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Post by Agrippa on Mar 4, 2021 20:16:01 GMT -8
Agrippa gave Noir a grin brimming with confidence and gestured towards Buck with a thumbs up- the Spring Paragon wouldn't see their assurances of course, but the Gravewright could. It was nice having someone who could at least see them, for a change.
"Do you hear that?"
They pointed at the wall. They didn't know whether Noir's hearing pierced the veil as much as his sight, but there was no harm in finding out
"I'm going to look into that."
The Helldiver stepped to the wall with soundless footfalls, attempting as best they could to pinpoint generally which area the scratching was emanating from. They stood themselves, if possible, just to the side of the noise. They took a breath, held it in, and stuck their head through.
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Post by Krakenbox on Mar 5, 2021 17:55:08 GMT -8
"Outside your jurisdiction."
The offer to Kai's demands was given, and they did not drop the Contract. His voice didn't change, and didn't flinch as Buck swung a full fist down on the man's head, only being forced to the floor with the violence. He didn't respond to Linden's threat, staying where he was; perhaps further cowed by the comment. The Runnerswift moved to swing again, hefting one of the brass sculptures with a flat expression. The threat triggered something with the Wyrd, causing a wave of nausea among the group and a spike of disapproval towards the satyr. As Agrippa popped their head through the wall, they spied a mundane woman in a maid's uniform holding a hand to her mouth, looking disturbed as to what she witnessed as she jumped lightly down from the leather chair. She fumbled a phone, walking away from the scene as she takes breathes to calm herself down, blinking at the puff of steam from the ghostly cold spot. What the hell had that nosey employee witnessed?
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 5, 2021 21:02:27 GMT -8
Linden's information caused something to click. Time to give something for Buck to do.
"A partner. Okay. Good job, Linden. Mr. Chasseur? Martinez described a female maid who gave him the special bullet. I've seen a thin Lost, spooky, short black pixie cut. You got a means of finding her?"
When he bonked the guy and she felt the pull of the Wyrd, Kai realized something.
"You're part of this Freehold. So how do you see this playing out? Buck isn't an Oathbreaker. Winter is about to have a massive spotlight on it from the High Seasons, and your accusations are going to look self-serving. Who's going to want to side with the Court that is assisting external forces with an infiltration and attempted assassination of a beloved paragon of Spring?"
She shrugged. That was really it. A rock and a hard place. Public opinion mattered.
"Your partner might be able to run back to LA, but you can't. Coming in willingly is your best bet for getting out ahead of this, getting a word in. Maybe you give up the assassin from LA. That might motivate some understanding."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 7, 2021 12:15:46 GMT -8
The hit from Buck on her target elicited a slight frown Pale Dragon, even as she was unsteadied by the nausea.
Ivory would crouch beside the cowed - if resilient - impostor, a pale hand moving to lift their chin as gilded eyes sought to meet their own.
"You have a grievance," she began, "Ms. Rose is affording you the opportunity to handle the matter properly. You stand to lose more by ignoring this boon, as right now we do not recognize the authority of your claims. You will go. You must."
The Pale Dragon smiled almost softly, her hands caressing the cheeks of the Lost before her as the gaze held, awaiting his answer.
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Post by Agrippa on Mar 7, 2021 17:34:42 GMT -8
"Oh fiddlesticks."
Agrippa pulled themselves back out of the wall just long enough to speak clearly to Noir
"Let them know we got a spy! Woman in a maid uniform. Light brown hair in a bob cut. I'm going to follow her from this side to make sure we have an eye on her while they decide what to do about it. Just listen out for me if you loose track."
With that, they plunged back through the wall and sprinted up alongside the maid, looking curiously over her shoulder at the phone. As they moved, the helldiver started to whistle a jaunty tune loudly enough that they would hope the Gravewright would hear it
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Post by Krakenbox on Mar 7, 2021 22:22:31 GMT -8
Buck didn't seem to hear Kai, or maybe he did, but he was laser focused on the target in front of him. As Ivory petted her prey, he blinked.
"I shall speak with Sir Solomon," he said carefully as the Hunterheart's claws ghosted his flesh. As Agrippa faded in and called out to Noir, the jackal's ear twitched. He ran the numbers, looking to the portrait of a Queen of Assassins of a powerful Winter Court, then to the one who scorned her.
Noir kept his mouth shut, timing his information for maximum potential.
"For fucksake, Ivory, move," Buck growled, "Your Contract ended when he was hit."
Instead of waiting, he loomed over the Fairest before hands reached and hauled the Changeling wearing his motley member's face to his feet, before slamming him against the wall.
"Why did he leave?"
The tone was meant to by threatening, angry, but the fear crept in right at the end. "And how is he still here?"
The doppelganger's very slight smile was without pity,
"You promised her your hand."
So she took it.
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Post by Krakenbox on Mar 7, 2021 22:23:06 GMT -8
The maid had dialed 911, letting the dispatcher ask questions through the receiver as she mumbled about her boss being after her, fear painting her words as she picked up speed.
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Post by Noir on Mar 7, 2021 22:36:53 GMT -8
"Sir, if I may," Noir floated cautiously, the picture of radiating sympathy and extending a well timed hand in the form of charity. "A ghost just told me that a woman matching Kai Rose's description is headed..." he cocked his head,
"Hm. The information eludes me. Of course, I can offer Glamour to the Wyrd if you promise to honour my Entitlement for this breach of conduct."
Blink.
Buck's expression is, for once, blank. The roaring hounds of Arcadia's Wild Hunt bayed in his mind, as more of his present mind is lost to the fact that his thoughtless actions hurt his friend.
He simply nods to the Gravewight.
Arms crossed, Noir's elegant finger slowly lifts in the direction Agrippa had manifested.
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Post by Agrippa on Mar 7, 2021 22:46:31 GMT -8
"SHE'S CALLING THE MUNDANE POLICE!!"
Agrippa screamed at the top of their lungs, horrified and desperate. Someone in that room back there had police contacts, they had to, right? They could manifest right at the moment, but if she was already speaking to the operator it was too late for that, plus Agrippa wasn't certain they could pin her down and they certainly weren't about to let her go.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Mar 8, 2021 22:29:52 GMT -8
Linden had begun to move toward Buck and the false Lancelot, unsure of what exactly they would do when they got there but unable to keep holding still. While they were loathe to cause offense by grabbing Buck in his own home, Linden insinuated themself between the two as best they could. False Lancelot was still pressed against the wall, a hand on his chest, and their other forearm was gently pressing back against their host.
”He’s agreed to go, let us take him. Please.”
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 8, 2021 23:01:19 GMT -8
Kai didn't move, didn't run off after the second target that Noir had revealed. She had a bird in hand, one that was more relevant to the Freehold's future than the assassin from Los Angeles. She reached out and touched Buck on the shoulder, the Loophole fueling a connection between her and his grip on Reality, but she couldn't connect. Too agitated. She stared at the doppleganger. Really? All of this was because Buck didn't want to marry her?
Changelings were fucked sometimes. This guy needed Solomon bad.
Keeping her eyes on her new prisoner, she said, "We've got him from here, Buck. You want to chase her, or can you go straight for Lancelot? I can call my partner if you want. He can track anybody."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Mar 9, 2021 17:30:24 GMT -8
Ivory rose to her feet as the affirmation was given - before Buck chose to evoke a sense of violence.
Ivory was stunned at the display, falling silent. She looked briefly to Kai for some direction of how to proceed and seemed more than a little uncomfortable.
"I assume we are done, then?" she finally managed.
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Post by Krakenbox on Mar 9, 2021 22:44:50 GMT -8
Buck's expression was ugly as Linden acted the grounded, honourable Ogre, eyes reddening a bit from the mounting stress. The Metalflesh felt his heart thundering, fast enough where they weren't sure if he was in danger of a heart attack, or if it was just his Kith. He actually jumped when Kai touched him, messaging his temple as he moved away from the Summer Mantles and taking a hard swig from the open whiskey bottle.
In a blink he was gone, the rush of air and pop of thunder the only indicator that a Contract had been fired.
Noir sighed, felfire flickering as he cocked his head to the ephemeral screaming,
"The maid is calling the police. I hope our host's passions don't aggravate the situation." It was a good call on her part, deterring violent action to make the man's life even more complicated. The Gravewight smiled mildly at Kai and Linden, assuming they would want to depart with their escort in a timely fashion to lessen the headache.
If everyone played nice, they shouldn't have a problem beyond the Sunset Prince having a mildly inconvenient conversation.
--
The woman answered the dispatcher's questions between shaky breaths, explaining that Mister Chasseur's odd behaviour had escalated into him assaulting one of his employees, and that she had witnessed things she shouldn't have. The woman on the line asked where she was, and if there was anyone else in the manor, directing her to find another staff member while she waited. The maid tucked her hair, cutting towards the kitchen.
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 9, 2021 23:16:57 GMT -8
"It can wait. We can find her whenever we want. Justice has a way of catching up with people."
She hoisted fake Lancelot to his feet and looked to Linden and Ivory, giving a nod that implied it was time to go.
"Stay safe, Noir. I'll let the boss know what you did for us today."
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Post by Agrippa on Mar 11, 2021 1:25:59 GMT -8
Was anyone doing anything? Agrippa looked back down the hallway, anxiety making the blood flow through their ears like a thundering drum. They could go back and check, but then she might disappear- it would be a little complicated for her to do that with the police on their way, but hey, she wasn't the one that would have to deal with that added complexity. And it was worth it seeing who she was going to, wasn't it? The dispatch would take a couple minutes- it was worth it to follow her just a little longer. Or so Agrippa assured themselves, at least.
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