Log:Colonial Bay Eleemosynary Society Party No. 1

2020/10/13 Magda Dorian Arthur Joseph 1

Magda is a contributor to a number of charities, and on the boards of several -- those she's most heavily involved in, generally, mostly those focused on education or looking to help women and girls in areas where they are ... not /oppressed/, necessarily, but certainly not seen as the vital parts of society they are. And at times, she'll hold her own fund raisers or society parties, inviting people from diverse backgrounds that she thinks would make for interesting conversation, or create synergies. (Yes, it sounds very corporate, but it isn't.)

Tonight's suaree' does have a focus on education (much more palatable to the upper-class sort), but only about a third of true 'high society' types are here. The rest are either students from her college ethics course (which is becoming known as 'Ethics for Supers'), professors and teachers from the university and high schools at which she teaches, or interesting Powers that she's met in Colonial Bay -- the local Starguard commander being one such notable (and, technically, a good person to invite even if he were entirely normal).

Magda has had to circulate and greet her guests for the first portion of the evening -- technically it isn't a dinner, but there is no party in the world where there isn't drink and, usually, food, and this one has both, sufficient to fill the bellies of many hungry college students -- but as the time ticks by, she can start to get into serious conversations with people about subjects that are to her interest.

Dorian shows up on his own this time, without his wife, who had another obligation this evening. He's in his formal uniform this time, figuring that it's more appropriate than how he usually dresses. "Thank you for the invite, Dr. Gutzu."

Arthur is...late. These sort of functions aren't usually his thing, but he was invited due to his adjunct professor position at CBSU. And to be honest, he only had to set that whole situation up to be in a position to help Talia Sintergaard stay enrolled at the university after an incident almost got her expelled. Sure, he was -there- during the incident, but he wasn't the cause. And Talia still hasn't forgiven him, not realizing the lengths he's gone to save her graduate education. He arrives in his usual eccentric apparel, though the rainbow-banded extra long scarf is missing. He's just arrived, and yet is already mingling within like he was there all along.

Magda herself is, as always, clad in her magnetically-coupled alloy, but while usually she changes its color to be more like regular clothes, tonight's 'little black dress' bears the wandering and shifting flecks of silver that are the hallmark of the alloy -- at least, for those who know what her battle armor looks like. Just now, it looks like an advanced fabric that turns those with 'only' lots of money a bit green with envy.

"Of course, Commander," the hostess replies; the invitation did indicate that it was semiformal, and nothing impresses like the formal dress uniform. "What's a party for if not to drop interesting people into the mix and see how the highfolk respond? And let's face it, you don't get much more interesting than a superpowered military commander." Her eye drifts across those present, smiling a little. "Professor Aevus might hit the mark, though. Arthur!!" she calls out, and when (hopefully when, not if) he looks over, she gestures him over.

Danae (with Bear at her side) circulates, supervising the servers; Leon shuttles between kitchen and the banquet tables; Boston sees to the event security, Mouse at /his/ side. The house's cats (except for Kayode) are occasionally present; they, at least, can wander around where-ever they like, while guests at the moment must mill about only on the ground floor.

Arthur blinks, ducks a little, and looks around, having just popped a deviled egg in his mouth from a passing h'orderves tray. Dread grips his heart as he sees Magda -and- Commander Perrault in uniform. The last time Kat saw him in uniform was a dark time. Realizing he's been spotted, he gulps down his food and heads over. It feels like marching to the gallows, but he puts on a smile.

Dorian chuckles. "Well, I appreciate that. Thank you again." He looks over in the direction that Magda indicates for Arthur. He smiles and offers a hand to shake as Arthur approaches. "Professor Aevus? I'm Commander Dorian Perrault from Starguard Gamma."

Magda smiles a little. "You're supposed to let the hostess make the introductions," she asides to Dorian, teasing a little, "but thank you for not waiting -- I have deep-seated prejudices as to who would rank higher on the social scale."

Arthur extends a white-gloved hand and shakes Dorian's hand. "A pleasure, Commander Perrault," he smiles. It seems Dorian hasn't placed him yet.

Dorian grins, "I'm still a new person to the high society world, of sorts. Or so my wife would tell me." He snaps his fingers and he says to Arthur, "I just realized. I think we've met once, and not that long ago. It regarded that alien bug queen. The undersea cave."

Magda smiles, her lips impish. "I thought the military would take care of that," she murmurs. "Something about hosting parties to get involved in the pipeline, or something. But then, most of what I know about the workings of the military come from books, so ..." She looks at Arthur with interest. "Alien bug queen?"

Arthur chuckles. "I'm usually not involved in the high society world at all. But, ah, yes, there was that little...ahem...incident." He looks to Magda and shrugs. "Something I heard was resolved."

Dorian nods. "It was resolved. After...a lot of work. There was an alien who was...converting people and animals into bugs and bringing them into a...hive mind, basically."

Dorian enters a few minutes after having knocked on the door, one of the household personnel having gone to investigate and let he in.

"Nasty stuff, really. I commend Starguard on finally handling that situation," Arthur smiles.

Dorian smiles, "Well, thank you. It took the work of...lots of people to solve the situation. And while I think the end result wasn't ideal, we're safer now." He pauses and adds, "The alien queen basically up and left. Went elsewhere, if I recall correctly. So, still out in space somewhere. But hopefully won't be back."

"Which reminds me, Commander," says Magda. "I don't think I informed you of what I did with the fragments I had collected of that psionic crystal from a month or so ago."

Arthur blinks a few times. "Psionic crystal?" he asks, intrigued.

Dorian raises a brow, "I didn't realize there were still some on the planet."

Magda nods at Arthur. "Apparently a planet of it exists. A communal mind of sorts, and seeks for others to join in its unity." She turns back to Dorian. "On-planet, no; in-system, though, yes. A couple thousand kilos of assorted shunks and dust floats in the Earth-Sun L3 point."

Dorian nods, "Ah, okay. As long as it isn't on-planet, that's fine."

Magda nods. "I thought I should inform you; after all, the occasional astroid does passed through that zone, and an accidental whack has a chance -- slim, I know -- of putting a fragment on a trajectory back to Earth."

Arthur listens and tries to scoop up a flute of champagne on a passing tray.

Dorian titls his head, "Were you able to find out anything more about it, though? Over what Nohrbor was able to ascertain from his mental link with the collective conciousness of the meteor?"

Magda shakes her head, looking a little grim. "I don't have the sort of defenses that would make doing so safe; I have been considering going out and extracting a tiny piece with which to do experiments on how to block psionics, But I have had a lot on my plate."

Dorian nods. "I was able to resist it, but only in small doses. But I don't think I can learn too much from it directly."

"Fascinating," Arthur murmurs as he takes a sip of his drink.

Magda shakes her head. "I certainly can't. A smile graces her lips, then, and she looks sideways at Arthur. "In many ways, Professor," she tells him, "but dangerous as well. By the way, Dorian, whatever happened to that raider ship? That got taken off-world as well, right?"

Dorian nods. "Inforcer Diviak took it back to the Guild with him after the official extradition was dealt with. So there was a slight delay. But we've managed to set up reasonably good relations with the Guild's law enforcement. We helepd them with a case when we were out there for a diplomatic mission."

Arthur nods along with Magda's comment on danger. But that's what makes it fascinating!

Magda nods in understanding. "I was actually going to try to sign up as local Guild rescue personnel, but they said I wasn't fast enough. I think it was more 'I don't believe you can,' but Leon dragged me away before I could really, ah, demonstrate." She smiles, electric-blue eyes alight with amusement. "Probably a good idea."

Dorian smiles. "The Guild is...in some ways willing to work with us. And in other ways, they're trying to maintain arm's length. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by that. Their bureaucracy is...large."

Arthur sips his drink. Part of why he doesn't spend too much time in core Guild space is the bureaucracy. How dull! "At least there's still opportunity for cooperation after all that's happened."

Dorian nods. "We were set back considerably by the cartel posing as the Guild. But thankfully the plot was figured out."

Arthur nods lightly. "Is it still work working with the Guild, do you think? Since they weren't able to provide protection against the cartel and let it run for so long?"

Dorian smiles and thinks about it. "I do. They were duped as well as we were. I'm a firm believer in second chances all around."

Magda nods in understanding. "Bureaucracy grows; that's the nature of the beast," she says. It's less a complaint than a rueful understanding. "Though I sometimes wonder if there shouldn't be a way to trim it back hard, every now and then. Fifty, maybe a hundred years ..."

"Duped how, exacty?" Arthur asks curiously. "I mean, I know how we were. How were they? Their inability to deal with the cartel made it become out problem, didn't it?"

Dorian nods to Arthur, "Sure. But let's carry that analogy further. Is whatever the local mob the fault of the local police since they were unable to stop the crime?" He shakes his head, "If the police are corrupt and know what's going on...then I would agree with you. If instead, as in this case, they are unaware, then they're not at fault."

Arthur smiles at that, because part of him does agree with that logic. "True, true," he agrees and sips more champagne.

Magda nods in acknowledgement. "Police are what they are because they are -- have to be, if freedoms are to be assured -- reactive instead of, generally, proactive. If they're proactive ... well, you get a police state. And that's rarely good."

Dorian smiles and nods in agreement with Magda, "Now...if the cartel infiltrated the Inforcers and corrupted them. Then...sure, there's something there. But I haven't gotten that indication. The Inforcers themselves are...few in number, relative to the size of the Guild. That means they can keep closer tabs on everyone. But...the smaller local law enforcement, say...out toward the edge of the Guild, might be more susceptible to corruption."

Magda nods, then tilts her head. "Do you have any knowledge as to why they're called 'Inforcers' instead of 'Enforcers'? Is it an error in translation, or ... ??"

Dorian shakes his head, "I'm not sure on that. It's not an error in translation. That I'm sure of. Our ability to translate the main Guild trade language is...pretty spot on at this point."

Joseph enters a few minutes after having knocked on the door, one of the household personnel having gone to investigate and let he in.

From time to time, Magda holds fund raisers or society parties, inviting people from diverse backgrounds that she thinks would make for interesting conversation, or create synergies. (Yes, it sounds very corporate, but it isn't.) Tonight's suaree' does have a focus on education (making it palatable to the upper-class sort), but only about a third of true 'high society' types are here. The rest are either students from her college ethics course (which is becoming known as 'Ethics for Supers'), professors and teachers from the university and high schools at which she teaches, or interesting Powers that she's met in Colonial Bay.

Magda has had to circulate and greet her guests for the first portion of the evening -- technically it isn't a dinner, but there is no party in the world where there isn't drink and, usually, food, and this one has both, sufficient to fill the bellies of many hungry college students -- but as the time ticks by, she can start to get into serious conversations with people about subjects that are to her interest.

Her household staff takes care of the party functionalities: Danae (with Bear the dog at her side) circulates amongst the guests, supervising the servers; Leon shuttles between kitchen and the banquet tables; and Boston sees to the event security, Mouse the dog at /his/ side. The house's cats (except for Kayode, who gets locked up during parties, because he is amoral and an incorrigible thief) are occasionally present; they, at least, can wander around where-ever they like, while guests at the moment must mill about only on the ground floor.

Joseph enters the columned ground floor from the front of the house. He wanders slowly through the columned room, stopping briefly to grab a glass of wine which he just holds in his hand. The early middle aged gentleman nods politely to the academies he knows, a gentle smile on his lips.

Dorian smiles. "Next time I speak to Diviak, I'll be sure to ask him about the origin of the 'Inforcer' title. I'm sure he wont' mind telling me, assuming he knows."

Arthur sips his champagne. He hasn't even gone through half of it, but he's feeling it. Kat's usually more sturdy against alcohol. Porter, though? Not so much.