undergrounds | [ ACTIVE/ OPEN ] Southwark Claim

Date: 28th of May
Plot: Southwark Territory Claim by Daybreak
Areas: Lambeth and surrounding areas!

The month has been one of chaos, following the Night Council results. The surprise loss by Norrell felt like a small victory to those who opposed his rather heavy handed tactics, but of course Millicent had still won -- and what followed... Street hunts, murders, robberies, arson, open hunting of werewolves during the full moon. 'Gang violence', they called it, but everyone in the know understood what was really going on. Such actions cannot go unanswered, and someone has to do something about it soon.

On May the 28th a group of Daybreak members and its allies begin to move in to Southwark, and some of them may notice it's a little easier than they might have first expected...

[ ooc; log for the Daybreak territory claim! This is the Daybreak faction reward claim, and being used as plot distract Millicent! It is being run by Lance in response to the general bullshittery Millicent has pulled, via persuasion by Jean-Claude. Once he realises he has been used he will most likely be reasonably upset, as he has no idea he is in fact a distraction! ]

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"Perhaps you can help us understand then. Forgive me, but form my perspective Islington Nest is doing nothing to invite mutual understanding or respect. If anything it is painting itself, and all of your kind, as aggressive and dangerous. It does little to invite trust."

If anything, it makes Lancelot angry and resentful. Lancelot rarely shows anger if he can help it, and for now his hackles are lowering, but his face is still pulled into a frown of discontent.

Jean-Claude gestures at the other man as if to say, 'very well', before going on after a moment.

"What is there that you need to understand then, mon ami?" he asks, inclining his head at Lancelot, fixing him with a very direct gaze that clearly suggests it is an honest question, rather than a rhetorical statement.

"You say you are better than those who give you a bad name," he begins, "why do you let Millicent do this, then? Is she so unbeatable? Surely if enough people disagree with her she can be toppled? Surely, if the vampires wish to have more support and a better reputation that would be the thing to do?"

To Lancelot this all makes no sense, to Lancelot little is impossible -- and if Millicent is truly this villainous dictator then surely the vampires would wish to do something about it?

Jean-Claude shakes his head in response to the other man's words. "You do not understand what it is like to live under the rule of one such as Millicent," he replies. "Or worse. And there have been worse than her, mon ami. They rule by fear and hatred. And it is not a very good way to gain loyal supporters if you are looking for kind people like yourself. But those who are cruel like her -- they flock to her. They would do anything to curry her favor, no matter how terrible. And the rest of us must behave or be punished."

He shakes his head again. "It is not an ideal life. And there is very little that one such as myself might do about it." He fixes Lancelot with a direct gaze. "One such as you, on the other hand..."

Him? He blinks at that, lofts an eyebrow slowly.

"I have no intention of changing factions," he begins, "nor turning, Jean-Claude, if that is what you are suggesting..."

Far from it, Lancelot finds the idea more than a little off-putting. To die then live again as a corpse fuelled by blood? No, it is not something Lancelot can ever imagine doing. He would rather stay dead then live in such a way, feeding off others.

Jean-Claude lets out something of a laugh at that, shaking his head. "No, no, no, mon ami," he says. "That is not what I am suggesting. And -- I hope you will forgive me for saying this -- but I hope that no one should ever turn you. You are perfect just the way you are." He quirks something of a smile at the other man. "And you would make a terrible vampire, at that."

"No," he continues, "what I am proposing is something much more specific. And something no one from inside the faction itself might be able to do." He cocks his head at the other man. "A faction can only do so much to police itself from the inside. But you, mon ami, you are not Islington. And you have proven yourself to be fairly good at policing elsewhere thus far, for that matter..."

"Policing it?" he repeats, "forgive me, but -- I cannot change the laws. I am only a guardian of the Night Council. I protect them, I do not work on the policies. It is true, I suppose I could speak with them..."

Yet Millicent would likely overrule anything, surely? Would Sylvia listen to him? Not only that, but is it even his place to suggest any kind of rule change? For a faction he has little to do with?

Jean-Claude nods his head at the other man. "You cannot change the laws -- within Islington. But you can help protect what territories the vampires have claim over. You can help protect what citizens might be spared from them in turn."

He tilts his head at the other man, trying not to spell it out completely, but fearing that he might have to if Lancelot continues to question him thus. "Do you understand, mon ami?" he inquires. "The more territory Islington controls, the more power the vampires will have. And the more power to be given to Millicent herself."

All of a sudden it clicks, and all of a sudden Lancelot understands exactly what Jean-Claude is saying.

Yet he still struggles to believe it.

"You're asking me attack you?" he prompts, just to be sure. It's quite possibly the strangest thing he's ever heard, someone inviting another faction to deliberately turn on their own. Yet at the same time it makes perfect sense. Islington being put in their place might well make Millicent look weak.

Jean-Claude shrugs slightly. "Well. Not myself personally," he replies, quirking something of a smirk at the other man in turn. "I understand that you are upset with me, but I do have some sense of self-preservation."

"But yes," he continues. "That is what I mean. You want to see change? Do you think that the vampires are going to make the change themselves? No. How many vampires have you met besides myself, mon ami?" he asks, genuinely wanting to know the answer to the question. Though he supposes he already knows the answer.

"A handful," he replies, "I admit, I don't normally interview people I meet on their face and political situation. But I suppose you're right. Yet, all the same... territory wars are not exactly a bloodless thing. Both of us would lose people. There has been so much bloodshed already..."

Surely there is another way? Surely there is something else that could be done, something more... civilised?

Jean-Claude raises his eyebrows at the other man. "Mon ami, we are vampires," he replies. "It is in our nature to draw blood. Whether the act is done by one of our own or by one from the outside, people will die."

He shifts, moving to cross his arms across his chest. "At least if it is coming from you, it will not be a rebellion that needs stamping out. At least if it is coming with the backing of one of the strongest factions in the city, then there will be some hope. For the vampires and the rest of the people besides."

It's true. It makes perfect sense. Yet all the same, Lancelot can't really believe Jean-Claude is suggesting it.

"If this is some kind of trick..." he begins, because wouldn't that just be his luck? Pushed into doing something, lead into a trap. It would be a good way to get rid of a guardian, to take a shot at Daybreak. Make Lancelot lead some of their strongest there then neatly wipe them out.

Yet what if it isn't? What if he does it? What if he succeeds?

Jean-Claude shakes his head. "It is no trick," he replies, all sense of a smirk sliding off of his face as he does. "I know that you may not trust me, mon ami, but I give you my word on that. I would not suggest such a thing to you only to lead you to your doom. Regardless of what you may think of me, I do value our relationship, as it is."

He does not say anything resembling the suggestion, 'you are more valuable to me alive'. But that is the truth as well, as wrong and difficult to swallow as it is.

[ ACTIVE/ OPEN ] Southwark Claim

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