The Underground Mods (
undergroundmods) wrote in
undergrounds2017-10-09 09:30 pm
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Five Years Later...
A lot can change in five years. Students who were at Redbright have now started their careers. People have moved out, moved in, started a new life together or apart. Some move on from the city while others return to it. But while the lives of its residents continue to grow and change, London remains as it has ever been: a focal point for magical power.
A tentative peace
The last five years have not been without conflict, both internal and external. The vampires have played with the politics of in-fighting and backstabbing. The werewolves have overthrown their leader and chosen a new alpha. The witches have suffered one scandal after another. And the fae have quietly engineered a small change here, a personal revenge there, until finally with Redbright and Hillingdon acting as neutral parties a peace agreement was reached between Circle Daybreak, the Islington Nest and the East End Pack. Their territories are still beholden to the same rules (e.g. vampires are still forbidden to enter East End territory and vice versa) but they are no longer in open conflict. Small steps, perhaps, but positive ones.
A delicate balance
The year is 2022. The balance of power in the city is now evenly split between the East End Pack, Islington Nest and Circle Daybreak, thanks largely to the rise of the werewolves and the new President Laura Roslin who simultaneously holds the post of Werewolf Representative.
Samantha Okeke lost her position as Witch Representative following allegations of corruption, and has been replaced by Diphylleia "Dee" Absin, a much more co-operative member of the Night Council. While Samantha has retained her title of Mother of Witches, there are rumours that she lost her powers during a confrontation with a powerful fae. Circle Daybreak firmly denies all such speculation.
The connections between the Redbright Institute and the Hillingdon Clan have grown stronger since the former is now perceived to be a more neutral force rather than tied to the Night Council, although Hillingdon certainly still has the less clean-cut image of the two.
Meanwhile, the Seelie and Unseelie Court have largely withdrawn from public life in the mortal realm except in isolated corners, though they claim the right to go where they please throughout the city. Consequently, there are no barriers preventing travel between the realms, which seems for now to be an acceptable compromise.
And after all, politics is the art of compromise.
Looking ahead
All in all, the vampire and fae presence in the city has reduced as the vampires move around and the fae decide that if they're invited it can't be that great a party anyway. The number of witches has recovered thanks to an amnesty allowing those who were once members of Circle Midnight to return (though the faction itself has not reappeared).
The biggest change that has been noticed first by staff at the Redbright Institute however is the increasing number of meta humans, in particular young meta humans, being discovered in the city. Often these are humans with no knowledge of the supernatural developing their powers for the first time. The reason why has yet to be discovered...
Girl | East End | Wolf
Time hasn't changed Girl much physically; she's still small, still delicate looking. But she walks with more ease than she used to and talks with a confidence she never was as a teenager. It helps, now that she's serving at a bar near the edge of East End's territory. The fights don't scare her anymore and she knows how to flirt a customer into spending half their pay check. She's sure of herself now, no longer holding herself back.
Girl doesn't mind the accusations that she plays favorites at the bar. Mostly because it's true. Whenever a familiar face walks in, she always greets them with a glass of something free and avoids work until she's had the chance to catch up. She doesn't care as much about job security as she does about enjoying herself, a lesson that's held over from the company she keeps.
She can be found at the bar most weekends, trying to break up minor scuffles on the floor or slacking off at one of the tables with some amused patrons.
Re: Girl | East End | Wolf
Wednesday frequented this bar often, largely because Girl works there. After all, she's an honorary Addams by now. She did not make friends often, and those she did became as important as family. Besides which, there's a sense of peace in this bar - she thinks perhaps it's the fights.
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"Didn't think I'd see you in here tonight," Girl starts, leaning her elbows against the wood in front of her. She's dutifully ignoring the loud argument that's starting in the back of the room. Someone else would handle it or Wednesday would get a show. Not a problem for Girl either way. "Busy day?"
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"I hope this fight will be more entertaining than the last."
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She spares a glance to the argument, trying to remember whether one of the faces is familiar. The tension between the two fighting is ramping up, in each other's face and she thinks she sees spit flying. "The regular's always just a lotta hot air, but that skinny guys looks out for blood. Might get to see some broken noses."
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"Which will mean blood and pain." Yes, she is pleased.
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Girl watches as the arguing turns to shoves and points as a glass gets thrown in retaliation. The man ends up wet more by liquor than blood, but there's still a hint of red that she thinks might cheer Wednesday. "Looks like you're gettin' your wish."
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The hint of red does cheer her. "If they are too bothersome, let me know."
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Girl watches the fight worsen, or in Wednesday's case, get better. A few punches are thrown and other patrons are taking sides. She's not too bothered by it, but she still turns a curious eye to Wednesday. "What would you do if they were?"
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She considers the question. "Teach them manners."
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Whoops.
"Girl!" Laura says warmly the second she sees her at the bar. Most people here don't see why this is a big deal. Just some weird American greeting the bartender in a probably rude way. Good thing Laura doesn't give a shit.
Gosh, she was proud of Girl. She was proud of all her students. Students, and her pack.
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She makes her way to Laura, shot of vodka in hand that she sits in front of the Alpha. If anyone is going to get something on the house from Girl, it's someone from the pack. And now that she had legal means to give away alcohol, she took every opportunity to keep teasing Laura. "Thirsty?" Girl chirps, grin impish.
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And let her tell you: after a day as President of the Night Council? You needed all the shots you could get.
"Am I ever. How are you doing, Girl?"
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"Huh. Bad day dryin' you out?" She kept her tone casual, but there was interest in her eyes. It had taken a few years for her to care about the political sphere of the city, but with Laura in charge, Girl had become just a little fascinated.
"Ya know, same as always. Good. Bored. Still annoyed none of the strays 'round here will ever follow me home."
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"It's politics- we don't really do good days." She had wanted to avoid politics, when she moved to London. But apparently the gods had had other plans for her, and here she was, the fraking President.
"They'll come around. Try leaving out food for them, maybe?"
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She wrinkles her nose, sigh wistfully. "I keep tryin' that. It's the gettin' them to come in part that stops me. Guess I'm just stuck findin' dates who already have cats."
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"So, what time you knocking off?"
He was a bit of a flirt now. Never with the intention of doing so, it just seemed to be the attitude.
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"In a lil' bit." She bats her lashes, half mocking. "Why got something planned worth keepin' me from overtime?"
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