The White Swanfish Gala (Open to All, including party-crashers)

[creepycyclops]

The White Swanfish Gala is this evening - A VIP-only event where invitations are only sent to the likes of the heads of industry, Mover stars, avatars, and their guests. The host is Wil Zan (Slade's affable civilian alter ego), and he is dressed in a fine white and blue silk nehru, smiling broadly and chatting with what seems like every patron there, one at a time. He has brought in the finest chefs to provide an unlimited stream of fine food and drink, popular musicians provide entertainment and lively music to dance to, and this gala is sure to be an event worth talking about for years.

Interestingly, Zan has set up some rather unusual security measures. Though your average riff-raff will be kept out, he has intentionally left strategic security gaps that can be bypassed by the bold and the cunning. Zan actually has men covertly watching these gaps, but instead of stopping these party-crashers, their instructions are to inform Zan. (This serves as a sort of test for potential apprentices that Slade may try to recruit in the future.)

((NOTE: This is an event log, so not every reply has to be toward Slade. Feel free to write what your character is doing at the party or how they snuck in, etc. "Zan" is likely to give you his attention, but others can too.))

Comments

[profiteers]

No. Way. That is totally Lord Zuko, isn't it? Varrick is so in on this.

"Lord Zuko! It's an honour to meet you, at last. Varrick, of Varrick Industries." I hope you weren't doing anything important he's gonna need your attention for a while, buddy.

[restoredhonour]

Lord Zuko is all but ready to engage the stranger in friendly conversation... right until Varrick introduces himself, and his expression grows visibly more stern. Varrick's business success might be known worldwide, but Zuko's also heard how he helped plunge the two Water Tribes into civil war in pursuit of profit, and almost dragged Republic City down along with it.

After spending so many years trying to establish and maintain peace in the world, he can't approve of the man's actions. But he decides, for now, to remain diplomatic.

"I've heard many things about you, Varrick," he says evenly, "and I'm intrigued to meet a businessman of your standing."

[profiteers]

Hey, they were going to war anyway. It's not illegal to just plant a few false flag operations to speed things along.

Well, it is illegal, but he didn't have to go to prison for it, so everything's fine.

"The intrigue's all mine, Lord Zuko. Always a pleasure to meet a founder of this great city." Such a good city. So much better a place to make money than the damn South Pole. You have no idea how grateful he is this place exists.

[restoredhonour]

"As glad as I am to hear you appreciate Republic City... to be frank, I'm surprised you've returned here, let alone put in such a public appearance."

Lord Zuko folds his arms behind his back. His tone is still mild, but he has to wonder if Varrick is aware of the detachment of metalbending police standing guard outside. Even if the man has no connection to the President's current disappearance (likely, given all the strange spiritual activity around the city, on top of all the other disappearances), that doesn't clear him of any previous charges.

[profiteers]

"To be fair to me, the first part wasn't exactly by choice. But hey, so far it's been great! Got the company set up again. Had to hire a whole slew of new staff, though. Half the people who used to work for me are missing."

Fff, those charges are in the PAST, Zuko. You should respect doing some dumb things in your past, right?

[restoredhonour]

Lord Zuko's done plenty of dumb things in his past, but he also feels remorse for those dumb things, which he suspects is the difference between him and Varrick. Even so, the city has bigger concerns than a corrupt billionaire on the run, so for now he'll let the subject slide.

"Even your company has been hit by the disappearances around the city? That is worrying."