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Post by Mierin on Jan 7, 2007 23:23:04 GMT -5
(I have no problem with FFing to the party)
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Post by dakota on Jan 8, 2007 10:33:26 GMT -5
(I have no problem with FFing to the party) (ditto) |
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 13, 2007 18:17:37 GMT -5
OK... sorry for the delay, but hopefully the Tolsteinian post will make up for it.
The Accountant's Dilemma has, for many, many years, been the restaurant for Golthreia's elite. Near the top of the always-impressive Golth Spire, a 2-kilometre high tower of Obsidian made millenia ago by Dwarven guild masters, the restaurant has a spectacular view almost as far as the rim during a clear day,and of the top level of the city at night. Looking down is almost as dizzying as the prices of the food. Meals do not go cheap here, but nor are they anything to snuff at.
Originally called Antonio's on the Spire, the Dilemma got its current name after the original owner, the late millionaire philanthropist Antonio Fihilio notice that some of the city's most notable accounting firms would often site out potential clients in the restaurant, or court them there. Hence, after a few years of operation, the name was changed to this tongue-in-cheek commentary.
Today, the Accountant's Dilemma is celebrating its continued success. The normally posh, elegant, quiet evening atmosphere is replaced by an energetic, day-time atmosphere with clowns to entertain children, buffet tables set up, a champaign fountain in the middle, and smells the likes of which mere mortals and plebes would have considered impossible (and would normally be, the chef has prepared for this, testing item by item for 2 years, now).
Coop and Sarah arrived, dressed very well in black in white outfits, looking very formal, almost penguins. As the elevator sweeps open, the Elf Maitre D grins excitedly at the site of Coop. "Very nice, Mr..." He looks down. "Cooper. You do clean up very nicely. Now, let me fill you in on the rules, number one, remain calm and congenial, these are very demanding..." He sees Sarah. "The chef is waiting for you in the back." He says, waving politely to the kitchen. Turning back to Coop, he says, "Now, you'll need a pair of these." He says, holding the white cotton gloves. "There is a box under here, in case you need a new pair."
And so on... Coop getting the kind of client service education you get at Zellers.
Sara finds herself among about a dozen waiters and waitress, a few of whom, like Sarah, also look like they were hired on for the day. "Good, you're here. And just on time." Says the Chef, looking at the clook. "Right, we begin." And he starts going over all the different foods to go out, and when, and to make sure they bring in empty glasses, and so on.
Back to the plot...
While Coop's getting educated by the Maitre D, he notices about a dozen clowns and entertainers come out of the elevator and head for the supply room near the kitchen. Similarly, Sarah notices the clowns setting up in the supply room. Clearly, the chef wasn't exaggerating the numbers.
(BTW:, it's 9 in the morning)
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Post by dakota on Jan 15, 2007 17:19:50 GMT -5
Coop forced himself to pay attention, while hiding his uncomfortableness ( both from the outfit and the way the maitre d looked at him). When the entertainment arrived, he tried not to stare as he slipped on a pair of the gloves after taking them from the box.
[tag]
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Post by Mierin on Jan 15, 2007 23:22:44 GMT -5
Sarah listens quietly as the chef goes over everything, doing her best to keep everything straight. Not used to the bow tie, she fidgets with it a little, and wonders how Coop's training is going. She watches the clowns and entertainers out of the corner of her eye as they enter the supply room, doing her best to keep an eye out on what they bring in and out of it.
(tag)
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 16, 2007 14:26:08 GMT -5
The clowns seem to be dumping a few spare costumes, and gimics and clown materials in the supply closet. Nothing sinister like candles, chickens, knives, altars, dark gods or bound virgins. If they're up to something, the don't seem to be planning on leaving too many obvious clues. During the day, both and Coop and Sarah are run fairly ragged, keeping clients happy. Clearly, the Dilemma has high standards, and keeps their employees up to it. The clowns seem to be working very professionally, entertaining the children and not letting on to their plan. They seemed to be working mostly in shifts. In the confusion of the day, the Headmaster popped in to check on his students, but disappeared soon after (Coop didn't even remember seeing him leave as it was.  ). After hours of work, and a lunch break, even Tobrias himself makes an appearance, having Coop escort him in. Tobrias looked, actually, quite different from the rest of the crowd who were regailed in very nice suits, dresses and kiddee-clothes. Tobrias, instead, was wearing a Fayde clan's Toga (black, with navy blue highlights in the Athenian style (whatever that is. It looks Greek.)) over pants anna shirt. As Coop's walking him in, Tobrias says "So, I take it they have not yet made their move? When the time comes, remember, call the police. Do not do it yourself." While Sarah's busy working tables, and cleaning up the zillionth spilled mess, a little furball of a Dwarf child pulls on her pant-leg. "Mith." It says (he? she? only it's mother knows.) "Estuthe me mith. But, do you know where the clownth went?" |
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Post by dakota on Jan 16, 2007 19:21:20 GMT -5
Coop shook his head slightly as he escorted Tobrias. " Nothing yet. Don't worry, we'll call the police so El can swoop in to be the hero again." He smirked slightly as he pulled a chair for Tobrias, " That's a nice dress you have by the way."
[tag]
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Post by Mierin on Jan 16, 2007 19:43:04 GMT -5
Sarah smiles quietly at the dwarf child and looks around for the clowns. "Hmmm," she replies "I'm not sure. I'll go and look for them, ok?" After she finishes cleaning up the mess, she goes to look for the clowns, worried that they've already started whatever it was they were planning on doing and she would be too late to prevent it.
(tag)
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 17, 2007 20:43:09 GMT -5
As Coop finishes his comment about Tobrias's attire, a wealthy dowiger of a woman, who happened to be in earshot let out a flabbergasted exclamation of suprise. "Why! I never." She says, fanning her self. "Such impudence. This must be dealth with at once." And, she starts waving her fan to get the Maitre D's attention.
Tobrias sidles over to the woman. "Oh, there's nothing to worry about. I get it a lot."
"Oh, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, and it happens a lot..." The woman starts. "But not here. This is a place of business. The young man must know his place."
"Oh, he will be disciplined." Tobrias says, soothingly.
"Well... so long as he's disciplined." She says, sitting down, as if nothing had happened.
As the Maitre D arrived, Tobrias resumed his chair. "You're very lucky she's so suggestionable. Get to work." Tobrias whispers.
"Was there a disturbance here?" The Elf asks Tobrias, and starts at the outfit. "Oh my, a veritable clansman. A rare treat indeed." With a snap of his finger, two clearly more experienced waiters come to serve Tobrias. "And you should be at the front door." Says the Elf. Even as he does, Coop notices Sarah slip out the side.
...
Sarah's escape would have been halted by the Maitre D, if he had not been called over by some boisterous old crank of a woman. Clearly, Tobrias was claming her down, and by the height of the waiter already there, it looked as if Coop might have been involved.
However, hot on the trail of the clowns, she makes her way into the main entry. In the relative silence from the buzzing of the restaurant, it almost sounds as if there's a soft droning coming from one of the supply closets.
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Post by Mierin on Jan 17, 2007 23:29:50 GMT -5
A chill runs down her veins as she hears what sounds like droning coming from the supply closet. She sneaks up as quietly as she can towards it (prowl: 32% out of 40%, pass) to try to figure out what is going on. Once she confirms what is going on, she will call the police.
(tag)
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Post by dakota on Jan 18, 2007 5:21:08 GMT -5
" Yes sir." Coop responded to the maitre D with an apologetic tone and quickly returned to the front door while his attention was on where Sarah. He intentionally slowed his pace a bit as he began deliberately seating people so he could keep an eye on Sarah, concerned when it sunk in that she was moving stealthily.
[tag]
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 19, 2007 8:27:07 GMT -5
Coop's attempts show Sarah moving towards a storage closet. "Estooth me thir." Says the little dwarf child. "But can you help me into my tair? I'm very thmall and ith very high up."
Sarah, you definitely hear a chant droning softly from the storage closet. Through a crack in the door, you see the clowns circled around the headmaster.
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Post by Mierin on Jan 19, 2007 14:25:05 GMT -5
Sarah pales a little when she hears the chanting coming from the supply closet and peeks inside.. She listens carefully to what they are saying and gets ready to go to a phone if she needs to.
(tag)
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Post by dakota on Jan 21, 2007 21:49:50 GMT -5
"Certainly" Coop replied with a forced smile as he helped the dwarven child into his seat. He only broke eye contact with Sarah for a moment, his curiousity starting to get to him as she peeks in the closent. He returns to the front and escorts another couple to a table even closer to the closent than the last.
[tag]
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Post by Renekin Skywalker on Jan 22, 2007 17:59:35 GMT -5
Sarah hears the sound of chanting from the room, and sees the clowns surrounding the headmaster. By the looks of things, it's a voluntary PPE transfer ritual. Very simple, but it takes time.
Coop, watching Sarah lean into the closet, doesn't notice that, at the moment, the crowds have stopped flowing. Inside, the restaurant owner makes an announcement.
"Honoured, and delightful guests." He says. "In a moment, the main floor show will begin. Please, draw your attention to the stage, and enjoy!" As he leaves, the murmur starts, and the lights begin to dim and focus on the stage.
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