undergrounds | [Open] June Catch-All for Shea's Characters!

"Yes," Sylvia agrees, smiling as she shakes Laura's hand. She won't go into the details of what exactly she's busy with. The newspapers are chronicling that for the benefit of all. "Well, it's not often that I get a call from the East End Pack. Please feel free to take a seat. Would you like a drink? Tea? Coffee?"

It'll take a minute or two to sort out the pleasantries, Sylvia calling for an assistant to bring in the appropriate drinks, then she gestures for Laura to join her in the seating area in one corner of the office. There's a coffee table, comfortable sofas and a pot plant, all designed to make it feel like a more informal, friendly place to have a chat. And hot drinks too, of course.

Sylvia pours her tea, adding milk before stirring. "So, how is the pack?"

"Tea would be lovely, thank you," Laura says, taking a seat. She sets her purse down at her feet.

Laura sets a few sugar cubes into her tea cup before she pours, only adding milk after. "Good- I've really been enjoying my time there. It's a different experience, from what I'm used to." She sets her spoon to the side. "We've seen many losses, but I think it's only made us more unified." She hadn't been here for the bounties on pelts, but the murders still deeply disturbed her.

"I will say, joining the East End pack has really been the most welcoming experience I've had in a long time." She really can only speak fondly for it, for those she'd met there. There were a lot of kids, it seemed, young people. Hopefully, most of them hadn't activated their curse.

"Good," Sylvia says, mildly approving. She sips her tea. "I'd heard you were divided over your friendship with my people. Perhaps I was mistaken?"

She hasn't heard much to suggest that the wolves are in any way unified right now – but then everything she has heard has always been in context of their dealings with Circle Daybreak, not the pack acting alone.

Laura gives her a bit of a nod. "Yes- there are those that cannot abide by what Ms. Okeke has promised. But there are those, too, that see the benefit to what she has been working toward." She takes a sip of tea and sets it back down on her saucer.

"One thing we're all united in, however, is our distaste for our current President and his ilk." The vampires had too much power. And right now, they needed to spread it evenly across their community. It was why she was here, after all.

Ah. Now this seems like she's getting to the point. Sylvia puts down her tea, clasping her hands in her lap.

"Mr Borgia, yes. I wouldn't expect you to be a fan." She smiles thinly. "I'll confess that neither am I, though I'm sure you can understand why."

She's allowed at least a few months to be bitter, right? That seems reasonable.

"Yes, yes I can." Her smile is a bit tight. Poor Sylvia. "You have my deepest condolences and sympathies, for the way this all happened." She couldn't say whether or not Sylvia was innocent. That wasn't for her to decide. But the way it happened? Not cool.

But that was politics for you.

"Which I suppose brings me to why I'm here. The East End pack is trying to represent a more united front; and perhaps find our way on to the Night Council." She was going to be transparent about that. Sylvia may to be the President anymore, but she still had power. Power, and a keen political mind.

"We'd like to see, well, a bit more democracy, I'm hesitant to say." She can practically hear herself saying 'murr'ca when she talks about democracy. "And unfortunately, I didn't see much of it in the latest Presidential election here. Two vampires running to represent the whole supernatural community?" She shakes her head.

"The others in the running dropped out," Sylvia replies, smiling slightly as if to say funny, that. She suspects some political manoeuvring went on behind the scenes. Interesting that the pack chooses now to express an interest in joining the Council. Perhaps the vampire ascendancy has galvanised them. "But democracy is democracy whether or not you like the candidates, and you did have your vote. You didn't put up a candidate. What do you want to do next?"

Her eyebrows raise, and she nods. Yes, extremely.

"It seemed silly to put up a candidate when we didn't have representation in the first place, I suppose. Admittedly, I was still in the States for that." She inclines her head just a little.

"Which is part of why we'd like representation on the council. As for what I'd like to do next, I'd like to propose an alliance, between Redbright and the East End pack, and your word that you would aid us if we choose to go up against Islington."

Well, then. That is interesting. Even a year ago she wouldn't have considered it. But with things the way they are now... Sylvia is silent for a moment, leaning back in her chair to consider.

"That's an interesting offer." Which is true, no more, no less. "Islington has been... volatile lately. I think you have reason to be concerned. If they prove to be a threat to your people, an intervention might be the only option to preserve the peace."

That's a long-winded way of saying that if the pack can give them a justification, she'll be willing to lend her support. All they need is a pretext. Better too, she thinks, that the pack are the aggressors and therefore draw Islington's attention. If she plays it right, this could work out very well.

Laura pauses with her teacup half-way to her mouth, her lips curling into a smile. "Of course. And, likewise, should Islington move against your school, you can expect our support as well."

There, everyone could win. Except, ideally, Islington.

"That would be appreciated." Sylvia decides that she likes Laura. Maybe it's that twinkle in her eye, but something about the other woman reminds her of herself. "Forgive me for asking, but... do you have the authority to make that promise? Does your alpha approve?"

She knows that Katherine has already been burned by an alliance with one witch, and that she's not exactly a favourite with many wolves given her history. But maybe they're ready to let bygones be bygones.

"Of course- I wouldn't dream of coming here without offering our help, in exchange." She likes Sylvia, too, though there's something so familiar about her that just makes her ache.

"Yes," Laura nods. She can understand Sylvia's hesitation, and she doesn't hold it against her. She's only been here for two months, still very much an outsider making her way in.

"Then I think we have a deal." She smiles broadly, and leans forward over her tea to shake Laura's hand.

This is a new direction for her school. She thinks it might prove rather interesting.

Laura does the same, taking Sylvia's hand in hers. She gives her a good, firm shake, a politician's shake.

"Thank you. You will not regret this, Sylvia."

[Open] June Catch-All for Shea's Characters!

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