undergrounds | CHINESE WHISPERS (CATCH-ALL PLOT)

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! ]

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Circle Daybreak has an interest in this matter too. As an ally of the pack, Mogget has been sent to investigate East End territory and trace back the source of these disappearances. He has just finished speaking to the brother of one of the missing when he turns around and almost walks into a rather surprising visitor.

"You." They're in a bar mostly frequented by werewolves. Not the sort of place he'd expect to find a Seelie, let alone one of those that escaped from the Innovation Centre. "What are you doing here?"

She probably hasn't seen him in this form, with two legs and hands and very pale skin, but it's still recognizably Mogget. And he remembers her.

He has to forgive her for looking surprised and looking uneasy upon realising who was speaking to her.

One minute she has an easy smile on her face after that successful conversation and the next minute she has a look of caution on her. This maybe a new form she's never seen before but she detects his magic. She recognises Mogget from that festival months ago among… other places. This isn't a good sign in her eyes.

Subtly as she can, Lillian pulls back a notebook she had set on the bar counter and slips it into her bag. No need to have that be a topic of conversation.

"I'm here to meet someone while having a round of drinks," is all she says, choosing her words carefully to not reveal too much. One of the things she doesn't like about being a fae is how she can't tell an outright lie. "We just finished. Would you… like a drink?"

"No," says Mogget. Brutal honesty can have its perks. His eyes are sharp and he didn't fail to spot Lillian slipping what looks like a notebook into her bag. She's here for more than just a drink. "But I'll offer you a bargain. Tell me who you're meeting and why, and I won't send in a witch to recapture you."

He steps back to take a seat at one of the bar stools by the counter, giving her an expectant look. If she doesn't want to run again, she might as well join him.

Edited 2017-05-17 18:35 (UTC)

Immediately Lillian is rankled by the threat, the memories of what happened to her and the other fae still fresh in her mind. She always had a harder time keeping her emotions in check compared to other fae, usually having no issue in letting her feelings known. As a result the unhappy scowl and the indignant furrow of her brow is as clear as day.

But... She doesn't want anyone else to find out she's here. Most especially a witch from the Daybreak faction who might report back her presence here- If he wasn't going to do the same.

Grudgingly she takes the seat next to him, the bag placed behind her to keep it out of sight.

"Wrene Hillond. They're a college student who resides at Redbridge." And a shapeshifter for one of the minor packs who fell in line with the East End faction. It took a bit of digging and bribing to find that tidbit out but hopefully he'll provide that one piece of the puzzle she thinks will confirm a theory of hers. "A friend of theirs was a victim of a fatal mugging gone wrong. Supposedly."

"So?"

It's a minor news story. Nothing that would be of interest to most fae, although his kind are always an unpredictable lot. Mogget knows that this so-called fatal mugging is not an isolated incident. There have been a number of disappearances which is why he's here.

He really hopes it's not why she's here too. Talk about interfering.

"I merely wish to give them support in these trying times. Lend an ear to their troubles and a shoulder for them to cry on."

Not a lie. She wants to comfort them while trying to discuss the case and get the information she needs so the dots can be connected. Not that she'll say that. A lady never easily tells her secrets after all. Besides, she already fulfilled her side of the bargain - he only asked about who she was meeting and why. It may not be in spirit but it was in word.

"Can't I show interest in others and wish to help them?" Not all fae are flighty and cruel, whimsical and arrogant.

"You may do as you please," he replies, with the faintest stress on the 'you'. "But you must know that these wolves are allies of Circle Daybreak. I have been charged with aiding their plight."

Some of these same wolves might have helped to capture her or other fae on behalf of the witches. He can't imagine why she would offer them any support, especially without a price.

Darn it. So he's also looking into it as well. Suppose it makes sense considering the strange alliance East End and Daybreak had at the moment. Hmmm- She can't help but wonder if Daybreak will really do anything about the problem or continue focusing on their own agendas. She wouldn't put it past them to quickly side with the enemy of the werewolves if this whatever-it-was proved to be more useful in battle.

For now she files that information away and does her best to look harmless. She's the picture of innocence with her too kind smile and her cloyingly sweet voice, "I'm sure that you're doing whatever you can to aid them. I had no idea that there was a problem here at all! A 'plight' you say? That sounds quite serious."

Lillian does have her own agenda for wanting to aid the werewolves, of course, but she does want to help. It's not just werewolves who are getting hurt. Innocents, passerby at the wrong place at the wrong time. There's no way she's turning a blind eye to the many over what some have done. (And she does get something from this. She first needs to prove her worth though.)

"Doesn't it," Mogget agrees. "Your ear and shoulder must have been quite busy. A shame that sympathy alone does not solve a problem. Still, perhaps you have done all you can. Your services are no longer required."

But he will be sure to ask the werewolves what a Seelie is doing snooping around like this.

"Au contraire. I have quite a busy day ahead of me. A lady never tells her secrets but I can that I still have people to meet, places to go." That sort of thing. She'll let him decide where she's going next and who she'll be seeing after this. "I have a feeling that this trip of mone won't be done just yet."

Does she push her luck, make comments? Hm- No. Lillian wasn't that foolish enough to try and anger someone whose allegiance was with Daybreak. Especially when they were stronger than her, restrained or not.

So she opts to stay her tongue and shrugs, keeping her smile on her face. "But feel free to carry on whatever you're doing. I would hate to try and dictate what one does when all they're trying to do is help."

Because that's what they're both trying to do at the end of the day, isn't it?

That's a lot of words to say nothing. He clicks his tongue.

"Don't get in my way."

And with that he stands, turning to leave.

CHINESE WHISPERS (CATCH-ALL PLOT)

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