acrookedchild: (He found a crooked sixpence)
Abigail Widdowson ([personal profile] acrookedchild) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2015-07-01 07:21 am

Stroke of Midnight [OPEN]

Miss Abigail Widdowson cordially invites you to Geap Manor on Wednesday, July 1st at 19:00.

Food, drinks, and music will be provided.

All are welcome, but individuals are to be aware that any hostilities during the evening's festivities will not be tolerated.


It is the first time in at least a generation that the doors of Geap Manor have been opened to the general population. Or, at least, as general as the supernatural community could be considered. Some invitiations were made personally, but most were formally sent to the higher ranking members of the various factions.

Dinner is announced precisely at 19:30. The small, intimate eating area for the family has been turned into a buffet room. The caterers Abigail hired have obviously been paid well to make sure there is something for everyone. Rich meat dishes, hearty vegetarian dishes, light fish dishes, plenty of accompaniments and finger food. There is also plenty of fairly fresh blood for vampires. For the others, there are wines, water, and tea available.

The grand dining room has had its large table removed, replaced, instead, by small tables that can comfortably hold four. They can, of course, be pushed together to allow for more room.

The ballroom is open to the guests, and the DJ has also been highly paid to make sure the music played is precisely to the hostess's tastes. There is plenty of modern music, good for dancing, as well as older classics. However, interspersed are classical pieces meant for waltzes and foxtrots and other such ballroom dances.

In the sitting room is a drink cart with wine, tea, water, and blood. Chairs and divans are available, as the room is a quiet place, a little away from the ballroom, so conversation can be had with ease. There is an unlit fireplace, and a portrait of Abigail a few years younger than she is now hangs above it.

Most of the rest of the house is locked. One can wander the hallways, but it may prove ultimately fruitless. One who simply walks up the stairways will find the walls of each lined with the Widdowson family portraits of every generation, starting with one of a ten-year-old Abby, her parents, and her six-year-old brother. As one takes in all the paintings, a pattern presents itself. Every Widdowson woman featured is pale, thin, and blonde.

The grounds are beautifully maintained and fenced in by wrought iron on top of stone. A very traditional look for such an imposing manor. On the path from the street to the house, there's little remarkable, save the knocker on the door. Behind the house, however, if one ventures away, one might get the keen sense of something from inside the house watching, waiting, and hungering. On the ground floor, the locked rooms are mostly unremarkable, save for the study at the back of the house. Linger too long near there, and one might hear a sound coming in a pattering set. It isn't a knock against the door, no. Instead, it is the sound of something hitting the wall. If someone were to force their way into the nursery on the second floor or the attic several stories up... Well. They likely won't be coming back to the party. Or to anything.

Wandering, of course, isn't a suggested enterprise. The old house doesn't like people poking around and trying to find its secrets.


(Everyone who has at least a familiarity with the supernatural is welcome, as the invitations were distributed widely. Mingle, make your own top comments, enjoy the food, etc!)
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: deduction)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-06 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Cooper's body wasn't covered in fur, so Heiji could see how he could make that GRIEVOUS ERROR.

"That sounds sinister. Magic like that don't come without a price. Best not to get yourself mixed in with that kind of trouble in the first place -- invest in a diet and some hair dye instead." He never could understand what it was with humans and their need to absorb fields of magical power bigger than their own head.

Then again, he could see Sasuke making the same mistake.
emotioneater: (Concern)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-07-08 09:18 am (UTC)(link)
Cooper has also lived through the era of people bathing only every couple of weeks. Sorry, Heiji, hygiene wins.

"Wonder what that price was 'n who's gonna have t'eventually pay it." Seeing as how Abigail is the last of her line, it looks like that was already coming into play. There was a worrisome thought for Cooper to mull over.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: deduction)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-08 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
HUMAN BEINGS WERE A DISEASE, A CANCER OF THIS PLANET.

"Probably nothin' good," said Heiji. "Why, you thinkin' of meddling? Ain't like refinancing your car. I'm guessin' the transaction fees would be pretty steep."

These deals always eventually bit someone in the ass. It was only a question of when.
emotioneater: (Default)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-07-16 08:28 am (UTC)(link)
But they tasted so good!

"No thanks. I've got enough going on in my life without tryin' to take on some centuries-old magic." He wouldn't even know where to begin with something like that. Besides, he wasn't even sure if Abigail needed to be "saved" from anything. Maybe she was just fine with the way the status quo was.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: what're ya doin?)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-16 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Probably a good idea," said Heiji, taking another glance around at the pictures.

"Be nice if folks ain't mess with this kinda thing in the first place. Raisin' the dead, blood pacts, that kinda stuff. But I guess as long as the possibility's there, there'll always be someone tempted to take advantage of it."

It was human nature. Which was exactly why he didn't think Redbright's way of doing things would pan out.
Edited (also das gross, cooper) 2015-07-16 19:32 (UTC)
emotioneater: (I have rules)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-07-19 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
"People crave power. They don't want t'be weak, helpless, 'n on the menu anymore. So they do stupid things instead to get it." He spoke from the cockiness that came from being at the top of the food chain and seeing everything else as lunch.

"If I ever get that stupid about power, please push me out inta the sunlight."
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: deduction)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-19 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
Heiji snorted a little at the joke. "Everyone wants to live, I guess. To survive." He said everyone, but Heiji really meant everything: animals, plants. Human beings, who considered themselves apart from everything else.

"But no matter how big a fish ya are, there's always a bigger one out there. I don't think people get that." It was probably why humans were so obsessed with domination, with control.
emotioneater: (Default)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-07-20 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
"That's why they keep droppin' like flies. One of these days, they'll just drop the bomb 'n we'll all need a new source of entertainment when they wipe each other off the face of the planet." Coopers says the words with such flippancy that it's impossible to tell if he's being serious or not.

He eyes Heiji, sizing him up. "So what're you? The little fish or the big 'un?"
Edited 2015-07-20 06:28 (UTC)
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: there there)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-20 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"I ain't a fish, silly," said Heiji, as if Cooper had maybe asked him his measurements instead of whether or not he was a threat. Besides, modesty prevented him from making any such pronouncements about what size fish he was.

Heiji was a good seven inches taller then Cooper*, with short dark hair and dark skin. His suit was not overly expensive and he looked relatively comfortable in it, if not especially thrilled about the constriction of movement. He carried himself with a casual, easy confidence and a sense of openness.

* Sorry brozinsky.
emotioneater: (Listen to me)

That's my second-favorite Heiji icon XD

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-07-26 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
Cooper rolled his eyes at the answer. He wasn't the one being silly around here. Well, if he was going to play it like that, he felt no need to be serious either. "True. Why be a fish when you can be a fishmonger?"
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: yeah!)

what's your first favorite

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-26 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I love fishmongers!" said Heiji, who would be rather difficult to out-silly. It was true, though. "Great guys. Really know how to bargain. Plus, they're aces at spotting the best fish!"

God, now he was getting hungry. He could totally use an ayu or two like right now. Why didn't they have those at this party?
emotioneater: (Point)

http://v.dreamwidth.org/8476953/1582396

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-07-28 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Now all I can think about is salmon and tuna." When was the last time he'd even seen a fishmonger? Probably whenever it was that he'd been on High Road. As he wondered about this, it finally struck him where he'd met Heiji before.

"Aha!" He snapped his fingers and pointed one of them at the kitsune. "You're that weird trivia fox!"
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: smile)

haha I love that one

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-07-28 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Honestly, it had probably been a while for him, too. Heiji tilted his head to the side just so, raising his lower eyelids almost imperceptibly upward in what had to be his version of a smize.

He didn't confirm Cooper's statement, but considering how weird an accusation it was, that was probably confirmation in itself?
emotioneater: (Like a puppy)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-08-03 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
At least that explains why this guy is a bit of a weirdo. Any fae that runs around playing Jeopardy with people in the middle of night definitely isn't ordinary. "What did you say your name was?"

That way he can put a name if and when he sees a giant kitsune running around London again.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: just between you and me ♥)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-08-03 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
HE'S HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOUR SHIT, COOPER. JEOPARDY IS A FINE, UPSTANDING GAME SHOW INSTITUTION AND YOU OWE ALEX TREBEK AN APOLOGY ok I'm sorry

"Don't think I did, but you can just call me Heiji. And what should I call you?" Since they seemed to be at that stage in the introductory process.

emotioneater: (Default)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-08-07 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
Do you ever breathe in between those rants, Heiji, or do you just all get it out in one giant shout?

"My name is Cooper." He notes the fact Heiji only gives him one name. He wonders if it's even his real one.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: huh?)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-08-07 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
WHAT IS BREATHING.

Heiji's real name would simply have to remain a mystery. Like what happened to socks in the dryer. "That a first name or a last name?" He did know enough English to know that it could be either.
emotioneater: (Smirk)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-08-11 08:11 am (UTC)(link)
IN THROUGH THE NOSE, OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH.

Cooper merely gives a grin like the Cheshire Cat. "Yes," he replies in a true mathematician's answer. Heiji isn't the only one who could be silly around here.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: just between you and me ♥)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-08-11 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Cooper Cooper. What a terrible name. His parents should be severely reprimand for contributing to a life of ridicule and low self-esteem.

"Mr. Cooper, then," Heiji said, smiling back. "So, what do you do when you're not enjoying fish or art?"
emotioneater: ....irish vampire (Fuckin shortass...)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-08-12 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
Psh, he can't help it if Heiji infers exactly the dumbest things. It doesn't matter, really. Nobody has called him John in the past one-hundred years or so anyway.

"Ride my motorcycle 'round the city. Breathe. Eat. Hunt down the occasional victim. Clip my toenails. I'm boring, really." Except for the part where one of those things was not like the other.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: let's do it)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-08-12 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe Cooper Squared. Double Cooper. The Coop.

"I'd say I was surprised that was legal, but it seems like they make a lot of allowances for vampires in this town." Like a lot a lot. A surprising amount, considering how little humans generally appreciated having their vital fluids drained.
emotioneater: (A-okay)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-08-21 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. Miss High 'n Mighty has been in power for God knows how long. Temperamental as all get out, but she knows how t'keep the nest in a powerful position." Cooper would take advantage of it for as long as he could. The winds of favor would only blow so long in their direction before changing again.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: just between you and me ♥)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-08-22 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Millicent?" Heiji had never met her, though her reputation sort of preceded her. "What does she do, make ya fetch the evening news? I hear a lot of grumbling about her... but then again, gettin' in good with the Night Council does seem to get ya a lot of perks."
emotioneater: (Default)

[personal profile] emotioneater 2015-09-01 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
"She's alright if you're one of her little pets or you know how t'flatter her. Me, I'm a little too small for her t'notice just yet." He'd get there eventually with time. Cooper wasn't content to be the low man on the totem pole forever, not when he had experienced being high up before.
detectiveofthewest: (Heiji: there there)

[personal profile] detectiveofthewest 2015-09-01 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Heiji tried desperately to keep from smiling or laughing aloud (that would be rude!), but if Cooper kept talking about how small he was, he was simply not going to be able to keep up this level of self-control.

"One of those bosses, huh? Sorry to hear it... but then again, at least you know how to climb the ranks if ya need to!" Cooper would just have to give up a bit of integrity, that was all...

"So you got big plans?"

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