The situation is grave [Open]

[necromancynow]

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 :).

Comments

[necromancynow]

"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."

[entitles]

"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.

[necromancynow]

"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.

[entitles]

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

[necromancynow]

"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."

[entitles]

"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."

[necromancynow]

"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?"

[entitles]

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

[necromancynow]

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."

[entitles]

"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."

[necromancynow]

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?"

[entitles]

"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.

[necromancynow]

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?"

[entitles]

"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."

[necromancynow]

"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.

[entitles]

"Of course. As long as you're not moving in on us, obviously," he said, "You won't, will you?"

[necromancynow]

"I'm only interested in one thing," said Faust, "And that is furthering my magic. I fail to see how getting myself entangled in a conflict with the fae would help in that regard."

He hadn't survived in London this long by sticking his neck out for no reason, after all.

[entitles]

"Aligning yourself with the fae could actually help you with that," he said, "Although that would come with a price, too."

[necromancynow]

"I think it's a little too late for that warning," said Faust, with more cheer than perhaps was technically warranted by the situation.

"But thank you for the advice. I suppose if I wanted, I could always gather up a few disenchanted young witches to teach my craft to, but that's always seemed like a bit too much trouble."

[entitles]

"It may help shake some of the stigma around necromancy, though, if there were more practicing," he said, although he didn't have much patience for teaching others either unless they really loved the cosmos.

[necromancynow]

"Well, we've certainly got enough of that, now don't we?" Faust, stop digging up graves. Faust, stop reviving the shambling remains of the dead. It was like it never ended.

"Though I doubt it will ever be a truly popular art. Not as pretty and photo op ready as flashes of light and nice little love charms."

[entitles]

"I'm afraid even I can't make it prettier," he said, because really, it involved corpses, "But power is more important than beauty, for some."

For him they were about equal.

[necromancynow]

"There is beauty in it," said Faust vaguely. He was probably thinking of something horrible at this very moment.

"Even in death and decay. The curve of a shelf of bone, the last exhalation of breath. Everything marching toward its own eventual end."

Even the universe......

[entitles]

"Most humans fear death, I thought," he said, a bit puzzled, "It's good that you can see beauty in it, I suppose. Mortality must be a strange thing to wrestle with."

[necromancynow]

Faust smiled. "Many do. But I suppose my work has given me an usual perspective on the subject." The only thing Faust really feared was not being able to see his wife again. It probably helped that he had literally nothing going in his life.

Well... no, that wasn't entirely true. The occasional torture session provided a pleasant break from the crushing despair.