#KeepLewishamWeird

[falsify]

Happy end-of-July everyone. The weekend of the 30th/31st will see a lot of Fae in the Lewisham area, and whilst it's a great place to get some clothes, stationary, and weird hipster decorations for your home all on the same trip... There aren't many Fae in need of that stuff. It doesn't take long for them to get in position, not bothering to wait for it to get dark before they start attacking vampire-run establishments. All at once. It's very much a coordinated attack. Come the second day, before they abscond, those with a lot of battle experience might notice something odd. It's almost like the fae aren't actually trying to take the area. They're certainly suffering some losses, but their goal seems to be just taking out as many vampires as possible before they vanish back into the Other Realm. But that's ludicrous right? Why bother with all those theatrics?

Comments

[iustitiae]

"Yes, I'm sure. But I also give the benefit of the doubt that they know how to eat before going into enemy territory." You know, as a thought.

[falsify]

Good, good. Eames nods in apparent acceptance of Evie's estimation. She's good at reading people, so he'll trust that she's right about this.

"Think he has what it takes to lead the nest?" Eames asks, point blank. Not have other people suggested him, do they think he's good for it. He's not buying other people dinner tonight, after all.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude inclines his head somewhat in response, as though in acceptance of the other man's answer. He is not out on the battlefield himself after all. He is handling his business. A more long-lasting, sustainable endeavor than the single day of a faction dispute.

He leans across the table towards the fae. "What better ways did you have in mind?" he asks. Because he's not a fool. Eames is here instead of on the battlefield, after all. It doesn't take a genius to connect the dots.

[freelife]

Did he? Evie is reminded of her interactions with him before, of how concerned he was about his human dancer. He'd hired two assassins to go in and try to find her. Most would have written her off as a loss. But not JC.

His past, perhaps, made him all the more reasonable.

"Yes." She said after a moment. "I do."

[falsify]

"A change in leadership," Eames says, perfectly candid. Taking a sip of his drink as he watches Jean-Claude's face to see his reaction, and then to clarify he continues with, "yours, not ours."

You know. Just in case that wasn't clear.

[falsify]

"I like to make sure." You know, like when you go to a tattoo artist and they ask if you've eaten before they start. Except just bringing food to this many people seems more expedient. "It's going to be a long couple of days."

[falsify]

"Good," Eames leans back in his seat, "because I've already spoken to him about it."

Totally casual about it as he glances up around the room, "do you know what you want, by the way?"

[freelife]

"Oh." Well. That changes things slightly. "An associate and I were wondering if that was the best choice of plans, plausible deniability, but. I haven't survived this long without being able to adapt to circumstances." She hadn't made a decision either way.

"I do, thank you." Because she, too, can be casual. They're not two supernatural creatures sitting in broad daylight discussing a political coup. No way.

[iustitiae]

"Are you really expecting this to last that long?" Admittedly, he knows very little about territory disputes or what kind of time they take. But hey, yay for first hand learning.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude offers the fae man a simple nod, and if Eames is looking for a reaction across his face then he isn't likely to find one. Jean-Claude has had centuries in the French courts to perfect the art of keeping his mask on.

"You wish to handle such matters yourself?" he asks. It would not be the first time an outsider has sought to overthrow their leadership after all, though recent past experience really should have taught them better by now.

[falsify]

"I'd really rather not." God, is there anything he'd rather have a hand less in than vampire politics. And he's had his hands in some gross shit. Thanks, 17th century. He reclines with a nonchalant sigh and shrugs a shoulder, "but, if there was a paradigm shift inside the nest? I might help facilitate that a little."

[falsify]

The look Eames gives him is a mix of pity and exasperation, if Connor actually survives this he'll be surprised. Poor kid with an unactivated curse who apparently has no idea what he's signed up for.

"You're new to this," obviously. "These things can go on a while."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude raises an eyebrow at the other man approvingly. This is not the suggestion that he had been anticipating after all. He wonders whether Eames knew of his own efforts, in coming to him, or had simply settled on speaking with Jean-Claude as the lesser in the long list of evils.

"Facilitate," Jean-Claude repeats, the word sounding infinitely more French as he rolls it around in his own mouth. "I am listening." Indeed, it should be apparent that Eames has his most rapt attention now.

[falsify]

Eames smirks softly over the rim of his glass, both amused and pleased with how this is going so far. He wouldn't be here if he didn't expect Jean-Claude to be receptive to his suggestion, but Eames is also old enough to know that expectations and reality are frequently two very different things.

"Well if Harris just up and died, it'd only cause another power vaccuum. But if there was another replacement at the ready, someone who understood that this kind of mindless slaughter is bad for everyone..." He trails off with an airy gesture, allowing Jean-Claude to fill in the blank.

[falsify]

Eames smiles at a nearby waiter to let them know the table's ready to order. And maybe get another bottle of wine while he's at it. Let's go all out.

"Well I can tell you he's amenable," Eames says with a vague gesture, "but I'll have to leave the logistics of it to someone else."

Like a master assassin inside the vest with a keen eye and quick mind, for example.

[freelife]

Jumping right to it, then.

"There's a lot more to it, before we can even get to that part. But I assure you, that will be well in-hand." So yes, a master assassin inside the vest with a keen eye and a quick mind and a hidden blade.

[falsify]

"Of course," it's not a simple ask, but it's also not as complex as it could be. Not for Eames at least. He tips his glass toward Evie with a smirk, glad he could count on her not to be a fucking idiot about things. "But, knowing there's at least one person inside the nest who sees sense will make things easier going forward."

[freelife]

Evie allows a dash of pride to show across her features, her brow high, her smile a bit more full. If there was one thing she was good at, it was dealing with problems.

Even if she was a fucking idiot about Millicent. She was going to carry that with her for a very, very long time. Add her up there with Jack the Ripper and the time Jacob nearly destroyed the Bank of England.

"At least," she confirms, and raises her glass towards him. "Cheers, Eames."

[iustitiae]

"Yeah, so?" Why you gotta be like that, Eames? "I'm giving just as much moral support as you are."

[falsify]

"It wasn't a criticism." Though he doesn't know he'd say Connor's giving 'just as much' as him, having a fae lord around boosts morale a little more than some werewolf, but he also doesn't care enough to say anything about it. "I'm just letting you know, it's not unusual for one of these to take at least a few days."

[falsify]

The way she says at least makes him want to ask questions, find out who all else in the Nest thinks Raymond needs to be shut down, though one suspects it's a lot more than Raymond thinks it is. It's best to leave that side of things to Evie though, let her handle the work on the inside.

Eames raises his own glass, clinking them together lightly, "cheers."

[baisant]

"Mmm, yes," he replies, quirking a wry smile at the fae man. "The situation with Millicent was not ideal, nor was it handled in the most ideal manner. With our dear late leader assassinated, it left the spot open for Harris. And, well. You've seen how well that turned out now, haven't you."

He quirks his head at the other man slightly. "And so you have come to me," he fills in. "Because you think I am the one for the part? Or has a little bird been chirping secrets in your ears?"

[falsify]

"I've come to you," Eames swills his glass, "because your... Distaste for the last two leaders of the Nest makes you the best available option."

What a compliment.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude laughs at that, and the sound is low and deep and sensuous in all the ways that are probably inappropriate for a serious conversation like this. But he is enjoying himself in this conversation, so why tone it down just for that?

"I see," he replies, before looking at the other man more directly. "It is true, I was not a fan of our late mistress. Nor am I particularly fond of our dear leader now. You flatter me," he says, before shaking his head and adding, "No, really, you do. It is good to know that his decisions have not made such a mark against us that we are beyond negotiation."

He sits up straighter and looks at the other man more seriously now. "To overthrow one's authority is more difficult than one might think, however. Especially when I am certain that, unless he is a true fool, it is exactly what he expects us to try to do."

[falsify]

The tone of Jean-Claude's laugh makes Eames raise an eyebrow, but it's not suspicious or confused. Gently amused, maybe, as he enjoys his drink. Something about it that suggests to Eames that it's not an act, it's just the way the man is.

"The logistics are something we can talk about later," Eames says casually, fingers drumming idly on the side of his glass as he speaks, "we need to get an idea of who in the Nest supports you first. Who would see sense in the event of a coup."