undergrounds | I'VE BEEN A RAMBLER ALL MY LIFE (NOV CATCH-ALL)

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I'VE BEEN A RAMBLER ALL MY LIFE (NOV CATCH-ALL)

A. COME AWAY, O HUMAN CHILD - CLOSED TO LANCELOT & RINGER
As soon as there is placed a bounty on a rogue fae kidnapping children into the Other Realm, Faolan knows several things for certain. One, that they must be stopped no matter what the cost, because children are innocents, and having had his own childhood taken from him, knowing others who have had their own taken from them as well, the sooner this is put an end to the less people there will be out there developing complexes around such things. For another, he knows that he's bound to get support when he asks around for help. He's certainly not going to be the only one after the reward, with a bounty like that placed on it. But it's not just the money he's after.

So he manages to rope a few people in to aid him on this. Ringer, from Hillingdon, who like him bristles when she hears that it's children who are being affected. And Lancelot, of course, for who better to aid in such an affair than a man who was once stolen away by the fae to the Other Realm when he was a child himself. He calls them individually, arranges for them to meet him in a cafe near where the latest child went missing, and lets them know that there will be company besides just himself on the job. He does not give names, figuring introductions can be made in the cafe itself.

He orders a coffee while he waits for them. He'd look suspicious not to, and to be honest even in the most dire of situations Faolan would rarely turn down a coffee. Sitting in the back of the establishment, his back against the wall so that he can watch who might be entering and approaching him, he sips at it and flicks through his mobile, making certain he'd told both of them the right time and place.

B. UNDER COVER WORK - SEMI-OPEN TO THE SHADOW COVEN
Faolan has been doing his best despite his new rise in the ranks back at Hillingdon to maintain his anonymity as 'Dubhan' as he does work for Kenzi, but everything has him more on edge now. As Leader of the Hillingdon Clan, even there he's still been keeping it a secret for the most part, his involvement with the Night Council as a Guardian, and here he has to keep double the secrets, not only the involvement with the Night Council (obviously), but also any and all mention of involvement with Hillingdon. As asking around about a 'Dubhan' there is going to bring an investigator up with next to nothing, but conveniently might lead straight into the fact that he's been lying to Kenzi about who he is and what he does for a living this whole time.

So he does his best to keep his mouth shut and keep his head down. Whenever she needs him, he's there. Whenever there's the need for someone to look imposing, Faolan steps up to the job. or rather, 'Dubhan' does. Looks imposing where and when he's needed, makes sure that Kenzi and her friends make their way home safe more than a few nights and generally plays his role of dutiful bodyguard. No one need know that he's there to collect information on them at the same time. It'll be his little secret.

C. HILLINGDON HOUSE - SEMI-OPEN TO HILLINGDON
Faolan doesn't really understand what he's done right (or wrong, for that matter) to find himself in this position. It's true, he's been with Hillingdon Clan for close to 10 years now. But he'd never imagined himself its top ranking officer. He knows that it has something to do with the fact that he's been doing good work for a good while and that he's finally being recognized for it. But honestly, isn't there someone higher than him? Someone more deserving of the job? Someone who isn't, say, spying on the clan for the Night Council? Not that he had much of a choice one way or the other, but that is neither here nor there.

He tries to make himself available for those within the clan itself to meet with, however. Most of his undercover work is done at nights, so the majority of his days are spent at Hillingdon House. He recognizes that there is a distinct lack of leadership here in the Hillingdon Clan, and that there has been for some time now. The best solution of course is not to blunder in and start installing himself willy-nilly. No, another approach must be made. So Faolan makes himself available. For the most senior members and the newest. He doesn't know that he's the best choice for this position. But he's willing to give it a try...

D. THE COFFEE FIX - OPEN TO ALL
Of course, Faolan's day would hardly be complete with at least one visit to some coffee shop or another. If he were to stop and think about exactly how much caffeine he put in his body on any given day he would probably wonder how he had any blood left running through his veins at all. And god help the day where someone tells him to give it up or cut back on the stuff.

He sits at a table in the back of the store with a pastry in front of him and a coffee gripped between both of his hands, soaking in the warmth of it. It's early still, he doesn't have any specific plans for the day other than to eventually get into Hillingdon and to answer his call from Kenzi if and when one comes that evening. Which means it's the perfect time to stop and take a breath and enjoy a good cup of coffee.

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As Faolan approaches Kenzi, he has several reasons to take pause. For one, she hardly looks as though she should be out of bed, the pallor of her skin and the circles under her eyes. Then there's the fact that she's calling him 'big guy', which. Alright, it's probably just a figure of speech, but seeing as he stands a full 5'6" at the best of times, it rankles a little. And then there is the fact that she has asked him to meet her here, of all places. No, none of this sits well with him at all.

As he sidles up and raises an eyebrow at her, he wants to ask, 'What are you playing at?' Instead, the words that come out of his mouth are a bit better thought-out. "What are you doing out here?" he asks. "I thought you were sick." The tone implying, of course, that he doesn't think that she seems that much better.

She shrugs in a non-answer and stands away from the wall as she pockets her phone.

"Got better," sort of. She still feels all stuffed up, like cotton was just shoved into her head. But she has a job to do. A self-appointed job but a job nonetheless.

The thing is, she isn't sure if she should tell him all about Nancy and her and what happened. Her best friend being cursed at a vampire's behest wasn't really what she wanted to start the night with. What he doesn't know won't hurt him right?

Yeah. Totally.

"There's someone in there that owes me some answers. I need to make sure I get them out of him. Got it?"

In short: You're my muscle.

Edited 2015-12-16 04:57 (UTC)

Sure it won't hurt him. But it won't help her case here either. Faolan knows exactly where they are, and as soon as she starts making noises about them going inside... It might be the day, but Faolan isn't foolish enough as to believe that that will spare them.

Kenzi just may be, however.

Faolan raises his eyebrows, looking a bit incredulous. He realizes he's supposed to just shut up and do his job, gather information, things like that. But there are lines and then there are lines. "You'll forgive me," he says, giving her one of his best sarcastic looks. "I could have sworn that you just said that you were planning on going in there to get answers out of someone inside. You do know what this place is?" He hopes not, but he's willing to bet otherwise, judging by that set to her shoulders and the look in her eyes.

She's tempted, very tempted, to give him some patented sarcasm but he's just trying to look out for her....

oh whose she kidding, that's even more of a reason.

"Isn't it a Boys and Girls club?" She asks, with exaggerated innocence. It only lasts a few seconds before she lets the face fall and stands upright.

"Yeah, that's sort of the point. You game or not?"

Because if you're going to pussy out on her now, Faolan - she needs to know.

He's her bodyguard, what the hell is he supposed to be doing but looking out for her?

He gives her a pointed look at the sarcasm. "Game for what? What are you playing at? You can't be thinking of going in there..." Except he's pretty sure that that's exactly what she's thinking of doing. Why in the hell she'd want to do that he can only guess at, though.

"That's why you called me out here," he says, not even bothering to make it a question.

"Duh."

Kenzi rolls her eyes as she says it. She's not the most respectful employer, is she?

"Look all I need you do to is watch my back, look scary and be ready to kick some ass if things ever go south."

Which they probably will. If Kenzi thought she was going to get out of this without bloodshed she would have just walked in by herself without any back up. The "brass" knuckles she's sporting should be evidence enough of that.

Faolan's expression tightens. "Why?" he asks. Which he realizes he probably shouldn't be, if he were trying to be a good grunt like she wants him to be. But he doesn't want to play this game. He doesn't like vampires, and he likes even less the idea of having to potentially face some without a good reason for it.

"Why do you want in there? What's this all about?" he asks. Not making any sort of move to follow her orders just yet. He's not about to let her go in alone, of course. But he'd sooner bodily drag her off scene than willingly lead her in.

Ugh you're going to make her give you a reason. What kind of muscle does that?

Kenzi rolls her eyes and leans closer to Faolan like that'll keep people (vampires) from hearing her.

"Look one of these assholes knows who hired some Fae to curse my best friend. They ruined her life out of spite and now I'm gonna make sure they don't fuck with her again. Are you helping, or aren't you?"

So it sounds crazy? So what? Kenzi wasn't exactly a paragon of sanity.

Faolan narrows his eyes at her. He believes what she's saying, but that doesn't make it any better of an idea. Worst of all, he has a fairly good idea... "If I choose not to you're going to go in there on your own anyway aren't you," he says, the statement half a question, even though he's pretty sure he knows the answer anyway.

He heaves a heavy sigh, running a hand over his face. "How many of them are in there? Give me something to go on so that we're not just stumbling in blind." For the love of god, please tell him that she knows something and that they're not just going to crash in and hope for the best.

"Dude I would have been in there like, a week ago, if you had gotten here any sooner."

Kenzi is getting more antsy by how she's fidgeting. It's actually remarkable that she didn't just go all in as soon as she texted him and hope for the best. At his question Kenzi tries to contain her 'uh oh' to a single muscle spasm and shrugs helpfully.

"Ten. Give or take?"

She has literally no idea what the numbers are. Is there something wrong with just winging it, Faolan?!

Faolan purses his lips, chewing on them for a moment to keep himself from further protesting how terrible an idea this is. Ten, give or take. Which means that she probably doesn't know. Or hadn't cared to find out. He takes a deep breath in, letting it out slowly, and trying to assess the situation.

He's got one gun on him, but nothing that he might have otherwise brought if he'd known what they were going to be up to. It's fully loaded, but that isn't saying much. There are more likely than not going to be more opponents than he has bullets. And this is their territory. They know it better than him. They're going to be stronger, faster, and more likely than not bigger than him. And this is a really stupid idea.

He heaves out another sigh. "Let's just get this over with," he says, taking a step forward towards the door. "We go in, you get your answers, we get out. Are we clear?" he asks, knowing that he's basically ordering his employer around at this point, but not giving any of it a second thought.

"Yes!" Kenzi has a hard time resisting a fist pump but she manages to restrain herself.

She doesn't seem to think about the fact that her bodyguard is ordering her around, because she just goes to the door and knocks in the 'shave and a haircut' pattern before a slot in the door is opened.

"Special delivery," she smiles easily up at the door and exposes her neck like a meal. It's good enough apparently, because she gets let inside without any protest. She might just force her way inside if Faolan can't come up with a convincing reason for his appearance as well.

Faolan shuts his eyes for a moment and sighs inwardly. He sincerely hopes that he isn't about to die, stepping into the line of fire like this. Especially since Kenzi's offering herself up as food to them. That's her cover? Faolan quickly scrambles for something of his own -- he's certainly not doing the same himself. No vampire will ever feed off of him, not if he can help it.

"Don't worry about me. I'll stay out of your way. Just looking to see that she makes it in and out in one piece," he says, gruffly. Which, as far as anyone's concerned, is technically true...

Kenzi doesn't even have the sense to consider death as an option right now. Which - if he knew her better - would tell Faolan that she wasn't thinking straight.

As she passes over the threshold Kenzi smiles prettily at the gatekeeper before snapping her fist forward - the one holding the brass knuckles - into his throat.

Apparently she's been doing this enough that she knows how to make sure they don't scream loudly before she manages to knock them out.

From there she grabs an umbrella from the stand by the door and whacks him over the head with it. The vampire is little more than stunned but still awake. Kenzi looks to Faolan frantically and gestures at his head.

"Please?!"

Oh, for the love of... Faolan had hardly thought that she'd be foolish enough to try and beat her way in to a vampire's nest, but apparently surprise is the theme of his night. Right, he steps forward, thinking quickly on his feet. He needs to deal with it, but he doesn't want to raise the alarm by making too much noise. Not just yet, anyway. He thinks about killing it, but that would probably get him into more trouble than it was worth, and as far as he's aware, the poor guy didn't actually do anything wrong.

So he takes the umbrella from her hands and does her one better, using his hunter's training to crack him across the back of the skull, hard as he can. The vampire crumples in a heap at their feet and Faolan heaves out a silent sigh of relief before glancing to Kenzi. She's apparently the one in charge here, after all.

Apparently being an employer means that you can touch your employees without asking. Kenzi smacks a hand on his arm in an appreciative manner and a quick smile, "Thanks big guy."

The place isn't really a club so much as a collection of smaller, private rooms. It makes things easier for them at least. Kenzi walks with purpose down a narrow, quiet hallway to a door towards the middle marked 'private'.

"You mind knocking?"

She asks Faolan, hoping he'll do something cool like kick it down.

Faolan does not in fact kick it down, least of all because he isn't actually strong enough to be capable of doing so. He shuts his eyes to take a deep breath and steel himself before he steps forward and puts his hand on the doorknob, resting his head against the door itself to try and hear within. Well, they're not bursting out at them, so they've caught them by surprise this far at least.

Tossing a glance back to Kenzi he wonders how much trouble they're about to be in, before he turns the handle (it's unlocked, he's found out), and pulls it open.

Kenzi shoots Faolan a look that she hopes tells him just how much of a party pooper he really is before rolling her eyes at him. "Ugh, you're no fun."

Kicking in doors was supposed to be the spice of life for you physical types! Whatever. Kenzi put on her vapid smile face as she entered. There was only one person (if you could call him that) in the room. A slender, fair man who looked to be in his thirties or forties depending on how generous you were feeling.

"Mister Reed?" Kenzi tittered in question. The 'Mister Reed' looked her up and down before sniffing down his nose at her.

"Baron. Reed."

Kenzi at least had the good sense to look mollified at the correction. Her apology was extremely dismissive however, and the Baron arched his brow in suspicion at that. "Right, right. Sorry about that, Baron - but I have some questions for you."

Kenzi punctuated her reveal with a lock of the door and scrawling a ward into the frame of the door to keep anyone from coming in.

The Baron was less than pleased.

"What's the meaning of this?!"

He roared and stood from his seat, as if he meant to harm them.

And they're off to a great start, Faolan thinks to himself, as they lock themselves inside the room with a vampire baron who is decidedly unhappy with this course of events.

He steps forward, preparing himself to step in and defend the pair of them against the angry vampire as best he can if it comes to that. And he's pretty certain that it's about to come to that, if Kenzi keeps up her record of pressing his buttons as she has done so far.

"Easy, now," he says, holding his hands up both in a placatory and defensive gesture at once.

"Easy?!" The Baron shouts angrily.

"Chill, Baron!" Kenzi tries her hand at placating him and her method includes decking the guy in the face with a set of silver 'brass' knuckles adorning her right hand. The resulting sizzle of skin and smell to accompany it aren't pleasant at all.

Got Reed to sit down though, right?

Faolan's wondering as he watches Kenzi 'handle' things, whether he should have called someone and told them about where he was and what he was about to be talked into doing, just in case it all went wrong like he's pretty certain that it's going to do. But he's also certain that if he called anyone it would probably be Lancelot and the other man would try and talk him out of it, as it was a rather insane idea. Maybe he could have texted...? Ah well.

Faolan steps forward swearing under his breath and making sure that he's as ready as he can be to fend off any retaliation in the face of such treatment to the vampire. "Ask him your questions, Kenzi," he prompts, because the sooner she's done whatever they're here to do, the more likely it is that they'll get out of here alive.

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I'VE BEEN A RAMBLER ALL MY LIFE (NOV CATCH-ALL)

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