Maidcraft 2

January 13
[00:05]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[Last time, on Maidcraft (not an RTS)...]
[00:06]	<[Atai]Millie>	[Connecting to servers...]
[00:07]	<[Atai]Millie>	[Connecting to MEIDONET servers...]
[00:07]	<[Atai]Millie>	[Finding games...]
[00:07]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[Kicking Atai...]
[00:07]	[Atai]Millie was booted from #maidrpg by YOU
[00:07]	<[Atai]Millie>	[Making a sad face...]
[00:07]	<[Atai]Millie>	[ :< ]
[00:08]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[Anyways: Ng Mui has been advised with really vague innuendo to enter to mansion, and perhaps to watch out for security]
[00:08]	<[Crix]Ashra>	[What is the meidonet version of dota]
[00:08]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[Laure was following Ng Mui for some increasingly suspicious reason]
[00:09]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[Ashra needs to return to the kitchen for intensive preparations]
[00:10]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[Millie was handed a plain looking business card, though on the back is written "Don't forget to collect a tip"]
[00:11]	<NomDeNarrateur>	The guests hush, paused in equal parts anticipation and politeness
[00:13]	<NomDeNarrateur>	From the top of the main stairwell descends Minister Rojmanovic, wife in hand, wearing finery that befits the occasion
[00:14]	* [Atai]Millie	mentally calculates how much she could get for all of said finery.
[00:15]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Halfway down, the Minister makes a premeditated stop, puffing himself up for what is probably a long winded and shallow speech of welcome or somesuch. The following has been editted liberally for everyone's sanity]
[00:17]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Minister: Welcome, welcome, welcome everybody!"
[00:17]	<NomDeNarrateur>	(Yes, even in the edited version there are 3 'welcome's)
[00:18]	* NgMui	doesn't feel 'welcome'. Not even once.
[00:18]	* [Crix]Ashra	rolls her eyes in disgust
[00:19]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Minister: "Thank you, all, for coming tonight. For the sake of my beautiful wife I have prepared both food and entertainment aplenty. This is a night of enjoyment, so please, enjoy!"
[00:21]	<NomDeNarrateur>	The minister decorates his speech with a flat-pitched, highly diplomatic laugh, and retires upstairs for a more private dinner with closer acquaintances. Or at least that's what has been advertised
[00:22]	* NgMui	watches out for security. That being the most prominent detail in her mission.
[00:22]	<[Atai]Millie>	What a moving piece of useless wordage.
[00:22]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui, Millie, Ashra, Laure: You all see several other bigwig types slink away surreptitiously as well. Not all of them seem the celebratory sort
[00:22]	* [Atai]Millie	dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief.
[00:23]	<[Atai]Millie>	...Hmm.
[00:23]	<[Crix]Ashra>	I don't have time for this the chef is going to strangle me.
[00:23]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui: You notice that the perimetre of the hall, especially near the entrances, have had a noticeable increase in sunglasses. Also, apish looking men wearing those sunglasses.
[00:23]	* [Crix]Ashra	runs off into the kitchen to see what is required now
[00:24]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ashra: the kitchen is conspicuously empty, save for one man. A big man. The very loud one.
[00:25]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Oh uh hi you needed me right?
[00:26]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Loud Head Chef: YOU'RE LATE!
[00:26]	* [Rut]Laure	looks left to right, then begins to shift through the party guests, in the direction where the few bigwigs just left the room.
[00:27]	* [Atai]Millie	is still serving drinks to any that need drinkery
[00:27]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Well, am I at least fashionably late?
[00:27]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Funnily enough, the head chef does not look amused
[00:28]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Unamused Chef: "Bah, at least you are here. You will have to do."
[00:28]	* [Crix]Ashra	tries not to make eye contact "heh heh...."
[00:30]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Head Chef: "You have a delivery to make. Or at least, will. Once the goods are prepared."
[00:31]	* [Atai]Millie	begins mixing up new cocktails, just for fun.
[00:31]	<[Crix]Ashra>	What are these, goods?
[00:31]	* NgMui	, still at a loss, wanders around the manor in hopes of something catching her eye or finding the bitch she spoke with earlier.
[00:31]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui, Millie, Laure: surely enough, important guests are disappearing upstairs.
[00:32]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: as you follow them, you see they have all slipped, separately, into one of the minister's private conference rooms
[00:33]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui, Millie: the crowd is dispersing now. In fact, it has gotten rather quiet in the hall.
[00:33]	* NgMui	, seeing no better option, follows upstairs
[00:33]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Millie: you see that the man who you chatted with has left
[00:34]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui: from the higher vantage point you see the Chinese woman by herself in a corner
---
@@For the rest of the story of Ng Mui and Laure, skip down. We now return to your scheduled cake maids
---
[00:36]	* [Atai]Millie	really hopes her contact will show up soon.
[00:36]	* NgMui	looks around once again. Would we be alone if I spoke to her?
[00:36]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Head chef: "I am just a chef, the best one this side of Europe, but only a chef, so I will make it quick and obvious. You are here for documents, yes?
[00:37]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui: You can assured of relative aloneness (is that a word), so long as you don't draw much attention to yourself
[00:38]	* NgMui	reminds herself to make sure to kill her silently and approaches
[00:38]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Yes, I always wanted a strawberry shortcake recipe
[00:39]	<[Crix]Ashra>	With fruit in the crust too!
[00:41]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Head Chef: "The less I know of the details, the better. Whatever you wish to do, you will need transportation. The guards are screening all who come in and out. Once the goods are delivered here, you will need to devise an exit."
[00:42]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Everyone knows the best place to hide sensitive documents is in leftovers!
[00:42]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Until you get hungry....
[00:43]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"No, no, tell me nothing your imbecile! I want my hands clean of your tomfoollery. Just take this to the bar. Until then I have nothing to say to you."
[00:44]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ashra: the head chef hands you what seems to be an order from a wine list.
[00:44]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Oh boy I love a good rose~
[00:45]	* [Crix]Ashra	plucks the list from his hand
[00:50]	* [Crix]Ashra	reads the wine sheet while walking out towards the bar, with a small vanilla cake in the other hand
[00:51]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ashra: the wine list looks awfully like a wine list. Disguised as a wine list.
[00:53]	<[Crix]Ashra>	This isn't very scandalous at all
[00:54]	* [Crix]Ashra	sees the bartender Millie "Hey it's dangerous to mix drinks alone, take this" Ashra hands her the winelist
[00:57]	* [Atai]Millie	pauses in the middle of creating a Domess Tick (one part Dom Perignon, two parts Guiness, one part lemon juice), and smiles.
[00:57]	<[Atai]Millie>	Got an order for me, have ya? Thank you, thank you, much and all. What've we got here...?
[00:57]	* [Atai]Millie	looks at the list after takign it, and reads it over.
[00:58]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Millie: there is a larger order for a variety of drinks, to be delivered to the second floor conference room
[01:01]	<[Atai]Millie>	Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm.
[01:01]	<[Atai]Millie>	I'll get on this right away. Thanks so much for running it on down here.
[01:02]	<[Crix]Ashra>	I don't have anything else to do right now anyway.
[01:03]	* [Crix]Ashra	chews on a forkfull of her small vanilla cake.
[01:03]	* [Atai]Millie	pulls over a large rolling bar and begins loading on the necessary liquors and liqueurs that she will need to add to the ones already inside it.
[01:08]	* [Atai]Millie	whistles a jazz number while she works.
[01:09]	<[Crix]Ashra>	So what do you drink in your free time?
[01:10]	<[Atai]Millie>	Generally God's own honest water.
[01:10]	* [Atai]Millie	hunts down an elusive bottle of peppermint Schnapps
[01:13]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Ah, water is so mundane. Sparkling cider is much better.
[01:14]	* [Atai]Millie	nods. Ah, there it is.
[01:14]	* [Atai]Millie	puts it on the cart, and thinks for a moment before shrugging, and ducking back down again.
[01:15]	<[Atai]Millie>	...Sometimes I like a glass of orange juice.
[01:15]	* [Atai]Millie	pokes her head up.
[01:16]	<[Atai]Millie>	Hey, if you're not doing anything, go get me some extra cocktail napkins and toothpicks from the other table over there, would you? I'm about out.
[01:17]	* [Atai]Millie	nudges with her head at the dessert section a few tables down.
[01:17]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Psh what do I look like some servant!
[01:17]	* [Crix]Ashra	looks down "Oh right" scuttles off
[01:19]	* [Atai]Millie	looks around for some James Harbor rum.
[01:19]	* [Crix]Ashra	pick ups a box of toothpicks and little white napkins with various pieces of fruit imprinted upon them. "How tacky.."
[01:19]	<[Atai]Millie>	I know you were here a minute ago, you bastard...
[01:23]	* [Crix]Ashra	places the party supplies on the bar, then takes of of the small napkins and folds it into a little paper hat
[01:26]	* [Atai]Millie	locates it, stands back up, sees the hat, sees the napkins and toothpicks, and nods approvingly.
[01:26]	<[Atai]Millie>	Very good feet and quick hands you have indeed, you do. Thanks so kindly and ever so grateful.
[01:27]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Psh, you'll never make it in nobility with that kind of flattery.
[01:29]	<[Atai]Millie>	Nobility? I'll have you know I'm descended from the great-grandmother of the Queen of America on my uncle's side.
[01:29]	* [Atai]Millie	looks slightly put out as she continues to work.
[01:30]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Queen of America? I've never been there, it sounds exciting.
[01:32]	<[Atai]Millie>	It is a fabulous place. They use gold as a paving stone there, did you know? And everyone there dreams the same dream. It is impossible for them to dream anything else at night.
[01:33]	<[Atai]Millie>	Enormous fire-wielding women guard its harbors and passes judgment on all who would seek entry.
[01:34]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Amazing, back where I lived they had roads paved in bones and... hey wait, that doesn't make sense at all!
[01:35]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Who would give fire wielders the job to guard a harbor!
[01:39]	<[Atai]Millie>	Americans, who else?
[01:40]	<[Crix]Ashra>	I see, so Americans are stupid, right?
[01:40]	<[Atai]Millie>	More insane than stupid.
[01:40]	<[Atai]Millie>	But they mean well.
[01:40]	* [Atai]Millie	loads the last bottle on, and shuts the doors in the cabinet on the side of the bar.
[01:41]	<[Atai]Millie>	Well, that seems to be the very very last of it. Thank you again kindly muchly for everything and all.
[01:44]	<[Atai]Millie>	...Hmm.
[01:44]	* [Atai]Millie	looks back at the list.
[01:44]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Alright...
[01:45]	<[Atai]Millie>	You're not doing anything anyway, so come along with me.
[01:45]	<[Atai]Millie>	I could use the extra lackeyhands around, and you seem pleasantly durable.
[01:45]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Adventure!
[01:45]	<[Atai]Millie>	Right?
[01:45]	<[Atai]Millie>	Of course you are.
[01:45]	* [Crix]Ashra	beams with happiness
[01:46]	* [Atai]Millie	sets off, pushing the heavy cart along towards the elevator to the upper floor, whistling another jazz tune by those clever American darkies.
[01:48]	* [Crix]Ashra	follows along with the box of cocktail napkins
[01:58]	<NomDeNarrateur>	You two eventually find your way to the upper floor. Only a large set of double doors block you from the conference room.
[01:59]	<[Crix]Ashra>	Should we knock? Or pretend we belong in there?
[02:13]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[And thus we end at a dramatic moment. Or maybe they will just stand outside forever, enjoying the view. Who know? Hopefully we will, next time]
---
@@The promised Asian and espionage go here
---
[00:47]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Chinese Woman: "Why hello, Ms Guard. How may I help you? Or could you help me?"
[00:48]	* NgMui	inhales and exhales deeply, checking over her shoulder and crossing her arms.
[00:49]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: from your hiding spot, you hear footsteps coming from behind you.
[00:49]	<NgMui>	Miss Yoo. I am not above shattering your ribcage here in the event that you continue to be incoherent. That aside, do you have a real objective for me?
[00:52]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Yoo: "Do you not know the proverb about patience? Good things come to those who wait."
[00:52]	* [Rut]Laure	stays quiet. She assumes a natural stance -- still hiding, but not overly suspicious, were she to be seen. She checks the footsteps.
[00:52]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: they are coming closer
[00:53]	<NgMui>	And inaction is an action all of its own. I won't ask you again.
[00:56]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: the person owning these footsteps seems to be hesitating as s/he goes, almost as if...looking for something
[00:57]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Yoo: "You compromise much with your haste. But this is as good a time as any for a detailed talk."
[00:57]	<NomDeNarrateur>	That, and perhaps she values her ribs
[00:58]	<NgMui>	I'm listening.
[01:00]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"As you no doubt have noticed, security for this party is unusually tight. I am sure management has briefed you to some extent on the elaborate procedures. There is very little chance for the goods to leave."
[01:02]	<NgMui>	Hmm... I see. Is there a separate element in place to secure these goods?
[01:02]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"A problem no doubt easily remedied by your...special skills, but first there is another agent you really should have a chat with. In fact, you met each other just a bit earlier, but seems to have disappeared. She is...working from a different direction, so to speak, but I'm sure your goals align somewhere in the end."
[01:04]	* NgMui	has trouble remembering meeting anybody in particular, but then recalls that girl she accidentally choked. Hmm, that makes sense.
[01:06]	<NgMui>	Alright. Is there anyone else I should be aware of? Where will you be during all this?
[01:06]	* [Rut]Laure	approaches the man unawares. Once behind him, she stands at her full height again. She subtly folds her wrist in, fingers along the hem of her sleeve.
[01:06]	<[Rut]Laure>	... Excuse me. Are you lost?
[01:07]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: the man does not look surprised that there is a strange woman behind him at all. Perhaps he is used to these things
[01:07]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Totally Unsuspicious man:
[01:08]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"Not at all."
[01:09]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: You notice that the man is holding quite a large parcel. Or was, because he leaves it on a handy alcove without paying you much heed. Once done, he spins a perfect 180 degrees on his heels, and strides back in the opposite direction
[01:09]	* [Rut]Laure	smiles.
[01:11]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Yoo: Me? I won't be here at all. Be sure you remember that detail should anyone ask you questions afterwards."
[01:13]	<NgMui>	Is that all?
[01:14]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"From me, at least. I am open to questions, but I may not have many answers."
[01:15]	<NgMui>	Aside from security, are there any known elements working against us?
[01:16]	* [Rut]Laure	takes the package, glancing around quickly once more before returning to the main room.
[01:17]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"Now that is a -good- question, worthy of a good answer. For now, legitimate authority is the only thing standing in your way, but cabinet documents always fetch a high price. The dangers in that should be obvious."
[01:18]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Laure: the package is both heavy and bulky. There is a letter in an envelope attached by a piece of string.
[01:19]	<NgMui>	So essentially, I'm on my own here. Are you positive I can trust this other agent?
[01:20]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Ng Mui: Yoo looks you straight in the eye
[01:20]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"No."
[01:20]	<NomDeNarrateur>	"But you will be working together, nonetheless. Get along now."
[01:21]	* [Rut]Laure	opens the envelope to read it's contents. Essential documents would have been placed in the package, after all.
[01:22]	* NgMui	nods, and leaves without a word. Where would miss secret waitress be?
[01:24]	<NomDeNarrateur>	Letter: "A distraction is needed. Asians are highly adept: seek them out. Bring the parcel as a gift. It may be useful for your partnership, should you choose to use it."
[01:27]	* [Rut]Laure	disdainfully tucks the letter back into the attached envelope and looks around for "an Asian."
[01:30]	* AnAsian	finds Laure
[01:31]	<NomDeNarrateur>	You two bump into each other pretty much at the same time. Perhaps comedically, if only the mood was comedy
[01:31]	* NgMui	isn't laughing.
[01:32]	* [Rut]Laure	is smiling. You think.
[01:32]	<[Rut]Laure>	... Where are you from, miss security officer?
[01:36]	<NgMui>	Over the hills, and far away...
[01:40]	<[Rut]Laure>	Is that so?
[01:41]	* [Rut]Laure	sets the package down.
[01:41]	<[Rut]Laure>	It's for you.
[01:41]	<[Rut]Laure>	Shall we open it somewhere else?
[01:44]	* NgMui	raises an eyebrow, and takes a look around.
[01:46]	<NgMui>	You know this place better than me.
[01:50]	<NomDeNarrateur>	You two are, quite conveniently, in a quiet part of the mansion
[02:14]	<NomDeNarrateur>	[And thus we end at a dramatic juncture. Or maybe Ng Mui will just kill Laure and save us some time. Next time, perhaps.]