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

[numberedshepherd]

"Amelia...? That's right. You're very close with your doppelganger, aren't you?"

Lazarus asks with a slight squint and head-tilt. He knows it's unusual, and even repulsive to a lot of Numbered, to consider such a relationship with creatures that frequently spit in the face of their entire raison d'être.

[scarlet_devil]

"She's unusual for a doppelganger... She's a pacifist, for one, doesn't even like violence. ...Maybe more diplomatic than me too."

And those negative reactions can rile up Emilia's protective side.

"Have you met her?"

[numberedshepherd]

"As a general rule, they're our opposites, aren't they?" Lazarus asks, quirking his brow. Of course, what that says about Emilia if it's true isn't terribly flattering, but then again, it hardly seems to bother the vampire that her opposite loves peace and working things out diplomatically before coming to blows.

"I haven't met her, actually. I'll confess that they unnerve me and I struggle with feelings of prejudice... and guilt, because we certainly have to deal with that exact thing from the general population. But my initial experiences with them excuse some of that, I think."

[scarlet_devil]

"Yes. I've been trying to make a few... changes, and learn to be more diplomatic." Her adopted sister had been trying to help her with that.

"I think she'll like you." Most of the other doppelgangers hadn't been terribly endearing at all, it seems...

[numberedshepherd]

"Have you?" Lazarus asks. He sounds surprised, but not displeased. "I guess that everyone could benefit from getting a little better at working through things peacefully, so... good. I'm very glad to hear it."

He tilts his head sidelong. "I wouldn't be opposed to meeting her. I'd like to meet the exception to the 'doppelgangers give you hell' rule."

[scarlet_devil]

"Well... I'm sure she'll be happy to meet you. Ah, she does happen to be very much an introvert,it took some convincing to get her to come. "

[numberedshepherd]

"Whether or not we end up getting along, it sounds like we have a lot in common, anyway," Lazarus says wryly. "I wanted to come to support everyone and do my part to show some solidarity, but really, I'm looking forward to getting home and finding some peace and quiet."

[scarlet_devil]

"Nothing wrong with that, Dani would agree with wanting peace and quiet."

[numberedshepherd]

"Dani?" Lazarus asks, quirking his brow. "I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about Amelia."

[scarlet_devil]

"Ah, neither she or Amelia like crowds much."

[numberedshepherd]

"I see..." Lazarus says, still seeming puzzled but ultimately accepting that the conversation's going new places. "You're very close to Dani too, aren't you? You think about her often?"

[scarlet_devil]

"She's my cousin, and in our shared past life, she was my little sister... I do think about her often." Especially when the little vampire goes walkabout.

[numberedshepherd]

"I didn't know that your Others were related," he says, clearly interested. "You've taken to the role well, then? I know that some people who have a certain relationship with someone that they discover after the fact don't immediately accept or enjoy it and choose to go against what is... written, so to speak."

[scarlet_devil]

"It helped that we gotten close before we knew... Well, I knew my other knew Dani's from the start, but not that she was her sister." She had come to care about the girl deeply before she got that echo revealing Flandre was Remilia's sister.

I don't mind it... It was meant to be."

[numberedshepherd]

Something about the words "meant to be" seems to rub Lazarus the wrong way. Clearly, he's one of the Numbered who actually feel pretty strongly about the need to have the ability to control their own fates.

"On some level, perhaps. It means that you had complimentary personalities in both lives, if anything."