ic Dining Out

[Tiffany Korta]

Braddock’s Restaurant, London, United Kingdom

Braddock’s was one of the most exclusive restaurant in London there was a two year waiting list and still then you could be turned down for not being of the right caliber. So an invite to attend a diner on the fly was a surprise in the very least.

 

As they arrived they were show to a table where there sat an old woman she only appeared in her 60 but she was actually much older. Dame Pennington, Britannia during the war, was not a woman to be trifled with despite her advancing years.

[Brown Dynamite]

Erick could rub elbows with the best of them.  So it was no surprise his London estate was stocked with formal wear already.  As evident by the blue trim suit he had chosen to wear out. The Russian American would be remiss if he did not admit that his plans for the evening actually edged on patrolling the area rather than sitting down for a dinner.  If not for the treat of seeing Young Britannia and Synapse possibly dressing up, the perpetual flirt might have thrown himself into his work instead.   

 

Admittedly, he was also curious about the only member of the team he hadn't really worked with before.  The titan of industry or whatever the synopsis in the Ministry files said.  At this point Ulysses was still just a name on a file to him.  Though the same could be said of the very formidable woman whom had extended the invitation in the first place.

 

I still say I had enough time to bust one drug runner. Erick smiled once the dame came into view. Extending his hand out politely all while positioning himself so as to easily be capable of holding out a chair for someone before sitting.  "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.  Dame Pennington."

[Thevshi]

Dee Farrington stepped out of a cab outside of Braddock's Restaurant, taking a moment to look up at the building with a slight hint of disgust. While an opportunity to dine at the exclusive restaurant would normally be all the rage for many her age, the young Englishwoman actually could care less. She would have been quite content to go through her life without ever eating at Braddock's.

And yet here she was, an unexpected invitation, and one she would have preferred to just ignore, except for its connection with Vanguard and the Ministry of Powers. As she had half expected, there were times where Dee regretted signing up with the Ministry and joining Vanguard.

The young woman was wearing a black trenchcoat against the dreary early December weather of London. Her shoulder length black hair was loose, with a few solid stripes of dark red adding a bit of color.

Making her way up to the entrance, Dee was soon in front of the well-dressed maître de. The man looked up at her, his eyes glancing up to her dyed hair before settling back down on her face with a slight indication of contempt. "May I help you?" He asked in a cool tone.

"Yes, I am here to meet someone." Dee replied with a cold voice of her own.

"Indeed?" The man asked, seeming a bit skeptical. "Your name please?"

"Farrington." Dee replied, and then noting the look that seemed to cross the maître de's face, she then reluctantly added, "Dawn Farrington."

"Ah, Lady Farrington." The maître de replied with increased enthusiasm, if not an actually welcoming tone. "Dame Pennington is already here, and one of her other guests has already arrived."

[Exaccus]

Alexander Had Only worn a three piece suit twice in his entire life, that is to say at the funerals of his parents  short years before he made the move to America to drive the trains through new and exciting landscapes, his age and decade long hop through time had seen the end of it and with nothing much to keep him there he'd naturally began to drift homewards, at one point he'd even fallen through a dimensional barrier-thingy and into the dimension of steam-trains and colonialism; A welcome reprive from the slightly frustrating world he'd blundered into though at the same time a sobering experience that had taken the rose tint off his nostalgic memories.

 

Not quite entirely sure why he'd been invited at all to this meeting, he didn't technically live in Britain at this moment, staying at her majesty's leisure in some inn or other, but he'd gone out and bought himself the a suit and paid what felt like a months wages for the shave and haircut he begrudgingly acknowledged the need for and caught the hackney carridge and paid the fare for his trip to "burdocks; the restaurant."  stepping with as much grace as his broad and aged frame would allow.

 

"I'm part of Lady Penningtons party." he stated to the waiter guy...matador he thinks its called, "Alexander Cross." he adds informatively already dismissing the waxy welterweight before him as little more than a parking meter in a tuxedo.

[Tiffany Korta]

GM Post

 

Anne smiled up at her guests all charm with a hint of a twinkle in her eyes, pictures from before the war showed that this predated her time as Britannia, though it obviously it hadn’t hurt.

“Mr Sloan, Mr Cross a pleasure to meet you both. Ms Farrington I hope you sister is doing well, unfortunately I rarely get to talk with you father mostly we argue.†her voice still had the twang of her Lancastrian roots. “But please all of you sit down before you give this old woman a crink in it neck.â€

She waved over the slightly exasperated maitre de and ordered a very good, and very expensive bottle of wine.

 

“Please feel free to order what you wish the Ministry will be more than happy to fit the bill, I think some of you more than deserve it after what you’ve been through.†she gave Dee a knowing look “I’m sure our dear Agnus will be here shortly, she does like to play the rebel and tweak authority by being fashionably late.â€

[Brown Dynamite]

Erick could barely hide his smile when Dee walked up to the group.  It was easy to get the wrong impression.  But, the blonde haired man's smile was far less innocent than being some forlorn lovesick puppy.  No, instead it was good natured ribbing was at play.  He hadn't said a word.  But, he had certainly let a thought or two fly out about the exchange with the maître de.  Alexander's was no less entertaining.  Sometimes it paid to see the future.

 

 "Miss Farington.  Mr.  Cross."   Erick stated in repetition of the dame once known as Britannia.  Waiting until the rest of the party had seated, and pulling out Dee's seat before hand Erick made sure to whistle at the vintage of the wine.  "A good year.  Now I may just be the only one on this table not from this continent.  But if my understanding is correct since it's on her majesty's dime.  It' be very rude of use to leave the crown looking cheap."

[Thevshi]

Dee had handed over her coat at the door, reveling that she was wearing a short red dress underneath. Her blue eyes shot Erick a stern look at how humorous he had found her exchange with the maître de. "Mr. Sloane, so nice to see you again." She stated, a hint of playfulness in her tone before she looked back at the large form of Alexander Cross who was behind her. "And so nice to see you again Mr. Cross." She added, with a friendly smile.

She turned her attention to Anne Pennington as she took her seat when Erick pulled out her chair, managing to maintain her friendly smile as the older woman asked about Susan. "Well I mostly argue with my father as well so I understand how frustrating that can be." She replied. "But my sister is doing as well as can be expected, thank you."

[Exaccus]

"The pleasures all Mine." Ulysses Responds universally, he'd never quite gotten the finer points of conversation down, he'd lived his life a blunt instrument, whatever barbs he might've held worn smooth by time and exposure, though he also felt that this made him a bit more open minded about things than many men his age were or at the very least more so than his cantankerous old man, though it wouldn't stop him from trying to act the part.

 

"Pleasant evening to you." he offers as he takes a seat, mindful not to put his elbows on the table, it was the one table manner he had ingrained over his years even if it was to save the elbows of his shirts rather than any idea of etiquette, turning to regard Lady Pennington when she spoke "A most generous offer indeed." giving a wry smile to Mr sloan as he took up a menu and began the process of trying to figure out what the names printed within meant.

[Tiffany Korta]

As expected Agnus turned up a good five minutes later than everyone else, after the staff had already served the wine. All the while Dame Pennington, or Anne as she insisted they call her, made small talk that showed she was quite well briefed in all of them.

 

Whether a conscious choice or not her choice of colours was telling. Her normally unruely hair had been tamed and tied back by a red bow, her dress was white designer number mostly tasteful if not a tiny bit shorter than expected for a place like this. Finally her shoes were blue and quite a sensible heel not the normal platform heels she normally favoured.

 

“Hi all I’m not late am I?†she gave Dame Pennington a sly smile, who refused to rise to the bait.

 

“No not at all. I hope you don’t think me forward but I ordered the wine for you.â€

 

 

“Cheer’s†Agnus slipped into the spare seat and took a healthy gulp of the wine “So why have we all been summoned here?â€

[Tiffany Korta]

GM Post

 

After a few sips of the excellent wine Anne started to speak

 

“In your profession you can appreciate the necessity of secrecy, though  I will require you to sign the Official Secrets Act.†she looked at the two male heroes sat the table “Over the last decade the Ministry has been taken over by a Super Villain, it’s only through the actions of these young woman here that the conspiracy came to light. We shall have to see if Liz can put you on the New Years Honors List, I’m afraid it’ll be one of the lesser ones you music not quite worth a knighthood yet.â€

 

There was a snort of derision from Agnus and faint smile suggested that the Dame was enjoying herself.

 

“Right now the MInistry is being restructured and many senior members have been quietly retired, what papers don’t know is that most of them have been sent to either Stangmoor Prison or the Glasshouse. I’ve been graciously ask to take back control of the MInistry though it took a lot of effort and a few choice words with Mr Cameron, what a ghastly man. At the moment the Ministry proper is myself and a few trusted allies, those in the building are treading water until we can work out who can be trusted. We might need you assistance in that one Dee. Right now we’re closing down his more questionable projects and making sure the subject get the care that they need.â€

 

She paused for a few seconds to allow everything she’d said sink in.

[Brown Dynamite]

"Look, I know I joke a lot.  But, thus far the only upside of Ministry association is getting to see Dee and Agnus with their hair down.  No offense big guy, but the ladies are a far lovelier sight.  I have to ask.  Just how badly do you need to clean house?  If the people we're entrusting so much two aren't to be trusted.  It does bring up some concerns."  Erick replied almost immediately.  He took no time to mull it over.  But, he didn't need the time either.  He'd say the same thing regardless of how much time passed.

 

Most of his knowledge of the Ministry's dealings were secondhand at best.  None of which seemed to paint them in a better light.  As the sole foreigner at the table, he couldn't help but wonder if he was simply too used to the distance the Freedom League kept from government dealings.  It was a change of pace to that much was sure. 

Edited March 24, 2015 by HG Morrison

[Thevshi]

Dee had done her best not to engage in too much small talk with Lady Pennington, quickly noting how well briefed the woman appeared to be on them all. When Angus finally arrived and they got down to business, the Englishwoman remained quiet as the older woman mentioned the mission that had brought Dee into the fold of the Ministry as part of the new Vanguard.

"Well, she doesn't need to bother about anything for me." Dee replied as Lady Pennington mentioned arranging some sort of honors for her and Angus. "Just something I would have to refuse to accept anyway."

As the older woman went on about the changes in the Ministry and the shutting down of various projects, Dee could not help but stiffen unintentionally at the mention of providing care to the subjects of some of those projects. "I will be around if you need help rooting out anyone that is compromised." She replied quietly, turning to regard Erik as he spoke up about wondering what there was to be gained in agreeing to be part of the new Vanguard.

Dee could understand where Erik was coming from, she still had very little trust for anyone in the Ministry, or much else of the government bureaucracy. But she knew she could trust Angus, and Erik, and even Ulysses, so long as that strange Spirit of Industry was not trying to take control of his body. "You remember the Sleeper?" Dee asked, more a rhetorical question. "This is about like that."

[Exaccus]

Ulysses felt slightly out of his depth, all this talk of secret service and sleeper agents, doing his best to keep up with the situation he recounted what he did know, having been stranded in some apparently well documented dimension with synapse he'd first found himself usurped by the spirit, forced to watch, a prisoner in his own body as he brought his strength to bare violently against men who were by his best estimation no match for him in a effective but brutal manner before turning to pass judgement on a woman who couldn't have been more than 20 or so years old, only being stopped by dee's timely intervention in a moment of desperate resistance to the horror he was about to commit.

 

"I Can't say I'd make much of a man in black; but I've seen whilst on my little trip to India that dee made the choice to do what was right, rather than what was easy or efficient so long as you don't ask me to work wickedness I don't imagine I could object too strongly to keeping yer secrets." he states as he takes a long sip of the dark bodied wine, washing it around his mouth a little as he turns things over in his mind.

[Brown Dynamite]

Erik didn't bother answering the rhetorical question.  When it came down to it, Erick was a dog with a bone once he got sufficiently obsessed.  And rooting out the Sleeper's operations was one very real obsession.  The potential for tunnel vision was there.  But, Erick kept a somewhat good handle on covering up for himself.  At least that's what the acrobat liked to believe.  The situation may not have been exactly the same thing as his obsession.  But, the comparison still made him take the matter somewhat seriously.

 

"Alright.  Spring Cleaning.  No complaints there.  Closing questionable experiments and treating subjects in need is also a boon.  I concur with him."  Erick pointed to Ulysses for a moment.  "Won't support any wetwork or the like in accomplishing this.  But, that probably went without saying."

[Tiffany Korta]

“I know you expect me to take a pop about politicians and politic that make Yes MInister look like amateur hour. Everyone know poor little Agnus distrusts the government, she can’t help it she was raised that way.†she paused and drew breath “But you seem to be genuinely trying to help here. You trying to help Lucy Diamond get better among others harmed by all this.†she gave Dee a small look

 

“But why am I here? I’m not exactly suited to subtly weedling out traitor, whatever I do I tend to stand out from the crowd.â€

[Tiffany Korta]

“I think he picked you over Britannia because he thought you were a soft touch, guess he didn’t know us like he thought.â€

 

Anne gave a smile apparently she was happy with everyone’s responses.

 

“I’m happy that everyone is on message as the young people say.†her tone suggested she wasn’t a fan of the term

 

“It’s going to take time and effort to clean everything up and we need something that people can get behind. What we need right now is Vanguard.â€

[Exaccus]

"I'll drink to that." Alexander responds simply with a slight tip of the wine glass before another light draw on the well nursed drink "though i must ask, how much about my predicament do you know?" setting down the flute.

 

"I'm no oculist myself, closest thing to ritualism in my house was my old mans refusal to change the light-bulbs because he thought electricity would pour out of the fixin like water if they came unscrewed."  he admits with the ghost of a smile on his face before returning to the rather even if slightly grim countenance that hid his worried mind. "Whatever it is, its got no problem with violence and has proven capable of overpowering me, no matter how momentary that might've been." memories of holding annie key aloft like a doll, the feeling of her ribs bending where his fingers had pressed on them was greatly distressing.

 

"I doubt its malice, for what its worth, I feel its just detached from such things, doesn't get why we should use doors when we can walk through walls; Though I would Imagine there will need to be precautions taken should it happen again."

[Brown Dynamite]

"I was never much for a belief in the occult.  Magic's real, sure.  But, is it really "arcane?"  I can't give you a definite answer. I lean towards no.  But what do I know? Anyways, I have more than enough books of this sort of thing.  A couple weeks of research may turn up something."  Erick interected.  In case the Dame was in fact as in the dark as he was on whatever the large man's complicated situation.  

 

It seemed the plan was to make Vanguard front and center showing the new and improved Ministry of Powers.  Advertisement through success.  It made sense.  But, Erick didn't care so much about being a symbol.  As long as they made sure to help out the little guy.  And not just stop the madmen with death rays, he was fine  He may have crossed an ocean at Dee's behest.  But, organized crime and helping the common man hadn't stopped being his bread and butter.

[Thevshi]

"Well, I had a pretty good idea what I was getting myself into when I signed on with the Ministry." Dee replied with a faint frown. "So, as long as my original agreement is still in place, I am in." She added, before turning to regard Ulysses as he began to talk about his problems with the unusual entity that had possessed him during their unintended trip to an alternate Earth.

"Whatever it is, it may have been able to take control during our little dimension hopping trip, but it does not seem to be trying to do so on any regular basis. Based on what it said while in control of you, it seems to have an agenda in seeing industry and development advance. So it may be only certain things trigger it to try to take control, such as our trying to stop Annie." The young Englishwoman paused a moment then continued. "While I may not know much about magic, I might be able to learn more about it by trying communicate with it during times it is more active than normal."