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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 14, 2021 11:35:35 GMT -8
There were plenty of places in Vegas that were like roads to nowhere. Beige buildings, reflecting the sun's light as Winter slowly turned to Spring. Cracked roads, never the priority of a city focused first and foremost on the development and growth of tourism. The odd palm tree. A strip mall, half-empty from economic downturn for the Little Guy after Amazon.
It was along one such street in Whitney that Kai Rose drove a 2004 Honda Civic with a cracked windshield that she'd bought off an old Navy guy. The air whistled quietly as the radio played some overly popular song from Billie or Ariana or whoever. It changed minute to minute and was background noise compared to what she had for Winter tonight.
Why Winter? Their grubby paws were all over the fuckin' thing, and the only way she was going to figure out what this bullshit was about was to make a deal.
Enter Lucas.
She pulled up at the curb to wait for him.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 14, 2021 11:45:20 GMT -8
For once, Lucas had actually been up and about and he was already productive before Kai reached out to him. In seasons past, his energy levels started to drop as winter near the end and he found himself withdrawing more. However, there was a lot going on that forced him to keep moving forward no matter what his body and mind wanted. He finished off the last of his coffee before grabbing his navy windbreaker jacket and he made his way to the agreed upon location.
The fairest arrived shortly after Kai did. He took a quick glance over his shoulder out of habit to make sure no one was following him before he got into the car.
"Hey, it's been awhile. " Once inside of the car, he buckled up and situated himself. "What do you got for me?"
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 14, 2021 11:54:32 GMT -8
"Hey," the Summer sergeant said, flashing the Fairest a smile as she let him buckle up and get set. The car started rolling. "Good to see you, man. There's a Dunkin' Donuts down the road a spell. I'd kill for something with sprinkles. You into it?" If not, she was getting sprinkles, but he could choose not to. When you busted concrete and dug ditches for a living, you ate a lot of calories.
"Got a proposition for you. I've recently come into information about a site of importance to you folks, and information that tells me a couple of Winter folks are deep in some weird shit that I don't think they're qualified for. I thought you'd rather get a first look at it before someone else gets the info and puts it in the hands of some dumbass."
She glanced at him momentarily before reaching and turning off Cardi B.
"What I want in return for telling it to you faithfully is ongoing, fulsome and truthful reports about what information you learn going forward about the subjects I tell you about... and for you not to reveal to anyone that you're reporting to me on this. For obvious reasons."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 14, 2021 12:26:36 GMT -8
"Sprinkles, eh? I usually go with their cold brew but who doesn't need some sprinkles in their life?" He chuckled, smiling an easy smile.
Lucas was thankful that Kai turned off the radio because it was hard to focus on a serious matter while Cardi B was sharing with them that she was a certified freak, seven days a week. With the distraction over, he listened intently to what Kai had to say. The look on his face was a thoughtful one. With how easy Kai's mantle made her to read, he wanted to create some positive rapport by not trying to conceal himself in his own mantle. Much like Kai's, his mantle reacted to his emotional state. Except instead of showcasing his emotions, the fog clouded him to try and conceal his emotions. He kept an open mind and body language which in turn caused the fog around his body to thicken by a shade or two.
"You're not the only one who noticed that something is off." If he wanted more information, he needed to give some in return. He also needed to give an explanation for why he would need to do some weaving and bopping when it came to sharing information. Somewhere, someplace, he could hear Rowan glowering once more that "that was not what I asked for" when Lucas swore a seal to him that he wouldn't share whatever they learned with others. Lucas had chosen that wording to give himself some leeway, since he figured at some point he would need to report back to his superiors. Unlike Rowan, Kai was being more direct with what exactly she wanted from him.
"I've got a lead into a strange situation that I wouldn't be surprised if it tied into what you've come across. However, there are parts of it that I won't be able to share with you, even if it overlaps with some of the information you and I are looking into, because of a prior agreement I made. What I can agree to is I won't share that you are the one who is funneling me information and that I will share as much as I can with you, in a on-going, fulsome, and truthful reports as long as it doesn't compromise any current seals or oaths that I've agreed to, or any future ones that a superior may "strongly encourage" me to agree to." Because if he turned down future opportunities with his superiors, they would grow suspicious of him, and that would cut off a great many leads that could be helpful to all of them. He could probably find some work arounds but it was better to start off cautious and then figure out those workarounds as things developed.
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 14, 2021 15:49:54 GMT -8
"No, I got my initial lead from a fall Courtier named Rowan who didn't know what he was looking at," she said with a shake of her head. "Suffice it to say now that I've looked more into it, I think Winter would probably prefer not to have Fall poking around in their business too much. It's more serious than one might think."
His counter-proposal was a little more complicated than she expected. Between some other agreement and the offer of reports unless it overlapped with his prior arrangement or a Winter officer's orders, it would be difficult for her to get much out of the situation and for him to honor his word. She didn't Seal these sorts of things. She made them into Pledges.
"Am I about to put you into a situation where you'll be an Oathbreaker if you do even that? I'm not looking to screw you, here. I can sell this information to Roger directly, if that'd be more convenient."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 16, 2021 4:21:33 GMT -8
"Ah, well that makes things a lot easier. Rowan has been in contact with me as well and I had a feeling there was going to be a crossover with your situations. While I wouldn't be an oath breaker with him, as I agreed to a seal rather than an Oath, I am sure you can appreciate how cagey he can be. Even the perception of going back on an agreement of other kind would get his heckles up." He chewed over his options. He didn't want this lead to get away from him. If something came up later with his superiors, he could argue that he was doing what they wanted him to do; working with the other courts to get information. He wasn't the Winter Boogeyman or even close to it. He was their shiny, ghost go-to-guy who focused on these kind of connections. Hell, there was a equally good chance they would get upset with him for letting a good opportunity pass him by and end up letting another court take the lead on the situation and make an even bigger mess out of things.
"The rest of it is just me being overly cautious. The Winter court is an enigma wrapped in another enigma with even more enigmas." He grinned, gently poking fun at how complex his court was. Then his expression because more serious to demonstrate to Kai he was heeding her warning.
"Anyway, I am picking up what you're putting down, and I agree. It would be better for me to be the one digging deep than Autumn or anyone else who doesn't have the right skillset to fully understand things. Let's make this deal happen."
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 16, 2021 18:45:37 GMT -8
"I wouldn't call it my situation," she replied with a shrug. Ultimately, she had nothing to do with it beyond being a passive observer. Still, Lucas had time to unwind the Seal with Rowan. He'd figure it out. He was a clever boy. "But I get it. I'm sure you're more than capable of navigating his particular brand of..." She paused. "Grumpiness." That was a gentle way of putting it.
"All right. A Pledge, then: I'll truthfully tell you what I know about a situation involving ghosts and two Winter Courtiers, in exchange for you providing me ongoing, fulsome and truthful updates about the information you learn going forward about the subjects I've told you about, and keeping the fact that you've told me about it secret. May the Wyrd curse our magic if we break our vow."
She extends a hand for a shake and the ceremonial Pledging of the Wyrd.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 16, 2021 20:06:35 GMT -8
Lucas stared at Kai's hand for a moment, knowing full well the weight that would come with shaking her hand. What he was doing was a high risk that could reward him handsomely or put him in a terribly uncomfortable situation. The seal with Rowan was a simple one. It tied into their initial research, which didn't yield much results wise other than Lucas thought perhaps that the ghosts may be trying to permanently possess Golden Boy. This Pledge was different. Even if Kai did not consider it "her situation", she was about to bind herself to it.
If there's one thing Lucas had learned in his time as a Lost, it was the Wyrd was a otherworldly manifestation of "fuck around and find out" if whoever was calling upon it was trying to be disingenuous. While he didn't believe in much, he had to believe in something. For Lucas, that something was the bonds between Lost bound them together in a way that even the Fae could not understand because they were so far removed from the experience of being a human. They couldn't escape or change their past, but they use their bonds to guide each other through the darkness and that was the kind of energy Lucas wanted to bring into any Pledge he agreed to.
" I will provide you with ongoing, fulsome and truthful updates about the information I learn going forward about the subjects you've told me about, and keeping the fact that I've told you about it secret. In exchange, you'll truthfully tell me what you know about a situation involving ghosts and two Winter Courtiers. May the Wyrd curse our magic if we break our vow." Lucas reached for Kai's hand, giving her hand a firm shake.
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 18, 2021 15:53:01 GMT -8
And with Glamour and a handshake, their Honda Pledge was completed.
"All right. So, it all started back at the Mabon Feast. Someone tried to assassinate Buck Chasseur by kicking a servant of his forward in time with a gun. That triggered a need to investigate. At Samhain, Rowan mentioned to me that he'd learned that the Sun Banisher had been injured during the Mabon Feast. I didn't think much of it then, but it all kind of comes together."
She turned left, keeping the car moving toward the Dunkin Donuts.
"I bring a crew to investigate the assassination attempt. It turns out that Agrippa, a Helldiver, finds some sort of Underworld gateway on the grounds of Mr. Chasseur's manor. There's a big-ass haunting there that Noir of Spring has agreed to work on resolving, but nobody's sure who caused the haunting or the gateway. I then go to the site of the gateway in the Real World and look back in time. Turns out I see the incident -- Golden Boy and Fawkes are standing where the gateway would be in the real world during Mabon Feast. Fawkes seemed real nervous, smoking up a storm and all worried. Golden was having him mark points on a compass, then told him to walk in a specific direction. He's talking about Spirit and Air evocations, working with smoke in a pentagram. Then, suddenly, the ground starts to cave in. The color drains from the area, there's a ton of wind, and Fawkes and Golden are being dragged in. Fawkes gets a hold of a pipe and Golden and tries to keep him out. But it's too strong. Fawkes manages to hold on, but Golden gets dragged in."
She shakes her head.
"And then at Yule, a bunch of us are at Julia's hostel Hollow for dinner. Golden shows up, and suddenly, the world gets real cold. Footprints start forming, coming toward him, and despite everyone's best efforts, Golden gets grabbed and disappears... again. More ghost shit. I'm worried about it. I don't think they're okay."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 19, 2021 21:16:25 GMT -8
Lucas's eyebrows shot so far up his forehead that they almost took flight when Kai shared what Buck Chasseur had been up to. Lucas had had his suspicions when he had learned about how the current Spring Monarch came into power...but now the whole situation had the potential to be a lot more sinister than he had originally thought.
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he closed his eyes over and looked like he was trying to make sense out of the information being shared with him, as well as what the best information gathering play was moving forward.
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 20, 2021 16:49:48 GMT -8
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Post by Krakenbox on Mar 22, 2021 14:33:13 GMT -8
Lucas gets a sense that Golden Boy somehow learned the key ritual to opening up that particular Underworld gate. At least, that's how it sounds; these gates require abstract rituals to throw open that are unique to each manifestation. This is likely the inciting incident that is causing his continued haunting. Maybe resolving the gate would stop it?
Golden Boy has a history of being a talented thief within the Freehold, and was hired out often in his adolescence. More than likely he worked for the Magpie or at least have some rapport with each other. What happened at Yule isn't a secret as too many people witnessed it, it really just depends on who talked? It doesn't hurt to sell this to the Spring noble, the worst he could do is say he already knows.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 22, 2021 23:08:22 GMT -8
"I may need some extra sprinkles on my coffee." After a few minutes of silence, Lucas finally spoke up.
"There's a good chance that Golden Boy learned how to open up a gate to the underworld. The challenging part about doing that is that each gate is unique and there's not a fine science to it. The rituals are abstract and depending on how you go about it, you may end up attracting unwanted attention like GB did. It's not an area I'm an expert in myself, but it is of my interests."
Lucas had been keen on learning more about the Underworld for quite sometime and this lined up nicely with said interests.
"I am going to do some digging around to see if I can tap into resources that will help me narrow down what ritual he used. I know a guy in Spring who has some connections and he maybe able to help point me in the right direction. If that ends up being the case, I'll send a report your way."
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Post by Kai Rose on Mar 23, 2021 22:28:07 GMT -8
"Yeah, I figured. Given the whole 'doing some wooj and tumbling into the Underworld thing', you know."
Apes together strong.
"I just hope they're okay. Nothing about that looked enjoyable, and I actually like the kid. Fawkes, too. Be careful not to end up with ghosts up in your grill, Luke. The collective tears of the Freeholders who are into pretty boys would drown the United States if you got killed."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Mar 23, 2021 23:01:25 GMT -8
Lucas couldn't help but laugh at Kai's description and he nodded his head in agreement.
"Is the wooj the descriptor of choice you would like me to include in my report?" He asked in a joking manner.
Apes strongest when they disclose they are not ghost stonks financial advisors and it sounded like one of the two or maybe even both did not not disclose that claimer.
The look of amusement on his face continued to grow as he listened to Kai's description of his appearance.
"I will think of those freeholders and play it safe, we can't have Freeholds drowning in tears. " Then he replied in a more serious tone. The more he thought about the situation the more troubling it became.
"I'm not as worried about them. If push comes to shove, I have ways to close Underworld gates for at least a week .I'm more worried about what caused a gate to the Underworld to open up there. Usually, it comes down to one of two things: there has been so much death in the area that it is essence leaves a psychic impression of death on the area or a powerful Gravewight has opened one up there for a specific purpose. "
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