[ SEMI-OPEN ] MEDIUM, LIVE!

[knightscode]

Date: 17th to 31st of October, inclusive!
Plot: Medium, Live!
Areas: Manchester for the pre-London show, then Greenwich




Worldwide phenomenon Sarah Silverton is coming to London. The British Born psychic, medium and all round lady of the supernatural is doing a special tour ending with a Halloween show in the enormous setting of the O2 arena.

She's booked out the placed, too, tickets are sold out. They weren't exactly cheap, either.

Silverton has plenty of critics, but nobody can deny that she does put on a good show. Some put it down to publicity stunts, but every time she takes over a stage there always seem to be mysterious problems. Lights flickering, sound problems, all sorts of spooky goings on while stage hands swear blind they didn't touch anything. There have even been some who quit because they couldn't take it any more, claiming members of Sarah's team must have been deliberating interfering to draw crowds.

It's no surprise, then, that the Night Council has taken any interest. With the reports of strange goings on escalating (including a falling piece of set in one show that caused injury to one unsuspecting audience member) they've launched a full investigation. While most believe Silverton to be a fraud simply putting together elaborate stunts to sell tickets, any chance that she's a real member of the community flagrantly breaking the Statute of Secrecy must be addressed. Lancelot is charged with putting together a team and investigating carefully. Sarah Silverton is a celebrity, and they can't risk drawing attention to themselves in the process or causing any kind of public scandal. They have just over two weeks until her live show in London, and a lot of work to get done....

[ ooc; Post for the medium, live! plot. Still time to sign up if you want! Spooky content likely, in the spirit of Halloween. ]

Comments

[dirtyredneck]

Daryl wiped his hands on the red rag that was near constantly in his back pocket, getting the grease off his fingers as he made his way from the back of the garage and through the lobby of the shop to the waiting room. He paused for a moment in the doorway before clearing his throat, surprised to see Lance sitting there. When he'd been told he had a guest, he'd thought it likely to be someone from Hillingdon. Maybe someone one of his regular clients sent over.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked, curious and genuinely confused as to why Lance of all people were. Far as he knew, the man didn't have a bike.

[knightscode]

Lance is sitting in the waiting room with his dog, who is currently far too white to be this close to all the grease and oil that comes with a garage. She's sat pressed against his legs, eyes flicking around curiously, and they lift as Daryl steps out -- tail swishing along the floor of the waiting room. Hello, Daryl! Hello! Are you a friend? Because you smell like cat!

"If you have two minutes?" Lancelot answers, and gestures vaguely to the door. Since it isn't exactly garage related business he's here on.

[dirtyredneck]

He knew that dog. Dog probably didn't recognize him, though. Not with all the grease and garage smells on his jumpsuit. He'd seen her in Lance's place when Faolan brought him by to investigate the man's kidnapping. She'd been awfully friendly, then, too.

Daryl stepped through and shut the door behind him. Moved so he could take a seat opposite Lance. Far enough away that it would be difficult for the dog to get too close and get that lovely white fur all dirty.

He doesn't say anything as he sits down, just lifts his head and looks attentive.

[knightscode]

Well, they're going to just talk here then he supposes. Lancelot lofts an eyebrow at the silent way Daryl sits down, ruffling at Lily's mane and ears.

"I need some help with an investigation," he says finally, "something that needs to be done... carefully. Do you know who Sarah Silverton is?"

It's something of a toss up, after all. As a celebrity she tends to hit chatty talk shows and sometimes a little column in the paper, but if you don't read the papers much or watch TV you have zero reason to know who she is.

[dirtyredneck]

Ne nodded and pointed over to the corner where the tv was set for the most innocuous daytime talk shows, "Yeah. Seen her commercials in here. One'a them fake psychics. She get too close to something she shouldn't?"

It was the only reason Daryl could think of for an investigation involving her. Maybe one of the people she did a 'reading' for was part of their community and let something slip?

[knightscode]

"That's what we're trying to find out," he admits. "There have been reports that her shows are a little more realistic than we'd like. Some people injured by mysteriously falling set, damage to theatres, that sort of thing. The Night Council are concerned that Silverton's shows might not be as fake as we all thought. If that's true she's breaking a lot of secrecy laws."

Which is a big deal, especially considering how much public attention she draws.

[dirtyredneck]

"Think it's her or someone on her crew?" he asked, leaning forward and resting his weight on his elbows which sat on his knees. "When did these problems start? Has it always been something her and her people've dealt with beyond whatever's normal for those sorts of shows? Did it just get more frequent or did it just start happening alla a sudden?"

Possibilities were immediately jumping to mind: her being cursed by a fae after a show, her having power and no longer caring about hiding it, a producer or effects technician with power deciding things needed to be 'more realistic' or 'exciting'. Could be any number of things. Obviously Lance wanted to hire him for this, otherwise he wouldn't be there. So getting a good idea of what was already known would help him figure out where to start his own investigating.

[knightscode]

"Part of what we're still looking into. Silverton's shows were a lot smaller when she first began, not as much attention means not as much coverage -- not as much on record. Things feel like they've escalated, but... without knowing how much was or is achieved through pyrotechnics and stage magic before it's difficult to judge if things are just getting sloppy."

He hesitates, fingers stilling in Lily's fur. Lancelot isn't someone who is particularly heavy on the letter of the law, but he's willing to embrace the spirit of it. Silverton is breaking it, but... equally, there's more to it than just that.

"There might be nothing to it. It could be coincidence, it could be bad luck with set. But we can't take the risk. I'll be getting some people who have good senses and judgement together to attend her show in Manchester, see if they can get a read on things. We have two weeks before she has a show in the O2. The O2 arena can hold thousands of people at full capacity. We need to know if there's a risk here, not just from a secrecy point of view -- but from magic if it's being misused. If it is, and these accidents are escalating..."

Then there could be a real danger.

[dirtyredneck]

Daryl understood the implications. And this wouldn't be the first time he was involved with an investigation into dangerous magic and breaking of secrecy. It was, however, more public than he was used to.

He leaned back, thumb comping up to his mouth as he thought about the logistics of it all. He'd have to take time off work if he took this job. At least a few days. The shop was pretty flexible with a day off here and there and any undertaking he did on the side, but they'd have words for him if he had to take that many off on short notice.

"Ain't sure I can do the Manchester Show," his words were slow with consideration, but were definitely not rejecting the entire proposition. "Could do some looking into her when she's in London. I'd need pay for the days I'd have to take off work for it plus the usual."

Not that he expected Lance to know his usual fees for this kind of work, but if he did, it made things simpler.

[knightscode]

"The Night Council has budget for this sort of work. I don't mind making them spend it."

His lips flick in playful amusement for a moment, because he does take a little satisfaction in that, then he sobers again.

"Just send me your rates. So far none of our leads have recognised Silverton from any covens or factions, but if it's a stage hand or assistant we might be waiting on whoever I persuade to travel up. I'll let you know what they find. Obviously we'd prefer this not to turn into a spectacle, but..." He tilts his head slightly. "If it gets out of hand just let us know as soon as you can and we can pull resources in your direction. We're not aiming to kill anyone here, not if we can help it."

[dirtyredneck]

Daryl's usual rates were higher than most expected them to be, but it just meant he could give 'discounts' without cheating himself if he decided to. However with the Night Council funding all this, he felt absolutely no need to drop any prices. He wasn't much a fan of the Council on a good day. So they could afford to pay top dollar for his expertise.

"Didn't think you were," he said, brows raising. He could only think that someone else Lance had spoken with brought that option up. "But the dead could still be involved. Might not be anything on her or her crew. She could just be haunted."

[knightscode]

It's better to clarify, in Lancelot's opinion, than to risk someone assuming wrong. Still, he considers that -- leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees and mull it over.

"She could be," he accepts. "At this stage it could any number of things, not necessarily malicious or even intentional. Her London show isn't until the end of the month, but we imagine she'll be down at least a week in advanced for prep. Would that work for you?"

He might already be booked up, after all. Lancelot is aware that Daryl probably has no shortage of work, and he doesn't get to pull rank in this situation.

[dirtyredneck]

Daryl nodded slowly, working out the logistics of it. He might not even have to take more than a day off to do it. "I can do that."

His nod came a little faster and he made to stand up, pulling his rag back out to wipe as his fingers again before he reached into his jumpsuit and the shirt pocket hidden under it. He pulled out a card with his 'work' number and an e-mail on it. "You get me the detail of when she gets into town, where she and her people are staying, and anything else you find out before I start working. Send it there. Account's safe. On one of the servers our people run."

[knightscode]

'On one of the servers our people run'. Lancelot takes the card and looks at it thoughtfully. He... well, he isn't sure he ever thought of himself that way. Maybe that's part of his problem. He doesn't feel part of this community. After a moment he blinks and nods to Daryl, pockets the card and flickers him a smile.

"I'll get you what you need. The Night Council payment systems are a little old fashioned. If you can send me through something official with your bank details I can get ahead on making sure you're in the system so you get paid quickly. If you don't have anything official looking see if Faolan has anything for Hillingdon, might speed it up."

[dirtyredneck]

"Don't hand that shit out. You can drop the cash off yourself," he replied with a shake of his head, hand on the doorknob. "Or send someone to do it for you. I'll give you the estimate after I get the info and a final bill when the job's done. You can pay me after."