(Portrait) Portrait of an Angel

[Yumyumcrow]

And there it was!

The charm!
Naga is both charming and mesmerising; Naga is calm and confident; Naga does not miss a beat as she smoothly goes on the offensive. Naga might not have a lot fo resouces right now but Ms Sadie can't tell, given the Warlock's demeanour. Striga Mortis can't, either - and the brief look she directs to her companion Satyricon is enough for the curator...

The two mages from San Francisco can only watch as the painting slips from their grasp.

Technically, the Warlock only pays a marginally higher price than Striga Mortis offered, but there was a definite undercurrent that to Naga, this was loose change.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-09-02 03:08:15	Striga Mortis to sway a conversation rolls 6 to Manipulation + Persuasion + Resources (10 Again)	3, 3, 3, 3, 8, 9	2 successes

And Naga Xadun is now the proud owner of a painting with a Supernal Resonance

[Phoenyx]

Phoenyx's lips betray a hint of a prideful smile, drowning out her relief. Bargaining was not her strong suit, but fortunately Naga had it all in hand. Striga had started it, after all. If she'd worked with them.... But Hubris was the mage's perpetual enemy.

She gave Naga a small nod of thanks. There was no point throwing more on the fire - they had come out ahead. Better to stay alert and watchful, lest the visitors do something foolish.

As Ms Sadie went to collect their prize, Phonyx kept her eyes on Striga, her expression back to neutral.

Is that a wrap and moving on to some detailed scrutinies? Or is there a little more yet to come?

[Skye]

Spells

Body Mastery +2
life mage sight/pulse of the living world
Organic Resilience 2E monthly pot2

Looking the curator over with careful eyes, trying to get an estimate of her age and looking if she wears a wedding ring or any other signs of interest.
"Ohh no you see it's just one of the things you said when you first walked up to us that struck me as a bit odd."

Looking around that no one else from the group of awakened have followed her or can hear them.
"You said that we found the angel and are staying cool both in rather odd manners and odd choice of the way you put it so I was just curious as to why? Especially the part of us staying cool was rather odd of course but the increase in your tone was also unexpected as well so would you mind telling me the reasons behind those things? Have something odd happened with or around the painting or have it caused some strange behavior in people whom have seen it? They do say that art can awaken quite the strong emotions after all."

[Yumyumcrow]

Skye's words caused the curator to make a perplexed look.

"Odd? Eh... No. I was simply trying to engage with you... The painting was hidden away in a corner, well away from many of the other exhibits. I honestly did not think anyone would notice it. As for my mentioning you staying cool - well, it is summer. And the afternoon is very warm. I thought you had moved back indoors because the air conditioning is on, and is... well... much cooler inside."

The curator finished, flushed in confusion, and noted how quietly and discretely Skye had approached her. She looked around as well, as if sensing the Shaman's request for privacy.

"But now you mention it, I have heard of some strange things happening around that painting. I did talk to the workmen who found the painting. They did mention how the room where they discovered the art work was... cold. Yes. Cold. Which strikes me as odd because the building had no power, let alone any air conditioning, at that point. One of the workmen even had dreams - or so he claimed - about the painting for some time afterward. I would have discounted his words as mere fancy had I not had dreams of my own when I was researching the work."

She chuckled and to Skye's ears it sounded a little forced.

"Once I even felt a 'Presence' near the painting."

She paused.

"I am sorry, I should not have said that. It is silly. It was late and I had turned off the lights. I was about to go home, you see. I turned and saw the painting on the wall. It was all very dark. I thought... No... Felt. I felt as if there was a figure standing by painting watching me. Silly, I know."

Almost done Xadun

[Naga]

Try to out-negotiate a Mastigos Silver Ladder lawyer?

Good luck with that.

Naga was feeling like a bit of a smug snake at the moment, but she tried not to let that display on her face. Showing up the out-of-towners was good enough. No need to rub it in.

It helped that she looked perplexed at Skye seemingly flirting with the curator. Or at least the curator was reacting as if that was what was happening. Was this how Shamans got information?

Like Phoenyx, she spent the time waiting for her new painting to be prepared for transport by quietly keeping an eye on Striga and her boytoy. Just to make sure they don't try anything. Meanwhile, the Warlock sighed inwardly. The cost of the artwork, even reduced as it was, had more or less wiped her out for the month.

Hello, three weeks of ramen for lunch.

"Perhaps," she said to the curator, "It was just the late hour playing tricks on you?"

[Kaze]

Kaze smiles whenever anyone looks his way, and keeps both of the out of towners in his vision without staring or looking like he's scrutinizing them or anything.

It feels to him like they should be leaving soon. But Kaze keeps alert to any indication from Phoenyx that she's got something else in mind, and keeps track of Naga in case she does something...unpredictable, like picking up the painting and walking off with it, or scrutinizing it right there or something else he can't predict.

Either way, he's ready to get between Naga and the out of town mages in a heartbeat if the situation escalates.

[Phoenyx]

The Arrow leans in to Naga as they wait for the painting. "We can split the cost. I wasn't expecting you to pay the whole cost of the painting. I just knew you would be better at negotiating that I am."

She looks around, keeping an eye on the other mages.

Phoenyx also has resources 2. Plus, 3 weeks of Ramen can't be good for you....

[Skye]

Lightly shaking her head a bit towards the curator.
"Ohh no I greatly appreciate you telling me this story. You see I believe that there is a difference between art and art, some art is just well should we call it something done by someone but then you have the truly great art the one that is so deep and so well made that it can stir up your emotions on a plane that you did not even now existed. Which form this takes or how it resonates with you is perhaps not always the same and sometimes affected by what you have heard and other times not." Smiling kindly towards the curator "But nevertheless so is art that can truly affect us and move us in a sense the most well made ones even if the feelings isn't always pleasurable."

Looking her over for a second.
"Say may I have card to reach you, a business card that is?"

Gonna play that she gets one if not skip this section, mainly added since the scene is nearly over.

Taking the card and inserting the number in her phone before taking a pen from her and writing down her own number on the backside before handing it back.
"If you wanna talk more about either this piece, some other piece or just maybe share a coffee together so feel free to text me or call me anytime, I would love to hear your stories and topics on the subject also I haven't had any luck in the dating department since moving to the city." Giving her small wink before getting ready to head back to the group.

failure in flirt

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-09-05 16:15:18	Skye rolls 7 to charming Presence+Persuasion+SL (10 Again)	2, 3, 7, 3, 6, 6, 7	failure

Not that her flirting or well charms was any good then again she didn't really try much either, her goal mainly just being to try and open a future communication.

[Yumyumcrow]

Satyricon appears to smile, briefly, as Striga Mortis looses the chance to lay hands on the painting. Seething, she glares with narrowed eyes at Naga before making for the exit in a swirl of pique. Satyricon rolls his eyes, mutters some quiet words and follows behind at a distance; he at least dips the Warlock and the two Mighty of Sacramento a nod.

Naga is free to drift over to where Skye had caught up with the other curator.

Skye obtains the curator's card. Angela Crabbe frowns at Skye playful wink and walks away quickly. She does not converse with the rest of the party, either.

Abyssalstar Naga has the painting. I'll add it to your inventory when the scene ends.

If no one wishes to do anything else, we can draw this scene to a close.

Thank you Hope it was a little different.

[Naga]

"Oh, that's really not necessary. I got it covered." Naga smiled to Phoenyx. It was technically true. Besides, she wanted to own this painting outright, not share it. "I will, of course, welcome your aid in research."

The Ladder watched the pair of outsiders depart, and she nodded to Satyricon pleasantly. At least he had manners, though she couldn't fault Striga Mortis for being upset. She may have made a bit of an enemy today, but she came out on top. And isn't that what's most important.

Thanks, YYC!

Naga will cover the cost herself, Phoenyx. Her Vice is Greed. She wants that painting to herself.

I'd somehow missed the part of Skye moving to another area, so just forget about it.

I'm good to close when everyone else is!