Making Friends

The Cerulean Estate was one of the large towering black monoliths in the Golden End, now swarming with expensive vehicles dropping off high class clientele for the evening’s mockery of a charity ball. White satin banners detailed in gold, elegant script how the night’s proceeds would go toward some named foundation – a name that Kimuimoqua didn’t recognize – which likely meant it was a front for either the criminal Shpacchad or the corrupt Electors. Perhaps both. The amount of money that had been spent on décor, catering, all the clothes… Never mind whatever joke of a donation the attendees would be making in front of cameras set up, for pre-writ speeches. It was all a glittering show put on in the cool wintry evening for the common vnou. Ripping them off and mocking them.
Though Kimuimo wore a sleek black gown that was criminal in cost, it was nothing to the cinched waist and glittering evening gowns of the other women around her who looked like they were literally decorated in precious gems. Flaunting nobility connections to those in the know, advertising their wealth.
The doorman was one of the more modestly dressed, at least by initial appearance. His suit was stark black on black, tailored to fit across his broad chest and define his arms while they were crossed. He was collecting the parchment invitations without really looking who they were attached to – except his too green eyes seemed to zero on Kimuimo early on. Like he knew she was going to be a problem.
Drawing herself up, she marched up to him and presented her invitation. This one he looked at before passing it back. “This says Thlach.” A dismissal.
She extended the creased invitation back to him, her face heating since she was now holding up the line at the tall glass doors. “I am Thlach. Kimuimo Thlach.”
He didn’t look back down at the gold script name on the invitation. “That’s for Department Head Garoacho.”
“Yes, well, he was called away and I’m here.” Her tone dropped a little. “I’m taking his place.” She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder at the not-too-subtle vnou waiting behind her. Their gossip wasn’t quiet, remarking on the plain dressed problem holding up the event, leaving them stranded out in the cold.
The door guard glanced over her shoulder, considering, before he finally took the invitation.
Garoacho wouldn’t be thrilled with what she was doing but someone had to talk to Rodeuskiss. If he wouldn’t accept her requests for a meeting, then she’d just have to crash his party.
The interior of the Cerulean Estate was just as fine as the outside, perhaps more so, with high ceilings that had crystalline chandelier hanging as glittering art. Massive lights that dominated the space, big enough they’d not fit in her apartment living room. Hanging over polished marble floors. The heavy techno-orchestra music that Alqua was known for played in the background. Not too loud to drown out conversation but enough that it played over the stuff of shoes and click of heels. It was something of an ominous undertone to he supposed charitable evening.
The main ballroom floor was decorated in white clothed tables with elegant crystal table settings. Some places had been reserved with scripted names on folded cards while others were open to the fringe guests. Near the center of the entire affair at one of the larger oval tables, surrounded by sharply dressed vnou, was Rodeuskiss. Unlike many others, he did not have a plus one. Though many vnou flocked to him, there was a notable bubble of space. Respectful distance acknowledging the powerful vnou was already Connected and did not wish to be bothered. That didn’t mean he didn’t draw a flock of vultures. He’d need but snap his fingers and he’d have a dozen tripping over themselves to fall into his lap. And a dozen more happy to use more violence than necessary to pry those people off.
“Disgusting, isn’t it?”
The comment came from a dark skinned vnou that was shorter than Kimuimoqua, dressed in a black and silver suit. Slender, with stylishly messy gray hair and almost pink eyes. He was… cute. Were it not for the lazy confidence in the way he stood and sipped at the champagne glass, she might have thought he’d slipped in much the same way she had. Unattached and not exactly welcomed. “Ah, which part?” she asked, opting for careful.
Her new conversation friend was not so. He indicated the crowded table in the center with a lift of his half empty glass. “That filthy lot. If they aren’t careful, they’re going to get drool on the floor.”
The flippant comment actually had her smiling despite herself. “Not a fan of the Shpacchad?” No point in denying who the man was. Didn’t matter he was a criminal, no one in Alqua was going to do anything about it.
Pink eyes slanted in her direction and the smaller vnou’s mouth twisted into something between a scowl and a frown. “His presence complicates things, don’t you think?”
She nodded. As an attendant wandered by, the pink-eyed vnou snatched up a glass for her and offered it while supplying, “My name’s Amier.”
She accepted with a small, grateful smile. It felt like she might have someone on her side. “Kimui.” After a sip to collect her thoughts, she glanced in the direction of the group in the center. “You here for the charity?”
The other vnou scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Hardly. The Shpacchad doesn’t need any of my money. Nor does the suck-up Elector that’d fall in his lap if he leaned any far forward.”
“Who?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Amier gestured with his glass again, his other hand in the front pocket of his black slacks. “The vnou in the silver-gray suit and dark blue tie leaning on the table? Strong wind would blow him on the Shpacchad.”
Kimui filed that tid-bit away for later, committing the Elector’s face to memory. “Are they…?” From what little she’d been told about the Shpacchad, he was Connected to a Bya tucked away in some costal vacation home.
Amier shrugged a shoulder and half turned from the laughing crowd, looking around for another server with a tray. His glass was empty. “The Elector would drop to his knees and crawl under the table to blow the Shpacchad if he thought it’d secure him more votes coming up.”
She laugh-coughed into her carbonated drink, recovering quickly. “Know much about the going ons in the city?”
He shook his head, swapping out his old glass for a new one. All of his attention was on her now, dismissing the rest of the crowd. “Not really. Just city gossip. Shit everyone knows. You must be new then?”
Kimui shrugged a shoulder and glanced toward the Shpacchad. “Kind of. New on assignment in the city, any way. My Supervisor has been trying to get a meeting with the Shpacchad for over a year now and I thought…” She stopped talking and made a face at the smaller vnou. She shouldn’t be spilling her little, rude plan to him. It was folly but it was still her folly.
Pink eyes boring into her, he took a sip before smiling just a little. “Thought to crash the party and demand an audience?” Though it sounded like he was teasing her, there wasn’t anything malicious about it. Not that she could see from someone she just met, anyway.
“Well. Yes.” Having it said aloud actually had Kimui deflating. It was a bit reckless and foolish, but he was right there. Granted, now that she saw just how many he was surrounded by, what was she intending? To march up to his table in the middle of that entire crowd? Her family would be furious. She’d known that going into it, but at the time, she’d been filled with righteous indignation.
Amier lifted his glass and indicated one of the fringe tables without a reservation card. “That sounds amazing. Maybe I can help.”
She didn’t move to sit. Instead, she frowned a little. “Why would you do that?”
The pink-eyed vnou who seemed to be her new friend glanced at the group in the center then lifted his glass in their direction. “Fuck’em.” His grin after was infectious. A bit wild and certainly dangerous, but she got the sense his problem with the Shpacchad was to her benefit. At the very least, she could sit and listen.
As it went, the two of them spent the vast majority of the evening drinking and enjoying the very expensive party. Sharing tib-bits about themselves while picking at those around them. Kimui felt like she was sitting with an old friend, commiserating over being in a place neither of them really wanted to be. When she’d asked why he was there, he’d bemoaned a familial obligation. Painting the picture of a trust-fund kid who did as they were told, however reluctant, and acted out when the situation suited.
Neither was Amier afraid of the Shpacchad. When she’d prodded in that vein, he’d shrugged and given her that same wild, infectious and dangerous grin. “I’m not important enough for them to bother with.” The Shpacchad were big-time criminals, operating on a city-wide scale. Amier’s animosity was nothing to such a large organization and it all really stemmed from their obnoxious parties that he was made to attend and play nice at.
Kimui could agree about the obnoxious displays. She couldn’t very well tell Amier that she was attached to an expansive family herself that represented the people and the law in the city. It’d have sounded a little hypocritical coming from her since she’d been find bending the rules trying to get to the Shpacchad, but also because she got the sense that Amier wasn’t someone who was overly friendly with the law…. And he was the first vnou who had been friendly just because.
As the evening winded on, he eventually tapped his glass to hers and indicated one of the swinging doors that the staff had been using. “You should take that door. Follow the hall to the end, past all the doors on the right. Take the exit on the left. It’ll have the sign over it. It’s going to feel like a long walk. Just ignore everyone and walk like you belong back there.” Her questioning look was met with a smile and he tapped her glass again before nodding toward the middle of the party, where the Shpacchad was standing. “He’s leaving. The exit will take you to the back, near the parking garage. Take a right once you’re outside. Be quick and you’ll catch him before he’s in his car.”
“How do you…”
“My family owns the building.” He nodded toward the door. “Go, now. Before you miss your chance.”

This is a small scene that takes place in Alqua featuring Rodeuskiss Kalerilosa, Dya'Shra-Zar Orasamier Zhu'Drahinuaw, and a newcomer to the city. A little look into how the city functions around the Shpacchad while toying with Rodeuskiss and his Bya, Orasamier.