sistermagnetic: (Default)
Magne Hikiishi ([personal profile] sistermagnetic) wrote in [community profile] ph_logs2024-08-09 09:02 pm

Velvet, Ambrosia, and Silk

Who: Big Sis Magne & anyone 20+
What:
The official opening of the first proper entrepreneurship in Pumpkin Hollow!
When:
Late July and onward
Where:
the newly built, remodeled, and furnished VAS
Warning(s):
General warning for sexually explicit talk pertaining to the job functions of the business. Underage characters will not be able to enter via an enchantment on all entrances that stops them in their tracks. There are no exceptions. (My younger characters aren't allowed in, so neither are yours.)


Pre-opening Staff Party
Perhaps Magne talked it over with you while construction was underway, perhaps you heard about it through the grapevine, perhaps you were pinged thirdhand while looking for a position after newly arriving in town. Either way, if you were invited to come and see the newly-built, elegant multi-story brothel, a couple of nights before she had scheduled the official opening of the business proper, the Madame of this particular business will be throwing a small party to get her workers, friends, and little family together. It's a celebration of good fortune and tenacity. It's also a tour to let those that would be staying on the premises claim their rooms and start to talk over decorating with her.

The main parlor is pristine, with a bar and a few stools stationed around it, with bottles of liquor arranged behind it on sturdy shelves. Purchases from The Limoncello, and supplemental bottles from Erin Peters' collection. There are a few chairs, a few cushions arranged around a low tea table, poofy armchairs and footrests to go with them, loveseats and a couch. Around the walls are a couple of portraits already, one of the Madame herself, with an enchanted magnolia blossom attached to it softly glowing due to her presence in the building. This, she will explain, is the indicator for who is on staff at any given time, bending to the will of the person in the portrait. If they don't want it known that they're in the building, it won't show. First and foremost, it is to tell patrons who is available on staff. Hers is to let them all know when she is there. It will almost certainly be permanently lit. She will always be there for them.

There is a kitchen off the main parlor, specifically that that had come with the front of house that was originally just a normal two-storey home that Magne had built her business onto. It's not only functional, but now supporting the production of light foods for the gathering, with more supplies due to come in in the next couple of days. She had asked Max Maximum to be there a bit earlier than the rest to help her prepare for it all, knowing that he would want to be part of the hospitality for the event.

Everybody under her employ, regardless of position, would be walked through the rules and the security measures. Nobody would be in danger, so long as this was her business. Not if she could help it.

If Magne spots you on your own when you're in attendance, she will come and say hello. You may be the recipient of a big, squeezy hug and a "Hello darling!". Maybe even a kiss on the cheek. Sorry not sorry about lipstick smudges.

The Grand Opening
The wards are set. The rules are in place. A list of names is available with their own flowers beside them in place of the eventual portraits that will line the walls of the front of house. The curtains are drawn and the lights are soft and a radio plays softly from the shelves behind the bar. Everything is warm and inviting, and Magne? Magne is beaming. Her business is officially open.

"It's really happening," she says to herself, not for the first time since the construction was completed. She stands at the end of the bar, her hands clasped around one another mostly hidden by the wide sleeves of the kimono that she had had designed by committee to fit her, deep red with pink and gold embroidery of flowers and vines, the sash tied at her back. Her hair is pinned up in neat, elegant rolls and her makeup done subtly, and she looks every part the Madame that she decided she would be.

The rules are pretty standard, all things considered: consent can be recalled at any time. Refunds will only be given if all parties are in agreement that such a thing is called for. Abuse of her employees will be stopped by force if need be, and that will be done by Magne herself. This is not something that you want to happen to you. There will be nobody on the premises under twenty years of age, barring extremely specific gatherings to be announced at a later date. There is no "three strikes" in this building; testing your luck is not something that you will walk away from looking particularly pretty.

Welcome to the Velvet, Ambrosia, and Silk. Whatever your pleasure may be, it will be seen to.

(Well, unless you want something from a vampire, in which case you'll be put into contact with Lord Erik Osborne. They have an agreement.)

The Off Hours
When not at work, Magne can often be found upstairs, in her own personal living space constructed with a soundproof layer between her loft-like home and her business. Her furniture from when she had first acquired the house has been moved up and the remodel has been completed to put in a small tamaya. There are small pencil portraits of the people that she loves framed there, and the little, square-ish figure of one stationed just under his portrait looking somewhat out of place there among the fine wooden shelves. She can be found in front of this every now and then, knelt in proper seiza, offering her fallen friends quiet prayers and updates on the way that things have gone.

There is a door buzzer that can get her attention if you want her downstairs, but some people are welcome to simply come up to see her when they want to. Just step around a curtained corner and pull on a braided silk cord to signal your arrival.
maximumcake: (pic#14146374)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-29 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
(Phrasing, César.)

Max's bottom lip wobbles as César takes him by the shoulder. Even now, Max still struggles to connect with this side of his heritage, but just like before, the warmth of César's welcome makes him feel like he's found a light in the darkness.

"I want to learn everything," he says in earnest. "I'm... not really good at languages, but I want to try. I want to at least know how to pronounce the dishes right."
maximumcake: (Default)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-29 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
"I'd love that. I tried to learn to play, myself, but my talents were with other arts." Which is a nice way of saying he kinda sucked at it and gave up. "I'd be honored for you to play for me. Dancing I can do."

maximumcake: (Default)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-29 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
"I have a feeling those cupcakes are going to be a best-seller," Max says with pride. Don't mind a rosy tinge creeping up his neck as he watches her suck her finger.

"Outclassing you? No way," he fires back. "No one can outshine you in that gorgeous kimono. You're the queen of the realm in here. It's my honor to be a part of it at all."
spaghettification: (laughter)

[personal profile] spaghettification 2024-08-29 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Honored? I'm not that good. My parents would have exploded if I'd tried to become a professional. But it did play into my understanding of the sciences later."
maximumcake: (curious)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-29 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
"It's not about talent, it's about sharing something as intimate as that with me. That's the honor." Performing one-on-one for someone strikes him as an intimate kind of gesture.

"Sciences? What did you study?"

pineapplesalmon: (a pause from science)

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-08-29 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
(NOT THAT WAY. César wouldn't say no to it if Magne was interested, though....)

"Then I'll teach you everything like my own mother would have done—and languages are easier when you can practice more often. Magne and my roommate are learning it, too." César pats Max's shoulder and drops his arm back down, before raising his palm up to talk again.

César glances to Magne with a loving expression, thinking about how having a daughter would've made his parents happy—especially his mother, outnumbered 3-to-1—before facing Max again. "My parents would've welcomed you over for dinner anytime."
spaghettification: (universe)

[personal profile] spaghettification 2024-08-29 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Astrophysics! I specialized in gravity and black holes. Spent time on the Horizon Lunar colony and a Lucheng space station. It was good work, mostly."

Until he was discarded.
maximumcake: (wistful)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-30 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
"I did have a much easier time with Japanese when I was in Japan..." he says sheepishly. He still wasn't great with it, but he'd only been there a year.

"Can you tell me more about them? Your parents? They sound wonderful. Don't get me wrong, my dad was the best dad I could ever want. He'd have loved to meet you, too. I just... I wonder what having two parents is like, sometimes."
maximumcake: (curious)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-30 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Whao! That's incredible. You've been to space and everything? That has to be the coolest job ever."
maximumcake: (Default)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-08-30 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't even try not to stare now. The heat has fully reached his cheek. Pay no attention to the bump under his apron. All he knows is Cesar is a lucky man.

"It feels good that I could be a part of helping make your dream come true. I'm so happy for you, Magne."
pineapplesalmon: (a quick suggestion)

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-08-30 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
It is glorious to witness Magne thriving in the mundane, to use her strength to love others instead of just fighting to survive. To finally be herself in full view of everyone.

"And you will!" César brightens, laughing warmly into her lips. "A whole jewelry box! You know, I need to take you to the jewelry shop sometime so you can start figuring out your style there, too...."

Yes, he's going to spoil her.
cacophonish: MOPI (15056819)

[personal profile] cacophonish 2024-09-01 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
She knows him. She knows him, and she's happy to see him, with a joy that isn't colored with any confusion, or disappointment, or annoyance, or thinly veiled pity. It's a curious thing, something he hasn't experienced in what feels like a lifetime now.

Which makes a kind of sense. She's reacting to some dead, obsolete version of him, not him him, so if you really think about it, Jeff still isn't a source of joy, so much as he's intercepting it, and it doesn't belong to him, it's not for him, so--

Jeff's totally not braced for the hug. Really, the only thing that keeps him from totally stumbling is the Madame's embrace, and it's like... Like that collision of warmth and affection jostles something loose in his head. This is familiar. This is so familiar, like he's being greeted by family.

"Oh..."

He looks at her, their foreheads resting against each other, and a smile of slowly dawning realization begins to light up his face.

"Big Sis?"

Now it's his turn to throw his arms around her, a delighted laugh building in his throat.

"Sorry, I-- I went on a trip." In a lot of different ways. "My head's still all over the place, um. This is your place?"
graphomaniac: (smile)

The Grand Opening

[personal profile] graphomaniac 2024-09-01 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)

Lyubov comes by on opening night — back home, she would've maybe been more discreet, but here she's not got her old reputation following her. Here, few people know what to expect (and neither Zivia nor Cecil seem like they'd be judgemental, in any case).

And in any case, she's just coming to drink and show support to her friend.

She approaches Magne at the bar, and bows to her in greeting.

"Gitn ovnt, Magnyushka. The night goes well by thee?"

pineapplesalmon: (a quick suggestion)

César rolled a 1 here

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-02 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can do small. Maybe a ring?" César suggests automatically, because rings are small.

Obviously the only reason that suggestion is immediate. No subconscious reasons, really!
spaghettification: (the thinker)

[personal profile] spaghettification 2024-09-03 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
"For a while, it was. It was everything I dreamed of, as a child."

His smile is sad, though, and he doesn't quite look at Max.
pineapplesalmon: (a gentle moment)

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-03 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"[Magne knows Japanese pretty well.]" César replies in fluent Japanese, although his Spanish accent comes through in it.

He's surprised for a moment, eyes widening slightly before they soften, and he grows thoughtful. "They were scientists who went into the field to make the world a better place, and I followed them. Papí was more involved than many other fathers, splitting things equally with Mama. She didn't have to retire. I even helped with Rex. I'd just be a mad scientist if they hadn't raised me right."
lordoftheozarks: by gronckle @ij (Default)

[personal profile] lordoftheozarks 2024-09-04 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Technically, this could be considered my competition, however I am here for much the same reason as you; I am supporting local business. Magne and I have a reciprocity agreement. Anyone with needs I cannot fill will be pointed to her business and she does the same for me. There is no animosity between us. Quite the opposite. I support her fully in this endeavor as a friend and colleague."
lordoftheozarks: by gronckle @ij (Default)

[personal profile] lordoftheozarks 2024-09-04 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"A wise man knows to quit when he is behind," Erik purrs. "I do not think I have had the pleasure of meeting this other person, Dabi, but do send my regards."
lordoftheozarks: by gronckle @ij (Default)

[personal profile] lordoftheozarks 2024-09-04 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"You would be most welcome. I may even be tempted to give you a pro-rate in the spirit of friendship." Not just theirs, but Max's too. He's noticed how close they are.

"Experience tells me that it may be a harder sell to some outside the strange sphere of this island but, if I am voted into the town council, I have every intention of proposing that once we do get that barrier down, we turn this little island into something of an, arts and cultural tourism destination. We have artisans of every stripe and it would be a shame to keep them hidden away."

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