DATE: 07/10/12

PROPOSAL BY: AngelLynne Moonshadow

GROUP NAME: Sticks n' Stoned Teashop

TYPE: Teashop

SLURL: Teleport

BACKSTORY: To the casual visitor the Teahouse is a tranquil and relaxed oasis of calm in this chaotic city. Relax and sip high quality green tea, enjoy a conversation with a Geisha or watch her dance, listen to Shamisen music or receive a nice 'foot' massage or participate in one of our many Japanese cultural events. On special occasions the teahouse can also serve Sake, but that is not for everyone. However... a quiet word in the right ear to one of the staff will get you a meeting with somebody from 'The Teahouse Agency', a group of Japanese style surveillance and close protection operatives available for hire. With a closely guarded reputation for the utmost discretion, Clients can use the Teahouse Agency when they want a bodyguard with self control, who will blend in and does not look like a shaven headed beefcake on steroids, but who is still prepared to stand between a dagger and the client. Also renowned for subtle observation and intelligence gathering skills, the Teahouse Agency will seek to provide bespoke surveillance and analysis reports on individuals, businesses or groups with 'no questions asked' and discretion guaranteed. Although never admitted to, a super-secret department of the Teahouse Agency will consider 'wet work' contracts for clients who have gained the trust of the organization. The Teahouse Agency is run from the shadows by Angelique (AngelLynne Moonshadow) while the Teahouse 'front end' is run by Suki Utukii. Angelique relies on Suki to be the agencies discrete representative and 'first port of call' for prospective clients or recruits, she is also helping Sukii hone her skills to become an effective operative. The two girls share a bond from a somewhat similar background and motivation. This proposal is a joint venture between Angelique and Suki to manage the existing Teahouse.

UNIQUE: It operates on multiple levels. Staff and visitors can RP simply within the legit 'front' Teahouse as it exists today, or delve more deeply into the sinister underbelly, creating intertwined RP story lines and an opportunity for criminals to 'contract out', protecting themselves, putting tails or 'contracts' on their enemies heads and staying one step removed from reprisals or subsequent investigations. It will provide fun opertunities for RP throught the whole DE community including the DEPD.

EXP:Angelique: Although new to DE, I have been doing RP in SL for three years. I love the attention to detail here in both the builds and the RP. I am very keen for the Teahouse Agency to operate to high standards of fair play. I see it as an opportunity to create some exciting and intriguing story lines, but the emphasis must be on a professional approach and subtle RP, with operatives who use patience, stealth and discretion over brute force. Limits must be respected at all times and curteous OOC communication required in IM before any actions are taken against potential targets. I would ensure that all applicants to the agency are committed to such fair play and display a good understanding of the importance of the RP concepts required for this. Suki: Suki is an alt of Syn Rosa and her typist is therefore quite experienced with roleplaying in Dead End and leading a business (the Shelter for seven months). Playing with Angelique has been divine and she can handle everything coming to her while leading the teahouse, in which Suki as well as her typist will support her all the way.

IDEAS:We propose to organize various Japanese events in the teahouse. Suki will give Geisha dancing performances as well as dancing lessons. She also performs on the Shamisen. We will of course also have tea ceremonies and maybe celebrate the change of the seasons in a Shinto manner (we would also like to request that a hot tub be placed in the cellar for Japanese bathing). Geisha are renowned for listening (and spying), so it will be a natural hub to get all sorts of information in the teahouse and then use that to serve our more discrete clients. Loyalty to a client is of course a matter of principle and honor. It is also wellknow that the Japanese intelligence used teahouses as a front for their spying activities. We are not working for the authorities, but for our paying cutomers, but the principle will be the same. Potential recruits will be interviewed and required to RP training. Whilst operating outside the law in a disciplined way, the agency will be constantly looking over their shoulders and attempting to dodge the attention of the DEPD. This adds a nice place to gain or lose all sorts of information, help with existing story arcs as well as create new ones.

OTHER:The proposal is a joint venture between Angelique and Suki to manage the existing Teahouse. We both feel it is important to keep the spirit of the place alive following the departure of the previous manager. The 'Teahouse Agency' are not a gang, but a business of highly disciplined mercanery agents who will provide services if the price is right, the client is deemed trustworthy and discrete, and if the mission does not conflict with the strict (but somewhat warped) honour code of the organisation. They are not invincible ninjas or triads, simply trained professionals. Whilst capable and ruthless, the emphasis and over-arching philosophy of the group is to stay in the shadows. They will shy away from publicity in favour of anonymity and seek subtlty over glory. To create a 'fuss' being seen as the hallmark of the unskillfull. Suki Utukii was born in Japan and raised to carry in the family tradition of the Geisha way. But her father had gotten into some quarrels with some Yakusa family and they retaliated in an extreme manner. Suki witnessed her parents being murdered and to keep her silent she was kidnapped and shipped off to America. She ended up in Dead End where she was intercepted by the Shelter Angels and then adopted by Ming Yheng as her daughter. Over the months Suki has learned English and worked mostly in the teahouse. She is engaged to Rigor Clawtooth. Over time Suki did very well as a Geisha in the teahouse, until someone kidnapped her and sold her off to the Darkroom, where she got abused. She did become close friends with Fae, the owner of the Darkroom, but Ming saw that differently. She was forbidden to meet Fae again. Because of the whole adventure Suki has gotten in touch with her sorrow and her feelings for revenge and to use that, she has taken on the habit of wearing her mother's hairpiece, which has a dagger hidden inside. Suki doesn't hesitate to kill or wound those that obstruct the family honor or the honor of the Teahouse. Since Ming left Dead End, Suki feels she has to carry on carrying the honor of the Yheng family name. She will do that in her own quirky way of course, always choosing cuteness over effectiveness, clumsy as she sometimes can be. Angelique grew up in Japan, the daughter of a British diplomat (who secretly worked for MI6). Her childhood was priviledged and sheltered until the day her mother was murdered in a botched sex attack. Desperate to see his daughter beter able to defend herself her father used his contacts to have her trained in the art of combat and deception. Her slight form and unassuming demenour masking her natural ability and vigorous training to her advantage. As she matured, Angelique added to and used her skills to form a security consultancy, moving to the US to seek her own path in the world. She studies the wisdom of the ancients but uses the tools of today, and has become expert in techniques of electronic surveillance. Deep beneath her calm and polite exterior burns a rage at her mothers death, that seeks justice with whoever she deems suitable to receive it.