Oded Elbaz's Story

"Are you sure you don't want me to go in with you?" Lars asked Ariadne as their limousine drove through Millsburin, "No, I need you elsewhere. I need you to finish your job for me. We'll be one step closer to finishing what we started if you do." Ariadne told the young man, her eyes focusing on the mansions and expensive homes they passed.

"You'll get to take your sister home." She continued, watching as the homes began to disappear and be replaced by gates the deeper they went into the suburb.

The limousine pulled into a driveway where a gate was already opened, ahead of it were other limos and sports cars. Anyone who was anyone had shown their face for this event.

It was probably the most exclusive soirée in the city. Probably the whole of the planet. Paparazzi cameras flashed and hired security did their best to keep them away from the people signing their paychecks.

"Too many eyes here anyways." Lars said, showing how uncomfortable he was with cameras around. "That's why I'm the face and you're the heart, Lars." Ariadne said with a smirk, her limousine coming to a stop. "Call me when it's done." She said, her door opening to allow her out.

Ariadne got out of the limousine, gazing in awe at the imposing mansion ahead of her. Whoever owned the place had serious money. The structure was clearly meant to indulge someone's fantasy of being Richie Rich.

Not far from Ariadne's limo was Sarai and Oded Elbaz, brother and sister heirs to a family business and fortune. Both had successful modeling careers, though only Oded was known to be the vain one. So vain in fact he was deep into stroking his own ego to a journalist and her cameraman.

He loved the attention.

"And, for all you ladies out there I'm sorry to tell you, but I'm officially off the market." He said with a wink, "Can you tell us who managed to tie you down?" The journalist asked, "You'll find that out very soon. She'll be here with me. Power couple of the century, just wait." Oded boasted.

He would have surely kept on had his sister not grabbed him and led him into the mansion. "Come on, idiot." Sarai said as they entered the mansion.

They were greeted by a grand hall decorated with all of the finest art, a large crystal chandelier, beautiful mahogany floors, and dim lights to really give the evening the glow it needed.

The men and women present were dressed up for the most part. They were celebrities, CEOs, politicians, trust fund babies, and it wouldn't have been Van Leugen without your crime lords. A category of people that included the aforementioned CEOs and politicians.

"Sarai, welcome!" A suited older man said to Sarai as she walked in with her brother. "I hope you remember me. Carlo Montague, I'm one of your investors. Helping you remove the stain left on your company." He said as he made his approach.

"I remember." Sarai told him, reaching out to shake his hand. "Bored. Going to drink." Oded said, "And wait for my love to show up. I should be very buzzed by the time she shows up." The young heir said, gliding across the room in search of alcohol.

"Quite the party." Sarai said, looking around the room. "Indeed. Should be live music soon. Promise me a dance, Ms. Elbaz." Carlo said to the woman, "Come, let us mingle. You need to meet everyone."

"Oh, fun." Sarai murdered sarcastically.

The camera flash made her start. It had been a while.

Her recovery was quick and graceful, finished with a flourish; a dazzling smile. Though, she didn’t turn as many heads as she used to. Time was a fickle thing.

The car door swung shut behind her as she straightened up, seeming suddenly at ease with all the hollering and snaps.

It really had been a while. Any parties she’d attended of late had been much more dim and dangerous, far removed from the glitz and glamour she was used to. Easing herself back in should be easy. Fun, even.

Millsburn was a place she always felt uncomfortable. In her line of work, she’d learnt that the prettier the scene, the uglier the secrets. Still, the grandeur of it all was undeniable. She stepped forward confidently, ready to embrace the chaos.

“Hikarii! Who is he? Show us your hands.”
“Hikarii! Hikarii! Who are you wearing? Give us a twirl.”
“Hikarii! Hikarii! Hikarii! Is it true that we should be getting back to seeing more of you soon?”

She usually satisfied them with short replies, sometimes simply a laugh, as she was taught. Beauty over brains wasn’t such an awful sentiment. It saved her a lot of energy, anyway. She’d stopped caring long ago what people thought of her. Now, she was sober and clean… and boring. At least publicly. She could do with some renewed sparkle. Hence tonight, hence Oded.

She didn’t notice that she’d began to pick up pace as she drew closer to the entrance. Perhaps she was out of practice. Stepping inside the mansion seemed to make her glitter, the chandelier was all for her, it seemed.

Everywhere were faces that she both despised and entertained at the same time. They looked at her. Looked through her. It honestly wouldn't surprise her if she was tested on her own secrets tonight. Someone knew.

But at least it wouldn’t be hard to spot Oded. Peacocks weren’t known for their subtlety.

"You'll love her when you meet her. Magnificent. Not quite kosher, but who is these days?" Oded said to another partygoer, "Oded, you should join us in meeting the people you will be working with one day." Carlo called out, "In time, I'm waiting for someone." Oded told the older man.

"A woman. A special woman." The Israeli man continued, "Okay, bring her to meet us. Your sister should be thrilled to meet her." Carlo said, nudging Sarai. "Yes, thrilled, another special woman." Sarai said sarcastically, walking ahead of Carlo. The older man was behind her rather quickly, plucking two glasses of wine from a passing server as he moved.

"Sarai Elbaz, I was hoping to meet you." Ariadne said to the Israeli woman as she stepped in front of her, "And you are?" Sarai asked, "Ariadne Kale, I hope to do business with you one day. Everyone deserves second chances." Ariadne told her.

Oded grabbed a bottle of champagne from a bucket, taking with him a pair of glasses as he headed for the entrance. He'd heard some rumblings about Hikarii arriving, it was time to make it known they were together.

The press loved celebrity couples, "Shalom, my darling!" He called out to Hikarii as he parted a sea of people to approach her directly, "Champagne, my love?"

"It's been a night of parties, Chloe." Prince said as their car crept up on the large mansion before them.

The windows to Prince's staff car were tinted black, dark enough to keep out the prying cameras, that seemed to light up everywhere else.

"Come on, Isambard, lighten up. I've got a cover story for you and everything." She said, smoothing the creases of her formal red dress down, before she reached forward and straightened Prince's suit. Prince elected this time to wear his imperial garments. A light blue frilled shirt, with had large ruffles running along the buttons, the frills themselves were trimmed ornately with golden embroidery.

White pants and a white jacket with simple golden epaulettes finished the ensemble, with white leather boots and gloves as well.

Three cars, an entire motorcade slowly pulled up along the drive of the large mansion where the party was being held. Two black SUVs, one in front and the other behind the limousine where Chloe and Prince were riding.

Once they came to a stop, cameras moved in to try and catch a glimpse of the limousine's occupants. Was it a Tech Con executive? Or someone more?

Several well dressed men in purple tinted dark indigo suits emerged from the limousine, each of them sporting the same discreet lapel pin, and coiled earpieces wound around and inside their ears.

They took up positions to slowly ease the paparazzi back, flashing cameras didn't seem to faze them as they moved to create a clear opening for the occupants of the limousine to emerge.

By now there was nearly a commotion up front, the Confessors weren't used to moving back Paparazzi, as the local police back in the Empire did a fair job of performing that duty, aling with the fact that getting too close to the Emperor risked a summary execution by one of the Confessors, but the Confessors had all been briefed by both Chloe and Prince on how to behave, so they did their jobs with utmost discipline.

The back door to the limousine opened up, a single Confessor held the door, while a second moved in to help Chloe out of the limousine. The cameras continued to flash, and she knew that her face would be all over the tabloids in the morning.

Prince emerged next, his white suit contrasting with Chloe's red dress. The Confessors closed the door behind him, and they started towards the entrance.

"We didn't get any formal invitation, so there's a chance we won't be let in... but we'll give it a try." Chloe said, taking Prince's arm, and pretending to be a good date. "You're my plus one, Isambard."

“Oded” she said, her red lips spreading into an enthusiastic smile. It wasn’t entirely fake.

There was no kissing when he drew near, she just put a charged hand on his chest and frowned at the gifts he bore, making a playful scene. Their proximity would’ve been uncomfortable had they known each other any less.

“No strawberries?” She spoke quietly. It was almost a whisper. No one would be able to hear what she said. Their imagination was for more exciting than the truth, so let them wonder. “And here I was thinking you’d invited me somewhere nice.”

With a smirk, she dropped her hand to pluck a glass. But then, there it was. That feeling. In the moment – it looked as though she might be sick. Her recovery, yet again, was quick. After a clear of her throat, she tilted her head toward the main milling area.

“Something wicked this way comes. Besides, isn’t it time I met your family?”

She led the way back through toward crowd with a flip of a long ponytail, obviously aware of all the stares on them. It looked a little like she was taking her dog for a walk.

Oded was content where he was, collared, leashed, and following close behind Hikarii. Eyes drifted in their direction. It was curiosity from some, jealousy from others. That's all it ever was in Van Leugen's elite circles.

"Sarai!" Oded called out, "My sister is there." He told Hikarii, gesturing with his drink towards his older sister. "She'll be thrilled to meet you, I think."

Outside the media nearly swarmed Chloe and Prince, "Who is he?" A journalist asked Chloe, "Back up!" A security guard yelled, "Head on inside." He told Chloe and her guest, "Everything you need to know about the security situation." He continued, handing one of the Confessors a tablet.

The were running a tight ship, they had to once you considered all the people who were present. All kinds of security companies were there to keep the peace. PK, Ajax, The Invictus. This party was going to go smoothly.

"Have a good night." The security guard said before moving to help usher the paparazzi back.

Chloe knew how to deal with the media, so she simply offered a smile as they crowded her. "He's an important guest, all details will be released by the mayor when the time is right, no further questions." She said, brushing past them as the Confessors followed.

The man who took the tablet to go over the security situation was Grand Confessor Kesslee, upon taking the tablet he went over them, and offered an approving nod.

"Thank you." He said, adjusting his tie.

Once Prince, Chloe, and the Confessor entourage were ushered inside, Keslee looked around. Security seemed to be fairly adequate, this meant that the Confessors could stay in the shadows, keeping an eye on Prince while not being too invasive.

Several subtle gestures followed, and the men spread out among the partygoers.

Chloe moved closer to Prince, before smiling, she needed to make the rounds and introduce herself and her guest.

One of the PK Guards glanced to a nearby Invictus, before he nodded. "Check out the man in white." He said, nodding. "Someone needs to get close to those bodyguards of his, something seems off."

---

Prince and Chloe were making the rounds, but his eyes were on Hikarii and Oded, he didn't say anything, and he eventually let his gaze drift to the PK and Invictus in the room.

Chloe took a second look and Prince was gone, he had discreetly pulled away, and he was moving through the crowds, offering smiles and handshakes to Van Leugen's elite, it seemed no one was the wiser, under the ever watchful eye of Kesslee and his Confessors, Prince was making his way to the refreshments.

Hikarii always did her research. She’d recognised Sarai Elbaz and her company before Oded had gestured, and started making her way over. Personally, she wasn’t sure ‘thrilled’ was the exact word. Usually people didn’t have such a good opinion of her, if any word of mouth had gotten to Sarai, it probably wasn’t positive. Base level Hikarii didn’t seem the brightest nor most talented.

“Sarai Elbaz,” Hikarii said, coming to a standstill within the conversation circle. She looked at her amiably, and tried to hide the fact that she was considering she may have chosen the wrong sibling. “Hikarii Johnson, though I’m sure you know. Your brother is quite the character. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, and I’m sure I’m not the first one to be wishing you Luck…” she finished with a nod and smile to Ariadne.

The atmosphere had seemed to change some with the latest arrivals. Excitement tinted with something else. Now wasn’t a good time to indulge in her particular abilities. It wasn’t a pretty sight for parties. So, she went on acting oblivious, which is how she spent most of her time.

"Quite the character?" Sarai asked with a dry chuckle, smiling politely to hide her distaste. Hikarii was just another bad choice for Oded to make. Sarai wasn't fond of her brother one day inheriting the family's wealth. The future didn't look good for their legacy.

"I've heard a little about you. You were, are, a big deal in the industry." Sarai said to Hikarii, "My brother and I model as well. Myself less so, I run a company now." She continued, "Sarai is a responsible adult now. She used to be fun." Oded interjected.

Ariadne eyed Chloe from a distance, stealthily removing herself from the awkward family situation. She'd find a better time to discuss business with Sarai. Right now she needed to get her foot in the door with someone from the city.

Someone who had much to gain and much to lose.

Ariadne glided across the room towards Chloe, smiling brightly to catch her eye. "I don't think we've met yet. I've been wanting to, but work always gets in the way." She says as she approached the politician.

Chloe was somewhat removed from the bulk of the crowd, her eyes out the window to the cityscape before her. She didn't see Ariadne approaching, but Kesslee and his confessors certainly did.

They watched coldly from afar as the Invictus woman snaked her way through the crowd, inaudible signals kept their attention on Chloe, Ariadne, and Prince.

"I don't think we have either." Chloe said, in response as she extended her hand. "Chloe McGregor, and you?" She asked. "Work indeed always gets in the way, cleaning up this city is a full time job just about, especially after the last mishap with Pirandello/Kruger."

At that moment Prince emerged from the crowd, two glasses of champagne in his hand.

"Whatever this drink is, it's quite flavorful, reminds me of something they brew out on Troy." He said, handing a glass to Chloe.

"It's called Champagne." She said, chuckling slightly at the man's ignorance of Terran Culture, she did not introduce him to Ariadne. "I'm just mingling with the partygoers." She said.

At this point, several of the Confessors had made their way to form a staggered circle around the trio, appearing to blend into the crowd, but it was obvious they were watching Ariadne closely.

It looked like she wasn’t the only accomplished actress.

“’Were’ is fine. We all need our hobbies.” Hikarii said, without disclosing which profession she was talking about.

“Perhaps we should set up our own business, you know, since you’re getting on in life” she then joked to Oded with a short laugh that sounded all too sweet.

She still held her glass in her hand. It hadn’t touched her lips yet. She used to be fun too.

Hikarii then lowered her voice after a glance at Ariadne and her new circle, taking on that very familiar hushed tone that spread gossip so well.

“Though, I must say, I’ve been to far too many of these events… I’ve never felt stares quite like this before. Permanently caught in the crossfire. Perhaps it’s just me, but it seems the City Manager may have upped her security… I can’t say I blame her.”

Parties. Just his style, just his favourite thing, the very life blood coursing through his veins. Well, parties and Souls mostly. Right here, right now though this party alone could sustain him for a decade, easily. It's probably the reason he was drawn here to begin with. This whole damned city was like a giant beacon, a pillar of corruption, and vice, and violence, topped with fools gripped by greed and disbelief.

He still couldn't believe how many souls he raked in for a single afternoon of standing in a convenience store. The things people would do for these "lottery numbers".

This though, this party, this mansion, and these wicked people in it. It was like being wrapped in valuer. And so it was that Byron Samuel, an unknown, and most likely unwanted stranger found himself on the plush carpet of the foyer. He was dressed to the nines and had even glamoured away his face-paint, but his natural swagger seemed to make him a standout. He had no trouble talking, or hexing his way past the reception and security.

It was like this city was welcoming him already.

At first he'd blended into the back of crowds, isolated himself on empty walls and generally not made too much of a scene. His ever-so-dashing tux and bow-tie got the occasional glance though, as did his habit of twirling his Death's Head cane. He bid his time, though waiting and watching as little circles and cliques formed. Watching with a Hunter's glee as those with and without power struggled and jostled with eachother. His eyes finally settled on two "socialites", the game began.

This was going to be far, far too easy.

He pushed from the wall with grace, and wound his way through the crowd with surprisingly fluid motions. Each stride long and nimble, each foot placed with absolute confidence of where someone would, or wouldn't be. He wasn't the kind of commanding person that could "part the waves" of a crowd, but hell could he dance through a throng of people like no one's business. This was his prime environment after all.

As he made it to the staggered little circle of bodyguards he employed a little parlor trick. A pinch of Devil's bone and a touch of a liar's tongue and one moment he was there, the next invisible. It was his favorite mid-party entrance, one he had long ago perfected. He strode over, as silent as the grave and just managed to catch a comment about Champagne. More than enough for him to work with.

He casually placed his elbow on the shoulder of the brunette woman, his long and jagged fingernails grazing her hair. This of course caused him to pop into sight the second he touched made contact. Magic always had it's limits, but that was the fun of this particular party trick. One minute thin air, the next a tall, muscular dark skinned man with lanky arms and a pencil-thin build. He was leaning at an angle, pushing most of his negligible weight on to the woman, and already tipping his skull-adorned top hat to the crowd.

"Champagne is the drink of the elite, you know. Never touched the stuff myself, but.." His voice was low, soft, and as smooth as warm honey. "I'm simply appalled that such a well dressed man would have to have his...Daughter?" He glanced at the blonde for a second, then back to the older gentleman. "I assume. Inform him about it. Why, it's simply hysterical to us natives, ain't that right, brunette?" He turned his gaze to the one he was leaning on, his expression a lazy smirk, but his eyes a glimmering orange, with the narrow slits of a crocodile.

Of course the second he blinked his eyes returned to their normal, warm hazel. Playing himself off as a magician was going to be far too entertaining.

"Yes, with all of the gangs, the corruption, terrorism and alien invasions, I would hire more security as well if I was in her position." Sarai said to Hikarii, "Maybe Odes here will run for office one day and add us to his cabinet." She joked, causing Oded to scoff.

"I like to think I will discover new planets and turn them into giant party resorts. Everyone in the universe likes a party." The younger Israeli told the women.

He grabbed another drink from a passing waiter. A glass of red wine, it was just what he needed. Though, not everyone would agree that Oded needed to keep drinking.

The waiter continued on, finding himself in temporary shock at the arrival of Byron to the party. He, like the others in the mansion, assumed the man was part of the show.

Ariadne moved away from Byron, hiding her distaste for the man's sudden appearance. Mostly it was him touching her. Ot was only the fact that he touched her.

"Ariadne." She told him, "Not brunette. And do keep in mind that the universe is vast, not everyone has champagne. Not everyone cares to have it. Not everyone is a native to this planet." The Invictus leader said as she sipped her own glass of champagne.

"You must be the entertainment. Entertain us."

A genuine smile faded from Hikarii's lips as fast as it had arrived with Sarai's comment. She shook her head a little, and after watching Oded pick up another drink, she downed her own. Her classy pretence was less important than being around a drunk Oded completely sober.

"Party resorts... Perhaps if you look hard enough, you'll discover a civilisation of literal party animals. You could do with a creature that gives you a run for your money."

She held her empty glass out to Oded without a glance in his direction, expecting him to dispose of it for her as the waiter went on his way. Her eyes were too busy narrowing in on the newly appeared Byron Samuel. Just looking at him was making her feel ill, again. It was not going to be a smooth night for Hikarii.

"And... stay away from him."
She pointed quite obviously.
Her strange behaviour in regards to her apparently filled-with-luck judgements was something one grew used to over time. They also grew to learn not to ask questions.

A few meters away, a group of women suddenly started giggling uncontrollably, interrupting her musing. They stood taller than most of the guests, propped up on ridiculously high heels. They were her successors, so to say. Yet little more than glorified escorts.

"Come. I'm going to need something stronger."

The strange man, as he appeared behind Ariadne brought the almost immediate attention from the Confessors that surrounded them, hands moved into jackets to clasp around weapons, several high pitched whines could be made out as the staggered group of Confessors moved closer.

Their job was to protect the Emperor at all costs.

Kesslee was the closest of them all, standing on the other side of Prince, to his left while Chloe was standing on his right. Several subtle gestures coordinated the Confessors as Ariadne pulled away from Byron.

It was his comment about Champagne that made everyone Aschen cringe.

Two of the Confessors winced slightly, as Prince listened to Byron's words. Chloe quietly muttered. 'By the lords' softly to herself, before turning her face in embarrassment. He just called her Prince's Daughter. Was he really that old compared to her?

Prince said nothing, electing to merely stare at Byron, his face betrayed no emotions, he merely chuckled. "I'm sorry, where I'm from, it's not called Champagne." He said, hiding his distaste behind a smile, before he grabbed Kesslee and pulled him close.

"Occidamus eum." He then roughly released Kesslee, who gave Prince a confused and expecting look.

"Tarde." Prince added, grabbing Kesslee once more, eliciting a nod from the older man; then he released him.

Kesslee looked briefly to Byron, before he replied to Prince in Anquietas. "Cum voluptas, Dominar." He replied, before he gave Byron another knowing look.

Chloe understood the entirety of the conversation, but continued to look away in embarassment. Whoever this man was, had so brazenly insulted the Emperor of the United Aschen Empire.

It was so obvious that Chloe moved forward, and spoke to Byron in a hushed tone.

"Perhaps it's best for all of us if you leave; now." She said quietly. "That man you just insulted is probably the single most powerful man here, if you value your safety, mind your godsdamned tongue!" Chloe hissed.

She was acutely aware, that Prince had just ordered this stranger's execution; and that it was probably going to shape up to be an interesting night.

Byron merely laughed, a sweet, infectious rumbling really. It was too perfect. All of it was too perfect. He winked at the blonde before slipping out of her grasp. Although slipping wasn't the right word, it's more like he vanished, and reappeared on the stage the musicians were to take up later. This was going to be too much. He hadn't done this in centuries, but the rush never faded.

Immediately "fireworks" erupted from the stage around him, demanding the room's attention. Ladies and Gentlemen!" His bellow was so loud it shook the room, yet he had no microphone. Just a the sliest grin imaginable. I am your entertainer for this part of the evening! Many of our acts seem to be running late.." At this moment, the large silver skull that topped his cane spoke. Eyes glowing, lips moving, voice remarkably different from Byron's. "You know Van Luegen. Show up in a nice ride, leave on foot because somebody jacked it."

Byron grimaced at his cane, seemingly displeased and let it go. It remained upright by itself.

"You'll have to pardon my friend here, you see he's from a rather uncivilized place.." The cane whined in protest, but the magician ignored it and proceeded to pace about the stage, eyeing each guest."Now you see.." As he spoke a mist began to roll out from center stage, enveloping it it all and spilling out into the crowd, cold and clammy as the real thing. Stairs began to raise from center stage as well. Old Terran style, paint red and chipping.

Of course, none of this had been placed by stage hands, or was part of any act.

"There's all kinds of Magicians, some saw pretty women in half, some read cards, some can make your wallet vanish..But me?" All the light in the building blinked out, leaving the crowd in utter darkness for a moment, Byron's glowing orange eyes the only thing to be seen. It was eerie, and eerier still was the fact that as he spoke, he whispered, most people hearing it as if he was leaning into their ear. Some people even gasping as they felt cool breath on their neck. "I make wishes, and dreams come true.."

Suddenly light filled the room as a warm of lit candles seemed to pop out of thin air, floating of their own volition. Slowly the moved out, each seeming to come to halt next to a party goer until everyone had a floating candle. The stage was still utterly black, aside from Byron's eyes, although something was moving. A purple light was..Spreading. Taking the form of his lips, and teeth. "So somebody tell me a wish, and for tonight you can have it granted! It's my personal favorite party trick. But be warned.." His voice dropped into a hush whisper again. "Not all dreams work out the way you think...

His rumbling chuckle seemed to echo from every corner of the room. "Come on now, who's first? I'm waiting, I'm watching!" With that last word, dozens of pairs of glowing orange eyes appeared at random all throughout the room, each fixated on a different party goer, all blinking in unison.

Ariadne scoffed, she was never the superstitious type. Karma, luck, wishes, they were never her thing. They implied things were out of her control. That didn't sit well with her.

"I wish my ex-wife would stop nagging me!" A man shouted, eliciting a few chuckles from the crowd. "Going to make a wish, Sarai?" Oded asked his sister, "What about you, Hikarii? There has to be something you two want to wish for. This might actually work."

Oded didn't believe in making wishes either, but he didn't mind playing along. He was getting buzzed, he needed time to think. What did he really want to wish for? Youth. Eternal youth. Getting older meant he had to become more like his sister, like his father.

They were a bit too stuffy and serious for his tastes.

"This is Van Leugen, brother. What can you wish for that someone won't sell to you anyways?" Sarai asked.

Hikarii watched the spectacle with a cocked head. Her wish was to be much drunker than she was, and the Entertainment wasn’t helping with that as people began to engage and the crowd grew more still. She wasn’t so phased. Her ancestors were said to have made their living on such shows from the back of a caravan, which could explain some things. It seemed that this fellow was much more skilled and compelling. Hikarii shifted away from the apparitions untrustingly. She would’ve rolled her eyes at all the theatricality, it wasn’t her thing; Pixie, however, would have been eating out of his hands.

With any luck Oded wasn’t quite so stupid to believe this was a good way to plan out his future. She helped herself to his drink, giving him some subtle side eye.

“I make my own luck” she said “I don’t doubt that it’ll work, but everything has a price. And in this city… it tends to be your soul.”

The invitation had her wondering. What would she wish for, if she were willing to barter her soul? She came to the conclusion that it’d probably be a fresh start. To begin again. Though, staying true to her own belief of circumstance, without being born to different people, she’d still be stood in this room as the exact person she was. Her own particular clairvoyance had solidified her deterministic outlook on life. She didn’t like to think about it too much.

Hikarii looked at the now empty glass in her hand, and supposed that this could be fun. She guessed that as the wishes started rolling in, they’d only grow more dramatic and demanding. It wouldn’t kill her to be a good sport. Hopefully. So, she made the first serious bid: “I wish for the finest tasting, human-intended alcoholic beverage in the universe.”

Chloe made a face as the strange man seemed to simply vanish out of his grip, and it appeared Prince was still seething over the insult, so Chloe grabbed him and pulled him close to whisper delicately into his ear.

"If you killed every court jester for every little insult, you'd run out of jesters pretty quick." She said, as the lights seemed to shut off, the pyrotechnics, and the show seemed about to begin.

"So, you didn't go out of your way to make nice, how can I help you?" She asked Ariadne pointedly.

Prince moved his attention to the 'entertainment' that was offering wishes, he simply scoffed at the absurdity of it all, and then he pulled Kesslee close to whisper into his ear, the pair briefly carried on a hushed conversation while everyone else was distracted; everyone except the Confessors tasked with guarding Prince.

While they made no sudden moves, they watched the crowd and the strange man, their cold stern eyes observing and calculating everything going on around them.

The glowing face of Byron roared with laughter at the first request. He was outwardly amused, but inwardly dismayed. "I offer you anything in the world for one night, and you ask such a trifle?" His laughter hid the contempt quite well, he'd really rather have skipped such a thing, but. Well. He was a good sport. "Very well my dear man.." He waved his cane about for a second, and a flash of red shot out, rocketing through the ceiling and illuminating the room for a split second.

Everything faded back to the dim light of candles though, Byron's illuminated face center stage and smiling smugly.

"Wish granted. And since you were a good sport, offering the 'ice-breaker' wish, I've done you a great favour. Instead of my 'magic' lasting for only a night, yours is forever!" Of course..He did so in a very harsh way. That red light was a beacon. A harmless, coloured beacon that would uneeringly seak out it's target and illuminate them. Even those trained deeply in the arcane would see nothing malicious about it. Because they had no way of discerning the spirit of pure hatred bound to it. In an hour or two, the man receive an emergency call. His ex-wife would be dead.

He did tell them to be careful for what they wished for. The man got a deal though, this magic was free, not even costing a soul! You can't usually kill somebody that cheap.

Byron's smugness faded for a moment as Oded spoke up, causing Byrons glowing eyes to roll. "It's a party, it's sport young man! It's fun, and tonight it's all free. Believe me, I can do things no petty drug dealer or whore monger can do." Of course as he said that a very banal request for liquor came in. Talk about being undermined, but. A deal was a deal, and tonight's deal was wish it, and Byron granted it.

At least he could make it a little entertaining.

He threw his cane forward, it screaming in protest as it sailed throw the air, but the moment it collided with the ground it stopped. The room was deathly silent for a moment, and then..Hissing. A giant white Python, purple light flashing from it's body with each heartbeat, appeared where the cane had landed. He loved this trick, who said you couldn't learn anything from the bible? Quickly the beast wound it's way over to the nearest server, constricting around the frightened man's legs to keep him still.

Of course the poor fool yelped, but Byron locked his eyes with the simple man's, freezing him in place.

The snake merely slithered up his body until it was wrapped around the waiter's chest. It leaned over the tray he was holding, tongue darting about until it locked it's glance on an empty champagne flute. It opened wide and latched onto the glass, curved fangs on the inside, and with each illuminating beat of it's heart a thick red liquid seeped out. It took a few moments, but soon the flute was full. The snake released the waiter before vanishing into the darkness, no longer glowing.

Of course, Pythons weren't poisonous, but they didn't glow purple in time with their hearts either. So trepidation was something the magician expected. "Wine, from the personal stores of Gilgamesh, plundered from a city once rival to Babylon herself. So they legend goes. It's said to be the most refined vintage ever made, crafted from grapes grown by the gods themselves. Your wish, my lady." The waiter fumbled his way over to Hikarii as Byron spoke, offering the tray. "The only question is..Do you dare?