Part 1A - The Cad - Sara

[SunlessNick]

"Don't you know it! Watch out for Wellman - he's a banker or something - he'll try to buy you if you let him. And Wally Hutchinson - owns a big chunk of Melbourne, and everyone in it, so he thinks. There's a fella called Vance Whitney - if he tells you to call Mr Whitney, it'll be ok, if he says to call him Vance, keep your hand on a fork. He hangs around with a younger guy Austin - think they work together. Another young one called Royster - you'll know him by a really thin moustache - he thinks he's god's gift. Keith Murdoch's one to watch out for, and the police commissioner's here too, not that he'll stop anyone."

[Keith Murdoch is a newspaper proprietor - your boss will have talked to reporters working for him from time to time. The police commissioner is called Harold Shaw - it's someone you've kept track of at the office, but you've never met him - not corrupt, exactly, but not one to root corruption out either]

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Sara. "Do you know anything about this Austin bloke? Do I need to watch out for him too?"

OOC, I suspected [b]Keith Murdoch[/b] was related to Rupert and looked him up to confirm that I was right - he's his dad.

[SunlessNick]

OOC, I suspected [b]Keith Murdoch[/b] was related to Rupert and looked him up to confirm that I was right - he's his dad.

OOC,Yep, he's mentioned in the Terror Australis book.

"Thank you," says Sara. "Do you know anything about this Austin bloke? Do I need to watch out for him too?"

"He's a charmer. He has a different girl on his arm every time, but that won't stop him making a move on you when she's not looking."

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm not surprised," says Sara. "I'll have to be on my guard."

[SunlessNick]

The guests start arriving. The first to show up of the guys you were warned about is Vance Whitney - however he introduces himself as Mr Whitney, which Maria said meant he would be ok. Such seems to be the case - after getting a drink, he seems to be all business with Melbourne's movers and shakers.

Kittrell and Elsa arrive soon after. While you're stuck in one room, they move like they're drifting from one to another.

OOC, Psychology: 60. Rolled 1D100: 44.

Elsa seems dazzled by the club's rich surroundings, but you notice that Kittrell isn't introducing her to anyone - from what Carol said, you might expect him to show Elsa off like a trophy, but he doesn't appear to be.

After a few minutes, he leaves her and comes over to you to get some drinks. As he approaches, Carol's description of a wolf's smile looks apt. When he reaches you, he says, "I don't think I've seen you here before. Do you work these places often?"

[Mr. Handy]

"No, sir," says Sara. "This is my first time. What can I get you?"

[SunlessNick]

"No, sir," says Sara. "This is my first time. What can I get you?"

"Two champagnes, unless I can tempt you to a third. It is the first of many visits, I hope."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, but I couldn't possibly," says Sara, pouring two glasses of champagne. "They wouldn't like it if I drink on the job. What can you tell a new girl about what goes on here?"

[SunlessNick]

"Thank you, but I couldn't possibly," says Sara, pouring two glasses of champagne. "They wouldn't like it if I drink on the job. What can you tell a new girl about what goes on here?"

"Then I shall have to bring you back one night when you are not working. As for what we do here... well, mostly we talk business. Make deals. Exchange news from around the Country and elsewhere. Decide who should be elected, and to what position," he laughs. "When we're not doing that, we talk of shard interests, gamble, show off new treasures we've found. Like anyone else, really - we're not so mysterious as all that. Come with me as my guest, and you can see for yourself, even the rooms closed off for the party."

OOC,You know the Royal Hunt doesn't allow female members, nor guests outside functions like this one. You don't need a psychology roll to realise the offer he's making likely means something very different to what he's expecting you to think.

[Mr. Handy]

"Wouldn't your lady friend get jealous?" asks Sara.

[SunlessNick]

"Wouldn't your lady friend get jealous?" asks Sara.

"Perhaps she would," he says, in a dismissive tone.

[Mr. Handy]

"Don't you care?" asks Sara.

[SunlessNick]

"Jealousy is for those who do not know how to live for themselves," Kittrell replies.

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe she wouldn't see any reason to be jealous of me," says Sara. "She's prettier than I am."

[SunlessNick]

"Just as you say," KIttrell replies, his voice turning crueler.

[Mr. Handy]

"Well, you didn't have to agree with me so quickly," says Sara.

[SunlessNick]

"Perhaps it's the uniform," he says. "Seeing you in something else might easily change my mind."

OOC,Charm 60: Rolled 1D100: 56.

You manage not to look queasy. For someone said to have a different girl on his arm every time he comes here, he's not very good at this.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm afraid I can't afford the same sorts of wardrobes that the ladies who come here wear," says Sara. "If I could, I wouldn't be working at this job."

[SunlessNick]

"She couldn't afford her dress either. I can be generous when a girl catches my attention."

[Mr. Handy]

"Ah," says Sara. "And what does a girl have to do to catch your attention?"