Is this a dagger which I see before me (Nov catch-all)

[occultdisciple]

Come, let me clutch thee
Lewisham, early November, day

The streets themselves were classic. He still knew their twists and turns, even if automobiles commanded the streets instead of horse-drawn carriages. Even so, it was good to be back on them, walking the once-familiar paths to learn what had replaced what he knew. The air of the place was entirely different, and he was almost sorry to see it lost. London hadn't been perfect then, no, but he'd known it. Now, he had to get to know a stranger all over again.

He folded up his newspaper he had been reading and set it aside on a bench. Anyone else who might want it was more than welcome to it. He'd read all he cared for by now. It was fascinating how scandal now was a natural consequence of being a politician, not something that would immediately ruin a man. Of course, he'd had plenty of time to learn that. It still struck him as amusing at times.

It was a shame to feel the fae magic in the area. While he'd never been particularly bothered with the fae -- he'd tapped into their power more than once during his Midnight days -- it simply felt wrong that they should be holding as much of the mortal realm in London as they seemed to. This was another world, not theirs. So, he'd have to see that set to right.

Deep in his thoughts, he'd begun walking, only to make a turn and clip someone's shoulder with his. Or perhaps they clipped him. Either way, the result was the same, and he gave a slight, old-fashioned bow. "Excuse me. I was distracted. Are you alright?"

I have thee not
Approaching Daybreak, November 8th

"Thank you, sir, for agreeing to meet me so quickly." As he said it, Lord Coward approached the man with an extended hand. It was refreshing to know that some things never changed -- like Daybreak politics. Men who rose to high ranks, as this man had, were often keen to keep them. It tended toward the matriarcal, after all.

Which was where they might well be able to help one another.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister Norrell."

And yet I see thee still
Approaching Redbright, November 10th

This was new. Well, not particularly new, perhaps, but certainly after his time. He hadn't been to London since it's founding. It certainly presented itself as a noble cause and a fine instutition, which only made himself wonder what the cracks were. What dark little secrets were hidden in its walls.

That was a matter for another time. As it stood, Lord Coward had a few tasks to accomplish at the school, not least of which was attempting to facilitate getting help for pushing the fae out of Lewisham. The school was run, after all, by the leader of Daybreak, so there was surely cause to think she might be of assistance.

It wouldn't hurt, certainly, to see a bit of the campus, too.

Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
Approaching East End, November 12th

Of all the appointments Lord Coward had made this week, this was the one he was most dreading. It was, after all, an ancient feud that had its reasons for continuing. He had no real desire to do this, but he was too unconnected to properly act. So, it would have to be done.

"Thank you, Mister Memon, for agreeing to this meeting." Unlike with the Daybreak High Priest, Coward didn't offer his hand. They were on far different footing. "I know our social circles have their differences."

A polite way of putting it, to be sure, but he wasn't about to insult the man. Not when he wanted to suggest that it was in their best interest not to try killing one another for awhile.

To feeling as to sight
Whitechapel, mid November, night

There were always plenty of people willing to let a vampire feed on them. Sometimes, as with one of his newest acquaintances, they wanted money. Others were just after the thrill. He appreciated both equally.

But nothing could quite match the pleasure of the hunt.

It felt almost laughable to walk the streets of Whitechapel, looking for prey. He was quite content with having this as his territory to protect. Still, it wasn't lost on him that these were the very places the Ripper hand once looked for his prey. He couldn't help but chuckle at the mere idea.

When he saw someone, he approached, offering a raised hand to indicate he was there. He smiled a bit, almost wary. "Good evening. Bit late to be out, isn't it?"

Comments

Nov 10th

[brightwitch]

The vampire is directed towards one of the greenhouses, where he will find Sylvia using a mortar and pestle to ground up some herbs, which are then stored in a small bottle. There are already several of these bottles on the table, each with their own ingredients: they'll be used by the students for mixing up herbal remedies and potions. Add to that the finch bills, feathers, pine cones and moss decorating her work space, and she looks particularly witchy today. She's also wearing a real poppy pinned to her dress.

She looks up, eyes bright in the relative dim of the enclosed greenhouse. "Mr Coward?"

[occultdisciple]

For just a moment, Lord Coward took in the sights and smells around him. This was a world he missed. Herbs and chalk and potions and spells and rituals. That had been the one great sacrifice of becoming a vampire. Politely, he bowed.

"Lord Coward," he offered. One gentle correction was all he'd bother with. If the address continued, he'd accept it as a necessary evil of today. "Thank you very much for agreeing to meet with me. I've only recently arrived back in London, so I thought it best to make necessary introductions."

[brightwitch]

She chose the location, as he might guess, to remind him of his heritage. The greenhouse was full of life, all the things of nature that were anathema to a vampire, the scent of wood and leaves fragrant in the air.

Sylvia continued her work, still grounding up the fresh rosemary. "Lord Coward, of course. Sylvia Redbright. I'll be frank with you, I wasn't going to accept your request to meet, but then I looked up your name. You used to be a witch." She met his eyes and smiled faintly. "Welcome back."

She knew who he was, or at least what the witches of the time had recorded about him. It all started off well, but finished rather badly. And when a witch became a vampire... well, they lost everything that connected them to magic. Some hated it. Some embraced it. Whether she felt sorry for him or not would depend on which category he fell into.

[occultdisciple]

"My mother used to have a garden quite like this," he murmured. It was a rare feeling of sentiment from a man who felt he'd quite outgrown that long before his turn. But, well, he'd been away from much of the supernatural intersections of the communities. Perhaps somewhat intentionally. Still, it was almost pleasant to see it again. "Not quite as large, of course."

But it reminded him of home and his youth. Of the years in the Circle. Years he'd quite enjoyed.

"I was very impressed to hear about your school."

[brightwitch]

Her smile widened. Flatterer. Still, she'd accept it regardless of sincerity. "And are you still impressed now that you've seen it?"

[occultdisciple]

"Extremely. Far better than what was available for learning in my time."

Not that it had been bad, no, but to be able to unite the community and teach all who came safely. Better than individual covens each trying to teach only those they considered worthy. His mother had gotten him under Sir Thomas's tutelage quickly, but others hadn't been so lucky.

"I hope you take donations. I'd love to contribute." At the very least, that much was sincere.

[brightwitch]

Flattery and money. She was almost starting to like him. Sylvia added the freshly ground rosemary to a small glass bottle, which she sealed with a cork stopper.

"You're very generous. Yes, we do take donations." She looked up at him, considering. "But I can't imagine that's the only reason you've come here. So, what can I do for you?"

He might appear generous, but she knew from experience that such offers tended to come with strings attached.

[occultdisciple]

"I wanted to ask your opinion, actually." Not entirely true, but it was a better conversation than what she'd asked. And it began to steer them to the point he wanted to make.

"I've only recently arrived back in London, and I don't recall there being quite the same strength of presence of the fae, last I heard."

[brightwitch]

Fae. Her favourite subject. She set aside the bottle with the rest, wiped her hands and sighed.

"You're right, that's a recent development. They've taken over a large part of south-east London. Made a lot of work for us too. Cover-ups and so on."

Sometimes the fae got careless. Their magic warped the ordinary world, drew mortals in and out of the Other Realm, and befuddled the human population. The effects were relatively contained, for now, but they had also started to encroach on witch territory and Sylvia was not at all happy about that.

[occultdisciple]

"I can only imagine."

Even in his day, the fae had been difficult to deal with. Lord Blackwood, for all his power and dark rituals, had been careful about anything of that nature. The arrangements made were few and delicately handled. Everything he'd learned about that sort of magic, he'd been taught by his Shepherd.

"It is, of course, in the interests of the Islington Nest to expand its territory. And, I believe, in a fairly common interest to use that to push the fae back."

[brightwitch]

Her gaze sharpened. Now this was why he had requested to see her. If she had to guess... Coward was from London, but had fled over a century ago. Now returning as a vampire, he wanted to restore his exalted position in society, make his mark and impress Millicent. And he had decided that the best way to do that was by carving out his own territory at the expense of the fae.

At least he had picked the right target. She could hardly object to that. And why not make use of an ambitious vampire? In many ways they were the fae's deadliest foes.

"We have a common interest in pushing the fae back," she agreed, which was not quite the same as expanding Islington territory in order to do so. "So are you here to ask for my help, or simply my approval?"

The implication being that any action he took required her approval. Sylvia was not above using words in her own favour.

[occultdisciple]

A powerful, dangerous woman. While, physically, he could overpower her, Coward knew all too well that brute strength didn't win any war. It especially didn't help a newcomer. That wasn't how politics worked, and he was a political man by nature. So, he offered a humble bow.

"Your permission, though your help would not be turned away. I don't expect any favours." Yet. He would have to wait on that until he had more material to bargain. "It would not do to cross the Mother of Witches and President of the Night Council."

[brightwitch]

It sounded as though he wasn't asking much. Simply to look away while the vampires did what they did best. She gave a small smile, then walked around to lean against the table.

"What exactly do you intend to do?"

She wouldn't agree to anything until she knew what she was agreeing to.

[occultdisciple]

"My first priority is to shoo the fae out of Lewisham and expand the influence of the Nest to that area. Which, of course, we both know is easier said than done."

Physically, the movement itself would be simple. Vampires were dangerous foes, even against the powers of the fae. But the politics were another issue entirely.

"I have a few other meetings this week to discuss the prospect, and I've no doubt there will be ramifications." Future expansions, future conflicts... "But, for now, that is my aim."

[brightwitch]

Few would object to the fae being driven out, except of course the fae themselves. They were unpredictable; there was no telling how they might react. The flip side to this was the Islington Nest gaining more power. That might make people nervous. It might make her own witches nervous. So it really came down to which was the lesser of two evils. Vampires? Or fae.

It wasn't the easiest decision. But she knew what the right choice had to be.

"All right," she said finally. "Drive them out. I'll look the other way."

She wouldn't help him. But she wouldn't hinder either.