escordvi | Party Time

Entry tags:

Party Time

Who: Legion and Shepard
Status: Closed
Where: A mansion on the outskirts of town on Elah
What: Legion and Shepard infiltrate a party as part of the House that Watches quest.
Warnings: None that I can think of, but will warn if something comes up.

(They have been tasked with infiltrating a “dinner party” as a personal synthetic assistant.

This task is outside normal operation parameters: the Geth are no one’s servant. However, Shepard-Commander herself has requested they perform this role.

Their platform has been cleaned, polished. They are also wearing the item known as a “dicky bow”. It was one of the few forms of attire that would not risk interfering with their function.

They have also encountered a problem.

The rich folk they’re supposed to be entertaining at this party, are, in fact, very entertained. So much so that they have continuously interrupted Legion as they attempted to set out plates and silverware, attempting to draw them into conversation. Quiz them about their knowledge on things. Ask them for opinions they aren’t supposed to have as a non-sapient virtual intelligence.)

This unit is unable to form opinions. If purchased, similar models may be instructed to espouse viewpoints preferred by their master.

(They need to regroup with Shepard-Commander. They have data to report.

How delightful! Tell me…

This is proving difficult.)

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[ Up-and-coming tech entrepreneur "Alison Gunn" may not be as wildly popular as Legion is, but she's still managed to attract some... interesting people. One couple in particular are being especially clingy and irritating, the charm of their flustered countenance soured immediately by their line of questioning. ]

As I've said many, many times now, there are no current plans to branch out into that market. The misuse of one of our personal assistants could result in injury or death, and we cannot be held responsible for that.

[ More socially aware people would run to the hills at her expression. She's doing very little to conceal her contempt for the pair outside of a wide and tight-lipped smile that's frozen to her face like it's being held by fish hooks.

The champagne flute is the first to cave to the pressure, gripped so hard between her thumb and fingers that the stem snaps, the base dropping to the floor. When it doesn't shatter, cushioned by the disgustingly plush carpet, Shepard steps forward and crushes it to dust beneath her heel. ]

Oh dear. I should go and fetch the assistant.

[ Draining what remains of the glass, she hands it to the startled husband and then claps him sharply on the cheek twice. ]

Good talk.

[ As Shepard walks past the man, practically shoulder-checking an outraged bluster from him, the smile drops. Brushing fragments of glass onto her trousers, she massages her sore cheek with her free hand as she elbows her way through the circle of people around Legion. ]

Alright, break it up - they can't work if you're treating this like a circus.

[ A light touch on Legion's elbow, ignoring the disappointed chuntering of those who had been clamouring to speak to the machine person. ]

Assistant 007, is everything functioning normally?

(It's probably for the best that Legion is blissfully unaware of the interests that some partygoers have in uses outside of their specified function.

As it is, they are patiently explaining that the details of their design and power source are proprietary information for the umpteenth time when they notice Shepard-Commander approaching.)

This unit's assistance is required elsewhere.

(And with that somewhat abrupt announcement they bow out of the conversation, turning to Shepard.)

Master Gunn-Alison. This unit is functioning within expected parameters. However, our programmed conversational responses have proven unsatisfactory. Reprogramming recommended.

(Or in other words: they have something to report and she should take them for 'readjustments' so they can do so away from potential eavesdroppers.)

[ With a flick of her eyes towards the door they came through, Shepard confirms their exit. The one other entrance to the room has been used exclusively by staff ferrying refreshments back and forth from the kitchen and, while they'd have less chance of being interrupted by curious guests, she figures it's probably best they don't rouse suspicion so early into their investigation. ]

Understood, come with me.

[ The crowd around Legion parts to let them through, freeing up their path to the door. Though most have had their curiosity satiated, or are at least content to wait for the geth's return, there are a few determined stragglers that are hoping to see this reprogramming for themselves.

Unfortunately for them, Shepard has a bullshit excuse about "trade secrets" up her sleeve that she whips out as she unlatches the large dining room doors, closing them in their disappointed faces.

Quietly, she tells Legion: ]

Let's go to the garden, we can keep eyes out for people approaching us there.

Affirmative.

(A sound judgement: The outdoor temperature is below the ideal for most organic life. Interruptions will be unlikely.

They follow Shepard-Commander to the garden, utterly unbothered by the shift in temperature as they step from plush carpeted floors into a thick blanket of snow. Some spell or magical effect has been used to make a select few otherwise non cold tolerant flowers continue to bloom, and the effect is strange and etheral: ice encrusted blooms of fiery red and deepest ultramarine reflect and refract light to create little kaleidoscopes of color.

Now that they are away ftom possible listening ears, they turn to Shepard-Commander.)

Shepard-Commander, this unit has witnessed a shadow attaching itself to a guest.

[ Whatever these shadows are, they're certainly wasting no time. ]

Nice job. Was the guest still in the room, or did they leave?

[ It's important to establish their location, as this guest will be their observation target for tonight. Shepard doubts the shadows are picky, but it's better to dig in early and observe as much as possible just in case they are capable of caution. ]

And did the guest seem aware of what was happening?

[ Because, for all they currently know, the guest could have been a willing participant in a cult. There seems to have been a fair bit of cultish activity over the past couple of months, after all. ]

They have remained present at the party, though have avoided excessive socialization. We are uncertain of their degree of awareness, however the "shadow" attached to them while their back was turned.

(So... probably not consenting, but Legion is leaving room for the possibility.)

[ Although Shepard wouldn't put it past the high-society folk to be willing participants in shady behaviour for the sake of power... ]

If they were willing, I doubt they'd have done that in public where anyone could see...

[ Shepard crosses her arms and sighs, staring back at the manor as though more secrets can be pried from its exterior, brows furrowed in thought. ]

But it looks like you were the only one to notice. Unless everyone in there is in on it, which I doubt, I'd have expected some sort of commotion if that had been spotted by anyone else.

[ With one more quick glance around, she looks back to Legion. ]

Did the shadow appear near them, or did it seem to come from somewhere else? Either way, we should try to talk to the person it attached itself to... but if they're being sent by someone, we should try and get them alone.

It seems likely that they did not.

(The shadows move like shadows, two dimensional and attached to surfaces, just with a will of their own. For one to move and attach to a body is strange and likely frightening, but not many partygoers are staring at the walls or the ground.)

The shadow appeared to originate from another, though we are uncertain if this was a transfer between hosts or a form of reproduction.

Affirmative. (They pause, headflaps rippling.) Addendum: The individual in question has shown no interest in this platform. (Before or after the shadow attached to them. Might make it more difficult to get them alone, at least for Legion.)

[ There's a sharp "tsk" in response to the potential victim's lack of interest. ]

Of course they're not, things are never easy.

[ Her fingers drum against her arms, mentally weighing their options. As much as Shepard would love to corner this person and interrogate them, cover be damned, they may need to follow-up using the same "disguises" later. ]

Gathering intel from others there would be hit-or-miss, depending on how well known this person is. Might have to try and gauge if they're acting oddly via small-talk, or... a sales pitch.

(They are familiar with Shepard-Commander's complaints about the difficulty of tasks.)

Affiramtive. (They are uncertain that a sales pitch will work, but then, the person doesn't need to be actually interested. Perhaps playing into the character of an annoying salesperson will be to their advantage. Organics are prone to poor decision making when agitated.

Their headflaps ripple as they consider this.

Organics are also unpredictable when agitated. They will defer to Shepard-Commander's judgement re: appropriate course of action.)

Alert: Extended absence is likely to raise suspicion. (Whatever the plan is, they should decide quickly and get back to the party before someone comes to check on them.)

Sales pitch it is.

[ She sighs, dragging her hand back through her hair. Shepard isn't exactly great at acting and, unsurprisingly, she has no experience in sales. It's time for ol' reliable: bullshit until a) success or b) things start to fail, in which case bullshit a real plan b on the spot. ]

Stay close. Give me a brief description of the person with the new shadow as we're heading back, we're going to hit them immediately.

[ And off she marches, back to the manor. ]

Affirmative.

(They'll follow her lead, both back to the party and on the plan. They know now that she is not entirely infallible, yet, they trust her.

They will begin to list off descriptors of the individual in question. Male. Elf? Brown hair. Pale skin. Tall. Glasses. Dark gray and rich burgundy the most prominent colors of his outfit. They didn't see his eyes.)

[ The description they provide is more than enough to identify their mark, though approaching them proves to be something of a challenge in itself. Those fascinated by Legion have been eagerly awaiting their return, and have sparked the interest of a few others through conversation while they've been away. A good thing, then, that the immediate plan is a sales pitch as it would be difficult to corner the noble otherwise without prying eyes witnessing.

Shepard sweeps Legion through the small crowd with half-hearted apologies and forked-tongued promises that she will have Legion circle back to them. Of course, as soon as they have the intel they're after for this mission, she will be dragging Legion out of this place as fast as possible, but... they don't need to know that. ]

Greetings, sir. I don't think I've had the pleasure...

[ Shepard slips herself into the man's path, hand outstretched for a shake. ]

The name's Alison Gunn, entrepreneur. And this [ she gestures to Legion with a small smile ] is my personal assistant, 007. I'm sure you've seen them hard at work during this function.

(The ...elven? Man is some distance from the other partygoers, examining the titles on a bookshelf with interest that could be feigned or entirely genuine. At the sound of Shepard he looks startled, eyes--dark gray like a building storm--clearly darting around the room before his face settles into a scowl those who have known him for more than a single party would know as "characteristic". He tilts his chin up in a way that gives a distinct impression of looking down at this strange woman and her construct.)

Yes. Was there something you wanted?

(Did he even bother to make note of her name? He's not particularly interested, though whether that's snobbery or a desperate desire to end this interaction to escape scrutiny is hard to tell. His body language indicates both.

Legion stands patiently, with a stillness unnatural even for the Geth, a good little toy on display for its master. They let Shepard call the shots.)

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Party Time

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Sorry, it took me forever to brain a good response

It's all good~ My power shut off for 6hrs when I tried to respond to this yesterday (ˉ▽ˉ；)...

Oh no.

my turn to apologise now ough

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