The things we laid do not amount to much

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[Faolan - Jul 15] This revolution baby

He's a lot more... Corteous than the last time he was in Hillingdon. Even going so far as to call ahead and see when Faolan has an hour free to talk. It's a little less dramatic than having a head delivered to your home, what he's come about this time. And somewhat more sensitive. It could well constitute thin ice for a Guardian, that's for sure.

Eames arrives exactly on time, with no airs about him, just makes straight for Faolan's office and knocks on the door. He's very patient and professional, waiting quietly with his hands in his pockets, looking around what little of the mansion he can see from where he's stood.

He really hopes he's not out here long enough to get bored.

[Natasha - Jul 18] Release the castaways who run amok

Why is Eames at Redbright? Well, it's a mystery. Or actually, it's not a mystery at all. He's here to make an appointment with the head, because apparently doing it over the phone or via email is just too much to ask for today, yet still easier than going through Council channels. And so he's here, at night to minimise his chances of having to deal with any children.

He's on his way out when he sees Natasha, and very nearly laughs when he does. Eames figured it was a fairly safe bet she wasn't Islington, but that still left countless other factions she could ally herself with, or even none at all. Judging by the look on her face as she walks to wherever though, seems like she's probably a Guardian. Which is hilarious, frankly.

Quietly, not that he expects her not to notice, Eames walks toward her and falls in step next to her. Quiet for a moment or two before he finally says, "what are the chances of bumping into eachother here, eh?"

[Sylvia - Jul 20] When present tense gets strangled in the mire

God Eames hates dealing with the 'officials', but one must do what one must. He's not just acting in his own interest anymore, which is a constant source of frustration for him.

Still, he's made his appointment and arrives to see Sylvia as arranged. Shown to her office with a confident stride as he makes conversation with his escort, entirely uncaring of the fact that he's the very guilty party in a current investigation. He wouldn't be surprised if they suspected fae involvement, but he also highly doubts they can find a shred of evidence to prove it.

"Ms Redbright," Eames greets with a friendly smile and a polite nod when finally allowed into the room, "thank you for agreeing to see me."

Comments

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Eames actually laughs at that, shaking his head at the 'offer' as though it's a joke that's particularly tickled him. "I'll just hand over the lease to my flat while I'm at it, shall I?" As if he doesn't know what 'help' means. Fae territories exist for a reason, not least because humans can't be trusted worth a lick.

"You can help by either keeping your vampires in line or expelling them." Ideally the latter, but beggars can't be choosers. "Or should I just accept you don't give a shit because the people affected most right now are personae non gratae to your Council?"

[brightwitch]

Now that's uncalled for. Her lips thin and her expression becomes distinctly chilly.

"If I didn't care, I wouldn't offer you my help. As I said, either the vampires get back in line or they will be expelled. In the meantime, keep your head down and stay vigilant. We are dealing with this."

And the last thing she needs is for someone like Eames to take matters into his own hands. Don't do that, Eames.

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"Don't say that to me like I don't know your "help" likely comes with a side of taking the land we only ever claimed to protect ourselves from the likes of you." There's a bitterness in the way he says it, something cutting and dark and deeply uncharacteristic of Eames. He catches himself with a heavy breath and raises a hand in a silent apology, not that he thinks anything he's said is out of line, but he's well aware that it's counterproductive to go down that road.

God does he really want to keep going now he's nudged that floodgate though.

"Sorry," he says instead, "I'm not here to start a fight, but I'm sure you can understand my concerns. Especially when 'we're dealing with it' is generally code for 'we're doing fuck all and hoping this all blows over.'"

[brightwitch]

The last thing she expects to hear from a fae is an apology and so Sylvia raises her eyebrows, surprised but somewhat mollified. They're never going to like each other but at least he's trying to explain himself in between all the finger pointing.

"I understand your concerns," she says. "Honestly, I'm not sure what more I can do to convince you. Unless there is some drastic improvement, the vampires will be gone from the Night Council by the end of the month and by then I hope you'll see that I don't make empty promises, nor idle threats. You can believe I don't care about you, I understand that, but I do care about my people. I do care about this city, and right now Islington is threatening the entire supernatural community. You'll have to trust that I won't stand by and let that happen. We've already given an ultimatum. And we will act on it."

That's the third time he's made her repeat the same thing. She hopes he gets the message now, because she isn't going to say it again. If there's one thing that irks Sylvia, it's being accused of doing nothing by people who don't understand how complicated her job really is.

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Well it's a more thorough explanation than the ones she gave him before, or maybe he's just listening now, but he nods thoughtfully. Quiet for a moment as he thinks things over.

It's not enough, but it's everything she can offer, so he'll take it.

"I understand," Eames finally says after some pause, "in that case, I suppose we've nothing else to discuss."

[brightwitch]

She nods back, in agreement that they have nothing else to discuss on this matter at least. But there is something else...

"Wait." She gives him a direct look. "I do have a question. Do you know what happened to Gilbert Norrell?"

The official story is that he was attacked by dark magic, which is true, but although there were worrying signs that Norrell caused his own demise Sylvia is certain that fae were involved somehow. No witch could have cast a spell like that alone.

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Eames might know, but he does a pretty convincing impression of someone who's at once confused and thrown by the question. What kind of criminal would he be if he was that flappable, eh?

"Dark magic, wasn't it?" He returns her look with a curious one of her own, as if trying to ascertain what it is she's getting at, "I take it you suspect a fae was responsible?"

[brightwitch]

"I know fae magic when I see it. I saw it that day at Norrell's house."

So yes, a fae was responsible. Whether or not that fae was ultimately responsible is another question altogether, as it may not have been acting freely. But if it was, she has a feeling that Eames would know. He might even be inclined to offer a clue, though she wouldn't bet on it.

[falsify]

It's a good thing she's not betting on it, because Eames isn't giving anything away if he can help it. He takes a moment to act as though he's thinking about it and shakes his head, "if it was someone in my court, they haven't spoken to me about it."

[brightwitch]

Yeah, she didn't think he was going to be helpful. "Then perhaps we should speak to someone in the Seelie Court. Who would you recommend?"

She remembered the other fae that had accompanied him on a visit before: Finnick. The summer months were ruled by the Seelie, Sylvia knew that much, so they might be the more likely suspects.

[falsify]

"I couldn't say," Eames says with a shrug. Most of the Seelie he's met just don't have the stomach for the kinds of things he's done in the last year alone, he's not about to send Sylvia to their doorsteps. He really can't think of anyone he'd be willing to have her investigate, "partially because I legitimately have no idea, but also because I don't actually trust you with fae affairs."

It's very conversational, the way he says it. Probably because he's not actually intending to be rude, it's just best not to let her get the idea they're going to buddy cop this mystery or something.

[brightwitch]

Unhelpful and rude, congratulations Eames. Her lips thin. This is what she gets for dealing with a fae: he comes in and makes his demands and she's nothing but helpful, but does she get the same courtesy in return from him? No, of course not.

"This is not a fae affair. We are talking about a highly respected witch who has disappeared and may well be dead thanks to a nasty piece of magic. If you know anything about what happened, now is the time to speak."

She's giving him one more chance to be helpful. Anything.

[falsify]

'Highly respected.' Does Eames at least get points for not scoffing and rolling his eyes at that like he wants to?

"And if a fae is responsible, then it's our business. You'd hardly hand over a witch to us if the situation were reversed, would you?" Because he'd be shocked, honestly. And he has his position in the court to consider, not just this tense relationship here.

He sighs, adding another shake of his head as he takes a moment to really think. For friendship's sake. "If I uncover some evidence I can send your way without being cast out of my court, we'll see. But until then I can only give you my apologies and my condolences, I'm afraid."

[brightwitch]

He doesn't get extra minus points for being rude about Norrell, if that's any consolation. Sylvia is perfectly aware that Norrell was hated by the fae. It's why they're so high up on the suspect list.

She chooses not to react to his remark about the situation being reversed. Honestly, they're not comparable situations. The Seelie and Unseelie are not people in the eyes of the law; they're creatures or even monsters in the eyes of some. The law doesn't recognise any justice system created by the Seelie or Unseelie Court, if such a thing exists, so of course she wouldn't hand any witch over to them.

But that's all hypothetical. She senses that the offer is the best she's going to get out of him, such as it is, and that will have to be enough. They'll continue the investigation without fae help and that is probably for the best.

She nods. "I appreciate the condolences. Well, I think we have said all that can be said. I'm glad that we were able to talk this through, thank you."

The 'thank you' is more of a goodbye, signalling the end of the conversation, but Sylvia is not unaware of the significance of having this communication channel with the fae. It's a tenuous and not exactly friendly link, but better than nothing.

[falsify]

He gets it, and Eames stands to leave with a polite nod. It's not exactly the 'playing nice with the establishment' he intended to do, but all things considered it could've been a lot worse. And at least now he knows for certain that she doesn't believe Norrell did it to himself.

But he's not about to admit to sending a man into oblivion with a showy spell to her in her own office, so he smiles and smooths down his shirt instead as he turns to leave.

"Thank you again for your time."