You warm by the firelight

[knightscode]

Date: 23rd~28th of September
Plot: Missing Hunter
Areas: Westminster, Bromley, Various in between



A hunter has gone missing. They were last seen almost a month ago, travelling to the outskirts of London to hunt down a werewolf. With the Blood Moon approaching he hoped to track down his prey and take it out easily at the peak when it had no powers. However, things went a little awry. The werewolf he was tracking cut through Bromley, now Fae territory, and ended up in deeper water than anticipated. A Fae summoned during the ebbing rebalance of power has caused a little trouble, and it may take a while to untangle.

[ ooc; log for the missing hunter plot! You can give me a ping if you want to be involved and hadn't signed up already! It runs 23rd of September through the Blood Moon! Headers within for areas/dates. ]

Comments

23rd~24th | GENERAL INVESTIGATION, FAE TERRITORY (OPEN)

[knightscode]

There are several parts to the puzzle, and Lancelot knows that even the smallest bit of information could be the key to the whole thing.

Matt Lloyd had last been seen travelling south of the river in search of a werewolf fleeing the pack troubles after their alpha's disappearance. It makes sense on the one hand, not wanting to be in the middle of it all during a blood moon. Hoping to lay low. On the other hand, why this way? Had it had a reason to come south into fae territory? Had it been a coincidence? For that matter, where was the wolf now?

The territories are bustling with regular humans as well as a mix of others -- fae now allowed to come and go as they please, glamoured to blend in, witches who have no problem with fae, creatures escaping the tougher rules of other territories to run wild here. Lancelot blends in to some degree, the aura of Seelie magic he gives off enough to throw off suspicion that he might be Daybreak, but he still can't help but feel anger still at the death toll the loss of Croydon to them brought.

Still. He flicks through his notebook and marks off another dead end. None of the smaller covens who had been willing to talk to him so far had heard of Matt Lloyd or anything about a missing werewolf. It's only the first day, but somehow Lancelot feels like this good be a long investigation. He just hope it won't be a constant string of dead ends.

[constantprisoner]

Now that he's hanging around the Hillingdon area a bit more, Sirius has been picking up more information about the movements of various people in various places. It's helpful, if nothing else, to know what's going on.

The name Matt Lloyd rings a bell, albeit a vague one. Sirius isn't sure if he knows the guy, but regardless of whether he did or didn't, it sounded like he needed help. Or at least to be found. So Sirius had set off, not entirely sure how he was going to conduct his investigation, but maybe he might hear something.

[knightscode]

It's easy to hear that someone has been investigating Matt. Lancelot has hardly made a secret of it, after all. He has no reason to -- Matt is missing, he isn't a suspect in anything, and so far Lancelot has no reason to suspect anyone would want to get in the way of such a thing. So far, the only issue Lancelot is running into is suspicion and wariness every time he shows his Night Council identification.

Which is fair, he supposes, people are suspicious of him as a police officer for similar reasons -- but all he wants to do is help. If something has happened to the man he just wants to make sure he's okay.

"Matt Lloyd," Lancelot is repeating to a largely disinterested looking man. "Here, I have a photograph..." he digs into his pocket, holds it out and squints at the man as he barely lets his eyes light on it.

"Never 'eard of 'im," the man grumbles, "not seen 'im. We done?"

He takes a deep breath and lets it out in a slow sigh, studies him a moment longer before dropping his arm and gesturing for the man to go. Another dead end. It's as he pockets the photograph and begins to make a note that his senses flare, telling him he's being watched. Lancelot pauses in the act of writing, glances around and up after a moment.

"Hello?"

[constantprisoner]

Sirius had considered conducting his search as a dog. It's easy enough to listen in on people. No one noticed you when you were a dog, and sometimes, you even got fed. It was easy enough. But that always came with the downside of having somewhere to hide and bringing along some spare clothes.

So, instead he just eavesdrops in the normal way. And he's surprised at how quickly he gets results. Maybe luck is with him today.

"Hi," he says, poking his head out from an alley. He's a little surprised at being noticed so quickly, but it's not like he was being deliberately sneaky.

[knightscode]

The man looks relatively inoffensive at least -- not visibly armed, irate and own his own. Lancelot considers him a moment before flashing a small smile, stowing his notes in an inside pocket and lofting an eyebrow questioningly.

"Can I help you?" he prompts curiously, unsure exactly what he might be lingering for. He could just be lost, he could recognise Lancelot from somewhere and he's simply failed to recognise him in turn. It could be, of course, that he's either overheard or been told why Lancelot is here. That would be useful.

He could also be about to get mugged, of course. That would be a lot less useful.

[constantprisoner]

"Actually, yeah, you could," Sirius says, looking Lancelot over. "Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear. You said you're looking for Matt Lloyd?"

He's fairly certain about what he heard, but he just wants to double check. Having someone else to share information with would definitely be useful. Not that he has a lot to share at the moment, but there are other skills he could offer.

[knightscode]

Oh! Lancelot's eyes widen at that and he nods, taking a few steps closer and digging out the photo again to hold out to Sirius.

"That's right, I am. Do you know him, perhaps? Or have you seen him recently?"

Surely someone has, after all! The man can't have vanished entirely into thin air.

[constantprisoner]

Looking at the picture jars a few more things loose and Sirius is pretty certain that he knows the guy.

"I haven't seen him recently, but I do know him. Or at least, I'm pretty sure I do."

It's been years after all.

[knightscode]

He deflates a little at that, clearly disappointed, but nods all the same. Even if Sirius hasn't seen the man recently at least he knows him. Faolan had known Matt Lloyd too, but the more people who talk about him the clearer the picture might be.

"Well, I am glad to have you here all the same. Are you aware of what happened?"

A half-delicate way of trying to asses if Sirius is a mundane friend or if he is aware of the situation around it -- that Matt is a hunter, that he was here looking for a werewolf, all the things that Lancelot would not particularly want to accidentally say to someone not a part of London's supernatural underbelly.

[specifiercity]

Arthur overhears Lancelot asking around after Matt Lloyd early in the afternoon on the 23rd. He's been busy, doing some of his own investigating, but Matt's disappearance has him detouring through fae territory on the off chance that he picks up on a lead. Being a hunter is a naturally dangerous occupation, but it's been a while since Hillingdon lost someone and Arthur would like to make sure it doesn't become a regular occurrence.

He eavesdrops on Lancelot's conversation with an oblivious witch for a little while, pretending to check his phone until Lancelot starts walking again, at which point he follows at a fast walk until he catches up, calling after him.

"Excuse me," he says, curious. "Did I hear you say you're looking for Matt Lloyd?"

[knightscode]

He slows down at the sound of someone calling out, turns and stops as he sees Arthur catching up to him. Did he --? Oh! Lancelot brightens visibly at the question, nods quickly and digs into his jacket pocket for the photo, his notepad and pen again.

"Yes, yes you did -- please, have you seen him? Here --"

Lancelot turns the photo and holds it out to Arthur, eyes studying his face for reaction. Does he have a lead? Finally?

[specifiercity]

Arthur starts to protest, but then Lancelot is pulling out the photo of Matt, and Arthur takes it slowly. He frowns, because he recognizes the guy. He's seen him around Hillingdon, remembers overhearing something about a werewolf.

Looking back up at Lancelot, Arthur finally speaks. He hands the photo back and he's still frowning, but otherwise his expression is suspicious. "No, I'm sorry, I was just... I thought I might take a look for him. Sounds like you don't have much yet."

[knightscode]

Well, it was worth a try. Lancelot deflates a little in disappointment, takes the photo back and shakes his head.

"Not yet, no. Are you a friend...?"

A careful, casual way of gauging how much he can say to Arthur. If he just knew the man from the gym, after all, then Lancelot doesn't want to dump supernatural information on someone unsuspecting and have himself look quite mad.

[specifiercity]

"A colleague," Arthur says without hesitation. "Thought it might be worth trying to track him down, at least to make sure what happened to him doesn't happen to anyone else."

If Arthur has any emotional attachment to the man, he's masking it well. In truth, he's never spoken to him, and any motivation he has for tracking him down is exactly as he said: to make sure it doesn't happen to himself or anyone else at Hillingdon.

"Do you have any leads at all?"

[knightscode]

That's one thing, then. The wording gives Lancelot a clue that by colleague Arthur doesn't work park time at a bar that Matt worked at or some-such, and he nods a little -- digs for wallet before pulling out an ID card. Lancelot Dulac, it reads in clear gilded font beside a picture of him -- typical government ID photograph. Eyes straight ahead, no smiling, curls neatly tamed out of his face. NIGHT COUNCIL it declares, it neatly lettered font with an official shimmering stamp over the surface, and Rank 2 Guardian.

"I have a few, but they might more readily speak to someone less official."

His smile is thin, a little self-effacing, and he pockets the card again after a moment.

"There's something strange going on in this place. Perhaps that is to be expected in the middle of recently taken fae territory, but... people have been evasive. They're hiding something, and I'm having trouble working out if it's because of who I am or something else."

[specifiercity]

It's definitely because of who Lancelot is. Arthur frowns suspiciously at the ID and then back up at Lancelot, working the question of why over in his mind. He pushes it away for now - if he goes down that route he might not actually get any headway on Lloyd.

"Well, I'd track the wolf first," he says. "If they're still alive, they're either the last one who saw him or they killed him. He should have had wolfsbane on him, though..."

Still frowning, Arthur looks up and down the street, considering his own next move. "I can ask around. Most of the fae don't like werewolves - if they're hiding here, there'll be someone that wants them out."

[knightscode]

"Agreed. Usually fae like me, but I've not been able to get any headway here. Not yet, at any rate. Perhaps I am too obviously in the middle of something they wish I were not."

He puts away his ID, lets out a slow breath as he frowns in thought.

"I'm not interested in causing trouble for anyone. I have a friend in Hillingdon who's worried about Matt, I'm just trying to help."

[youronlylaw]

Somehow James had managed to catch wind of this rogue wolf between all the vague planning he'd been doing to keep the East End pack safe, but also make sure vampires stayed out of the loop. The last thing he wanted was one of Islington's catching onto his plan and dismantling it before the Blood Moon even arrived.

It wasn't the first one in the wake of Hale's absence and it wouldn't be the last. The only reason this was notable enough to try and stick his nose into it, was that they'd attacked a hunter.

He's only following up on the leads of where the wolf was last seen, when he sees Lancelot. James recognizes him easily as one of the Night Council's enforcers, which makes approaching him much easier.

"Guardian."

[knightscode]

It isn't a title Lancelot is being address by, in truth. Lancelot has shown identification a few times now, had to use it to lever people into paying attention or helping, but he hadn't thought he would be recognised yet. After all, he's only been with the Night Council since July. He does not think he's done anything particularly noteworthy.

So it is that it takes him a second to realise he's being addressed, and Lancelot blinks in surprise at the man looking at him.

"Oh!" he says, and has the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Forgive me, I did not realise you were addressing me. Ah, yes I am. Can I help you...?"

He tilts his head questioningly, trying to get a sense of what a man like James might want from him. Perhaps -- perhaps he is heard Lance is looking for someone, has seen the man?

[youronlylaw]

"James Memon. I'm a...beta in the East End Pack." He wasn't so used to just giving up his species and alliances at introductions but...well if this man was with the Night Council, James was looking to work with him in the future.

"I got a call telling me I should try and find our rogue before he makes a mistake."

[knightscode]

A Beta in the Eat End Pack?

Lancelot doesn't think he's ever been addressed by someone with such a title before, nor does he know how to address them in turn. Something to look up, he supposes, how to address people of various titles in each faction and race. Still, he rallies -- inclines his head slightly in acceptance.

"Of course. Ah -- I'm... Lancelot, if you didn't have my name." He digs a moment for his wallet, drags out an ID card which he holds out. Lancelot Dulac, Rank 2 Guardian, Night Council. It's as suitably official as a government identification card, surface shimmering with reflective embossing. "I admit, you'll likely know more about your missing person than I do. We've been looking for a hunter by the name of Matt Lloyd. He was last seen tracking your friend to here and hasn't been in contact since. I have a... suspicion the two are related, but we can hope it is otherwise."

[youronlylaw]

James bites back a disclaimer that this werewolf and he are no friends - mostly to save face in the future when this invariably goes south. He is, after all, a lawyer.

Instead he peeks at the ID before nodding minutely.

"All I know is that his Alpha requested someone go looking for him. Apparently, that meant me."

[knightscode]

"That may be for the best. Matt Lloyd was supposed to be looking for a wolf when he came down this way. I don't have the specifics of why, but if they haven't had an altercation already then... I suspect there might yet be one to come. Do you have a way to... track your own? Forgive me if the question is crude, I --"

Lancelot hesitates suddenly, awkward. He'd been about to say he had little experience of them, yet suddenly memories rush through him. Dark fur, red-streaked ground, Faolan grabbing the wolf that had been following them around its head and yelling at him to get its control collar off.

"I have little experience," he finishes finally, "but I'd rather avoid things getting ugly if we can."

[youronlylaw]

James examines Lancelot with a sudden intensity as he pauses, seemingly lost in thought. When he picks back up again, James nods slowly and can only offer his slight assistance in tracking. He wasn't practiced in it, but it was for him - like all other wolves - instinctive and easy to do.

"Scenting is the best I can do. There's some myths to a telepathy of sort but...well, as I said: myths."

He should be able to find their missing wolf. Even amidst the pea soup that was London and all it's scents.

"I hate to be a stereotype, but do you have anything of his? Clothing would be best."

[knightscode]

"Forgive me but no, you probably know more than I do. I've been focused on digging up things on Matt, you're the first contact I've had with the wolf's pack. Here --"

Lancelot digs out a pen and rummages in his pockets for a scrap of paper, finally digging out an old sandwich receipt and beginning to scribble on the back of it.

"I can give you my number, at the very least. That way if you find anything you can let me know, or if you have any questions. I'd like for all this to end peacefully, if we can help it, but..."

Well, Lancelot lofts an eyebrow meaningfully. He's not sure they can exactly guarantee that. Still, he holds out the number to James if he will take it.