CHINESE WHISPERS (CATCH-ALL PLOT)

[threadspun]

Lillian needs to suppress a scream as she steps out of the portal and into Croydon. She snaps the portal shut behind her with more force than needed, the only thing she could do in the wake of the appointment she had with Quercus, the Oak King, and Merilineth, the Queen of the Green Wood. It was none of their concern their own subjects were being captured and enslaved? It wasn't interesting enough to intervene?

Don't they get how dangerous this is? How this could reach out beyond London if the ambitions were left unchecked? The idea of more witches being encouraged by what's happening here in London and trying to replicate it for themselves in their own lands made her stomach churn in discomfort and anger for the fae. The idea others trying to do this against their enemies in general, trying to justify this under a disguise of 'progress' and 'advancement', almost made her breathless in disgust.

For individuals who insists their goals were to keep things in balance, they-

She stays her thoughts since it wasn't right to doubt her Royals and she reminds herself that it could been much worse. They hadn't said no outright. Merely ordered her to watch over this and maybe they were right in that aspect. She couldn't sit out for too long. Not after what happened to her and the others at that centre. If she could show them London was worth looking after maybe they'll be willing to do something.

How? She isn't sure yet but she's willing to start small. Make allies, stop troubles, gather resources. There's a good place to start too-

Before Gregory left, he warned her of a string of incidents happening over at Redbridge and Waltham Forest. Some people disappearing, some people being assualted or killed in supposed muggings gone wrong. Not enough to gain attention from everyone but enough to have people whispering their concerns to their closest friends and their friends whispering it to their closest friends.

Sounds like something that could be useful. Or not. Either way she had to check it out.

[ backdated during scandal week 2017. the catch-all post for the plot regarding the string of vampire assaults! information about this post can be found here and top-levels for the mentioned events/steps to this plot can be found in here. if you'd like to have a closed thread related to this, let me know! ]

Comments

[ FOR JC; BEFORE THE 11TH ]

[threadspun]

[ she may or may not be over her head in this.

just a bit.

what she's gathered so far has her worried and, sometimes, she wonders if she should push through with her investigations or not but- after seeing everyone in pain or confusion over the attacks and disappearances, it only strengthened her resolve to see this to the bitter end.

even if it somehow had her meeting the duke of london central himself. in all her time of being here in london, she's never met one of the considered elites of the community. (at least in safe conditions.) this unnerves her but she does her best to keep a level head during the meeting, knowing it could be a chance to not only help those in need but help her and the fae as well. ]

Duke- It's an honour to meet you. [ she curtsies, unsure of how protocols with vampires really goes but it wouldn't hurt to stick with tried and true methods of etiquette. ] Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to meet someone like me. It's- It's a surprise, truth be told.

[baisant]

[Jean-Claude is not used to taking visitors that he has not met before, but he will generally give anyone a chance he can that gives him one in return. She's quite charming, with her curtsies and her stuttering at him. He isn't certain whether it is because he frightens her or for some other reason besides, but he rises from his desk nonetheless to greet her, gesturing to the chair opposite him across the table. He would normally meet visitors in his office, but he does not know her, and he cannot be too cautious here. Unfortunately for his visitor's nerves, this means they are meeting in a corner of the club, and while the table is discreet, there is a thumping beat in the background as a club favorite struts his stuff on the stage across the way.]

Not at all. I am always grateful to receive visitors.

[threadspun]

[ lillian had always insisted to her parents - more or less what she called the pair of fae who took the time to raise and guide her - that she was not sheltered. she was over a hundred years after all. at this point she's seen and heard it all. not much could faze the faery here.

… except this. this is definitely something she's never experienced before and it's obvious with how red her face is becoming when she can't help but turn to the source of the music and oh. it takes her a second to look back at the duke and a few more seconds for her brain to work again.

maybe they had a point after all but now is not the time. she tries to keep her chin up and ignores how warm her cheek feels to focus on the discussion at hand. this was a serious matter that had to be dealt with. ]

I hope I'm not considered the troublesome type then. [ here, she flashes a small but well-meaning smile. she honestly doesn't want to be a pest. she wants to help out with this somehow. ] You must have learned about my recent investigation over at Redbridge and Waltham Forest.

[ and the type of questions she was starting to ask. ]

[baisant]

[He tilts his head at her slightly, though the expression in his eyes gives nothing away. It is like this with some of the older vampires -- and perhaps the older fae as well, but especially the vampires, who have been Other for so long they have forgotten how to be human.]

Perhaps I have, although it is not always wise to assume anything, now is it, mon amie? Tell me, how may I help you?

[threadspun]

[ here goes nothing: ]

I need your help regarding the incidents over at the East End Pack's territories. [ lillian's face is red, bright and obvious, though it's hard to tell if it's from embarrassment still or from the mental exertion of gathering all her courage to request that.

what can't be denied, however, is the steely determination in her eyes and the certainty in her voice. she does her best to keep her voice low but she never wavers nor allows her voice to break. ] I know this is the work of a vampire. One who goes against everything the Nest stands for. I've seen what they've done and I wish to stop it somehow.

[baisant]

[Jean-Claude cannot help but admit to himself that he admires her determination. He has always admired a person who obviously knows what they want and is not afraid to ask for it (though he appreciates it if he shares the same desires, to be true).

He moves to lean his chin in his hand, regarding her carefully for a long moment as he does.] And what do you propose to do to stop it, then?

[It intrigues him, the fact that she has gone through all this effort to have collected the information about the vampire and then brought it to him. He finds himself rather charmed, all things considered.]