[IC - Scene 1] The Party

[Overlord87]

Madeleine looks fascinated by Andre's story, almost morbidly so. "That is incredible, Monsieur Saint-Pasquet. I doubt even Edgar Allan Poe could have crafted a more intriguing tale of terror... and to think that it is real. Do you believe that the curse actually worked? Or it was just a series of unlikely coincidences?"

[Overlord87]

"Indeed, just so!" says Jacques, just as pleased to meet a kindred spirit. "The aeroplane will change warfare forever. I think the generals recognize that, but they don't yet see all of the ways in which it can be used. If I had stars on my shoulders, I could better make my suggestions heard. Well, I'm sure there will be opportunities to earn them before this war is over."

"Indeed. There are still too many German aircrafts in the sky, and I plan on bringing them all down". Renè smiles a fearsome smile, showing all the recklessness that comes with his young age. He then looks curiously around the room. "I was wondering... is Mister Dupont with us? I've never met our host, and I'm quite curious to make his acquaintance. I've heard many stories about him..."

Spoiler:

OOC:   Jacques has already met once with Sebastien Dupont, although quite briefly. He doesn't appear to be in the room at the moment, and he hasn't been since Jacques's arrival at the party.

[Cearlan]

Andre Saint-Pasquet

Andrè looks at Madeleine with wide eyes. "Ah Madame Madeleine; there is the rub non? I am a man of scientific grounding so such things as curses have no place in my philosophy ... however, it is hard to fully explain it away. Mayhap someone planted explosive devices upon the planes, that would certainly carry more weight with me than a load of superstitious nonsense like curses."

[Mr. Handy]

"I've only met Monsieur Dupont once previously," says Jacques, looking around the room. "I have not seen him yet this evening, and he is not currently present, but I think he will most likely put in an appearance and is merely fashionably late. What stories have you heard? I'd be interested to hear them."

[ghill]

François hands his hat and coat to the doorman and looks around the room to see if he recognises any of those already present. He really dislikes these formal gathering and resents the fact that he has given up the opportunity to travel down to Corbières to join some friends with the local Chasse, but with travel curtailed because of the war he is finding getting out of the city more and more difficult. Catching sight of Julien he makes his way across the room.

[Overlord87]

François hands his hat and coat to the doorman and looks around the room to see if he recognises any of those already present. He really dislikes these formal gathering and resents the fact that he has given up the opportunity to travel down to Corbières to join some friends with the local Chasse, but with travel curtailed because of the war he is finding getting out of the city more and more difficult. Catching sight of Julien he makes his way across the room.

Julien is standing in front of a large painting hung on the wall. It's a strange painting, you can't readily recognize the style but it seems contemporary rather than classic. It represents a huge tower atop a cliff, against a black and cloudy sky. The tower's walls are not straight, but instead curved, making you think that the tower is going to fall the next moment. There's a giant on the tower, howling towards the sky. There is nothing showing the scale of the humanoid on the tower, so it might actually be an human, but you're absolutely sure that it is, in fact, a giant. To complete the picture, a green lightning is falling from the sky, clearly directed towards the tower. It is, overall, an unsettling painting. Two more are hung next to this one, the subject similar at a glance: dark landscapes, strange figures, apocalyptic theme.

Julien is talking with another man, pointing towards the paintings, probably discussing about them. He smiles at you as he sees you. "Francois, I'm glad you could come tonight me. Let me tell you, some time spent in civilized Paris can only do you good, after all that time spent hunting in the wilderness. It's a surprise you could come properly dressed, I half expected you to be covered in furs and leather". He laughs and shakes your hand warmly, then adds: "Allow me to introduce you Monsieur Adolphe Bissette, professor of mathematics at the Sorbonne University".

[Overlord87]

"I've only met Monsieur Dupont once previously," says Jacques, looking around the room. "I have not seen him yet this evening, and he is not currently present, but I think he will most likely put in an appearance and is merely fashionably late. What stories have you heard? I'd be interested to hear them."

Renè lowers his voice: "Well, you know, they say he is a self-made man, and now he's one of the most powerful and rich men in France. Most of these tales are simply about his financial genius and his daring in business... and love". He strikes a quick look at Madeleine across the room. "But there are other stories as well. Darker stories. Slander, most of the times. For some people, he got money from Germany and now works as a double agent. Not likely, if you ask me, considering that he provides weapons for half our armed forces. Other stories say that he signed a pact with the devil. But the ones that are most common... probably because they're more believable... say that he is a Mason. Possibly even a member of occult societies. That this... underworld... helped him reach the position he holds right now".

[Overlord87]

Andrè looks at Madeleine with wide eyes. "Ah Madame Madeleine; there is the rub non? I am a man of scientific grounding so such things as curses have no place in my philosophy ... however, it is hard to fully explain it away. Mayhap someone planted explosive devices upon the planes, that would certainly carry more weight with me than a load of superstitious nonsense like curses."

"Mmhh, a rationalist, then. I see. What about you, Monsieur?", Madeleine turns towards Jean-Luc. "Do you believe in things that cannot be explained with science? Curses, magic, ghosts and such?"

[krzyspmac]

"As a man of science I consider rational approach to be sacred Madame. Scientific replication, measurements. Before I start accepting a particular phenomena as real said phenomena must pass all the scientific method testing the scientific community can come up with. So I should say no..." says Jean-Luc.

" I do however spend considerable time in solitude observing the magnificent structures of the galaxy. The enormity of it all makes a man feel quite small. And sometimes, I must admit, I wonder what marvels might the universe come up with, besides us of course" he says with a small smile.

"It may be just old age speaking though".

[Cearlan]

Andre Saint-Pasquet

"Ah Monsieur, a kindred spirit! There is one proviso I feel I must add though and that is that I doubt that Mankind ... and women too of course" Andrè adds with a nod towards Madeleine, "... has reached the full extent of their understanding of sciences. Why just look at the advances we have made in the last fifty years or so, would they not have seemed like some kind of magic to our forebears?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Ah, now that I have not heard,' says Jacques. "He may be a Mason, but I do not know. Being one no doubt does help one climb the ladder faster, as they look out for and elevate each other. Were I one myself, I could try their secret handshake on him, but I never joined them. Otherwise, I probably would be a general by now."

[ghill]

Smiling at Julien Francois then turns and drops his head to Bissette in acknowledgement. "Monsieur Bissette, a pleasure. François Du Monte. I myself despite the Julien's allusion to my love of the Chasse, am professor of languages at Collège d'Harcourt." (also one of the Sorbonne Colleges). Then looking at the picture hanging above them. "It is quite disturbing is it not? I cannot say it is to my taste. I'm more one for Lucien Griveau, nice gentle landscapes"

[Overlord87]

"Ah, now that I have not heard,' says Jacques. "He may be a Mason, but I do not know. Being one no doubt does help one climb the ladder faster, as they look out for and elevate each other. Were I one myself, I could try their secret handshake on him, but I never joined them. Otherwise, I probably would be a general by now."

"Don't joke about this, Colonel. I wouldn't trust people like them. Moving in the shadows, afraid of their own actions..." Renè's words trail off as his gaze fixes on a young woman entering the room, a pretty brunette in a light green dress. "I'm sorry, Colonel. The lady I was waiting for just arrived, and I have to go greet her. I'm sure you understand..."

[Overlord87]

Smiling at Julien Francois then turns and drops his head to Bissette in acknowledgement. "Monsieur Bissette, a pleasure. François Du Monte. I myself despite the Julien's allusion to my love of the Chasse, am professor of languages at Collège d'Harcourt." (also one of the Sorbonne Colleges). Then looking at the picture hanging above them. "It is quite disturbing is it not? I cannot say it is to my taste. I'm more one for Lucien Griveau, nice gentle landscapes"

Adolphe shakes your hand weakly. His hands are slightly wet. "The pleasure is mine, monsieur Du Monte. I wholeheartedly agree with you, these paintings are quite... inappropriate. I didn't know Monsieur Dupont had such bad taste".

Julien sighs noticeably. "I have to concur. My friend's taste in art seems to have changed quite drastically in the last few months... and these are the results. Very unfortunate. He says this will be the art of the future... but I doubt it. Or rather, I hope he's wrong". He stares thoughtfully at the painting, a troubled expression on his face.

[Mr. Handy]

"I understand indeed," says Jacques with a smile and a wink. "She is very lovely. I wish you luck." He had met his wife Marie at a party, and from that seed a lifetime of happiness and a large extended family had grown. He hopes the young man will have a similar outcome with the lady.

[ghill]

Adolphe shakes your hand weakly. His hands are slightly wet. "The pleasure is mine, monsieur Du Monte. I wholeheartedly agree with you, these paintings are quite... inappropriate. I didn't know Monsieur Dupont had such bad taste".
Julien sighs noticeably. "I have to concur. My friend's taste in art seems to have changed quite drastically in the last few months... and these are the results. Very unfortunate. He says this will be the art of the future... but I doubt it. Or rather, I hope he's wrong". He stares thoughtfully at the painting, a troubled expression on his face.

Francois winces at the man's damp grip, but quickly hides it with a smile. Turning to Julien.Your friend's change of taste wouldn't have coincided with the arrival of Madame Madeleine would it? Not the first man to have his mind changed by the swing of a woman's hips.

[Overlord87]

"Ah Monsieur, a kindred spirit! There is one proviso I feel I must add though and that is that I doubt that Mankind ... and women too of course" Andrè adds with a nod towards Madeleine, "... has reached the full extent of their understanding of sciences. Why just look at the advances we have made in the last fifty years or so, would they not have seemed like some kind of magic to our forebears?"

Madeleine smiles and says. "Perhaps, fifty years from now, we will really fly to the moon, then." She looks around the room for a few seconds. "I am quite used by now to Sebastien's late arrival at his own parties, but I think he might be exaggerating a little tonight. If you'll excuse me, I think it's past time I go drag him out of his room. He's been holed up there all day".

[Overlord87]

"I understand indeed," says Jacques with a smile and a wink. "She is very lovely. I wish you luck." He had met his wife Marie at a party, and from that seed a lifetime of happiness and a large extended family had grown. He hopes the young man will have a similar outcome with the lady.

Renè shakes the Colonel's hand one last time, then heads out towards the young lady that just entered the room. Jacques looks around the room and sees Julien talking with two people near the paintings - one of the two is the middle-aged man that was involved in the earlier accident with Renè. On the other side of the room, near the piano, Andre and Jean-Luc are still standing near the piano. Madeleine seems to be headed towards one of the exits of the room.

[Overlord87]

Francois winces at the man's damp grip, but quickly hides it with a smile. Turning to Julien.Your friend's change of taste wouldn't have coincided with the arrival of Madame Madeleine would it? Not the first man to have his mind changed by the swing of a woman's hips.

Julien frowns. "I wouldn't quite share your choice of language, but indeed, his taste in art changed after he... found... his new love. And not only that. Most certainly, Madame Morvan's entrance in my friend's life had... extraordinary effects." Julien shakes his head. "Women, as you say. But tell me, Francois, what about you? Are you, perchance, any closer to tieing the knot yourself?"

[Mr. Handy]

Jacques heads over to where Julien is talking to the two people, interested to meet them.