aphrodite

i leave the past and turn to gold. grace xiong. owner of the crow & chalice.

[gracexiong]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TASK #001

As of right now, what is your (OOC) endgame goal for your character?

My endgame goal for her is to realize that her own goals are completely fruitless and either give up on them or find a way to reconcile that and allow herself to grow up from her childish hatred of her family.

What is your character striving to do or complete, if anything?

Grace's biggest goal is to overthrow Feng-Lindon leadership and to step forward into that space and take it for herself. This, of course, will never happen and it's an endeavor that's plagued most of her life.

In the next two weeks, what would your character be doing to further along those goals?

The next two weeks for her would look exactly like her last two weeks and the months before that as well: Manipulate the impressionable and bring them over to her line of thinking.

Is there a long term plan? A short term plan?

Short term: Continue along with what she's doing. She's not overly concerned with the machinations of hunters or other supernatural species and will not be until she takes the title of Coven Leader for herself. Long term: If needs be, kill anyone who steps in her way. She spent years and years honing her elemental skills to hopefully prepare herself for the upcoming moment where she can finally prove that Feng-Lindons are much more than they say they are.

Would they enlist help along their way? Why or why not?

Part of her plans include getting the younger generation of Feng-Lindon on her side and realize that the matriarch of the Feng family is not up to par ( to her thinking ). So, that's an easy, easy yes.

What would frustrate them the most or get in the way of their plans?

Not being heard is exactly the thing that is currently frustrating her. She feels like she is speaking to nothing but brick walls when she airs out her frustrations to those within the coven.

[zanexxpatel]

"Definitely not. Although, no shade to the ones that do." Zane didn't care how other people ran their businesses. He, on the other hand, was entirely hands on. He hated not knowing what was going on in his business.

"Aw, how nice of you." He said with a wide smile. "Harley and I are doing good. Great, actually. I think this town really suits us." Zane tilted his head to the side and then shook his head. "I haven't heard much, really. Although, I suppose that's my fault. I need to check in more." He admitted. "Is there something going on that I should be concerned about?"

[gracexiong]

Is there something to be concerned about? Most definitely. Grace is nothing if not concerned about the entire direction that the Fengs are taking - Lindons be damned.

She heaves a dramatic sigh, and finds a seat - "You're fine to not check in if you don't feel the need to, Zane." It also allows her to try and control a narrative here, and spin it a bit. "I'm a little worried about some of my younger relatives, is all."

She waves a hand, as if it's not all that serious, but continues. "Jac--" Grace almost finds herself saying the full name, but cuts herself off. "I'm worried she has too much pressure on her, from herself. Her mother, you see, has these visions for the coven that.." She shakes her head, trailing off. "I worry, is all."

[kannivalistic]

Valka notices the slight twitch of the woman's lip, her mask disguising the more distinct features of her face but doing nothing to mask the lower half of her. She wonders what causes the flash of emotion, but it's cooled just as quickly as a more philosophical question is offered.

"You offer a vampire nothing but flesh and they'll wither. You offer a wolf nothing but blood and their ribs will show in time. But flesh bleeds," the hunter offers in morbid meditation. "And on both a crude and spiritual level, they both describe family. But I bet most would say it's the blood, not the flesh, that makes ties most meaningful. People tend to think of themselves as flesh, though, not blood. I don't know what to make of it, honestly. But I think the significance just depends on what you're hungry for."

Though Valka was curious to get a better read on the guests for the evening, it does make her uneasy knowing she wasn't the one behind planning tonight. Meaning no matter how cautious she is, someone's got the drop on her. "Easier to fall from a height, I suppose. If someone tried anything tonight they'd be remarkably bold, maybe suicidal. But, hey, I might not linger myself either way. Gotta let the dog out, y'know? But it's been a pleasure."

The hunter offered her hand to the stranger -- a working woman's greeting, a symbol of good faith. And maybe she was double checking this chick had a pulse, just in case.

[gracexiong]

Whoever this woman is, her philosophy on the morbid is interesting - catches the attention whether she realizes it or not. Or perhaps she doesn't expect others to be quite so enraptured by it. Grace looks down at the hand offered to her and sees opportunity -

Subtly, she shifts her drink from one hand to the other, settling the pin in between her fingers. All she needs is a pinprick and her magic can do the rest. Whoever the woman is - her blood will tell her all she needs to know.

She reaches out to shake the hand offered to her and slides the pin into Valka's skin - she should feel nothing more than irritation and a slight pinch, which is risky enough. When her magic latches hold onto the bits of blood that flow, she weaves it to settle onto the head of the pin, floating there - somewhat solid to the naked eye.

"Ah, sorry - one of my pins must have come loose on my dress. Should I get you a napkin?"

[kannivalistic]

"This city takes its pound of flesh however it can," she says, tensing somewhat. "Best wishes to your family. It's hard, knowing you can't always protect them."

Valka knew she'd be denounced a hypocrite by those who considered the monsters a little more human. They had lives, loves, families -- hell, some of 'em even had pets of their own, which she found hilarious in a certain light. But the hunter didn't just kill for the fun of it. Wolves called it a curse for a reason. Vampires spread themselves like a sickness. Witches may have control over nature, but they were anything but natural. Her motivations were one part mercy, one part vengeance. She knew she'd never get her niece back, but she could stop those beasts from taking anyone else away from the light.

"I think it's wise to be cautious no matter whose company you're in. But especially when it comes to those who make meals of human flesh."

Valka, of course, doesn't consider the flesh she consumes to be human any longer.

[gracexiong]

"That is the truth." She concedes - Port Leiry is and always has been an interesting place to live. While maybe it might have once called itself a haven of sorts for those otherworldly - lately it's been anything but. Territory disputes, hunters, and even the politics of it all. The covens should be banding together, but she has no idea if the others are even requesting help.

Her lips twitches in anger.

"Are flesh and blood one and the same?" She murmurs, not really expecting an answer here, but wondering if she'll get one all the same. "But true - Caution no matter where you are is important. Otherwise one might fall into a trap."

Hopefully there won't be one tonight, but time will tell.

[sntsqnns]

She finally leaves whatever trance has taken hold of her, looking at the other with curiosity under her mask. She wonders who this strange can be, but guesses they are not one of the hands controlling the strings. Not by that speech.

Desmona chuckles, apologetically. "My sincere apologies. I didn't mean to sound so gloom." Is there any other way of being, for her? She shakes her head. "I fear we might be disappointed tonight, my darling. So many powerful people around us, in one place ⸻ It is a perfect opportunity, don't you think? For them to strike again."

[gracexiong]

"Gloom is rather alright." She tilts her head forward as if giving her leave to continue along the train of thought. It feels like most of these days, she's sat waiting around for something to happen or someone to reach out. And most days, nothing does - though her rage towards the hunters is set at a simmer and just waiting for someone to turn up the heat.

"Perfect opportunity, yes, but will they?" She frowns beneath the mask. "Witches have been nothing but the target these past few times, while they continue picking off wolf and vampire on the sidelines. So, it makes me wonder - would they be so bold to attack a congregation of all of us? Stupid, perhaps, in my opinion."

[kannivalistic]

Interesting. Someone aware of the attacks, but ultimately fine. With a family to boot. She doesn't say pack, which suggests this isn't a wolf -- or if she is, she ain't the touchy-feely type. But most wolves didn't really call their fur-fellows family unless it was by blood, not too many legacy packs in Leiry. Vampires were similarly vain. More possessive over their fledglings, rarely saw them as equals. So Valka suspects she's talking to a witch, simply by virtue of the fact she knows what went down lately and doesn't sound like a hunter playing dumb about it.

She'll test that theory at her earliest convenience.

"I got a little roughed up," Valka says, and it's not wholly a lie. "But it wasn't me they were after. Not much family to speak of either, so all in all... could've been worse." Also not a lie. It always could be much, much worse.

In fact, she's counting on it next time.

"But it does make me wonder if the vamps putting this thing on are doing it more to save face than take names. Call me cynical, I'm guessing some of these folks won't make it to sunrise."

[gracexiong]

Grace watches this woman, studying what little of her features she can make out - how she moves. If she was there - and it wasn't her they were after? Someone caught in the crossfire, or the one perpetuating it. There are a few mental leaps she could make to come to a proper conclusion, but she stops herself short of reading too much into it.

If this is a hunter, then she needs to play nice anyways. No need for a brawl in the middle of mock high society, even if she's sure she could take her.

A glance down towards her legs makes her narrow her eyes and she commits that to memory, too. "It very well could have been worse. Cheers to your health."

She purses her lips, though. "Not a fan of vampires, then?"

[sntsqnns]

A glass of wine hangs from a hand that barely seems to be holding it, red lipstick stains on the rim of the glass she sips slowly from. If she were honest, which she hardly is ⸻ She was expecting more from the all-powerful of Port Liery. It is why she stands here now, dark eyes curiously watching the fools prancing around her. No blood fountains, no fights to the death ⸻ The feast is barely a feast, and she can't taste magic in the air. Not as powerful as she would have liked, at least.

It is why she chuckles, and welcomes the conversation. "Things have always been like this ⸻ Peasants die, the royalty throws a ball, and as long as it is not you in the ground, no one cares. It is why they built the Colosseum, no? There is enjoyment even amidst tragedies."

[gracexiong]

"Gods, I'd hate to think of it like that." Grace finally says, once she soaks in the woman's words. Do they truly mean so little to the royalty that they've set them up for the slaughter. Her lips purse and frown lines form as she thinks of the rest of the Fengs, and where she wants to be in it all.

Was this thrown by the council or the leaders? Hard to tell, hard to assume, really.

"But you're right." Relenting, despite not wanting to. "One can only hope that it's just entertainment and enjoyment. I grow tired of our city's most beloved places and extravagances being co-opted by those who wish us dead."

[drownholywater-kennedy]

Aurelia couldn't help the small smirk that curled under her mask. Tonight present a unique opportunity to try and uncover what was going on in the vipers nest. A night of anonymity where the drinks were flowing and many people had far too loose lips. Aurelia's skin crawled to be surrounded and out numbered,however risky moves are what it took to win wars.

The movement on the dance served to entrance Aurelia in almost hypnotic effect. It had been far to long since Aurelia had been dancing. The last time had been with her wife over a decade ago before things had gone so wrong. The voice broke Aurelia out of her thoughts and back into the moment. Reminding her just how dangerous the position she had put herself in was.

"People live in ignorance when they think themselves to powerful to be affected by the things that touch the little people" Aurelia mused to the other women. Sharp eyes trying to figure out what kind of creature the women speaking was.

[gracexiong]

What an interesting way to put that - it makes Grace wonder, but her curiosity would have to be sated another day. Or perhaps later in the evening. She looks over, as if trying to figure out if the woman speaking to her is human or creature.

With nothing enhancing her senses to help, there's no particular way to figure it out, and instead she just gestures towards a server to bring them over and lifts another glass of red off of it to hand to her new companion.

"To ignorance, then." She says as she lifts her own glass in a mock toast. "I wouldn't say they think themselves too powerful - but rather too arrogant to be harmed."

[kannivalistic]

Unless she saw faces, everyone here tonight was an enemy. Valka knew she shouldn't even really be here -- it's more than fucking generous to believe that even these bloodsuckers and fleabags wouldn't try to pull some shit. No amount of witchy-woo and mesmerism could disguise the baser instincts of these creatures. But she'll play nice, see if she can't get any rumblings that'll give her more intel for her next attack.

A demure smile graces her lips at the stately stranger's sentiment. "Took the words right outta my mouth," the hunter says, tipping a drink to her lips to better drown out the amusement in her chest. "It's all bread and circuses. Hell, I think I even saw Nero playing the fiddle in the orchestra there." She pauses.

"Were you affected by the most recent onslaught?"

[gracexiong]

Grace tilts her head towards Valka, wondering if she knows the woman or if she sounds familiar - there's always a hint of maybe so even if it isn't true that follows her at events such as these. She simply takes a sip of her drink, instead of asking and trying to sate her curiosity with magic.

It would look bad to try and get a feel for the other's blood. Maybe. Could try later.

"Myself personally?" A hum, then. "No. My family and I are safe." And then a test - "Were you affected at all? I can only assume that most people here are on the lookout for.. danger."

[sntsholloways]

OPEN TO ALL, capping at 5

“Yes, sir, of course. I ⸻ Yes, no, I understand. Thank you.” Finishing the call, he lets out a disappointed sigh. How could he not be? This is the third job that has turned him down in the past week. Dorian knows he lacks experience in a lot of field, and hiring him is a big leap for many companies, but he hoped for an easier time with his new resume. Of course, hoping and reality are two different things. He knows that too well. He can't help but miss soccer in moments like this; he will never regret doing what he did to save Eliza, but he misses his team. His opportunity. He sighs again. “You don't happen to have a job offer lying around, do you?” He asks the person near him. “I can read lips amazingly well.”

[gracexiong]

She's not expecting to be spoken to in the moment, her travel mug of coffee already at her lips when she hears the question. Grace sips, swallows, and frowns at him slightly. A job offer. "If you're looking for something higher end or corporate, then I'm afraid I can't help you there." She pauses, though, and looks him over. "Are you new in town?"

The answer doesn't matter in the long run, so she doesn't wait to ask another right after - "Have you been downtown much, yet? I own a little shop there is why I ask. The Crow and Chalice doesn't require too much experience or knowledge of.." Another pause, and she leans in - bright smile, very much selling the idea of a witch shop - "The arcane."

[imrtlwitch]

open to: all

"Oh, honey, you should've come to me sooner. Here, drink this." Harley spoke to the other, slipping them a healing potion. He kept a lot of them on standby, and outwardly he liked to be helpful within the community. A true healer. Everyone has their secrets, though. "It'll speed up the process, but still keep an eye for infections or anything of the sort, okay? I'll give you a salve you can put on it to try and stop any infections." A shadow crossed in front of him, he felt it blocking out the natural light. He spoke without looking up from the wound he was working on, "Can I help you?"

[gracexiong]

"Only if you intend on giving me a polite hello." She smiles, moving more out of his light to continue dealing with this person who seems to be dealing with some sort of wound. A quick cursory glance tells her all she needs to know, and instead of interrupting further, she sets her bag on a side table.

"Delivery, hand-picked herbs from the Crow and Chalice to help you with you and yours." A breath, then. "It's good to see you again, Harley."

[gracexiong]

open starter limited to three (3) where: the masquerade

She was here for appearance's sake and that alone. There was a work to be done, and a masquerade with the most important people of Port Leiry's underworld was exactly where she needed to be to get a foot in the door. If Margot showed.. Grace hummed, and simply brought a glass of wine to her lips, turning swiftly as the orchestra shifted from one song to another.

A waltz. How quaint. She watched people take to the floor, and leaned over - "It's amazing how people go about these parties and their lives as if we haven't been fending off attacks left and right for weeks now."

[gracexiong]

GRACE XIONG; masquerade. august 2024.

blue and gold adorn her, as she wears a more traditionalist outfit - she's opted to represent her true elemental power rather than the newer, bloodier one.

[zanexxpatel]

"Ah, yes, well I do own this fine establishment so it's probably not a horrible guess that I'd actually be here." He chuckled as he glanced up from his magazine to see Grace. "Are you here for me as the Zane the owner, or me as Zane the person?" He tilted his head to the side, the smile never leaving his lips. "Either way, I'm all ears."

[gracexiong]

"Who knows? You might be like those other owners that flit about the city all day." It's a vague and nebulous other, not directed towards anyone in particular. She slides into a seat near him though, and simply rests her chin in her hand.

"The person, of course." With Zane, it's an odd sort of.. world, her aging and him not quite. The blood magic she'd learned from him would give her the power to do so - but she's not quite ready to stoop quite that low yet. Besides, there's still much she has to do before she's ready to delve into the deep crimson.

Water is still her favorite, after all. "I'm just coming to check on you. See how you and your partner are. How the store is doing." A bit of a pause, "If you've heard any news of the coven."

[gracexiong]

closed for: @zanexxpatel

She doesn't particularly like making the trek across town towards Eden's Apple. The store itself is somewhat distasteful (in her opinion), though she understands the necessity of it and others like it. The bell jingles above the door as she steps in, barely acknowledging the other patrons and instead making her way towards the back.

Grace stops only when she reaches the break room, and allows herself a smile at seeing Zane. "I knew I'd find you lounging back here, love."

[aviel-gillinski]

( @gracexiong )

Aviel is always so careful with his curious fingers when he comes into Crow & Chalice. So many interesting herbs and little baubles and crystals... he could spend all day jotting down notes on the things he sees. The prices that sometimes seem a bit odd, the ingredients that he's not sure are 100% legitimate. But who is he, besides a human? Certainly an experienced human- one who knows the truth, and who seeks more truths. And so he knows of witches.

But it's always so fun to decipher what's real and what's not. What's a P.T.Barnum scam, and what's the real Fiji mermaid.

"Grace!" Avi smiles as he sees the owner, an air kiss blown to her. "I have another crystal I found that I'd love to show you. And... I found a few odd little assortments of items, in a few abandoned buildings around town... laid out in very particular ways... took some photos, would love to hear if you think someone was attempting a spell... but you know I need your expert eye, my dear."

[gracexiong]

Human customers are not only welcome, they are their main source of income here at the shop. Some of the items are legit, of course, for those who know what they're looking for. Humans tend to not and only seem to buy whatever strikes their fancy. A pretty crystal here, a couple of bags of tea there. Some get close - stating they've looked up meanings of things.

And yet still, they can't seem to find those actually charged with the energy they need. It's all amusing, and she knows how to play it off and speak their language.

Aviel, though, is something entirely different. His podcast speaks more of the truth than most of his listeners would care to believe, and Grace simply gives him a soft smile as he calls her name. She clasps her hands behind her back and tilts her head. "Is this research, love?" Said with an amused lilt to her tone.

"But, yes, of course - you know I don't mind helping. Crystals are one of our areas of expertise." She gestures for him to show her the photos. "Let's see them?"

[aarenreynell]

There's only a hum, almost amused at the forceful reply. She knows better than to take it personal after everything that's been going on. It is the witches that keep getting target, and though Aaren expects it's for a bigger attack against the other factions, she knows the witches are the ones struggling and suffering more at the moment. Tapping her fingers against the wooden table, impatient, anxious. Aaren hates not being able to do anything.

"No, no... they're all fine at the pack, some minor injuries... nothing that isn't probably healed already." The chaos that had followed come the darkness had been enough for some of the hunters to try their luck. Aaren would be damned if anyone from the pack were weak enough to not deal with it. "Don't worry about me, I just wanna fucking kill those bastards... I hate sitting still, we need to do something... attack now, they wouldn't expect us to."

[gracexiong]

"Glad to hear it, truly." She murmurs, punctuating it with a somewhat relieved sigh. The wolves being spared means that it hasn't escalated yet, but it still means they're wholly unaware of what the purpose of the attacks were for.

But.. she couldn't abide by just attacking with no information, though she understood the sentiment. What she wouldn't give to get one of the hunters alone and pluck them apart piece by piece and give them a taste of what real magic is like..

Instead, they must wait. They have to. "You know I have no say in what you do with your pack, Aaren. But.. I would advise caution. Perhaps they want us reckless and attacking."