Midsummer mischief

[bellbound]

1. Break-in at Samantha's flat, Kensington, mid-June (for Roddy and Dodger)

It seems like an ordinary night. Mogget is sleeping in his cat bed in Anthony's room, as he always does. The little boy is sleeping soundly, while Mogget is under strict instructions to protect the child and to never, ever ask or let him take off his collar. Mostly he avoids any sort of interaction with the boy; he's not going to risk getting his tail pulled.

Samantha sleeps in the room next door. Next to her is the bathroom and on the other side of the hallway is a spare room that is being used as a study. Samantha's laptop is in here, along with a number of files and other items related to her work.

There are wards on the house too, magical wards designed to deter fae (except him, of course) and to prevent witches from using magic to spy or break in. It's secure enough that they've never had any problems, although the security is nothing like as sophisticated as what he was used to at Sylvia Redbright's house. But Samantha's flat is also far less well-known; she doesn't use it for meetings nor does she advertise where she lives. She prefers to keep her home life private.

That suits Mogget just fine too. There's a glimmer of moonlight seeping in through the curtains as he sleeps, peaceful and still.

2. Magical Innovation Centre, Richmond, post-rave, 15th June (open)

He's given to understand that the police broke up a rave outside the premises last night and it certainly looks like it. Broken bottles and food wrappers litter the streets and there are several buildings with graffiti sprayed on the walls. This used to be a good neighbourhood. Now no self-respecting witch will go near it and so Mogget has been sent in to assess the damage and take a look around the building – hopefully without getting caught.

He pads across the lawn in cat form and pauses to sniff at a discarded flyer. Hillingdon have got a lot to answer for.

3. Litha celebrations, a park, 21st June (for witches and allies)

He hasn't been an Unseelie for millennia and yet this day still makes him either sleepy or grumpy. Sometimes both. Summer, even the cold wet English summer, is not his time. As usual the witches are doing their dancing and chanting around the midsummer bonfire, while Mogget slinks away beneath a picnic table and watches from a distance.

As the evening draws on and the shadows lengthen, he loses interest, yawning a couple of times before curling up into a tight ball and closing his eyes. The celebrations will go on until dawn. Frankly, he'd rather get some sleep.

4. Choose your own adventure! Hit me up with your own prompt.

Comments

[knowntohisfriends]

"Think I need sendin'?" The Dodger replied, grinning at him. "Just might not like her."

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy, in the mean time, started to feel a bit nervous with Mogget there. He wasn't about to shift back right then, not with them right there and no privacy, so instead Roddy ran over to Dodger, running up the outside of his pant leg, up his shirt in order to reach his shoulder. He felt a little more defended in case Mogget decided to get the flash drive back himself.

[bellbound]

"I don't know," he replied archly, "or I wouldn't have asked. Tell me and I won't kill you."

That was 100% a bluff. Mogget had neither the power nor the inclination to attack them. He could have gone for the rat on its own, but not with a fae protecting it.

[knowntohisfriends]

There is a moment were the Dodger just wants to laugh in Mogget's face. He saw the collar - he knew that this bloke was bound to whatever it was the witch wanted and murdering a pair of 'kids' - not that he was one - probably wasn't going to be it. That being said, he's met those with right nasty tempers, and he's willing to bet Mogget's one of them.

"Like I said. Don't like her much."

[bellbound]

Sometimes the key to getting answers out of other fae, always tricky, was persistence. "Who sent you?"

He asked it again, staring down at the boy and his rat. Even a negative reply would tell him something, if only he could get an answer.

[knowntohisfriends]

"Myself," the Dodger replies with a cheeky grin. He's used to the getting asked a lot of questions he doesn't want to answer and technically speaking it's not a lie. Technically. On some level.

[bellbound]

"No one else?"

Just making sure.

[knowntohisfriends]

He gives a shrug. If you looked around, you found his connections to Fagin. That was about it. Like the Old Git couldn't deal with this one.

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy, who was still perched on Dodger's shoulder, looked at his clothes and started squeaking. Couldn't they just...grab his stuff and get out of here instead of talking to this terrifying cat?

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger gives a nod to Roddy and smirks Mogget

"Now, got places to be, if you don't mind."

[bellbound]

"Unfortunately, I do."

Duty demands that he can't just let them go. He'll have to make at least one more token effort. Which is why he transforms once again into a crow and swoops down, aiming to snatch the rat right off the boy's shoulder.

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger moves his hands quickly so they're covering Roddy. After all, not exactly fair on the guy that this bugger can switch forms that easily.

"Bugger off!"

[bellbound]

That means Dodger gets his hands clawed by the crow as Mogget lands on his shoulder, immediately flapping his wings to try and confuse the other fae while he stabs at Dodger's hands with his beak. Where's that flash drive?

[knowntohisfriends]

There is a lot of swearing and loudness coming from the Dodger at that moment, but it's not like he's going to let the damn familiar through to Roddy. He's not a flake.

[roddy_reinigen]

Roddy screeches, terrified, shoving the flash drive further into his mouth with one of his hands while he shoves himself even closer to Dodger's neck.

[bellbound]

Crows are surprisingly large, especially in comparison to a rat and a teenage boy, and there's a flurry of wings, talons and flapping arms as boy and bird stand off. Mogget gets a tuft of Dodger's hair, then Dodger's arm strikes out hard enough to whack the crow away; there's a caw that turns into a yowl as Mogget hits the ground as a cat (landing on his feet, naturally). He's dazed and annoyed, and in the second or two it takes for him to gather himself and turn around, Dodger is disappearing down the alleyway, the rat-thief still clinging to his shoulder.

So much for that. He tried. He won't pursue them any further.

...Samantha is not going to be happy. Mogget slinks back to the house where he can lick his wounds in peace.