"The cake," Kevin tells him bluntly, without context, "is a fucking lie."
Al's attention is mostly on Xie, and he makes a couple of comments as the auction progresses that serve no real purpose other than an attempt to make conversation. He makes an effort to point out a few people in the crowd he thinks Xie might be interested in knowing - some of the bigger players in the scene.
(Many of them are names Kevin already mentioned in his work.)
When Zhao's estate starts making its way to the lots, Al's interest is caught by the auction. It soon becomes obvious, however, when he bids on a few and loses, that he is not really in the leagues required for much of this. He's interested, and he's expresses that interest to Xie, but it's not that he's here for the lots. He's just identified Zhao's heir as a potential ally, and wants to network.
"Now, this is interesting," Miss Haversham says finally, reaching into a box. She pulls out a set of chains, which at first looks like a mess of heavy silver and steel, but as her assistant untangles them, they start looking quite nasty.
There's a massive collar, from which four heavy chains drop in four directions, with long stakes welded to the end of each. The collar could fit an adult human, but the size of the metal would keep their neck stretched and their shoulders cramped. Two heavy clamps from the chains bear two sharp screws - if someone was to be in the collar, the clamps could be physically screwed into their shoulders.
"The chains of Long Yuan," - her pronunciation is terrible - "a device which, allegedly, if you could find a witch devoted, or stupid, enough to don voluntarily, would allow a person to draw on that witch's internal power. The next best thing, perhaps, to bonding with a real familiar."
The silence that fell over the room when the chains came out starts to deepen. A very few people glance in Xie's direction, but most, like Al, seem to be saying did you know about this? rather than we know you were his Familiar.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Miss Haversham continues, "the house would like to reiterate that we sell these items as collector's pieces only, and do not endorse their use at home."
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-02-02 05:36 pm (UTC)Al's attention is mostly on Xie, and he makes a couple of comments as the auction progresses that serve no real purpose other than an attempt to make conversation. He makes an effort to point out a few people in the crowd he thinks Xie might be interested in knowing - some of the bigger players in the scene.
(Many of them are names Kevin already mentioned in his work.)
When Zhao's estate starts making its way to the lots, Al's interest is caught by the auction. It soon becomes obvious, however, when he bids on a few and loses, that he is not really in the leagues required for much of this. He's interested, and he's expresses that interest to Xie, but it's not that he's here for the lots. He's just identified Zhao's heir as a potential ally, and wants to network.
"Now, this is interesting," Miss Haversham says finally, reaching into a box. She pulls out a set of chains, which at first looks like a mess of heavy silver and steel, but as her assistant untangles them, they start looking quite nasty.
There's a massive collar, from which four heavy chains drop in four directions, with long stakes welded to the end of each. The collar could fit an adult human, but the size of the metal would keep their neck stretched and their shoulders cramped. Two heavy clamps from the chains bear two sharp screws - if someone was to be in the collar, the clamps could be physically screwed into their shoulders.
"The chains of Long Yuan," - her pronunciation is terrible - "a device which, allegedly, if you could find a witch devoted, or stupid, enough to don voluntarily, would allow a person to draw on that witch's internal power. The next best thing, perhaps, to bonding with a real familiar."
The silence that fell over the room when the chains came out starts to deepen. A very few people glance in Xie's direction, but most, like Al, seem to be saying did you know about this? rather than we know you were his Familiar.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Miss Haversham continues, "the house would like to reiterate that we sell these items as collector's pieces only, and do not endorse their use at home."