dredefulchilde: (Default)
Joscelin Fitzthomas ([personal profile] dredefulchilde) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2017-02-18 05:47 pm

And we don't know where we're going and we don't know where we've been (Amnesia plot post)

23 February, Early Morning

He wakes up in the middle of a field - actually, a football pitch in Hounslow, but it seems vast and strange to him. He feels a nagging sense that he's lost something important, but he can't remember what it is. On further thought, he realizes that it's not the only thing he can't remember. He has no idea who he is, where he is, or why he's standing in the cold rain. The only thing he can remember is the feeling of an old ring hanging on a chain against his chest, under his sodden clothes. It's familiar and safe, and he knows that if he removes it something very bad will happen.

So the boy crouches in the mud and puzzles through his odd predicament.

A woman at a bus stop opposite the park is the first to see the small figure in the rain. She approaches the pale child and asks him what he's doing out so early, offering her umbrella, but he doesn't seem to understand her questions, growing increasingly agitated and confused the more she tries to help him. He's obviously lost, and the thinness of his arms and legs concerns her. She calls the police.

That night, the evening news broadcasts a picture of a boy, believed to be between nine and eleven years of age, who has been taken into care by Child Protective Services. They are looking for anyone who may recognize him since he does not seem to recognize himself. It generates a bit of buzz online, but it's hardly a leading news story with everything else going on in the world.

There's a follow-up the next morning, but this time it leads the program: a nurse in the mystery boy's hospital room was found dead late last night, drained of blood, her throat ripped out. The child is nowhere to be found.

[Specific prompts in the comments!]
longterm: (1)

[personal profile] longterm 2017-02-19 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Fuck," Cesare had cursed loudly when he saw Joscelin on the television. It had been a fluke that he had seen him in the first place, to be honest, his eyes glancing to the screen while he had been feeding on his latest meal.

Soon enough he's contacting a guy who knpws a guy and documents are forged, identities created and Cesare becomes a proud father. Again.

When Cesare walks into the room, he's standing more awkwardly than he otherwise would have liked. He gives Joscelin a wry smile and holds out a hand.

"Come on, son."
longterm: (11 copy)

[personal profile] longterm 2017-02-19 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
The fact that Joscelin seems not to recognize Cesare is...concerning. Joscelin suddenly seems so much younger and the Borgia smiles wryly, shaking his head.

"No. You're going home, where we can sort all this out." He means fixing Joscelin's predicament, not whatever bad thing he's talking about, although Cesare can guess exactly what that is.

"Do you....have your mother's ring?" he asks, trying to figure out exactly how to ask about the daylight jewelry without picking up any attention from the officers next to them.
longterm: (4 copy)

[personal profile] longterm 2017-02-19 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
Cesare gives Joscelin's hand a little squeeze and nods. Thank god. Cesare was not looking forward to the prospect of getting Joscelin to The Angelo during daytime without a daylight ring. It would not have been ideal.

"Good. Don't lose it. Keep it on, ok? It's important. Now, shall we take you home?"
stauncherhearted: (ofclariuidens-3175106)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-20 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
There are a lot of short-cuts in London, when you know the way. Alleyways to duck down, side-streets, twisting and turning cobblestone paths. Nancy saw London with a thieves' eye, and she knew her way around better than most. With soft steps, she wasn't afraid of anything that could possibly cause her harm, lurking in the dark. She had her witches' amulet, and by now most of the Nest knew her as Cooper's Girlfriend.

Or as a delicious snack and a fun lay.

Not to mention, a good amount of London had seen them together. Attacking the girlfriend of a Night Council Member was not a good idea. So she felt safe to wander through whatever alleyways she pleased, which was what brought her to doing probably one of the stupider things she'd ever done in her life: following a trail of blood into said dark alley.

It's there that she follows the trail, a gruesome trail of bread crumbs. Something's wrong, here. A bit of searching reveals the source of the blood. A young boy, the same age as his brothers. Boy, kid. Are you lucky you ran into Nancy.

"Are you alright, love?" she calls toward him softly. She bends down, extending a hand toward him and a warm smile. She was no threat to the boy. "Are you hurt? Come out here and let's get a good look at you."
outstandingbalance: (pic#10792593)

[personal profile] outstandingbalance 2017-02-20 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Natasha isn't sure exactly what she expected. She hadn't consciously predicted anything when she'd heard Joscelin's state. Still, what she finds strikes her as... strange. Joscelin's bearing is different, subtly but also markedly.

"Natasha Romanoff," she says, shrugging out of her jacket and setting hanging it on the back of a chair. "We've met."
stauncherhearted: (the stock market is less volatile)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-20 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
"It's alright, you're safe with me. My name's Nancy, yeah?" She keeps holding her hand out. "What's your name, love?"
stauncherhearted: (slightly worried)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-20 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
He's shivering. Nancy immediately takes her coat off and drapes it over his frail shoulders. "Do you know where your mum and dad are? Are you hurt?" Cooper didn't live too far from here, she could take him back to their flat until they could figure out what to do with him, or where he came from.
stauncherhearted: (uh ohhhh)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-20 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, sweetheart-" She brings him in for a hug, softly petting his hair. When he's ready to talk, she's ready to listen.

"Of course I'll help you. What happened at the hospital? You're not hurt, are you?" There was a lot of blood on him, but he seemed to be fine. "Maybe we should take you back."
stauncherhearted: (sweets)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-20 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Despite her close relationship with a member of the police, she knew better than to call them right away. Getting the police involved always made things complicated.

She glances over her shoulder, then turns back to the boy. "Okay. C'mon, my boyfriend's place isn't far from here. Let's get you cleaned up, maybe something warm to wear and a hot meal, yeah?" She offered her hand again. Being only five feet tall, she was sure she had a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt that would fit him.

"Then we'll get everything settled over a cup of tea."
stauncherhearted: (holland-roden-teen-wolf-2570975)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-20 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
She would never turn a child back on the streets. If she found out what he did, well, she'd get Cooper in to deal with it. But right now, assuming she's dealing with a child, she's not worried.

Nancy leads him through the back roads until they reach Cooper's apartment. The doorman gives her a nod, and it's up the elevator until they reach his front door. "Cooper's not in right now," she says, and unlocks the door. "Come on in. I can show you the bathroom so you can take a shower?"
stauncherhearted: (holland-roden-teen-wolf-2569776)

[personal profile] stauncherhearted 2017-02-21 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
While he was showering, Nancy's brewed them each a cup of tea, and heated up some chicken soup for the boy. There wasn't too much food in the house, given that Cooper didn't really need to eat, not the way Nancy did, but there was more there now than there had ever been before.

When he emerges, she presents him with a soft t-shirt, sweat pants and a hoodie. "Hopefully they'll fit. Once you're dressed, I've got some food warmed up for you."

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