[Day 0 - Early Evening] Mayor's Gala Event (Barre Civic Centre)

[Boogiepop]

As part of the mayor's planned project for Heinlein, a gala dinner was held as a rallying event for her staff, supporters, and sponsors. Not a stranger to publicity, Mayor Alice Delgado was in attendance and her office made sure that a good amount of the media were present to capture all of the good press to elevate her position furthermore. The event itself was hosted at the Barre Civic Centre where the New Angeles Expo will be taking place in a few days.

While it would be impossible to have everyone tied to the event under one roof, the major's office did their best to accommodate the committee members, alongside their immediate associates and assistants. The guest list also features a number of high-profile partners as well. It's hard to not see that there is a heavy Weyland Consortium presence in the event, especially when it seems highly influenced and sponsored by Jemison Astronautics.

The event is held at the largest conference room in the civic centre with several tables circling the room in a strict pattern and with enough seating to host over 1,000 people at once. The room is bathed in a cool blue light with several strobe lights crossing the floor to create a star-light pattern. There are rotating globes hung from the ceiling, each representing a planet in the solar system and slowly performs their cosmic orbit. Holographic project streets encircle the walls of the room, which are currently idle, and rerun the same ad reel featuring Heinlein. At times, some of those projections will manifest on the floor in the form of famous astronauts like Mae Jemison and Neil Armstrong.

Each table features a uniquely crafted ornament that is either tied to space travel or the solar system itself. Some are notably of an old space rocket taking off with much of its smoke wiring providing some lighting ambiance to the immediate table and others are merely moons from one of the eight planets floating overhead above. The dinner boasts a large menu with international fare and fits for all diets, all prepared by award-winning chefs, although there is a large recommendation to try the fish manufactured by one of the Jinteki subsidiaries. Many of the serving staff here are bioroids, the Jeeves and Daphne model being seen in great abundance.

Just outside of the gala is a seating area where attendees can meet in a less crowded environment. There are several leather couches that face the windows of the civic centre. The event's open bar is found here, staffed with known mixologists. There are some unique creations like the 'Blue Moon Dry Gin' and 'Rocket Red Shooter".

[Boogiepop]

While most of the guests were happy to talk amongst their table or network in-person to either socialize or build up their clout, there was a gentleman who seemed rather content to distance himself from the niceties and flattery. The man found his place over at one of the open bars just outside of the dining hall proper, it was so far just him and the bioroid bartender. He was in his early 50's, standing at slightly six feet, and did have a broadness to him that was apparently even through his tailored white suit.

[Leo Knight]

The gentleman wasn't the only one content to distance himself from the niceties and flattery.

Slacks. Belt. Dress shirt. Vest. No tie, of course. Leo had killed more than one person with a tie. Why provide an enemy with a noose? He remember feeling a twinge of respect when he'd tried to strangle that one Jinteki exec, and discovered that he was wearing a clip-on. He'd had to crush his trachea instead. Ah, memories.

Wearily, Leo sighed, sipping clear liquid from a glass, not tasting it any more than to be certain it wasn't poisoned. Or rather, additionally poisoned. A brief nod to the gentleman, one distant figure acknowledging another.

[Nadia Avaline]

Another woman, one who would have arrived with Elizabeth Mills and then remained wherever she was left, stood apart from the social aspects of the gala. Stood in a casual black suit ensemble she looked forward and didn't eschew eye contact but didn't seek it out with others passing by either. What a more keen eye might notice is the occasional lighting up of her left eye as a screen is projected across the lens. This would call more attention to her cybernetics overall, the traces of the connections for a skulljack present and visible along her temple.

[Boogiepop]

The other man seemed to look at the approaching Leo with a hint of weariness in his glance, perhaps a bit unsure and suspicious of him at the same time. However, it was perhaps a matter of time the man had to remind himself that brooding and drinking alone (the bioroid didn't really count) wasn't exactly becoming of a man like him. He dropped an elbow from the bar counter and stood more upright with a nod.

"Good evening," he spoke with a deeper tone with a hint of an American accent, maybe somewhere rural. "Grandiose events like these can be quite suffocating sometimes."

Coincidence, really.

"The breath of fresh air does a whole more than the drinks but the peach brandy is good, really."

[Boogiepop]

Another woman, one who would have arrived with Elizabeth Wells and then remained wherever she was left, stood apart from the social aspects of the gala. Stood in a casual black suit ensemble she looked forward and didn't eschew eye contact but didn't seek it out with others passing by either. What a more keen eye might notice is the occasional lighting up of her left eye as a screen is projected across the lens. This would call more attention to her cybernetics overall, the traces of the connections for a skulljack present and visible along her temple.

Elizabeth Mills
Weyland Consortium • Natural • Construction Executive

Elizabeth Mills was sure to give Nadia a small pat on the shoulder and a smile, perhaps in some reassurance...or maybe, in the same way, someone would regard an adorable pet. However, it didn't really take long for her to get lost in the shuffle of the gala as she found herself mingling from person to person. There was a good share of people who wants to deal with the Weyland Consortium or at least be on their good side. Maybe they would try to get a hint of their future plans but they would only get a few smiles and chuckles from Elizabeth.

[Debra Slee]

Nadia wasn't the only Weyland Consortium employee standing on the sidelines, however. The megacorporation did have all manner of employees in attendance, especially from different subsidiaries. Debra was perhaps standing on the sidelines dressed in her 'formal' outfit, which was her uniform. She felt a bit awkward like she was doing some cosplay of a mall cop or something, even if she was still decked out with body armour and small arms. This night felt long already.

The clone might have recognized the woman from her incidental dealings with Elizabeth.

[Leo Knight]

There was no betraying twitch in Leo's eyes, cyber or regular; he had one of each, although the cyber model was quality enough that it was only noticeable in the unnatural dilation of the pupil.

"Is it?" Leo answered. His own accent had hints of local, but smoothed by time, even as it made his voice rough, gravelly. "Never been a brandy drinker." He raised his glass. "Vodka or dry sake for me." Or aguardiente when times were hard.

His eyes narrowed as he studied the man's features. "How many of these have you been to?" He asked.

[Lenore Gauvreau]

Tonight, Lenore represented Jinteki in an official capacity. She sported an official, sleek uniform rather than a cocktail dress or a fancy suit. Her heart thumped rapidly, more appropriate for that party cruise than her current trappings.

There're too many bluebloods around. A cigarette would take off the edge.

Always receptive to such wise counsel, she flipped open her custom cigarette case. Chromatic, it sported the titular 'Bloodhound' and an engraving to match the viciousness.

But while there were many sources of heat surrounding her, the paired lighter offered no flame today. "Come on, come on," she muttered, the words further mangled by the cigarette in her mouth. "We've got people living on the moon... Getting a light shouldn't be so hard."

[Nadia Avaline]

Nadia wasn't the only Weyland Consortium employee standing on the sidelines, however. The megacorporation did have all manner of employees in attendance, especially from different subsidiaries. Debra was perhaps standing on the sidelines dressed in her 'formal' outfit, which was her uniform. She felt a bit awkward like she was doing some cosplay of a mall cop or something, even if she was still decked out with body armour and small arms. This night felt long already.

The clone might have recognized the woman from her incidental dealings with Elizabeth.

With the pat, the smile, Nadia returned one very brief smile of her own- a instinctual thing. Though Nadia was otherwise stiff in general she did ease slightly with the attention before parting. As Elizabeth would move and mingle Nadia remained as previously mentioned. Notably, as much as she was able, she would keep an occasional track on her with the other eye when she'd shift her focus away from the net. Making sure that she wouldn't allow herself to remain too far, to be accessible if she was needed. It was one of these checks that did draw her gaze over toward Debra.

That pause of recognition stopped her a moment. Gaze lingering on the woman as she observed without thought for appearance. Curiosity overtaking her.

[Boogiepop]

There was no betraying twitch in Leo's eyes, cyber or regular; he had one of each, although the cyber model was quality enough that it was only noticeable in the unnatural dilation of the pupil.

"Is it?" Leo answered. His own accent had hints of local, but smoothed by time, even as it made his voice rough, gravelly. "Never been a brandy drinker." He raised his glass. "Vodka or dry sake for me." Or aguardiente when times were hard.

His eyes narrowed as he studied the man's features. "How many of these have you been to?" He asked.

"Ah, well." He said with a shrug at first. "That's mighty unfortunate. It's not something that's going to change your mind overnight. Not really a man after the sweet stuff, I take it. As for me, I've been too many of these. Hell, I've been at the forefront of a few of these myself. Probably not one usually this large, except Christmas in SanSan."

He extended a hand toward Leo to shake. "I'm Wilson Clayton."

Wilson Clayton was the grand-nephew of Clara Thomas, part of a dynasty of theme park moguls.

[Boogiepop]

Tonight, Lenore represented Jinteki in an official capacity. She sported an official, sleek uniform rather than a cocktail dress or a fancy suit. Her heart thumped rapidly, more appropriate for that party cruise than her current trappings.

There're too many bluebloods around. A cigarette would take off the edge.

Always receptive to such wise counsel, she flipped open her custom cigarette case. Chromatic, it sported the titular 'Bloodhound' and an engraving to match the viciousness.

But while there were many sources of heat surrounding her, the paired lighter offered no flame today. "Come on, come on," she muttered, the words further mangled by the cigarette in her mouth. "We've got people living on the moon... Getting a light shouldn't be so hard."

As Lenore was trying to light her cigarette in the room, one of the Daphne bioroids seemed to have taken notice of her trouble and strolled over. "Excuse me, miss. In accordance with New Angeles fire safety laws, I'm obligated to inform you that smoking with a Class A substance is probably best done outside. Might I suggest the balcony or the parking garage?"

After a beat, with the formalities and precautions out of the way, she opened up a wooden humidor full of cigars that she was holding in her hands. "Could I offer you a cigar instead?"

[Debra Slee]

With the pat, the smile, Nadia returned one very brief smile of her own- a instinctual thing. Though Nadia was otherwise stiff in general she did ease slightly with the attention before parting. As Elizabeth would move and mingle Nadia remained as previously mentioned. Notably, as much as she was able, she would keep an occasional track on her with the other eye when she'd shift her focus away from the net. Making sure that she wouldn't allow herself to remain too far, to be accessible if she was needed. It was one of these checks that did draw her gaze over toward Debra.

That pause of recognition stopped her a moment. Gaze lingering on the woman as she observed without thought for appearance. Curiosity overtaking her.

Debra had both hands on the shoulder straps of her body armour as she stood off on the sidelines and sharing the wall with Nadia, perhaps with some intention of looking somewhat imposing in a room full of suits and otherwise sycophants. She would most certainly looking back at the woman without an exchange of words before speaking up first before this had a chance of becoming a stare-off contest. "Heya, I think I know you. You're Mills's assistant, aren't you?"

[Nadia Avaline]

Debra had both hands on the shoulder straps of her body armour as she stood off on the sidelines and sharing the wall with Nadia, perhaps with some intention of looking somewhat imposing in a room full of suits and otherwise sycophants. She would most certainly looking back at the woman without an exchange of words before speaking up first before this had a chance of becoming a stare-off contest. "Heya, I think I know you. You're Mills's assistant, aren't you?"

Even as the woman's attention turned likewise on her, Nadia's gaze didn't shy away. Lacking in that sense of shame from staring so indiscreetly. When she spoke her eyes widened as she was addressed but settle as the silver of her eyes focus in. Absently she pulls the sleeve down on her right forearm down a little bit more over the PAD positioned there.

"I am," she says, a nod. Glancing off toward Elizabeth amid the crowd and settling as she finds her. Returning, with a bit more confidence and in a professional tone she speaks with a slight detachment, "I am responsible for her system security. I remember you," she adds, with less of a professional tone but more as a merely stated fact.

[Debra Slee]

Even as the woman's attention turned likewise on her, Nadia's gaze didn't shy away. Lacking in that sense of shame from staring so indiscreetly. When she spoke her eyes widened as she was addressed but settle as the silver of her eyes focus in. Absently she pulls the sleeve down on her right forearm down a little bit more over the PAD positioned there.

"I am," she says, a nod. Glancing off toward Elizabeth amid the crowd and settling as she finds her. Returning, with a bit more confidence and in a professional tone she speaks with a slight detachment, "I am responsible for her system security. I remember you," she adds, with less of a professional tone but more as a merely stated fact.

Debra perhaps found the other woman's reaction oddly skittish, especially for someone working under Elizabeth. She strolled over closer so that they could have a conversation with talking over the sound of other conversation that was happening at the same time and whatever music for the gala that was playing in the background, something with a beat but that vaguely hip at the same time to please the Leguna Velasco residents.

"That's true. I'm usually on the other side of the screen, I'm sure," she said with a tired chuckle as she put her hands behind her back to do a little stretch. "I guess security often takes a pretty loose interpretation when it comes with hanging around Elizabeth, huh? Probably, they call it 'loss prevention' or some sort of other corporate lingo. You're probably the one who tracks them. I don't think Elizabeth is exactly a psychic to know everything at once but she'll make you think so."

[Lenore Gauvreau]

As Lenore was trying to light her cigarette in the room, one of the Daphne bioroids seemed to have taken notice of her trouble and strolled over. "Excuse me, miss. In accordance with New Angeles fire safety laws, I'm obligated to inform you that smoking with a Class A substance is probably best done outside. Might I suggest the balcony or the parking garage?"

After a beat, with the formalities and precautions out of the way, she opened up a wooden humidor full of cigars that she was holding in her hands. "Could I offer you a cigar instead?"

During the bioroid's whole spiel, Lenore tilted her head and rolled her eyes. "I admit, it'd be a hazard if this damn lighter was working." She shook it a few times then shut it tight. "When something doesn't fulfill its purpose, it's useless, you understand?"

At least a clone can understand the need for a cigarette.

Isn't need a strong word for something that's harming us?

WE NEED IT.

But at least some of that distress dissipated when the cigars came into question. "Ah, but I see that the mayor hasn't spared any expense. You wouldn't happen to have a light though, would you? Maybe some sort of fancy torch out of your finger? Or would that be considered too hazardous for a machine to keep on its body?"

[Boogiepop]

During the bioroid's whole spiel, Lenore tilted her head and rolled her eyes. "I admit, it'd be a hazard if this damn lighter was working." She shook it a few times then shut it tight. "When something doesn't fulfill its purpose, it's useless, you understand?"

At least a clone can understand the need for a cigarette.

Isn't need a strong word for something that's harming us?

WE NEED IT.

But at least some of that distress dissipated when the cigars came into question. "Ah, but I see that the mayor hasn't spared any expense. You wouldn't happen to have a light though, would you? Maybe some sort of fancy torch out of your finger? Or would that be considered too hazardous for a machine to keep on its body?"

Daphne 3A5K5Q

"Oh, of course, miss," the bioroid would say pleasantly in agreement. It was perhaps a bit vague whether or not she actually knew what Lenore was getting at, perhaps keeping things more conversational than anything else.

"I am very equipped to provide a light if you need it, miss." She said as she retrieved from the humidor to what looked like an old-fashioned zippo lighter. While she could light the cigarette with her finger, it was determined that many didn't exactly like the possibility of bioroids pointing at them with a flaming finger. It took away from the experience of enjoying a cigar. She didn't exactly open the zippo, however. "Are you should you wouldn't like a cigar instead? This is all part of tonight's gala, generously on behalf of the city, and only the best from the Dominican Republic."

[Lenore Gauvreau]

Daphne 3A5K5Q

"Oh, of course, miss," the bioroid would say pleasantly in agreement. It was perhaps a bit vague whether or not she actually knew what Lenore was getting at, perhaps keeping things more conversational than anything else.

"I am very equipped to provide a light if you need it, miss." She said as she retrieved from the humidor to what looked like an old-fashioned zippo lighter. While she could light the cigarette with her finger, it was determined that many didn't exactly like the possibility of bioroids pointing at them with a flaming finger. It took away from the experience of enjoying a cigar. She didn't exactly open the zippo, however. "Are you should you wouldn't like a cigar instead? This is all part of tonight's gala, generously on behalf of the city, and only the best from the Dominican Republic."

The surly Jinteki huntress narrowed her eyes at the machine before her. "Right," she muttered with a soft sigh. "It was my mistake for expecting you to do anything beyond just smiling and nodding."

Her eyes went back to the cigars. "I mean, isn't it obvious that I'm clearly interested in the damn thing?" She flicked her cigarette case back open and stored her inferior option away. "I'm going to guess you're going to be annoying and demand that I smoke it somewhere else though, huh? Why don't you just lead the way over to one of those spots and light it up for me, okay?"

We are supposed to be representing Jinteki here, aren't we?

[Nadia Avaline]

Debra perhaps found the other woman's reaction oddly skittish, especially for someone working under Elizabeth. She strolled over closer so that they could have a conversation with talking over the sound of other conversation that was happening at the same time and whatever music for the gala that was playing in the background, something with a beat but that vaguely hip at the same time to please the Leguna Velasco residents.

"That's true. I'm usually on the other side of the screen, I'm sure," she said with a tired chuckle as she put her hands behind her back to do a little stretch. "I guess security often takes a pretty loose interpretation when it comes with hanging around Elizabeth, huh? Probably, they call it 'loss prevention' or some sort of other corporate lingo. You're probably the one who tracks them. I don't think Elizabeth is exactly a psychic to know everything at once but she'll make you think so."

Nadia's brow furrows at the mention of the word psychic, but as she almost immediately explains the idea of what she's getting at the brow settles. Nodding, "You can get close to it, with the net," she says, there's a simple confidence to the words which might even give her words a slight aura to them which might inspire fear. Fear which would mostly prey on those who are concerned with just how connected everyone is to the net.

After all, "It's not my primary purpose, but it can be easy when you know what you're looking for. It's harder to protect things.. but I do the best I can. That is my primary purpose. Have to be careful to make sure there's no breaches. I'm very careful," she admits, the slight curl of her lip betraying some sense of confidence and pride won in being able to claim that.

[Boogiepop]

The surly Jinteki huntress narrowed her eyes at the machine before her. "Right," she muttered with a soft sigh. "It was my mistake for expecting you to do anything beyond just smiling and nodding."

Her eyes went back to the cigars. "I mean, isn't it obvious that I'm clearly interested in the damn thing?" She flicked her cigarette case back open and stored her inferior option away. "I'm going to guess you're going to be annoying and demand that I smoke it somewhere else though, huh? Why don't you just lead the way over to one of those spots and light it up for me, okay?"

We are supposed to be representing Jinteki here, aren't we?

Daphne 3A5K5Q

At the mention of smiling and nodding, Daphne did indeed smile and nod, in that order. "It is merely my wish that you have a pleasant evening as an honoured guest of the Barre Civic Centre. I have found that many of the guests here seem to found these cigars very pleasant and more fulfilling than electronic cigarettes, holographic simulated smoking, and conventional mediocre-brand cigarettes." Her eyes seemed to narrow down on the cigarette that Lenore was trying to smoke earlier.

"Very well. I was just making sure you knew your options, miss. I cannot stop you from smoking here if that is your wish. Perhaps I could procure a better brand of cigarettes for you. Something with a better filter for better flavour and less cancerous material intake, just by a few percentages." She offered with an easy smile.

Mercifully, the bioroid did start leading Lenore toward one of the doors that would take them to a wide-stretching balcony, passing some of the open bars along the way.