As the attendance builds and the alcohol flows, the noise and the smiles in the room grow. Once the acrobats depart to the cheers of the small crowd, the orchestra begins to play a light airy piece, suitable for a quadrille, a group social dance filled with twirling ladies moving from partner to partner. Those dancing look to be the sons and daughters of merchants from the region, while the parents watch approvingly and speak quietly of potential alliances.
[Sblock=Lucius]Lucius sees that Castor has emerged from the green room and is leaning casually against the wall. He has observed the crowd as it has grown, and has noted a few interesting arrivals. The first is his boss from ITT, Colleen Sherman, and her husband, Bill. She smiles an acknowledgment towards him, perhaps a little surprised that Lucius is here, but does not move over for a conversation. He is also surprised to see Melody Josephs here, although he is not surprised she's alone. Like him, she's a recent recruit to the Alliance - she is in full dress uniform tonight, in fact. Unlike him, though, she hadn't been able to hide her past browncoat ties. Her career is dead, and he wouldn't be surprised if Balino has her here just so other guests can laugh at her. Finally he sees Castor perk up momentarily as the arrival of someone named Captain Derek Wildstar is announced, but Lucius isn't sure why. [/Sblock]
[Sblock=Castor] Castor observes the party as it grows, hearing the rhythmic movements of the formal dances that have begun. He also keeps an ear on the arriving guests. The names don't mean much, but the ripples that run through the crowd tell him something about each. The cluster of people near him consists of a number of small players in the Blue Sun corporation, and they react rather strongly and negatively to the arrival of a Mr. Julian Mason and his wife. "Don't know how he's still in business," one of the Blue Sun's says. "Lotta balls showing up though," comes the answer, and that one continues, "Li, keep yourself between him and Balino tonight." At the same time this conversation is happening, Castor hears the arrival of Captain Derek Wildstar is announced to no particular reaction, except that Castor recognizes him as the guy who has been nosing about Lucky Strike the past week or so. [/sblock]
[Sblock=Derek]
Derek finds himself at the entrance of the ballroom looking out over a sea of possible investors. Based on his brief perusal of the guest list, he has identified a few good possibilities. The first is Mr. Balino, the host of the ball himself. The biggest business man on Liann Xin, both in terms of girth and wealth, Balino is rolling in it, and his reputation indicates he won't hesitate to spend if he can see a way to advance his own career and his stature within the Alliance. Derek sees him moving easily through the crowd.
Michaela St. John is another prospect. She's said to run a discreet cargo and passenger transport service operating amongst the planets surrounding Red Sun. Derek doesn't know about her finances, but it's possible she would be interest in taking on another ship. He hasn't seen her yet, and hasn't heard her announced since he's been at the ball.
Julian Mason runs the Rio Tinto mining company. He's been a player in the region forever, despite the Blue Sun Co.'s attempts to squeeze out the independent miners he contracts with. Somehow holds the corporate dogs at bay, and that must require resources. Derek hasn't seen Julian yet - apparently a thin, silver haird man missing his left hand, is his information is correct.
Finally, on the other end of the spectrum, is Blue Sun Corporation itself. Blue Sun has been known to provide grants to captains willing to take on contract work for the corporation, but usually not, as far as he knows, enough to finance an entire ship's purchase price in advance. May still be worth a shot.
[/Sblock]
[sblock= Tatjana]
Tatjana takes in the scene before her. Before they arrived, Derek shared the information he has been able to gather over the past couple days, in terms of potential sources of funding. There may, of course be other leads. [sblock=Derek's leads]
The first is Mr. Balino, the host of the ball himself. The biggest business man on Liann Xin, both in terms of girth and wealth, Balino is rolling in it, and his reputation indicates he won't hesitate to spend if he can see a way to advance his own career and his stature within the Alliance. Tatjana sees what must be him moving easily through the crowd.
Michaela St. John is another prospect. She's said to run a discreet cargo and passenger transport service operating amongst the planets surrounding Red Sun. Derek doesn't know about her finances, but it's possible she would be interest in taking on another ship. Tatjana hasn't seen her yet, and hasn't heard her announced since she's been at the ball.
Julian Mason runs the Rio Tinto mining company. He's been a player in the region forever, despite the Blue Sun Co.'s attempts to squeeze out the independent miners he contracts with. Somehow holds the corporate dogs at bay, and that must require resources. Tatjana sees him, a thin, silver haired man missing his left hand, speaking to four other men, across the room.
Finally, on the other end of the spectrum, is Blue Sun Corporation itself. Blue Sun has been known to provide grants to captains willing to take on contract work for the corporation, but usually not, as far as he knows, enough to finance an entire ship's purchase price in advance. May still be worth a shot, and there are several people in Blue Sun corporate suits throughout the ballroom. [/sblock]
Not long after she arrives, several of the young merchants begin to approach her only to be cut off by a stern glance from a parent. Next to her, a feminine voice chuckles, "I'm afraid you will not be made to feel welcome by those who have plans for their sons and daughters, my dear. Still, there may be a few men here willing to ignore their mothers' commands. If, indeed that is why you decided to join us tonight." Tatjana turns to see a, dark skinned, dark haired woman wearing a lovely, tropical dress. She is around forty, and has perhaps a few more pounds than she did in her younger days, but she is ravishing nonetheless. "Ihilani Balino," she says pleasantly, offering her hand. "And you are?" [/sblock]
[sblock= Aaron]
Aaron takes in the scene before him. Before they arrived, Derek shared the information he has been able to gather over the past couple days, in terms of potential sources of funding. There may, of course be other leads. [sblock=Derek's leads]
The first is Mr. Balino, the host of the ball himself. The biggest business man on Liann Xin, both in terms of girth and wealth, Balino is rolling in it, and his reputation indicates he won't hesitate to spend if he can see a way to advance his own career and his stature within the Alliance. Aaron sees what must be him moving easily through the crowd.
Michaela St. John is another prospect. She's said to run a discreet cargo and passenger transport service operating amongst the planets surrounding Red Sun. Derek doesn't know about her finances, but it's possible she would be interest in taking on another ship. Aaron hasn't seen her yet, and hasn't heard her announced since he's been at the ball.
Julian Mason runs the Rio Tinto mining company. He's been a player in the region forever, despite the Blue Sun Co.'s attempts to squeeze out the independent miners he contracts with. Somehow holds the corporate dogs at bay, and that must require resources. Aaron sees him, a thin, silver haired man missing his left hand, speaking to four other men, across the room.
Finally, on the other end of the spectrum, is Blue Sun Corporation itself. Blue Sun has been known to provide grants to captains willing to take on contract work for the corporation, but usually not, as far as he knows, enough to finance an entire ship's purchase price in advance. May still be worth a shot, and there are several people in Blue Sun corporate suits throughout the ballroom. [/sblock]
Aaron watches the layered social interactions that are playing out before him, and isn't surprised to see Tatjana's arrival has altered them somewhat. Several men try to approach her, perhaps for a dance, before being shepherded away by a parent who has other plans for them. Social conventions being what they are, there are no girls approaching him, but he does receive a few interested glances, as well as a few scowls from observant mothers. Nearby to his right, Aaron seen an absolutely gorgeous, forty-ish woman approach Tatjana and begin to engage her in conversation. He notes that she is subtly interposing herself between Tatjana and the dance area, and the men's gazes begin to fall away from both her and Tatjana, as if the older woman has marked her somehow.
By contrast on his left, Aaron hears two matronly women in conservative dresses speaking to each other conspiratorially, and relishing their comments. "...can't believe she's even here! It's not as if she earned that rank; must have gotten it under one of the Amnesties." Aaron follows their gaze to a woman standing alone near wall of the ballroom. She is in her mid-to-late thirties, and wears an Alliance uniform indicating the rank of captain. "'Captain Josephs'" indeed. I heard her last crew mutinied, robbed her blind and set her adrift in the Black. Then she joined the Alliance and expected to get a ship." The other: "Ha! She's lucky someone was even wiling to stick her behind a desk, even if it is on this backwater."
[/sblock]
[OOC: No need to continue using Sblock tags to keep things private, but wanted to use them here to delineate what information was available to each character without sharing/meeting. ]
