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: (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."
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."
maximumcake: (wistful)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-06 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"[You seem skilled at speaking it too]" Max responds in Japanese. His accent is about right for Tokyo, but he's not speaking nearly as quickly as a native speaker would.

He listens in quiet awe as Cesar describes his family. It sounds... picture perfect. He knows no family actually is but... with how gentle and kind Cesar is, he can kind of believe maybe they were.

"If I ever get to be a dad, I hope I can be like that too. Splitting things equally is what I'd want. They sound so wonderful; I'm sorry I can't meet them but you're keeping their memory alive so well I feel like I can get to know them through you."
pineapplesalmon: (friendly smile)

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-11 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
César grins wide at the Japanese and then lets that part drop.

"They were. I hope to be a father if I can like that, too." He waves off the next question with a hand. "We have the tech back home. I'm doing my best to keep their memories alive, so I'm glad it's working."
maximumcake: (wistful)

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-15 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Max's eyebrows do go up a little in confusion until Cesar waves it off. Duh, of course, they have advancements like that where he's from already. A sudden and powerful warmth floods his chest just for Cesar and Magne. If that's what they want, then he hopes with all his heart they get it.

"It's working," he assures Cesar, firmly. "You're going to be such a good dad."
pineapplesalmon: (a scientist's humor)

You know it's funny that they're both talking to Max about marriage in the same log...

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-15 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
César laughs, warms and feeling a little breathless as his chest fills. "It's a decision we'll make together. But I hope so. She'd make a good mother."
maximumcake: (Default)

it's so sweet i'm getting cavities <3 okay to start wrapping it up here, though?

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-09-17 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"She definitely would." Max slaps Cesar on the shoulder. "You two are going to be the cutest old people together, too. You have so much to look forward to."
pineapplesalmon: (friendly smile)

:D Ye and we are getting close to bonus with 3 more comments

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-17 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
César can't grin any wider; I've run out of new actions to describe. "I'm looking forward to that, too! God!" He has to look at Magne again, but that's not really new, either, is it? "Still can't believe we met my first night here! That's gotta be some sort of record."
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."
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."
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."
pineapplesalmon: (a pause from science)

okay let's start wrappign this up for other stuff :DD

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-09-27 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"If there's any dreams I can help you achieve, let me know." César slides up next to Max and puts an easy arm around his shoulders. "And it feels good to have not only friends, but a whole community."
maximumcake: (wistful)

agreed!

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-10-01 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"You both already are by letting me cater for your business. And letting me make it all just a little bit suggestive, too." That's his favorite.

Max's shoulders relax in Cesar's embrace. "It feels better than good. It feels like... being home."
pineapplesalmon: (warm and loving)

[personal profile] pineapplesalmon 2024-10-16 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"We had to share the fun."

César pauses and rolls that lost word in his mind, his smile turning towards something more... loving. "Home. I like the sound of that."
maximumcake: (wistful)

Good end?

[personal profile] maximumcake 2024-10-18 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," Max agrees, sharing that look. "Me too."