never know it, let them have this bit of respite." At that, she smiles, clearly amused.

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya pauses, feeling that she has said something wrong and not knowing what it is.  She smiles, offering her arm to Cynthia before walking off into the crowd of people and heading for the stairs to the next circle.  They are stopped by several individuals and couples that greet Tanya as old friends.  Cynthia is simply introduced by her first name and Tanya mentions that she is a new acquaintance.  This does serve to increase the interest in the young woman accompanying the British noblewoman, but Tanya does not provide more information.  Soon enough, the pair approach the doors to the concert hall located on the fourth circle.  The AROs on their wrists identify them as special guests and they are led to a private VIP lounge area.  Tanya asks the female uniformed escort to see that the security curtain is marked for no disturbance and the young woman nods, telling Tanya that it shall be as she wishes.  The two settle into nice, comfortable chairs and have about five minutes before the curtain goes up.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno] #70

Cynthia takes the offered arm with a smile. A smile that soon becomes a bit trembling as she faces the crowd. As they walk and are stopped, she stays mostly silent, nodding in greetings and shaking hands when appropriate but not saying much more than "Hi, I'm Cynthia.". Perfectly happy to stand back, and let Tanya work her magic on the crowd.

She smiles gratefully at the escort, and settles with a relieved sigh in her chair. "I don't know how you do it... Most of them seem so...so...vain... They wouldn't look twice at me in normal circumstances, and here they are flattering me despite not knowing a thing about me, hoping to get into your good graces..." She shakes her head, distaste evident on her face "And how can you stand this leecherous Harold? The way he looked at you and me almost made me want to have a shower. Oh, and brick his 'eyes. Given that there seem to be a glitch in their programming making him almost unable to look us in the eyes... Or at least you... it would probably do him a favour..."

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya turns to Cynthia and smiles.  "You did very well.  But look, I want to say something that might appear to be rude but there is no rudeness meant.  For whatever reason, you are no longer in the box you put yourself in.......or allowed someone else to put you in.  As of tonight, you are part of something bigger.  Many times it can be uglier but sometimes nicer that your old world.  The trix is your world, or rather, was your world.  If you go back there now, you will find images of you in the social media and general news feed areas.  Certainly most of the people that you met tonight and others that read of this evening will read some sort of salacious scandal into you being on my arm, but there are also people who are genuinely interested in you that you never knew existed.  You will have to decide for yourself who to trust and not trust in this new world and you will probably make some mistakes along the way, but I think that you will find that the meat world has a lot to offer you."

"I do not want to boor you with stories from my own childhood unless you really want to hear them, but you and I are not as different as you might think in everything that really counts.  We both play roles, it is just that I have been doing it far longer than you have and so have more experience.  But, and only if you want, I can help you learn how to carry your role into the larger world.  I happen to believe that there were at least three people that were far more interested in you than in me, and not as a means to get closer to me.  You may not remember young Clive Morgan?  His parents are rather insufferable, but he is a nice, polite young man.  I am helping him with his tuition at the U because I happen to think he is a genius and his parents wanted to force him into a pigeon hole he is not suited for and cut him off when he refused to do it their way.  He did not ask for my assistance, but I sought him out.  So, you see, he has no reason to be trying to get close to me.  And he did manage to keep his eyes where they should be................mostly.  I did notice that he checked you out at least twice.  And a young man who does not look at the chest of a pretty young woman is probably dead.  And do not deny it; you may think that you are dressed as little as you can get away with for here, but some people can see through that.  And I noticed that Margot Freed was eyeing you.  I happen to know that she is very happily married and is not on the prowl for lovers, so her interest is in another area.  Perhaps she recognizes in you a kindred matrix spirit.  She is a professor at the U and holds the chair as the head of the Matrix Science Department there.  I could arrange a meeting with either of these people if you are interested in meeting them."

"And I am interested in you.  I also am not looking for a new lover at this time, but would still like to know more about you, but perhaps a meeting in a better place is more appropriate."

"Ah, the curtain.  Think of what I have said and let me know what you think at the intermission."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, 4th level VIP lounge] #71

Cynthia listens quietly, but seems a bit doubtful. She doesn't seem to really care about what some will read into this. Except maybe her mother. She'd love to see her reaction at that. She's visibly a bit curious about this Clive, but her expression, rather neutral up to know changes quite a bit when Tanya speaks about Margot Freed.

She's not exactly afraid but certainly anxious. She doesn't have visions of vivisections - quite - but she heard so much told about how Technomancers were...studied... She even tried to avoid other Technomancers up to now, fearing to attract the attention of those that sold out to one Megacorp or the other. Especially Mitsuhama or Neonet. As such, having drawn the attention of someone in the position of Margot Freed doesn't feel like the end of the world but is certainly not welcomed news.

Had Tanya not pointed out the curtain, Cynthia might have bolted, here and now. As it is, her haunted look takes a few minutes, a song or two, to disappear, as she's drawn into the performance.

[Mercy Merchant]

If Tanya notices the change in your expression, she does not mention it.  The band plays a straight set for an hour, all the way up to the intermission.  The songs are better live than recorded and the presentation is excellent.  All in all, it is almost enough to allow you to forget the outside world.  Almost.  As the lights come back up, Tanya turns to you and says, "So?  What do you think?  I like it so far."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, 4th level VIP lounge] #72

Judging by the look on Cynthia's face, she might have been à very happy cat in another life. In any case, it is obvious that she completely forgot any worries she might have had previously "Yep!"

She closes her eyes, with à lazy smile "No matter the quality of the sound system, it's not the same as seing them live."

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   "You got that right.  So, do you want to stay here and have refreshments brought to us or go out to the lobby and get some.  I was thinking of having some chilled fruit juice sent in for me, but I can out there if you want to order direct."


@Eva   Sylvia disentangles herself from you and sighs.  "This is nice, but does not advance your plans much, unless those plans include having me rip your clothes off and doing you right on that couch there, which I am more than willing to do.  Or do you want to follow the others?  Perhaps we could go dancing and swap partners with your secretary and her boyfriend?  Would that give you time to do your thing with them?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, 4th level VIP lounge] #73

Still smiling, Cynthia stands up "Chilled juice seems nice to me. I'll have to go to the toilets though, otherwise I'll probably have to go in the middle of the next part so..." She shrugs apologetically "I totally blame the juice from before."

Grabbing the curtain of the lodge, she turns her head back and says, half jocking "If I'm not back in five, it would be nice if you sent the cavalry." frowning, she grumbles "Unless there's a queue of course. That would be pretty silly..."

[VegasRigged]

"I hope that pert of the reason your on my side is because I am catious with essential information, not spilling the most important details in places I feel are not perfectly secure. I believe the girl could be useful in securing the new business deals I'm putting in motion, since she's unconnected to our on the ground crew theirs very little chance of being cut out. More then that, she seems willing to cause a little chaos, and that will most definitely be needed in the weeks to come. Now, we should find out here her and Tanya have gotten to, and at some point I'll float the idea of a threesom to our lovely hostess."

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   Tanya points to the left.  We get to use the loos over in that direction.  One of the perks.  The queue should be smaller.  I will have a selection of juices sent in, unless you have a fav?"  The line at the women's toilets is indeed far shorter than you would have thought, with only a few waiting.  Soon you are in, done, and washing up.  Two young women, probably just a couple of years older then you, approach.  "You are the girl with Lady Marisart, right?  We have heard so many things about her.  Could you get us an interview with her?"


@Eva   Sylvia shakes her head.  "Why I am with you has very little to do with how you manage your affairs and almost everything to do with how I react to you.  There is, of course, some link between the two.  I would not want to be near you if you were incompetent or lazy.  But you have proven to be neither.  I happen to like very much how you make me feel and how your body moves to my touch.  We are good for each other and you fill some need of mine that I have not really noticed before."  She pauses to see if you react to her words.  {color=blue]"Tanya and Cynthia went to the fourth circle auditorium for that concert.  It is probably too late to go there, now, but perhaps at the intermission?"