[May 20th-30th] Another Cause for Me to Fight (Richmond Territory Claim)

[dirtyredneck]

He'd been sucking it up for months. Holding back waiting to see if Daybreak would get off their ass and do something about the shit that had gone down in their territory since Raymond's rise (which ended promptly with his fall, a thing Daybreak had no hand in). But all they'd done in Richmond was decide to build that eye sore of an insult to all non-witches. 'Center for Magical Innovation'. Bullshit. Center for slavery of non-witches was more accurate. Starting with the fae.

When Faolan had spoken against it, Daryl had hopes that maybe what little loose leadership the clan had might be ready to get up off their ass and do something. But that didn't happen and a month passed while the Center sat there, getting used. It's visitors abusing folks in ways it was hard to get any proof of. Just rumor and small confessions of a few fae who'd been able to slip away. Some of the stray cats in the area talked about it, too. Didn't like how it 'felt'.

Another month had almost passed and Daryl was done with waiting. He'd set up small patrols with others he'd trusted among Hillingdon months ago. Stuff to help protect the residents in the ways that Daybreak had been neglecting to. It wouldn't take much to turn those patrols toward doing something more.

Richmond was basically his territory already. It was time to make it Hillingdon's too.

(Specific prompts in the comments)

Comments

[cabins]

Laura had heard all about this from some of the younger members of her pack. The ones who were apt to be more politically active in this time and place. She'd been learning so much about the politics here in the last month, and one thing that really upset her was finding out that the Mother of Witches was advocating for what amounted to magic slavery.

And, well, as an American and a former witch, she was super against this. Not. Cool.

The problem was that Katherine supported her, and it was a bad decision to go against her Alpha. But Laura couldn't stand by and watch this. She had a seat on both sides of the aisle. Sure, siding with Daybreak would perhaps win them a seat at the Council table. But all of those around them had made their declarations of loyalty clear. To stand with Daybreak would be stupid.

So here she was. Disobeying her Alpha in order to stick to her guns. Which, in this case, meant she was going to take some of the gorgeous flowers on the property, and use them to decorate her kitchen. Petty, but pretty.

[threadspun]

Well… Lillian was planning to light the flowers and other shrubs on fire but this is good. And less destructive.

Tucking the lighter away in her coat, she approaches Laura and politely clears her throat to make herself known. Then raises her arms, letting it be known that she's a friendly face- Honest! She has no love for this centre. Not by a long shot.

"Need help in that? I can recommend you a lovely flower arrangement with what they have here."

[cabins]

Less destructive, and a bit prettier, maybe? At least for a longer period of time? And who knew if there were people in there, after all.

Laura looks up from the bunches of flowers she has admittedly yanked from the ground. Fae. She can smell it.

"Oh, I'd love some," she says brightly. "As far as I'm concerned, these flowers are free to everyone, if you're interested."

[bellbound]

"Are they?" an arch voice interrupts. "I'm afraid not. You must have been misinformed."

They've had an unusually high number of attempted break-ins and property damage recently, which is why he's here, but he has to admit that he didn't expect to see the polite werewolf and the escapee Seelie together on the grounds. Apparently stealing flowers.

Mogget is in human form, dressed all in white, so Laura may not recognise him but he knows that Lillian will. His green eyes fall on the Seelie. "I see you've returned of your own will. Shall I escort you inside?"

[threadspun]

At first she does look scared but then the fear gives way to anger and indignation, remembering the cruelty she and the others were subjected to. Her body language changes, clenched fists and a rigid posture reflecting her feelings at the moment. Like hell she's going back in there. Like hell anyone is ever going back in there if she could help it.

"If that's the only thing you can threaten with me, I do suggest using it sparingly." She smiles and it doesn't reach her eyes, giving Mogget only the bare minimum of respect. After all, only one of them here is the free fae. "It does lose its impact after a while."

She takes a deep breath to calm herself and looks over to where Laura is, her expression softening in apology. "I'm sorry you have to be here for this… disagreement. Feel free to keep getting the flowers if you want. The ones over there- They last for a while, they'll be excellent additions to any arrangement."

Giving advice on picking flowers while trying to avoid getting recaptured by a minion of the Daybreak witches. Not exactly how Lillian thought she'll be sending her time.

[cabins]

The smell is familiar- something so incredibly cat, coming in along side a stronger sense of fae. She doesn't recognize the man, more than that. "Oh. Pity." She drops the flowers, and takes a careful step over them.

"She isn't going to be going anywhere she doesn't want to, today, sir." Laura informs the man, before turning to the woman. "You don't have to apologize for anything. This isn't your fault." An escapee, then. One who'd seen what was inside the center.

And came back to the scene of the crime.

[bellbound]

The Seelie is the one who has chosen to return to the scene of her imprisonment of her own accord, so she only has herself to blame. Mogget isn't fazed by her response. It's nothing unexpected. What is unexpected... well, actually, not so unexpected given the rebellious tendencies of the pack (when did wolves become so badly behaved?) is Laura's response.

He turns to the werewolf. "Laura Roslin. Of the East End Pack, I believe. Why are you here?"

It's an odd scene. They must know each other, but how?

[threadspun]

Grateful that someone was defending her, and the attention was diverted slightly, she takes a step back to keep herself out of reach. Just in case because like hell she's ever setting foot in the center against her will ever again.

Keeping quiet, she also looks at Laura when the question is aimed at her. East End Pack...? She hadn't known that bit. Didn't they still have an alliance with Daybreak witches?

[cabins]

Yes, the wolves did. But Laura had differing opinions.

"Am I supposed to be impressed you can Google?" Laura asks the pale man, looking at him over the top of her glasses. Seriously, she's used to people knowing who she was.

"I'll leave the flowers, but sir, I'd appreciate it if you let my friend here leave, as well."

[bellbound]

"Your friend," Mogget repeats, raising an eyebrow. "Is she?"

If she is, then the extent of the East End Pack's betrayal is even worse than he thought.

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy, meanwhile, had been encouraging the rats to dig and chew and generally cause destruction and mayhem when he recognized Laura as 'that teacher lady he talked to while waiting for his train'. And she was picking a flower, which might mean she was a part of their efforts?

Heading over, he greeted her, "Hey, if you'd like to grow some of those, too, I saw a quite a few of those same flowers dug up roots and all. Crazy what the local wildlife will do around here, right?"

[cabins]

The smell of rats is back. She'd previously only smelt it in the tube, but it causes her to look up even before Roddy speaks.

"Hello!" She can smell him so much better now, but she's happy to see a friendly face. "Really? That's fascinating. I'd love to have a few, start a garden." She stands, brushing off her skirt.

"How are you?'

[roddy_reinigen]

"I'm good. Spending a lot of time around here, actually. It's been very interesting."

Particularly the parts where he got to trash things.

"What about you? Have you been spending any time on the...redecorating efforts?"

[cabins]

"I don't suppose it would be wise to admit that out-loud," Laura says with a careful look over the top of her glasses. "But I've got a few places I think could do with a fresh bouquet." She gestures to the flowers.

[roddy_reinigen]

"Yeah, you're right. Although with all the vandalism that's been going on here lately, I sort of feel like they're just ignoring it."

But, perhaps, it was foolish to assume that was true. Maybe they were just letting Roddy dig himself into the kind of hole that was far more unpleasant than the kind his rats were digging.

[cabins]

She glances over at some of the graffiti on the walls. "Mayhaps. Let the artists get bored after a while, repaint the walls."

She humms as if it's almost a pleasant thought. "But I don't fault the vandals."

[roddy_reinigen]

"Of course not," he agreed with a grin. "I mean, sure, vandalism is illegal, but really, that building could really use some redecorating."

[cabins]

She looks at the building.

"It really, really does."

[roddy_reinigen]

"I should probably go soon. I've been trying to keep these visits frequent, but short. I'm guessing I'll probably see you around?"

This was the second time they spoke, after all, and he seemed to run into the local wolves fairly often.

[cabins]

"I'm guessing, yes. We've seemed to have that luck. For next time: I'm Laura." She offers her hand to him, transferring her flowers to the left hand.

[roddy_reinigen]

"I'm Roddy," he said, before waving as he took a few steps to leave. "See you around!"

And with that he headed off, planning to strike again at some later point.