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: (Default)

Yeah, we can do it!

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-20 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
He loves to hear her laugh like that. It's so good to hear. Maybe a little too good, because here he goes blushing again. She can probably feel the heat coming off his cheeks as she smooches him.

"I know. But you better tell Cesar he has to tell me at the same time you do, or else he might beat you to it." Wink.



maximumcake: (Default)

okay! let's get that bread

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-20 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Max is internally squealing with how cute it is that Cesar just cannot stop looking at Magne. Did she magnetize his eyes? No, but she may as well have.

"Sometimes you just know. After all, I met Valdis on my first night on the Serena Eterna, and we've been inseparable ever since."
maximumcake: (pic#14146358)

For Magne - After Edgar/Erik conflict

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-20 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
It's the following day after the events of this thread. Max needed some time to collect himself after, but now he feels bad for leaving without giving Magne any explanation. So, with his head hung low in contrition, he approaches her.

"I'm sorry about everything that happened yesterday. Can we talk? I, um. I should explain."
pineapplesalmon: (gently smiling)

think this might be wrapping up soon?

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-22 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
César lets out a happy sigh at the kisses, then rests his head on her shoulder to lazily kiss her neck, letting out a sniff of his own. "Yes, I promise. Just try and stop me from talking to you now. And you'll do the same?"

He files away the neighborhood grandparents for later. Damnit. He really needs to ask what's possible. Maybe they can be more than just the village grandparents, although that sounds great, too.
stonecoldtop: (gaze)

[personal profile] stonecoldtop 2024-09-22 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Partitions is a good idea, I think," George answers after some thought "Sections where one one knows they can proposition if they wish, and sections where they know not to. Without a history of culture and expectations built up here, the simpler the better. When there isn't laws or issues of society to skirt subtlety largely only serves to foster confusion."
misbegottendreamer: Dagoth Icon (Default)

[personal profile] misbegottendreamer 2024-09-22 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"I might see about investing in one. That sounds like a wonderful experience."

There's something so delightful about having access to hot, clean water, and it feels so wonderful against her skin. It soothes her own joints, too.
lordoftheozarks: by gronckle @ij (somber)

[personal profile] lordoftheozarks 2024-09-22 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The room is warm and cozy and yet some part of him feels like his entering it now despoils it. He's steeling himself for the worst. If she says go, he will without a word of protest.

"It involves him because, in the world we came from, I owned Max as a slave. In our vampire culture, he was referred to as a Human Pet. I'm sure you agree the difference is negligible." No point in mincing words. Better to get that brutal truth out in the open.

"The situation is complicated, and before all else I want you to know that I did what I did to save his life. But it is not hard to understand why that boy holds such anger against me, given what I've done."
lordoftheozarks: by gronckle @ij (Default)

[personal profile] lordoftheozarks 2024-09-23 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"If I ever do, I promise to politely never say so." He's a whore for a living, Cesar, you're not going to shock him.
lordoftheozarks: by gronckle @ij (intense)

[personal profile] lordoftheozarks 2024-09-24 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"For life, or whatever approximation of it that I possess," he agrees.

His eyes widen when she pulls forth the blade. Not in fear, but in astonishment at the offer.

"I appreciate that very much. But, I don't wish you to feel obligated. As I said, I do have enough to sustain me. More than that is purely for pleasure."
pineapplesalmon: (gently smiling)

BREAD

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-24 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Magne's quirk doesn't work on herself. But she doesn't its help to keep César's eyes from finding her.

"You two too, eh? No wonder we're friends." César tears his eyes away from Magne, almost failing. "Thank you for making Magne's days all the brighter, by the way. She really cherishes your friendship."
pineapplesalmon: (a gentle moment)

Woo, wrap!

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-25 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
César lets a little laugh at his cheeks being pinched—it's familiar and silly. His smile mirrors hers. A moment where they don't need to speak and can simply be. But all moments pass, and this one does, too.

"I couldn't have come up with a better plan myself. Let's go."
maximumcake: (Default)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-25 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Bully me?" Max says with a burst of laughter. "As if you'd be able to stop me? Please, do come tell me together so I can congratulate you both and hug you both at the same time. I'll be so excited for you."
pineapplesalmon: (ah well uhm haha)

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-25 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
César grins bashfully, and despite his embarrassment, manages to joke: "I appreciate your discretion in this matter."
maximumcake: (Default)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-25 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"I cherish her friendship too, and yours," Max says, with the tone of voice that implies there's really no thanks needed.

"It feels good to help my friends achieve their dreams. I couldn't be happier to be here."
maximumcake: (pic#14146382)

Do we want to handwave them going home together, or separate?

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-25 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Max sinks into that hug without another word, clinging to Edgar like he may never let go.
maximumcake: (pic#14146358)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-25 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I wanted to apologize for running out so suddenly," he starts out, nervously settling himself opposite her at the table.

"I really needed to talk to Edgar and... after that I needed some time to think. I meant to come back but I... didn't. I feel like I owe you an explanation."

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