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

[reticence]

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.

Comments

[whatmatters]

Ringer wishes she knew more about the Fae Realm and that she had more weapons to combat them. Instead, she's basically coming in blind and trusting that Faolan is more prepared than she is. Which, with the addition of Lancelot, the Night Council, and now, potentially, Circle Midnight, is becoming more and more of a dangerous and unknown element.

She hesitates slightly when Lancelot turns to face them, finding it odd that he walks backwards instead of stopping entirely. Knowing she's looking for faults in the man does little to lessen the effect. His words stop the thought in its tracks and her full attention snaps to the man. Halfway through his words, she stops walking.

"Do you support the Fae?" She asks, trying to get her facts straight. "What are you?"

[reticence]

Faolan glances ahead of them to make sure that there wasn't anything to walk into, keeping on as Lancelot is, but he doesn't stop him. At least not until Ringer stops, herself. He knows what it takes for Lancelot to admit to his past. He knows that he doesn't enjoy talking about what happened to him when he was younger. And he feels a little hurt on Lancelot's behalf that she should be questioning him, after such an admission of kidnapping. While on the other hand, he knows he has to be careful and tread cautiously, because he doesn't want to misstep and lose Ringer's trust himself here either.

He reaches out to stop the other man's motion with a hand on his arm before turning back to Ringer, his expression and eyes as dark and unreadable as ever. "Lancelot was kidnapped into the Other Realm as a child," he says. "The same as these children we are seeking to rescue. He was held there, raised there, before he was dumped back into our world like some toy that had ceased its amusements. It's why I asked him along. For his unique experience in this area. As I said before."

[knightscode]

He slows as Ringer grinds to a halt, stops as Faolan gestures for him to. His brow furrows a little at the challenge ('Do you support the Fae'?) and lines of unease work their way into his body language. It's hardly his favourite topic, and he can feel that Faolan reacting on his behalf, but that... still isn't really the answers Ringer wanted. She wants a black and white situation, a straight yes or not.

"I don't support them," he says simply. "I'm not Fae myself. I'm human. I can't... sense magic, can barely use it. They classify me as a Meta Human, for the amount of magic I was exposed to I think. If... you want to be sure -- well, iron and silver don't poison me. If you have anything you can test."

[whatmatters]

Ringer listens to Faolan's words and gives a nod of acceptance. Where Lancelot edged around the truth initially, Faolan lays it bare. It's important to the story and changes Ringer's perception of the man to some extent. But it's not enough by itself. Stockholm Syndrome, shapeshifters. There are important nuances there that speak to his state of mind since, which is why she's grateful that Lancelot steps up to answer her clearly.

"I don't need to test," she replies firmly. Ringer glances at Faolan before looking to Lancelot again. Quid pro quo. "The Unseelie and the Night Council were responsible for a genocide in my town. We were collateral damage in their dispute."

The rest she assumes he can infer. It's why she doesn't trust him for being in the Night Council and why she's even more skeptical of his potential alliance to the Unseelie. Those events are the reason she became a hunter, to protect her race from creatures who believe themselves to be above humanity.

[reticence]

Faolan startles slightly at the idea of testing Lancelot with iron and silver, holding his hands out in front of him at both sides in something of a defensive, placatory gesture towards the pair of them. "Hey, hey!" he says, glancing between the pair of them, at Ringer and Lancelot alike. "No one's testing anyone, alright? We're fine, all of us. She believes you." He glances between the pair of them again to make sure his point is being made. You're both his friends. You're both important to getting this solved. Play nice.

He looks to Ringer at he explanation that she offered up, and. Honestly, he hadn't known that. He wouldn't have put it past either group to have done something of the sort, being honest. Unseelie and Night Council alike could be ruthless, even when they claimed they were in something for the greater good. But that's neither here nor there. It explains what her hangup about the Night Council is. And it also explains perhaps why she's in the city alone. He hadn't asked before, and she hadn't offered. Ah, well. Now he knows regardless. "He's not Unseelie," he placates her. "And he may be Night Council, but he only joined a few months ago. He wasn't involved in anything that might have happened in your town. I've asked him along because he's faster, stronger, and more experienced with the fae than I am. I'm not asking you to become bosom buddies. I'd just like for the pair of you to get along so that we can get to solving this case. Alright?"

He glances between the pair of them, raising his eyebrows again. If there are any further complaints, might as well air them now. Otherwise, he'd like to get a move on here.

[knightscode]

Lancelot looks about to insist, to step forward and ask if she has a blade herself -- yet then Faolan is drawing a line. Faolan is drawing a line and Lancelot lets out a slow sigh of resignation.

"For what it's worth," he adds, "it was the Seelie court that kept me. Not that one is particularly better than the other."

He shoves his hands into his pockets, shifts uncomfortably and drops his eyes to the path.

[whatmatters]

Ringer watches Lancelot's reaction to Faolan's interruption, not taking her eyes off of the man until both have finish speaking. As much as Faolan is a friend and someone she trusts, his misunderstanding of her words irritates her. When she finally speaks, it's to him, her tone more curt than before. "You're overreacting. I already agreed not to test him and the comment about my past was an explanation for the way our first meeting went."

While she has no intention of being 'bosom buddies' with Lancelot, she doesn't need Faolan's permission or repeated expectations of such. As far as she's concerned, the pair have already shown a hefty level of trust in one another and are getting along surprisingly well, given the circumstances.

After a beat, she looks back to Lancelot again. "Thanks for explaining."

[reticence]

She agreed not to, but Faolan knows Lancelot, and he wouldn't put it past the other man to pull some sort of stunt anyway, to prove a point. He doesn't miss the change in tone, but he'll take it for now, if it means that they can move on from here. She may not have needed his repetition but she hadn't been making it very clear that she had any intention of staying on, with all of her hangups about the generalities to what Lancelot was. Faolan needed to say them in order to have himself understood. He's sorry for what happened to her, but Lancelot didn't do it. If she can't work with him, tell him now, otherwise let's get back to business.

The words exchanged between the pair of them are enough for Faolan. He nods once, and then starts on again. They've got bigger fish to fry. Finally reaching a remote location, he drops down in the grass and pulls the files out for them. Information on the children. Who they were (as best they know), where they disappeared, when... "We need to find a pattern," he says, handing the files around. "A clue as to how to proceed from here. We can't just go bursting through any open Door we happen to find."

[knightscode]

He drops his eyes like submissive dog, takes a file and begins to flip slowly through it. Find a pattern and start from there. It's easier said than done, of course, any number of small things could be what they're after. Hair colour, eye colour, age, physical area they were in at the time, area they were born or live in, supernatural involvement of parents...

Some of the things will be easier to find out than others, of course.

"I can run a search on some of these names," he begins carefully, "see if the Met have found anything themselves. Might turn up some missing we don't know about, add to the pattern. Worth a try."

[whatmatters]

Ringer frowns at Lancelot's reaction to Faolan, wondering if that's how their friendship always works and why Faolan has no reason to distrust the man. So far as Ringer can tell, Lancelot seems practically to be a servant of some kind. Or of a lower rank. Both ideas make her uncomfortable, so she pushes them aside for now in order to focus on the task at hand.

She kneels not far from them, accepting a couple files to begin perusing. Her focus is drawn away by Lancelot's words. "Police officer or private investigator?"

She waits politely for his reply before adding her own contribution: "I'll look at news and media archives for missing details. Someone should follow up with their relatives. Most serial crimes begin locally or with someone the victim might know."

[reticence]

Faolan isn't sure what to make of Lancelot's reaction to him, nor is he certain what to make of Ringer's reaction in turn. He supposes he might as well put it all out of his mind for now. At least they've started to look at the files. At least they're getting somewhere and it isn't simply to question his choice in companions in one another.

He glances to Lancelot, figuring he'll let the other man explain what he does for a living himself, uncertain what she might make of the fact that he's connected with the police as well. Maybe she'll just give up altogether. Maybe it will actually be a point in his favor. Who can say for certain.

He nods in response to the other man's offer for that matter. Help from the police never hurt. And her offer for aid was a useful suggestion as well. As for Faolan himself... "I can ask around on the Underground," he says, thoughtfully. "See if anyone's heard anything about any of this. There might be someone more willing to speak to someone like myself about the truth of the matter than they might have told the police, if you catch my thinking..."

[knightscode]

Police, he confirms, which means of course he can put things through the HOLMES database -- see what it finds on the investigation. Even if Faolan is right, and it's entirely possible people saw things they wouldn't tell the police. Or shouldn't at any rate, if they don't want the Night Council breathing down their necks.

"I can pull details on the families, but I shouldn't move out of my jurisdiction or I'll get attention. It's a good start," he says finally, "if we pool our resources we should find a lead somewhere. What's our timeframe?"

After all, they'll need a deadline to meet up by and make something of this. A place and time.

[whatmatters]

Ringer nods in acknowledgement of Lancelot's occupation. She wonders how a member of the Night Council can function among the police, whether that makes him a corrupt cop or an actually honorable Council member. It's too difficult to tell given how little she knows him and how demure he's acted thus far. One thing is clear: Lancelot's personality is different around Faolan than it was in their brief interaction independent from her ally.

"Great," she replies, eager to get on to the actual work. Then her attention is on Faolan with Lancelot's question, also curious as to how much time they have.

[reticence]

Faolan glances between the pair of them, contemplating his response, before he answers. "The longer we wait, the more time we give him," he says. "Two days. One full day for work, then we meet the next day. Here." He gestures to this spot in the park they've found themselves in specifically. "Dig up anything that you can. If you find something more urgent, call me sooner, I can liaise between you. If there's a direction we should be headed, a specific location, we'll meet up there instead. I'll let you know too."

He studies Ringer's expression first, then Lancelot's. "Questions? Complaints?" He's hardly used to being responsible for telling either of them what to do like this, even if he has been newly placed as Head of Hillingdon.

Time skip?

[knightscode]

"I'll do my best," Lancelot assures them. "Just text me a time and I'll be here. Even if we turn up nothing it's still worth a try. Dumb luck has gotten me a long way before."

He digs around for his phone a moment, pulls it up and taps open a contact number -- holds it out to Ringer.

"This is my number. If you find anything you want me to run through HOLMES before Sunday text me or call me, I'll do my best to get it done." Glancing sideways he tilts his head at Faolan in a way that suggests he knows this but... well, he's voicing it anyway. "Same goes for you. I can't promise it will bring up results but it's better than nothing."

Faolan can start time skip plz?? I don't know what I'm doing

[whatmatters]

Ringer gives Lancelot a nod, taking down his mobile number into her own phone and then returning his phone to him. It's a start. All of this feels like a start, something in the general direction of progress without truly feeling like an accomplishment. She hopes it's enough.

"I have to go soon. Are we done for now?" It's an honest question. Ringer has class to get to and while she'll stay as long as needed, she doesn't want to stay a minute more.

The girl stands with Faolan's approval, brushing off her knees and giving Lancelot and Faolan each a look in turn. "I'll see you then."

hopefully this isn't too stupidly vague...

[reticence]

Faolan nods, standing with her and watching her leave, saying his goodbyes to Lancelot as well, and setting out on his own. They each have their own area that they're going to be investigating, as they had decided, and Faolan's is largely the research of what he has in the files themselves and research on the ground itself.

So research he does. Reading up on the children and trying to make what connections that he can between them. Largely between the ages of 6 and 9, the majority of them had been from territories that are dominated by the fae, or had been at the time of the disappearance of the child. But that only narrowed things down so much. So Faolan dug further, trying to figure out where they were at the time of the disappearance. There had to be a location to tie them all, where the door should be located.

He's narrowed it down enough that he's fairly confident in his theory, but it isn't until he hits the streets that he truly has any real information to bring to the figurative table, as he waits for his companions to join him again in their appointed meeting spot.