open | full circle pt 1

[exequy]

WHO: Concerned mages/rifters/others
WHAT: An emergency meeting!
WHEN: Solace 20
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Explanation in the OOC post. Please tag this like a network post. There are top-level comments to provide a little chronology/structure, but threadjack to your heart's content.

Before and during dinner on an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday, there's a chain of whispers (or notes, or perfectly audible comments from the particularly unsubtle) about an emergency meeting, at an evening hour, in a basement room, regarding a matter of concern to rifters and mages.

The basement part is probably unnecessary. It's certainly ineffective; the organization is too small, the Gallows too contained, and the halls too echoey for something arranged with this much finesse-wrecking haste to truly remain a secret. They could have done it in an empty office or the recreational dining hall, probably, and sat on chairs instead of storage crates. But Kostos picked the location, and he's dramatic. If nothing else it signals a clear intention to do this as unofficially as necessary.

Anyone who accepts the invitation (or just decides to come see what the fuss is about) will first encounter Marcus Rowntree, posted up outside the door like a bouncer, letting mages and rifters move through undisturbed but stepping in to question and likely bar the arrival of anyone else. Inside, Kostos is nothing but a dark scowl in the room's far corner, picking at a splinter of wood on a crate and not mustering a word of greeting for anyone who comes in. Derrica has parked herself within arm's reach of Kostos, a long gold-edged shawl spilling over one shoulder. Her diplomacy pin gleams from the front of her tunic. The worried pinch to her brow is the only outward sign of anxiety; otherwise, she is tightly contained, watching people enter. Julius–notably not in robes–is serious but calm as people come in, standing next to the ever-composed Madame de Cedoux.

Once as many people have arrived as seem likely to, Marcus closes the door, remaining beside it, and they explain what the problem is.

Comments

[hornswoggle]

[ This unfounded suspicion. ]

Of course. Say the word.

[inkindled]

Ri-ight.

[--With eyes narrowed, bruh why are you here--]

Is this the sort of 'safely kept' that means you'll need six month's notice when we want 'em back?

[hornswoggle]

Well, not six months.

[ Let's not ask too many questions. ]

But well-hidden requires some work to retrieve, or it wouldn't be well-hidden, yes?

[inkindled]

S'ppose so.

[Suspicious, still, but.]

Just so long as this doesn't become a highest bidder type of thing.

[hornswoggle]

Oh? How much are you prepared to offer?

[inkindled]

How much'm I willing to offer for our stuff?

[hornswoggle]

Well, considering you've implied there's some theoretical price you'd attach to them...

[inkindled]

A theoretical price I'd attach to our stuff.

[It bears repeating.]

S'ppose it wouldn't really matter, as it's ours, and we don't need to pay for what's ours.

[hornswoggle]

I'm not asking you to pay.

[ Relenting. ]

When you've a safe place of your own, [ a more broad you, one encompassing the others in the room. ] The entirety of it will reappear.

[inkindled]

[Hmmm. Matthias keeps his eyes narrowed a moment longer but then relents for his part as well with a short nod.]

S'ppose that's all right, as assurances go.