If Saija pouted at being denied her express ticket to the bedrooms, and hung off Dare's arm like a girl denied sweets, she didn't actually seem particularly averse to Dare siding with Drisco and sipped her drink instead. The kitchen space itself was certainly empty, except for the three of them, and this far into the back ways of the mansion, the sounds of the party were faint at best. Short of the serving staff having to open up another kitchen due to unexpected demands, it seemed more or less a non-case for them being discovered at this point.
Alas for her desire to truly privatise their evening shenanigans, the kitchen exits didn't actually possess doors of their own. The way they'd entered was a simple archway, while the scullery exit, too, was an open doorway with no way to close it off. The door to the guest chambers was a little better, but not much; it was merely the traditional pair of mid-levelled swinging doors that one could always see right past, or push through while carrying heavy trays. It had a tiny latch, but throwing it wouldn't really make much difference to anything. Still, there was no-one around; they were almost certainly safe, for now.
Being thrown the reigns again made the male amongst them laugh and he set his drink tray down so that he could turn about the room with his hands spread wide, observing. As with many mansion-grade kitchens, this one was both efficient and neatly packed; the surfaces were clear, and yet every vertical surface seemed to be a cupboard or compartment for holding all the various tools and utensils and serving staff might need. The wet area was clean and dry, the preparation counters were smooth and polished, and overall the scene was perfectly neat and orderly.
When Drisco finished his brief inspection he raised an eyebrow to Dare and extended both hands towards her palms tilted upwards and inwards, as though he longed to appreciate her with more than his eyes.
"Daring One! If you leave this challenge to me, then I have indeed a suggestion for the three of us to compete in!" There was a dangerous eagerness in his voice now; it was still warm and congenial, of course, but there was just a hint of sultre and heat behind it now as well. "What say you to this: I will hide the trophy you desire somewhere in this room. The goal is to find it, and it may be anywhere at all, but I must tell you three places that it might be. It will be in one of the three, but there is a catch, daring one... Before I tell you the three locations, you must first choose; whether you will search for the trophy yourself... or allow Saija to search for it instead." He chuckled again, fanning his fingers and crossing his hands back and forth over each other, a little bit like a magician preparing a trick.
"If you search, Lady Dare, but you search two of the three locations without finding it, then Saija and I both win a favour from you. If you find it first try, you win a favour from each of us, and for being a poor hider, I will also surrender token to Saija as well. Finding it on the second search, will win you my trinket alone, but in turn Saija will claim from you for your first failure, and I will claim from her for fooling you once." Still grinning, he raised one finger and waved it back and forth slowly.
"If you select Saija to search for you, however, the tables are turned: If she can find the trinket in her first search, you will owe her a reward, in thanks, and I will claim from you as well, for your poor choice. Of course, Dear Saija will also win favour from me for her cunning..." H inclined his head to her, chuckling deeply before continuing. "If she cannot find it in two searches, you and I will both win a reward from dear Saija, for her failure, and I will surrender a trophy to your wise choice as well." He turned his gaze towards Saija and winked, flashing teeth. "Of course, finally, if Dare makes you search and—" Here Saija released Dare's arm long enough to wave a hand at the Netfrican-looking man.
"I don't want your cuff-links, Dris... how about if I can win a trophy from you, you promise to help me win the next game," she flicked her eyes coyly to Dare. "And whatever prize we decide on for that one?" Drisco laughed aloud, clearly amused by the other woman's conniving, and took another sip of his own drink.
"Ah, dear Saija... always with one eye to the future, yes? I like it! I will play against those odds and gladly... how about you, oh Daring One?" He returned his gaze to Dare, making an open-handed gesture to her, somewhere between inviting her to join, and challenging her to back down. Unlike the last game, this one was clearly a test of bluffing and wits, but also one that Sajia could still stand to win from even as increasingly inebriated as she was. The real question was just how solid Dare's own wits were at this point, given how much she'd have, and was actively being encouraged to continue having. It seemed simple enough on the surface, but the game he proposed had a lot more variables than it first appeared.
"Remember, Daring One... I must hide the trinket first, so I cannot change my mind after you choose who will search... but you must then choose who will search before I will reveal the three possible locations. I do think it is quite inspired, myself, for the chances to win are even for all three of us, no matter what choice you make, and yet it remains a battle of wits, without our dear Saija's growing merriment giving unfair advantage." Still smiling those bright white, perfect teeth, Drisco stretched and folded his hands behind his head, eyes twinkling.
"Of course, if you do not like the game, we can always follow dear Saija's yearning for softer, more comfortable settings, no?"
On the face of it, the rules were perfectly simple... but if dare had been paying attention so far, she might be noticing how simple rules were routinely twisted up around technicalities and tangled more thoroughly than a kitten with string, around these two navis. So many facets of what was and wasn't allowed had gone unstated, and between these two, the general practice so far had been that if it wasn't specifically ruled out, anything was fair game... it could be fun, or it could be embarrassing; the question was whether it was a risk Dare wanted to take, or if the alternative was any more palatable.
Rules Quick Reference
Dare Searches:
Find First Try: Dare Wins from Dris, Dare Wins from Saija, Saija Wins from Dris
Find Second Try: Dare Wins from Dris, Dris Wins from Saija, Saija Wins from Dare
Fail Twice: Dris Wins from Dare, Saija Wins from Dare, Dris Wins from Saija
Saija Searches:
Find First Try: Saija Wins from Dare, Dris Wins from Dare, Saija Wins from Dris
Find Second Try: Saija Wins from Dris, Dris Wins from Dare, Dare Wins from Saija
Fail Twice: Dare Wins from Saija, Dare Wins from Dris, Dris Wins from Saija
----
In a more refined setting, Ante was making a sterling effort of recovering her composure. As she gathered her wits and regained something approaching calm, Hoodwink wasn't blind to her backing off, but like an experienced angler was more than happy to let the line run out for now; for now, the hook was well and truly set, to his mind, and so patience was all that was needed. He inclined his head to her, crossing his free hand over his chest respectfully.
"Of course, Ante. I know that you are a woman of deep refinement and character. I understand, and I hope you know that my only wish is that you enjoy every moment of this evening as thoroughly as possible." Still holding one of her hands, he covered it with his other and stroked softly once. "I long to stay beside you, and help ensure that, but as I said, I've tarried from my duty far too long already. It will not wait longer, I'm sorry." He stood then, keeping on hand extended and holding hers as though to help her stand as well. "At least allow me to escort you back to the ball before I take my leave, Ante. It would make me very glad for even a few more moments with you."
If he was expecting her to rise with him, however, Hoodwink blinked in momentary surprise when she moved right into another topic. He had already guessed her character well enough not to actually expect anything saucy when she reached for her dress, but curiosity turned to eye-twinkling glee as she brought out the small crystal fragments. He received them with both hands, looking at the small, beautiful sprays of crystal with fascination, then turned his gaze back to Ante. In a flash, the crystals disappeared up one sleeve for safe keeping and Hoodwink himself dropped to one knee in front of her, so that they were of more appropriate height again, rather than him standing above her. He took her hands in his once more, still grinning broadly with his eyes dancing.
"Oh Ante, I cannot tell you how wonderful that is. I'm so glad that you managed this, even while enjoying your night. They are perfect. Absolutely perfect. These are precisely the exact sort of thing I was hoping for; you could not possibly have done any better than this, Ante. If I thought you would permit me, why I'd kiss you again!" His elation over such a small trinket was palpable, and quite possibly infectious too. "This is wonderful, Ante, just wonderful!" He didn't make any forward actions, but instead settled for raising the back of her hand to his lips once more instead. "Though it's a game I set you, I still feel as though I'm in your debt, for it brings me such joy. Thank you, Ante. Thank you." With another smile for her, he stood once again and stepped back slightly, reaching down an offering hand to draw her to her feed and, hopefully, link an arm with him so that they might return to the ball... if she still wanted to, of course.
----
Once she was on her own again, Fold, ever with the mission goal in mind, decided to take the most direct route to finding her target; Zenny's personal line clicked open as she made her request. There was a moment of silence before the other woman's short, business-like tone came back to her.
"Fold, yes? I should scold you for using this line in anything other than an emergency, but to be frank, you seem to be the only one of the three who is actually doing the task I set you with any level of diligence." There was a pause and the sound of a soft sigh. It was easy to imagine Zennocracy pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"So, you're after the oaf. I thought it would more enjoyable for everyone at the party tonight if he was conspicuously silent, at least for a while, so when he asked one of my servants where he could find the bar, I had them direct him to it... via the pool, the health spa, the squash courts, and the garage. With any luck he'll be walking around all night before he realises he's been sent for a ride. Ask one of my footmen to lead you to the garage, and meet him there. He'll forget being agitated at me the moment he has someone to talk to. At. Whatever." Without waiting for any sort of response or answer, the line clicked off again; Either she really meant it when she said she was always busy, or else Zennocracy really didn't believe in talking to the hired help any more than was necessary. Either would probably be a safe bet, really.
On the bright side, Fold had managed to get the information she needed without too much fuss, and it would only be a small matter to take the attention of one of the liveried servants passing back and forth. Any navi bearing the Scotsdale uniform and crest would greet her politely, if she engaged one, and lead her right away, by a notably more direct route, of course, to the estate's garage.
When most people think of a parking garage, they tend to envision a side structure of some sort, maybe enough for one or two cars to shelter in, and perhaps some extra room for tools, or a small workshop, if one were feeling particularly extravagant. If Fold did, indeed, decide to pursue this particular course of action, however, she would discover that what members of the Scotsdale family meant by 'Garage', was an expansive undercroft situated on the rear left side of the mansion, which extended for easily a dozen or more places, and as many again deep, with ornately arched and vaulted architecture creating a refined, cave-like feeling that suggested both age and fine preservation. The vaulting itself was higher than it needed to be for simply storing cars, and it created a feeling of air and space while the torchlight danced and flickered; there were no omni-present or artificial lights in this portion of the estate, and they had instead designed it true to original, with actual torch brackets on the four sides of each supporting column throughout the garage. There were enough that the space was well-lit nonetheless, enough to see that there was no-one else present as of yet.
What were present was a fine selection of different motor vehicles, prominently showing off the most favoured designs from several countries and different designers, as they had progressed through the decades. It would be anyone's guess as to whether, here on the net, the cars were functional vehicles, or simply data displays; the line was both fine and blurry, after all, but either way, the majority of the spaces were filled with one elegant design or another. The foremost lots held very specific vehicles, as signified by small placards propped up at the front of each space: these ones represented the favoured vehicles of every Scotsdale family head since the invention of motor vehicles The final slot, however, marked as representing Zenith herself, housed a sleek black motor bike instead. It bore no branding of design icon, and seemed, rather to be a completely custom design, though overall it was a low to the ground shape that was designed for speed and would keep the driver almost horizontal when they were seated properly. The body showed minimalist curves and just a hint of femininity to its form. If this was Zenith Scotsdale's transportation of choice, it showed an interesting oddity of her character that one might not have guessed simply from her portrait.
Appreciation of motor vehicles aside, the area was empty, for now, and Fold would probably have a minute or two to explore herself, before her rendezvous with the body-builder.
