The Kindred move and mingle, closing with ease on the artistic display. Stax and his associate remain stymied, accosted by glitterati (the real, the fake and the wannabe) and the like: all the trio can tell is that the associate wares a hat and Stax has mullet harking back to the 1980s.
Dark Souls - the Beast - stirs in the trio, even from such a small glimpse: a sudden shock, a surging pressure behind the eyes; acid in the throat; movement of fang.
The artwork is of mixed styles, mostly on small canvasses. The largest painting is modelled on the pre-Raphaelite style, depicting a woman combing out her long red hair by a mirror. The mirror reflects a twisted and distorted vision of her countenance - a lustful, fanged, monster in place of an ethereal beauty. This theme of duality, of beauty and monstrosity, is explored further in the other works to one degree or another. In one work, depicting a scene at a night club; the play of light and shadows has turned the energetic dance floor into a glimpse of hell. In another, a light throws the shadow of a woman across a wall - but her shadow is a twisted, monstrous, thing and completely at odds with her curvaceous figure.
If
Gabrielle
wishes to mingle, she may make
[Manipulation + Socialise] to work the gathering for information. This may be an extended roll, as more successes will provide more information. Richard and Martha may also do this
Chrisie
SoraLow
. And you may combine efforts with Teamwork if you so desire.