[Glimpse] After The Party

Despite it all, Archie couldn't relax without knowing where it came from. He didn't sleep, reviewing security footage of the Beltane event and squinting at the screen to try and track who was talking to who—it was impossible, how the hell was he supposed to hear everything and see everything as everyone mingled? Riley had to peel him away as he wrote a list of suspects, arguing it the top to be Agrippa, because they were the only one connected to Sweeney's incident during the investigation into Rose Water!

It had to be them. He pulled Agrippa's phone records, and found that the Beast didn't use the phone much at all. Mostly just plans that matched with restaurant reviews, but the Spring courtier really was a whimsical wanderer. Riley, seeing Linden's quiet distress, offered to do it the old fashioned way. Whether Linden was happy about this obsessive behaviour or was all for vengeance was up to them but they sat this out as the pair recognized that Linden would probably be shamed. Riley was a Bright One, feeling just as wronged that someone had the gall to personally attack their party and fuck with their happiness that they had sacrificed everything for.

It wasn't good. The damage of telephone was more extensive than what was seen at Beltane. Riley found themselves blocked, with the Summers rolling their eyes and telling them to get over themselves and let Archie clean up his mess. They weren't the most sympathetic about a case of slander, arguing Loki could literally see lies.

"It's not slander if it's true, Sorsa."

Archie leaned into the Desire to see him get his comeuppance, manipulating some of the more brazen and drunken Spears that if he were to do something, the Court would just mess him up. He just wanted to apologize and smooth his reputation, right?  Riley did sail in with a friendly face glamoured in the Wyrd of Spring when they spotted Cinderella typing on her laptop to publish a well timed article on Narcissists and Gas Lighting.

Beer was spilt on the machine.

Sweeney had been quiet, but Eurydice had not. A lot of the Chevaliers were fired up over what had been done to the Arrayer, and some injected sympathy of what the Sun Banisher had went through during the Revenant Crisis to be questioned on his motives and integrity. They were sure at this point that Agrippa wasn't it. The witness was just icing — maybe a few too many drinks and angry Mantles got the unicorn apologetically complaining, or they were coerced, but they weren't some mastermind manipulator to sick the Knight Commander at the height of Archie's public success. Frankly the idea would have made the Beast sick. The rumours had gotten out of hand, and now Carr's name had been added to the pile of soft spoken friendlies that had been taken advantage of. The remarks flying reminded Hartman of Solomon's rant at Valentines Day.

Agrippa  had a lot of friends. A lot. But not a lot of Summers to garner that kind of clout. Eurydice did. Enough were Springs connected to the concentric social spheres to know Cupid's Arrow when they heard it.

It had only taken the right person who weaponize and manipulate the cooking rage of the Vermillion Court. The clock was ticking on their reputation and this venture definitely did not give their image any extra grace.