Protecting the family home

[bellbound]

1. Don't leave your phones unlocked, kids (for Cesare)

Ever since the break-in at her flat, Samantha has added one more unpleasant trait to her many character flaws: paranoia. Mogget knows why she's so concerned. The flash drive that was stolen from her study contained incriminating evidence – not of herself, but of a certain Peter Vrinak. It was evidence that she was using to keep him on the straight and narrow and she doesn't have it any more. Vrinak has already defied her wishes by voting in favour of the summoning ban. The question is: who stole it and what are they going to do with it?

Mogget has a feeling they'll find out sooner or later. There are already signs of discontent amongst the masses if the peace protest is anything to go by. But for now, Samantha is suspicious of everyone. Everyone, including the vampire President she's sleeping with – yes, he knows about that too. Which is why on one of his visits to the Night Council HQ she asks him to sneak into Cesare's office, take a look around. Just in case.

So he does. He sneaks into the office one evening while the place is relatively quiet and takes human form to browse through the documents on Cesare's desk, searching for anything suspicious. Boring, boring, boring. The laptop is locked, he won't attempt to get into that. He's a familiar, not a hacker. But there's Cesare's phone, carelessly left on his desk, and a few quick taps gets him access to... well.

He really didn't need to see any of that.

Awful, gushing messages, terrible attempts at flirting and pictures. Pictures of a certain Lydia Bennet. He can only assume that she's trying to look enticing. Frankly, it's all in very poor taste.

Thankfully, he's interrupted by someone approaching. Mogget looks up, then hurriedly puts the phone down and transforms into his cat form, jumping up on to the seat behind the President's desk. Better not to skulk. He'll curl up on that chair in the same way that any cat curls up in any chair: like he owns it. Like he's meant to be here.

2. Don't trust sugar daddies (for Lydia)

It's unfair that he's the one to be given this task, really. Any witch could talk to her. Maybe they already have. But no, Samantha is still paranoid and thinks Cesare may be extracting Circle Daybreak secrets from Lydia as if the girl has anything but cotton wool in her head.

So it's up to him to talk to her. He sends a message ostensibly from Samantha's phone ordering her to meet him at a witch's circle in a small private park near her home. The cat drapes himself across the grass on the outer rim of the circle, turning his white belly up to the sun. Maybe she'll turn up, maybe she won't. He thinks Samantha's command will be enough to impress or scare her into coming. Either way.

3. Don't try yoga (for Desmond)

It's at the end of another coven meeting that Mogget turns up to check on Desmond. Perhaps by now he has come to see the benefits of consuming liquefied kale and contorting his body into unusual positions. Perhaps he's even learned something from that basic book of spells. Regardless, the cat slips by while the other witches are filing out and goes on a somewhat meandering route towards Desmond, unable to resist brushing his whiskers past the large exercise ball next to one of the yoga mats.

He approaches the witch. "Settling in?"

4. Don't interrupt a cat nap (open)

For the rest of the month, Mogget can be found in various locations. He's at the Magical Innovation Centre a few days after it opens, paying a visit with Samantha. The difference is, this time he's the only fae in the building. The atmosphere is notably subdued, nothing like the triumphant mood of the Centre's first opening.

Other than that, he spends an awful lot of time asleep on roofs around the Kensington area, or else in Kensington Gardens, his favourite park, soaking up the July sun. At night he hunts there too, chasing mice through the grass, or lying in wait for his prey, green eyes alight. It's all part of keeping an eye on magical activity in the area: Samantha wants him closer to home to protect the house and protect her son.

Which means if there is any magical activity nearby, he will investigate. He has to.

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

Comments

[longterm]

Cesare has been negotiating.

With a city to watch over and his own political interests to protect, he's been quite busy indeed. In fact he was out of his office to have a quick chat with Peter Vrinak that contained polite but thinly veiled threats that he should get back into line. He'll only be out for a moment, Cesare thinks. It's just down the hall. He won't need his phone with him. Though perhaps in hindsight he should have kept it.

He walks back into his office, not expecting anyone to be there and certainly not expecting Mogget. Why is he here? And why is he in Cesare's chair? He frowns.

"What are you doing in my office?" he asks, resisting the urge to swear but only just.

[bellbound]

"The Mother of Witches sent me," Mogget replies, which is of course true. He can only speak the truth. "I think she might be displeased with you."

When she finds out about the messages on Cesare's phone. And she will soon, because Mogget will have to tell her.

Incidentally, he's not budging from the chair. Cats never do.

[longterm]

The Mother of Witches sounds a bit too formal for Cesare's taste, as if Mogget is attempting to pull rank. Cesare knows Samantha. He knows certain parts of her very well indeed. He doesn't need Mogget to use such a formal, power play of a delivery. Of course, this could all just be Mogget being respectful towards his mistress, but Cesare doesn't consider that. Instead he rolls his eyes.

"Is that so? And why is that?" he asks though mentally he's already dismissed the cat's claims. Cesare has been playing exceptionally fair, he thinks. He's defended Circle Daybreak and the witches at every opportunity. There is nothing for him or Samantha to be worried about.

[bellbound]

"That," he answers, lifting a paw to point at Cesare's phone on the desk. "Take a wild guess."

He imagines that the pictures will be first to spring to Cesare's mind, but if they aren't... Well, it must be something useful to know, mustn't it?

[longterm]

Cesare has a moment of panic, not because he thinks Mogget has seen his messages with Lydia, but because he thinks the cat could have seen a plethora of incriminating things. Cesare isn't quite sure what though. It's more of a reflex at having someone read through your phone. Personally, he doesn't think he's done anything wrong just yet.

Nevertheless, he doesn't react well. He frowns, clearly unapproving.

"So you're a spy now?"

3 - At Night

[outofthemanor]

Wednesday tends to prefer visiting London's many parks at night, primarily because then she doesn't need to be bothered with the annoyance of the sun. It's one of the many ways she spends her evenings. Well, those she has not been asked to work on - her employer does keep rather odd hours in an effort to keep people from actually buying books. On this particular occasion, she's been visiting an ancestor who happens to be buried within Kensington Gardens, near the statue of the boy who would never grow up.

Appropriate, really, all things considered.

She does spot Mogget from a distance, but does not seem to approach. She saw him, the day of the march at the Magical Innovation Centre, and she's aware that he is the familiar of the so-called Mother of Witches. She has a strong dislike for that lady.

[bellbound]

Meanwhile Mogget is preoccupied by something much closer to hand: a small scuffling movement in the grass, a mousy scent. He drops low to the ground, creeping forward, listening intently to pinpoint the location of his prey. He still can't see it in the long grass but he thinks he knows where it is. Mogget pauses on the verge, where the grass is still short, and tenses his muscles ready to spring.

Then he pounces, launching himself into the grass, and his paws close around the mouse's body, trapping it tight. He bites the neck of the mouse to kill it and emerges a few seconds later to continue moving along the verge with his prey dangling from his mouth.

None of this takes very long and while Mogget's white coat is conspicuous in the dark, he moves with the practised silence of a hunter. He hasn't seen Wednesday in the distance behind him and likely won't notice her unless she approaches or casts some magic that catches his attention.

[outofthemanor]

Curious as to why the familiar of the Mother of Witches would take to hunting mice, Wednesday approaches.

"Greetings," is her simple introduction of herself. She could put on airs, if she wanted, but simple seemed best for the current moment.

[bellbound]

He senses her approach and turns around, dropping the mouse at his feet. She's Daybreak. Mogget can always tell. That means in theory she's an ally but there's no guarantee that any of his allies should tolerate him, let alone like him.

"Greetings," he answers. "Rather late for a stroll. Have you come to tell me something?"

He's trying to place the young witch as he speaks, assessing her. They come and go so quickly.

[outofthemanor]

"I have no message for you," she says. "I simply am acknowledging your presence and wondering why the familiar of the Mother of Witches is made to hunt as though they were a house cat?" It's in a monotone, not accusing. Just a simple question, really.

3 - Daytime at Parks

[knowntohisfriends]

The Dodger quite likes Kensington Gardens. There's always a ton of unsuspecting tourists, too busy looking for a statue to pay much attention to their own pockets. A couple of hours spent there is a good return for him. Plus, well, they're just nice in their own right. Little bit of peace in the middle of London, something that's getting rarer.

He spots Mogget, soaking up the rays of the sun, and can't help but laugh. He looks around himself, making sure no one is really paying attention before he goes over. To anyone who does look, it would seem like a child playing with a cat. Innocent, harmless.

He was good at making things seem like that, sometimes.

"Ain't reckonin' that protecting a house includes playing cat in a park."

[bellbound]

Not innocent and not harmless. Mogget hisses when the other fae approaches, recognising him at once. What is he doing here? Out to cause more mischief for the Mother of Witches?

He gets up, tail lashing. "What are you doing here?"

[knowntohisfriends]

"It's a public park, mate," the Dodger says with arms wide. "Just here to enjoy the weather."

[bellbound]

"Then don't bother me." The cat's stare is flat. He knows the fae is a thief and no fan of Samantha's. Even if he is just here to enjoy the weather, Mogget will have to keep an eye on him.

[knowntohisfriends]

"Ain't a bloke allowed to come say hello?"

yoga with cats is an actual thing (but not today)

[trickofthelight]

Something that Desmond has discovered about this particular coven is that people are more willing to show him things the more he actively participates in the non-magical part of their routines. This means that Mogget's going to find him in shorts and hoodie, his only concession to the heat the sleeves rolled up his arms to expose the tattoo inked on one of them. Out in the sun so often, he's acquired more of a tan, the color making him look a little less gaunt as he stretches out his muscles, sweaty hair curling against his temples.

"Should've come earlier. You just missed the closing yoga session," he snorts, though he'll complete the stretch he's working on before he turns his attention to Mogget.

[bellbound]

Well, look at that. It's almost like he's fitting in. Mogget waits for him to complete the stretch, then sits himself down primly on the edge of the yoga mat.

"I hope yoga isn't the only thing you've been practising. Otherwise we will have little to discuss."

Please say that he's actually been learning some magic during this time.

[trickofthelight]

"Who says yoga isn't related to magic? Got to open myself up to the energies of the universe and everything." From the face he makes immediately afterwards, it pretty clear he's only reciting something one of the other witches said and that's not actually his opinion.

"But yeah, I've been practicing." He quirks his brows at Mogget, in slight challenge. "Do I need to past a test first, or something?"

[bellbound]

The energies of the universe. He's gone native already. Thank goodness Desmond is being sarcastic, otherwise Mogget would have had to retort with a caustic remark and it is rather early in the conversation.

The cat licks a paw. "Isn't that why you're here? To prove yourself to your people?"

Something about training to become a medium is what Mogget has heard, which is why he's here.

[trickofthelight]

The amusement on Desmond's face fades away into something more thoughtful, and he shakes his head lightly, though it isn't a denial.

"Something like that," he agrees, instead. It's true enough, though the people he needs to prove himself to aren't the witches. However, since he'll take that as an invitation to demonstrate what he's learned, he holds his hand out, concentrating.

A ball of light forms in the cradle formed by fingers and palm, which he'll proceed to gently roll across the floor towards Mogget. It's not really solid, but it'll react with the same physics a real ball would, if it's bumped into.

[morevacant]

When Lydia gets the message, she considers just screwing it up and forgetting all about it.

But, curiosity gets the better of her. Why has Samantha sent for her? Has she eventually come to her senses and realised how important she, Lydia, is?

She turns up, somewhat grumpily. "What do you want?" she snaps, at the cat. How disappointing. Samantha herself hasn't even bothered to come and see her. How rude.

[bellbound]

"Rude," says Mogget, calling it like he sees it. "Did you never learn to show respect to your elders?"

A butterfly flutters past his ear and he bats a lazy paw at it. It's really a lovely day; he should probably pass on his message and be done with it. But then she probably shouldn't have snapped at him.

[morevacant]

"You're a cat," Lydia replies bluntly. "And not a very nice one come either."

She rolls her eyes and resists the urge to just walk away as Mogget takes his time playing with insects.

"Hurry up, Fleabag" She snaps again. "I've got better things to do with my day than wait for you to cough up a hair ball."

[bellbound]

Wow, even ruder. Clearly this isn't going to get any better so he hits her with it:

"We know about you and Cesare Borgia."

His eyes are fixed on her, unblinking. He's just going to let her absorb that one for a second.

[morevacant]

Okay, so she wasn't expecting that.

"I... what? We? Who - What? Me and... and Cesare? The President?" She laughs uneasily, not meeting Mogget's eyes. "Like Cesare would look at me."

Why the hell is she explaining herself to a cat? Get it together, Lydia.