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

[ceofactor]

Factor actually stops Jacob halfway through, holding a hand up and making a repetitive clicking sound with his tongue.

"Ah! Hold off for one moment. I'm going to stop you there. You've made a mistake, you see," he says, pursing his lips and turning over the top card of the "red" pile to reveal a black card. "But that is fine... I am going to take it upon myself to fix it for you." He lays down the black card, beginning a third pile. "This pile shall now be the black pile. Furthermore, I happen to know that the next card in your hand is red, so we'll make a fourth pile, and it shall now be red." He reaches forward, turning the card over to prove it before facing it facedown on the newly designated, fourth red pile.

Then he allows Jacob to finish sorting the cards using the two new piles.

When he has finished, Factor snaps his fingers over the four piles.

"Go on! Turn them over. I think you'll be in for quite a surprise!"

Investigation will reveal that the red piles are red, and the black piles are indeed all black.

[meteormercenary]

Surprised to be stopped, Jacob pulls his hand back as Benjamin fixes the cards. Jacob's face is nothing short of intrigued, yet puzzled. He slows his pace a little as he finishes sorting the cards into the new piles, wondering if he might be stopped again.

When he isn't, he feels a bit of relief. And he watches Benjamin snap his fingers over each of the piles. Steadily, he turns them all over at the provocation. And, indeed, all of the piles are their respective colours. Jacob's eye goes wide at the trick, rather impressed, and he actually gives a smile in amusement. He looks back up at Benjamin.

"That's amazing. I like it." True to the degree that a true magician never reveals his secrets, Jacob doesn't bother to ask how it was done. He takes the trick at face value and finds it enjoyable.

[ceofactor]

"Amazing? High praise indeed!" Factor says, seeming humbled and dazed by the compliment. This is clearly his favorite part of performing a trick, and he's thrilled to see such a favorable reaction. He also seems happy as a clam that Jacob isn't immediately trying to guess the "trick" to it, since the illusion of magic is so dear to him.

Even though he is, himself the type to try to figure out such things, he appreciates it when others let him maintain the illusion for them.

"Thank you for being such a wonderful audience. I don't know if that one has ever gone so well in recent memory!"

[meteormercenary]

Jacob's smile gets a little wider with Benjamin's reaction. He seems to have made someone's day. It's always nice to be able to do that.

"Certainly. I'd like to see another sometime." Jacob is genuinely amused by the tricks of illusion. It has a childlike feel and innocence to them that he can't help but feel a bit warm and fuzzy on the inside. And it's no fun trying to see through the illusion.

"So, you like card tricks and philanthropy. Is there anything else you enjoy?" Jacob tries to spark a conversation, maybe try to get to know this man better.

[ceofactor]

Factor frequently feels the same way. He likes to think that his card tricks are as happily received as they are performed, and when it's mutually beneficial this way, nothing feels better.

He's happy to entertain as long as the audience is an appreciative one.

"Are card tricks and philanthropy not enough?" Factor jokes, but his eyes are soft as Jacob asks him a question that indicates genuine interest in the man behind the bravado. "But since you asked, I enjoy listening to classical music on record players and attending dog shows as well. And yourself?" he asks.

[meteormercenary]

Jacob chuckles a little when he realises it's a joking tone and he nods a little.

"I like to think there are many aspects to people, like a kaleidoscope. Always changing yet ever fascinating." Classical music? Jacob hasn't listened to any of that in a long time. And on a record player; seems like Benjamin is dating himself, there. "Oh, do you have a dog that you enter into the competition? Or do you judge? Personally, I really like flowers and the language behind them. Socializing is pretty nice. I also like to do quite a bit of research and studying if a topic interests me. A social bookworm, if you will."

[ceofactor]

"A kaleidoscope..." Factor ponders it. "What a delightful analogy. I like it," he decides. And there's another hearty laugh as Jacob asks if he has a dog himself.

"Unfortunately, I'm extremely allergic to dogs," he admits. "Ironic, isn't it? I can't even pet them without breaking out in tears and sneezes. Sometimes they humor me and let me judge, but it seems unfair when I can't even pet the animals I admire so much. But... sometimes the things we love most are off-limits to us, and such is life," he says, with a resigned, fair shrug.

"Flowers and the language behind them is something I admittedly know very little about. Do you mean that if you wanted to give someone a bouquet that sends a message, you could do that? What are some of the things that people might say with flowers?"

[meteormercenary]

Jacob seems humoured that Benjamin seems to like his analogy so much. He gives a small chuckle in return.

"It's a shame to be allergic to something you love so much. I'm sorry to hear that." However, Benjamin seems to have accepted it well enough. "At least it's not that way for everything."

"That's actually quite literally what I mean. I usually make a mixed bouquet for my customers, because feelings are so rarely just one thing. I actually once had this customer who was afraid of the word 'love', so, I tried to work with his feelings and created a bouquet of pink roses and lavender, to signify gentle affections." He chuckles a bit at the memory. "Many popular messages usually involve 'undying love', 'you're special to me', 'forever', but sometimes you get ones just for 'friendship', 'missing you', and 'sincerity'. Flowers can be used a great deal for messages of the heart, even if it's breaking."