undergrounds | closed.

Entry tags:

arthur,
eames

closed.

Date: Oct 18
What: Eames and Arthur discuss some plans for the future.

[Arthur's a few minutes later than he thought he would be coming back from Hillingdon House. He had to drop off a few things, pick up a few other things, and leave a message for another hunter, but he's been thinking about the things Eames said the whole time. About how it's time to act. He hasn't completely decided whether that's the anger talking or if it really is time to start pushing back in a real way - he has to hear these fragments of ideas that Eames has first.]

[When he walks through his door, he expects Eames to be there, so he calls out his name as he hangs up his coat. He had left his door unlocked, and he's already been invited in before. Taking a shortcut through the other realm he should have arrived a while ago.]

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The best way forward is to erode her power, chip away confidence in her.

[He turns to look at Arthur, gesturing to the map as he speaks.]

As long as we're not prevented from entering via the other realm, we have no real use for territory in London. So, best make use of it. Maybe give Croydon to Midnight, Lewisham to the wolves. A neutral, self-governed territory would also raise questions as to the necessity of the Night Council. Assuming it works, of course. And of course, if we could get a couple of Council members to call Redbright's efficacy into question when she's so clearly acting with her prejudices in mind rather than the best interests of the city. [A broad gesture] It's a starting place, no?

[Arthur's eyes pass over the territories Eames mentions as he speaks.]

You want to put Midnight right on Daybreak's doorstep and put the wolves on another one of the vampires' borders.

[He sounds skeptical. It might be obvious, giving away boroughs to factions that directly oppose the ones on the other side. Essentially, the plan is to retreat, shake a few hands, and use the fae territory to create neutral grounds. It's not an awful idea, but he hasn't gone through the details yet.]

How will they know it's not a trick? How will Redbright, for that matter? She may see right through you and rally the troops even harder.

I wouldn't be surprised if she does. Hence the importance of calling her competence into question with the council.

[He frowns and sits down, still staring at the map.]

I don't know how to assure anyone it's not a trick beyond spelling out my terms as plainly as possible.

And what are the terms? That they defend their boroughs and respect the neutral territory behind them?

[He still sounds skeptical, and he's really trying not to be. He wants to this to work, but they have to hammer out something that sound feasible.]

And that's assuming the fae are willing to give up the territory. You can't make this call all on your own.

You're right, but I need something solid to bring to the courts.

[hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh] They'll want assurances we won't be blocked from London - that's why we took the territories in the first place, after all. Their support in any issues with Daybreak or the Council in exchange for the same from us. [A beat] Or at least non-interference from those that don't care either way.

[Arthur nods, taking a drink from his beer as he thinks.]

Both of them will be tough. Midnight's suffered a loss recently and I don't think Widdowson's looking to agitate things any further. The wolves don't seem to want to stir the pot either, but...

[He gestures at the map.]

Offering them a borough, giving them that opportunity without any bloodshed... I can't decide if they'd be crazy to take it or crazy not to.

Giving the wolves Lewisham may agitate things more than necessary.

[He gives the map a thoughtful look.]

It's illegal to kill any witch now, but they don't have that same freedom. [a sigh] Eager as I am to see the vampires gone, that may be splitting focus too much.

[He shrugs.] It might be worth a try. I don't have any contacts in East End, they might jump at the chance to expand...

[He's frowning at the map.]

Still, none of this works without the fae being on board. You don't even get to talk to Midnight or the wolves without that. Then you have to establish this territory, and then you plant seeds about the Night Council...

[He rests his fingers lightly on area that the Council occupies right now. As much as he wants to go over the plan from beginning to end, they need logistics first. It doesn't work without a few powerful people agreeing to a couple deals.]

[God, that is quite the task he's set himself. Eames stares at the map, going over everything in his head. He doesn't quite have the clout to just start moving on this kind of thing - in fact, he's actively avoided it - so there's something else he'll have to work on before he can even begin chipping away at Daybreak's foundations.]

I knew there was a reason I avoided getting involved on such a significant scale.

[Arthur sits back, tilting his head.]

It's a good plan, though. If I knew the fae a little better I might be able to help with something that might motivate them, but... if you get it that far I can help with Widdowson and the wolves. Midnight's backed into a corner; they'd be foolish not to start mobilizing.

[His court, at least, typically trust his intuition when it comes to dealing with humans in these modern times. Convincing the Seelie might be a little tougher, but surely they're just as unwilling to stand for this kind of insult as the Unseelie. The humans can't just reap the benefits of being so close to the other realm here and try to lock them out at the same time. It's unacceptable.]

[He sighs and sits back. This could fall apart at any point along the way. And he has to consider that they may need to involve the vampires and at least offer a hand to Daybreak in this "neutral territory" business, which is. Unseemly, to say the least. But without them it's just renegade factions allying against the Council.]

Guess I'll need to find a new place first. [Wow has he finished that beer already.] I can't imagine they'd listen to me if my position here isn't secure.

Well, if you need help...

[Arthur takes a sip of beer, allowing Eames to assume the rest. He doesn't want to help Eames go apartment hunting but if it makes things move along a little faster, he can put his talents to work.]

[He sighs and leans forward again, resting his elbows on his knees.]

You planning on going back to Lambeth tonight?

Well it's really just a matter of deciding which is the most favourable of the options I have left, isn't it? Lucky I'm only short on choice and not money too, I suppose.

[Eames glosses over whether or not he's going back tonight - he is, but he also doesn't want to think about it - and squints at the map. Thinking about which parts of London he'd be happy enough with for the time being. Not much, as it happens. If the witches and the Council don't have it, then the vampires do. Disgusting.]

I've property in Bexley if I really can't find anything.

[Arthur stops himself from rolling his eyes. Eames has always been a tad unreasonable, but having met so many immortal beings at this point, Arthur assumes it goes with the territory.]

You probably have more options than you think. As long as it's not Night Council, Daybreak, or Islington, no one's going to try and kick you out or kill you. I know you don't trust any territory owned by the Institute, but at least they don't cut you off from the Other Realm.

[Arthur frowns at the belt of boroughs cutting off Hillingdon from the rest of London. If they wanted to move, it would have to be into Redbright territory, and no one's going to support them attacking territory owned by the school. As if the school hadn't forced itself into more territory than it needs.]

Not yet they don't.

[He doesn't really have any beef with the Institute except who runs it, but Sylvia being in charge makes it a flat no as far as Eames is concerned.]

[Eames sighs and gets up to get another beer.]

I'll figure it out. [...] Maybe Waltham.

[Arthur shrugs. He's not going to tell Eames where to live and he's not going to pass judgement on anything the 600-year-old man decides to do about his own dwelling.]

Well, like I said, if you need help finding a place I'm willing to check some stuff out for you. What I will not do is help you move.

[They are not at that level of friendship yet, and frankly Arthur's worried that if he starts going through Eames' stuff he'll find some weird magical and/or sex stuff that he doesn't need to know about.]

[The idea of Arthur helping him move actually makes Eames chuckle; the idea being so laughably absurd.]

[The absurdity of it calls some other things in to question though, and he squints suspiciously at Arthur.]

Why are you offering? [He raises an eyebrow.] What are you after?

[Arthur sighs and rubs his face.]

Is it always about making a deal with you?

You do remember what I am, right?

[Is he deflecting because he's baffled by the concept of helping people out just because? Nah.]

[Arthur sighs like he's annoyed, shrugging.]

I'm just trying to be nice. I don't like Daybreak and it's shitty that they're pushing you out.

[Wh... What.]

[Eames has to take a moment, because this 'being nice' thing doesn't sound right coming from Arthur at all, but the rest of his explanation makes perfect sense.]

[He makes an uncomfortable noise. MOVING ON.] I'm not ready to tackle that just yet, but I'll let you know if I end up needing a second pair of eyes.

I'll make sure to come up with something you can do to make it up to me in the meantime.

[He sounds just a little bit sarcastic as he leans forward again, taking a sip of beer and looking over the map.]

Well hold on to the big favours. I'll likely have to consult you again on this.

[He gestures to the map to indicate what he's talking about.]

[Arthur gestures around him vaguely, not looking up.]

You know where to find me.

[Eames nods and makes a noise to the affirmative, glancing at his watch as he thinks about what he has to do. Tonight at least, he should be able to get home without drawing any attention to himself, and he can pack up his things to have them put in storage. Somewhere out east, most likely.]

Right, well. I'd best be off.

[He stands and drains the rest of his beer, half considers thanking Arthur for his help, but then Eames remembers that it's Arthur and decides fuck that. He's just gonna grab his coat and see himself out unless Arthur has anything he needs to discuss.]

[Arthur lets him go, humming some vague farewell as Eames heads out the door. He's not even sure what got into him, offering help like that, but he is genuinely interested in Eames' plans. If nothing else, they can scare Sylvia.]

[That in itself would be a victory in his books.]

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