☆TRACK V: I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE PT. 1

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone that isn't an opt out!
What: Naomi Rivers throws a terrible holiday party.
When: December 7th, 2054
Where: Naomi's ocean side mansion.
Warnings: Violence, poisoning, various murder attempts, mind control, general uncomfortable lack of consent. Also, probably drug use. Maybe sex? Who knows what you'll get up to.

“I will burn for you; Feel pain for you. I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart, And tear it apart.” ☆I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE The first two hours of the solstice party are surprisingly normal. Members of both labels arrive by private sky shuttle, and are invited into the ballroom for food and drink. It’s even more surprising when both Lesedi Santiago and Edward Blanche arrive as well, and spent most of that first period speaking quietly in a nearby lounge area. Lesedi’s body guards and Juno watch the space around them, keeping anyone of lesser important from interrupting what looks to be quite the serious discussion. After food, the ballroom stage is taken over by a number of increasingly impressive entertainment pieces. It seems to be obligatory for everyone to stay and watch (not that it’s a struggle – the talent involved is unmistakeable), but not long into it Lesedi and Edward can be seen disappearing outside together, and show no immediate signs of returning. And that’s when Naomi Rivers takes the stage. To the Virgo that have heard it before, the song is more viscerally familiar than anything you’ve only heard once should be, and it awakens the ideas that were implanted there the night before. You have a job to do here, tonight. One that is only fair – almost righteous. Lesedi Santiago and her ilk will suffer for her transgressions. The performances end, and everyone is released out to the rest of the grounds, to mingle and celebrate at their leisure. While things may seem civil on the surface, beneath that something dark is brewing. You gradually begin to notice that almost none of the more veteran members of either label are present. ► BALLROOM: The central nexus of the party, the ballroom is the location of the buffet table, the stage, and the dance floor. There will be music available all night, even after the official “performances” have ended. There are tables set up around the edges of the room for eating and relaxing. ► LOUNGE: Where Lesedi and Edward were having their meeting earlier, the lounge is filled with comfortable chairs, classic art, and a large, ornate fireplace. If you figure out who to ask, there are a number of chemical vices available to all guests. ► BALCONIES: There is a generous series of balconies that line the exterior of the upper floor. The ocean can be seen from one side and the gardens can be seen from the other. ► GUEST ROOMS: Down the halls from the ballroom there are a few generous guest bedrooms that have been left open for use. ► GARDENS: Out towards the back there are a wide variety of plants, and a well kept stone path and manmade waterfall. The plant life is on the sedate side due to the winter, but it’s still green. ► OUTDOOR POOL: There’s a pool out front with a shallow and a deep end. The water is clear and artificially warmed. ☆OOC CONSIDERATIONS Please remember that any attempted assassinations are meant to remain covert, and if your character is incapable of being stealthy then you must assume that any attempts you make are happening towards the end of the evening – let’s say around 11PM. The spell compelling people to do this does not want a riot or a bloodbath – what it wants is for people to die before the rest of the group can realize that anything is even going on. Of course, this isn’t exactly going to work out, but if you are finding yourself getting into the realm of intense physical violence you might want to stop and slow down a little. Virgo members that didn’t hear the song the night before are free from any compulsions, and so are all members of Pride. If non-mind controlled characters start clueing in to what’s going on and start trying to evacuate in large numbers, that is where you’ll want to wrap up threads and wait for Part 2 of the log, which will contain the end results and will be triggered by any large amount of chaos. If any characters attempt to escape earlier in the evening, they’ll find that the shuttles have all been grounded, and wandering in the woodland nearby just seems to result in them getting lost and ending up back at the mansion. It’s a real pickle. If you’ve got any question about what’s going on please leave them on the original plot post and they’ll get answered! The opt out event will be posted ASAP. “I will lie for you; Beg and steal for you. I will crawl on hands and knees until you see: You're just like me.”

Comments

[traumatizing]

Fuck scrambling like a scared child. This man doesn't know what he's fucking with-- It's all Terry can think as he hastily pulls himself to his feet and rips the tie away from his neck. His whole body is screaming for him to take it easy, dial it back a little, but there's a rage driving him forward. Something monstrous and angry that doesn't feel like him but feels right all the same.

But as it rises, it's - ironically - choked off with nowhere to go. Terry wavers, half stumbling toward the wall for balance. He's near the window, but he doesn't notice; he's more focused on Bill.

"What-- what the fuck are you talking about?" He rasps out, panicked and confused with a hand on his own neck like he can't believe what's happening.

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

And then Bill laughs. With his face still reddened by rage and a glint of gold where a second eye should be, the resulting manic grin is barely passable as a human expression.

“This guy! Can't even grasp the idea of his own short mortality when it's staring him in the face! What am I talking about? It's funny how dumb you are!”

With Terry back on his feet, it's time for a new tactic; something to ensure Bill can keep the boy' eyes on him. Hmm. How about a little incentive? Paying little mind to the smaller glass shards that embed themselves into his own arm from the motion, Bill swipes one of the larger shards of glass from the floor.

"Lemme spell it out for ya- No! wait, BETTER! Wanna hear an impression of what you'll sound like in five minutes?"

[traumatizing]

What is this guy's deal? Couldn't he attract a less obnoxiously talkative murderer? Ugh.

Terry's shaky on his feet, but he watches Bill's hands intently. He doesn't now that he has it in himself to defend himself at this juncture - he's exhausted and in agony, it'd probably only take a stiff wind to knock him over - and he grunts in pain as he shifts his weight.

"Are you planning to talk me to death here or what?"

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

Well, Terry, you get your wish-- but at what cost? Bill, for once, remains silent, a knowing smile gracing his features. Wait for it~

Suddenly, in one swift step, he feints a stab to Terry's left- got to line the guy up just perfect, after all!- before throwing his whole weight into a full body shove aiming to send the young musician toppling out the open window--

[traumatizing]

Well, it really sucks for one's last thoughts to be 'I shouldn't have said that,' but that's pretty much the only thing that goes through Terry's mind when he falls through the window.

His arms flail as he goes, grabbing for Bill's arm, the windowsill, anything that'll stop him plummeting to an untimely demise, but he can't get a grip on anything as he goes. Moments later, there'll be the nice, meaty thud of a body hitting the ground outside to signal Bill's success and if he looks out the window he'll see an unmoving body and some blood from the impact. If he's not dead yet, he will be soon enough.

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

Ironically the one thing Terry might have been able to grab would have been Bill's tie, had he still been wearing it from earlier. As it happens, the sax player watches the body soar for a full minute before finally breaking his 'impression' to bark out a laugh.

“GET IT?”

Bill leans over the incline, surveying his work. Yup. That guy ain't getting up. Man, he is on a roll with this stuff! He tosses the unused glass shard in his hand a couple times, before it 'clinks', joining the rest on the floor.

“Because the dead don't talk~”