undergrounds | The situation is grave [Open]

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The situation is grave [Open]

A: Faust's clinic, Lambeth:

Patients that had other options did not visit Dr. Faust. His bedside manner was impeccable during the day, of course, and his medical knowledge was near-encyclopedic. But often he looked as though he had not slept in days and there was a strange, distant component to his manner that had been present ever since the loss of his wife some years ago. And his touch, even to ordinary patients not overly sensitive to the supernatural, made the flesh crawl in inexplicable fashion.

But of course there were many patients that did not have other options. Faust opened the door to the waiting room, peeking his head through with a mildly encouraging smile. "Next?"

B: Night visits

Faust was out at the graveyard, peering down into a freshly-dug grave in the Earth. Empty, as of yet, but he preferred bodies that had had time to... settle. He looked over his shoulder at the skeleton trailing behind him. It was carrying a shovel and spade.

"Over on the east side, if you please."

Time to do a little grave robbing.

Wildcard:
Feel free to make up your own! Faust's been in London for a few years and hands out business cards for his clinic on occasion, so your character may have heard of him by reputation :).

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Faust could sense Balem's power, even if he didn't know for certain who or what he was. He turned; the skeleton mimicked the gesture.

"Oh... forgive my manners. I didn't know we had company." Faust removed the wide-brimmed hat he wore -- the night air got a little chilly at times -- and gave Balem a little bow.

"I don't think we've met. My name is Faust."

"Indeed, we have not," he said, "Call me Cephei."

Fake name, enough of a tell for those in the know that he was fae. But given the walking skeleton, Balem assumed that this man had plenty of contact with the supernatural world already.

"Is this a hobby of yours?" he said, referring to the apparent grave-robbing going on.

"Not so much a hobby as a necessity," said Faust, smiling fondly. Presumably at some stray thought rather than at Balem, who he'd only just met. "My work requires many unconventional ingredients. It would be much more convenient if I could simply purchase them... but I suppose the particular manner in which they must be obtained offends the sensibilities."

Not the skeleton's though; it had graduated right on to doing the graveyard shuffle over to a tombstone, where it began to pick at the hard earth.

"I suppose congratulations are in order. I heard that you and your friends have expanded their territory a bit." He was just guessing, but it seemed reasonable that Balem could be fae. Not one of those little pondskipper amateur witches, that was for sure.

"Human sensibilities, perhaps," he said, because his own sensibilities were only offended by direct insults, not by digging up corpses, "And yes, we've been doing quite well."

At least Balem knew he probably didn't work for Redbright or the council. There would be no congratulations from their sort.

"What is your work, exactly?"

"I'm a necromancer," said Faust, as if perhaps announcing that he was a librarian. "So as you can imagine, not everyone approves of what I do." That was a bit of an understatement.

"Oh, but I also run a small side business. Here you are." Faust rifled through his pockets and produced a business card, which he offered to Balem. It advertised a medical clinic and gave its main physican's name as Johann Faust.

"No, I don't imagine they do," he said, looking over the business card. A doctor and a necromancer, how interesting.

"I don't have a business card, but I am an astronomer of sorts, I suppose. And I occasionally grant requests, on behalf of my kin," he said. By requests he meant wishes, and by kin he meant the stars (who often received quite a few of them, for whatever reason), but he wasn't very nice about it.

"Requests," said Faust, tasting the word on his tongue. He considered this. He didn't mind giving up quite a lot, providing he got what he wanted. Providing it got him closer to his goal.

"As you must know, necromancy is a rather arcane and demanding art. Any hack willing to cut a few throats can learn to raise bodies from the grave. But true resurrection is much more difficult."

"Wishes, I suppose you'd call them, although people tend to view that word as too whimsical and childish these days," he said, "And I don't blame you for researching resurrection. I can't imagine what it's like to live with death hanging over your heads; I'm surprised more humans haven't tried it."

"Death is nothing to be afraid of," said Faust, although he probably had a bit of an eccentric take on the topic given his occupation. "The body molders, but the soul is free. No longer bound to its vessel, no longer quailing in fear of its inevitable demise. It's the living who torture themselves about it."

You know, like Faust himself. "But there are those who die before their time." Those who deserved more time on this earth. Those who had done no wrong…

"Ah, but souls are not always safe, either," Balem said with a smirk. Oh, they were delicious.

"I don't believe that anyone has a 'time', really. There are many who have found a way to outlast it."

"That's right. They do need to worry about predation, don't they...?" Balem, did you eat ghosts.

"Thus the wishes?" Faust couldn't really get on anyone's case about selling their soul or anything else for extended life; lord knew he'd traded away quite a bit in pursuit of his goals.

"You sound like someone that Circle Daybreak would disapprove of."

"Oh, you're right about that. And I can't say I approve of them, either, given the fact that they want to tell me where I can and cannot open my doors," he said with a scoff.

"Meddling, two-bit conjurers," Faust said bitterly. "Hypocrites."

The part about the doors might strike him later. For now, however, he was too incensed to much care.

"Annoyances," he said casually with a wave of his hand, "They'll realize who they've crossed in time."

"As long as they stop interfering with my business," said Faust. He had been wondering if anyone was up to the challenge of pushing back the Circle. Certainly he hadn't the time to devote to such a campaign.

"Lambeth has escaped their notice so far. But it's been a bit uncomfortable of late."

"We fae do not intend on letting them tell us what to do. daybreak, the Council...if they refuse to lessen their restrictions they will feel our wrath," he said, "There is another coven, too, that opposes them, but that is their business, not mine."

"Hmm. That coven up in Enfield, is it?" Faust blinked slowly, thinking it over. "Midnight witches aren't exactly known for their propensity to stick together. Not recently."

"Your encroachment into Daybreak territory means that the restrictions on my own research will be eased. Yes?"

"As long as it doesn't harm us, I've got no concern about what you humans choose to do," he said.

Well. Not exactly a shining endorsement of the fae's intentions, but Faust thought he could live with that. "More or less what I must deal with now, then."

Lambeth was a dangerous place, but at least it was safe from the meddling of the Daybreak witches For now. He looked appraisingly at Balem. "Perhaps if they are busy with you, they will be less inclined to turn their attention to other matters."

"Busy with me! I'd crush them in a second, long before they could be considered busy," he said, eyes glowing bright white for a moment, "But they will try and prepare for me, futile as their efforts would be, yes."

Oh, well. Someone had a bit of a temper. Faust could empathize, seeing as how he occasionally completely fucking lost it.

"Interesting. Is it your intention, then, to eliminate them from power?"

"There was a time when no one would dare meddle with the fae like they are. But we've gotten a great deal more secretive since then. I think they need to be reminded of our power," he said.

Which meant yes, he absolutely intended to eliminate them from power.

How very ambitious. But Faust took Balem's insistence to mean that the fae were indeed mounting a concerted effort rather than simply moving in on a whim. This could be good news.

"They must be... concerned, then. Especially if you're considering to make another move this month." Though Faust didn't generally concern himself with politics, he was rather gratified by the idea of those Councilites sweating for once.

"Would you happen to need any help?"

"We may very well be," he said, although it wasn't his place to divulge the plans of any other fae in full detail, "And we would certainly appreciate it."

"Well, it may be a bit difficult to do so without specifics. But I'll keep an eye out, hmm? Perhaps we can help each other."

And throw a wrench or two in his enemies' plans.

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