WELCOME TO THE AUCTION [ OPEN LOG FOR ALL ]

[zauneyete]

WELCOME TO THE REDD ROOM

Neo Tokyo is a glittering and shining city that still prospers despite continuous kaiju attacks and natural disasters that plague it. However, there's more to Neo Tokyo than what meets the eye. Below its sparkling surface, there is another world that also flourishes out of sight for most. The people who live in this version of the city meet in the shadows and deal under the table, using cunning and power to secure their means. Instead of papers and feeds, this world receives news in the form of whispers and connections.

Rumors have been flying for months. They talk about long lost masterpieces, valuable information, and a certain recently discovered sword. The shadows whisper and share their opinions, making it known if they believe there's any credibility to the stories and if there's really anything to gain. While plenty is still unknown, what is known is that these rumors are beginning to converge and soon a name, a place, and a date will be chosen.

Those with enough money to live well in Neo-Tokyo rarely earn it honestly, and those with strong personalities all know who is the best broker of deals: Madame Redd. A divorcee who’s always found wearing a red-fox stole, she’s a wealthy arts dealer known for her keen eye, and propensity to occasionally sell fraudulent paintings to the unobservant client. She’s a sharp, witty woman who always seems to have a scheme up her sleeve, and hosting an event like this truly is where she’s at her most comfortable.

In a world where everything is done with technology, Redd opts for something more traditional. Securing an invitation means obtaining a simple, nondescript red card. With no name, address, or information on it, it's clear that having an invitation doesn't mean you'll be able to find the venue. However, by scanning the card with the right settings, a microchip embedded in the card will provide them with the information they need before wiping itself clean. Arrive to the venue, show your card, and pay your entrance fee.

To enter the gala, you need to pay a fee that proves you're serious. After all, this isn't a child's game. This is where the adults come to have fun and spend their hard won earnings. You will be prompted to scan your eye so they can read your implant and extract precious personal information. After uploading and submitting your identity as collateral, you'll finally be let in.

You are formally invited to the auction.

The gala

The Entertainment
Upon entering the venue, the invited will find themselves in a large, dimly lit room. The lights are low, obscuring corners and leaving plenty of areas out of sight. There's a veil of smoke in the air that occasionally flickers as lines of holographic light activate, displaying hologram menus and programs for the guests to peruse. There's plenty of plush and comfortable seating, chairs, and even private alcoves and rooms for any attendee to make their way into. Madame Redd runs a high-class establishment, that's catered toward any taste one can imagine.

At the front and center is a stage where a virtual singer with teal hair sings original songs and takes requests, providing vintage and modern tunes. As she sings, she dedicates her music to her fans and it's almost like her likeness shifts. She's the perfect idol, able to become the exact person you admire and love down to their appearance and voice. Even their mannerisms are the same and their songs draw you in, like a siren, making you want to devote yourself to your idol.

The Libations
The Bar is one of the few places that is brightly lit. Spotlights shine on the liquor shelves, showing off a wide array of spirits ranging from common and popular favorites to rare bottles that probably cost more than what the average salary is in the city. Be careful, but feel free to peruse the menu.

— Menu —

SONIC BOOM. Makes your hearing better, like you could hear secrets shared across the room. A fat-washed bourbon old-fashioned

THIRD RAIL. An electric lemonade that fills the drinker with the feeling that they need to yammer on incessantly. Like lightning on the tongue

LET'S DO THE MIND WARP AGAIN. A spicy tequila drink, it makes you more perceptive of the emotions of others to the point that you can get a sense of them empathically.

FATHER WINTER. Makes the area around you drop several degrees, to the point that glasses are frosted. A boozy mint hot chocolate.

VAMPIRE'S KISS. Makes consumers want to drink blood, and tastes of red fruit juices (and alcohol) (real fangs not included, but the drink comes with a pair of plastic fangs)

MOTHER EARTH. A red sangria that makes you feel like you're basking in a too-warm summer's sun.. It also makes you feel more impulsive and violent. Oops!

BURN DOWN FOR WHAT. Like having a redbull and a Celsius at once. Hyper enough that you might feel like you're moving faster than everyone else — and you might be! Several liquors topped off with LILITH-brand energy drink, served on fire with a high-proof float.

RIFT CORRUPTION. they SAY drinking could affect you in any number of random ways – truly dangerous! Really, it’s a virgin mocktail.

BEE POSITIVE. Will be able to communicate telepathically with other people who'd drank the same drink, a honey and gin concoction.

PLANTS DOWN. The aphro one, made with smuggled pollen. It’s a sweet and fruity drink that makes you think about lying down and having fun on the beach.

GILTTER. A drink with iridescent shades of purple, blue, and green. The bartender may challenge you to a round of dice to pay for drinks for everyone at the bar before serving.

coding

The menu contains some surprises

High Stakes Games
At some of the tables, you can put down your bets and play a round of cards or throw some dice. The stakes vary at each table, with some betting cash fortunes and others are more creative. At certain tables, people play for the thrill. They make dares that losers have to carry out and invite everyone to take a bit of risk. Some of these tables have clear shots lined up in simple glasses. After each loss, losers have to take shots, and while this might seem like a mere drinking game, it's more complicated. The shots have a sharp, tingly taste and a strong burn when it goes down. Not long after consumption, the loser will temporarily lose a sense.

However, it is not limited to the traditional five senses. You might also lose more metaphorical senses. You're playing a drink roulette and there's no telling what you might lose.

• Traditional senses: Touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell
• Perceptual senses: Balance, pain, space (spatial awareness), time
• Abstract senses: Humor, justice, duty, honor, belonging, purpose, urgency, direction, judgment (common sense)

Effects can stack, so playing too long could be disastrous. Fortunately, the effects are also temporary and will usually wear off after a short amount of time. Every person is different so it depends on each person. Still, a lot can happen in a short period of time, and this is a dangerous environment to be vulnerable in, so it's best to drink responsibly.

The Back of the House
In contrast to the shiny, chromed-out and minimalist curves and neon lights up in the club and VIP section, the back of house or the alleyway and loading docks behind Madame Red’s club is darker, betraying the seedier underbelly of her establishment. Outsiders who feel uncomfortable in their skin on the best of days, and even worse when asked to polish up for an event can still make it in.

However, if Outsiders go that route, they will be informed that they’ll also need to keep their eyes and ears peeled in case of danger. Madame Redd has been helping with the rumors of this legendary missing Muramasa for months, and people are very interested in it. She’s not certain that there might be an attempt to steal it, but she is concerned, so Outsiders will need to listen in on conversations as they serve or act as security. However, if you’re acting as security, you’ll be required to wear a fox mask, to remain anonymous to everyone.

And in fact, while some members of the party are busy playing the game on the floor, the Outsiders helping out with the back of house will start to hear rumors from some of the rougher-looking staff members. From the rumors, they’ll discover that some of the staff corridors are being used by certain entities to get closer to the treasure being auctioned off tonight. After all, some elements want to keep the mystique, and what’s more exciting than a recently recovered ancient sword, than if it goes disappearing. So several of Neo-Tokyo’s crime syndicates are vying to steal it. Outsiders can choose to pit them against one another, redirect them using their positions as staff, coordinate with their fellow outsiders in the party proper, or even just straight up fight them! Anything goes, but Madame Redd’s directive was clear: This should not impact the Auction itself. No bringing the fight to the main floor!

THE AUCTION

The Auction
And what a main floor! The organizers clearly have gone all out for this special art auction – there’s holographic displays of everything from paintings to jewelry to the swords themselves, each identifiable with an ocular implant stating the object name, providence, and current bid. Much of the bidding is happening anonymously, but there are signs amongst the crowds on the floor of who might be attempting to outbid who. Outsiders are, of course, welcome to bet their Kryptos on just about anything under the sun, though the rarer and finer the object the more likely they are to be outbid. But there are some small art pieces that are feasible for Outsiders to win, should they choose to try.

• Finely crafted silver bracelet with a heart charm from maker “Theophania”
• A corner of Van Gogh’s “Scream” - something’s off about that
• A certificate of ownership for a digital png of… you’re not sure, a monkey? Or is it a grape with a bored expression? Someone tells you that you can use it as an ‘icon’. (People have not used digital icons in at least 100 years)
• “Girl with A Pearl Earring” – closer inspection reveals that the pearl is a red and white orb from a popular children’s cartoon from the beginning of the millennium, but did you look that closely at it before you won?
• Colorful folder with a wild cat design, comes with a set of matching stickers
• A hand crafted statue of a woman in a compromising pose and very little clothing. She looks heavily stylized and more like an animated piece
• A glass rose
• A nice lacquered box with a real pearl inlay of a nice ocean-related design
• A pair of thick plastic shoes in something called ‘sport mode’
• A painting with rectangles of color
• Three smaller tantos (one listing for each)

Time for a Bidding War!

When someone wins an object (ten minutes go by without any bids), the staff will bring the individual into the back room where the real items are – proudly displayed and very securely guarded. No one is taking any chances. Well, there is one object that seems to be gaining a lot of attention, including significant press in the lead-up to the auction itself.

The one item not tucked away is the one that several Outsiders have been checking in on: Muramasa, Aventurine, and Silco, namely. It’s in the center of the main auction area, with appropriate mood lighting giving the blade a dangerous glow. A pressure-sensitive railing surrounds it, and if any Outsider so much as touches it, they and anyone around them will be ushered into a small room to be grilled by security. Yes, even if you accidentally did it. Getting out of questioning proves to be a time-intensive process, especially if you’ve indulged in any of the unsavory options of the evening.

Good luck!

The Heist Begins! (And where did Asaboo go??)
The highlight of the night is the betting war over the star of the show – the genuine “reclaimed” Muramasa sword, perfect and pristine. Madame Redd stands next to it as she tells the story of how it was found and brought to her by a secret faction within LILITH, as evidenced by Asaboo guarding it as well. She adjusts her fox-fur stole and expresses that it’s a great honor for her to present it tonight to auction to the highest bidder, someone who truly appreciates art, and history. The bidding commences, with several clearly Yakuza types offering increasingly large sums for the item.

That is, until a woman stands and offers an exorbitant amount, with a striped stole around her neck, her tone is laid back and belligerent. Madame Redd hisses out a soft oath to any outsiders who are nearby, but the woman laughs when one of the bidders folds, and she offers him a loan to keep going, if he’d like. A few escalations later, however, and the sword is indeed taken by the notoriously wealthy loan shark and arts dealer (and Madame Redd’s ex) Tammy Nook.

As the auction concludes, it’s time to indulge in the rest of the night's festivities – except the power flickers – and as the lights lift again, the sword is missing – along with Asaboo, who wouldn’t let go of it. Everyone will have to track down the thieves, since they can’t have gotten far, right? As Outsiders start spreading out to find the thieves, they’ll encounter new security that hadn’t been there before: humanoid machines that shift and jerk...until they project holograms of other Outsiders over their bodies. They’ll have to determine friend from foe, as those uploaded identities are now a danger, and they’ll have to fight their way through these false outsiders to try and keep chasing after the thieves! Someone had better save the sword (and Asaboo!) so it's time to fight your way through!

CODING BY

Comments

[copy]

[ Yuta's eyes linger on Tsurumaru's neck, entranced by the sight and the inexplicable urge to bite hard enough to taste familiar metallic tang, until the touch to his cheek effectively snaps him out of his drowsy staring. There's a blink of surprise and then, without any hesitation or shame that might have otherwise stopped him, he's happily smiling and fully tilting his head into the touch like an affection-starved puppy, eyes briefly falling shut in simple contentment. Yuta's certainly warmer to the touch—especially compared to how cool he normally feels—but not alarmingly so, the alcohol merely doing its thing in widening his blood vessels and increasing his heart rate.

The words get him to crack his eyes open again, heavy-lidded, as he ponders the truth of that statement. Is he having fun? He wasn't particularly before, it's a bit of a stressful job and this scene with its shady people isn't exactly his, but there are familiar faces around like Tsurumaru that make it better. It seems more fun now after his accidental drink, so it feels safe to nod. As for not being used to it.... ]

Mm. I'm not supposed to have any alcohol, I'm underage... [ Plus he's working. He's probably really not supposed to. ] It was a little mistake.

[ One he is likely going to be mortified about later, but in the moment it just makes him giggle again. Someone is indeed very much a lightweight and a giggly, affectionate drunk.

But ah, with Tsurumaru's hand on his cheek, he finds his attention drifting again, this time to his wrist; so irresistibly close, it would only take a small turn of his head. ]

It doesn't usually make you want to bite people, does it?

[cranekin]

What a surprise...

( He sounds terribly amused. It isn't the type of reaction he'd expected from someone who looked like they were ready to put their head on the bar counter and take a nap. He's happy to indulge, rubbing his thumb against Yuta's cheek soothingly and letting the boy just enjoy the moment. He just can't help but spoil certain people. )

Well, it's exciting to break some rules. Especially when you're young.

( Though, he gets the feeling Yuta isn't really that type of person. He wouldn't have confessed so easily if that was the case.

Pulling his hand away for just a moment, he raises two fingers,)

It usually doesn't but let's see... How many fingers do you see?

( And he changes it to three. And back to two. And he might move his hand a little bit for a fun, silly challenge.)

[copy]

[ The soothing strokes along his cheek get Yuta's eyes to go even heavier all over again, the desire to bite once more waylaid in favor of fully seizing the moment to soak up the contact without any reservation whatsoever. One would think he's absolutely starved for affection like this. (He's not. Back home his friends would casually invade his space and be all over him with great somewhat bullying affection and here Muramasa doles it out to him with ample generosity.) ]

I really didn't mean to though...

[ He means to sound sullen or put-upon by his own folly, but he's enjoying the warmth and the kind touch too much for his tone to carry itself over the threshold into negativity and the result sounds more vaguely rueful and sleepy than anything else. It's hard to be upset when he's feeling pretty good right now, so why bother?

Although his enjoyment gets a little bit cut short as Tsurumaru's hand withdraws and he finds himself blinking at the fingers held aloft in front of him. He has to actively shift his focus, squinting as he processes the question and watches the amount of fingers go up, down, and— ]

That's unfair Tsurumaru-san! [ For all that he tries (and fails) to pout, the laughter in his voice betrays his amusement plenty. His hands come up to grasp Tsurumaru's wrist and stop the movements for a better look, grip light but with an understated strength behind it. ] Two.

[cranekin]

Of course, of course.

( He isn't blaming Yuta. On the contrary, he seems to be encouraging it. It's good for the young to go out and make mistakes. Now is the time to fumble around and learn, when the consequences can still be light and adults can still protect them. At least, that's what Tsurumaru thinks.

As his hand is grabbed, he stops his moving and slowly, gracefully, he fans all of his fingers out.)

Five.

( No, it was definitely two but-- )

My, my... you must be taking it harder than I thought. Well, since you have me already~

( He'll give Yuta a tug. It's clear he's going to lead him away somewhere and he waves to the bartender with his free hand. He points at a stranger's drink down the bar-- something colorful in a tall glass with plenty of fruit. He wants one of those and he wants it brought to him later. And while he's at it, he orders something else for his friend. For Yuta. For now, though, he'll guide Yuta,)

Come along, come along~ ( Again, and again. There's a steady, light sing-song-like quality to his voice as he repeats himself. ) Let's find you a place to sit until you have your senses.

( And it's to a table tucked into the curve of a sofa-chair, plush leather seats. The lighting in the venue is already quite dim but this one seems just a little darker, a little more out of the light. )

Here.

( He wants Yuta to slide in first. )

[copy]

[ There's a pause, an owlish blink as all five of Tsurumaru's fingers are spread out elegantly, and then... genuine dismay at apparently getting the answer wrong, Yuta's brows furrowing in familiar consternation as he stares at the five digits now held in front of him. ]

Oh, was I supposed to add them up?

[ Did he misunderstand the impromptu assignment? Did he fail a test of sorts?

Before he can get further swept up in the mounting disappointment and mild distress, the tug distracts him and he goes without any resistance whatsoever. He may not know Tsurumaru that particularly well, but he'd been plenty kind during their very first interaction, they share roots in Sendai, and since Muramasa has such great respect for him, Yuta has no qualms letting himself get pulled along like a kite in the wind, following dutifully as he's guided away after Tsurumaru places his orders. Normally he would have let go of Tsurumaru's wrist already, but when he finds himself a little dizzy once he's up on his feet and moving, it only seems natural to keep holding on.

It's not until they've stopped by a table and Tsurumaru seems expectant that Yuta finally relinquishes his grip to obediently slide in and take a seat, trying to throw out a reassurance as he goes. ]

I'm okay, Tsurumaru-san. I just want...

[ Well, to bite and draw blood. He has enough sense not to finish that sentence because he's realizing that's maybe a little too weird, isn't it? ]