Five Years Later...

[undergroundmods]

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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Samantha Okeke lost her position as Witch Representative following allegations of corruption, and has been replaced by Diphylleia "Dee" Absin, a much more co-operative member of the Night Council.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Meanwhile, the Seelie and Unseelie Court have largely withdrawn from public life in the mortal realm except in isolated corners, though they claim the right to go where they please throughout the city.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...

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[outofthemanor]

Wednesday stands, brushing invisible dust from her skirt, before moving over to the group that are now fighting.

[thelastjoy]

Girl follows at a slower pace, grinning as she waits to see what Wednesday will cook up for this.

[outofthemanor]

Wednesday speaks lowly, quietly almost, her voice hard for even those closest to her to pick up on. Which is why those who were fighting suddenly find themselves leaning in to try to hear more.

[thelastjoy]

Girl moves closer, standing in front of some curious but otherwise innocent enough patrons to keep them out of things. Her hand go to her waist, rocking back on her heels as she waits for the spectacle.

[outofthemanor]

Wednesday has finished talking, and instead is holding one of the gang member's wrist. Quite painfully, if the look on their face is anything to go by.

[thelastjoy]

Girl hides a laugh behind a hand at the look on the man's face. She imagines this is going to be a short and humiliating experience for him. "Get 'im!" She adds to the shouting started by the crowd around them, people already roaring with laughter now the the annoying patron is being cowed by a girl.

[outofthemanor]

The man ends up aiming to punch Wednesday. She simply steps out of the way.

[thelastjoy]

An 'oooh' rushes from the crowd, laughter quickly following. Someone starts taking bets on fight, a few people throwing pounds around. "Give ya all my tips on the lady," Girl adds in, not above using the commotion to make a sure buck. She raises her voice to be heard over the crowd, heckling Wednesday's opponent. "But I'm pretty sure if the asshole knows what he's doin' he'll back off her before he gets hurt!"

[outofthemanor]

The asshole did not know what he was doing, and Wednesday turned to look at Girl as if to ask why her customers were so lacking in intelligence. There was another graceful dodge. It was not that the asshole was without skills in fighting; in fact by most standards he was probably fairly decent. It's just that... well, when you grow up happily making attempts on your siblings life, you get very quick at dodging things.

And quick at striking out with two fingers to hit a very precise pressure point that will make your opponent go down.

[thelastjoy]

Girl shrugs at the look. She works in a bar; she expects most of her customers to be drunken idiots. It made for better tips, really. She lets out a laugh when Wednesday takes out the drunk, clapping when the man hits the ground. She hangs back as the crowd roars, collecting on her bet and waiting for the man's friends to come collect the lump off the floor.

It's only as things calm down that she rounds up on Wednesday. "Not much of a challenge for you, hm?"

[outofthemanor]

It might have made for better tips, but it did make the day rather boring to be surrounded by idiots all the time. Then again, she worked in politics so people who live in glass houses...

"He had no real knowledge of pressure points or precisely throwing a punch. Amateur."

[thelastjoy]

"Guess I'll have to do my part to attract better customers. Ones that can fight back," Girl jokes. "No drunk's every gonna be up to the challenge of an Addams, huh?"

[outofthemanor]

"They could at least try," Wednesday said. You would get the distinct impression - if you knew her well enough - that she's actually vaguely irritated by not getting a good fight.

[thelastjoy]

Girl wrinkles up her nose, reaching out to pat Wednesday gently on the arm. "I know. Maybe we gotta find you a tougher bar to hang out at."

[outofthemanor]

"This one pays you."

[thelastjoy]

"Is that the only reason you come 'round? Just to see lil' old me?"

[outofthemanor]

"It is not a terrible reason."

[thelastjoy]

"Terrible sure ain't what I'd call it." Her smile turns warm. "Just thinkin' it was awful sweet, that's all."

[outofthemanor]

There is a look sent Girl's way, one that suggests that she had better rethink that thought very quickly. For her own safety.

[thelastjoy]

Girl looks away suddenly. "Or that's what I might say if I didn't know ya. Lucky I do, huh?"

[outofthemanor]

"Very." It's almost dry.

[thelastjoy]

Girl smiles, turning back to Wednesday. "Feel like steppin' out of here then? Think my luck's runnin' a lil' thin in here."

[outofthemanor]

"Of course." She stood, and looked. "Your preference for location?"

[thelastjoy]

"You don't want to pick? Considerin' this place is so borin' for you, I'd rather we find someplace that you gives you a thrill."

[outofthemanor]

Wednesday looks thoughtful. "There are some underground fight clubs... but they are pathetically lacking in their weapons combat."