10:10 <banana> The freelance hunters under the banner of *jack - however reluctantly - have gathered at their safehouse. Most of them. 10:12 <Crion> Splatjack. 10:13 <Quaker> Badawi is still playing a phone conversation from thirty minutes ago in her head. 10:13 <banana> Elsewhere, Bob Goreman is fighting for his life. 10:13 <banana> Metaphor, but he's always doing that, and this last couple of days it sure feels like it. 10:14 <Quaker> At one of her human answering machines, there was a message for her. A callback, from Vincenzo. 10:14 <banana> Mari was quiet but steadfast; she made a couple days' lunches, gave him advice about hydration, commented that the new truck would be useful. The last thing she said was: "Come back to me, Bob. That's what matters, not whether you have hoar-frost on your brow." 10:15 <Crion> What's the protocol for setting up this meeting with the Constable again? And who does he have resourced for this? Wellesley, of course. Badawi? Rolf? 10:15 <Quaker> When she dialed the number, she recognized the voice on the other end as Tom Luna, the House’s deputy in the north. “Bad news, Miss. That young lady that gave you a lift down to Manchester is taken after all - long term assignment.” 10:16 <banana> All three of those people are present. If Aster wants, Richard can also give a brief powerpoint on what vampires are, how dangerous it might be to enter their lair, etc. 10:16 <VoxPVoxD> Willie presents an update from the Starchild dossier - that Mary "Reveille" Morgan is on a clock, but not a doomsday clock, so we can safely focus on one of the in-progress paying jobs. "And a not-exactly-work-related item: through Mr. Goreman, who has taken a personal development day, we've got an invitation to a fae seasonal celebration. A masquerade party the night of the 31st to 10:16 <VoxPVoxD> commemorate Samhain. It's not proper, paying work, but it is an opportunity to network and put ourselves out there as a collective brand in the night-city." 10:16 <Quaker> Badawi rubbed her eyebrows with a thumb. “Alright. Got anyone else local?” 10:17 <VoxPVoxD> "We'd ostensibly be providing security for a thousand pounds a head." 10:17 <banana> Haldane: "Isn't Samhain the first of November?" 10:17 <tom> The look on her face is the last thing he remembers before he starts awake. It's started raining, and now the drops are beating urgently against the plexiglass shield he's lying under in the windswept moor. This fucking sucks so bad. 10:17 <tom> He grunts, checks his ODIN. 10:17 <hrolf> "A thousand? That's a beat cheap innit?" 10:17 <Crion> Aster sighs. "I suppose after last night with Bob, my interest in the 'elves' of Manchester, as he puts it, has been piqued." 10:17 <Quaker> “Yeah, thing is. You know Amjad Fayaz?” Out of reflex, Badawi turned to look at the phone in the booth, as if Tom were there in person to bring the name up. 10:18 <Quaker> “What? Yes, of course. Why? He’s in Spain.” 10:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "The party continues past midnight, as I understand, though the later parts of the evening are of ritual significance to the local Tors, and we're not expected to, or invited to attend that." 10:20 <Quaker> Tom: “Actually, no. Thing is, he left a few months after you did. Turns out he’s been in Sheffield and Liverpool the past two months, staying with family. Lots of cousins up north, that sort of thing. Semi-retirement, been working as a private driver for a few straight clients, regular low-key stuff.” 10:20 <hrolf> Rolf: "Can we subcontract out the security bit and just party? One thousand pounds to babysit some elves..." He shrugs with a noncomittal grimace. 10:20 <VoxPVoxD> Bob does get a text some time that morning, after 7 or 8 or so. It's just an image from Willie: https://i.imgur.com/KO9U6rl.jpg 10:20 <Quaker> Badawi is too taken aback to say much. “I-uh-okay. You’re in touch? Can he meet me?” 10:21 <Crion> Aster doesn't particularly require a powerpoint on fanger-danger at the moment; that's fine. ...That pun wouldn't really work outloud. 10:21 <banana> The cameras of the drone buzzing overhead zoom in on Bob's damp and plastic-covered hollow. How did he get here? Where did it all go wrong? 10:21 <banana> It began in a little village called Tintwistle. The post office is next to the shop - what you'd call a 'general store' where Bob came from - and the mayor runs both. He's also a real estate agent. 10:21 <tom> Under no circumstances does he sit up to peek above the horizon of yellow, damp grass until he's got a contact to register. So instead Bob reaches into his pack and unseals another heat pack before stuffing it into his jacket. 10:22 <banana> The wrinkle-faced man handed over the keys Bob had called for. "T'old farm, is it? Don't know what you want out there, Mr. Goreman. All productive land's been sold off in chunks." 10:22 <Quaker> Tom: “Yeah, he’s still on the books and in good standing. No problem to shoot him a call. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you, friendly face and everything. I’ll call you back once its all sorted out, Miss. Take care of yourself and all, until then. Ciao.” 10:23 <tom> "Oh, I'm just looking for a side project," He'd said. Technically true. This place would make a great place to bug out if things get rough. Maybe fix it up a bit later, bring Mari out to see it... that'd be something. 10:23 <tom> Heh. Bug out. 10:23 <Quaker> Badawi hangs up the phone in her head, and comes back to the present. Wow. Amjad, here? Talk about good fortune. He’ll love the stupid luxury van. Maybe Bob can help him rig it up. 10:23 <VoxPVoxD> To Rolf: "The overwhelming likelihood is that nothing serious will happen. But in the night-city, the unlikely is generally... bad, yeah? Rather bad. So you can go, and hope nothing shows up. I would not try to go back on even a handshake agreement with even the seeliest fae. How lucky do you feel, Mr. Hughes?" 10:24 <hrolf> "Well, 'ave we shook yet?" 10:25 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "No, not at all! So it would be prudent not to agree to attend if you want to show up and not work." 10:25 <tom> He checks his watch. Two things: How far into the twenty-four hour's is he, and how long until the next time he's gotta swap out the drone's battery pack? 10:25 <banana> The road up to the old farmhouse in the Peak District was long, running down into a stony valley where grass has run wild over old pasture. A single series of powerlines runs beside it; this place was once entitled to a National Grid connection. Hopefully it still works. 10:25 <banana> Bob had plenty of time. How did he prepare the road and the valley? 10:27 <hrolf> Rolf: "I ain't sayin we should go back on our word, more like if we could get regular chuckle brother security in while we do some...what dyou call it, business development eh? I don't know about you, but if you're runnin security you 'ave to take it seriously. You can't 'obnob with the customers at the same time." 10:28 <Quaker> *Does* she want to hang out with a bunch of…? 10:28 <banana> Willie could ask whether the Samhain party is accepting visitors who don't have a nominal role. +1s are allowed, she knows that much. 10:28 <tom> Mines would be funny, but problematic for a number of reasons. He went up along the property line with a sack of the beeping, buzzing motion sensors, burying them wherever they'd seem less obvious. Special attention to the roadside, and then up along the open moor to the north. The real meat of the grid is down by the little stream, where Bob is currently nestled into a small depression. 10:28 <tom> Oh, and the ground dips around him, too. 10:29 <Quaker> Badawi: “One thousand per head…are they cheap, or poor?” 10:30 <VoxPVoxD> "I don't know. My guess is the latter. They seem to live, as far as I've seen, like ordinary people, rather than princes or scoundrels." 10:30 <VoxPVoxD> "Not the sort of organisation that can put together a million pound invoice." 10:30 <banana> It seems like they're paying the sort of money you'd expect for bouncers at a social event rather than monster hunters. 10:31 <Quaker> “Then you should waive the fee as a courtesy. They can’t afford it, and we can. Free goodwill.” 10:31 <VoxPVoxD> "This is bouncer money. I do know that, if you're keen to attend and are willing to do so for free, we can bring +1s. I'll be bringing Sergio, for instance." 10:31 <banana> Richard Haldane's been going through the wiki. "We still don't know much about the city's changelings. Perhaps they won't impact our work much... it's interesting that they're having a party at all, though. Bit at odds with the standoffish vibe." 10:31 <VoxPVoxD> "I'm not opposed to waiving the fee entirely." 10:31 <VoxPVoxD> "Ordinarily, money is a way to quantify respect, in this kind of work. But here the invitation itself is the gesture." 10:32 <Crion> Aster: "A thousand pounds sterling is only poor remit for a night's work when put up against the amount we're pulling down otherwise. I'm generally fine with that payout. Especially if I can just stay in the truck and jump through security cameras, but I suppose they'll prefer to have their little party some place that isn't wired for video." 10:32 <banana> It took Bob an hour to lay down a solid perimeter of sensors. You want to spot them before they see you, when you're being hunted. Then there was the trap. 10:33 <hrolf> Rolf gives Willie the side eye at the name of the vampire fancy dan, but says nothing. "Aye, a thousand pounds...a year ago I'd of said it was nothing to sneeze at, but well now it is. If we do it, I'd be fine with gratis." 10:33 <tom> The stream offers another opportunity, too. There's a long flat bank that he's packed down to let the drone land and take off without him having to reveal his position by retrieving it. Of course, someone could still spot the damn thing, but that won't be a problem come nightfall. 10:33 <banana> The old farmhouse, with its barely-covered parking. Electricity but no gas, no appliances, a stove that you could use if you've got the propane for it. 10:33 <Quaker> Badawi plays with a shell casing that’s been left on the table. “I’ll watch the door, if you need someone. Rolf and you all can mingle while Aster and I are working.” 10:33 <banana> What's going to bait the hunter to this place, so it doesn't go straight for Bob in the hollow he'll dig? 10:34 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "That sounds good to me. So I can put you all down for an RSVP? It is a masquerade party, so the spirit of the thing would be to wear a mask of some kind. But I suspect they won't kick you out if you find the idea too silly." 10:35 <tom> Well, they did say they got his scent. So he's got a big pile of his laundry in the back of his truck in bags. He meant to do it, really, he was gonna- doesn't matter. It's an asset now! 10:36 <tom> He'll get the stove going so the chimney's putting out some heat. A battery-powered lamp puts some light in the windows. 10:36 <hrolf> "Sure, why not." 10:36 <Crion> Long sigh. "Can you source one for me, Willie? I'm too old to be going to party stores and buying masquerade masks." 10:36 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Sure! What about you, Rolf? Agostina? Do you want me to get masks for you?" 10:37 <Quaker> Badawi: “Would they be offended if I just wore my scarf and some glasses?” 10:37 <Quaker> “I’m not really the theatrical type.” 10:37 <banana> Richard's assuming he doesn't have to go to this thing, given the logistics.. he's just going to get out the vampire briefing papers again and hope nobody says anything. 10:37 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "My sense is that they might be disappointed, rather than offended, but if you like I can double-check." 10:37 <tom> He set out some steaks in the empty kitchen to thaw. Those will come in handy later. 10:38 <VoxPVoxD> "I do think we should expect some theatre from the other attendants." 10:38 <Crion> 'I'm not really the theatrical type.' Incredible 10:38 <Crion> . 10:38 <VoxPVoxD> She's very good. 10:39 <Crion> 'Ha ha oh no I just do a bit of karaoke.' 10:39 <Quaker> “What about some kind of…jeweled veil?” 10:39 <Quaker> “I could wear that.” 10:39 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I think that would go over smashingly." 10:40 <hrolf> "I 'ave a mask. Paolo di Canio one..its pretty good." 10:40 <Quaker> “Nothing incredibly expensive. I don’t mean diamonds or anything. Just something sparkling. Tasteful.” 10:41 <banana> Haldane: "You'll have to take some group shots. For the family album." 10:41 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Good! I'll put us down for 5 to attend, and that we're offering our services gratis." 10:41 <VoxPVoxD> She points at Haldane: "Richard brings up an excellent point." 10:42 <VoxPVoxD> "Not the group photo specifically, but this is our first public appearance as a full group. We will need to resolve the question of..." She takes a deep breath, like she's about to tell people they need to take some nasty medicine. "...branding." 10:43 <hrolf> Rolf: "What, like 'ave a logo and fings?" 10:43 <banana> Haldane: "Visiting the vampires' Constable probably counts as a public appearance too. If you're saying we should have a name to give them... I agree." 10:43 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "At the very least a name, but I think a business card wouldn't go amiss." 10:43 <Crion> Aster: "I'm no good at that sort of thing." 10:43 <hrolf> Rolf: "Formalize a criminal conspiracy in triplicate, eh?" 10:44 <Quaker> Badawi: “It should be something mysterious. Evocative. Powerful, but in an occulted sort of way.” 10:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Criminal conspiracies have incredibly evocative names, Rolf." 10:44 <banana> The afternoon was wearing on as Bob prepared the lure. The farmhouse in the remote valley showed every sign of being recently re-inhabited. It made a good base for the drone to charge and take off, too. 10:45 <Quaker> “The kind of name you’d find studying turn of the century occultists.” 10:45 <Quaker> “These kinds of clients eat that up.” 10:45 <banana> After that it was just a matter of concealing himself - physically, as well as his scent - and enduring. What was the plan there? 10:46 <hrolf> Rolf: "Hmm, 'ow about...the gray company? Like the black company, see, but matchin the bleedin weather up 'ere." 10:47 <banana> It rained a lot in London. Rolf's been used to rain all his life. But it rains a LOT in Manchester. 10:47 <tom> Finally, after marching up and down the creek a bit in high boots to try (in vain, likely) to lose his scent, he found a soft patch of grass in a dip in the earth, planted the plexiglass riot shield (tastefully camouflaged with the predominant flora, a kind of perpetually brown meadowgrass) over himself, and took a well-deserved nap with a pair of chemical heatpacks at his sides. 10:47 <tom> The sensors should buzz him if anything trips the defenses. 10:48 <VoxPVoxD> Willie writes notes on the whiteboard, like Badawi's 20th Century Occultism vibe and Rolf's "The Gray Company". "Richard! Any thoughts?" 10:49 <banana> "Haldane's Heroes?" 10:49 <Crion> Aster: "No." 10:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie laughs, and then dutifully writes it down. 10:50 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "We could get cheeky with it. What about the Parliament of Turkeys?" 10:50 <Quaker> Badawi: “The something palace.” 10:50 <hrolf> Rolf: "'oo, 'ere's one I always liked. Executive Outcomes." 10:50 <banana> Bob waited, and slept, and checked the drone, and slept, and woke, and checked the drone... 10:51 <VoxPVoxD> "The ______ Palace", "Executive Outcomes" 10:51 <VoxPVoxD> "Inhuman Resources?" 10:51 <Quaker> “Sounds too rebranded corporate. Like Xe.” 10:51 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's not writing her ideas down. That feels tacky. 10:51 <banana> Time passed uncomfortably. He had many opportunities to consider his life and his circumstances. 10:51 <Quaker> “Clients don’t like joke names. They don’t want to sign checks over to jokers.” 10:52 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Perhaps the 'Manchester Free Company'?" 10:52 <banana> It was well into the afternoon before the first outer-perimeter alert. 10:52 <tom> He taps the reticle and reroutes the drone overhead. 10:52 <hrolf> Rolf: "The Night Watch." 10:52 <banana> Haldane: "Etheric Investigations?" 10:53 <VoxPVoxD> Willie writes and writes. 10:53 <VoxPVoxD> "I like Night Watch. It's a bit Game of Thrones, maybe." 10:54 <Crion> Aster: "It's a book series. Russian, I think." 10:54 <Crion> "Sequel, Day Watch." 10:54 <Crion> "I doubt they'll sue. Let's go with that." 10:54 <VoxPVoxD> What does Badawi think of 'The Night Watch'? 10:55 <VoxPVoxD> It's got to be a name everyone can say with a straight face. 10:55 <Quaker> “It’s not bad. But it’s too familiar. Everyone knows the name already.” 10:55 <tom> Bob watches the feed while he reaches over his chest and palms over where he set the packed lunches. The plexiglass ably absorbs the whimpering rainfall, and between the two chemical packs hissing nicely at his sides it's actually quiet cozy on the little square of tarp in the wet countryside. 10:55 <Quaker> “You don’t want to open up a chain called MacDonalds.” 10:56 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Beginning to understand how business owners end up with such shit gobbledegook names." 10:56 <hrolf> "Let's 'ave a vote. I like Night Watch, personally. Sounds like an institution." 10:56 <VoxPVoxD> "How do you pick something that's comfortable but original, serious but not pompous, so forth. Hard work!" 10:57 <Crion> Aster: "Fairly certain McDonald's mounts aggressive defense of its trademark because a number of competitors do want to open similarly-named competitors, especially in emerging markets." 10:58 <VoxPVoxD> No signal back from Bob. Willie's forcing herself to interpret this as focus and professionalism, and not a sign he got eaten by a dog or blown up while trying to avoid a dog. 10:58 <Quaker> “Well, we can keep coming up with ideas for now. No need to make a decision before Samhain.” 10:58 <hrolf> Rolf: "Where's Goreman any 'ow? He should get a vote too." 10:59 <Crion> Aster: "Busy off on an island." 10:59 <Crion> "A smaller island, that is." 10:59 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "As I said, Bob's taking a personal development day." 10:59 <hrolf> "Ibiza?" 10:59 <VoxPVoxD> "Ibitha." 10:59 <hrolf> "Gesundheit." 11:00 <VoxPVoxD> Willie nods once. 11:00 <Quaker> “Is he one of those Americans who thinks they’re Irish?” 11:00 <VoxPVoxD> "Not particularly. But he's enmeshed with the seelie Tors. His affiliation with them predates his affiliation with us. He's engaged in something with them." 11:01 <Crion> He snorts. "Engaged? Moving quickly." 11:01 <hrolf> Oh does Aster know about the bird too? Lad's got a loose tongue to trust everyone so early. 11:02 <Quaker> Badawi taps the table with the butt of the casing. “Speaking of personal development. I’ve got something for your attention.” 11:02 <VoxPVoxD> Willie gives Aster a look of mock-sternness before Badawi speaks. "Mm?" 11:02 <Crion> Well, he got the information's worth in trade. Aster was the one who analyzed his foe this evening. 11:03 <Quaker> “I’ve been thinking that as we expand our contacts, we’ll eventually bring a few staff along to take care of specific jobs. I’ve been looking for a driver for us.” 11:03 <Quaker> “Someone’s come up. Very capable, unquestionably loyal and reliable. I can vouch for them personally.” 11:03 <Crion> Aster: "There's a question of discretion." 11:04 <Crion> "Every growing circle is in danger of becoming a venn diagram." 11:04 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "A driver would be good. What's their ask?" 11:04 <Quaker> “They have experience working for me directly. In a very discreet line of work. They know how to not talk about their job.” 11:05 <Quaker> “I don’t know yet. Probably a regular salary with benefits. Some minor personal expenses. They would probably ask for some input on any customizations or remodels of our vehicles.” 11:05 <banana> Bob's been rained on a lot up until this point, but the skies are mercifully clear in the late afternoon; protected by the Dark Peak, this little valley doesn't get quite the continual drizzle of the city closer to the coast. 11:06 <banana> Through his ODIN, there's a nice steady livestream feed of what the drone sees from its high perch. An old convertible absolutely hooning it down the unsealed road, passing over the southern creek with a spray of water and gravel. In the driver's seat is the Horned Hound, mouth wide open and cackling. 11:06 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "That sounds fine to me. So we've got 'The Night Watch' on the table as a name unless inspiration strikes us, Agostina's got a line on a reputable driver... and I think Aster's got us a meeting with the WASC Constable?" 11:06 <tom> I love him so much. How can I do this? 11:06 <VoxPVoxD> "Any other action items?" 11:06 <banana> He's got a poorly fitting pink zoot suit on and a pile of knives and clubs in the driver's seat. 11:07 <tom> What a God. 11:07 <tom> The drone falls into a terminal dive. 11:09 <Quaker> “How about, ‘La Casa de Las Flores.’? 11:10 <VoxPVoxD> While the team mulls this over, Willie sends out some texts. First, to Sumi: <the whole team is on board to do the Samhain security job free of charge. tentative RSVP of 5, 4 on security, not including bob. will update before tuesday if Circumstances change that> 11:10 <VoxPVoxD> "The House of Flowers?" 11:10 <Quaker> Badawi: “It sounds nice.” 11:11 <Quaker> “Or just, ‘The House of Flowers.’” 11:11 <hrolf> Rolf: "Sounds a bit girly." 11:11 <Quaker> “That sounds nice, too.” 11:11 <Quaker> “What’s wrong with that? It sounds elegant.” 11:12 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I like it a lot." 11:12 <Crion> Aster consulted with the tediously-named but far more helpful 'Killer Clive' on the Wise and Etc. and, after speaking with Willie, arranged a meeting with the Constable at the Free Trade Hall itself. 11:12 <hrolf> "If Baz and the lads found out I was runnin around callin meself a member of the house of flowers, they'd bleedin glass me!" 11:13 <Quaker> “Do Baz and the lads have millions of dollars you’re trying to convince them to spend on you?” 11:13 <banana> Elysium is open from sunset, which is now past. You can head there anytime, if you actually want to. 11:13 <VoxPVoxD> The second text is for Sergio to see on waking: <do you have plans the night of the 31st? we've got an invitation to attend a Masquerade with the local seelie folk, nominally working security, but primarily as a party. I'd love so much if you could come - we could make Masks together! ❤️> 11:14 <Quaker> “You don’t want them to think ‘wow, that guy loves Game of Thrones.’ You want them to think, ‘Wow! That person is mysterious and capable!’” 11:14 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "She's right, I do want them to think that." 11:14 <Crion> Aster: "The House of Flowers sounds either like an incredibly dangerous crime syndicate or a high-class brothel." 11:15 <Crion> Aster: "I don't really worry about us being mistaken for the latter, but I would prefer not being mistaken for a high-volume heroin dealer." 11:15 <banana> The Hound barrels through the valley and his car drifts slowly toward a stop. He doesn't actually brake at any point, but ceases to accelerate, and the ungraded terrain does the rest. 11:16 <VoxPVoxD> It sounds like a really sexy dangerous crime syndicate, to Willie. 11:16 <Crion> This is why Willie needs a minder. 11:16 <VoxPVoxD> Sigh. 11:16 <banana> He hops out close to the farmhouse as the thing continues to coast a little and sniffs at the air. There's a pause as he turns his great maned head a little toward Bob... then back to the house. Toward which he begins to stroll, turning his pockets out for more knives. 11:16 <Quaker> Badawi: “Think of it like this, Rolf. How’d you like to take down some hard geezers and see the look on their face when you tell them they’ve been beaten by the House of Flowers?” 11:16 <tom> He might hear a whining sound. Louder now that the car's stopped. The drone screams down overhead, shearing its wings as it crumbles into the hound's chest. 11:17 <banana> Bob's met the changelings of the Winter Hill, and he gets where they're coming from; their test is about running and hiding, about evading superior forces to your own and surviving by that means. 11:17 <Quaker> “And think of the bint’s you’ll pull when you tell them who you work for.” 11:17 <Quaker> bints* 11:17 <Crion> Aster: "We are also a bit lacking in actual flower imagery." He makes a face at Badawi. "Oh now he's got you saying it too." 11:17 <hrolf> "I don't fink I could look meself in the mirror if i was damn knight of flowers, to be honest." 11:17 <banana> He might sympathise with them. But there is another way, and it involves ramming a quadcopter rigged to blow into the face of whoever comes looking. 11:18 <VoxPVoxD> Once those messages are sent, Willie's prepared to go to Elysium when the rest of the group is. She's firmly behind Badawi's name, and fine with Rolf's. 11:19 <Quaker> “Well, we’ll find a compromise. Are we meeting these vampires?” 11:20 <tom> Light erupts from the crumpling fuselage, and the hills are illuminated by a sparkling, magnesium-hot glow of the midday sun. 11:20 <Crion> Aster: "Yyyes. And we're doing it in their lair, which is paradoxically completely safe." 11:21 <Crion> "One of the few places that is, actually." 11:21 <Crion> "Due to a number of overlapping blood oaths and agreements, and my own 'one of the good ones' standing with them." 11:21 <Quaker> Badawi: “They said no to Starbucks?” 11:21 <Crion> Aster looks at Willie. 11:22 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Starbucks closes at 7." 11:22 <Quaker> “Shortages in everything these days. Well, if you vouch for them.” 11:22 <tom> Bob leaps out from under his cover, flipping the shield away. In his hands is a machine of molded plastic and hard metal angles. He plugs in a cord and the capacitors arrayed up its spine click into place. 11:24 <Crion> Aster's wearing what is quickly becoming his vampire coat, meaning he's now getting it drycleaned repeatedly weekly. Constant proximity to corpses is no good, even if they're helpfully walking and talking. 11:25 <banana> The vampires' lair doesn't feel safe. Aster leads the others into an ordinary hotel, which is fine, then enters the one-time code he's been given on the elevator keypad, which is less fine. Willie will be reminded immediately of the similar setup the draculas had. 11:25 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's wearing the coat she wore to Malmin. She's excited, and/or terrified. 11:26 <Crion> Aster has a cigarette in his mouth, but it's not lit. He killed his last one before walking into the hotel. 11:26 <hrolf> Rolf is wearing a pained expression, as if he's walking in the wake of a fart cloud. Mucking about with bloodsuckers is the one thing he didn't want to happen. 11:26 <tom> Bob flicks on the Gopro. 11:27 <VoxPVoxD> Willie doesn't feel cool enough to pull off an unlit cigarette in her mouth, and actually smoking indoors is suicidal and worse, gross. 11:28 <banana> The interior of the Radisson is probably pretty swank, but you came in a side entrance. This is a goods elevator. It's large and ugly. 11:28 <hrolf> The entrance for the help. Should be an unusual feeling for Willie. 11:28 <VoxPVoxD> It's very Mafia. 11:28 <hrolf> "'ow's it feel comin through the help door?" 11:29 <Quaker> Badawi, to Willie: “How about ‘La Casa De La Sueno No Encontrada?” 11:29 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I like it, but we'd want an abbreviation." 11:29 <VoxPVoxD> To Rolf: "We *are* the help." 11:30 <Crion> Aster: "You want to make the English try to handle Spanish pronunciation?" 11:31 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "They could handle 'La Casa', probably. But we'd need to earn that abbreviation." 11:31 <Quaker> Badawi: “The English are perfectly capable of learning foreign languages when there is money to be made.” 11:31 <hrolf> "I didn't vote Leave to learn to speak foreign!" 11:31 <Crion> Aster just gestures at Rolf. 11:32 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "That's right, you voted Leave to eat chlorine." 11:32 <Crion> He actually starts before that came out of his mouth. 11:32 <hrolf> "Nuffin wrong with that. There's chlorine in salt too you know." 11:32 <Crion> Aster: "For fuck's sake, man." 11:32 <VoxPVoxD> One of life's little ion-ies. 11:33 <Quaker> “Well, ‘The Dream House’ sounds too much like a television show about remodeling. What about ‘The Dreaming House?’” 11:33 <banana> The four members of the Night's Flower Watch Heroes, or whatever, have plenty of room to either spread out or huddle in a corner as it jerks slowly down a floor. The doors slide open into dimness; you're on the upper decks of a buried concert hall, vast and partially ruined. Inadequate fluorescent strips have replaced what were once skylights. 11:33 <banana> There are shadowed figures in large and small groups throughout; some sit in wooden chairs on the old stage, dressed to the nines, having a formal discussion. Some are out in the seating area doing what looks like clerical work on desks that have replaced usher's stands. 11:33 <banana> Other people watch silently from the upper booths, or gather under the shadowed wings to talk quietly in pairs. There's a whole orchestra setup in a pit below the stage, complete with instruments that weren't here when Aster was last present, and a couple of people setting up music stands and tuning the violins. 11:33 <Crion> Aster: "All of these names sound more fitting for a clique of actual supernatural creatures." 11:34 <VoxPVoxD> Willie looks at Aster, and tries to picture him saying that without frowning or scowling. No can do. 11:34 <banana> From the vampires' point of view, they just woke up. It's too early for dancing. 11:34 <Quaker> “Yeah, it makes us fit in with our clients.” 11:35 <Crion> Aster: "Our whole pitch is not doing that." 11:35 <Crion> "We're the outside cleaners." 11:35 <banana> Out in the valley, the drone plunges - the Hound leaps into the air, opening his mouth. Only to be thrown back to the ground by the blaze of light. 11:35 <hrolf> Rolf mutters under his breath. "someofusbeendointoomuchfittininifyouaskme.." 11:35 <Quaker> “Blending in socially, not organizationally.” 11:36 <Crion> Aster: "Aren't you literally on Starchild payroll, Hughes?" 11:36 <Quaker> “And when Rolf kills someone, he can say: ‘Looks like the ‘Ouse always wins.’” 11:36 <hrolf> "Strictly professiona relationship, mate." 11:36 <Crion> He shakes his head. 11:37 <VoxPVoxD> Willie feels the weight of all the monstrous presences in the room like a fire in the blood. It sings behind her ears, it sizzles down her limbs. Her neck feels very, very exposed. "Shall we?" 11:37 <hrolf> Rolf scopes the area. Anyone stand out? 11:38 <Quaker> Badawi will follow behind her. “Do you like poetry, Miss Wellesley?” 11:38 <banana> Rolf can see a few people - actually, there's a blur moving toward you, coming up the stairs at superhuman speed. That probably catches his attention the most. 11:38 <VoxPVoxD> "I do. Quite a bit, actually. I'm not a scholar or anything, but." 11:38 <Crion> Aster, around the cigarette: "Let's." 11:38 <hrolf> "What the-" 11:39 <Crion> Aster: "Ah." 11:39 <tom> He levels the Mjolnir at the Hound and pulls the trigger. The battery pack screams and spits cooling gas, but the rising whine from the barrel of the weapon seems to peak and for a split moment the two figures are connected by a snaking, forking stream of pure annihilating light. 11:40 <tom> KRRrr-THOOOOOM 11:41 <tom> The thunderclap bounces off the surrounding hills. Birds take flight. 11:43 <hrolf> Rolf immediately hits the deck, and rolls behind a table, a pillar - any cover? 11:44 <Crion> Aster kind of turns to watch. 11:44 <Quaker> Badawi: “Yo voy soñando caminos de la tarde. ¡Las colinas doradas, los verdes pinos, las polvorientas encinas! … ¿Adónde el camino ira?” 11:44 <banana> The only vampires who're speaking loudly enough to be heard are the ones on stage, who have a small audience. They're discussing the technicalities of legislation - procedural clauses of some Bill or another. 11:44 <banana> Rolf gets out of the way in time, leaving the others to face the large and blond-bearded man who's just blurred into existence. 11:45 <banana> Aster will recognise the 'Registrar', who they called 'Henry the First'. He was fairly helpful last time, and is smiling now... albeit with visible fangs. 11:45 <Crion> Aster, eyebrows raised, turns back to Henry I. 11:45 <banana> Henry: "Good evening, Mr. Aster. You have an appointment." 11:46 <Crion> Aster: "Good evening, Registrar. We do. Even the one over there." 11:47 <banana> Henry: "You'll vouch for him and your other friends?" He looks curiously at the two women in turn. This vampire is a bit hard to place; there's something odd about the way he speaks. Doesn't seem particularly bloodthirsty, though, and you're speaking up here in the boxes rather than down where all the other monsters are. 11:47 <hrolf> Rolf gets up, and dusts off his coat. No trace of embarassment or sheepishness. "Just instincts mate." 11:47 <VoxPVoxD> Willie puts on her best bright-but-serious expression, belied as it always is in the presence of vampires by the thudding of her heart. And now, for her, the full-body calling of her blood to theirs. Maybe she always felt that way, and it was only in the quiet and the focus of the Dragons' lair that she apprehended it. 11:50 <VoxPVoxD> Willie doesn't know the poem Badawi recited, but like almost everything Badawi says, it gives her a profound sense of melancholy. An awfully gentle emotion against the fear... but it's there. It evens her out a bit. 11:54 <Crion> Aster sighs. "Yes, I will." 11:54 <banana> The slightly overweight vampire bows to Rolf. "Very reasonable. However you are safe here, in our Elysium." 11:55 <VoxPVoxD> They're not totally un-Oxbridge, it seems. 11:55 <Quaker> Badawi is reciting poetry in her head, which keeps her too busy to acknowledge her misgivings about these…people. “Vouch? I thought we already did a professional favor for your Constable.” 11:55 <Crion> Aster takes the cigarette out of his mouth. "No smoking, I take it?" 11:55 <Crion> Aster: "No, we did a professional favor for Barrigan." 11:56 <banana> With Aster's agreement, he beckons you all down the balcony toward the far set of stairs, closer to the stage. "Allow me to explain." 11:56 <hrolf> Rolf to blondie fangman: "Good to know mate." 11:57 <banana> Henry: "Mr. Brutus Barrigan is a Secretary-Murderer to the Carthian Council, one of two. His office is clerical, distinct from Constable Damani; the Constable enforces our laws." 11:57 <Quaker> Why are vampires so prone to internecine fighting? It’s like doing a favor for somebody in the organization doesn’t count for all the other members. Absolutely primitive. 11:58 <Crion> Aster has probably been complaining about Barrigan for weeks now. 11:58 <banana> Henry: "From your point of view, we are the Wise and Solemn Court. We pull together, for the common... good. Mr. Damani is happy to meet you in view of the favour you've done for his confederates, which we all are." He looks back and smiles; it appears entirely genuine. 11:58 <Crion> It at least feels like it. 11:59 <Crion> Aster: "Excellent. Thank you, Registrar." 12:00 <Quaker> Somebody should say, ‘We’re The Dreaming House!’ 12:01 <VoxPVoxD> Specifically Badawi should do it. 12:01 <banana> The Hound yelps and wails, raising his arms in a kind of panic. The skin falls away, seemingly catalysed by the crackling electric arc. 12:01 <hrolf> "The Night Watch is at your service." 12:02 <VoxPVoxD> Well. 12:02 <banana> His clothes burn to ashes and his flesh blends to fur. His body falls and twists. The man-shape is left behind, still burning, a discarded skin-suit that infects the grass with sparkles of glamour. 12:03 <banana> What's left behind is the dog, and the horns. Eyes still dulled from the blinding bomb, he takes one sniff of the air and bounds toward Bob at a speed far greater than should be possible for someone who's been hit with all that. 12:03 <banana> "Man," calls the Hound, "are you ready for this? Were you ready when you called down the thunder?" 12:04 <banana> He lowers his antlers, which have about as much surface area as Bob's riot shield, into a charge. 12:04 <Quaker> They’re definitely not called that. 12:06 <Crion> Aster: "We're in branding talks right now, Henry. We'll see what sticks." 12:06 <tom> Bob's eyes widen. The barrel of the weapon spins up in his hands, arcing little tongues of electricity at the damp grass. 12:07 <banana> Henry Registrar leads the still-nameless cell to the floor. Figures with bright eyes under dim lights gaze hungrily as they pass, but most are watching the stage. A trickle of players - humans, Willie thinks! - are coming out of the wings now toward the orchestra pit. You pass all of that to the back of the room and an area in the far corner that's been cordoned off with velvet ropes, forming 12:07 <banana> a kind of private office. 12:08 <VoxPVoxD> It's nice to see Aster taking point on a team social interaction. 12:08 <VoxPVoxD> Nice to see humans here, too. 12:08 <Quaker> The Nameless House is pretty good, actually. 12:08 <VoxPVoxD> ...hopefully they agree. 12:08 <Crion> Aster could get behind the Nameless House. 12:08 <banana> The vampires that you pass vary. They're mostly women, but all ages and demographically similar to Manchester itself. They whisper things, curious or judgmental or just hungry. 12:08 <banana> Is anyone armed? 12:09 <Crion> Yes. Aster's brought his brain. 12:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's got her wallet and her phone. No knife or shotgun. 12:09 <tom> Suddenly his hands feel very cold. He doesn't feel the trigger-pull. And he doesn't hear it, either. What he sees is a centimeter-wide line of pure white-hot plasma punching a hole right through one of the Hound's great shield-like antlers, then through the tree behind him, and the tree behind that one. 12:10 <tom> The Hound is hurled to the ground, webs of electricity grasping the damp earth at his sides. 12:10 <hrolf> Rolf is Carrying. 12:10 <tom> Bob hurls down the smoking, smoldering weapon. Molten metal is leaking from the barrel and hissing on the grass. 12:10 <Crion> Henry never gave an answer to whether Aster could smoke, so the cigarette remains in his mouth. 12:11 <tom> "SAY IT BRO! SAY UNCLE!" 12:11 <Quaker> Badawi is only carrying her winning personality. 12:13 <banana> The hunting beast falls slides over the damp grass, crashing to a halt at Bob's feet. He shakes his head, remaining antler material slamming against the ground, trying to clear it. He takes great huffs of air, still scenting where Bob is, though he can't see anything, and four feet struggle to move. 12:13 <banana> He whimpers and goes mostly limp. 12:14 <tom> Bob pulls out the two pieces of his shotgun and slots them together. "Dog please." 12:14 <tom> "I am begging you here man, just say uncle." 12:15 <banana> Hound: Rarrrr... woof. 12:15 <banana> The creature coughs as he barks and it isn't very intimidating anymore. 12:15 <tom> Bob shakes his head, shoulders the weapon, pulls the trigger. 12:17 <tom> Rock salt isn't generally lethal, even at close range. It does, however, sting like a motherfucker. 12:17 <banana> A blast of salt slams into the creature's body and his eyes roll up in his head. The tail thumps once before the fried and bleeding Hound falls into an involuntary slumber, breathing shallow and fast. 12:18 <banana> The roped off 'office' area of the old Trade Hall is in shadow- but when you approach, someone flicks a switch, and bright lights illuminate it. 12:18 <Crion> Was he just sitting there in the dark? 12:19 <banana> There's a desk set at an arbitrary angle to the corner, computer on one side and old fashioned in/out trays on the other. The center of the desk is indeed occupied by the elbows of a man. 12:19 <banana> He's staring sharply at Rolf's hip.. then looks up and grins. Aster recognises this guy by the sunglasses. 12:19 <banana> https://limits.thomascastiglione.com/media/damani.png 12:21 <VoxPVoxD> Sunglasses at night? And Bob's not even here to see? A crime twice over. 12:21 <VoxPVoxD> Someone should let the constable know. 12:21 <banana> The hall is full of chairs if anyone wants to bring some with them; wooden ones scattered near the raised stage and rotting plush things in the pew-lines further away. Sydney Damani has an office chair of his own. The young-looking vampire is cocking his head, staring next at Willie, then Badawi, then back to Aster and Rolf again. You feel his gaze even through the dark glasses, a power of 12:21 <banana> some sort reaching through the shadows that stand out behind you. 12:22 <banana> Henry bows again and starts walking off, but there are a few other anonymous vampires hanging out nearby. Just in case. 12:22 <banana> The Constable raises a hand, one finger up in a 'wait' gesture- and pulls out an phone. He snaps a picture of the hunters. Someone hisses at the flash. 12:23 <hrolf> Rolf's flesh crawls. Years in the grey zone between monster hunting and monster fraternizing leads you into these kinds of situations, but vampires are on another level. They play politics, and not the good kind where you stand up for your country and whats right. 12:23 <VoxPVoxD> Willie smiles by reflex. 12:25 <banana> Damani has a slight accent. Could be Pakistani or northern Indian. "I must say, it's been a long time since we had guests without a minder. Working for yourselves, in an entrepeneurial spirit. Now we're levelling up." 12:28 <Crion> Aster doesn't smile for the camera. Still has the cigarette in his mouth, though. 12:28 <banana> Lit? 12:28 <Crion> No one seems to want to tell him if smoking is allowed, so no. 12:29 <banana> Henry shook his head at that, but what does a headshake mean? No you can't smoke, or no, we do allow smoking?? 12:29 <Crion> Well it means he's not going to test it. 12:29 <Crion> You break a rule here, and suddenly it's not the safest place in the city. 12:31 <banana> As Bob works the straps onto the dog, its human-mask crawls back into place. The bits of flesh come crawling out of the ground, worming their way in thin strands of pink, and coalesce around the creature's body even as it twists back-breakingly in its uncomfortable slumber. 12:32 <banana> The antlers shrink and vanish into a man's face, leaving bruises and one torn, ragged ear. There's not much actual blood. 12:34 <banana> In the little lit corner of the hall, it's almost like the four hunters have the advantage of numbers over their insouciant interlocutor. Certainly he's paying attention to them and not to the slinking beings in the shadows, or the discussion up on stage. You've caught the full attention of the Court, or of this man, with your recent actions. 12:38 <tom> Man, on the one hand, this makes it much easier to haul him back to the house, where Bob will set the man down on a folding chair, still swaddled in freight straps tightened as far as he's willing to go. On the other, it's a lot weirder when you're doing it to a naked dude than a giant monster dog. 12:38 <tom> The stove is still burning. He grabs a steak. 12:39 <tom> Hopefully the first thing the Hound senses when he awakens isn't the mind-obliterating pain of being struck by multiple blasts of lightning, but the grilling meat. 12:39 <banana> This guy is way too injured to get turned on, so it's not too weird. 12:40 <banana> He stirs awake at the smell. Before even opening his eyes he tugs perfunctorily at the straps... but they're made for holding down multi-tonne cargos in the back of a jolting truck. Weakly: "Oh, man." 12:41 <tom> The inside of the farmhouse is almost entirely empty aside from two naked men, one badly injured and covered in freight straps. There is a grill. There are T-bones on the grill. 12:41 <tom> "Dudes rock." 12:41 <tom> "Hey man, sorry about that." 12:41 <Crion> Aster: "We rousted the teenagers from Gorton Cemetary, as the Secretary-Murderer asked. He accused us of espionage, you know. Possibly guilty as charged, but that's above my paygrade. No authorization to apologize. But the workgroup -- and you can see most of us, but not all of us, here -- are authorized to inquire about a bounty." 12:41 <Crion> "Something about a rogue." 12:42 <tom> Bob is putting on a dry pair of pants. 12:44 <banana> Sydney Damani rests his chin on one fist, continuing to snap photos of you with the other. "Such a convoluted tale. So helpful. I could use that kind of help, and the Court can pay." 12:44 <banana> "Questions first: how dangerous are you? How discreet?" 12:45 <tom> Bob slips on a t-shirt and tends to the grill. "So hey, I have an idea." 12:45 <tom> "You get to told to do stuff a lot, don'tcha, dude?" 12:45 <banana> Hound: "Is it the same idea you got earlier with the big gun? I don't like that one." 12:46 <tom> "No way dude, I feel so bad about that man. I just- I really.. you know, I needed the win." 12:46 <tom> "How about you just say I won, and I cook you up All of the steaks, and we watch tv for a bit." 12:47 <tom> "OR-" Bob grabs a cast-iron frying pan. 12:47 <banana> Hound: "Yeah..." He whimpers a bit. "I get it, man. I just.. I really wanted to bite you... you got nice skin and fear." 12:47 <tom> "Ha! Now you sound like my girlfriend." 12:47 <tom> "...Does Premson let you wear pants, dude?" 12:47 <banana> His good ear flattens a little, sending waves through his hair. "Or?" 12:48 <tom> "Or we could keep fighting for the remaining two hours, where at the moment I hold the upper hand," he beams. 12:48 <banana> The Horned Hound was wearing pants when he arrived, though God knows where he got 'em. They're ash now. 12:48 <tom> "Steaks or you get the newspaper again bro!" 12:48 <banana> "I could eat." 12:49 <tom> "Hell yes dude. Hell fuckin' yes." 12:50 <tom> "I just need one thing from ya-" The Hound's hands are visible, just wrapped tightly to his sides. "Shake on it, swear on it, what have you. No tricks, now." 12:50 <banana> Once Damani's done photographing everyone for some reason, he sets the phone down and slides over a keyboard, typing as he continues to listen. 12:50 <Crion> Aster: "The member of our workgroup who isn't here tonight is doing battle with a faerie creature. By now--" Aster checks his watch. He's of the age that wears a watch. "--He's won. Our previous resume as a unit mainly revolves around assisting in spirit maintenance during the blood moon. Not a difficult job. More discreet than perhaps we anticipated, if we have to be asked." 12:51 <tom> Bob has no way to know if anything he promises actually matters to these people, but it's the best he's got. 12:51 <Crion> "We're incredibly dangerous, extremely discreet, and always reliably informed." 12:52 <banana> Damani: "That's exactly what I'm looking for. And hey, if you're overconfident, it's your funeral!" 12:53 <banana> The Hound learned 'shake' a long time ago. "Cross my paws and hope to run again." 12:54 <tom> "...They can grow you a new ear, right?" 12:54 <tom> "Well, fuck, I guess it's my profit. We gotta compete somehow." 12:54 <tom> He shakes the hound's hand. Does he like.... feel anything? 12:55 <banana> A magically sealed pact, perhaps? No. As Premson said, Bob is of this world. For now. 12:55 <banana> The guy's grip is pretty weak still. He looks ok but he's quite badly hurt... although it would be unwise to render any aid for the next couple of hours. 12:55 <Quaker> Badawi: “Do you have a job that you need done? Or just jibes?” 12:56 <tom> Willie's phone beeps. There's an image. Bob squatting on the floor next to a badly-beaten, statuesque man strapped into a chair, bleeding from a scorchmark where his ear used to be. Is he smiling too? 12:56 <banana> Damani: "Oh, I have both." He looks at his computer screen. "Scabuzzo, right?" 12:56 <tom> Because Bob is smiling. 12:56 <tom> He goes to get the Hound another steak. 12:56 <banana> "Did you know you've got an infringement notice?" 12:57 <VoxPVoxD> Willie checks her phone. Her heart leaps. "Update: the faerie creature was utterly defeated." She looks at the photo a moment longer. Maybe two moments longer. 12:57 <tom> He pulls up another chair, perches the shitty little TV monitor on a stack of boxes, and puts on Homeward Bound. 12:57 <Quaker> “Is that like a speeding ticket?” 12:58 <banana> Damani: "Yes, Magistrates' court. A member of the public has filed a complaint about you, backed up by CCTV... something about creating a disturbance on public transport. The ticket should be in the mail." 12:58 <VoxPVoxD> <Result!!!! 👍👍👍👍 please tell him willie wellesley said "what a Good Boy 🥰"> 12:58 <banana> "Although... that's a pointless distraction if you've got work to do, so I'll take care of it." 12:59 <tom> Bob checks his reticle. "Everyone's saying you did a good job and are a very good boy, possibly the best ever, for putting up with this. I am not going to pet you, because that's Weird." 12:59 <Crion> Aster looks at Damani. "Well, the final member of our workgroup now has his schedule clear. So what do you need killed?" 12:59 <tom> Instead he gets another steak. 12:59 <VoxPVoxD> While she's got her phone out she flips over to Huntr. This'll be quick. 12:59 <Crion> Millennials. 12:59 <Quaker> Badawi: “No, but thank you. Our staff will handle it.” Fucking British and their trains. It’s coming out of Richard’s salary. 12:59 <tom> Bob has uploaded the Gopro footage. The thumbnail is a pure white screen, for some reason. 13:01 <banana> Damani looks at Aster to answer him, then waves at the small crowd who've been drifting over to the lighted corner to spectate. "Nothing to see or hear here. Go harp someone else." 13:02 <banana> As he waves his arm, darkness billows out of the four hunters' shadows and forms a wall, curtaining you away from the rest of Elysium. All noise and light from the other side vanishes into a muffled incomprehensibility. 13:02 <VoxPVoxD> !!! 13:02 <banana> SYDNEY DAMANI, CARTHIAN CONSTABLE 13:02 <banana> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQQ71FUCpq8 13:02 <banana> “Don’t read too much into it.” 13:03 <VoxPVoxD> Willie reads the exact correct amount into it. 13:03 <banana> Damani: "I need vampires killed. Blood-mad elder kin of ours, descended into irrecoverable monstrosity and weakened by decades' deprivation." 13:03 <VoxPVoxD> Figures. 13:04 <Crion> Aster manages not to sigh. "That's plural." 13:05 <hrolf> "Were they posho types by any chance?" 13:05 <banana> "It's plural! There are two of them. For each one you can destroy, we'll give the survivors a million pounds." He pushes down his sunglasses and grins again. 13:05 <VoxPVoxD> Putting her phone away: "You know who they are? Where they are?" 13:05 <Crion> Shut the fuck up Rolf Jesus fucking Christ. 13:05 <banana> Damani: "That's a long story, but you'll need some of it." 13:05 <Quaker> …the Gardeners? 13:07 <Quaker> Badawi: “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the animal attacks near Miles Platting?” 13:07 <banana> The Constable leans back in his chair. Much more comfortable that any of the wooden ones you've managed to screw up. "Now that's something I haven't heard about. Sounds like a good lead. Unfortunately I don't know whether it's the right area, and I'll explain why." 13:08 <banana> Damani: "To cut out a lot of history... the All Night Society was once run by unliving tradition. A vicious blood aristocracy, who bound the living and my kin alike with emotion-manipulating curses." 13:09 <banana> "The 'Invictus' lords of this Court once dined exclusively on other vampires. We were sort of like ants, transporting blood back to the hive to feed the queen." 13:09 <banana> "From your point of view you may well say fair enough!" 13:11 <banana> "However, we had the inclination and the ability to object. There was a coup, and we established a fairer society. One which also outlaws indiscriminate attacks on the kine; you're welcome." 13:11 <hrolf> "Sort of like em snake that eat other snakes." 13:11 <banana> Damani: "Blood cannibals." 13:11 <banana> He considers for a moment. "Sanguinnibals." 13:12 <Quaker> Badawi: “So no humans have been killed by vampires since then?” 13:12 <Quaker> “In Manchester.” 13:13 <banana> Damani: "None indiscriminately." 13:13 <Crion> Aster nods. "Only discriminate attacks then. Understood." 13:13 <banana> "...until now! Which is why we have a multimillion-pound problem." 13:13 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Out of curiosity, what is the penalty for indiscriminate killing, by the lights of the Council?" 13:14 <banana> Damani: "In the case of these revenants, Final Death. They cannot be salvaged." 13:14 <banana> "You might be wondering why we don't simply hunt down and destroy them ourselves..." 13:14 <hrolf> Rolf: "By attacks you mean, like. No murderin'. Or can you snack on us wifout consent?" 13:15 <banana> Sydney answers his own question (and not Rolf's). "This is a question of politics." 13:15 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What leads do you have, that you can share with us? Do you have names? Haunts? Next of Kin?" 13:16 <banana> "Yes, some of the above." 13:16 <banana> "Here's the short version... the revenants were once in the blood aristocracy I told you about. 'Count' Gardener, who claimed the right to feed from every vampire in Salford." 13:17 <banana> "Also his wife. Both of them were defeated in the uprising, which was good..." 13:17 <Crion> They never tell you in crime school how tired you'll get of having to hear things you already know, when you're playing two incredibly dangerous factions against each other. 13:17 <Crion> Aster is that professional, though, so he seriously nods. 13:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "But not... Final Defeated?" 13:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "But not... Final Defeated?" 13:18 <banana> Damani: "No. I've recently learned that certain zealous elements of our cause chose to take them captive." 13:19 <banana> "There was..." he frowns. "During the recent crisis, many of went to ground. It was hasty. Institutional knowledge was lost." 13:20 <banana> "Some of it we got back along with our people. So I can tell you that Mr. and Mrs. Gardener survived the uprising in captivity, but... not who took them, exactly. Or where they were held." 13:21 <Quaker> “How do you know it’s the Gardeners that have come back?” 13:22 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Are they both Gardener? I'm not sure how the law of the night handles marriage certificates." 13:22 <banana> Damani: "Well, I had a deputy slide shame-facedly into my DMs asking, has anyone been taking care of the Gardeners while I was gone? Do you know about those guys btw?" 13:23 <VoxPVoxD> "Oh dear." 13:23 <banana> "A worse boss would've levied some severe punishment, let me tell you." 13:23 <Crion> Aster: "Slide into your--right." 13:23 <banana> To Willie: "I believe they were married by a priest, a century or more ago." 13:23 <Crion> "Apologies. Not on Twitter." 13:23 <VoxPVoxD> "Oh, I see." That's rather romantic. 13:23 <VoxPVoxD> Despite everything. 13:24 <Quaker> Badawi: “So someone *was* holding them? How long was this deputy absent from their post? Forty years?” 13:25 <banana> Damani: "Just a year or so, but that's long enough to do damage." 13:25 <VoxPVoxD> "Where were they being kept?" 13:25 <banana> "I don't know how familiar you are with the life cycle of the dead. Typically, a couple of weeks without anything to drink will drive us to starvation... not instantly fatal, but incredibly unpleasant." 13:26 <banana> "Longer than that sends people into feats of aggression or keeps them from waking up at all." 13:26 <banana> Damani: "If I knew that, we'd have a much easier time>" 13:27 <VoxPVoxD> "Did the starvation cause the cognitive decay?" 13:27 <Quaker> Badawi: “Who was the deputy that was responsible for the lapse?” 13:28 <banana> Damani: "Someone presently unavailable. We haven't been able to recover everyone as quickly as we hoped." 13:28 <VoxPVoxD> "Someone who ran rather than face punishment?" 13:29 <Quaker> “So unavailable they can’t tell you where they were keeping the captives?” 13:30 <banana> "I can't give you more details on that, but one-hundred percent unavailable. For now." 13:30 <banana> "What I can do is point you to friends of hers... people who might have had some idea of what was going on. This might not be the best way to investigate." 13:30 <Crion> Aster: "Knowing what I do about the revenancy process, the time it takes, what it leads to, what leads to it and etcetera: what do we do in the frankly non-trivial scenario that we find them and one or both are not revenant?" 13:30 <Quaker> “How long have they been out? And how long have you been looking for them?” 13:31 <Crion> Aster: "Sorry, unclear. I know what WE do. What outcome does the Council prefer in that scenario?" 13:31 <banana> Damani: "Sorry, one at a time.." 13:31 <banana> "I was going to say: I can give you contacts of Barbara's, but you'd take the risk of offending people and maybe letting the secret out. I'd rather you start with animal attacks." 13:32 <Crion> Aster doesn't actually give the others a look, but come on. 13:32 <banana> "How long the captives have been un-tended- probably since April of last year." 13:32 <VoxPVoxD> Wow, he really is a politician. 13:32 <banana> "We learned about the problem just in August." 13:32 <VoxPVoxD> This is just how they talk no matter how horny their music video is. 13:33 <banana> Damani addresses Aster: "If you find something other than monsters to be put down, please report it. That might go beyond what you've signed up for, in terms of danger pay." 13:35 <banana> Around this time, the movie's finished and the appointed hour has struck. T-bones on plates are scattered around the empty farmhouse's kitchen. The restrained and hornless Hound takes one last look at Bob's weapons, carefully kept in range, and sighs. 13:35 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Have they definitively killed anyone? Do you have crime scenes we can look at? Physical evidence?" 13:36 <VoxPVoxD> "You're well aware of Mr. Aster's expertise, I'm sure." 13:36 <banana> Hound: "Nice to meet you, man. Next time, ok? I'll look for someone else who wants to run a game?" 13:36 <Crion> Aster: "Not sure that order of operations works for us. If we come up on angry, thinking elders we need a gameplan to guide us while we fall back. You all do generally move faster." 13:36 <tom> "Yeah man. Next time we can like, play frisbee golf or... something nicer." 13:36 <banana> Damani: "I have two incidents in GMP records that I'm pretty sure were frenzied-vampire attacks. Forwarding to Mr. Aster now." 13:36 <banana> "On that topic... I can give you some information about how they'd fight, if you have to fight!" 13:37 <Crion> Aster: "It would be welcome, Constable." 13:38 <tom> As gently as possible so as not to agitate any inflamed nerves, Bob will pat the Hound on the shoulder. 13:39 <banana> The Hound leans into Bob's touch a little and blinks rapidly. He opens his mouth one last time, but doesn't say anything - just pants a bit, tongue hanging out in a dog smile, before he turns into sticks and the sticks rise into the air and slam backwards into the wall and there's a door in the wall and the door is shut. 13:39 <banana> Bob knows somehow that once he leaves the room there will no longer be a door. 13:39 <tom> Mari gets a text: <ladies and gentlemen> 13:39 <tom> <we got em> 13:41 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "One last question, Constable: given the way we fight, it may prove very difficult indeed to provide, say, viable remains. Even ashes. How do you want us to signal the job is done?" 13:42 <banana> Damani: "I'm open to persuasion on that point. Any kind of evidence at all that's somewhat convincing... look at it this way: if you lied, and they're not dead yet, it will become evident. Repayment would be requested." 13:42 <VoxPVoxD> "Fair enough!" 13:43 <Crion> Well, now they're at the high-stakes table. 13:43 <Crion> "We'll collect the files here, then, and get right on it. Do you want actual progressive updates, or is this a 'ring us when it's done' understanding?" 13:43 <VoxPVoxD> Honestly, being pulled in two exactly opposite directions feels a little better to Willie than being pulled in one. 13:43 <banana> You can ask Damani more questions. Some of them he'll answer, and we can reprise the answers later when you want further information and ways to get started, but there's a pressing question: are you going to do the job? Are you going to say you'll do the job? 13:43 <Quaker> All this was pretty unnecessary, wasn’t it? Next time they can call the Nameless’s House fucking secretary to tell them that they know jack shit and need a job done. 13:44 <Crion> Well it seems Aster answered that question for the group, unless they object. 13:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Send us the files and we'll get back to you once we've reviewed them?" 13:45 <VoxPVoxD> "Won't be more than a night or two." 13:45 <VoxPVoxD> "What's that against two months of elder vampires secretly on the loose?" 13:45 <Crion> Acceptable. 13:47 <banana> Mari: <omg omg! OMG! you're okay?> 13:48 <tom> <didnt even touch me> 13:48 <tom> <....can u guys regrow ears> 13:48 <banana> Damani looks inclined to demur, but Willie talks fast. He zones out and ogles her a bit. 13:48 <VoxPVoxD> You can't tell what he's looking at behind those sunglasses... but Willie knows. She knows. 13:49 <banana> "Right, alright. If you're going to get the job done, it can wait nights. Not more months!" 13:49 <VoxPVoxD> "We're very efficient, Constable. Rest assured." 13:49 <banana> "Let me know when you're sure of your capabilities. If it's too risky, say so and we'll keep looking." 13:49 <VoxPVoxD> "Right." 13:51 <banana> Mari: <Ouch. Um, maybe with some sort of scar. I'll ask Joanna> 13:51 <banana> <I'll be home after dinner, or should I leave earlier?> 13:51 <banana> <Now?> 13:52 <banana> Once you're done discussing the sensitive topic - Damani makes it clear that the existence of these revenants is not common knowledge, and you're not cleared to tell arbitrary vampires about it - he drops his shadow-wall and an etude becomes immediately audible. 13:52 <tom> <i wanna be with you> 13:52 <Crion> Aster: "Understood. We'll take our leave. Excellent to meet you, Constable." 13:53 <tom> Bob heads for the door and starts up the truck. Time to go. 13:53 <banana> The council is no longer up on stage. Four pairs of vampires are dancing something between an improvisational waltz and a ballet, with a politely murmuring audience. 13:53 <VoxPVoxD> Once the elevator doors close, Willie says to the cell, "La Maison Grise!" 13:54 <Crion> Aster: "French? Do we have to?" 13:54 <VoxPVoxD> "La Casa Grigia?" 13:55 <VoxPVoxD> "Y Tŷ Llwyd." 13:55 <Quaker> Badawi: “The Nameless House is good.” 13:55 <Crion> Aster: "Yes." 13:55 <VoxPVoxD> "Oooh." 13:56 <Quaker> “These people give me the creeps.” 13:56 <Quaker> “Why exactly do you want to spend more time with them, Willie?” 13:57 <banana> Maybe the changelings are less creepy. Or more; either way, there's no reason to assume it would be the exact same creep factor. 13:58 <Crion> Aster: "Vampires are dangerous. They're also incredibly predictable, and they have a particular aesthetic." 13:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I don't think we can do this kind of work in this city and avoid them. They're very dangerous, obviously, but so is our business plan. If we want to be able to generate leads without Jack, and if we want to generate leads so reliably that we can turn down work as we please and still keep getting paid, we need to cultivate these relationships." 13:59 <Crion> He lights up the cigarette. "I can't say I like them, but I respect their boundaries. They deal in carnality. Faeries, trauma. Mages, arrogance." 13:59 <VoxPVoxD> "But that didn't really answer your question. I asked Bob once why he spent so much time with guns. You know what he said?" 13:59 <VoxPVoxD> "'I just think they're neat.'" 14:00 <Crion> Aster thinks his explanation is less compromised. 14:00 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's is more uncompromising. 14:01 <Quaker> Badawi: “Yeah, man. Mages are definitely the most arrogant ones we’ve met so far.” 14:02 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I don't know if I'd call crushing a lorry with your mind arrogant, exactly. Certainly very daring." 14:03 <Crion> Aster: "The ones we've met here are downright humble compared to the ones who work for the Department of Homeland Security." 14:03 <Crion> Back to the Greybox then. 14:05 <banana> Richard: "...so the dog turned back into a man? And then a tree?" 14:05 <tom> Bob is grinding the now-hardened metal spatter off the barrel of the Mjolnir. He'll have to get some lathe time in and re-core the whole thing, probably. But he can't do that until he can clear the muzzle. He turns off the squealing wheel and lets it spin down on the bench as he buzzes the others in. 14:05 <tom> "As best I can figure it's like some sort of clock-strikes-midnight and you turn back into a pumpkin sorta deal?" 14:07 <VoxPVoxD> Is Bob hurt?? 14:07 <Crion> He's clearly fine. 14:07 <banana> Haldane: "Oh, you've all survived as well. Not a bad day for Haldane's Heroes." 14:07 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "The Nameless House." 14:07 <VoxPVoxD> "We've decided." 14:07 <Crion> To Bob: "So you didn't have to kill the puppy." 14:08 <Crion> To Haldane: "We'll always be Haldane's Heroes to you. In this specific room. Never outside of it." 14:08 <tom> "I think all the names are just great." 14:08 <banana> What, like Morrowind? Well, if it's official, it goes in the wiki. 14:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I'll sign up for Richie's Angels, if you want." 14:09 <tom> "I'm really glad I didn't have to kill the puppy," he adds. 14:09 <tom> "He did cop a feel though." 14:09 <Crion> Aster: "Close only matters in horseshoes and armory projects." 14:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "So you're in, right? Stormin' Goreman has won the goodwill of Winter?" 14:09 <Crion> Aster: "Well yes, you did indicate you were down." 14:10 <tom> "I think?"He blinks, scratches his shoulder. There are a few fresh bandages there, small, pinkie-sized ones. 14:10 <Crion> Aster days 'down' like an adult saying something hip with the kids. 14:10 <tom> "I guess I forgot to ask but yeah." 14:10 <tom> "I put the footage up on Huntr. It's the really big file." 14:11 <tom> "I really wish I could put it up on my old channel. It would do numbers." 14:11 <VoxPVoxD> Willie eyes the bandages. 14:11 <Crion> Aster: "Yes, and would get you visits." 14:11 <banana> That would be a good way to find out whether Biden's willing to drone-strike the North of England. 14:11 <VoxPVoxD> ...she's grateful Sergio's never left marks. 14:11 <Crion> "We don't need a trans-Atlantic task force on us." 14:12 <tom> "I obviously aren't gonna." 14:12 <banana> Badawi really does have a magistrates' court summons waiting for her. She has the option of paying them, like, two hundred freaking pounds, or attending a court date some time in December. 14:13 <banana> This is what it's like living in a surveillance society. Vampires and busybodies. 14:13 <Quaker> Does she know who made the complaint? 14:14 <banana> Not unless she goes to court, or at least calls the number listed here for more information. 14:14 <Quaker> “Richard, please call this number and see if you can get the name of the complainant listed here.” 14:15 <banana> Haldane: "I beg your pardon?" He takes the letter she retrieved from her post office box and runs an eye over it, frowning. "Oh my goodness. Christ." 14:16 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What is it?" 14:16 <Crion> Aster: "The complaint, presumably." 14:16 <banana> Haldane: "Okay, first of all, Badawi, I'm very sorry about this. Whatever kind of total bastard films someone on the train and reports it to the police is a total bastard." 14:16 <Crion> "That we didn't permit the Constable to take care of." 14:16 <tom> Bob takes a seat at the conference table and pours himself another cup of coffee. It is very late. 14:16 <Crion> To Bob: "So what happens now?" 14:16 <Crion> "Do they turn you into an elf?" 14:17 <tom> "I'd like to see them try." 14:17 <banana> "Secondly, I did warn you, and I'd like you to make your own phone calls, please." 14:17 <tom> He sips his coffee and immediately knocks on the wood table. 14:17 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What's the fine?" 14:17 <tom> "I think I get my wings after Samhain. There's like a backrooms thing after." 14:18 <VoxPVoxD> "Oh! I don't know if Sumi told you, but we're all in. We'll be doing security gratis as a goodwill gesture." 14:18 <VoxPVoxD> No response from Sergio, right? 14:18 <tom> He squints: "Wait- wh- you mean, everyone?" 14:18 <banana> This discussion reminds Willie.. she had messages at some point in Elysium, when it wasn't opportune to read them. One of them was from Sumi, probably? And maybe Sergio too... worth checking. 14:19 <tom> "I mean that's good..." 14:19 <Quaker> Badawi crosses the room immediately after Richard speaks, and leans down into his ear. “That’s strike two, Mr. Haldane. Don’t let it get to three,” she whispers. 14:19 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Well, not Richard, probably. Although if Mr. Aster'd rather stay behind..." 14:19 <tom> "Please stop bullying my boy Haldane, Agostina." 14:19 <banana> "Hang on." Richard squeaks his chair back a bit and puts his hands up. 14:19 <Quaker> “Two hundred dollars,” she says to Willie. “I’ll pay it.” 14:20 <VoxPVoxD> She checks her phone here to stop from getting mad at anyone. 14:20 <banana> "Look, this f- this strike-" Badawi's moved on. He trails off. 14:20 <Crion> Aster stares at Badawi for a moment. 14:20 <Crion> Then to Willie: "No, I think I'll go to the party." 14:21 <VoxPVoxD> "Splendid." She doesn't look up. 14:22 <Quaker> “I’ll let you all know when the driver turns up. You can meet him and see if you approve. Call if you need me, or else I’ll see you at the party.” Badawi leaves through the front door. 14:22 <tom> "...Are you sure, man? You didn't seem impressed by Cvlt and the gang." 14:22 <tom> After she's gone: "I just can't get a read on her at all." 14:23 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "She's... an old soul." 14:24 <VoxPVoxD> She looks apologetically at Richard. Her texts are taking a long time to load... 14:24 <Crion> Aster: "Should I have been impressed by Cvlt?" 14:24 <tom> "I mean I haven't seen him mask-off. Probably?" 14:24 <tom> "I've seen, like, two." 14:25 <tom> "Sumi is made of gold, by the way." 14:25 <banana> Willie has three messages, as it turns out. 14:25 <VoxPVoxD> "Should we expect them to be supernaturally incandescent at Samhain?" 14:25 <VoxPVoxD> Ooh! 14:25 <banana> Sergio: <My hypothetical plans are cancelled. The Seelie creatures of myth? Please tell me more, or better let's meet up and talk masks.. as well as sweet nothings.> 14:25 <VoxPVoxD> <3 14:27 <banana> Sumiya: <Cool cool cool. The money thing is a flex? I get it, our time's worth millions or it's worth nothing~ if need be I'll just embezzle a bit. Thanks for talking to the team and I hope they're all pleasantly odd (or a nice normal person like you, Willie).> 14:28 <VoxPVoxD> :) 14:28 <banana> [α] hambo@home: <how have you been, Willie? met any other angels? that aside, we're looking for a helpmate in one of our games soon and thought you might know someone> 14:28 <VoxPVoxD> ? 14:28 <tom> "Supernaturally... no, I don't think so. I think it's just gonna be a nice party, where I hopefully don't gotta shoot any more people." 14:29 <banana> [α] hambo: <specifically, someone capable of defeating a number of energy soldiers irl, for the sake of the homeland> 14:29 <banana> [α] hambo: <enemy> 14:29 <tom> "I've been lying in a field with my gun for like, twenty-three of the last twenty-four hours. Please be patient." 14:29 <VoxPVoxD> Sergio gets: <absolutely, darling. when are you Free> 14:29 <VoxPVoxD> Sumi gets: <well, I find them so. Reasonable People may disagree!> 14:29 <tom> He takes another sip of coffee, rubs his bloodshot eyes, takes off the visor. Rubs the red dimples on the bridge of his nose too. 14:30 <VoxPVoxD> Willie reads Hambo's second and third messages and a smile creeps across her face. <For this is England's greatest son / He that gain'd a hundred fights / Nor ever lost an English gun> 14:30 <VoxPVoxD> <I know just the bloke. he likes Money> 14:31 <VoxPVoxD> <especially if it can be got in a mildly sleazy way> 14:31 <banana> [α] hambo: <we have either bitcoin or britcoin> 14:31 <VoxPVoxD> <I'll set up a meet> 14:32 <tom> Bob realizes he has been completely out-alpha'd by whoever she's texting and gives up the fight. 14:32 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Get some rest, Bob. You've earned it." 14:32 <VoxPVoxD> "The dog looked very happy. Very happy." 14:32 <Quaker> At the apartment, Badawi sits silently on the floor and meditates for an hour. The tape player plays white noise softly. 14:33 <Quaker> Then, she takes out some paper. 14:33 <Quaker> Orlando, 14:34 <tom> "Yeah. Yeah! This was another success." 14:34 <tom> "Fuck, man..." 14:37 <Crion> Aster: "Still have some moral issues about considering that person an animal. But so it goes." 14:38 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Right. We've got to have a talk tomorrow about how we're handling two directly contradictory jobs." 14:39 <banana> At one point it sounded like Damani was offering more to put the Gardeners down if it turned out they're not merely blood-starved beasts. 14:39 <Quaker> This place is not good for me. I can feel it taking something from me every day I spend here. Or maybe I am just unhappy because you are there and I am here. I miss you so much. I am praying for both of us every day. Do you remember Amjad? He is joining me here, unexpected but welcome. Maybe he will restore my equilibrium. I hope your father gives me something concrete to do soon. Maybe that will restore my equilibrium. I think that 14:39 <Quaker> only you will, though, and that is far from now. I have been acting erratically, I think. Nothing especially harmful but something I need to address. It is just letting myself display annoyance when I should not. I miss you. Mi tesoro, mi corazon. Write back to me soon. Please be taking care of yourself. I miss you so much. Don’t worry about me, I am taking care and being taken care of. 14:40 <Quaker> Yours forever, Agostina. 14:40 <Quaker> She should be nicer to Richard. Even if he genuinely gets on her nerves with his blithe attitude. But the others like him. So. 14:41 <Quaker> She should probably not randomly volunteer to sing to teenagers. 14:42 <Quaker> She should pray more. She does so immediately. 14:44 <Quaker> Meanwhile, the tape player rolls on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZlbM_bUwo 14:52 <Quaker> She sings along quietly. Siento, que ya no tenga nada, no se porque te fuistsa asi, porque te conoci. 14:52 <Quaker> Siento, siento, siento, y no quiero sentir.