undergrounds | CATCH-ALL FOR OCTOBER

All of the pieces are slowly moving into place as far as Jean-Claude's plans are concerned. They won the Southwark claim, all of his people are coming together to support him. But Jean-Claude needs more support as far as the call to action is concerned. He needs people to help him hunt, people he trusts in the moment. And while he has an arrangement in the works with Hillingdon as far as the afterwards is concerned, Jean-Claude still has to arrange for in the moment.

He thinks he knows just the hunter to contact.

It isn't hard to get his number. He just puts out his feelers through Hillingdon until they pass it on to him. From there, however, it's of course a challenge to figure out how to approach him, considering how their most recent meeting had gone. And considering that particularly enlightening opinion piece. 'Rattled in Richmond' indeed, he thinks to himself with a smile, as he dials the other man's number.

Daryl had two numbers. A personal one and a work one. The work one was strictly for dealing with bounties and whatever other jobs came through. So having a number show up that he didn't recognize didn't send any red flags because half the time the numbers were ones he didn't know yet.

Which also meant he answered it promptly and without hesitation, "This is Daryl."

Jean-Claude smiles at the response, although he knows his conversational partner will not be able to see his expression. "Mon ami," he says, knowing he need not introduce himself, that Daryl will recognize him if not by his voice than certainly by the way he addresses him. "It has been some time since last we spoke. I hope that you have not forgotten me. I will admit, it took some digging to track down your contact."

Some flirtation to begin the conversation, but he realizes he will lose him fast if he doesn't cut straight to the quick. "I would speak with you, mon ami," he requests. "I have business you might be interested in, though I fear it is not something I trust discussing over the line."

"You can go le petit mort yourself," Daryl snapped out after he'd manage to process that Jean-Claude had gotten his number and called him. He was not ready to be in that man's presence again. Especially not after the embarrassing way their last encounter had ended.

But he also had a good idea that if he didn't put himself in Jean-Claude's path sometime soon, the man would know he'd been gotten to. If he didn't already. And that just made him more of a problem because he'd have reason to keep pushing and teasing to try and push his buttons.

So after he said what he said, he stayed on the line. Let Jean-Claude have a few moments he could question if Daryl was even still there, before giving a slightly dismissive grunt, "It the paying kind of business? That's what this line's for."

Jean-Claude huffs out something of a laugh in response to the other man's use of French. Oh, he is charming, even when he is trying to get him to get lost. Jean-Claude understands that the other man would rather avoid him, and for the same reasons he would love nothing more than to give him no excuses to hide.

"It could be," he responds. "If you would accept payments from one such as myself, of course. I must still insist that we speak in person, no matter how secure you assure me you think your line might be. You must pardon me, mon ami. I am old-fashioned, and there is but one way to assure that no one else is listening."

Daryl was certain the insistence was just so the asshole could bother him in person. But it also wouldn't be the first time a client wanted to discuss matters one on one. Wouldn't be the last, either.

"Fine," he huffed out, not bothering to hide his annoyance. "Where and when?"

Jean-Claude does not particularly care whether he has annoyed Daryl or not. He is quite used to annoying other people, whether he means to or he doesn't, and he has no problems with the other man being angry with him, so long as he cooperates.

"Is there a place where you would prefer yourself, mon ami?" he asks. "Usually I would suggest to meet at my club, yet. I feel that perhaps you might prefer some alternate locale?"

"It's your job and your money," he answered, starting to pace to try and channel his agitation. "Anyplace that ain't your club is fine, s'long as I can get there safely."

Because Nest territory wasn't exactly safe for his kind.

"Safe for you and safe for me," Jean-Claude amends to Daryl's words, and contemplates his options. Where is safe for the pair of them. "It's a tall order, mon ami. Even where I live, it would not be fitting considering the locale. Perhaps I could suggest where you might live yourself...?" he asks, as innocently as he can, by which of course means not in the slightest.

There was no way in hell Daryl was inviting Jean-Claude over to his place. But Richmond was Daybreak territory. And as long as there was no fighting going on, the vampire wouldn't be hunted down if anyone sensed him there.

"There's a pub. The Duchess. On the Thames, right at the north side of the Richmond Bridge," he said after some thought. It was very close to his flat, but Jean-Claude didn't need to know that. And it was public so the other man wouldn't be able to pull any shit. Hopefully. "We can meet there after dark if you want."

Jean-Claude is continuously charmed by the notion that he only be seen in the darker hours, but he's not going to correct Daryl and point out his daylight jewelry. He would be a fool, and while he enjoys the man's company, he doesn't trust so much that, if things went sour, he wouldn't use the information against him.

"The Duchess," he repeats. "After dark, then. It's a date, mon ami. I will see you there." And he hangs up the phone before Daryl has room to protest one way or the other.

He does wait until after dark to make his way to the place. Dressed in his usual leather pants, frilly white shirt, and black frock coat to pretend that he is keeping out the chill -- vampires don't really care about the cold, at least not when they have been dead for as long as Jean-Claude has himself -- he looks rather out of place here. But that does not matter to him. It will make him easy to spot, if Daryl is already there. And if he is not, he will find himself a place at the bar to wait.

"It ain't a-" Silence. That fucker. "It ain't a date," he muttered to himself just to feel a little better.

It wasn't a date. It wasn't. Daryl dressing nicer than he usually chose to was just because the atmosphere of The Duchess asked for it. Being a classy place where people could get dinner and a drink right on the river and all.

He still wore his vest, of course, but it was worn over a black jacket and a blue and black flannel he'd even tucked in to the very clean dark blue jeans. Jeans which, amazingly enough, had no holes in the. Weren't even worn out. And his boots looked like they'd had a wash cloth taken to them to get the dirt off. Hell, even his hair had been pretty freshly washed and was quite fluffy when newly dried out. He did show up on his bike, however. He wasn't going to walk and make it obvious he lived close enough to do that.

They hadn't set an exact time to meet, but he tried to show up at a decent time. Jean-Claude standing near the bar, close to the entrance, made him easy to find. Did he ever change his clothes? Wasn't that the exact same thing he'd worn the first time they met? Daryl was certain it was the same pair of pants. Hard to forget how they hugged his thighs the way they did.

Daryl sucked in a breath and focused on keeping his eyes at... well, shoulder level at least. He moved over to catch the man's attention, "You ask for a table yet or we need to get one?"

Jean-Claude does have other outfits, but he likes this one the best. It's much the same as Daryl's vest, if one were to analyze the pair of them together. They're comfort for him, and they serve their purposes well. Jean-Claude's purpose of course to draw attention to his assets, as one might call them. And assets they certainly are. His legs and his butt have always looked amazing, in skin-tight clothing such as these. Daryl will simply have to run into him on a theme night at the club or perhaps at a costumed celebration with a dress code elsewhere if he'd like to see him changed.

Not that Jean-Claude does not appreciate the change in the other man himself. A smile spreads itself across his face as he takes a moment to look him over properly, his deep blue eyes sparkling at him as he makes his way back up to meet his gaze. "You are a vision tonight, mon chat," Jean-Claude says in greeting, and then continues, before Daryl can protest further (again). "I have informed our host that I am waiting for a guest, yes. Shall we let them know that we are ready to take our seats?" He gestures to the hostess beyond. He had had to do a little dance, to make certain there would be a table for them in the busy establishment, but Jean-Claude is old-fashioned, and he would hardly have cared to be caught so off-guard otherwise.

Jean-Claude is doing his best to put all the pieces he can into place for the final hurrah, without appearing to be putting all the pieces into place. Which is a lot harder than one might think to do. Luckily, being the proprietor of a club as Jean-Claude is, he can met with whoever he pleases that might come to the club without it raising an eyebrow one way or the other. A good thing too. Otherwise he might actually have to resort to technology to meet up with his fellows, and he's still not really got the knack of mobile phones just yet.

"Mon ami," he says, greeting Cooper with a smile as he slides in beside him as the other vampire sits at the bar. "It is good to see you here. It has been some time since our last conversation. I hope you have been well?"

Cooper's feet hang down, not even touching the floor as he sits at the bar, slowly sipping a whiskey sour. He's got a smile for Jean-Claude as he approaches. The vampire is one of the few that can command Cooper's respect. The fact the two of them seem to be on the same wavelength regarding the state of the nest is the reason why.

"Busy. Promotion doesn't mean just sittin' in the sun all day drinking margaritas. 'N someone has to keep an eye on the human bloodbags." Most in the nest were just using them to feed off of. Cooper figured they shouldn't be underestimated. His feelings weren't entirely colored by the fact Nancy was now an ally of Islington. Humans always had their uses.

Jean-Claude laughs softly at the other vampire's words. "No, mon ami, no it does not." They are both of the same social level in the nest, after all. Jean-Claude understands how much work it is to be here all too well. Of course, Jean-Claude has higher aspirations than this. Which is part of the reason he has sidled up to talk to the other vampire.

He tilts his head at the staff door just beyond the bar. "I would like to speak with you, if you are amenable. I will try to make it a quick conversation." He gestures towards the vampire's drink. "You may bring that with you, if you like." He'd just prefer to continue this conversation back in his office, where there is no chance of being overheard by anyone who shouldn't be listening in.

"Sure thing." Cooper hops off his bar stool, still holding onto his drink without ever spilling a drop. Waste not, want not. He follows Jean-Claude back towards his office. They don't get any looks from the patrons, and if the staff finds it at all unusual to see two high-level vampires fraternizing, they know to keep it to themselves. After all, one of them is supplying their paychecks.

Cooper follows the older vampire into his office. "Spill," he says as soon as the door has closed. "I know you didn't invite me back here just t'inquire after my health."

Jean-Claude shakes his head at the question, shutting the door behind them and then moving to fold himself into the corner of his sofa and motioning for Cooper to make himself comfortable as well. Outside of the public eye, Jean-Claude relaxes a little. But he doesn't let his guard down. He would be a fool to do so now, of all times.

"As charming as I find you and your new relationship, alas no. You are right. There are plans in the makings, mon ami," he replies. "And I would ask you where you would stand for them." He turns to glance up at Cooper, weighing his options before he just bluntly comes out with it. "Raymond is planning a Samhain gathering. If our plans go according to their fashion, he will not survive to see the end of it."

Cooper drops his usual devil-may-care, idiot teenager act the minute the door is closed. It's one thing for his enemies to underestimate him, but he'll put on a serious face when faced with an ally who needs him. His fangs come out in a wicked looking grin when Jean-Claude tells him of his plans. "That's the best news I've heard all week."

He takes another swig of his drink before he sets it down. "Truth be told, I've been waitin' for someone t'make a move for some time now. By my lonesome self I can't do a whole not against someone who's drivin' the nest into the ground. But with the right group of allies, I can help a whole lot more." He looks at JC with keen, assessing eyes. "Tell me, where do you stand on the humans in the nest?" Cooper is one of the few who gives a damn about them, he already knows this. But while they may be weak physically, they do have their uses and advantages. Of course, his position is a little colored by dating Nancy, but the point still stands.

CATCH-ALL FOR OCTOBER

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Closed to Cooper;

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