Factor Industries Charity Event: October 18th, 2016

[ceofactor]

Even for Benjamin Factor, arranging this charity event had been something of a challenge. Just as he held great influence in Gateway City, Thunder Corp's influence in Locke was great as well. But with time and money, all things were indeed possible in this case, and the Memorial Dance Hall was playing host to the night's events. It was a glamorous affair: politicians, captains of business, dignitaries, and celebrities had been invited. For whatever controversy that existed, the world legitimately wanted to heal the wounds left by the invasion, and that meant there were a lot of people who wanted to use events like this to either advance that cause, or to make themselves look good.

But they weren't the only sorts of individuals who had recieved an invitation.

Benjamin Factor had also made it so the Numbered would be invited to his little party. Arrivals through the teleporter would be greeted by drivers at the community center, and the same courtesy was extended to anyone who might live in Locke. The only stipulation? Was that anyone who came make an effort to make themselves presentable. If that was a problem, or anyone arrived without knowing, they had clothes on hand for people to change into.

Indeed, it seemed that the Numbered would be well provided for tonight. That being said, their presence would get people to talk, given the presence of news crews making live coverage. Nevertheless... "getting people to talk" seemed to be exactly what Benjamin Factor wanted to happen.

[Event Links: Event Speakers | NPC Interaction | General Mingle]

Comments

[cypressceo]

Ah, good!

While Factor's expression shifts to something much unlike what he's been wearing the rest of the night, there's a certain joyful twinkle that appears in Lucille's eyes. She gives a wide, toothy grin and chuckles just a bit.

"Now, now, Ben - you don't think I'd miss this, would you? We've even made a nice little deposit to your little thing here."

Her grin twists a bit, decidedly morphing into a smirk. "After all, you've been away for so long. Why wouldn't I want to catch up?"

[ceofactor]

"I have many 'things,'" Factor says, sounding distinctly unimpressed. "Some are little. Some are quite large. I try to maintain perspective and an attitude of thankfulness for every one of them, so... on behalf of my foundations, that mean so much to me, I thank you for your gracious donation of something that you so clearly will not miss."

His lips are honeyed, but the corners are lemon, and can't quite seem to turn up into a real and genuine smile.

"My dear Lucille, I am always delighted to allow you to catch up. It's only sporting. But bother any of my guests, and we might need to have a chat of a different nature."

[cypressceo]

A lot of people in Lucille's position would be returning a lot more obvious venom towards Factor, in either expression or tone. As it is, she looks pleased as punch, even as he directly jumps to the point of the matter.

"What I miss or don't doesn't really matter, does it? All that does is... rebuilding. Raising the earth back to what it should rightly be, hm?"

She gives him a look like one might give a puppy after they'd done something utterly adorable.

"Perish the thought! Why, the well being of your guests is just as important to me as it is to you."

[ceofactor]

Perhaps it's fortunate that both of them aren't the types to get explosively angry or seethingly venomous. Then again, still waters run deep, and a lot of things are hiding out of sight that are difficult to count or quantify by the mere image of two wealthy and influential individuals talking face-to-face at a party that one of them is throwing, and one of them might not have been invited to.

"Charming image," he comments with a chuckle. "Raising the earth. That gives me an idea for my next cause; how do you like 'The Atlas Foundation?' Appropriate, no?"

He lifts his wine, which he'd set on a nearby surface to free his hands for card tricks.

"Since you are one of my guests now, I should offer you refreshment personally. Would you like a drink? Beer? Wine? The warm blood of an infant, perhaps...?" he asks, mumbling the last words into the rim of his glass as he raises it to his lips.

[cypressceo]

Lucille just grinned at what he said. "Atlas?" she replied. "As in the Titan, who sided with the losing side and betrayed the gods? My my, Benjamin, if I didn't know any better, I'd consider that a cry for help."

She smiles, and she lifts her own drink, which seems to have not left her side the entire evening. "I've already found a beverage, thank you. And it is wine."

And then to the part at the end, she certainly did hear, she added, "If I wanted to drink the blood of a child, I'd simply take yours."

[ceofactor]

"Atlas," Factor says pointedly, "as in the Titan who held the world on his shoulders. His strength is the point, not his allegiance. I believe that most would see it that way, given that it is an ubiquitous and iconic image. It's thorough to consider the entire mythology, but... perhaps, my dear, a touch pedantic."

His smile is taut on his face, with the corners of his mouth downturned as if there's a lemon wedge hidden near the back of his tongue.

"I've missed our talks, you know. You're a vision and a delight, as always... if you want to speak of myths and legends, you would fit perfectly in the Garden of Eden. By which, of course, I mean you'd be the snake."