Lambeth Territory Claim: May 2nd [OPEN]

[baisant]

The news of the announcement of Nora's stepping down to pass on her position to Samantha hits Jean-Claude like the crack of the lash of his youth. He needs no witch's skill of divination to see where this is headed. Samantha has lost the support of the Night Council, so now she has found herself a seat upon it instead. She is already the Mother of Witches, and it is only a matter of time before her corruption seeps through. Those who are not strong enough to stand against it will either be turned in her favor or crushed under her heel. He may have only spoken to her the once, but he understands ambition when he sees it, and he knows her type. She will not let anything get in her way, no matter what the cost, or who suffers it. All in the name of her 'cause'.

Jean-Claude is not a particularly reactionary vampire, but in this instance he feels he can make an exception. The word goes out for those in the Nest who wish to participate to gather together, one hour after nightfall, at the Imperial War Museum, before they fan out across the territory from there. Jean-Claude's orders are clear. There will be no merciful duel of representatives this time. He has given Daybreak more than enough leniency and look what it has wrought -- now they must be cut down to size. Stand your ground and win this fight tonight. For your honor. For the dignity of vampirekind. And for the Nest.

He knows he must make a statement with this territory claim, and so a statement he makes. His hair tied back low on his head, his usual vest and jacket discarded for the evening, his white shirt making him seem even paler than usual in the dark of the night, the collar undone to his breastbone so that every now and again there comes a flash of the nasty scar of an old wound on his chest as he moves. The first witch they encounter recognizes the force of vampires approaching and begins to cast against their approach, sparks arcing from her hands like lightning. Jean-Claude whips ahead of the crowd, moving quick as a flash to catch the woman up against his chest and cradle her to him. Extending his fangs before he sinks them in to the side of her neck and drinking deep of her blood. She struggles against him and it has been a long time since he has fed like this, it excites the animal part of his brain that wants nothing more than to hunt and chase and eat and eat and eat. Forcing himself to tear his head back, he gazes back at the crowd, blood trailing down his chin and spotting onto the white of his shirt, the woman limp in his arms.

Steadying his gaze he reminds them, "Only if they fight, mes amis. But if they fight -- tonight, there is no holding back."

Comments

[baisant]

Jean-Claude cocks his head at the cat. He does not mind the way that Mogget throws slings at his person. He has heard worse, of course, and after all he has spent the better part of the evening terrorizing their people.

"If I have the will," he repeats, and raises an eyebrow in return. Do go on, the expression says. He wants you to spell it out for him. He is far from stupid, which means he knows exactly how these negotiations should work. Leave nothing implied or open for interpretation. That is how mistakes are made.

[bellbound]

"Call off your vampires." He says it like he's stating the obvious, because he is. "Stop the attack. We will not attempt to resist."

They've lost. Resistance is futile.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude steeples his fingers before him across his knee, studying the cat for any hint of expression although in truth it is a cat and there is little there to find.

"Won't you?" he asks, directly. "Will you agree to give the territory up to us in return?" He will not call them off until such a thing is guaranteed. That is rather the whole point of this endeavor, after all.

[bellbound]

He shakes his head in reply to the first question. "If you call off your vampires, we will not resist. We haven't the means to take the land back. Lambeth is now yours."

He doesn't sound upset about it because he isn't; Mogget is largely indifferent to all this land-grabbing except insofar as it inconveniences him. Perhaps that's why they chose to send him. He isn't about to get emotional and change his mind.

[baisant]

Perhaps he sounds indifferent because he is a cat, and cats always strike Jean-Claude as to be rather indifferent about everything. Regardless, he cannot say he is surprised by the fae's attitude. He wonders, for the briefest of moments, what he really thinks of Daybreak and his bond. But it's hardly the time or place to ask such a question.

"If the witches surrender," Jean-Claude negotiates, "then I will call off my vampires. Think what you will of our people, but if the white flag is raised, they will respect that. You have my word. We are here for the territory."

[bellbound]

"Consider it done." He can't guarantee that Jean-Claude will keep his word, obviously, but there's no reason for him not to unless he really wants to create a bloodbath. "I shall tell the witches."

Which leaves Jean-Claude to give the order to the vampires. Mogget stretches briefly, then turns around to call the retreat. He won't be sorry to leave the street for the comfort of a warm place to sleep. Fighting is so tiresome.