As the other runners-up filtered out of the area and the closing speeches got under way, ResQ, Exorcist and the others made up their minds about the failed kidnappers and sent them on their way with some heavy warnings. The leader didn't seem to appreciate being threatened further, but held up his hands, taking as a fair cop in some fashion.
"Right, right, I get it. Everyone's a special snowflake an' we've all got to love and cherish all of them, sure, whatever. Like I said, no more trouble from us. Sooner we're gone, happier we'll all be. whole day's been a bloody waste of time and energy for us after all..." She shook his head as he lead the rest of his fairly sizable crew out through the gates — they were each checked over a little more thoroughly than some guests, after the warning that had been given to staff, but once they were on the outside most of them began to move towards the page exits rather than hanging around. The didn't seem keen on rising to any additional bait and simply endured Exorcist's scolding with hunched shoulders and turned backs as they made their way off.
On stage, Zenny had concluded her own standard event platitudes and gestured for Uprising to step a little more prominently to the front, extending a hand to shake with her. The rebel was wearing a vaguely wry grin while Zennocracy congratulated her on her combat prowess and the score she'd raised for charity. while the business-woman was keeping to the lines of a formal speech, more or less, and acting like Uprising was just another guest, there was a slight edge of frustration just delicately threading through the undercurrents, which in turn seemed to amuse the smaller woman even more. Of course, as much as the rebel seemed to share some kind of history with Zennocracy, she wasn't at all one of the other woman's business partners, so chances are she wouldn't be giving out whatever other extra special favour she'd wagered on that outcome, but the woman didn't seem particularly happy about not having to come good on her under-the-table offer for some reason.
"And of course, as a reward for your excellent participation today, we set aside a special prize! However, earlier in the evening..." her words trailed briefly as she realised that her planned lines wouldn't work. A slim light beam, terminating in a circling set of black and white piano keys appeared just to one side of the stage and a figure that Bhikki, at least, would recognise as the whippish, handsome man that had been guarding the front of the mansion appeared, stepping across to his mistress briefly and murmuring to her. Zenny's lip twitched and returned to the fixed, professional 'smiling because people are looking' expression she'd had to adopt a few times so far.
"Earlier this evening I thought to myself, we really must make a proper presentation of it, after all. So!" She raised one hand and snapped her fingers briefly, before a spinning shower of virtual zenny brought another set piece, the all-too-teasing centrepiece that Bhikki had reasoned against making na attempt on, into central stage with them. It looked every bit as valuable and glitzy as it had when the Buddhist had spied it the first time. Zenny tuned part way to Uprising, part way to the crowd.
"As the winner of tonight's event, this artefact, which we understand to be a very old record of considerable historical value, will first be donated to the appropriate archive for study and examination in your name, if you wish, and then auctioned to any interested in collecting such relics, with all proceeds to go to the charities you have all so graciously supported today. The gratuity for such a donation will also be yours to keep. Congratulations!" she clapped, encouraging the assembled audience to do the same while Uprising raised an eyebrow at her. Clearly, describing the exact back and forth of the process, and showing off the centrepiece, hadn't been entirely on the cards, and it didn't fit quite as well with the tailored sections of speech she'd already presented, but then then, if CrypticMan's instructions had been anything to go by, Zenny had been expecting a different outcome to this part of the award ceremony.
"Further more," she pushed on, attempting to hit her stride again, "because you've all donated so much for those in need, I believe I agreed to a small forfeit, so, let's find out what it will be! Nothing too naughty, I hope!" There was a layer of feigned nervousness in the words, but it was clear that Zenny herself was confident about this part at least. Despite her words, she seemed confident that it would be acceptable. This might well be the part that Bhikki was waiting for, in the hopes of seeing her handiwork on someone else.
"Now, the costume will be picked from a lottery of approved submissions, and while I draw it out, perhaps we can have a word from some of the people who provide such invaluable support and protection to navis in need. Please do come up on stage!" Zenny clapped again, stepping aside and beginning to attend to a large rotating apparatus that summoned itself onto stage near her. It looked to contain a large assortment of data crystals and packets, which were, presumably, the forfeit entries. CrypticMan had said that it had already been rigged, of course, and Zenny's casual confidence seemed to agree that she believed it still was.
With ResQ and Exorcist, the three sanctuary representatives that they'd gathered to themselves for protection exchanged quick looks with each other. Grace was the first to nod, followed swiftly by Rhinestone.
"I did have a little something prepared, I should go up. I'm sure we're all safe now, miss ReQ." Alongside her, Rhinestone rubbed his neck for a moment.
"Much thanks to you and not so much to Zenny or her body-guards... But I think for the sake of the crowd I'm not going to mention any of that. One way or the other, her organisation is still donating a very large amount of funds to each of us, and I'd rather not upset that promise with accusations." Standing back a bit, the red house matron had folded her arms beneath her bust and looked contemplative, but eventually shook her head.
"You should both speak, if you wish. Myself, I think I will stay away from the spotlight." Her retainers stood with her, though Kenmoete had continued to stay moderately close to Mary and, when she asked, gave small murmured descriptions of much of what was going on on the stage, in between the different parts of speeches. In a break, he paused and cleared his throat softly.
"In regards to your other question, Mary, I'm sure we could find plenty in common to explore, if you wished to. I serve my mistress, of course, but if you are ever in the Yoka area, and you happen to visit the secluded community where we provide sanctuary to those in need, I'd welcome the opportunity to say hello." He smiled and shrugged, but didn't seem eager to go into too much detail about his other form of work while he was serving as MadamaSanguine's body guard. Like Fuukouhan, he seemed to feel it important to keep the two lives apart, even when others knew about them. Meanwhile, Rhinestone and CascadingGrace made their way up to the stage, and each in turn began to speak briefly with a certain level of professional public speaking decorum. What ResQ and Exorcist might notice, though, was that while the two spoke each of the work they did, the actual descriptions were sparse on specific details. A certain element of secrecy was clearly still important, even when they were accepting charities from events.
During the speeches, Zenny drew forth a package from the lottery barrel — Bhikki would be able to identify it, conveniently, as the ribbon-wrapped one that she had left for her back in the mansion — and held it ready while they finished up. After they quieted she steppe dup again, still making a show of false nerves and grins.
"Well, let's see what the fates have picked for me for the rest of this evening, shall we?" With a confident flourish, she pulled the ribbon and her outfit began to shift. For the first time, the others would get to see the outfit that Bhikki had decided was suitable for their host. Most of her clothes phased away, replaced by the very sheer babydoll that did more or less nothing to cover her breasts from eager eyes, while down below only a very small fig leaf served to protect the final bastion of modesty beneath the gauzy, transparent fabric. Uprising whistled loudly, two fingers of one hand between her lips. The reaction from the crowd as was a little confused, with many cheering, but just as many uncertain about whether this was appropriate, or whether it was meant to be quite that revealing. Given the colour tones, Bhikki could rest confident that, regardless of Zenny's extra height and increased bust size, the outfit had still looked sexier on her, in private.
Zennocracy herself looked down, and froze as a stricken looked smothered her features. Her shock lasted a good two or three seconds before she rapidly folded her arms up to cover her chest, staring about for whoever had played this terrible trick on her. unfortunately, she had no-one to turn to, since it was supposed to be an unexpected lottery in the first place, but after a moment of grit-toothed panic she made sure that she was standing face on to the crowd, to prevent saucy angles as best she could, and kept her hands over her breasts.
"This is more than I agreed to..." she ground out in quiet tones; it sounded like she was talking to a specific person, rather than addressing the crowd, but her voice still came through and carried. On stage, Grace had put a hand to her mouth, smothering a shocked giggle and Rhinsetone had mostly averted his eyes, after a brief look. Uprising had no sympathy at all and gleefully threw an arm about the business woman's shoulder.
"Hey, it's all for charity, after all? On with the show, right, Zenny?" Her laughter was somewhat infections and it spread to some elements of the crowd, cutting the tension, at least for most people who weren't Zennocracy herself. Their hostess kept her smile on by an obvious force of will, her cheeks growing increasingly bright while her eyes glared daggers at uprising. At last she nodded and tried to resume the ceremony, but now she was clearly struggling and her words faltered a few times. As she struggled on, ResQ and Exorcist both received a message, though it only revealed an error while trying to list the course.
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"A fun evening all around, ladies. When you've had your fill of giggles and your done with the faire, I'll meet you where I left you, and we'll talk about your rewards."
Presumably, CrypticMan considered their work completed, as much as it was going to be, but they'd have to make their way back to the shady tree near where they'd first arrived to see how they went.
